When Things Fall Apart

One

    Irritating knocks. Clothes everywhere. Leftovers. Empty Fridge. Lazy witch looking girl with morning glory and big dark circles on the face, still on her pajamas. Rey groans because of annoyance. She reached for the wooden door, opened it, and shocked by the mess of the living room. Her groans got louder. Then, all of a sudden the knocking came to halt. She passed through the scattered snacks lying on the elegant grey tiled floor. A pile of men's clothes was seen on the long settee. Empty dishes are left on the small round bubble-glass-like table. 

    "Ugh. What a mess!", she shouted angrily as she picks up the clothes and a used brief. "What the hell is this one doing here?!", she automatically reacted. 'Hell... That brother of mine will surely pay for all of this mess... again', she told to herself. 

    After picking up the pile of clothes and other mess, Rey followed washing the dishes. Upon that time, she'd forgotten the unknown noisy knocks earlier. She doesn't have a clue who might that be. Rey doesn't have that much friends or anyone that might visit her in the middle of summer. Perhaps, it might be a friend of her brother. Their parents are away because of their work in Manila. They only visit once or twice a month. Therefore, she and her brother are the only ones living here. Her brother, Kristoff, left a note at her bedside table, saying he's at June's house, and that he'll be back before evening. Rey doesn't really have a clue what he does there. June is his friend since sixth grade, that is why his brother is mostly invited to June's house, and they are pretty close to each other. Although, Rey doesn't know this June so well. It was the first time that his brother didn't properly say goodbye. She guesses, he doesn't want to be scolded anymore. She feels like she is an irresponsible sister. It's her fault anyway. If she just stopped watching anime until midnight, she should've been awake early. 

    It was already one o'clock in the afternoon when she finished cleaning the whole apartment because she doesn't want any chambermaid cleaning their mess. It was embarrassing for her. She barely remembers eating. Rey walked shakingly and found an empty fridge. She sighed. Forgot that she didn't buy stocks for two weeks already. So she needs to go to the grocery but, obviously, without her brother this time. She let out a deep sigh. They are always together when she needs to go out and buy food for a week or two. 

    Rey went straight to her shower room and took a shower. The tiles are all rough grey. The ceiling too is grey. Obviously, grey is her favorite color. She doesn't know why but she loves grey. She just thought it suits her. Plain and stodgy. Her parents must have spoiled them to customize the color of their rooms. It was indeed expensive. Albeit, this place isn't theirs. The whole apartment belongs to her Tito Jin's property. Even where they are studying right now. They are scholars from their Tito's School. Also the works of their parents in Manila. Her mother is a maid in Jin's house while his father is working as a factory worker owned by him too. He is that rich. In other words, they are all dependent on him.

Rey took her grey cotton towel, wrapped it upon her slim body. Her hair is dripping wet. She got out from her shower room to her bedroom to dress up. She opened her grey wooden closet and took her underwear from the drawer. For her outfit, she chose skinny black pants and a fitted striped shirt. This is how she dresses up herself.

    She looked at herself in the human-sized mirror and fixed herself. Sat in front of her mirrored desk on her solid grey chair with a grey cushion on it. Rey combed her long golden-brown hair. She doesn't know why it is color brown. She just knew that she got it from her mother and her mother got it from her mother too. Even so, she didn't dare to ask.

    As soon as Rey finished her morning routine, she left the place and went ahead to Nexus Café to satisfy her hunger. She let her arms swung on both sides as she went for a vacant seat. She carries her sling pouch with her, and in fairness, grey too. The atmosphere is very calming, so she likes this place very much. Even the music that fills her ears is suiting. It is not as awkward as she has been. In fact, it is welcoming like a feeling of home. The whole family eats here whenever their parents got home. But their parents haven't visited them since her graduation. Rey's still hoping that they'll come home before the school year starts.

A waiter asked for her order. She chose her favorite meal here, a hearty Beef Mongolian rice meal and a combination of amazing Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Mushrooms, and Minestrone Soup. For the beverages, she ordered a glass of fresh milk. Their milk here is fresh from the cow added some special savory and the smell is fascinating, totally unique from others.

    The bell from the front door rang. The sweet staff greeted, "Welcome to Nexus Cafe, Ma'am and Sir." It was a sign that a customer went in. The people here are not much plenty since it's still afternoon. Most of the customers like to visit here in the morning and evening. The customers — a girl and a boy, and she thinks, they are the same age as her — be seated in front of her. Rey sniffed an unknown sweet perfume. 'I wonder what kind of perfume is she using...' The boy let her seated first before him. 'Such a gentleman. There are guys still like that, huh?', she thought as she sipped and smelled the aroma of her warm milk. 

The guy has a strongly built body but not that tall. Maybe, both of them have similar heights or he is taller than her about 10 centimeters. When the guy seated, the waiter came and took their orders. The guy has very tanned skin and hairy arms. 'I bet his legs are hairy too', her face wryly. Certainly, she doesn't like hairy guys especially one with their chest.

    Rey finished the last bite of her meal. She paid for the expenses and off she goes to the nearest grocery store. The shopping took an hour and a half. Rarely, when she's with Kristoff, it sometimes took them three hours. Her brother was the best to be with. Eating lots of sweets and salty. Having time in an ice cream parlor. Playing arcades like Basketball, Dance Revo, Just Dance, Motor Racing, Shooting g*n, and sometimes they sing too. Actually, Kristoff is the only one who sings. She only tried it once and with a history within. Her brother's voice is amazingly good, unlike her appalling voice. Only, her brother doesn't like being with her inside a beauty parlor or a boutique for girls. Because for him, it was boring.

    She was about to leave when she saw the Beauteous Boutique, a Korean shop that she really likes to buy cosmetic products and the one Kristoff said was boring yet he took some products from it. She entered the glass door and walked straight to the sale products. Rey's face brightens. She searched for a face mask which she is longing for. Unfortunately, it's beyond her reach. She tried her best but it seems that she's too small to reach it. 'Am I really diminutive?', she pouted. But she didn't give up. She still reached for it. Rey's a bit stubborn too, her brother always tells her. Suddenly, a hand grabs it effortlessly. She turned to face a tall debonair guy beside her. His face doesn't seem to be familiar to her. His hair is neatly beautiful, and it attracts her. He seems like a nice rich guy based on his neat outfit. He is wearing a warm v-neck shirt and three-fourth pale pants. He also wears a white watch that matches his delicate pale skin. He hands over the face mask to her. She surprisingly looked at him in the eyes.

    "Thanks", was all she could say. She turned her back on him. She thought, 'Is he gay? " It was sure wondering that a guy could be here at this kind of boutique. 

    "Wait." She faced him again. This time, she could view the whole height of him. He's indeed tall, about 5'10 inches.

    "Is there anything you need, perhaps?", she asked him wondering. But his voice is really manly. Thus, there are a lot of gays whose voices are manly.

    The guy is perhaps thinking because it took him a few seconds to answer, "Ahh... Do you know a lipstick called Max Factor? ", he asked scratching the back of his neck. I stood there staring at him.