Tangled in Notes

Chapter One

Life.

I sighed, siting down the bench, frowning. I could see people passing in front of me through my netted eyes. I’ve been standing up for hours now. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tired. My knees were about to give up.

The moment I removed my big head and fanned myself, I let out a soft cough that my throat has been enduring for the past few hours. I worked as a mascot for Toy Empire. The management warned me it won’t be an easy job, but I still accepted it. I needed to earn money for an apartment and maybe school... College...

I smiled as the cold air lingered through my warm face. The feeling I get when I’m inside the mascot was like heat from an oven – hot. For a city that’s rarely hot, it wasn’t normal.

I wandered around and asked myself why everyone was ignoring the shop today. "This is really a bad day." I mumbled to myself and wore the head back once again. I stood after encouraging myself a little harder, and uttered, “I can do this.” 

After cheering for myself, I spun back around, waving at random people, and passing them flyers even if they always ended up throwing it away.

It’s really hot in here. 

My feet were heavy. My head was heavy. Even my thin hands were heavy his time. Everything was heavy. I twirled around and stared at the store that had a small amount of customers. I could even count them from outside because of how limited there were. A slight pang of jealousy hit me so I averted my gaze and turned to the person leaning against the entrance of the store I work for.

Guess he found out I was having my pay today

I crossed my arms and he must’ve realized I was looking at his direction because he smirked over my black striped vision giving me a quite rad expression on his face.

I raised my hand and looked at my watch. Luckily, the mascot was lousy so I could see or remove my hand from the costume itself without trying to get off the overall. If I didn’t know the mascot was a little blonde girl with two braids, I could’ve described myself as the man in a dinosaur mascot in Big Hero 6.

It was already the end of my shift so I shot up from my position and ran to the door. I stopped the moment I reached there and turned to him, raising my mascot hand gesturing him to wait for me. He nodded with a smile and I rolled my eyes running to the stock room.

When I reached the basement - where they kept their employee’s lockers - I quickly removed the mascot costume I was wearing, and placed them back to the box where I always kept them. After fixing myself, the shop manager came towards me and I bowed. 

“Sir.”

"Here." He handed me an envelope and I smiled grabbing it.

"Thank you so much, sir."

He shook his head. "No. Please. You worked hard. You deserve that. Keep up the good work, Julia. We are lucky to have you. You’re very hard-working. Although, we couldn’t come up with the same profit we had the past few days, you still managed to get customers."

I smiled and bobbed my head. "I’ll try harder, sir."

He nodded, walking away. I placed it inside my bag and walked out of the stock room. I walked towards where I left him - my best friend-by-name, who was still waiting for me.

He turned upon my arrival.

"Cutting classes again now, Min?" I asked with a teasing look.

He chuckled and we both walked away. "Nah. Good thing our teacher dismissed us earlier or I could’ve missed your treat." He grinned, making me laugh.

"I bet you just made that up just now so you can rob me the way you always do whenever it's pay-day." I replied which he responded to with a loud snort. "It’s quite unfair that you always know when I get my pay." I raised my brow and he laughed along shaking his head.

"Believe me or not, I would cut class if I knew our teacher would overtime his class just to meet you.”

I looked away in disbelief.

"What about you?" I turned waiting for him to finish his phrase. "Is this your last shift for today?"

I cluck my tongue and glared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean? It's like you want me to work all the time," I frowned and slapped his arm lightly.

"What? No!” he paused looking at me and laughed. “I wouldn’t be called a friend now if I was like that, would I?” he smirked. “Aren’t you even used to seeing my handsome face every day in front of your shop? It’s like you’re trying so hard to play hard to get."

“I am NOT playing hard to get.”

“Maybe not, but me being handsome part is true.”

I let out a slight laugh. "Whatever."

“So, you do think I’m handsome.”

I glanced at him with a frown. I crossed my arms tight. “What?”

“Since, you didn’t really argue over the fact that I said I was handsome and just said ‘whatever’, I guess you approved it all along. You like me.”

I almost choked as I turned to him. Unbelievable. “Excuse me?” I coughed. “Only when pigs fly.”

“But they already did.”

I looked at him wondering. Did they?

“In Spy Kids. You haven’t watched that yet?”

I shook my head with a chuckle. “I don’t even know why girls like you.”

“Stop right there,” he raised his hand like a stop sign and turned to me creasing his brows. “Do you honestly think it’s gross for you to like me? Girls in my school run after me all the time and here you are, standing with the only guy who is manly enough to approach and talk to you.”

I smiled. “Exactly. It’s nice to know that your brain finally functions now, Min.” I patted his back with a teasing chuckle. “Good for you.” I added walking away from him with a laugh. It always feels good to tease him.

When I turned to my side, he was already there walking next to me. He was wearing a blank expression and I chuckled. Big deal.

He was handsome, don’t get me wrong. His jaws were as sharp as those models you see in magazines. He had perfect brown, wavy hair, and his eyes were eyes of a fierce crow. His smile was charming because he had baby fangs. His nose was pointy and yes, he was an ideal guy. Problem is, I knew if he ever heard me say that, he would only feel more arrogant about it.

"So. . .”

I turned to him who finally spoke. Thank God. I thought he’d ignore me forever. “Are you planning on registering school this year? I heard they were recruiting new students. Why don't you give it a shot?"

I turned to him with an unbelievable glare. "My income's just your allowance. I hope you’re aware that you're far more capable financially, Mr. Zeiger."

"So? You can apply as a scholar. You get to pay half the tuition fee."

"Really?” I asked in disbelief.

He nodded. "Yea—"

"But I still can't. I'm earning for our apartment. I don't want to be a burden to Aunt Sue and her family anymore."

He looked at me pitifully. "You know you can always borrow money from me, Julia." He paused. "Besides, it's been your dream to be in a music school right? Well, MESPA High's probably the cheapest music school out there."

Armin goes to MESPA High because it was a project by his father who wanted to help the ones who couldn’t afford to study music in expensive ones. It was a great charity help, to be honest. Min’s dad was a nice man after all. But even if it was cheap, it was still far too expensive for me to be at.

"Cheapest but still too much for me.” I paused. “I'm prioritizing my sister's future. I don't want her to end up like me, you know. I want her to go to school this year."

Min grunted, shaking his head in disapproval. "You always think about your sister. What about your future? Don’t tell me you wish to be a mascot for a lame toy store in a lame street, for the rest of your life?"

I glanced over at him, chuckling at his harsh comments about Toy Empire. "Yes. I do wish to produce music but— even if I go to your school, I wouldn't even create one." I sighed. “It’s hard and I don’t think I can do it, and no, I don’t want to be a mascot for the rest of my life. Thanks for asking.”

“You keep concluding yet you haven’t even tried.”

“Trying doesn’t usually end well.”

“There’s no harm in trying you know.”

“I know that.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m just really afraid—”

“There!” he exclaimed and my eyes widened at his sudden voice change. “There you go again. You’re making conclusions even if you know it’s not accurate.”

I pressed my lips together.

"Come on." He tilted his head a little to the side and grabbed my forearm. "Let's eat fried ice cream. You got your pay right? Treat me." He grinned and I pouted. He was always like this.

Even if I did argue with him, there was no way for him to stop pulling me. I covered my mouth preparing to cough after feeling my throat get itchy. I felt the itch a while ago but I managed to keep it in. I worried that Min would force me into a hospital.

He patted my back. "You okay?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, I—" I tried to prevent the cough but it was too itchy so it just came out. I raised my hand to rest assure him and finally calmed down. I tapped my chest as it start to get heavier again. "I've been coughing really hard these days. Maybe because of the weather changing too many times."

"Why don't you consult a doctor?"

There...

"That might get something serious,"

I nodded. "I know. I know. But it's just not in my financial list right now."

He sighed. "Why do you always follow that list? You mean you won't care if someday you'll find out you have cancer in the brain?"

I laughed. "I won't have that." I rolled my eyes.

"You never know."

I turned to him with a frown and he grinned.

"Kidding!" He laughed and I just looked down not breathing normally. I'm just tired.

"Aunt Sue! I'm home!"

I yelled and I immediately saw her peek from the wall divider between the dining and kitchen area. "Oh, Julia dear. Go wash up and I'll get dinner ready. Call your uncle and your sis—"

"JULIA!"

I instantly smiled and turned to Jaimee, who jumped to my arms as soon as I kneeled down, spreading my arms for her.

"Did you come up with a lot of money today?"

"I sure did." I kissed her cheeks and she giggled. I raised the paper bag I prepared for her. It was fried ice cream that Armin bought her because he knew Jaimee really liked that dessert. They looked cute together. If I saw them together in a park, I'd think they were siblings by blood. "It's from Min."

She blushed and I pinched her cheeks. "M-Min?"

I nodded and brought her down the floor. She ran away and I laughed. "I guess you don't need to call her. Call your uncle for me instead." I turned and nodded at aunt Sue. I took careful steps as I ascended up the stairs.

I knocked on Uncle Dave’s room and he responded with a 'come in'. "Aunt said to call you down for dinner, uncle."

He nodded and moved his newspaper down. "I'll be right there." He smiled and I closed his door.

I walked towards me and Jaimee's room and I looked at the notebook I used, where I kept all the records I have regarding my financial expenses. There were a lot written there as I scanned through the list. Just a little more and we can finally have our own apartment, Jaimee.

I earn at least a thousand buck and it was the pay I had for my hard work for two years of not studying and— 

"Julia dear?!"

I pressed my lips together. "Yes, aunt Sue?!" I yelled back.

"Can you come down and help me with the table please? Your uncle wouldn’t know how if I call for him."

“I can hear you!”

I chuckled a little when uncle responded to aunt’s words. I closed my notebook and walked out of our room. I went down and fixed the table where we’ll be eating. Fixed the plates, spoons, forks in place and so did the glasses.

THE NEXT DAY.

After my Toy Empire shift, I went to my next one. Diamond Dust next. It's a restaurant, and a pretty underappreciated one too. My boss was a very popular chef who came from U. K. He was nice enough to land me a position in his set of amazing staffs. He's probably one of the best owner I've ever worked under with.

I went to the stock room over the very edge of the building and placed my bag in the locker for employees. I worked with Yana who came from Brazil and we were pretty close, I guess. We talked a lot but not as close as I am with Armin.

After dropping my things away from the kitchen, I am ready to work. I wore my hairnet and wrapped myself with an apron we were all required to wear.

I went to the kitchen and greeted the chefs who were nothing but nice to me. It was overwhelming how humble and friendly everyone were despite their high profiles. "Hello, Julia. How was your day-off yesterday?" Chef Kwon asked and I smiled.

"It was fine, chef." I looked down.

He laughed. "Okay. I’ll get going. I need to catch up with my flight."

I bowed. “Have a safe trip, chef Kwon.” I waved.

I went towards the sink and stared at how full it was. I sighed and started washing the dishes people ate at. Of course, I was wearing gloves. My skin was pretty sensitive sometimes. Last night, another reddish bump formed over my thigh, but of course, I don't know what allergy I touched or ate so I don’t really know what to avoid.

After my shift at Diamond Dust, I left the shop and proceeded immediately back to the house. As usual, I greeted my second parents. They stood in front of me with smiles on their faces. I couldn't figure out why they were smiling so widely at me. I was starting to get nervous.

"Aunt Sue?"

She smiled and looked at uncle.

What's going on? I thought and creased my brows lightly.

She brought her hands up, and there revealed a key. I stared at it confused of why they were suddenly showing me a rather unfamiliar key. "I hope you’ll like it there, in your apartment."

I did not respond. “I—”

"You work really hard, dear.” Aunt Sue handed me the key, squeezing my hands with it. “You even give us half of your income every month instead of keeping them, and earning them for yourself. For the future you want."

"A-Aunt Sue," I looked at both of them. "I-I can’t—"

"You can study and go to school with what you earned. We talked about Jaimee, and we decided to take her to school that’s near here. Worry about yourself, dear. We'll take care of your sister’s studies and you can go to school as well. You were always independent. You deserve better than this."

A smile lifted up in my face, and I couldn’t help but stare at the key they just gave me. I hugged them in tears. "Thank you, Aunt Sue." I mumbled. "Thank you...”