CHAPTER FOUR

FRIEND

“Hey” I said.

Apple turned toward me.

“I thought you didn’t get my message” she said looking relief.

I realized she had her red bag with her.

“Luckily I did” I replied unlocking the door.

“This building is really scary you know” she began walking pass me while looking around the neat small sitting room. “Oh look!”

She walked out to the balcony. I picked up the watering kettle as I followed her.

“What do you mean scary?” I asked while placing the watering kettle near the six potted plants and stood beside her.

“I mean the people, they are strange and foreign” she replied. “Hey look! I can see my bedroom from here.”

“Yeah” I replied still with my eyes on her.

“So, you always see me in my bedroom?” she asked still with her eyes on the opposite K-building.

“Sometimes” I replied.

“That is cool” she said touching the yellow roses on the potted plant.

“So…What brings you here?” I finally asked.

She moved back inside as I followed her.

“Is it wrong for your friend to come and visit you?” she asked.

“No” I replied.

“But?” she asked while taking a seat on the couch.

“The red bag” I softly replied

I had known very well that she had probably gotten into a fight with her grandfather’s girlfriend. Apple would always complain about how her grandfather’s girlfriend who would waste food, she also said that her grandfather’s girlfriend stole her late mother’s clothes and wore them or even worse sold them. What was really getting me angry was the fact that her grandfather would always side with his girlfriend not his granddaughter.

She let out a long unease sigh.

“Fine, you are right I’m not fine” she said looking embarrassed. “My grandfather and his girlfriend had a fight and this is causing my grandfather to fight with me. He blames me for their fights and…”

“You can sleep over” I quickly said as I took a seat next to her.

“I hate putting you in this awkward position” she said softly.

“It’s really okay” I said. “I’m your friend and it is my responsibility to make sure that you are alright.”

She rapidly hugged me as I felt her steaming tears wetting my chest.

“Thank you, Siren,” she said softly.

I held her tightly in my arms with my eyes closed.

~ ~ ~ ~

I slowly wiped my face as I stared at my face on the mirror which was covered with steam. I slowly reached my hand toward it as I wiped it with my hand as I stared at myself on the mirror.

Water dripped down my face as I wiped my hair with my towel then silently watched my breast on the mirror. Toll was right, my breast were too big. They were just attracting trouble nothing more or less.

“I hate you” I said softly as I took the roll of bandages on the sink.

I started rolling them around my chest carefully. I had been doing this for the last four years so I could protect myself from this evil world I lived in.

My ears suddenly caught the loud noise which I knew was from Apple’s phone as a smile slid out.

“Apple” I said while pulling my nevy pyjamas which had turn grey from the chair beside me.

After a few minutes I walked out of the bathroom. I walked inside the kitchen and that was when I noticed that all the dirty dishes on the sink were washed. I then went out heading to my bedroom. As I approached it the music got louder and louder.

I slowly opened the door and that was when I saw Apple dancing to the music on her phone. Her spinning and clapping were just in time for the following beats. I didn’t want to disturb her as I leaned against the door frame with my eyes on her.

As soon as she saw me she rapidly stopped dancing and rushed to her phone which was on the dresser, switching off the loud music.

“I didn’t know you could dance” I said walking inside while I closed the door behind me.

She didn’t respond or look at me.

I sat on my bed then looked at her reflection on the mirror, but with all the numerous pictures on it I could hardly see her.

“I think you should enter the school dancing competition” I said again.

She didn’t say anything but her fingers ran through the numerous pictures stuck on my dressing table. I got up and walked toward her.

“My father took that picture” I said with a little laughter still with my eyes on the photo of Jin and me.

I was still ten years old and Jin was five back then.

“It’s beautiful” Apple said still running her long slim fingers on it.

“Yeah” I said softly.

“In fact, they are all beautiful” she said again.

Suddenly her phone vibrated as her grandfather’s name appeared on the screen. She picked it up and answered it. I took my sketch book from the dresser then sat on my bed while I stared at her, while she was talking to her phone.

After a few seconds she switched it off then turned her body toward me.

“You have to go?” I rapidly asked.

She nodded.

“Fine, I’ll escort you out” I said getting up.

“Don’t worry I’ll be fine” she said with a smile on her face.

I gave her an unsure look.

“I mean it. I’ll manage on my own” she said.

She took her black jacket from the chair and her red bag then walked out. I heard the front down open then close. I rapidly went to the balcony. It was already dark outside but my vision was still sharp. I watched her wear her jacket while crossing the quiet thirty-three street.

My ears suddenly heard the front door click open as I rushed inside hoping to see her face appear from the front door.

“You are back” I said looking at my mother who had just entered.

“So late?” I said again.

“There were a lot of people today I needed to make sure their clothes were washed, so they will be ready for pick up tomorrow” she replied placing the brown paper bag on the table.

I walked toward it as I opened it.

“Bread and jam “I said with my eyes on the bread and tin of jam in the brown paper bag.

“I thought I saw your friend coming from inside this building” my mother began.

“She was here to help me write my math homework” I lied as I picked up the brown paper bag heading to the kitchen.

“That’s nice” she replied from the sitting room. “So, Siren did you see the note I left on the table?” she asked.

“Yes, I did” I replied walking back inside the sitting room carrying her bowl. “And I took it to Mrs. Shem like you had requested.”

“Thank you” she said taking a sit on the couch.

She took the bowl with rice and chicken curry I had prepared for her and started eating it.

“Are you okay?” I asked kneeling before her while helping her take off her sandals.

“Just tired nothing serious” she replied. “And you? How was school?”

“It was okay” I replied as I sat next to her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Well...I was wondering if you won’t mind if I use your hand sewing machine” I said.

I knew very well that my mother didn’t like sharing her sewing machine not even with me. She feared that I would break it. I knew it meant the world to her since my father bought it for her as a gift in her birthday.

It was only thing that kept her close to my father who I knew she missed dearly.

“What are you needing it for?” she asked.

“My skirt’s zip is loose” I replied.

“So, I wanted to fix it” I said again with my eyes on her face.

She kept quiet as if she was thinking for a way to avoid my request.

“Please” I begged.

She sighed.

“Fine” she finally replied. “You first must place it in the sun before using it.”

“Already done that” I softy replied as I headed out to the balcony.