My "wife"

I look at the clock that shows ten o'clock in the morning, I get out of bed stretching and go to the bathroom where I relieve myself and then I take a quiet shower. It's a good thing I'm going to college tomorrow, otherwise, I would have been late. I get out in my towel and rummage through my closet for what I'm going to wear today. I decide on sportswear, which consists of black Nike tights, a black sports top, a white sweatshirt, and my white sneakers. I comb my hair and do some boxer braids.

I leave my room and go straight to the kitchen. My mother works from seven to five in the afternoon, so I have the house to myself. I decide to make myself some orange juice and pancakes.

When I finish breakfast I see that it's eleven o'clock, more like lunch than breakfast. I go back to my room when I hear the notification sound of my cell phone. I go to the bedside table where I have it charging, I see it's a message from Aby.

"Can you video call?"

I hit reply.

"Yep."

I answer and within seconds I have the incoming call.

-Hello-I say when I see her.

-Hello love, how is everything over there?- she asks. We always call each other that, it's like my "wife". I see her walking around the campus.

- Well, yesterday I went to see Uncle Bob and Aunt Rose- I see her stop walking.

-Wow, and does your mother know? Did they remember you? What are they like? Are they still at the same gym you told me about? There were hot guys? - I roll my eyes in amusement.

- My mother doesn't know, she thinks I don't remember. Two, yes they remembered me; three, they're like my family, when you come over I'll introduce you to them. Four, yes, yes they're still at the same gym; and yes Aby, yes there were hot guys.-I watch her bite her lip. I roll my eyes again.

-Now I'm three times as eager to finish the semester and move there. Everything here is so boring, my parents keep pressuring me with my studies- she snorts.

-Did you talk to Nataly about my position?

-Yep, she told me that since the position is vacant and she knows me, she has hired me. I will combine it with the university and the cafeteria. All to be able to go there.

-Thank goodness they gave us both scholarships at this uni -I walk to the living room and throw myself on the couch.

-Yes, I have enough money saved and when I sell the car I will be able to pay for everything. In five I go into class pfff.

-I'm going in tomorrow, I hate being the new one- I grunt and she laughs.

-You'll do great, you'll see, tomorrow we'll talk and you'll tell me how it went, I love you.

-I love you too baby, bye- I say and hang up. I let out a snort. I look at the time and frown, the movers should have arrived by now. I decide to call my mother.

CALL*

-You know I can't answer at work- she grunts as soon as I answer.

- I know, but the movers haven't arrived yet- I answer.

-They'll be here at half-past twelve, bye- she says and hangs up. I look at the clock, it's forty past eleven. I start to pick up and clean everything.

As my mother said, at twelve o'clock the intercom rings, I let them go upstairs and leave the door open. A guy comes in with a cart with boxes, he gives me the car keys.

-Good morning, the car is downstairs. I look at the boxes with Eleanor's name on them.

- The ones with Eleanor in the first room on the left and the ones with Kara in the back room- I answer and he nods. He leaves the boxes in the room and goes back downstairs. In half an hour they have everything upstairs since they are three guys. They leave all the boxes in the corresponding places and leave, saying goodbye politely.

I close the door. Let's get to work. I start by putting away everything from the kitchen.

***

It's five o'clock and my mother is about to arrive. I'm in my room studying so as not to miss a beat. I hear the door of the house and then the sound of my mother's heels, she peeks into my room.

-Have you tidied everything?

-Everything but yours for you to arrange as you wish. I'm leaving in a little while- I announce.

-Where to?

- I'm going to look for a job- I answer and she nods, she knows it won't come to anything to discuss it, according to her I have to focus on my studies.

-Don't be too late, you have college tomorrow and I don't want you to stain my name, understood?

I snort and she leaves my room. I take my sports bag where I put my boxing gear. I leave the bag on the bed and go to the bathroom where I wash my face and teeth to clear my head. I take the keys, the bag and my cell phone and leave the house without saying anything. When I get out of the building I feel the cold impact on my face. I put on my hood and start walking towards the gym.