"Why? Why did this happen to me?"
Our main character groans. He is sitting on a park bench alone and groaning at the setting sun. His appearance is normal. He does not have any memorable qualities.
But life has not been easy for him. He has faced many difficulties. He had to pay for himself. His father died a few years ago. His mother is also dead as of a month ago.
He is now an orphan who has no one in the world. His relatives? No, he was not in touch with them. And out of sight, out of mind. They have forgotten about him.
He was preparing for such a possibility. But nothing went his way. He is only 28 years old. But he is penniless.
All his money were spent to treat his mother but in the end, she died. He only has a single hundred dollars bill.
That is his entire fortune. As a kid, he was pessimistic. He never socialized and didn't try to make friends. So he is truly alone in this entire world.
"What should I do now? I was kicked out of another job and this makes the third in a row."
He was getting by somehow with part time jobs but he keeps getting dismissed. The reason escapes him also.
In that empty park, he sits alone. All depressed. His monologuing is getting heavy.
But he gets up.
"I have always believed in myself. No God or Devil will help me until I help myself. So let me begin."
He takes his phone and dials a number.
It's true that he has no friends but he has some acquaintances. He will try asking for a favor.
The phone is ringing. And someone picked it up.
(Hello!)
"Ah..is this Mr. Nathaniel by any chance?"
(Yes. Who's asking?)
"I am Henry Davis. We once met a few years ago."
(Ah..Mr. Davis. To what do I owe the pleasure?)
"Actually I need a favor. I need a job. Even temporary job will do. I really need money or I will have to starve to death."
(So I take it that your parents are gone?)
"Yes. My mother died last month. What do you think? Can you do me that favor?"
(Of course. How about you come here? To my place and discuss the terms of your job.)
"That will be really helpful."
He ends the call. It was his first time asking for a favor but it went surprisingly well. Mr. Nathaniel is a philanthropist.
They met at a derby a few years ago. Henry was there for a friend and met Mr. Nathaniel. They hit it off really well and exchanged contacts.
"Never did I think that I would actually ask for help from someone I only met once."
He is amazed at himself. But then he remembered. Mr. Nathaniel lives 4 towns away. Trains are not running due to an accident. Bus…he doesn't have the money.
He can't rent a car or a motorcycle. His only options are, walking or hitchhiking or cycling all the way.
He proceeds to rent a bicycle.
"What can happen?"
He starts peddling at a relatively high speed.
It's about 20 miles away from his current location. So 2 hours at most.
He peddles with all his might until he reaches his destination. His legs are about to fall off. His throat is parched. He is showering in sweat and his eyes look dead.
Normally, he would be taken to the asylum but he returned the rental bicycle and headed for Mr. Nathaniel's house. It is at the top of a hill.
His personal estate is big. He walked for another 10 minutes until he reached his destination. He fixed his hair and washed his face at a nearby basin.
"This is the best I can do for now."
He says and presses the doorbell. Well, the main gate that is.
It's just evening. The intercom spoke and he said who he was.
The door opened and he entered. But halfway through, he met a butler.
"Are you Mr. Davis?"
"Yes. I am Henry Davis."
"Then please come. My master is waiting for you."
He leads the way to the mansion. The paved road was long and he could see the mansion. It is big.
When he entered the mansion, he was led to the drawing room.
"Please take a seat. Master will shortly arrive."
The butler left. Henry saw a jug of water and he drank the entire jug. His throat was as dry as the Sahara so he had to.
After drinking water, my head started working again. I waited for Mr. Nathaniel to arrive. And he did. With a surprised look on his face.
He is double my age. So about 58 years old. But his dignified face feels stern. A man who has gone through a lot.
"I am surprised that you came today. We talked only 2 hours ago." (Nathaniel)
"Well, it's better to finish this quickly. I have only have 50 dollars left."
"Only 50 dollars?" (Nathaniel)
"Yes. So I had to find a job quickly. In that regard, do you have something?"
"That can wait. How did you come here so quickly?" (Nathaniel)
"Bicycle. I rented a bicycle and peddled my way here."
He is shocked. Normally, anyone would be shocked.
"What type of job are you looking for?" (Nathaniel)
"Anything as long as it pays. It doesn't have to be too much. If I can live in quarter, then that's even better."
He didn't have that much of a demand. Mr. Nathaniel thought about it.
"Then how about you work for me? I need a reliable person to manage my estate. You can live there and you will be paid well." (Nathaniel)
"That's good and all but is that all?"
"Yes. You just need to live there. Can you cook?" (Nathaniel)
"Yes. I can."
"Then you don't need someone to cook for you. The place I am talking about is a bit far and kind of desolate. My estate there is just sitting there catching dust. So I was thinking of hiring someone to take care of it." (Nathaniel)
"When do I start my work?"
"From tomorrow. I will give you a big car as well. It will be hard if you don't have ride of your own. How about you spend the night here?" (Nathaniel)
"You are too kind. I will take that offer. Besides, I have no money anyway."
Henry stayed the night at Mr. Nathaniel's house. The next day, he departed for his workplace.
It was in another state so it would take some time. However, Mr. Nathaniel had taken steps and got him there as soon as possible.
"This place!!"
Henry was first shocked when he saw the place. A haunted house. It is actually a really good place but the atmosphere has turned haunted.
Like ghosts live there.
"If ghosts live there, I won't be bored."
Henry picked up his little belongings and went inside. Mr. Nathaniel had already sent the necessary cleaning tools and gave him some money.
"First, let's make this place habitable again."
Henry started cleaning as soon as possible. It would take a long time so he ordered takeout.
It was a tiring job. The cleaning took a lot longer than he expected. And the takeout was the right choice. He finished his work and retired for the day at midnight.
A lot happened after he went to sleep but he was too tired to even notice. He slept right through it.
The next day, he carried on his duties. He trimmed the grass and cleaned the outside. The mansion was finally livable again.
"I did a good job if I say so."
He was proud of himself to have finished it this quickly. Soon it became evening and he went inside.
"I'll order takeout today as well. I don't feel like shopping."
He ordered takeout from the same place. When the delivery guy came, he was stunned.
"Looks completely different, doesn't it?" (Henry)
The delivery guy just kept shaking his head and left soon. He ate dinner and retired early. Because he plans on going shopping next day.
Similar to last night, a lot of things happened which he didn't notice. The things were flying around the room and it was shaking. Typical haunted house setting.
Next morning, he left. He plans on buying a new mattress for the bed and a few other supplies. It would take him a while to return.
While out, someone came out from the closet.
"That guy, is he not afraid of me?"
A girl in her 20's spoke. She is fair and has a nice face. Her body is also mature and reflects her age. But something is odd. Because Henry is supposed to live alone. Yet this girl has been with him since the beginning.
"Tonight, I will have to be rowdier than before. So that guy goes running away from this place."
She was exactly a ghost. But she failed to notice one thing. Henry was standing right behind her.
"My senses didn't deceive me. I did think someone is living alongside me but to think it was a girl." (Henry)
He spoke suddenly and the girl was caught off guard.
"Hyyaaahh…."
She lets out a weirdly cute shriek. She even jumped away from Henry.
"So can I have your name?" (Henry)
"My name….is Noe. I am a ghost living here." (Noe)
She became meek at the sight of Henry.
"Nice. I won't be bored. Nice to meet you, Noe. I am Henry Davis. Hope to live together in harmony." (Henry)
He puts his hand forward for a handshake. Noe was reluctant but she heaved a sigh and held his hand.
Henry held her hand shook it. Noe becomes extremely flustered.
"Surprised that I held your hand?" (Henry)
Henry guessed it. As a ghost, she should not be able to hold anything physically. Everything should just phase through her.
"Don't think too much of it. I have wandered the boundary of life and death a few times now. I can interact with incorporeal beings." (Henry)
Noe just stood there dumbfounded. For the first time, she met someone who can not only see but touch her as well.
"Do you have any favorites? Anything is fine. I want to cook but I can't decide what to cook." (Henry)
"Then it will be Hamburger steak. I love it." (Noe)
"Hamburger steaks, huh! It'll be easy to make and tasty. Maybe I'll make some demi glacé sauce as well." (Henry)
Henry is fired up about dinner. He quickly bought necessary items and started his preparations.
"You are weird, aren't you?" (Noe)
When he was stirring the sauce, Noe said that.
"A bit, maybe. But you are the same. A ghost who lingers in this world instead of going to the afterlife is weird. Why are you still here?" (Henry)
"I am afraid. I died before my parents. Before I could see the world myself. I am afraid of leaving this world." (Noe)
"You are a crybaby. That much is clear." (Henry)
"Shut it." (Noe)
Their interactions were lively. Henry met someone who he could spend time with. Noe met someone who she could talk to. It was going well.
"Maybe I should invite your father too." (Henry)
"Eh!" (Noe)
"Just kidding. You probably wouldn't want to face your father like that." (Henry)
Henry told her to wait while he shops. He is thinking of things to buy. But a certain question arises.
"What does a ghost eat?"
He didn't have a clue. Do ghost's even need to eat? But he bought many things anyway. The house has a working fridge in it. He can just stash his fridge and be okay with shopping.
He had no special preferences for food anyway. He can eat pretty much anything as long as it's edible.
While going back, he caught a glimpse of someone familiar. A man in his 30's was riding a motorbike with a woman.
"So they are getting along just fine."
He mutters as he arrives at his home. Noe opens the door and welcomes him.
"You sure took your time." (Noe)
"Well, I bought a lot of things. Don't worry, I also got meat for your hamburger steaks. We'll have a blast. But can you eat?"
"I can. But it doesn't work that well. I will have to possess your body to enjoy the meal completely." (Noe)
"That's fine by me. So let's get to cooking."
Henry starts cooking and Noe is watching him cook.
From a normal perspective, this is very peculiar. But Henry is extremely adaptive. He can adapt to new situations quickly. It doesn't bother him a tiny bit that Noe is a ghost.
In a sense, Henry is a misfit. People like him are normally shunned because they don't have anything they are too attached to. But Noe who is attached to the world and Henry who is as detached as he can be, make a perfect contrast.
They contrast each other. That's why they are suitable for each other. We will come back to their story some other time. Because, both of them are tied to their past. Their past needs to be resolved in order for them to be truly together.