When Aki returned, she found that Kanro was no longer there. "Wait, where did he go?" she muttered, glancing around the area, searching for Kanro but to no avail.
Frustrated, she checked her phone, hoping there was a message from Kanro.
Kanro's text message: "Aki, I left. Don't bother looking for me. I need to be alone."
Realizing that Kanro had already left, Aki decided to head home and eat the food she had bought. As she walked, she began eating the ice cream to prevent it from melting.
Upon arriving at her small, lonely apartment, Aki took a deep breath and sat on her bed. She pondered why Kanro was acting this way.
She knew he was going through something, but why couldn't he trust her?
"Kanro, what's really going on with you?" she whispered to herself.
Feeling overwhelmed, Aki decided to distract herself by eating the food she had bought earlier. After finishing her meal, she cleared the table and washed the dishes, her mind still preoccupied with worries about Kanro.
She sighed deeply, feeling the weight of loneliness and helplessness.
Determined to find some distraction, Aki decided to immerse herself in drawing. She set up her drawing supplies on the desk, pulling out her sketchbook and pencils.
The familiar routine of drawing brought her a slight sense of comfort.
"Focus, Aki," she told herself, trying to push thoughts of Kanro and Shiki aside.
As she drew, for some reason, tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. "What's going on? Why are my tears falling?" she wondered to herself.
Hours passed as Aki worked on her artwork. She finally set her pencil down, feeling mentally and emotionally drained and a bit confused.
She gazed at the sketches she had created, and as she looked at them, her head began to throb with pain for no apparent reason.
"Argh, what's happening?" she groaned.
The pain became too much to bear, so she decided to go to sleep, hoping it would go away.
She lay down, hugging her pillow tightly, and whispered a silent "Ate..." before drifting into a restless sleep.
PS: Ate means Sister
As the morning sun filtered through her window, Aki slowly awoke. The headache had subsided, but a sense of unease lingered. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She sat up in bed, rubbing her temples and trying to gather her thoughts.
"Why did I feel so strange last night?" she wondered aloud. Determined to shake off the lingering discomfort, Aki decided to forget about it and continued with her morning routine. She prepared breakfast and cooked some extra food to bring to Kanro.
After packing the food, she headed out and made her way to where Kanro was staying. She knocked on the door, but there was no response. So Aki decided to use the spare key she had to open the door and leave the food at the dining table, hoping Kanro would find it.
After that, she went straight to school.
When she arrived at school, Aki couldn't concentrate on her classes. Her mind kept drifting back to Kanro and the strange events of the previous night. She tried to focus on her lectures, but the worry gnawed at her.
During lunch break, Aki's friend, Mike, noticed her distracted state and approached her. "Aki, you seem really out of it today. Is everything okay?" Mike asked with concern.
Aki glanced at Mike, her expression neutral. "I'm fine," she replied shortly but with enthusiasm, not wanting to share her emotions or problems.
Mike raised an eyebrow but decided not to press further. "Alright, if you say so. Just know I'm here if you need anything."
"Yeah, thanks, Mike," she replied, smiling.
After classes, Aki went straight home and immersed herself in finishing her art commission. "I need to finish this. I need the money," she said to herself.
She carefully added the final touches to the portrait, ensuring every detail was perfect. Once satisfied, she packed the artwork securely and prepared to deliver it to her customer. "Finally, it's done," she sighed.
After packing the artwork, she headed to her customer's place. Aki rang the doorbell. Moments later, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman with a warm smile. "Aki, it's so good to see you," the woman greeted.
Aki returned the greeting with a nod. "Hello, Mrs. Santos. I've finished the portrait you requested."
Mrs. Santos's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, wonderful! Come in, come in."
Aki followed her inside and carefully unpacked the portrait, revealing the beautifully detailed artwork. Mrs. Santos gasped in delight. "It's perfect! You truly have a gift, Aki."
Aki, with her humble heart, said, "Not really, hahaha."
"But thank you, Mrs. Santos. I'm glad you like it," she added.
Mrs. Santos reached for her purse and handed Aki an envelope. "Here's the payment we agreed upon. You've outdone yourself."
Aki accepted the envelope with a slight bow. "Thank you, Mrs. Santos."
As Aki walked towards the door, she paused to take off her face mask. She turned back to Mrs. Santos and gave a genuine smile. "Thank you again, Mrs. Santos," she said warmly.
Mrs. Santos returned the smile, feeling reassured. "You're welcome, Aki. Take care."
After leaving Mrs. Santos's home, Aki decided to do some grocery shopping before heading back to her apartment. She walked to the nearby market, thinking about the meals she wanted to prepare for the week. "What would be good for dinner? Chicken adobo or grilled chicken?" she mused.
"Hmm, what should I choose?"
As she approached the market, she couldn't help but notice the beautiful sky above. Aki paused, captivated by the view. "It's so beautiful," she whispered to herself, feeling a moment of peace.
She reached into her bag and pulled out her camera, eager to capture the beauty of the moment. She framed the shot carefully, making sure to include the vibrant colors and the few wispy clouds that adorned the sky. After taking a few pictures, she smiled, satisfied with her work.
Aki then proceeded to pick out her groceries. She wandered through the aisles, selecting fresh vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients. "Hmm, let's see... some chicken, potatoes, and maybe some greens," she thought to herself as she placed the items in her basket.
At the market, Aki made her way to the cashier's counter. Being a regular customer, she exchanged a friendly greeting with the cashier. "Hello, Ate Maria."
Ate Maria smiled warmly. "Hi, Aki. Doing your usual grocery run?"
Aki nodded. "Yes, just picking up some things for dinner."
Ate Maria scanned Aki's items quickly. "Looks like you're making something delicious. Your total is 350 pesos."
Aki handed over the money. "Thanks, Ate Maria. Have a great day."
"You too, Aki. Take care," Ate Maria replied as she gave Aki her change and the bag of groceries.
With a quick wave, Aki left the market, feeling a bit lighter after the friendly interaction.
Before preparing her meal, Aki decided to visit the landlord to pay her rent. She grabbed her wallet and headed to the landlord's office, which was just a few doors down from her apartment.
As she knocked on the door, Mr. Cruz, the landlord, opened it with a welcoming smile. "Good evening, Aki. How are you?"
"Good evening, Mr. Cruz. I'm doing fine, thank you. I came to pay this month's rent," Aki replied, handing over the money.
Mr. Cruz took the payment and began writing a receipt.
"Thank you, Aki. You're always punctual with your payments. How are your studies going?"
Aki smiled politely. "They're going well, Mr. Cruz. Just trying to keep up with everything."
Mr. Cruz handed her the receipt with a nod.
"That's good to hear. If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."
"Thank you, Mr. Cruz. Have a nice evening," Aki said as she turned to leave.
"Same to you, Aki. Take care," Mr. Cruz replied.
Feeling relieved that she had taken care of her rent, Aki made her way back to her apartment to start preparing dinner. The act of cooking, with its familiar rhythms and routines, helped to calm her mind.
As she chopped vegetables and stirred pots, she found herself lost in the simple pleasure of creating something nourishing.
After finishing her meal, Aki sat down to enjoy it, feeling a sense of accomplishment for the day's work.