September 06, 2031. Monday afternoon, 4:03 pm.
No more dirty and cheap apartment. No more criticism and racism. No more judgements and false conclusions. He will have that successful life soon. He knew that he would have it soon. Even though, all of the people he was close with turned their backs on him and told him that everything he was aiming for is impossible.
Impossible because he was poor and no financial assistance since his family dumped him.
Everybody said he was stupid. That he was too idiot to think that he will reach his dreams alone.
Yet he will prove them wrong. He knew on himself that he can do it. Why surrender now if he still have that little hope inside his heart? His passion fired his soul inside that's why he is still trying and trying.
"You just arrived to your destination."
Enzo Schult came back to his senses and looked at the taxi driver. He threw a glance over the window and saw the sign 'Sprint Apartment'. He immediately searched for his wallet on his bag and counted his money for the fare.
"Uhh," Enzo muttered and looked shyly at the driver. "My money's not enough. I lost my thirty cents."
"What?" the driver barked.
"I—" Enzo stammered. "I a-am sorry, Sir. Please owe me thirty cents, may I have your contact, Sir? So I can pay you—"
"Never mind it, give me the fare."
Enzo slowly handed the money and bowed at the driver. "Thank you so much, Sir. Thank you so much."
The driver just shrugged in a bragging manner. Enzo climbed out from the taxi cab and in an instant, the driver left.
Enzo looked up to the sign again. Sprint Apartment. He wished that, at this chance, he can pay the rent on time to avoid landlady's sharp words when she wanted him out of the apartment.
He sighed and wore his backpack again. He went to the gate and saw the poster with the contacts of the owner. He looked for his cheap phone and dialed the number.
"I hope it's not disconnected," he murmured to himself.
Three rings and someone answered the call.
"Hello?" He recognized that it was a woman's voice.
He felt so relieved but still, he still felt the fast beating on his chest. "G-good afternoon, madam."
"Yeah, who is this?" The woman on the other line asked.
"I'm Enzo Schult and I'm here in front of the Sprint Apartment, I may take it that this is the owner?"
"Ah, yes!" The woman exclaimed. "I'm Mrs. Via Young, the owner of that apartment. Are you going to wait for me? I'm going there now."
"Yes, sure, madam," Enzo said immediately and smiled shyly. "I can wait."
"I'll be there in 30 minutes."
Enzo was about to answer but the woman on the other line cut off the call. He sighed again and sat on the sidewalk while waiting. He watched different people busy to their own businesses and some businessmen and women carried their stuffs while having a phone call and based on their faces, Enzo concluded that they are having a serious conversation.
He sighed again. Enzo wished that he will be like that soon: busy and stable, having a good job to be sure that he will have a peaceful life.
A stray dog came on walking, looked at Enzo and came towards him. Enzo smiled and patted the stray dog.
"Are you lost?" he asked the dog and roamed his eyes around, making sure that no one was watching him talking to that dog. He expected that the dog won't reply yet he could see on its eyes that it was looking for someone to be with. Just like him.
He smiled. "From now on, I'm your best friend now, got that? You will be with me when I lived in that apartment room."
The dog sat beside him and he played its fur. After 27 minutes, Mr. Via came with some papers on her hand. Enzo abruptly stood and wiped off some dust on his jeans.
"Good afternoon, madam," Enzo greeted at the old woman. She was smiling that made the corner of her eyes wrinkled. Based on her face, she is on her mid-fifties.
"Good afternoon. What's your name again? Let's sign this immediately because I have something to do in my house."
He was taken aback with the old lady's words. "Sure, madam. How much is the rent?"
"It's up to you, Enzo," Mrs. Via smiled. "It's okay if there is no down payment."
Enzo blinked. "I beg your pardon, madam?" he asked.
Mrs. Via chuckled. "Your reaction is priceless." Her smile is so genuine that made Enzo remember about his mother. He felt the pain on his chest again but tried to smile at the old woman.
"Are you sure, Madam?" Enzo asked. "Why? I mean, madam, why—" He stopped because he couldn't find his words. He lost his train of thought and became speechless.
Mrs. Via laughed. "Because I could see the aura of my son on you, Enzo. Big ambitions on his eyes and so determined." Mrs. Via patted his shoulder. "Whatever you are having right now, you can do it. Just trust yourself and don't you ever listen to anyone's negative conclusions. You're the one who know the real you. Good luck."
Enzo wanted to cried in happiness but he felt like so gay so he tried not to. He knew that boys can cry but he knew also that he can't let himself cry in front of this old lady. He bowed again and again and said how thankful he is. The old woman smiled at him with her shining, alive eyes. She even let him fill up the form and sign it. After a couple of minutes, Enzo came inside the room and felt so relieved again.
He looked down to the stray dog he invited to come inside and patted its head again. "Are you hungry?" he asked the dog. "From now on, I'll call you Spencer, got that? This is your home, Spencer. Our home."
The dog barked at him and let him patted its head again. Enzo chuckled and prepared the dog's food on the corner. Luckily, he have his left over food on his bag. After feeding the dog, Enzo came inside his bedroom and arranged his things.
He put his clothes on the closet and arranged the tables inside the room. He put the picture frame of his mother on his bedside table and smiled on it.
"Hey, mom," he said. "I'm here already, I wish that I can stay here for a long time. I guess so. . the landlady is so kind to me, and she reminded me of you." He made his lips a thin line and tried so hard not to cry. "I miss you, mom. I miss you so much."
Spencer, the dog, came inside the room and put its paw on his thigh. Enzo chuckled and came outside to arrange the kitchen so he can prepare his dinner later.
"I know that! Don't tell me what to do!"
Enzo stopped cleaning the table and looked up when he heard the girl's voice, but he didn't see anything or anyone. She sounded as if she was having an annoying conversation. He knew that that voice was only few meters away from him. He felt so weird and thought that he was only hallucinating things.
"You know, Gerard, if you're still manipulating me! I am breaking up with you!"
Enzo jumped in shock when the girl suddenly popped in front of him. He was on her back when she hang up her call and he realized that she will turn to face him anytime. Then, she faced him. She wore her annoyed face then her hazel eyes looked up on Enzo.
She screamed. Enzo screamed also and watched the girl grabbed a knife.
"Why are you here in my apartment?" she snapped.
"W-what?" he stammered. "This is my apartment!"
The girl frowned her forehead. "Freaking liar! This is my apartment! You're a criminal, aren't you? I'll call the police!"
"Hey, wait! I'm not a criminal. This is really my apartment, I'll show you the form I just signed awhile ago with Mrs. Via!" They were screaming to each other right now. They felt so nervous.
"Who's Mrs. Via? This apartment. . mine. . . should call. . . police. . . criminal!"
Enzo stepped back when he witnessed something weird. The girl has now glitches on her body. Just like an arcade game and the television went crazy. He could barely understand her screaming even though some of the words were eliminated since she was like a television lost its signal.
"W-wait—" The girl's voice went crackling and it's weird. "What's happening. . . you? You're having that l-lines—"
"You also. ." Enzo whispered.
"You're a . . ghost!" The girl screamed loudly and her voice was so sharp that made Enzo close his eyes and cover his ears. In an instant, the scream vanished. Enzo opened his eyes and realized that he was now alone in the kitchen. The girl was gone.