I reached my hand towards the cabinet and saw nothing inside but dust and webs. I was about to make breakfast, though.

"Hey, how come no one even bothered to go get some grocery? We're out of stock!" I complained, gesturing the empty cabinet with no food throughout the kitchen. No one even tried to lift their eye on me, despite how loud my voice is. "Hello? Am I even talking to someone?!" Still, zero response. "Fine, you guys go starve to death. I'm out of here!"

I'll just go buy some cup noodles for breakfast, I guess?

Well, actually, it's already been a week since I've been eating cup noodles for breakfast. It's the only cheap food in the convenient store that I can afford, so I had no choice. I only have limited budget on me, too, and I'm a uni student in contrary of that.

I'm also working as a part-timer in a coffee shop nearby the university, it's to at least help my parents with the expenses of the house. "I wanna go abroad and get a job already..." I sulked as I walked outside, heading towards the convenient store that was only a few walks away.

I usually leave the house earlier than my schedule, so I can have the rest of my 40 minutes eating breakfast alone in peace, before going to my next class. "Come to think of it, I never heard of him ever since our last hangout." I stared at my phone for a while when the thought suddenly came up. "I should go and take a visit after class." Winter is coming; it's getting cold.

After I finished eating, I immediately went out of the store and headed towards the university, which is only a few walks away as well.

This is my day-to-day life. Going to college, then work, and then home, with chores right there to welcome me. My siblings were probably too busy to even place the dishes on the sink, and it's infuriating. I bet their reasons gonna be "I'm tired" or "I'm too busy to even lift a hair", but who gives a damn? Why shouldn't they just hire a maid?!

"Hey, what's wrong? You look pale." A friend of mine suddenly appeared as I enter the main hall.

I gave him a smile and shook my head as a response. "It's just a migraine."

"Again?!" He exclaimed. "Jin, don't you think it's about time to ask a doctor about your case? I just had a hunch that maybe-"

"I don't have the money, Kiel."

"Don't worry about the expenses and just take a physical exam already! Your health is more important, you ass!" Kiel shouted, plucking my ear. "I know a psychiatrist that could help you out, and I'll pay the bill. Just please, take a physical exam..." As I look at him in the eye, it made me stun. I never thought about it, but the risks were probably high. "Cut your schedules tomorrow, we're going to the hospital!"

"Huh?! But I have work-"

"Shut up!" Kiel yelled. "You're way too selfless! For once, just think about yourself!"

Think about myself? How ironic.

"You're overreacting things. I'm fine, I'm not sick." Lies. You're taking painkillers, remember? "It's time for class, let's go!"

"But-!" I stopped him and pulled his arm.

"Fine. I'm taking it tomorrow. If taking a test will put your mind at ease, then I'll do it."

And just like that, in a brief, my classes ended quickly. Kiel and I parted our ways as soon as our shift ended, since he also work as a part-timer like me. The sunset was inconspicuous that day, which I hadn't got the chance to see. And it was windy.

"How much does it cost to travel through the next train station?" I asked the lady in the cashier.

She looked at me from head to toe before replying. "Minimum fare is ₱146. That's the last train."

I smiled, before handing out a two hundred peso bill, in exchange for the ticket. "Thanks."

A month had already passed since my friend and I last saw each other, and I'm planning to visit him tonight. It's only a mile away from here, though, which is why I needed to ride a train to get there.

"The train wasn't here yet?" It was already dark as I waited at the bench for it to arrive.

Somehow, I wanted to see him.

I wanted his presence, for a very unknown reason.

To be continued...