Too Fat for Love

~Ariel~

I tried to balance the takeouts and Honey in my arms as I scurried down the street, looking for a dry spot to escape the heavy rain.

Honey let out a whimper and I sighed. She must be very cold. I finally sighted a spot and ran over to it without hesitation.

I dropped Honey carefully and balanced the takeouts. She whimpered again and I looked at her.

"Don't act like you were used as an umbrella. You were the one in my jacket and I see you perfectly dry" I glared and she whimpered again, nudging my feet.

I settled on the floor and carried her in my arms. I stared at the empty street with a sigh.

"How do we go home now? I used all my money on food" I lamented. I gave Honey her treats and picked one of the takeouts to eat.

As I ate, my eyes wondered to the billboard. As expected, her face was on it with a plastic smile. She had one of those flavoured creams in her hands.

"Mi Rae. She gets prettier every day" I smiled. I admired her a lot. She was so classy and polished.

"Kim? Is that you?" I heard a voice yell amist the downpour. I frowned as I turned to see Mrs Rose drenched in the rain.

Aishh! I should have known she would be worried. I got up and quickly helped her to our little shade.

"You didn't have to look for me. I can take care of myself really. You could get sick" I said. She rolled her eyes.

"It's almost ten pm and you are still out here, don't you know how dangerous it is?".

"I'm sorry. Have some food?" I offered and she shook her head.

"You don't have to spend your money feeding me, Kim. I'm fine".

"I am not feeding you. I am hungry as well and I can't possibly finish two takeouts. It's only polite to offer it to the person next to me instead of throwing it away" I replied and she smiled.

"There you go again with your word play, trying to confuse me". She took it from me and I smiled happily.

Mrs Rose has been with me for almost eight years. She is homeless just like I was few months ago.

There isn't much a difference though. I stay in an abandoned building, with a leaking roof. The owner could decide to visit one day and evict me. It's not nice to have a stray on your property.

Mrs Rose sleeps in the homeless shelter. Don't get your hopes high. By homeless shelter, I mean a shack you share with fifteen people at a very outrageous price.

You can't leave your property there and return with the hope to find it. No bathrooms or toilets. Just a place to sleep at night.

How did I end up on these streets? Here's my life story. When I was five, my parents and I were going to spend the holidays in Hong Kong. Somehow, I got on the wrong flight and ended up alone in Seoul with no parents.

Honey is the only thing I have left of them and that was probably sixteen years ago. How did I survive? Don't ask, I don't know as well.

I was relieved when the rain subsided. My room would be flooded but it's better than staying out here in the cold.

"Let's go home?" I asked Mrs Rose but her gaze was trained somewhere else. I followed the stare and stiffened at the sight of the local goons.

They were about six of them, drunk and rambling. It was then I realized how dangerous this part of town was.

I suddenly wished the rain hadn't stopped. Maybe they would still be in the pub, drinking their lives away.

We stayed in place, hoping they wouldn't pay much attention as they staggered ahead.

This was a very dangerous spot and somehow, the goons seemed to armed always. No one ran into them without getting trouble whether they were drunk or sober.

They acted more like assassins than robbers. They would never leave without drawing blood.

One of them glanced our way and I lost my breath. Mrs Rose pulled me from behind almost immediately.

I couldn't breathe. My chest tightened so much that it forced a gasp out of my lips.

"Kim? Are you okay?" Mrs Rose asked worriedly. I couldn't reply. I let out another gasp as I tried to breathe. It suddenly felt hot.

"Kim? Kim?".

I couldn't move. The pain was fading and her voice too.

"Goodness! She's not blinking" Mrs Rose panicked voice was the last thing I heard.

I woke up with a slight headache. I tried to open my eyes but my head played like a thousand drums. Did I call this slight?. I was gravely mistaken.

After many failed attempts, I got myself to sit up. What happened and why does my head hurt so much?.

The door flew open and Mrs Rose entered with a small bag. Her eyes lit up the minute she saw me.

"Oh Kim! Thank goodness you're awake. I was scared for a moment there" She said engulfing me in a tight hug. That was when I recalled everything.

I had one of my stupid episodes infront of her. I felt so embarrassed. I must have scared the poor woman to death.

"Biane" I muttered and she pulled away.

"I got you medicine. I can't assure you they'll work cause I got it from a pretty cheap store. And I told them you were in some form of shock. Thinking of it now, it might as well be fake." She frowned as she examined the bag and her doubts.

"I am alright. It just happens sometimes but not often, I promise" I assured her. Then I began to wonder how I got home. Mrs Rose obviously brought me back. Oh Kim!

"I honestly didn't mean to trouble you. I'm sorry" I apologised again. She chuckled and pinched my cheek.

"It is alright. You would have done same for me so I don't mind. Get some rest, it is quite early" She said.

I wanted to lie back but I suddenly remembered I had a job. I quickly glanced at the clock beside my bed. My eyes widened as I sprang to my feet.