24 – Exam Period (3)
The sun is not all-powerful, so it cannot bless even those who live in the basement with its sunlight. That’s the reason why I fall asleep as soon as I enter the dorm. Whether it’s day or night, it’s better to close my eyes in the same darkness, yearning for sunlight that won’t reach me anyway.
But even in this cursed basement, there exists a being that can bestow blessings. No matter how thin the sunlight is, even in this accursed basement that sunlight cannot reach.
You can feel the blessing of rain as deeply as you can feel it in your heart.
Shhh…
Thinking about my belongings at home receiving the blessing of rain and being submerged in water, a suffocating feeling crept over me. As I fell into a faint melancholy, Yuna cautiously asked.
“Does the dorm also have a basement?”
“Yeah.”
“But you left the window open?”
“Yeah.”
“…Then what will you do?”
Indeed.
There was no way to answer a question without an answer. However, Yuna, being the model student she is, kept throwing questions as if determined to find a solution.
“Can’t you go and close the door now?”
“I’ll check, but it’s probably already too late. The dorms for commoners are not within the perimeter.”
“But maybe it will stop soon?”
“Seeing the raindrops, it doesn’t seem like it will stop anytime soon.”
“Well… do you have anywhere else to stay? There might be an inn or something if we go to the city.”
“It’s too expensive there. And there are too many mercenaries and adventurers. It’s not a place for someone like me, a student.”
“Then how about staying at a friend’s house? You have friends you hang out with, right?”
“Well, there’s only Gue-ro and Iri-ya. But Gue-ro is too big compared to my house, it’s overwhelming to go in alone. And Iri-ya…”
Iri-ya wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this. When I glanced behind the bookshelf, she wickedly smiled and quickly shook her head. I awkwardly smiled and nodded.
“She probably won’t let me in.”
“Really? Then… then…”
“…”
“So what should I do…?”
That’s right…
But in times like this, I had to stay calm. Alright, let’s try to sort out the situation. Judging by the raindrops, it doesn’t seem like the rain will stop easily, and it’s almost certain that the room is already flooded. At least sleeping in the dormitory is impossible for today.
So I need to find another place to stay. Going to an inn in the city, as we talked about earlier, is expensive and it’s difficult to find a good place. Then I should stay at a friend’s room, but unfortunately, I only have one close friend and there’s no way they would let me stay. So the only remaining option is…
…
…
…is there really none?
Ssshhhhh…
As the accident continued to unfold, the sound of rain came back through the crack. Somehow, I felt like a thick shadow was descending upon me. Yuna looked at me and finally managed to say something while pursing her lips.
“W-well, the situation might not be as bad as we think. Maybe we closed the window before we left. Isn’t that possible?”
“hahahahaha…”
I laughed in despair at her absurdly optimistic remark. But for now, it was the best option. Of course, it was a slim chance, almost like a grain of sand, but it was a way for salvation to be bestowed upon those who believed. I nodded my head, offering a prayer to a god I didn’t even believe in at this moment.
“Of course, it would be like that, right?”
“Hey, Elan! They say your house is locked?”
“…”
“They’ve locked the entire first floor of our dorm now! Did you mess up something?”
…
God is dead.
However, even if God is dead, people still had to live. I nonchalantly replied while wringing out my rain-soaked clothes.
“It’s okay. The caretaker will figure something out.”
“Don’t we not have a caretaker in our dorm?”
“Yeah, that’s right. We don’t. It’s okay. There’s a backup lodging.”
“Where’s the backup lodging for those who ended up in the basement because there’s no room?”
“Do you have to snap at every end of your sentence?”
“Do you have to talk nonsense selectively in situations like this?”
Why is this guy so logical only at times like this? Gwero was an irreplaceable close friend no matter what anyone said, but there were times when I wished he would stumble on a cobblestone. I stared harshly at Gwero, raindrops dripping from my wet hair.
But no matter how irritating he was, the truth was that he was my only hope right now. So, even though I knew I would be rejected, I reluctantly spoke up.
“Hey, Gwero. Your dorm is on the second floor, right? So, I’m just asking just in case…”
“No. Can’t do.”
“Why? Is it too small? You can just squeeze in a bit. Think of it as practicing for tight spaces. Can’t you let me stay over?”
“A wet animal doesn’t lay eggs, you know? And above all, Iriya told me not to let you stay over.”
“What?”
I knew I would be rejected, but the reason was so unexpected that I lost my words. Gueiro chuckled and casually flicked a coin.
“I won’t do anything else, but I won’t ever let you stay. Well, I mean, I never intended to bring anyone into this small room, so I quickly made up my mind. So, I’m sorry, but not today.”
“Selling out a friend for money? You’re no better than an animal!”
“Am I an animal? And thanks to you two, I’m doing really well these days. Thanks to you, I can have a really generous dinner tonight.”
“…”
I’m the one receiving support, so why does it seem like Gueiro is getting richer and richer? Is this the so-called trickle-down effect? I lamented my own situation, using terms that didn’t even apply.
Just when I managed to secure my tuition, now the dormitory becomes a problem. I laughed bitterly at how quickly I ended up sitting on the street. It felt like I would have to sleep on the ground for the first time in a long time.
“Sigh…”
As I sighed and sat down, Yuna’s gaze naturally followed. She probably already heard everything from the side, but Yuna still asked me again.
“Hey, Ellen. What happened? Did everything lock up?”
“The lower floor is all locked.”
“No other place to sleep?”
“No. Seems like there isn’t.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“I see…”
A bitter remark lingered in the air. We raised our heads as if that remark was visible, staring blankly at the ceiling. The bright white light came down, painfully dazzling our eyes, but the thick snowfall that came down didn’t disappear. It felt like it was getting even deeper.
“Sigh…”
I should have known. I didn’t leave the window open yesterday.
After a disaster strikes, useless regrets always follow. But since they were truly useless, they quickly faded away without me even realizing. And in that place, a very absurd thought came to mind.
“Yuna.”
“Yeah?”
The moment that thought crossed my mind, my lips moved on their own, attempting to save myself. However, realizing it was an implausible scenario, I intentionally brought up a different topic.
“Um… You didn’t get wet much. How did you manage when you left?”
“Huh? Oh… I asked the librarian, and they lent me an umbrella. Didn’t you expect that?”
“I didn’t know they do such things. I thought someone who sleeps all the time just has that as their job.”
“So, that’s why you got wet. You should have told me.”
“Yeah, right.”
But the hastily crafted conversation didn’t last long. The creaking dialogue naturally transitioned into the tracks of silence, and once again, my lips twisted, tempting me. Still, let’s say it. There’s nothing to lose by speaking. Let’s ask.
Yuna, you know, maybe just for one day…
…
Well, no matter how you look at it, this is a bit much.
I quickly dismissed the emerging possibility, shaking my head. Going out for a short visit and sleeping over are quite different. It was a ludicrous delusion to the point of almost making me chuckle. The only way I could think of was that there was no other option left for me.
“Sigh.”
Having reached that conclusion, I let out a short sigh and stretched. It felt oddly relieving, knowing there were no more means to think about. Just sleeping on the street for one day won’t hurt. It’s not like it’s the first or second time. Rainy sky. Soaked pavement. Insects crawling all over, and the thumping noise vibrating through the ground. It wasn’t an unfamiliar scene for me.
Somehow, lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the past.
…
Shoooaah…
“Ellen.”
Amidst the rushing sound of rain, Yuna’s voice reached me again. I turned my head to meet her gaze without responding. Yuna hesitated, her lips trembling slightly as she cautiously spoke.
“So, what’s your plan? Do you have a place to go?”
“I don’t have anything right now. But well, I guess somehow it’ll work out. It’s not like this hasn’t happened a few times before.”
“Oh really? Then how did you handle it before?”
“…I somehow managed, I guess?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve always been like this.”
I purposely smiled mischievously before looking straight ahead again. It was a subtle sign that she didn’t need to worry because I would take care of it.
“Ellen.”
But Yuna called my name persistently once again. Even in her forced attempt to continue the disjointed conversation, I could sense her obsession. Maybe she was tired. There was something incredibly strange about her today.
“You know…”
“Yeah.”
“I know you probably have your own plans, but if you don’t have anywhere to go…”
Yuna hesitated even after throwing the idea out there. It seemed like reason and morality, and even a hint of sympathy were fighting within her. After contemplating thousands of times in that single moment, Yuna finally made up her mind and lifted her head with determination. And then she uttered an unbelievable statement.
“…Can we at least hang some clothes to dry at our place?”