"This is the house."
Rai turned away from the older gentleman and faced forward, watching the house he was standing in front of, Relief washing over him as he relaxed a little.
Finally!
Finally, a place that looked like a house he wouldn't need to be scared of collapsing on him when it rained...like the place he was currently staying in.
"It looks really nice."
Rai smiled, and the older man chuckled, looking proud as he led the way and opened the gate.
Rai couldn't feel more grateful toward this gentleman. Maybe this was the first time he had felt relaxed since he moved to the village two days ago.
Four days ago, Rai, then a teacher at Goldleaf High, was informed that his transfer had been approved. Somehow, the letter had reached the school late, leaving Rai with limited time, exactly three days to report to the new school and start working.
In his rush, he was unfortunate in finding a proper place to stay. The first place he settled in was not in the best condition or maybe it was normal for the people in the area, but it felt unfamiliar, unsafe and uncomfortable for someone like him, who had lived in the city and fairly better houses.
He gave up on finding another place for the time being because he first needed to focus on his job. So he went to the new school, which wasn't much of a surprise by the time he arrived. The village had limited access to everything, and everything seemed small and old.
So the school was small and old too.
Though small and somewhat old-looking, the school still appeared brighter and more welcoming than the village itself.
It's actually better than anything he had seen so far in that village.
After all, he himself volunteered for this.
Four months ago, when he and a few other teachers volunteered to work at schools that lacked teachers, they were warned they would be sent to rural areas. Yet he still volunteered and agreed to go anywhere he was transferred.
So now, here he was.
Maybe, like his coworkers said, he was indeed lucky.
Because the principal himself asked if Rai in their first meeting if he had found a proper place and even offered one before Rai could answer.
So why wouldn't Rai want to go check out that place?
Of course he would.
And he was glad he did.
The house principal sir brought him to looked absolutely perfect, even better than the standard he had lowered his expectations to.
"So, like I said, since the other young man is a doctor, he's always busy and only comes very late. He's a nice fellow. I bet you would get along really well."
Rai smiled, his eyes shining as he looked around the warm, safe-looking house.
His mind drifted back to the place he was currently staying in, where the roof leaked and one side didn't look stable at all.
"Oh, I'm sure, sir. So, there's a hospital around here?"
"Yes. It's a small one, but it's the only place people can go in emergencies, even though it's not the most efficient. He works there. Apparently, he volunteered to come here and work, even though he's very famous and well known. He had even studied abroad yet came back to help us when he could have stayed at a bigger hospital for better pay. We respect him a lot for his service."
Rai nodded. Even without meeting the man yet, he felt good about him from the way the principal spoke, sounding very proud.
"I see. A good man indeed."
Rai followed the principal into the empty room he said Rai could stay in.
"You are a good man too. No one wants to come here to teach these students. They leave within the first week or apply for transfer immediately. I know you are having a hard time too. But if you can bear it a little, I would be very grateful. I hope this house will be comfortable enough for you to stay and help the innocent children here."
Rai paused, feeling sad that the principal had to request him like this. Yes, it wasn't comfortable at all, but Rai definitely wasn't going to leave, even if he hadn't found this place.
He loved children, and his motive was to help those in need the most.
"Don't worry, sir. And, thank you for this room. But I just want to tell you that even if I didn't get a room here, I would still stay to teach at your school. You can trust me. I will do my best."
The principal smiled and patted Rai's shoulder proudly before cheerfully showing him around the whole house as they continued talking.
Rai found out that he would have to share the bathroom and the kitchen, which wasn't a problem at all. But it seemed like he could mostly keep the kitchen to himself since the other person apparently doesn't cook.
Well, he was a doctor and stayed at the hospital most of the time, so he might not have time to cook.
'Maybe I can cook for him too…'
Rai thought as he looked into the shared fridge, which was empty except for some beer and store-bought frozen meal kits.
"He will be home around eleven. I informed him that you would be moving in and to expect you here when he comes back."
The principal said.
"I hope you both can manage your schedules. He usually goes to work around nine and comes home very late, while you go to school early and return early."
"Yeah. I will talk to him so I won't disturb him."
"That's good. He's a little aloof sometimes, but that's just how he is. Stress too you know... His father is also always worried he'll have no friends and will end up depressed. So I hope you being here will help his loneliness a little."
"Ah… so his father talks to you to look after his son?"
The principal chuckled as he asked Rai to sit down.
"His father and I are close friends actually. We went to school together. This young man is always so cold and independent that my friend worries he won't be able to help his son if he ever needs anything. I help as I can. I don't interfere too much. After all, that boy is also in his thirties. Oh, by the way, how old are you again?"
"I'm 33, sir."
"Right! He's 32 too. This is good. You're almost the same age. I hope you can befriend him, since you're alone here too."
"I understand, sir."
"So, how are you going to move your things?"
"I don't have a lot of things, sir. I'll call an Uber and bring them here."
"Ah, then do it quickly. Around evening, it's hard to catch an Uber."
"Okay, sir."
"Then, young man, I'll be leaving. Here is your key. I hope you have a good time."
"Thank you. I'm really grateful."
"Haha, no need for that."
The old man stepped out of the house. Rai smiled and sighed in relief, looking up and feeling better than he had since arriving here.
But then, he suddenly remembered something.
'Ah! Shit! I couldn't ask for the name of the doctor!'
Rai ran to the door and quickly stopped the principal before he got into his car.
"Sir, what is that person's name? The doctor?"
The principal looked at him, surprised, then chuckled to himself, realizing he had said so much about the young man without mentioning his name.
"It's Zade."
"Ah. Okay. Thank you, sir."
Rai went back into the house, but his smile slowly faded as he stroked the small scar on the side of his forehead.
"Zade… What a name for such a good person…"
Rai had a lot of memories associated with someone named Zade back in the day...and he hated that name with a passion.
But maybe it was time to change his mind.
"Zade is a beautiful name. Just that one motherfucker with that name was the asshole…"
Rai hummed to himself and walked around alone, passing the locked room which was the doctor's room as he then mentally marked down things to buy for the kitchen.
After that, he finally left to bring his things after calling an Uber.
It's time for a new chapter and he hopes it will go smooth...
.....
"Hey, why do you look so happy today? Did you get laid or something, bro?"
The nurse side-eyed the two doctors sitting nearby, sitting casually, legs wide, hand resting on each other's shoulders, one grinning like a maniac at the other's question.
"Something better…"
The nurse blushed, looking away as she realised she had never seen Doctor Zade look like this during the whole year he'd been here.
Smiling...
Well...not exactly...
He is basicaly grinning like a maniac right now...
Still....
Whatever it was,
he looked really excited.
He seriously looked like a villain for some reason, with that grin.
"The hell? Tell us the tea too, dude."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Are you meeting your long-distance girlfriend or what? Who knows, maybe you're secretly in a relationship."
"I told you, dude. I don't date secretly. Also, no one like that. Like I said, better."
"Who's better enough to make you grin like that? Damn it, stop grinning. You look like a fucking menace. It's fucking scary."
But he continued to grin as he stared at the message he'd received from his dad's friend who is also the owner of the house he is staying.
'He is a new teacher. Really kind and looks clean, so I'm sure he won't be a disturbance to you. Also, his name is Rai Est, just one year older than you. So you two will get along easily. He will be living here from today. You guys can meet tonight. Also, I am sorry I gave him your first name instead of the middle one like you prefer. Forgive this old man, son. I am forgetful.'
When he first saw that message, he had to excuse himself to the bathroom because his heart was beating so hard and adrenaline rushed through his body. He was just so thrilled, and he was sure he must have looked crazy as he read that message over and over, his eyes stopping on that name every single time.
It's definitely him...
Even the exact correct age.
That can't be a coincidence. The same middle name too…
And he had heard rumors that he was a teacher as well.
So he was sure as fuck.
It's him.
Also…
Rai Est and getting along in one message?
That shit was funny.
But, Of course....
Get along…
Yeah, Sure.
'Let's see if he wants the same too.'
The excitement coursed through him as he stroked the small scar on his jawline, closer to his right ear.
And, it was about to become even more exciting because when he talked to the old man to confirm this, he realised he had indeed just given his first name to Rai. Only the name 'Zade.'
That guy still absolutely have no idea who exactly his housemate is yet.
So when met face to face and when that bastard's smile drops upon seeing him, the realization of having to live together with him, having to see his face every day, hitting him...
There is nothing he loves to do than annoy that motherfucker, be a hex in his life, back in the day....and, still to this day.
Maybe they are too old for this game now, but it's never late to have fun…
Damn it!
He couldn't wait to go home.
"Rai… Let's meet soon then…"