Happenstance

Ch 1: Before New Year's Eve

Author's Note:

=> Posted @ 2024.5.23 & 2025.12.31

=> Total Word Count = 34,537

=> Total Chapters = 9

=> Chapter Word Count = 2,000-3,000

Hi—

*vomits on your carpet*

Edited some things I forgot to add two years ago =_=!

I'm still cringing at the wall of text that was the author's note I wrote years ago so I'll stop yapping. Buh-byeee!!!

***

Ch 1:

Amanda leaned over the overpass' iron railings and observed the narrow, winding, and dirty streets below.

Stalls crafted from thin wooden beams held the roofs that were made from used rice sacks cut and stitched together to protect the goods stored on top of the upside-down wooden crates which acted as tables.

Streams of gray and highly viscous liquid flowed through the thin canals on both ends of the small concrete road, carrying small trash or used cigarettes towards the vast river eastward. And from there, these piles of trash would clump together to form small patches of walkable land on top of the calm waters.

She watched as the city folk clutched their plastic bags. Some were full of just the necessary amenities, others however, were full of expensive trinkets. Amanda thought it would've been nice to purchase something nice for her older sister once she can afford to.

Everyone always seems to be busy with something these days. From purchasing harmless yet needless things like necklaces, watches, and bracelets to more unnecessary items like alcohol and cigarettes. She envied them, not for their spending habits, but because they had the budget to do so.

She never used to hold onto such jealousy, but then again, perhaps it was because she had chosen to turn a blind eye to these feelings when she was little, and only now had she noticed these repressed emotions as that had festered within her.

Behind her was a much wider asphalt path filled with smoke where jeepneys honked in fury, their fatigued, shabbily dressed drivers hurling a barrage of curses and death threats to the citizens who continued to cross the streets on their own accord, ignoring the fact that the traffic lights burned bright green.

Never mind that the stop lights visibly glowed green, and to hell with the pedestrian lane originally intended for them, as they still choose to ignore the signs and cross the street anyway!

The rowdy afternoon streets lacked any semblance of form and order. And with all uncomfortable burnt scents, noises, and the distorting heatwave made her feel dizzy and irritated. Just her luck...

They all seemed so busy for the new year's festival tonight while here she was, alone. Her parents and relatives were busy, and her father had to return to America to see their grandma who had just been hospitalized after her health worsened.

Normally, such an event was only exciting if she was with her friends. Or, more tiresomely, be dragged into standing at an overpass for several hours close to midnight as her parents and aunts take pictures of the flashy fireworks ignited close to the city town hall's rivers.

But to end up looking for a summer job on such an occasion, led to her finding it quite frankly, boring and gloomy. And it's not like she had enough money on her to treat herself after her interview...

Amanda checked her smartphone and scrolled through the messages with her older sister and friends, and tapped the icon as she entered the group chat. Sadly no one was online.