The succeeding months passed by fast.

Apparently, I had trouble keeping up with my budget.

Funny how everything used to be fine but something happened recently which I am not proud of.

I had trouble paying for my rent.

Unfortunately, I haven't talked to the landlord yet.

Louisse's cousin was kind enough to pay for my 1st year of occupancy and luckily I had adjusted living independently.

I have my own share of delicadeza so I insisted to pay my own since I am the new occupant of her unit here in Green Heights.

I talked with the management and arranged for a meeting with the landlord, if not, the owner.

I was stomping my toes in frustration when I found out the final sum of all the expenses.

I never knew living alone will be this costly!

I have internet bills to pay, water and electricity.

Let alone, my food and work expenses.

This was getting frustrating.

I don't want to ask help from my parents.

Nor my sister.

I want to prove to them that I made the right decision of living alone.

Err, independently, I mean.

I sighed and started to chomp down the cheese ring in my hand.

I tried to shake away the worries in my head by opening the radio and tuning in to my favorite radio station.

I hummed along with the music being played and opened my laptop.

I recently finished my latest story in Inknotes and was happy when it gained four hundred reads in a span of two months.

I had already published my series with four stories in it and was over the moon when it reached more than a thousand reads and votes.

Ever since I was a kid, I longed to be a published author.

I yearned to see my name in prints.

But my dream was diverted to business management.

Aside from being a writer, I also wanted to pursue business.

I want to earn thru my passion.

But lately, it just doesn't fit at all.

I sighed and faced my laptop screen.

I started typing the prologue of the second story of the second generation of my series.

Have I told you how writing become my comfort zone?

I write when I am in good mood.

Mostly poems or short stories.

I write when I am angry.

Mostly poems.

I write when I am sad.

Mostly poems.

So, yeah.

Maybe, I am a poet after all.

Not a novelist.

Ha-ha.

Insert sarcasm.

I sighed and looked at the words I have typed.

My hands have a mind of its own.

Even if my thoughts aren't on it, they seem to find their way thru.

I won't have to think too much on how my story will go.

I have already outlined the plot and if I have a twist to put in, I will just proceed as planned.

I checked my phone and saw that the management have an email sent to me.

I minimized my Inknotes account for a moment and opened my Gmail.

I was set for an afternoon appointment this weekend with the owner.

I typed in my thanks and well wishes before sending it back.

I set the time in the calendar in my phone making sure I have it noted.

I am short by two thousand.

I cannot afford to ask Clarinet about it.

We are friends, yes.

But, I am not that comfortable enough to let her in on my own problems.

We are not that close yet.

She also has problems to deal with.

I don't want to add up.

I heard a knock on my door and stood up.

Clarinet's face greeted me.

"Have you had your dinner yet?" Clari asked and I automatically glanced at my wall clock.

It's a quarter to seven in the evening already.

The exact reason why my stomach is complaining.

"Not yet." I said and shook my head.

"Let's try the new restaurant nearby!" Clari said and twitched her eyebrows excitedly.

I adjusted my eyeglasses as she did the same thing.

"Give me a second. I'll just unplug my things here." I said and went to my study table and roamed my eyes around checking all the necessary electrical equipments I have used lately before leaving.

This has been my routine every time.

I don't want to cause ruckus with everyone in our condo.

I learned my lesson when during my elementary days, a neighbor of ours almost got their house burned down with an unplug and overcharged cellphone when she went out to buy food for her and her kids.

I don't want that to happen here.

I have enough to think about already.

Back to the present, once I was done checking, I locked the door behind me with only my phone, umbrella  and wallet in my sling bag.

Me and Clari went to the newly opened restaurant and exchanged food reviews when we got our orders.

I suggested her to create a Youtube channel and do easy recipes for her own passion and an extra income as well.

Who knows?

Maybe she'll hit it big in the internet.

Many are earning money from the internet these days.

Besides, she's doing what she loves.

She said she'll think about it and we continued our food.

It did not take us long in the restaurant and we immediately went back to our units.

It's only Thursday yet it feels like it's still the first day of the week.

Money really makes things difficult lately.

I need to have more to address my expenses.

Shall I accept the offer to have my series be published?