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The first thing they did was set up the furniture - just a small bed, dresser, desk, and chair. Nothing too big, but the butterflies in his stomach made the apartment feel smaller than it actually was.
A home is a home. It was a step.
They brought in boxes until there wasn’t any room left. Pigsy promised to help his son unpack the next day.
“You sure you want to stay here,” asked Pigsy, “I heard there’s a place near the arcade with a room available.”
“I’m sure,” MK nodded, “Besides, if the restaurant’s just downstairs I’ll always be on time.”
The pig chuckled. “Sure you will kid.”
He rubbed his eyes and asked if the boy remembered the rules they agreed on.
“No strangers overnight. Clean up after myself. Pay all my bills,” MK recited. There were other rules, and MK listed those as well. All of them essentially boiled down to ‘take care of yourself.’
“Good job.”
They stalled the inevitable by talking more. Mostly about nothing. Silence and words to fill it. Unfortunately, as the sky grew darker and bedtime drew nearer, it was time to say goodbye.
The two hugged, said farewell, and MK watched the pig demon leave from the limited view of his window, giving one last wave as the man drove off.
I’ll miss you.
MK sighed. He got ready for bed, put on pajamas, and pulled out a blanket from a box. He stared at the ceiling of his new apartment.
It was quiet. It was loud, with cars and voices blaring in the distance, but the kitchen was silent. No footsteps in hallways. No muffled noise from the TV. No nothing. It was weird. He half expected to see his dad if he opened the door, probably across the hall as the grownup walked to his own room, but MK knows that the only thing greeting him now would be the tiniest hallway connecting to a staircase.
He wants to call him. Is it too late? It’s only been about an hour. Pigsy should still be awake.
He sends him a text. It’s a long string of stars, hearts, and the moon, mixed with a couple of box, house, and pig emojis, sandwiched between many many smiley faces.
Pigsy tells him to go to bed.
He does.
He had work the next day.