We, as human beings, like to complicate things. When someone asks you to build a paper plane, we tend to build them a rocket ship. Now I'm not going to stay here monologuing for so long like earlier, but it's a great start to describe the man in front of me right now.
A security guard in his thirties.
He's staring daggers at an ID card I found in my wallet. I'd expect him to leave when I showed him this, but he must've felt like uncovering a mystery.
The card itself… well, maybe this is just me, but it shouldn't look this blurry, right? Every time I try to read what's on it, my eyes cross, and my head gets dizzy. This guy, on the other hand, is looking at it just fine. It's just he's not satisfied.
This is my second time doing this with him.
"Sir," he jerks his dark blue cap down slightly, "even if you show me your identification again, it won't help you figure out the passcode."
He meant the passcode to open the door in front of us—Room 21.
"There's a number right there, right? Like a birth date?"
"Sir—"
"What's it say?"
"..."
His face is crunching up.
"I have math dyslexia," I cough.
"But it's your birth date."
"I… kinda have amnesia, too."
He wasn't buying it, of course, but proceeded to recite the numbers on the card anyway.
030717-C
Let's give it a try. I turn around and press the first four numbers that were spelled out.
Buzz.
I guess that's a wrong one.
When I turn around, the security guard's face has already changed. "I thought you couldn't read numbers."
"Well, I can't."
"You just put in the number yourself… through the numberpads."
"..."
"..."
"I… was cured seconds ago."
He tugs his cap further down again; half of his face dips in shadow now. "Sir, are you sure this is your room?"
Well, the One Who Puts Me Here says so. What she didn't tell me is the passcode, though.
"This is… my room."
Because if I said it's not, I'd just look like I'm attempting to get into someone's room uninvited. And you'd… I guess, he'd detain me? I'm not sure what a security guard can do.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, if it's not, I can't possibly do this right?"
0-7-1-7.
Buzz.
I have prayed that'd work—looks where that got me.
"No dice," I shrug, "this is my room though. I might've just forgotten the PIN…. amnesia, am I right?"
"..."
"You wouldn't mind if I start kicking this door open, right?"
"I'd mind. It's my job."
"Right, I was kidding."
I chuckle.
And he must have forgotten to laugh.
A sigh escapes my lips. This is going to be a long evening, isn't it? If this never works, where would I sleep? On the street? What do I eat? The leftover in the trash? How do I shower? When it's raining?
I'd like not to be homeless the first night I arrived in this world.
"Sir, do you remember that you have a sister? Why don't you give her a call? She lives right here. If you are truly who you say you are, she'd give you the passkey."
I tried to show him my ID, and he shoved my hand down.
"You could've been impersonating him."
"That's a huge accusation."
"And you just claimed to have math dyslexia earlier."
"Yeah…"
I pull out my phone and try ten combinations using the numbers from the ID's birth date. That doesn't turn out well. My phone is locked now, and it won't take any more attempts for five minutes.
All the while he was watching.
"I'm afraid you have to follow me to my post now."
— "Why'd you need my brother for?"
A voice unfamiliar to the mind yet warm to the ears. Sharp, dark almond eyes are studying both the security guard and me.
"Maria."
My tongue rolls.
A girl in a brown uniform.
"What? Is something on my face? Never mind, don't answer that. Hold this."
She said and threw me her backpack.
I catch it with my body. It is black and white. A panda is smiling at me.
"So?" She crosses her arms and raises her thin eyebrow, "Did you guys catch him?"
The guard nods, "I did, Miss Maria."
She looks around, "Well? Where's the guy? Did he run off?"
"Well, he's right here."
"Huh?"
Two pairs of eyes on me.
I wave hello.
"I'm sorry, but this is… my brother?"
"I have thought so, too. But he was acting suspiciously. And not to mention, he'd forgotten the PIN for his own room. He also claimed to have amnesia and dyslexia."
"Math. Only math," I say, "it is cured now."
Maria cocks her head, dropping her dark hair to her right shoulder. "You… are my brother, right?"
I don't know how to prove to her that I am. Also, I have so little care for doing that. Maybe I should just tell her the truth that I am now someone else living in her brother's body. Is that the right way? Probably… not. If I did that, she won't help me, and I'd have to live homeless. So I guess lying is the way to go if I want to lie on a bed.
How'd I do this…
"I hide my porn collection under my bed."
What I said.
Maria shakes her head while her thin fingers pinch the bridge of her small nose. "He's my brother, all right. Only he could've said something like that."
"Is that so?" says the man, "If Miss Maria has confirmed your identity, then I have no reason to hold my accusation. Apologise, Mister --. . - / --- ..- -, I'd be taking my leave now."
He tips his cap and starts coordinating his legs away from us.
First, let's address that sound when he supposedly said my name. I heard no name but an electrical buzz screaming right in my ear. I don't know what's up with that, but it is probably something that happened to you when you were transmigrated. Weird thing, though, that never happened in the novels and anime that I watched.
Second, Maria's eyes are a little angry. We'd also have to deal with that.
"Nice evening."
"I left my friend at the convenience store for this, you know? Is this intentional? Do you just want me to feel worried?"
"I forgot the PIN."
"Ha-Ha, is that supposed to make me laugh?"
"Not really."
After I said that, something changed.
Her eyes are now a mix of angry and worried. "You okay? You seemed to be out of it after the security guard left?"
Well, yeah, after he just cast a spell at me. Granted, all he did was spell out the name on the card that I showed. But that alone was enough to give me an ear trauma.
"I see… so it didn't work out? I told you it was impossible in the first place," she sighs, "come on, let's get you home."
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
Beep, beep.
That was 1-0-0-7.
We both enter.
But she stops midway, "I have to get my friend first. She's staying over. Are you okay with that?"
I have no reason not to be okay with that, "Yeah."
She nods, "Get some rest. I'd be back soon."
Before she can leave, I call out to her, "Your bag."
"What about it?"
"Do you want me to just hold it like this or…"
I shake the cute panda bag.
"Since you started being a joker again, I assume you're okay for now, so clean the house a little. Bye."
The door shuts.
I'm in an apartment room now… thank god I don't have to sleep outside.
Lying is a way to go after all.