Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Meeting Family and Friends (Part 5)

Once Don made his way up to the first floor and began walking through the narrow hallway, he looked for room number 14.

As he walked, he could feel the floorboards under him creaking with each step. However, his focus was still on the situation regarding his family.

'If I act like I'm still upset over the situation, I might be treated immensely well due to the guilt Don's mother must feel. However, in the eyes of others, I may come across as an asshole, particularly to my apparent sister and aunt Amanda, who is already trying to ease the tensions. But again, if I forgive her too quickly, I give up some of the advantages I may have from guilt-tripping her.

There has to be a middle ground,' Don thought just as he arrived at room number 14.

He used the card to access the door. "The rooms only open with cards, but they couldn't renovate anything else," Don critiqued in a low voice as he proceeded to open the door with a bit of force, just like the receptionist had suggested.

The door opened with a rusty creak from the hinges being worn out and revealed a room that was actually not too bad, considering how the rest of the hotel looked.

'This is not bad. I wonder if Trixie already knew in advance that it was like this or just picked it for some other reason,' Don wondered. He didn't dwell on this and walked over to the single double bed present in the room where his bag and suitcase were.

"I need to avoid being an asshole without fully letting go of the advantages guilt might bring," Don muttered before an idea flashed in his mind. 'I could say I forgave them a while back and just moved on as I was having problems of my own and struggling to get by. If they ask for more, I can simply say I don't want to talk about it, at least not so soon.

I highly doubt they would be pushy on that—curious, yes, but definitely not pushy. And I know just the perfect way to start it off.'

Quickly settling on that idea, Don took out his phone from his pocket and called the number Amanda had called him on. Not even a second passed, and the phone was answered.

"Hello, Donnie," Amanda answered in a slightly anxious voice.

Don didn't know what to make of it, so he chose to ignore it and just said, "I'm done with orientation and I'm going back to the hotel I booked to get my bag and suitcase. Where can I meet you?" Don asked in a casual but distant tone, talking as if this was someone he wasn't close to at all.

"Which hotel? I can come get you. It's no problem at all."

Don was hoping for her to answer this way so he could make use of the first part of his story. "I don't think that's a good idea.

The hotel is in a shady part of town and you might not be safe coming here, so it's better if I meet you somewhere else," Don replied, wanting her to know that he wasn't staying in the nicest of conditions but also to show that he still cared enough to not want her coming to such areas.

It was this delicate balance he needed to maintain with his words if he wanted his plan to stick ideally. Searᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Amanda should have been understanding and suggested a place where she could pick up Don. However, rather than understanding, she showed immense worry. Her voice rose in concern. "What? Where are you staying? I'll come pick you up right now, Donnie.

If it's really shady, then it's even more dangerous for you to walk around with luggage. Oh my goodness, why didn't you just wait at school with your luggage?"

"Well, I wasn't even sure if Mom would accept. Plus, I've slept in worse places, so it didn't really matter," Don answered back casually, saying just enough to lay the foundation of the approach he wanted to go with. Amanda remained insistent.

"Goodness, Donnie, that…" Amanda paused, a bit saddened to hear that her nephew had had a hard life these past few years. Though he didn't say it clearly, the imagination was a powerful thing. She continued, "You should've called, Donnie. If your mother knew the conditions you were staying in, she never would've... You know she loves you, and I love you too.

So tell me where you are, and I'll come pick you up right now."

"I'm at a hotel called Hardon on the corner of Hyo Avenue."

Hearing Don give the directions, Amanda's concern grew even more. "Goodness, Donnie, that place is one of the most dangerous in the city. People die there on a weekly basis."

"It's what I could afford. Most of what I had managed to save up over the years went toward getting myself back into school and looking presentable."

"Oh, Donnie…"

Amanda's heart genuinely sank hearing Don's response and how casual he was about it, like this was his life now. It felt like it was just yesterday when a young Donnie clung to her dress even as they walked through a safe area like a park simply because he was scared of things like dogs or strangers.

"Alright, Donnie. We'll talk more when I get there. Just wait for me outside and, if you can, ask the hotel owner to stand with you or even the receptionist. It's dangerous to stand outside with bags."

"Alright, Aunt Amanda," Don answered briefly before proceeding to end the call.

He then let out a sigh and took a deep breath. It didn't feel good toying with the emotions of others—not at all. After all, he himself had been the victim countless times in his former life, but unfortunately, in the modern world, if one didn't make use of the tools he had at his disposal, someone else might.

Don sighed and lifted his belongings off the bed, then began to walk out of the room. As he was doing this, he paused by the door and looked at the mirror that was hanging close to it. Looking at his own reflection, he said, "Well, this is your life now. You got this."

Saying that to himself, he proceeded to take one more deep breath and walk out the door, content with the decision he had made.