My brows furrowed in confusion. Why is he suddenly smirking at me?
"Good evening, what's your order?" I smiled at the three of them. The blonde-haired girl's hand is placed on top of his knees, touching it sensually. Her eyes focused on the man while the latter was now staring at her, listening to what she was whispering as his arm snaked behind her.
"Uh...Sir?" I iterated. The man glanced at me with a frown, maybe irritated at my sudden interruption.
"What? Why are you here? We are still not planning to order," he uttered in an annoyed voice.
"Huh? Sorry, but I saw you waving my hands at me, I thought it was meant to–"
"He was waving at me. I am his girlfriend, don't get so full at yourself and get lost!" The girl shot me with a strict, infuriated face.
They are arrogant, alright. People like this shouldn't be encountered but can't be delayed nor prevented. The world is really unfair, no matter how you try to tell him that you don't want any people that will only fuel your anger, he will still give it.
I sighed and glanced at the geeky man. He was busy texting, but when he felt me glancing at him, he lifted his eyes.
"Uh...sorry, Miss. My friend didn't mean it. I will order a juice, I'm sorry again..." he awkwardly smiled at me and shot his gaze back to his phone, punching his keys fast like he's talking to someone so important. I nodded and glanced at the two before walking back to the counter.
"Ella, this was the order from table thirteen, I'm gonna go home now, just deliver it to them." I kissed her cheeks and walk away from that bar.
I stretched my arms and put my hands at my head, intertwining my fingers with each other and making my forearms point towards the sky.
"I endured another day of hell, thanks to the one who guides me." I smiled and reached for my pockets before going inside a convenience store to buy something for my fourteen-year-old brother.
"Terren! Where are you?" I yelled when I came to our house. The excitement in my voice is evident as I turned the knob of our door and glanced at the whole place. Our house has a second floor, but it felt so small because of the number of furniture on it.
"Terren, I bought you something–" the cheerfulness in my voice was interrupted when I saw my brother eating using a cauldron. His mouth fell open, his eyes wide, and the dirty hands he was using to put food inside his mouth was left hanging in the air.
"Terren, what is this?" My voice shook as I asked him.
The corners of my eyes started to heat as I glanced at the old cauldron. His hands were shaking as he averted his gaze. He was probably...starving.
The sticky, brown crispy part of the rice from overcooking is what he was eating, paired with a soy sauce. I touched his hands and put it in front of the faucet to wipe out the dirt.
"Why are you eating this? They didn't give you food again?" The sight of my brother, eating excess food made me feel miserable.
"And your hands are dirty, you'll get sick. Wash your hands and I'll buy you a proper food–"
"Ate, they are not allowing me to use their water. They told me to search for water by myself but the faucet spits no liquid." His low, husky voice told me that he doesn't even drink.
I sighed. A tear fell from my eye as I walk towards the small, messy room that we used to sleep. Broken appliances and some sacks of unused clothes by them were placed here, making it look so unorganized even when I clean it every day.
My heart hurts for my brother. I am almost not going home, and whenever I am, I will always see him like this, but every time I will catch him in this state, my heart will always boom in both anger and disappointment towards my Auntie. She is our blood and flesh, how can she do this to her nephew? Isn't she is reminded of her sister?
I shook my head and wiped my tears as I search for my hidden savings. I will get a small amount from it and will buy my brother a proper meal. My heart boomed loud as I saw the envelope under my favorite shirt. It felt weird, I don't remember it being this light. I opened it, and the next thing I knew, it fell on the floor.
The money is half as the amount that I exactly put in there. I am preparing that money for the house I am going to buy! I am working so hard because of that and now, a big amount has been decreased!
I furrowed my brows. My tears fell down my eyes as I paced towards my Aunt's door. I knocked loudly, bringing all the anger and sulk in my knuckles.
"Auntie Tanya!" I yelled behind the door. My tears were flowing, my eyes turned red, and my heart beat wildly.
"Auntie–" The door revealed the face of my Aunt's wife.
"What?" Her strict, infuriating face is getting inside my nerves.
"Where is my money?" I asked in a calm voice, the opposite of what I am feeling right now.
"Why are you asking me about your money? I don't even know you have one!"
"Just tell me where did you spend it and I will shut my mouth! Don't cover up your pitiful lies!"
I usually tell myself not to argue with these types of people. They are just a bunch of fools who doesn't have a short time nor long time goals. They were contented as long as they can eat twice a day and doesn't even care if they are offending other people. All are fine for them as long as they are happy.
"I used it to pay for our electricity and water bills! Alright?!" she yelled.
But my mind won't accept any of it.
"You used it for your bills. Not ours. It is my money, then. I am expecting that my brother can now use water and electricity. I will collect the money if I find out that you aren't giving him the rights for what I paid for."
I pursed my lips, balled my fists, and shut the door close.
This is not the life that I signed for.
I glanced at the sky above me. The combination of white and blue clouds was now matched with yellow to red hues, the sun falling down the east where green, high mountains are peacefully resting. The incoherent wheezing of birds on the branches of the trees didn't make my ears hurt but rather hear a lullaby. Dried, fallen leaves from the trees sounded as it crashes against my shoes, making me dart my eyes at the road."Mommy! Daddy! Look at what I found!" A small, happy voice from a cute little boy not far from me is waving his hands. He was holding a watch, smiling from ear-to-ear, and running
My eyes turned bloodshot. My breathing became fast as I walk in furry towards the kitchen–anticipating that the witch is there.I can't endure this mess anymore. I know we have a lot of things to be thankful for her and for my Aunt, but this is too much!"What the heck did you do this time?!" I yelled and smashed the bunch of elementary papers in her chest, distracting her from cutting the vegetables on the kitchen table.The papers scattered along with the whole place, the envelope getting wet as it landed on the steel sink."Do you freaking know how long did I try to–" I groaned in frustration. This witch is getting smarter each passing day and was only getting worse!"What are you saying? And don't you even have respect?! I am older than you!"I gasped and sarcastically smiled."You talk about respect when you already robbed me! Where the hell did you put my money again?" I glared at her, my voice reflecting resentment
The loud, irritating sound of the police siren rang in my ears. My body was trembling hard, blood running away from my face as I felt my heavy steps towards the place where men in blue and black are clustering. Big, white vans with green curtains were parked beside the yellow tapes and red cones. I roamed my eyes to the whole place. A bunch of people is around it, murmuring things I couldn't hear and comprehend. Cameras are flashing everywhere as I heard the reporters' loud voices."Tayla! Tayla!" Auntie Tanya's voice made me go back to my sanity. My eyes flew from the people down to the center of the place–the cause of the commotion. I hastily drag my foot and lifted the yellow tapes to went inside."Tayla! Go back here!" But I refused to follow her orders and pushed the men away."Miss! You can't go here! This is not a place for you!" I heard a loud, baritone voice behind me. Someone wrapped his hands around my wrists to stop me but the blood that I saw
"I'm sorry, Tayla. If only I can make you stay in our house, I would. But you know our house is not that big and my Mom is a human Armalite, right?" Ella scratched her head and hold the edge of the map, glancing at me before she continued mopping the floor.We are again, in Talk and Chill. Tomorrow I wouldn't be here for the class will start and I need a place where I can stay. Unluckily, Ella just told me that she can't help me.I sighed. "I understand, Ella. Thanks for telling me early."I turned around and went towards the sink to wash the dishes, my lips twisting a bit as I thought...why are we getting paid under minimum wage when we do almost all kinds of things in this chill bar? We should at least have an increase."Tayla, I don't understand you," Ella spoke behind me."Your Aunt Tanya stood as your guardian, yes. But you don't have to leave your own house!" She stood up and glanced at me with her bewildered, round eyes."It was your
"Why would I choose to live in your condo unit?" I furrowed my brows.I heard him murmuring something, but it was low that I couldn't hear it clearly. He was averting his gaze, his lips narrow opened as it spoke small noises which I couldn't hear properly.The wind blew my hair backward, making me close my eyes for seconds, and held the edges of my hair to put it on my right shoulder, my hand holding my thick, Hazel brown hair. I opened my eyes and glanced at him. His eyes were darted at me, his hair dancing against the cold wind."What? I'm giving you a favor?" He shrugged and pulled my other arm, lifted it, and get the black gartered scrunchie in my wrist."Hey! That's mine!""But I am the one holding it right now, so it's mine." He rolled his eyes and pushed all the hair from his forehead and the side of his head towards the back, twisting the garter around his wavy, black hair.I licked my lips. "As I've just said, I don't have 20,000 ev
I roamed my eyes around the whole place. With its white walls, black glossy tiles, and dark furniture, it screamed simplicity yet elegance. I have never been fond of the dark colors for it was what I see all day, but this place looked calming–reminds me of the pair of amethyst eyes staring at me.Auton Smith, in his oversized black sweater, shorts, and man bun, glanced at me with a smirk plastered on his face. He was sitting on the black single sofa, his knees about to touch the edges of the coffee table, and his right arm resting at the armrest."Do you like the place? Or I can search for another free unit and–""This is fine," I cut his words short and clicked my neck before sitting towards the long sofa on his left."This is a small unit, the reason why I don't want to live here." I glanced at him. His finger is now playing with his lower lip, his left brow arched.
"Are you crazy?" I asked after a long period of silence. The man in front of me is staring at me with his serious, deep amethyst eyes. His lips pursed in a grim line, and his brows furrowed a bit."I'm serious. I want to have a date with you. I want to confirm the weird things I feel towards you.""Why date someone you don't even know that much? I thought relationships start with friendship!" Startled, I replied.He crossed his arms and lean his back on his chair. "This is why we need to date. It's not about getting in a relationship right after that. We will just try getting to know each other and evaluate whether we would fit or not then decide afterward."Though he sounded so serious, I am still not convinced. I shook my head, what we are talking about is ridiculous.When you date someone, it means you want to be with her. You already confirmed that you want to start pursuing her. It would inflict pain if the girl doesn't like you at first, then
"You're kidding, right?" I almost choked as I saw how he started to place the food in front of me.The smell of the Filipino foods served is enticing, but the playful smirk plastered on his face told me that it shouldn't be trusted.He crossed his arms and shook his head."You shouldn't be playing with me like this, Auton. It'll never be funny." I hissed and then pulled myself up, planning to walk out of the small kitchen and shut him off.He immediately went in front of me and held onto my waist, making me stop and hold my breath for a moment.His warm hands were wrapped around the small of my back, moving my body back to the seat as he glanced at me with his lopsided smile, revealing his dimple on his right cheek."You...you don't know what you are doing." I averted my gaze as I felt his hand tighten the grip."Sit, you don't need to escape." He pushed me towards the chair and pulled another one to sit beside me.He extended