"Dad?"
I called my father as I entered our house. I used to see him sitting on the sofa and watching news on the television. But this time, I did not catch him in the living room. Maybe, he is in the kitchen or his room.
I went to my room first to change my clothes. I quite arranged my things because my room look so messy. This day is tiring. It was still noon, and the surrounding is peaceful.
I let out a sigh. My family isn't financially stable. It was just me and my father who is left. My mother died, and my sister was adopted by my aunt. Daddy can't raise us both, life is a struggle. We and my sister still communicate, tho. We never lose connection.
We just simply live in this huge town. I strive hard to help dad get through life. And that is why I am willing to surrender everything to show my presence in the meeting and show our proposal. Because if our team gets approved, we'll level up. That is what my mother wants.
I shook my head and went outside my room to check on dad. I went inside his room first since it was near my place, and when I did not see him there, I went down to the kitchen.
"Dad?" I called him and subtly yawned. I then pouted because he still didn't answer. I roamed my eyes around the kitchen to see him, but still, I wasn't able to see his presence —
Wait...
Did I just see...
I gulped and slowly tilted my head in the sink area. I could feel my heartbeats pacing because of too much nervousness. I don't know if I see it right. And I have to confirm it.
I gulped and froze in place upon seeing my father lying on the cold floor, blood flowing down from his head. My lips started to shake in horror. My body, I want to move and run towards him, but heck, I can't even step even just an inch!
"D-Dad..." I muttered under my breath as a pool of tears started to form in my eyes. Am I hallucinating? Yes, please. This isn't real! I am not seeing my father with his bloody and lifeless being! This ain't fucking real! Yes, this ain't real... Not real...
I kept on convincing myself, yet, I know that I am just fooling around. I gathered all my strength to walk towards him as fast as I could. When I reached for his face, my tears fell. This fucking hurts.
I hover down to him and stared at his face. I sobbed as my chest clenched. I want to scream, let out the pain, but how? Feels like I am voiceless. My throat is hoarse. I don't know anymore. I just want to be numb.
I closed my eyes as my tears did not stop from falling down my cheeks. "D-Dad..." my voice broke as I talked. "Why...?"
I just found myself weeping out loud. I can't take it. I want to scream. I want to kill myself. The mere sight of him lifeless fucking hurts, so bad. Why? What happened? What happened to him and he ended up like this?
"Your father is stabbed," said the doctor as she went out of the operating room. I felt weak about what she said. Stabbed? Why? How come? Dad hasn't a rival. He is too good to have an enemy who will kill him just like that. That life hasn't been valued.
"No," I sarcastically chuckled and looked away. I wiped the tears that has slipped my cheeks. "That's not true."
She didn't talk. Zed held my shoulders with pity. "Tal..."
"Who would even stab him?!" They almost yelped because of my sudden yell. "Who?! I didn't even see anything in the kitchen that can show that he is stabbed! The blood came from his head... W-Who would even stab a p-person as cruel as that? Tell me, w-who?"
"Tal, calm down —"
"Fucking calm down! Shut up! How can I calm down?! My father died, and you expect me to act calm?! How stupid of you, Zed!"
"That doesn't help you, Tal..."
"You also don't." I gritted my teeth.
The doctor talked to me first before she left us. She gives me papers where the scan result is there. I can't help but cry. She is right, my father got stabbed in his head. This is so cruel!
Cruel than my mother's death...
I don't know why this is happening to me. Why? Why my family gets away from me? Why is there someone who wants us to fade into this world? I don't even know any of our rivals. We were just living our life, penurious, yet, peaceful.
How jinx of me.
"Tal..." Zed went near me to give me comfort. I cried in his chest. Good thing he came as soon as possible when I called. He helped me to call an ambulance. He guided me. He never leaves me. I need his comfort right now.
"I don't know anymore..." I sobbed and gripped on the shirt from his back. I felt weak. I am too tired of everything. I want to rest. "I am tired, Zed..." I whispered to him, still sobbing. I even struggled to breathe.
"Let's go home."
"I don't want to leave my father here." I shook my head. I am not going to do so. I want to be with him even just for more minutes.
"You have to rest."
"I will rest here."
I heard him sigh. He caress the top of my head and leaned over to give a light kiss on my forehead. "Alright, then. I will stay beside you."
I just nodded my head and let him sit beside me. I closed my eyes, leaning my head against his shoulders. I will like it if I will just stay here in the hospital and stay with dad until we will settle everything.
I can't imagine it. My parents are now gone. They both vanished. Vanished through killing. What if... What if, one person killed my parents? I don't understand everything that is happening to me. It was like I was born to suffer.
This meant for me.
Cruelty, cruelty.
Living alone now, huh? Great.
I don't feel like living, tho. My heart is already dead ever since.
"Is your decision already final?" I heaved a deep sigh and nodded my head to Zed. Yes, this is already final. I have to work for myself. Nothing has been left at me because of my father's death. Everything that was mine, it all vanished. I have to start another chapter of my life. I will make sure to be better and get better. "Alright, then." He helped me with my things. I will be living in our house. Staying here is no good for me. It will just give me trauma. I moved to his condo. He suggested to me to live with him and will just buy mine if I already have enough money. I did not say anything, though. It is just fine for me to live with him. He is my friend for already years, and he is the best man I ever encountered. "Here's your things, the left room is yours." I forced a smile at him and get my things afterward. When I entered the room, I pursed my lips together into one line. The room is so neat. Zed probably cleaned it. And the things, it was all done. All I just have to d
"You look like you just regret everything." I closed my eyes harshly and leaned against the headboard of my bead. Yes, I really do. I regret my decision and I did not like what I did lately. I am too coward to refuse Kiel Alexandro Ramirez. And besides, work is work. There is no bias there. "Hey, Miss. You are now fired." I looked at Ramirez's former secretary. Disbelief and surprise then crept her eyes. "W-What?" "I said, you are now fired." I showed her that I am too brave to tell her this. That I am not nervous at all. That I am desperate to have my work and fire the shit out of her. "B-But..." "I am the new secretary," I cut her off with a smile on my lips. She almost stepped backward in horror. "You are done. Come and find a new job." I could feel Zed's stares at me so I opened my eyes and looked at him. I just remembered what I did as Ramirez's told me to fire her. I did regret, however, this feeling will never lead me to something great. "What?" Zed raised her brows at
I slowly walked through the hallway...Damn! I do not know the exact location of Mister Yuri's office! I am already on the second floor just like what Mister Ramirez said. This building is just a great maze. It is making me confused big time, and yeah, my head started to ache. I have been wandering around, not sure of my way and the direction I should choose to go.My gosh! I need a freaking help.I groaned in subtlety as I felt my foot twitched. My foot started to get hurt too. What should I do? I really look so clumsy when I do not know the right thing to do. This is not my first time in the company, but a first-timer being a secretary. I am not familiar with the place since I did not have time to wander around.I roam my eyes around and sighed hopelessly. I could feel sweats on my forehead. Good thing I just applied light makeup because it might have ruined yet in the situation I am in. I should ask an employee on this floor. I am wasting my time here."Hi, Miss," I called the atte
"You seemed tired."I pursed my lips into one thin line and sat on the couch inside the living room of Zed's unit. Yes, I am freaking tired, exhausted. That Kiel Alexandro Ramirez made me do many things. I know that it isn't normal for a secretary. I just realized that he wants me to suffer and struggle. What did I do to him and he treats me like this? Anyway, I will just bear with him. This is about money, about how I will live and get better."Can I have water?" I requested, closing my eyes. My body is sore. The current time is 10 in the evening, that is my off for today. I will study my schedule and Mister Ramirez's. Yes, he just let me go home at this kind of time. I started my work in the morning and I just have a minute's break as I took my lunch."Here." Zed handed me a glass of water. I heard him sigh before he sat on the couch facing me. I looked at him. He looked so worried, staring at my pale face. "This is your first day as his secretary," he stated. "Yet, you're not well.
"Can't you do your work?""I am sorry!" I panicked when Mister Ramirez looked at me with shut brows. I gulped as I felt my system shaking. I am nervous, okay? I cannot act normally, actions that I used to.I can't even focus on what I am doing. I don't understand myself anymore."Do your thing before I fire you," he coldly said and left his office. I could feel his anger the way he gets off the room. Yes, I understand him. Who would not get angry when I started to get clumsy with everything I tend to do?I should do my best before Mister Kiel Alexandro Ramirez fire the hell out of me.I sighed and gathered all my strength to do my job. As usual, I just settled his schedule for today and tomorrow, about his upcoming appointments and the papers I should pass to the managers and employees. I just want to roll my eyes because my job on my first day is too hard while this time, it is already simple. Usage of brain and wise."Let's have lunch together again?" Dani called me. I forced a smil
"Wake up."I creased my brows upon hearing that word from a familiar voice. I raised my arms for stretching and let out a yawn. But then, I realized. Wait... My eyes immediately turned open with a wide sight as I realized that I am sleeping inside the office of the CEO!What the fuck?!I went up with nervousness. "H-Hey..." I smiled at Mister Ramirez awkwardly."Why are you sleeping in my office?" he asked with a hint of irritation. I looked away because of shame. I remembered what happened before I was able to sleep. He went outside his office after he took his coffee, and then I was tired of waiting and so I take a nap. "I am sorry.""You're shameless.""I am sorry, okay? I did not mean it!"He shook his head and went near his table to get his things. "I am done with the meeting. Go home yet."My eyes widened. "P-Pardon?"I looked at the wall clock and blinked upon seeing that it was already 3 in the morning. Why did not he wake me up?! He should have! It should be a nap but I ende
"Who's this?""This is Talia Hernandez."Zed's uncle shut when I told him my name. I called him and good thing he answered my call. I was currently driving, heading to the place that Zed suggested to me where his uncle is. I have to see him right now. I will put this first more than anything else. And besides, there are still minutes left before my work on Ramirez's company will start. I have to do this in the morning because Mister Kiel might have an extending time in the evening.First thing first."Hello? Are you still there, Sir?""Daughter of Mister and Mrs. Hernandez?"Thank goodness he is still up! I nodded my head even though he doesn't see me. "Yes. I have heard that you were investigating my parents' case?""What about it?""Mind if I will join you?"He was not able to utter anything for a moment, but after half of a minute, I heard him laugh as if I just dropped a joke. "You are funny, kid."I rolled my eyes, a bit annoyed. Why do people do not believe me? That helping them
Be my date...Be my date, Talia.Be my date.What the hell? B-Be his date? Is he freaking serious with that? I know that he has no time to joke around and I am very knowledgeable that he does not joke. Did he mean to say that word? Did he?I looked at him with my curious eyes. Confusion crept into my face. I don't understand him. "H-Huh?"Be my date. That sentence did not leave my mind. It was like a broken record that keeps on playing and is glitching in my hearing. He really said that. Or maybe, I misheard it?He licked his lower and raised his left brow afterward. "You don't want to?""No! I mean, yes! Yes, I don't want to! Why would I date you anyway? You are my boss and I am your secretary!"The side of his lips then rose. "Relax," he muttered under his breath before he stepped forward. I gulped and stepped backward on the other hand. He was staring at me intently and was like he was telling me something through his eyes which I don't get. "You know who I am, right?"I nodded my