2: Tragic Night

Chapter 2

Tragic Night

***

POV: Lia Salvador

“I’m really sorry for the short notice, Lia.” Cali apologetically told her.

I smile at her.

“It’s okay, Cali. I understand. Besides, it is an emergency. You need to tend your grandma. Family first, right?” I reminded her.

I suddenly felt a hollowness in my stomach as I thought about what I just told her. I feel guilty because even I fail to do what I’ve just said.

Family first, but I choose to run away and leave my parents.

I bit my lower lip as I felt the guilt creeping inside me.

Is it selfish of me to choose to be free? Is it selfish to choose myself and to be independent? Is it selfish to cut my strings from the manipulation that is already controlling me?

“Hey, are you okay?” Cali’s worried voice pulls me back to reality.

I instantly adjusted my eyeglasses to calm myself.

“Uhm, of course. I just think of something.” I simply stated.

Cali gives me a small, tight hug.

“You might be missing your parents. Don’t worry, I will be your family here, no matter what.” Cali sincerely told her.

I smiled genuinely at her.

Of course, I already treat her like my real sister. She is so kind to me, and she’s always there, no matter what.

I nod my head as we break the hug.

“Of course, Cali. And I am truly grateful for that.” I honestly told her.

We continue our work because customers already flock to the café. I am already accustomed to it. The Heaven’s Cup Café’s location is the best. There’s a new building being constructed just across the street, where the construction workers are our regulars. The university is one block away, and students always go to the café to do their stuff at school.

The owner, Mrs. Vandra Go, is looking for two more servers to help me and Cali – since there’s one more building to be constructed near them. I bet the café will be busier in the days to come.

“Cali, you can go now. I can do this.” I reminded her.

Cali looks around and realizes that there are just a few customers in the place.

However, she looks so worried.

“But those men just across the street aren’t here yet. Are you sure, you can do this?” She asked using her concern tone.

I give her an assuring smile.

“Don’t worry about me. I can do it. Just go now. Your grandmother needs you.” I convinced her.

Cali heaves a deep sigh.

She needs to be with her grandmother because she’s in the hospital right now. She just goes to work since they both need money for the hospital bills. She needs to pack their things and go straight to the hospital.

I mentally sigh as I realize how life can be so unfair. Some people who deserve the money can’t have it without working hard. And some people just have more money, yet they still need to…

I instantly shook those thoughts away. I didn’t know why the hell I’d been thinking about the kind of life I had for these past few days.

I have already convinced Cali to go home, and now I am all alone. It is thirty minutes before seven, and I still need to arrange the cupcakes. Good thing that I already washed the cups and only have three more left to do.

I look at the dark road through the glass door, but the man that I long to see isn’t there. Maybe, they will skip this night, and I need to move now. I still need to close the café.

“Oh, Lia… Don’t be too hopeful tonight. Maybe, he will not come.” I told this before I started arranging the cupcakes.

My eyes instantly move towards the door when the bell rings.

However, her heart begins to thump faster when, instead of Renz – whom I am inspecting – I see two unfamiliar men, who seem to be already drunk.

I immediately stand up.

“Uhm, I’m sorry, gentlemen, but we are close already.” I told them in a friendly way.

But the other just sits on one of the sofas and leans against it – as if he hasn’t heard anything. While the other one moved closer to the counter while walking unsteadily.

“Oh, come on, just give us some hot, brewed coffee, lady.” The man commanded me using his groggy voice.

I start to panic.

‘Speak, Lia!’ I command myself.

I am already trembling inside, but I need to focus. This is the first time that I ever encounter something like this.

“B-But we are already close…” I tried to explain to them.

The man closer to me instantly throws me some deadly glares.

“What the fuck! Don’t test my patience, lady! I said I want some coffee!” His voice thundered throughout the entire place.

I start to shake in fear as my heart is pounding loudly inside my chest.

“What? Are you deaf?!” The other man started walking towards where I am, and they are both glaring at me.

“Oh, this is some kind of chick…” The older man, who had just walked towards me, commented.

I swallow hard.

“F-Fine. J-Just… J-Just please s-stay put…” I shakingly said.

But the two just laugh at me.

“No… No… I already change my mind…” The older man stated before he went on the small door connecting to the counter.

“W-What are you d-doing?” I said with my trembling voice.

But the two men just smile maliciously at me. The older man even licks his lips disgustingly while looking at me like some sort of delicious meal.

‘Oh, God!’ I screamed into my mind.

I feel like I cut my tongue, but I need to do something or else…

“No Please! Stop! I’ll do what you say now. You want c-coffee, r-right?” I convinced them.

But it seems like they are not already listening to me.

“Oh, God! Please! No!” I begin to yell at them when they try to touch me.

“Fuck! Stop screaming, you bitch! You’re not that pretty!” The other man commented, but I continued screaming for help.

The older man slaps my face so hard that my eyeglasses fly away from my face and are broken on the floor now.

My eyes begin to water as I feel my cheek stings. But that’s the least of my concern now. I need to run!

“Come on, I will just take you to heaven, my little girl…” The older man wickedly said before he caught my arm and held it firmly – hurting me.

“Help!” I cried helplessly.

I have never felt so helpless in my entire life. A part of me suddenly drifted back to the past where I felt the sting from my own parents’ kind of discipline. I close my eyes as a lone tear escape from it.

It this His way of punishing me?

Am I truly a bad daughter?

I sob as I straggle hard – for the man not to touch me.

Then, I hear the bell ring, a ting of hope suddenly lightens me. Before I know it, Renz is already punching the hell out of the man, who is trying to violate me.

It happens too fast that I am left speechless and trembling on the floor – hugging my own knees… praying for my own safety.

I don’t know what to do. I want to stop Renz because he might kill the old man, but I can stand, I can’t move – like I’ve been glued to the marbled floor.

And when, a warm hand holds me – I sob and evade his touch. I am shaking terribly, and my vision is blurred with unshed tears.

“Hey… It’s okay… Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

But I shake terribly as Renz tries to calm me.

“Hey, it’s okay… it’s me…” He gently told me.

I swallow hard before looking at him – with my blurred vision – I realize that it is him. It is Renz, who is trying to calm me down. He wipes away my tears, and when I already see him clearly, I just let out a loud cry.

I thought I will face a tragic ending… that this is already a punishment of me being a bad daughter… and gaining my own freedom.

But I am wrong.

I am saved… by Renz.

He let out a loud curse before hugging me tightly.

“Shhh… I’m here… don’t cry now.”

His soothing words calm me down – like lulling me.

“Shh… It’s okay now… you’re safe.” He whispered softly as he hugs me tighter.

I didn’t complain because I love his warmth… his concern… his embrace…

Because being with him right now, I feel at peace.