Why do I have to bump into you?

Chloe's POV: I am Chloe. My life has been decided ever since I was born. My family has owned the biggest company to have ever been renowned in the country. High-quality scented perfumes and such. I have been forced to take the family name and run the business for my future but I refused. My mom would often scold me with dad's belt every day. I never have a good night's sleep because I have to study my ass off for the business. I never get any compliments from my dad for all the hard work I've done. I'm tired. I'm scared. Still, I wanna live my life freely and do what I wanna do. But... I never thought living an independent life can be hard.

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"You leave this house, you will die out there with no money at all." Chloe's father putting up in a straightforward manner. As the CEO of his business, he already planned Chloe's future as the next head.

Chloe has always been sensitive ever since she was young. She was trained to have proper etiquette and her parents thought that having friends will always have a hinder her studies so she was homeschooled and never experienced having friends. Even though she never experienced what friendship was like, during her breaks she loved reading novels and mystery books. Through reading novels, she imagined scenarios of her having friends, falling in love, and so much more. Her personal library is the only thing that kept her happy despite the pressure her parents put her through.

"Chloe! Come back here, don't be a disgrace to the family." Her mother looking as if she was really worried about her daughter but Chloe knew how much her mother has hurt her over the years she has been in her household. She was like a dog being told what to do. She can never talk back to her mother because was so soft-hearted that she thinks her mother sacrificed a lot for her.

At this point, Chloe was about to leave home. When she graduated from her homeschooling studies or whatever it is called, For one year of planning, she is ready to leave her home and become independent. As time passes by in her household, she realized that being weak towards her parents will never do her any good.

"Maybe I do want to die. Thank you for raising me mom, dad, up till now, but I will never be controlled again by your hands again." Chloe proudly spoke. One more step, she is now out of her devilish home.

"Tsk. Fine. Once you step out, don't ever think of coming back. You don't deserve the family name."

Chloe never expected that her father's final words were like that before she leaves. Some part of Chloe was thinking that her father might be worried so felt guilty even if it was just a tiny bit, but no. He wasn't. She was wrong to think like that.

Chloe then smirked at her father and said, "Fine by me."

Her father looks furious as to the attitude Chloe gave him.

Chloe left the residence trying not to look back anymore. As she walked to the nearest bus station, she was trying to reminisce happy memories from that household but there was none.

Not knowing what to do, she told the driver to drop her at the nearest local region.

"Dammit. I hate this. Never once they treated me as their daughter. What am I gonna do?" Chloe cried so much until her eyes go dry. The passengers were looking sorry at Chloe but they never approached her because they saw the logo of her dad's company and don't want any trouble.

Finally, Chloe arrived at a place that is unfamiliar to her. As she asked a stranger where she is, Chloe was never familiar with the place called "Iloilo". She didn't mind as long as she was free, she was relieved. Now Chloe is on her own with no one to assist or back her up.

"At last! It's a good thing that I saved up money that I could last for a year. All I have to do is find a place to stay and find a job."

Chloe spent hours roaming around to find the place that could last her a year of her savings. Luckily she found an apartment besides a university that is known to be quite prestigious named UPC High. The agent guided her to the apartment and Chloe was contented already.

"Yas! Now that's settled. Time to be independent Chloe. Positive thoughts. Ahhh I can't but I have to. I'm scared, maybe I should die. The voices of negative relatives keep bugging me. I think I should do squats to forget about it."

Chloe was about to cry but she convinced herself to do squats to distract her. Her luck of finding an apartment doesn't end there. Coincidentally, there was a cafe shop just right below her apartment so she wonders if they are still hiring new recruits.

"Yep, I suck at this. Hmm, good thing this apartment is nice and next to it is a cafe. WOW!" Chloe saying enthusiastically.

She imagined herself being all pretty in cafe uniforms and living a normal happy life but then she slaps herself out back to reality.

"Let's do this. I'm going apply there."

"Starbucks huh? I remember Nanny bought me a drink of this before but I still haven't gone to see what this cafe looked like. *since I have always been treated with high-class foods and drinks in the estate* Hello? Is anyone-"

"Yahhaallloo! Wanna try our latest drink of the day 2in1?" A sudden surprise from a person that looked like who works here. Chloe was trying to speak but the person just pulled her right into the cafe as he was persuading Chloe to buy their drinks.

"Uh- actually I want to"

"No worries darling. We reserved the best seat in the house for you!"

"Uh- thank you but I-"

"No buts. Just drink this. We have been expecting you he-he."

"Wait, what?" sighs

Chloe was so amused by the employee. She couldn't say anymore and eventually, she gave in and sat on their best seat.

Suddenly a waitress hit the employee with her tray. "Boss you're scaring our customer again. Ha- Don't worry about him. He's like that but he's the best boss here in our place. Now, what would you like miss?"

Chloe was shocked by what she said. She thought, Wait a minute... That crazy dude is the boss here, I thought the managers in most cafe shops are super fancy and whatnot, well he is pretty but WTF I wanna laugh so hard but I need to keep my composure.

"Actually I want to apply here. Are you still hiring new employees?" Chloe answered the kind waitress *sort of kind*

"Uh yeah, but-"

"WHOAA! Does another beauty want to apply? YOU'RE HIRED!"

"Ha- I knew it."

"Heh?!" Chloe confusingly said.

The waitress sighed so much when the manager heard that Chloe wants to apply. The manager is so enthusiastic that Chloe never really considered him as the head of the cafe. Well, for some reason, Chloe felt comfortable around them and was excited to work with them. The waitress was so stressed out by her boss' personality but she smiled knowing that the cafe is full of high spirits.

Chloe thought to herself, just like that I got hired to work here in Starbucks near UPC school.

The following day is Chloe's first day of work. She got up so early in the morning but...

"What the! It's 4 A.M!" Chloe screamed.

Still, she didn't go back to sleep anymore so she started the day productive by going out a jog for 30 minutes, prepared all the stuff for her work, and went out to the cafe.

"Umm. Chloe, come here for a sec." The waitress calling out to Chloe.

"Yea?"

"You gotta watch out for the boss, okay? He may seem so nice to you but once you started working, you have to really focus."

"Oh yea, sure. Since it's work after all."

"No I mean- cuz it's your first day, he likes to-"

"Chloe! Come here for a sec." The boss suddenly calling out to her.

"Yes Sir! We'll talk later. Thank you!"

Chloe was too excited that she rushed off to the boss without finishing the waitress' sentence.

Chloe didn't understand what the waitress said but she just continued working happily. She started out mopping the floor and greeting customers and guiding them to their seats.

"Ahh- now it starts." The waitress sighed again as she said that. There was something about to happened that Chloe wasn't fully aware of. Well, she trying warning Chloe but now she has nothing to do about it.

"Now Chloe, since it's your first day you take orders from our customers for now. Can you do that?" Even though it was Chloe's first day, she was really confused that her boss really has the trust to give her that task. She still doesn't want to complain and so, she never questioned her boss why.

"Yes, boss!" Chloe energetically said.

"Nice! Now get to work." said the boss while pointing his hand out as if he was the main character of an anime.

"Umm Sir... you're pointing at a wall," the waitress said.

"Oh am I?" The waitress thought how weird their boss was.

Meanwhile, while Chloe was taking orders...

"Chloe! Take this trash for me." Her boss calling out to her again.

"I thought I should take orders from customers first sir?" Chloe suddenly asked the boss because she thought she was only to take orders the whole day.

"Huh? Are you talking back to me?" The boss glared at Chloe.

Chloe suddenly felt a chill in her spine and was scared for a minute there. "No sir! Right away."

"Chloe! Get the remaining boxes in the truck"

"Chloe! Try wearing this costume and go give some people outside these fliers"

"Chloe! Count these coins. Before I get back, you should be done"

"Chloe!" The boss continued to mumble a lot of tasks to Chloe.

"Oh? Is that the new recruit?" One of the employees asked the waitress as they were watching Chloe struggled with the tasks.

"Yep, now yet again, the boss likes to test them with so much work on the first day." The waitress sighed and smiled.

"Hahaha, I hope she survives."

It's been a day already and Chloe has been working nonstop. The loyal customers knew what the manager was planning ever since. The manager often does this to new recruits. They hold their laughter in so that Chloe wouldn't notice.

"Ahh. I have to keep on going." Chloe exhaustively said.

Chloe was so hung up on working she didn't even realize that it was nighttime already.

"Ahh it's 11 PM and I'm working nonstop. I can't but I have to. Ahh, mom- dad-" Chloe was starting to cry and was trying to think of her parents to save her from the exhaustion but she snapped herself out and believed in herself that she will overcome the challenge. She wished for independence, if she could not survive this trial, she knows that she will never become independent.

"Chloe!" The manager calling out to her from a distance.

"Yes Sir!" Chloe rushed off in a hurry to where the boss is.

Chloe kept calling out to her boss and unexpectedly found herself in a dark room. Despite Chloe's good vision, she couldn't even see a tiny spec. She kept calling out the boss but there was no reply. She got scared eventually and remembered her childhood that she was calling out to her mom from her since there was a thunderstorm but Chloe's mother never paid attention. She thought the same thing is going to happen again where people never really cared about her.

"CONGRATULATIONS CHLOE!!!" Suddenly the lights opened and there was a big surprise party all for Chloe.

"heh?" Chloe got confused

"You passed the test!" Their boss lively said with such a big smile on his smile even though he was being cold to Chloe for the whole day, she thought this guy... for sure he's not married.

"I passed?"

"Not really a test, but boss likes to tease new recruits..." The waitress cleared up the confusion of Chloe was having.

"Heh??????" Chloe was speechless like her soul was drifting away from the tiresome work she did the whole day.

"Now now... Chloe, I'm really looking forward to working with you. I hope you consider this cafe team your family as well." The manager gently pats Chloe's back and smiled gently at her and lets her know that she's not alone anymore.

"Family?" Chloe was thinking to herself, Lord is this the family you'll give to me? Am I really deserving of all this love and comfort? Chloe looked at everyone smiling and laughing while enjoying the rest of the food and the party itself. She teared up and everyone smiled back to her as if they knew what Chloe went through and all the suffering she felt.

"Yes. Now then, I give you your first assignment. You're going to participate in this year's UPC event." The predictable manager gave Chloe a sudden task as everyone looked at him and sighed all together.

"Event?" Chloe asked while drinking juice.

"You're going to serve people there with our very own stall. The competition may be tough because there are a lot of bastard stalls who keep stealing our customers. Tsk, but for sure you're up to the task right?" The manager trying to assure Chloe if she's really up to it.

"Yes Sir! I'll do my best." Chloe's eyes sparkled like an angel. She was so excited to have such a big assignment for the cafe and was so happy that the boss trusted her so much.

"Now then. Before that, I want you to get the remaining stocks from our storage at the plaza before we close up." The manager gave one last task.

"*What the heck? Another test? I hope this is the last one.* Yes Sir!" Chloe didn't even bother the boss anymore.

After such a long day, Chloe gave one last run to get the stocks to finish her first day of work.

"Ahh, I'm so tired. I have to do this fast." *Chloe remembering past harsh events of her family and shed a tear while running* Ahh now this is the start of a new life."

While she was running, she suddenly bumped into something hard.

Chloe fell and as she glanced up, she realized that it was not a thing but a girl who is like steel. Chloe thought to herself, Ahh that hurt, what is she? The girl of steel or some alien? She looks beautiful but somewhat intimidating. What's this? Why am I even scared of her?

"Ha- are you blind? You have two eyes right?" The girl said normally but in Chloe's perspective, she was like a beast ready to eat her prey.

Chloe's thoughts were all messed up that she couldn't say a single word. *No no I bumped into someone, right? She looks like she's talking but why can't I hear? Is it because I'm too tired?* *she looks so scary* * Do they have a knife?* *they'll kill me* *ahh I have to run*

Chloe was so tired. Exhausted. She just wants to sleep. But... at the same time, she never felt this scared in her life. "Sorry! Sorry! I'm so sorry. Don't kill me." Chloe cried that out loud to her and instantly ran away like a bunny.

When Chloe finally had the stocks, she went on a different route and placed them in the cafe's storage. She went home after that.

"Finally!" She sighed and passed out straight away.

The next day, Chloe went to work as usual, and instead of thinking of what happened yesterday, she controlled her emotions and continued working.

"She might be with that gang and stole something. It's better not to get involved with her again. I might get in trouble. Still, I wonder what she was thinking- Forget it, time to focus on working." She tried remembering the girl's face but she never minds it.

There were a bunch of kids outside the shop being all noisy. Chloe tried to grasp what was happening and there she saw a couple of college students and didn't pay attention to them. The students went inside the cafe and lined up in front of the cashier where Chloe is currently assigned for the day.

"May I take your order maa-" Chloe looked up at the customer and made her eyes a little smaller because she looked blurry. Chloe scratched her eyes and cleared her vision and looked at the customer again and she was left blank and speechless for a second there.

The customer looked at Chloe and in an instant, she definitely recognized her right away that she was the worker from last night. The customer's heart thumped from the moment she saw her.

And both of them yelled

"You!!"

"You!!"