Chapter 1 Terrible Night

Farah's POV

I was so busy serving our customers today at the restaurant. It's summer vacation, that's why so many tourists visit our place. As a result, all the restaurants are full.

"Farah, table six. Please deliver this order," the manager called me. I turned to him and smiled before quickly approaching the side of the counter where the orders are taken and are ready for serving. I carefully picked up the tray with lots of food and brought it to the table with the number 6 written on it.

"Enjoy your meal sir, ma'am. Do you need anything else?" I greeted with a smile and asked the customers at table 6. It was a whole family. A couple with their two children.

"Thank you, miss, but we're good," the man answered. His wife also nodded and smiled at me while his two children were excited with their food.

I politely bid them farewell in order to clear the used tables for other customers to utilize later.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon when people entering the restaurant decreased so I sat down first. My back is really aching, and my legs are really hurting.

"So, can you still do it?" I looked up when I heard Lea's voice. She is my friend who introduced me to the manager of this restaurant. Like me, she also got a part time job to help her parents with her schooling.

We are both in our fourth year of college and are currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. I was also forced to work part time since my dad got sick and our business gradually got bankrupt.

Right now, my daddy has blood cancer. My mom's income as a manager in a bank is not enough with just his medicine and check-ups. My brother also helps but not much because he already has his own family, and his wife is pregnant. My younger brother is only in grade 9.

I also wanted to stop schooling for a while, but mommy didn't want to because she said it was a waste because I will be graduating in just six months. And of course, I can get a better job if I have a degree.

"I'm fine. It's just a bit tiring today because our customers kept coming since nine o'clock in the morning," I replied, then gently massaged my aching legs.

"Just be strong and patient. We will get through this. But honestly, I'm just worried about you because you're not used to this kind of work. But now you're being forced because it's necessary," my friend comforted me, her eyes laced with concern.

I sighed then nodded and slowly smiled at her.

"Oh, don't worry too much about me. I also learned many things easily, and that's because of your help. Thank you very much, huh?" I sincerely uttered and smiled at her.

"Of course! I remember how nice you were to me even before. You also helped me a lot in the past, especially in financial matters. Since then, even though you are a rich, you are very humble, and you never look down on people. I never thought that we would be friends given the distance between our status in life," Lea stated. My heart melted with her words.

When we started struggling financially, that's when I realized who my true friends really are and who are just pretenders. Nowadays, my old friends who used to cling to me all the time almost ignore me, especially when I became broke. It hurts too, but what else can I do?

"Let's not talk about those sad things anymore. We'd better go back there because our presence might already be needed," I pointed out and then slowly stood up. When our eyes met, we laughed like silly girls. Our conversation almost turned into a drama. I followed her inside and we started working again.

Today is Saturday, so my duty here is until five o'clock. Lea and I were supposed to go home together but she and her boyfriend had a date.

In my case, I'm still a little heartbroken until now because I broke up with my boyfriend for two years because of his affair. He even blamed me for having an affair with another woman because he said I couldn't give him what he wanted. It is because I didn't want to have sex with him. That was also the time when he started to be cold towards me.

He said I don't love him because I can't give him what he wants. According to him, sex is normal for lovers to do. I loved Tyron, too, but if he's only after my body. He probably doesn't really love me for real.

I thought of going to the grocery store before going home. There is a lot lacking at home now, so I have to go shopping. It was already dark when I went about going home. And since the store was close to our house, I thought of walking to save on the fare.

When I was near the empty lot, I heard what seemed to be men's voices. It's like someone is talking angrily while someone is crying. I immediately because very curious.

Even though I was nervous, I wanted to peek in to find out what was going on. Fortunately, there was a big tree near where I heard the voice, so I hid there to look for the noise.

And to my utter astonishment, I saw a woman kneeling on the ground while pleading with the man in front of her. The man was holding a gun pointed at her forehead.

My whole body instantly trembled at what I saw. I wanted to run away, but I felt like my feet were glued to the ground, and I couldn't move even an inch. I also covered my mouth with one hand so as not to make any noise.

Aside from the one holding the gun, there were three other men surrounding the woman who was crying and constantly begging. I couldn't hear what the man was saying because they were quite far from where I was.

The woman almost kissed the foot of the man with the gun. The man tried to avoid her, but the woman kept begging him on her knees. Until a few moments later, the gun fired and the woman's forehead took the bullet from it.

The woman fell dead on the cold ground while I screamed so loud that it even echoed everywhere. I dropped everything in my hand as tears rolled down my cheeks.

My eyes widened as the man who shot the woman quickly turned to where I was. With great fear and shock, I backed away and quickly ran. The man with the gun and his companions is now chasing me. I didn't realize my tears were falling more uncontrollably now because of intense fear.

I ran faster even though my chest was hurting and my whole body was shaking more and more. But unfortunately, I stumbled in the dark part of the place and before I could get up, that man with the gun was already in front of me.

"P-please have mercy on me. D-don't hurt me..." I begged while crying. I can't even stop my lips from quivering. And before I could even hear what the man in front of me had to say, my breathing became heavier and my head started spinning, until I lost consciousness.