04 WHY IS HE HERE?

ABIGAIL

I groaned in annoyance and groggily turned off my alarm clock when it went off. My body still aches slightly because of sweeping the street and running yesterday. I lazily stood up, went inside my bathroom, and bathed. After that, I dressed up for school. I made a sandwich, stepped out of my tiny apartment, and locked it while eating my sandwich, walking toward the bus stop.

This is my life since my only family died, my mother. My father, I don't know who he is, and I don't have a plan to find him. My mother died because of breast cancer almost two years ago, after two years of struggling with it. I did my best to earn money for her medication and Hospital bills, but nothing happened.

I took a deep breath and wiped the tears from my eyes. My mom is the best in the whole universe. When I was young, she gave me everything I needed. She works starting from seven in the morning until two in the morning to earn money for our daily expenses. She has three jobs every day, but I never heard her complain. She always smiles every time she comes and gives me a tight hug and kiss.

I learned to do household chores at the age of ten. I tried so hard to learn it so that I could help my mom. We lived happily despite only having each other until she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

All mom's savings are gone because of her medication, and the owner of our apartment kicked us out because we couldn't afford to pay our rent anymore. We found a cheaper apartment using the little money we had, and I had no choice but to find a job despite my mom being against it.

My mother cried when she found out that I was working at the small diner near my school and blamed herself for having this miserable life.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. The memory always makes me cry, reminding me how much I missed my mom.

"But I'm sure she was happy right now and just watching me and guiding me up there. I took a deep breath, hopped on the bus that arrived, sat at the far end, and closed my eyes, reminiscing the happy memories with my mother.

After thirty minutes, I arrived at my stop. I hurriedly ran toward the school entrance and sighed in relief that I made it five minutes before my classes started. I went to my locker and got the books I needed before I went to my classroom.

Cora and Mia quickly grin at me, waving their hand. I smiled at them in return before I settled down at my seat between them.

"So, do you have a picture of your boyfriend now?" Mia asked with a smirk on her lips. I'm sure she was thinking that I only made up the story, and both she and Cora know that, but I'm tired of the blind date thing that always ends in a complete disaster.

"I...I nibbled my lips nervously.

"Morning class." I let out a sigh of relief when our teacher stepped inside.

"Later at lunch," I reply nervously. I hope they will buy my lie.

***

We quickly went to the cafeteria when the bell rang, with Mia practically dragging me on our way, excited to see the picture of my fake boyfriend. We grabbed our food and went straight to the table that we usually occupy during lunchtime.

"Show me," Mia eagerly said and reached out her hand at me. I rolled my eyes at her. Can she let me eat my lunch first?

"Show you what?" I tried to play dumb that I didn't get what she meant, hoping she wouldn't insist, but because she is Mia, she'll know I'm just playing dumb. My shoulder sunk when she glared at me with her open palm in front of me. I hesitantly take my phone from my bag and place it on her open palm. She grinned, and Cora scooted closer to her, both giggling excitedly. I lower my head and eat my food.

"Is this him?" Mia shrieked, showing me the picture that I stole from that guy. I nodded my head nervously, not looking at her.

"Oh my god, panty-dropping hot gorgeous guy."She said it out loud, earning the attention of all students inside the cafeteria.

"Are you sure? You didn't just steal this picture, right?" Cora asked. Their eyes and mouth are both wide open, staring at the picture. But I agree with them. The guy has the look and a sex appeal, even the way he dresses, and I'm sure he's rich. Sigh.

"You're hurting my feelings, you know that? I am really that ugly?" I faked that I felt hurt.

"I'm not saying that you're ugly. It's just...

"I got it. He's not the type to date a girl like me." I wave my hand, not looking at them, shoving food inside my mouth. But I agree with what I said. A guy like him doesn't date a girl like me. I'm sure he only dated a model-like girl and also a rich girl.

"If he's really your boyfriend, what's his name?" I choke. I never thought about that. What should I name him? "Um... I bite my lips nervously.

"Carlo." Another lied. I hope I won't see that Carlo guy near this school. I was becoming good at lying now.

"Carlo? Nice name." Mia said with a smirk playing on her lips. What he's doing? What school is he going to? How old is he? Is he...

"Mia, stop, will you? I didn't know him so well yet. We only dated for a week." I cough with that lie again because I know nothing about him.

"Can we meet him?" Cora grinned. "He might have other hot friends."

"Yes, You're right about that girl." They both giggled and high-fived each other. I rolled my eyes once again

"No! I said a bit louder, standing up, catching all the attention of the students who were present inside the cafeteria. I blushed and sank back on my chair, embarrassed, and my two lovely friends burst into laughter. Are they really my friends? I groaned in annoyance. I really hate it when all attention is on me.

"Calm down, girl. We won't steal your hottie of a boyfriend." Bom said, and they both giggled again. I hissed in annoyance and quickly stood up, left the cafeteria, and went to my locker to get my book for my afternoon class. I was opening my locker when I saw a familiar figure. Chill ran all over my body, and I promptly ran to the corner, where he turned to confirm it. And I sighed in relief when I saw no one in there, only an empty hallway.

"I'm just hallucinating." I chuckled. That's what you get for lying. I shook my head and went back to my classroom, where Mia and Cora were already both giggling in their seat.

Time passed in a blur, and the final bell went off for the end of our class. Cora and Mia both said their goodbyes to me and then headed to their car while I leisurely walked on the sidewalk to go to my work. It's only four-thirty, and my work will start at five-thirty. The walk to the restaurant where I work only took fifteen minutes, so I had lots of time before my shift.

I plug in my earphones and listen to my favorite songs on my phone, humming with the music, but I yelped in fright when water splashed at me, soaking my school uniform. It was not normal water, but it was water from the road, and my uniform was now brown because of the mud.

I stopped pulling my earphones away from my ear, fistballed beside me, and clenched my teeth, furious. I quickly shuffle at the motorcycle that stopped a few feet away from me, together with the four others ready to murder whoever drove the damn thing.

"Are you blind fuckers." I screamed furiously. The guy removed his helmet and then faced me. His eyes widen as well as mine, my face pale when I recognize him. I quickly stepped back, and when he unmounted from his motorcycle, I promptly sprinted away.

"Oh my god, why is he here? " I run as fast as I can. My heart is pounding hard inside my chest. I looked behind me, shrieking in fright, to see five motorcycles chasing me. Oh no, this is the end of me. I make a quick turn on the street to my right, not daring to look back to see if they are following me because I'm sure they are because of the sound of their motorcycle. I ran faster at full speed but cursed to see that it was a dead end ahead of me.

"Oh no, I don't want to die now. I can hear the sound of motorcycles nearing me. Without another choice of escape, I climbed up the metal wall that was more or less ten feet high, although I was wearing a skirt. I'm just glad I always wear cycling shorts under my skirt. I was only halfway up the wall when they pulled over.

"Yah! You come down here." He screamed.

"No, you're going to beat me," I answered and continued to climb up until I reached the top, but my eyes widened when he also climbed up the wall following me because of fears that he'll catch up to me I hurriedly climbed down at the other side of the wall, but my right foot slipped, and I fell on the ground with a thud. I groaned in pain, scraping my elbow. I forced myself to stand up despite the pain and run again.

I found myself in front of the restaurant where I work. How did I end here? Thank god I lost them. I hope they didn't follow me here.

Why, of all the hundreds of people inside the mall, why is that guy I stole a picture of? He's scary. I took a deep breath and went inside the restaurant. My co-workers gave me a questioning look, but I ignored them and went to our locker room.