Chapter 7

“What? Is it my fault now?” Mother shouted, her eyes glaring at my father who was matching her stares.

“Is it not true? If you hadn’t gone to that place everything wouldn’t be like this! Your daughter would have had a normal life!” Father retorted back.

I was watching them from the door frame of the kitchen. Crying silently. Ever since Mother and I got back from what looked like a church they had been arguing. Sometimes Mother would throw things at Father out of frustration. Father would dodge it followed by a remark that would piss my mother more.

They didn’t know that I was watching. I was careful not to make a sound or let them see me. I’m scared but I can’t voice it out. My parents were arguing because of me and I was forced to watch it every single time. Because they told me so. They were scared of me.

✒✒✒

Puffing, Amilia entered her apartment. She looked for her phone and found it lying on the living room table. It is what that guy picked up earlier. Dead batt, Amilia cursed. How can she contact Lizzie? Knowing Lizzie’s personality, she must be fuming with anger. She looked for her charger and saw it at the bedside table beside her laptop. That’s it! She can use the laptop!

Opened a tab to access her social media account. Lizzie was online, and Amilia sighed in relief. She clicks the icon for a new message and typed a message. Amilia pressed hard the backspace button when she didn’t get satisfied with the first message she typed. She tried typing and erasing messages for twenty minutes when she settled on the last one.

“Hey Liz, I’m sorry about yesterday. I can’t explain things to you here but are you free tonight? Can we meet at Starbucks later? When are you free?”

Amilia then waited for a reply. Lizzie had seen the message and Amilia sat up, waiting. Minutes passed but no reply came from Lizzie. She saw the message but isn’t responding. Amilia then typed a new message.

She looked at the time on her laptop. It was nearly time for work, so she got up and prepare for her shift. She just stuffed herself with a loaf and water. Dinner will be provided later. She remembered eating cereals earlier but that wouldn’t be considered a proper meal.

Magically, she was not starving. It was passing noon and her stomach was not grumbling. She didn’t think much of it. Maybe she was just full. The following events took a toll on her. She took a bath quickly and put on a sneaker, pants, and a white shirt. She hurriedly picked up her bag and unplug her phone from the charger before going out.

Amilia paused for a while to check the hallway. It was still quiet. Nobody was at their home at this time of the day. The Asian woman was at her daughter’s store and would get back at six in the evening. The others have their schedules.

Amilia entered the lift again and wait for it to descend. She opened her phone. Ten missed calls and thirty-two unread messages, all from Lizzie. Amilia brushed her hair. Damn! This is so fuck up! She then places the phone in her pocket.

She would explain everything to Lizzie but first, she needed to face her work and hoped that her money wouldn’t turn into a rock. Reaching the restaurant, Amilia paused at the door. She inhaled and exhaled for a moment trying to calm her nerves and readied herself.

Once she got everything under control, she turns the doorknob. The smell of spices wafted her nose and a cloudy smoke consumed the space. As Amilia went in further, the smell of something burned made her wrinkle her nose.

“Linda!” John’s voice boomed in the kitchen.

Amilia runs, clearing the smoke out of her way. She found Linda and John coughing up black smoke in front of the stove. Whatever Linda was cooking she will be the only one to know. Most of it was now in black and odd shapes.

“What are you doing?” John asked. Worry and disbelief were evident on his face. Amilia flinched when Linda answered.

“I was cooking. Can’t you see?” She shouted more loudly than John’s voice earlier. They have yet to see her.

“Cooking? You’re trying to burn the whole place down!” John said throwing his arms out. Linda didn’t answer her but the crease on her brows indicated that she was still pissed.

Amilia cleared her throat giving way to her presence. They both look at her. Linda was quick to avert her gaze while John gave her a small smile. Linda throws the pan at the sink with a force. Amilia tensed upon hearing the loud clanking of the pan.

John motioned her to follow Linda who went to the staff room. Amilia followed suit. Amilia found Linda in the farthest corner of the room and considering that the room was small, it was not that hard for her to look for her boss. Linda was glaring at the locker door though it has done wrong to her and very still. Cautiously, Amilia approached her.

Still, Linda was very still. As Amilia neared her, she turns away her gaze and focus on the wall like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Amilia sat a few inches away from her.

“Linda…” Amilia trailed off.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have any excuses. I’m sorry.” A moment of silence rules the place for a moment.

Amilia was almost heaving with panic. Linda glanced at her sideways. Amilia meets her gaze for a moment before turning away in shyness. Linda cleared her throat.

“You really won’t tell me excuses? Even though you know I will understand you?” Linda’s voice was laced with a hurt that made a guilty pang on Amilia’s chest.

“I’m sorry,” Amilia repeated.

Linda stared at her for a moment. Her stare can make a hole in her head. Linda cleared her throat. Amilia carefully look at Linda, anger, and understanding were in her eyes.

“Okay. I’ll let this one pass. But I won’t tolerate it next time.” Amilia smiled at her.

Linda nodded once before returning the smile to Amilia. And just like that, the conflict between them had been resolved. Linda tapped Amilia’s right shoulder before commanding her to change into work clothes.

Amilia was grateful to have Linda as her boss. She was not very lucky with life itself but at least she was surrounded by good-hearted people. Now, the only one left is Lizzie.

I just hope I’m not already on the bad side of her bed.

Amilia did her work. Maintaining the cashier register. Helping in the kitchen. Serving the customers. Soon, her shift was over. Linda offered dinner for her two workers but Amilia politely refused. She made sure that Linda was perfectly okay with the idea before bidding her goodbye.

She glanced at her watch. Still a lot of time before the meet-up. She just wished that Lizzie will be there or that she will come at all. Amilia knows she’s at fault too but the one to be blamed for everything is him.

As she walks to her designated place, she watches the people. She had been doing that ever since that day. It’s like there is something that made her curious about the people around her. Actually, no. The first person she got curious about was Zephyr Rutherford.

The transferee. The weird boy. Amilia remembered how bent his back was. Maybe it was just his imagination or because she was thinking about him. But Zephyr was standing there. Inside the restaurant where she was supposed to meet Lizzie.

Amilia’s eyes were wide as saucers. Not just because Zephyr was there and she was just thinking about him. It was because Zephyr was with someone. A woman. And when she glanced sideways Amilia knew instantly that she needed to run. It was Lizzie.