Daily life of Chelsea Chiu

Every day is always a chaotic kind of situation, noisy and too busy in that chicken barbeque restaurant where Chelsea works as a server. They pay too little but she gets free lunch and sometimes the owner allows her to bring some. So she gets to bring home to his brother Ethan. Her brother actually has his own way to survive hunger now, since he is fourteen, but she cares too much about that little sickly brother of hers. Ethan looks up to her as a mother than a sister.

Lunchtimes were very tiring for her but it was still worth it. She meets her classmates and friends and even strangers and regulars. Sometimes gives her tips and praises her for being hard working. She pays them with a sweet smile.

She's done with her part-time and while walking back to her school campus someone pulled her up and dragged her to a black luxury car that the brand is too cliched to mention.

"Let go of me! Who are you, people? I am poor. I don't have money for the ransom! Please don't kill me. I have a poor brother to support. He's only fourteen." She begged and screamed at the top of her lungs. She knew they were not for the money but she got to try pleading. so many things rushing inside her head, are they going to rape and kill her? Will her eighteen years of life end today? her young, unblessed and pathetic life will really end? She started to pray to a God she never believed in, since none of her prayers were ever she stopped asking eventually, but now she is desperate.

"Shh quiet why are you so loud, I know you are poor how many times do you have to say it? "His voice is so thick and too hot to handle. Chelsea's senses became sensitive at once even her bodily hair can feel the emitting heat from that voice. Chelsea's brain had a momentary glitch, then it rewinds backward and stared at the voice. She gritted her teeth and pounded his chest in annoyance.

"And why are you kidnapping people, what's wrong with you" she backed away from him to avoid that unfamiliar and dangerous sensation she felt when she was close to him. How dare he play with her feelings when she has an obvious attraction to him.

She did not get an answer but he softly threw the computer textbook on her.

"You owe me a coffee."

He said expectantly his face shows no emotion except his eyes that are smiling and shines bright like a fake diamond. Gregory felt guilty not doing what he's supposed to do at this moment but he can't stop himself middling with her.

"How many do you need?" How much could he drink from that vendo really? Why must this guy ruin her daily routine? It has been her routine for two years now and she hardly functions if her routine were interrupted. But honestly, though she is annoyed, that little beating muscle inside her chest is flattered that he is giving her this much attention.

"One will do." He looked at her with narrowed eyes, that has a little bit of suspicion since she readily agreed.

"Then let's go to a place." She remembers a coffee shop that sells coffee out of their own farm although the place's location is a little bit on the shady side of the town the quality is superb. Chelsea doesn't really like coffee but she likes it when they put instant milk powder and sugar with ice. She learned that taste from that Chicken Deli owner, who was even if rough when treating her people but cared a lot. Chelsea is somehow grateful even if the salary is small.

"Are we still in Poppy City?" (It's a fictional City by the author) The surrounding community is so strange that it gives you goosebumps the environment is too gloomy for a normal person to stay.

Funny that they are already on their first date but they don't know each other's name yet, Gregory won't allow for such a place for them to date. Chelsea has no idea that this is what a date is, nor she has a concept of the word date.

There is a mountain of trash beside the coffee shop and the stink of dried blood from a nearby meat shop can be smelled throughout the place.

"No, I don't think this place is safe, let's go somewhere else."

Gregory can tell that the coffee shop was not able to clean the greasy table since 1999. He also suspected that the maroon stain on that chair is blood.

"The coffee here is good, let's order a take out." When her buddies invited her here once, they were too preoccupied with fooling around that the surroundings didn't matter. But now with Gregory's imposing stature, the place's unfriendliness is evident.

He didn't think they sell take-outs nor is it even sanitary.

"No let's go, I'm pretty sure the butcher next door is selling human meat."

When Chelsea heard human meat disgust crept on her skin and dragged him far away. The amount of fear she felt a few minutes ago has come rushing back.

He can't help but chuckled the way she rushed away from that place. Her ID lanyard is swaying back and forth. He caught it by his hand and read her name.

"Chelsea Chiu 160 West Starlight District Poppy City." She was trying to conceal her information but he was quick.

"Here look at my ID." He pulled his driver's license and showed it to her. He forced it into her eyes, she turned her head because it's too close.

"None of my business." She said nonchalantly but she already saw his name. Gregory Humphreys Imperial City of Cavanaugh. She might pretend that she didn't care, however, that little muscle that pumps blood inside her chest can't deny that she is flattered by his attention, with such a tough competition.

So he is a foreigner? He looks Asian though. He probably has mixed blood. Well, it's not really surprising she thought, many Asian women marrying Caucasians nowadays. He looks Asian but his stature and build are not Asian at all he is approximately around 191 to 193 cm depending on the angle you're at.

"And why are we in this place?" The car stopped in the town's luxurious place. They were actually in the most luxurious hotel in Poppy City.

"To drink coffee."

She shook her head vigorously. She is afraid to set foot in here.

"No no no...not in here I can't afford this place, not even I am allowed to step my dirty shoes on their carpeted floor."

She dragged him away from the entrance again and pushed him to the vending machine nearby.

"Don't be ridiculous, Sadaku you're so stingy." He scratched his head, he was thwarted with her naivety. Was she this oblivious? how can a man let a woman pay for a date, Didn't anyone orient this woman?

"Who are you calling Sadako? Yes, so what if I am stingy?" She thought she was being called to a horror movie character. But he was referring to the literal translation which is cherry blossoms.

She rarely buys coffee herself because she can't normally afford it.

His brows creased unbelieving. He is so in a hurry to get her laid that his patience is losing bit by bit.

"Now bring me back to my school break time is almost over." She adjusted the strap of her back indicating that she wants to go back to school. Damn! Gregory wanted her bad but hated her obliviousness.

"But I didn't see you eating lunch yet." He placed his hand on his waist and gritted his teeth. True she didn't get a chance they're extra busy today. But she has extra money on the tips given to her. His brows creased one more time. She didn't answer. Her free lunch will be hers and her brother's dinner later. Because her mother will be eating at her friend's house again. Not thinking of them, but she's used to it.

"Let's have lunch first" He clipped his fingers between Chelsea's sleeves and pulled her inside. Even if he uses a little force he is far too strong, her feet are turning and twisting just to keep up his speed while he was dragging her in.

She wanted to say yes but she really didn't have money. She decided to get along with him, accompany him to eat but she'll not order. She'll just keep quiet and pretend she's not hungry. She'd like to believe she has the opportunity to accompany an idol today. Never crossing in her head once that she is on a date right at the moment.

This time he dragged her inside the hotel's restaurant and order the specialty of the house, he slumps her face on a table out of boredom, he didn't speak and she didn't know what to talk about., to resolve the issue he moved closer to her, pulled her even closer and let him watch him play an online game, soon after she took over without asking permission, she was so entertained and was hooked, it must have been some time after the order arrived. There are thick beef steaks, roasted pork, and stir-fried vegetables. She can't help but swallow her own saliva because the food smells so good. It is so embarrassing that she never tasted this kind of food before and that she didn't even know that it has a name.

Gregory served her the steak and convinced her to eat. She tried hard not to eat but hunger strikes and the smell of that roasted pork affected her brain. Holy lord, why is her life this miserable? She can't afford to even step into this kind of place where she is afraid she will break something and she'll have to pay. Besides, why would a teenager go to a hotel?

"Can you not let me pay for this meal? I am honestly broke and poor." She confessed while her mouth full of food chewing it to her heart's content. The sauce made her tongue melt in extreme satisfaction.

"Pfttt..." he burst out laughing like she's the silliest thing he's ever seen in his life.

"How can a man let a lady pay on a date?" Gregory said while he busies himself putting some more meat on her plate. Chelsea's eyes widen and can't believe what he just said. A date?

"How can this be a date?" Her eyes still huge like a moon, cheeks bulging with food.

"Slow down no one's gonna take it away from you." He wiped some morsels on the sides of her lips, eyes glued to it.

While she's happily wolfing down the feast, someone from behind calls her.

"Chelsea you darn brat! What are you doing here? Aren't you in class, you shameful kid, it's as if we're not feeding you properly at home?" Wow, how do you know I'm not being fed at home? Otherwise, she wouldn't be here pigging out with free food. Her stomach tied into knots upon hearing that familiar voice, she suddenly became anxious and began to chow down the food faster, none has told her that it's a symptom of stress eating. And he met her mother. And duh you let us starve otherwise I wouldn't be here. Her mother is a hybrid of evil pretentious and a hypocrite being.

She didn't voice out her complaint and continued eating which amused Gregory more in his eyes. She's like an adorable little piglet.

He can't help but pat her head. Gregory has no idea that his date is apprehensive because she knew her mother won't let this go, it's an opportunity for her to publicly shame her, showing everyone her power over Chelsea. Her knees

"What was that for? Did you think of me like a pet dog?" She said aggrievedly. He pouted her mouth trying to pretend her mother is just a wind.

"No dogs are very on guard, they might bite when you touch them while eating, you're more like a piglet."

Then squeeze her face adorably.

"A piglet?!" He nodded animatedly, attempting to look cute in front of her.

"Aiyah, you're now ignoring your mother because of food? Is that how I teach you?" Chelsea's mother was agitated when ignored. She tilted her head and pretended to drop her jaw and put her hands on her hips to show intimidation to Chelsea.

She knew her mother as a thick-skinned woman that has no sense of shame at all, the more she ignored her mother, the harder the effect she would make. Facing reality in front of your crush is excruciating. Like humiliated is not even the correct description. She can deal with everything except her parents and she can only accept defeat. If she can only afford to rent her own place she would have run away as fast as she can. Her mother invited herself to the table. That made her lose her appetite. Speaking of someone who wasn't eating properly. She cursed her mother inwardly.

Gregory stared at the woman and looked at her up and down, never intimidated or whatsoever, he didn't even know that the woman was talking to Chelsea.