Chapter 20

Fang Sanctuary

I sat silently at the beach front. The sun was already setting at the west, which made the sky turned fiery and beautiful.

The salty breeze coming from the sea helped me breath calmly. It sometimes, take my worries away. It just felt like all my problems were carried by the wind, and sometimes... washed by the sea water.

It just felt so light, yet lonely.

I sighed heavily as I gazed up, it's upsetting me to see how the birds fly so careless and free.

I wish to also be free, and do my act carelessly.

I bit my lower lip as I looked down at the calm waves.

The moment I left the school, I almost live in street again but sometimes, misery and hapiness came with both face. Because, the moment I went out the school, our family's attorney approached me.

He waved and smiled at me warmly, making me to almost unleash those tears. I swallowed the lump at my throat as I walk towards where he was.

"It's been a long time, Alice," he uttered as he looked at me. His eyes suddenly widen in friction, as he saw my swollen eyes. Right, he hasn't saw me crying.

"Uh, yeah. It's been quite long since we saw each other, Attorney." I responded politely.

"Did you cry?" He asked gently.

"Are you here for some business? I heard, you were doing well. You deserve it, though." I remarked as I was looking at my feet. He chuckled loudly which made me look at me again.

"Yeah... And, that's because of your family, Alice. They had help me at my roughest time... and it's time for me to give back the help that was handed to me," he said. I pursed my lips at I glanced the school.

"I guess, you'll help a lot of unfortunate students to have a little priveledge, Attorney. Ha!" I let out a deep sigh as I looked at him in the eyes. A small smile crafted at my lips. "I need to go now, Attorney. I'll get going. Goodluck and may He bless you more." I replied and started taking steps ahead when he called me out. My steps halted.

"Huh?" I uttered as I faced him.

"It's been a long time since we met, mind having some coffee near by?" He asked. I bit my lower lip as I look at my bag. I forgot to close the zipper that's why most of my clothes were showing. His gaze diverted at it and his eyes instantly soften. I turned my lips in a thin line as I shook my head at him.

I don't need any pity from everyone. I'm starting to get tired of it. I am not a charity case.

"Please, stop looking me with that emotions you are feeling. I am not a charity case." I rudely uttered.

"Nope, I am not---" He responded but I cutted his words off.

"I can see it in your eyes, Attorney." I said as I smiled, not because I was feeling pleasent but because I was feeling hopeless. Is that why everyone looks at me with a pity eyes? Do I look like a charity case?

He did pursed his lips and averted his gaze somewhere.

"Thank you," I uttered.

"So, let's go?" He implied, now looking back at me with a joyful gaze. I looked sideways. hesitant if I should come with him or should I start looking for a place to stay tonight.

"I don't have any single centavo, Attorney," I came up with a lame excuse, trying to slack off from him. He chuckled again.

"My treat, of course," he replied.

Right then, I had no excuse to bring. He helped me get inside his luxurious car before he slide himself towards the driver's seat.

"I looked like your driver here," he implied as he looked at me through the mirror. I frowned at him which made him laugh. "What a cutie." he added before he roared the engine to life.

Few second had passed and both of us were just silent. I don't know how to start a conversation, and I know that he knows.

"How have you been doing?" He asked, and it was just a question yet I felt offended by it. His question did not just fit to my current situation. I turned silent and looked outside the window. Making him feel that I don't like his question, and when he noticed he left out an awkward laugh.

"Right, I shouln't asked that." He mumbled to himself as he rerouted the steering wheel swiftly.

"I prefer being not be asked with personal questions right now, Attorney," I implied which silence him.

"Oh, sure. Sure." He responded after a while of being dumbfounded.

We reached the cafe that he was telling. And, truly it was just few blocks away from my former school. He went out and went towards the my door, he then opened it and put his hand my head. There! Many girls mistakenly took his gentleman's action into something, which always put him in lane.

"Just left your bag in there, I'll be driving you home." He said. I awkwardly looked at him, confuse and buffled.

He'll drop me home, but I don't have any home!

I was about to decline when he grabbed me towards the cafe.

"What do you want?" He asked when he find a table for us.

"Anything," I responded. He instantly wrinked his nose at my reply.

"How about your dessert? Any specific choice?" He asked again.

"Anything," I responded again. He smiled as he shook his head. He then, tapped my head, then he went towards the counter.

I sat down silently, afraid of being noticed by everyone. I even tried to cover my face with my book planner as I was waiting for Attorney.

The chime's sound hovered, which made me gaze at the door... and everything felt like moving in a very slow motion.

I shivered when I was reminded of our cafeteria's chime. I thought, the fear would let me get off the hook, yet I never realise that it was always been with me. It was planted, and now, sprouting.

Everytime, the chime sounds, there are always new set of eyes that would land at me. Those fearful gaze, hatred, and convictions that was too evident at their eyes, terrifies me.

They see me as a monster, a dangerous being and I am terrified at them too. Afraid that they might hurt me.

I blinked uncoutably as I was pulled out at my riverie when I saw a hand, infront of me.

"You're zoning out." He pointed out.

"I was just thinking of something, Attorney," I replied.

"Will you stop calling me, Attorney, Alice? Call me what did you used to," he demanded.

"It's disrepectful," I said.

"As far as I've remember, you never care." He implied that made my lips agape in surprise. I then, looked away as he laughed... he probably recall how I have acted back then. I was just silent, as I looked outside the windown. And, when he noticed it... he stopped and composed his self.

"You think so?" I said. He fakely cough. I sighed as I was still gazing the scenery outside. "But, I have no choice but to." I added as I looked at him in with a bitter smile plastered at my lips.

He diverted his gaze again, feeling guilty, probably.

"I'm sorry," he sincerely uttered.

"It's fine." I responded, and that was when both of us were left with silence. We did just silently ate. The moment, I finished eating my foods, I instantly stood up.

He was about to put the spoon with an amout of cake at his mouth, when he halted as he looked up at me. I politely smiled at him.

"Thank you for the treat, Attorney. I'll get going now." I implied and was about to take advance steps when he stood up too. He did just put bills at the table and walked with me.

I looked at him confusingly. He smiled and then patted my head, as we were still walking.

"I told you, I'll drop you home." He said as we were infront of his car.

"B-But..." He cutted me off before I could even finish my sentence.

"I insist. So, please." He impied, and I was left with no choice but to hop in. He was on his phone the whole ride, so I didn't have a chance to tell him where should he drop me off. He seemed serious while talking to the person on the other line, so I did just mind my own business.

But, the moment he stopped the car, I froze.

"Welcome home, Miss Alice," Everyone greeted as I went out of the car.

I couldn't forget what I exactly I was feeling back then. He brought me back home.

And indeed, misery and happiness come with the same face.

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