Chapter 4

[Haru Norman's Point of View]

["I told myself I would never fall in love. I told myself I'd never die for someone." I whispered as she ran away from me playfully, her blue gown following her.]

["But this little game is just too tempting to run away from." I ran behind her, easily catching up to her. "This little cycle of tortuous pleasure is too tempting to run away from."]

[I grabbed her arm, pulling her to my chest, looking deep into her blue eyes. "You have know idea what those eyes have done to me.]

[She smiled, leaning in close to my ear before whispering something.[

["It's hard to just walk past the roads of love, and not give in."]

I slowly opening my eyes, groaning as I sat up on my bed.

It was a dream.

I rubbed my eyes, checking the clock.

4:02 am.

I still have time.

I sighed, lying back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

How can I dream about her? I only saw her once! I don't even know her name, and I'm drawing sketches of her, thinking about her and now even dreaming about her!

What's are your intentions, you sly brain?

I groaned once again, burying my face into my pillow.

'It's hard to just walk past the roads of love, and not give in.'

'Love is when someone gives you dreams like no other.'

I smiled, burying my face further into my pillow.

"My heart has done a mistake again."

~~~

I walked out of the university campus after a relatively peaceful day, directly heading for my shift at the grocery shop I just got a job in during the beginning of this week, and things have been going somewhat smooth since.

My manager, an old man who's been working here or a few years now, took knowledge of my situation, and since makes sure that I have eaten three times a day.

Life feels so, so perfect like this.

I looked up at the sky, closing my eyes and breathing in.

'No home, no worries. Your home is where you want to go. So wear the sky, or change the road. Mi hijo, do what you have pledged to here.'

'Don't stay here, and fly like the bird you are. God has given you such a beautiful sky, you just have to fly till there.'

'If you want me to give you a specific place to call home, then I'll say it's the entire universe. No matter what happens tomorrow, and how your state is today, you will find home one day.'

"Indeed, I will not rest before finding my home, dad." I whispered, opening my eyes and walking forward.

~~~

I was at the checkout, lazily scrolling through my phone as the bell rang, indicating a new customer.

"Hi," I stood up, keeping my phone under the desk before looking up. "How may I he-" I froze.

Mia Hedge.

Oliver Mathews' girlfriend- sorry, ex-girlfriend. Daughter of the famous, French entrepreneur, Arthur Hedge. She was pretty well off, and never had to worry about going shopping. So what was she doing here, all alone?

Did she come to see me?

"Hi, Haru." She smiled sheepishly. "I know I shouldn't be here but I need to tell you something."

"G-Go ahead." I smiled nervously.

"I-" She took a deep breath, as if preparing herself first. "Mon ami, you know I have no grudges against you. You have always kept to yourself, helping others if needed, but otherwise, not minding anyone's business. I have no reason to hurt you if my life depended on it."

Pretty terrifying way to start anything.

"After that incident where Oliver slept with Ally, I broke up with him, but that didn't leave him happy. Later on, a video of Ally outside your house, begging you to sleep with her leaked by someone in your neighborhood, and for some reason, Oliver suspected that I had something to do with it to taint their reputation. I told him I have nothing to do with it, but he wouldn't listen. And now, I'm sorry, but their after you."

"W-what?" My eyes grew wide. "T-they as in Oliver Mathews and Ally Black? The two most powerful students in our campus?"

"Yes, mon ami." Mia looked down, guilty.

"Hey, it's okay." I smiled, seeing how sad she is, making her look at me. "What's the worst they can do? Besides, I'm sure they're not that bad! Everyone has their heart softened at some point."

"But, you don't understand." She sighed. "There's more to it."

"What do you mean?" I scrunched my eyebrows.

"Do you know, why of all people, I decided to date Oliver?" She gave me a small, reassuring smile.

"Is it not because you love him?"

"W-well yes, but its not the 'romantic prince-and-princess' love story." She calmly whispered, sighing. "You see-"

-Ring-

-Ring-

-Ring-

My phone's alarm ran out, indicating that my shift was over.

Mia chuckled. "How about we talk over pizza?"

~~~

"My father moved here with me after my mother died. At that time, I was 18 and about to enter university. We were new in the city so my father decided to make some allies, or as he says it, 'connections.'" She put bunny ears around 'connections.'

"That's when he joined partnership with Luke Mathews, Oliver's father. My dad told me to be-friend him, and set up a dinner plan with the Mathews. That's when I first met him. His father came first, but he was 20 minutes late because of 'traffic,' as he said."

"I still remember that night like it were yesterday. I fell asleep while counting stars for the first time. I don't know what it was, but he said something while laughing. I knew at that moment that all I wanted was to be his."

We both flinched when a waiter came to serve our food.

We thanked him, and a quick silence came over us, before she began.

"My father was beyond happy when we started dating, because it made their partnership stronger. And for a few months, that now feels like a single moment, things were perfect for us. Things were perfect for our fathers. Things were perfect for me."

"You could guess how I felt when a bunch of students came to me, saying they saw Oliver with Ally, and if I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't have believed it. I guess I should have known it, it was too perfect to be true."

"My father was furious and immediately cut all contact with the Mathews, which made Luke very angry. Now, though Luke being one of the biggest businessmen, he's after you too, mon ami." She finished, looking down.

I managed to stay calm, thinking of a way to get out of this mess that most definitely wasn't my fault.

'I don't have much to leave you, mi hijo. What I can leave you, is strong basics. Basics so strong, that if you were to ever fall, you will rise up again.'

"Don't worry, Mia." I looked at her, reassuringly, as she looked up to meet my eyes. "Thank you for alerting me. You're a good friend."

"Anytime, mon ami." She smiled back. "Let me know if you ever need any help. It's the least I can ever do as an apology for what Oliver is doing to you."

~~~

I was walking back home, my head hidden in a hoodie and my hands tucked away in pockets, silently humming a random tune that came to my head.

Suddenly, among the darkness of the empty alleyway, shone two bright blue eyes.

Very familiar bright blue eyes.

I stopped on my tracks, staring intensely in the two orbs that gazed into mine, somehow growing bigger each passing second.

It wasn't long before I realized that a figure was approaching me.

"Long time no see, mi amigo." The familiar figure smiled, coming into clearer view.

"Ah yes," I smiled. "Thank you for your comfort that day, senorita."

"I didn't know you could speak Spanish." The lady laughed.

"My father was Spanish so I'm pretty fluent." I smiled politely.

"I see," She walked closer. "You are full of surprises."

"I'm Dolores." She extended her hand. "Dolores Miller."

"Haru Norman." I accepted her handshake, not expecting her to pull me to her.

"You got a job at a grocery shop, huh?" She said, not as happy as she was a few seconds ago.

"Y-yes, I needed financial support, so-"

"So, I will help you." She cut me off.

"W-What? How? I barely know you." I slowly pulled my hand and backed away, her following close by.

"I don't care if you barely know me." She growled. "You will not be working at a damn grocery shop!"

"What else can I do? I need to put food on the table!"

"Then, I can help you!" She slightly raised her voice.

"How?" I asked, dumbfounded. I wish I had never asked that question.

"Let me be your sugar mommy." She sighed as I backed away.

'Sometimes we need to make the weirdest choices in order to survive this world.'

Nothing too fast.

Two steps forward, one step back.