Woebegone

Chapter One

Another morning came and I don't know anymore if I should be thankful or not that I woke up once again. My eyes squinted at the sight of my room, Ahh I'm in my room again. I darted my attention at my wall clock before sighing, for a second there, I thought I am going to be late for work. I moved my body to sit but I just fall back down on the old mattress, I groaned as I felt my body ached so much, not mentioning how bad I feel on the lower part of my body, I can't even feel my legs at all and everything just feels so sore. A lone tear escaped from my eyes when I thought about last night, I couldn't even do anything to protect myself, well how can I though, three large man was having a feast with my whole aching body last night and then again, this wasn't new at all, I should've been used to my mom gaining money by having mens rent me for a night, I wonder how I much cost for the pleasure of those assholes, oh come on even ruthless bitches have already wasted me being the so called friends of my mother, did I taste that good? f**k, I think I'm losing my mind. None of this world keeps me sane and I know I won't last much longer. At least that's what I thought.

I forced myself to go up and clean my messy room before going inside the bathroom, I think my mom haven't come home when she got out last night, how much I hope for her to be struck by a passing ten wheeler truck, I chuckled at how the way my mind works. When I got out from the bathroom, I wore a plain white shirt and a slightly ripped jeans along with a white sneakers, I bought them just last week when I got paid from my job so literally what I wore today is all new, I can't keep wearing those torn t-shirts and old jeans. If I won't have a great future inside this house then I will outside. I got my work when I turn 17 and now that I'm 19, I still work at same cafe ever since, I finished high school and didn't bother to proceed in college, college without the right amount of money is such a bothersome. I hoped though, I wish that someday, I could still go to college. Like why not right? It's probably everyone's dream.

Once I arrived at my working place, I slightly bowed at my co-workers for greetings, it's just almost 5 am and I am pretty early for my ship. I am supposed to work at 6:30 am to 6 pm but sometimes I overtime, I mean most of the time, I must admit that this cafe is pretty well known, everything taste good and probably because I love coffee too, I really got along well with my co-workers. The cafe opens at 4 am. Gene who is 21 yrs. old greet me back first giving me a smile before Aaron who is 22 came into the view and patted my head "Good morning Thana" he said then Mace who is only 20 kissed my cheeks before grinning at me, I have come to get used to her being so much clingy around me since she started working a year ago here, she immediately became close to me although I did try my best to ignore her, she's just too clingy and troublesome but she is a friend nonetheless. 

There we're many costumers as always. I quickly put my beige apron on that has the printed name of our cafe in cursive way, "Caffeinate". Sometimes I work at the cashier's place and sometimes I serve for the costumers but this time me and Gene will be serving costumers. Hours had pass and our lunch came, As always, my co-workers would always treat me because unfortunately, I don't have money again. I did tried refusing but they would always leave something for me so it's either I eat it or it'll be a waste. My last salary was spent by my replacement clothes and the rest was for the apartment's needs. They treated me two slices of tiramisu cake and a coffee, I actually rapped up the other cake since it's two, I can still eat it for dinner just in case. Although I can say that I am pretty much of a big eater when there is food, I have come to get used of limiting myself, I mean... not everyone has something to eat right. The lunch was almost done so I decided to wore the apron again when Aaron called me, I look at where his voice come from. 

"Thana can you please serve this at table 5." He smiled at me before handing me the tray with 2 coffee, one's original and the one is americano with two blueberry cheesecakes. I look around for the wooden sign of five when my eyes land at the two man laughing at each other. My gaze immediately turn cold and my body burn when I recognize one of them. I kept my mind shut before smiling. I knew I was sweating a lot. I am able to forget anything but not the face of this man. I was burning in anger but my face remained kind, he was still a costumer or rather a f*****g consumer. I walked towards there table gently placing the orders on the table unbothered by the stare he is currently giving me. I froze inside when he spoke but immediately look at him with my usual welcoming gaze.

"Miss-" He stopped before his gaze turned to the apron where my first name is located. "Miss Thana, are you alright? You look pale." He stated as a matter of fact, I look back at him shrugging, I know it isn't a suitable attitude when serving a costumer so I immediately smile before speaking. "I'm alright sir, thank you for asking." I politely said before slightly bowing at them wanting to get away as fast a I could but got stopped again when the man again spoke.

 "Miss, uhmm by any chance. Have we met before?"

I was stunned, he.. he couldn't recognize me??.. 

I gritted my teeth before I turned to them with a smile. "I believe this is the first time I met such a gentleman so no, sir." I smiled again.. gentleman my ass. "Ohh" He mumbled before scratching the back of his head, smiling at me. "I'm sorry for bothering you then." He smiled at me. I bowed once again before going to straight to the stuffs room. My smile immediately fall as I keep clenching my fist when the door opened revealing Aaron, I quickly greet him, smiling like nothing happened. "Thana, I was looking for you. Come on." He signalled for me to follow. The day goes by with me just working my ass out not bothering the aches I feel everywhere in my body. I'm just thankful that I heal a lot faster that's why my bruises from the other day isn't that visible anymore. Hours passed again and I looked at the wall clock, I don't wanna go home, I sighed.

I snap out of thoughts when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Mom's calling.... It's currently 8:57 in the evening as I answered the call. I softly slide my finger on the green icon. I walked out of the cafe holding the phone beside my ears.

"Brat! Where the hell are you??" None of your business. I thought when her high pitched, annoyed voice spoke from the line. "On my way home, mom." I muttered with unfazed tone. "Did you need anything?" I asked, from the line, I clearly know what the hell is happening with her, moans field my ears but my expression remain cold. I guess I was used to it. "Mom-" I was cutted when I heard her scream in so much delight from her voice. Disgusting. My thoughts snap when my mom spoke from the other line. "I'm not home, I ordered some things from online, claim them tomorrow, I'll send you the address where you'll get it.... And use you're money brat." With that she ended the call making me sigh at the burden. I don't have money anymore and I'm clearly walking just to go back at the house.

I just continued walking on the streets pretending as if I never heard her voice not until someone bump into me. The cake I brought for my dinner came flying to the ground. Oh Come on.. I sighed heavily before glaring at the boy who sat at the ground in front of me. I sighed, he was clearly running when he bumped into me, luckily I gained balance and didn't fall. I was about to pass, not even caring about the man when he spoke, "Not... there.." I strangely look at the man sat in front of me, his voice sounds suiting for some reason and my guts tells me not to give two shits about him at all, I was about to pass again when he grab my leg, stopping me, I let my shoulders fall in defeat before walking towards him and bending down to his height as he was sitting. Now I could see him more closer, he looked at me shocked and I replied with a confused look. That's when I hear people running from a far, the sound slowly went near when the boy in front of me stood up before grabbing my hand running to the small alley where there no was lights. He moved to fast that I didn't even had the time to blink. I get it, someones is apparently chasing him. 

When the foot steps weren't anywhere close, he finally let go of my wrist, he let go of it like he just realized he was holding me for a long time. "I'm sorry about your food." He looked down as he spoke but I was too fazed by the familiarity he held in him to even hear him. He slowly looked at me before immediately looking down again. His features. He..... But before I could think of anything, he was nowhere to be found as he ran away from the alley.

Wierd. Freaking wierd, I felt like I was staring at the mirror when I saw that man's face. I let it go not digging too much about it before walking straight at home but of course without the prescious Tiramisu.

I opened the door before slipping the key on my pocket. I open the light before walking straight to the kitchen.... I put my hands on the refrigerators handle before closing my eyes, silently chanting in my head for something to cook. Food... Foood.. fooo. I finally open it and saw the one last egg on the tray. I excitedly punch my hands on the air. I boiled the egg in the hot pot while I make some rice. I was humming my favourite song when I heard the front door creak making me shut my mouth close. I stopped tracks before reaching for the knife on the side. I silently turned around, surprisingly I wasn't anywhere close to nervous or frightened. Oh come on, I could welcome death in any seconds now, I just don't want to do it myself. My face turned pale when I heard a loud crash on the living room, I tightly closed my eyes.

The flower vase... Shit.. Mom's gonna kill me.