Saved By A Bully

Chapter 10 : Collided

"I told you I am ready to give the double amount. Then why don't you pack me my pastries?" 

That annoying guy was constantly bickering with me and the worker in the pastry shop. Hearing him, my anger rose beyond its limit. I snapped my head toward him and found his cold green eyes were fixed on me. I narrowed my eyes to see him glaring at me. The audacity of this guy!

Double money! So he wants me to fight with you for one piece of strawberry pastry? What is her? A five years old kid! Alright, buddy. Let's the fight begin. I held Emma tightly and prepared myself to fight for justice. Emma winced as she sensed her mommy was very mad. 

I narrowed my eyes at him, and said in a firm tone, "Look, I came here before you. It doesn't matter if we ordered at the same time because I am the one who has more chances than you to buy my pastries. You just can't buy everything with money everywhere." He was glaring at me with his lips pressed in a thin line.

I can't get how a guy like his could be so obsessed and determined to have strawberry pastries that he is threatening that shopper to give him his pastry, else, he would not think twice before breaking that shop. 

That guy gritted out, "I can, and I will. Why don't we let that worker decide to whom he is going to sell his parties?" He looked at the baker who was sweating and looking frightened, said with a glare, "Tell us your decision. I would like to remind you if you don't give me that, prepare yourself to lose this pastry shop of yours." He is threatening him again In front of me! I am not going to accept defeat no matter what it takes.

I looked at that baker and said in a calm yet threatening tone, "Listen, brother. You don't have to be scared of him, okay? He is scaring you only and nothing else. But if you go to sell these pastries only to get an extra amount, then dear, prepare yourself to kill mosquitoes and flies here. From tomorrow, no one is going to come here to buy food and snacks from your shop. Don't take this as an empty threat because I am going to write a blog about this shop and how the workers here do unfair to their customers." No one knows how far I can go to get justice. I will not leave if he chose money over the fair business. It wasn't like I wasn't going to pay him. Then why won't he give me, but this stupid guy? Oh, hell no. I'll sue you. 

That worker was sweating. He was opening and closing his mouth continuously. He got a threat from that guy before and later I added one. I turned my gaze toward that guy only to find his gaze was on me. We both were glaring at each other. No one was ready to back down. "M...oouum...mmyyyy," 

That was what needed for me to know my baby was in my arms and her eyes were on me. She held my face with her left palm. I watched that guy's green eyes shifted toward my Emma and some emotions flickered in his eyes before he masked that with a black look. 

What was that? It's strange. It's not my problem anyway. 

I looked at Emma who gave me toothy smile and was showing me her forefinger only, saying, "Pweeesse," 

I frowned as I didn't get what she wanted to tell me by showing that. She was showing me her one finger all the time. My eyebrows raised when I got to realize what she meant by that. I nodded before facing that worker, I said, "It will be better if you pack one for me and one for him in two different boxes." Looking at that guy, I said in a calm tone, "Not yours or not mine. We better be happy with one for both of us."

He didn't say anything and I also didn't wait for his agreement. I paid for both pastries before handing him one pastry box, I said with a smirk, "This is from my baby. She wanted to share her pastry with you which is very rare. So, good night," He was looking at me with something in his eyes I couldn't get. Did we meet before? I shrugged that thought aside before I left that pastry shop without looking back. After hopping on my scooter with Emma in front of me, I drove off to our home. I smiled at the thought my Emma is more mature than me. She knows how to solve any problem without yelling or fighting at others. My bunny.

Entering our home, I directly went to our room to change our clothes and refresh first. I made her sit on the kitchen counter and kept a plate with her strawberry party on it. Handing her a spoon, I told her pointedly, "Little one, this is food. So, don't waste by throwing and rubbing the cream on you or my clothes, okay?" She gave me a big smile before she dug her spoon on her pastry. I knew she would not listen to me.

Shaking my head, I went to cook dinner for us. I felt bad that I had to cancel our date as I was late for my work. I looked at Emma and found she was eating her cake with her whole mouth was covered with cream and her clothes. She looked like a cat to me. I laughed before began preparing pasta for both of us. 

I told you she loves to eat spicy food, mainly the food I love to have. While cooking, I was thinking about that guy whom I met in that pastry shop. I don't know why I felt like I have seen him before somewhere. Not only that, he looked like he was more eager to win that fight against me than buying those pastries. 

Why? I didn't know. It wasn't Emma, but me who wanted to buy him one before he could pay for his pastry. Was that charity? Oh, hell no. I felt like paying for his pastry. Maybe you want to get blessings from everyone as your school is going to begin tomorrow. I froze in my spot when I remembered I have school tomorrow. My eyes widened when I remembered I forgot to repair my boss's watch. 

Oh, kill me now. I cursed myself mentally. My subconscious mocked me, well, she will definitely kill you tomorrow at work in the early morning. I groaned in frustration which made Emma hiccup. 

I looked at her and watched her messed up her whole clothes. I felt like crying and laughing at the same time. Pouring a glass of water, I ran toward her to help her drink some water. Wiping her mouth with a tissue paper, I mumbled, "I told you to eat, not to play, Emma." She grinned at me again. I sighed and shook my head in my stupidity. Take it easy, Anastasia. She is little. When you were her age, you were worse. Everything will be fine, okay? I murmured, "Yes, I can do this. I am Anastasia Ivanov, mother of Emma Ivanov." I smiled at her before kissing her cheeks, I went to check on my pasta. I can do this.

Later the night, I was lying beside Emma who was still awake. Turning toward her, I said with a sad smile, "I am so sorry, Emma. I wanted to spend my time with you to go on a date, but I was stuck in that clothing store. I couldn't even buy you your favorite pastries as everything was sold already." She was staring at me with wide eyes. She held my face into her palms and shook her head with a smile on her face.

I kissed her forehead and promised her, "I will bring your pastries home after returning from school, Emma. When I will get a day off, I will take you on a date or a nearby amusement park. What do you say?" She grinned at me before nodding vigorously in agreement. I laughed at her before started singing a lullaby to make her fall asleep. As she fell asleep, I slowly left the bed to go to pack my bag and gather all documents and mark sheets with me to take to school as I have to meet the director first to verify my documents and signing on some papers. I also packed Emma's two different bags to give that to aunt Nina. She insisted me to leave Emma in her home. I trust her more than anyone, but still. I sighed helplessly before I closed the door shut and walked toward the bed and fall asleep beside Emma.

The next morning, I couldn't even get to catch a breath as I was running here to there to make tiffin and lunch for Emma. I gave her lots of snacks and fruits which aunt Nina have to cut herself before feeding her. Then I packed two milk bottles for her with a water bottle. Emma was giggling to see me running like my butt was on fire. Well, that was not wrong though. I went to take shower before feeding her boiled egg and pancake. I showered and then put on my clothes and dashed toward the kitchen counter where Emma was drinking milk with her. While changing her clothes, I told her, "Emma, you will behave, okay? Your momma will be back after nine to ten hours. She couldn't be able to return from work as she has to run to her school. Today will be your momma's first day in school. Wish me luck, bunny." She smiled at me.

I kissed her cheeks before I ran toward the stove to check on them for the last time. I grabbed Emma's bags and then Emma into my arms to leave her aunt Nina's home. I was surprised to see her standing in front of her gate. She was waiting for me to bring Emma to her home. Taking Emma in her arms, she sighed softly, saying, "I thought you are going to take her to daycare, Ana. To stop you, I have to step out from home, you see. I will take care of her, Ana. Have a good day in school." Keeping Emma's bags on the coffee table, I turned toward her and smiled at her gratefully. She is nothing but a guardian angel to us.

I said with a sigh, "I trust you, aunty. You know sometimes I feel like I am taking advantage of you. It has been over seven months since you are taking care of Emma when I am out for work. You didn't even accept gifts which I brought here many times. I can't even tell you to take money from me as the last time the way you reacted, still haunts me at night. You literally pushed me away and locked Emma in your home." She laughed at me before she kept Emma on the crib which was her son's when he was little. She repaired that for Emma only after so many years. When I asked about that she told me, "My son is in a foreign country from where he never returned. He didn't even come here with his wife and children to meet me. I am seeing Emma as my grandchild now. So, forgetting all pain and abundance, I have accepted you two as my family, Ana. You two all have for me to take care of." She is an unlucky mother with an ungrateful son. How could he abandon his mother like this? I wish I had a mother like Aunt Nina.

She came in front of me and said with a soft smile, "Good that you get to realize I am not letting you take Emma away from me, Ana. I am glad to know you trust me. Today is your first day, right? Wait for a minute." She ran toward the kitchen which made me frown. I was wondering why she went there suddenly. She returned with a chocolate bar in her hand. Breaking a piece, she shoved that in my mouth, saying, "Best of luck, Ana. You have all my blessings. I am sure you are going to do well in your studies. When my son was your age, when he was leaving for his school, I fed him sweet on the first day of his school and wished him luck. Your parents abandoned you, but that doesn't mean you don't have a parent. I am like your mother, Ana. I am going to do everything a mother always does for their children. Now go to your work before it is too late, okay?" I didn't say anything, instead, I hugged her tightly and took a deep breath. 

I was controlling myself not to break in front of her. I can't cry. No, I am not allowed to cry. I have to be strong. Tears can never help you to find the solution to your every problem. I am blessed to get her in my life. I told her, "Thank you so much, aunty." You are an angel in our life. That was all I could tell her before I turned around and left her home, not to forget, I kissed Emma and then I drove off toward the restaurant with my backpack. My eyes were burning and my throat tightened in sadness. But I didn't let tears fall shamelessly. I blocked back my tears and entered the restaurant with my backpack. My boss came to scold me but stopped when her eyes fell on me. her expression changed with worry. Did she have seen tears in my eyes? Oh! Damn it! This is so embarrassing. What should I do now? 

Without making eye contact with her, I said, "I am sorry, boss. I will bring your watch tomorrow." As I about to leave that place, she held my arm and stopped me. My heart was beating loudly against my ribcage. No, please don't ask me why I was sad. Before she could say anything, I beat her in it, saying, "Boss, I will talk to you later." Then I ran toward the changing room and that was how I have avoided her till 9:30 am.

Changing my clothes, I left the restaurant with my backpack on my back. While driving toward my new school, I was remembering my past. I used to go to school with my sister and other siblings together. But everything changed when that person came into our lives and succeeded to change our parents into devils. I escaped as I couldn't bear the mental tortures they were giving us for years. I was lucky that they failed to find me anywhere. My sister was not a rebel like me and that was the reason behind her end. 

I was going to a new school. I wasn't sure whether I was going to make new friends there, but I want one thing and that is to graduate from school and then go to college with a scholarship. I have to get a permanent job which will be helpful for me to spend money on Emma's tuition. I am going to give her a proper education and freedom which I had to fight to get by myself from my early age. I wouldn't let her struggle for her living or education. She will study to get a job someday. My baby will make me proud.  

I was so lost in my thought that I failed to see a motorbike was coming in my direction from the left side. 

As I skidded my scooter in front of my new school only to stumble at a biker's bike collided with mine. 

New school and new trouble! My life can't be more dramatic, can it? There comes the hero of my life.