Chapter 01: When Nightmare Haunts You
It was raining outside—the twentieth of June where his child would turn two years old. Time flew drastically. As he aged, he realized the true meaning of life. And that is to focus on what truly matters and to forgive himself. People come and go leaving us with joy and sorrow.
Some are there to give us a shimmer of happiness but will cast a deep scar on our hearts. Elliot was working at the old, poorly waged coffee shop on the busy street of Oakley Road to support his child in raising it all alone and buying necessities that Elliot and his son would be needed daily.
He was twenty-two when he gave birth to his only child. It was a mystery but more like a wonder to Elliot how he got pregnant.
Well, of course, he knew that there was s****l intercourse happened. He didn’t expect that he will bear the seed of the man who played such tricks and games to him. Now, Elliot was busy mopping the cold porcelain floor with sweats dripping down his face with backaches.
Unlike his other co-workers, Elliot does the job than theirs. “Hey, Elliot!” he knew just by the sharp girly voice of it that it was his boss. Elliot slowly turned around to where the voice came from. “Y-Yes, Mam,” smiling uncertainly as he responds.
It always shocks him to see the makeup of his boss. For a year and a half that he has been working here, he still finds it quite shocking. She raised her right eyebrow, higher than usual. “Fasten your pace and clean this store well or whatever, okay? I’ll leave you the keys, sweetie. Lock the door and make sure everything is in proper order or else!” showing her two fists as she makes her eyes around, looking at the poor Elliot.
And as he was afraid to be kicked out from the job. He nods fast, and not even a single word of nag he spoke. “A-As you wish Mam. Enjoy your night,” he said. His boss, Teagan, rolled her eyes hard to Elliot that it takes two seconds before his eyeball went normal.
“M-Mam?” calling his boss. “What!?” he yelled. Luckily, no customers are here. “C-Can I get my salary n-now? I-It’s been two months since I haven’t paid,” he said. Teagan, her boss, sighed out loud. “I’ll be releasing your salary by the end of the month!” she said.
“E-Even just ha-half of it, please. My son’s birthday is today plus, I don’t have any food left for us to eat,” teary Elliot said. “Listen, Elliot. No one has had received their salary yet—even me. Shut your mouth and go work your ass off!”
You are ruining my evening! Get off my way!” she yelled as she pushes Elliot hard, causing him to lose his balance as he fell on the floor. “Please, Mam Teagan,” he begged. Little did the poor boy know that everyone got their p*****t on time, except for him. And the money he earned was well spent by his boss in the beautification of herself. Teagan wore his black Gucci shades even if it is dim outside. Such a smart move to impress people with the luxury item she had.
Just when the clock ticks at eleven in the evening, he accomplished cleaning the store all by himself. His co-worker heads out from the store at seven in the evening, leaving all their mess everywhere. Because they believe that Elliot would be there to clean the dirt they leave. Elliot removed his apron and arranged the chairs by putting them up on the table.
But things go out of hand as he heard the bell on the door. A sign that someone had pushed the door open. He was shaking, nervous. By this point, no one is coming in this dark of night. Scary scenarios played on replay inside Elliot’s head. Maybe it was a snatcher! Or a serial killer, Elliot thought. And suddenly, he heard a pulling of chair along with a deep baritone voice speaking.
“Two cups of espresso,” his body froze. Even if years have gone past long, he still remembers every single bit of him. He did a sign of the cross as he prayed in silence. Elliot hoped that he was wrong and that it was not him. “Elliot,” the deep baritone voice called that made his knees trembled in fear.
“To-Tomás,” his quivering voice can’t conceal that he was frightened.
“How are you, Love?” asked Tomás as he beamed a smile. Elliot shook his head and responded.
“I-I am sorry, Sir, but we don’t cater to customers now. I am closing the store. You can come tomorrow or find another coffee shop,” he hurried, arranging the chairs. But the rich hunk man didn’t like how Elliot responded to him.
“I can wreck your job just like how I wrecked your ass before, Elliot,” the rich man said sternly. His face was solemn as he stared at the boy he played and used for six years. Elliot faced him with tears in his eyes.
“Le-Leave me, alone, Tomás, please. I am begging you,” he cried.
“Are all the pain you caused me not enough?” Tomás stood up and walked, going to his spot. Eliot moved backward as Tomás was coming near to him. Elliot wailed hard as his back hits the hard wall leaving him nowhere to walk away from him.
“Tomás, please, set me free. I already forgive you, and I forgive myself too. My life has crumbled and devastated since I met you. Now, I’m trying to recover from this hellhole that you caused me,” he said. Tomás leaned closer to his face. His eyes roamed, and he stared at his baby blue eyes.
“God knows how hard I tried to forget you, but… my body and soul wants to be reunited with you, again,” he said. Elliot shook his head and stared back at his chartreuse green eyes.
“Things are not the same anymore, Tomás. I have moved on from you and will never fall on your knees again. What your body was implying is lust. I’m sorry but go f**k someone and not me,” he wiped his tears.