ELIJAH [POV] :

When I came back, the informer, Roxanne, told me that my father had an urgent business meeting that'd be lasting 5 hours.. 

It apparently came out of the blue so he couldn't really inform me, earlier. I didn't really care since he didn't really try and call me either. 

"Thank you, miss Roxanne. You may take your leave. Since my father is in a business meeting for 5 hours and your shift finishes at 8 o'clock, you may take our leave. I'll call you when he comes back."

I went into my room and found my Tae Kwando teacher sitting on a mat. "You're late. A true disciple won't come late." he remarked. 

Did he really enter my room without even asking me? This is addressed as disrespectful manners and he tells me about that.

"Are you alright, Elijah? It seems as something is bothering you a lot. Would you mind explaining to me?" he asked while meditating. 

Do I tell him about Scarlet and the parents? What if he tells my father about this? I'm not even sure I want to tell him but what if he knows something? He's staring at me relentlessly. 

"I don't mind if you don't want to tell me anything.. It's none of my business, anyways. I just asked to make sure you're alright." he uttered calmly. 

"Thank you for understanding, Mr. Ichigo." I told him while smiling. He looked at me with a surprise and smiled back. 

"You smiled back at me!" I shrieked while smiling very hardly. 

"You just ruined the moment, you idiot!" he screamed angrily. 

I laughed and sat down beside him. He seems calm and happy today. I wouldn't want to ruin the moment for him so I stayed shut. 

"Eli, did you know.." he said. What was he going to say? 

"..that you aren't meditating? You're just staring at me and it's weird." he declared while looking at me with a grin on his face. 

What the hell is that face? Is that even a face? [SIGHS]. 

I meditated calmly and breathed patiently. We always had to do yoga and meditation before class. 

Apparently, it helps calm down the spirit and avoid the anger taking control of us when we fight and train. It's serious bullshit.. it pisses me off, sometimes.  

I started doing moves that my teacher calls 'Wushu'. Whatever that it is, my legs are hurting very bad. I'm not flexible enough to do these sort of stuff. 

After I drank water, I sat comfortably on the bean bag that was in the corner. 

"How the hell are you sitting like that? You aren't sitting appropriately." remarked my master. 

Is he really saying that about me? He sits like Indians do. 

That hurts but people say that it's good for flexibility. Does he want to become a gymnast? 

"That's all there is to it. I'll be taking my leave. Tell your father the usual. You tell him tha-" he said before I cut his sentence. 

"Master.. you told me a thousand times. I tell him that I need to practice my meditation since I'm really bad at it. Drink 16 cups of water everyday to maintain health." I explained. 

"Yes but next time, don't cut my sentence or I'll cut you." he said while giving me the death stare. 

Why do I have to have a teacher like him? 

It's been already 2 hours since I came home and 30 minutes since master left. It's probably 5 o'clock. I wasn't sure so I went to reach out for my cell phone. 

I unlocked my mobile to find that Scarlet's been calling me. She's called me fifteen times. 

I called her back to make sure everything's alright. It was ringing for a while then she responded. There was a vibrating sound beside her. Like a mixer or a coffee machine.

"H-hello.. can you come to the coffee shop where I work? I can't really-" she said before she hung up.  

What was that all about? It's weird of her but I guess I can just go there. 

When I came there, Scarlet was cleaning the tables. I looked around the shop to find a man staring at her. I think she didn't notice him because she came towards me. 

"Thank you so much for coming! I had to work another shift because of a problem that came back home." she explained. 

"May I know what's the problem?" I asked.

"My mother started having headaches. Headaches are bad when you have brain tumor. She fainted when Penelope was sleeping and has been like that for 1 hour." she cried. 

"H-hey.. everything's going to be alright. I can pay for the treatment if you want." I told her. 

"Wouldn't that be a burden to you? We just met and you don't even know if I'm lying." she said while wiping her tears. 

"I want to do it.. for the sake of ou-.. your mother." I smiled. 

"Thank you so much! I'll pay you back as soon as I can!" she screamed happily while hugging me. 

I patted her head and pursued. "You can stop working, now." I told her.

"I can't.. there's still a customer." she said while looking at the person that was staring at her. 

"You do know that dude's been checking you out for a while, right? When I came into the coffee shop, he looked at you when you were cleaning the table." 

She looked at the man with anger. I could see through her actions. She's going to run over there and start creating a problem. 

She sighed and calmed herself.

"I'll report him. Wait here. I'll ask for his name then say what he violated."

"If he doesn't listen to me or tries to do something to me, I'll call you over and you deal with him, aright?" she asked. 

Did she plan this all out? Did she know that he was checking her out and still waited for me to come to make sure nothing's happened to her? No wonder she was calm when I told her. 

"Sounds like a plan. I'll sit over there while you go talk to him. If you don't know my name, It's Elijah." I whispered to her ear. 

"I saw her going over to the man. She leaned over to him and pointed over to my direction. 

The man looked at me and looked surprised and scared at the same time. 

He got up and went towards the door so quickly. 

She came towards me. "All finished! Let's go to the park close by." she said while taking her apron off. Damn.. she's acting like nothing happened. 

Either she's used to it or she's crying for my attention. 

SCARLET [POV] : 

I looked at my phone when I finished work. Penelope texted me and... my mom is at the hospital since she fainted?! What the hell was Penelope doing back at home?! 

"What the hell were you thinking leaving my mom alone? I strictly told you to never leave her sight since something bad might happen, again. You remember last time, right?" I texted while raging at her.

I wanted to text her how

I stepped into the bus. "Sir? Can you please drive a bit faster than usual? To the hospital Care Life?" I asked him. 

"I'm sorry, ma'am but we can't just hurry the bus for you. There might be an accident. Why're you asking me anyway?" he asked. 

I looked down and wiped the tears that were rolling down my cheeks. I looked at the bus driver. 

"My mother's at the hospital since she fainted." I described. 

"I understand but fainting isn't a big matter." he assumed. 

"She has brain tumor grade 2, sir. She started having headaches and eventually fainted. Please.. I was at work trying to get money for her treatment." I cried. 

He looked at me with pity. "S-sure! Just go sit at the front and I'll let you go." he uttered. 

I'm really grateful for his help.

The bus started and we moved forward. I called Elijah to cancel the meeting. "I'm sorry but the person you're calling is not available, at the moment."

Why isn't he answering?! I called him again and again and again... Hugh! I've called him ten times but he still hasn't answered. If I'm not there, it's his fault. 

"Miss? The bus stopped and you're in your wanted destination." said the bus driver. 

"Thank you so much, sir! Words can't express my gratitude to you!" I smiled while crying. 

"You're welcome. And good luck!" he laughed. 

I ran to the receptionist. She had dark blonde hair and and green eyes with a limp of brown. She was a dark colored dress with a small tie hanging around her neck.

"Ma'am? Can you tell me which room Amelia Anderson's in?" I questioned her. 

"Can you repeat that again, ma'am?"

"Can you tell me in which room Amelia Anderson's in?" I asked slower that before. 

"May I know who are to her?"

"I'm her only daughter." I stated.

"Can you fill out this form, please?"

"Are you being serious, right now?! My family name's Anderson. The same as her. I told you I'm her daughter! If you want, you can even take a blood text but please.. let me see my mother. She fainted while I was at work." I explained. 

My eyes were full of tears and the receptionist noticed. She gave a tissue paper. 

"I'll see what I can do, ma'am. I understand and I'm deeply sorry for your mother. Hope she gets well soon!" she said while smiling. 

I waited for, about, 8 minutes. The receptionist was still on the phone with her boss. She looked at me and gave a smile. I smiled back until she turned away to talk on the phone. 

A few moments later the receptionist announced my name on the speaker. 

"Is it alright to meet her, now?" I asked.

"Yes! I talked to my boss and he said you could meet her. Try and go discretely.. a lot of people might get mad at you for cutting through the line. The room number is 102"

"Alright. Thank you very much! For helping me and for giving me a little piece of advice." I uttered. 

I went up the stairs without being detected.. kind of like a spy or a secret agent. 

I saw the room that the receptionist described. When I went towards it, there was a small sign that showed 'Amelia Anderson. Patient disease : Brain Tumor Grade II'.

I went into the room with full secrecy to avoid waking up my mother if she was ever sleeping. 

I stepped into the room and discovered my mother reaching out for her water. She noticed me and ceased what she was doing immediately. 

"Hey, sweetie. What are you doing here?" she questioned. 

"What's that question, mom? I came here to visit you, of course." I announced. 

"R-right.." she said before coughing. 

"Do you want me to call the doctor or the nurses near by?" I overreacted.

"Honey, do you think I'm going to die or something?" she asked with a sneer. 

"Of course not! Don't jinx anything, mom!" I panicked.

"You're my daughter. Can't fool me with your puny acting." she said immaturely. 

 "Alright, alright. I did panic but I didn't think you were gonna die, though. I don't overreact that much." I muttered. 

She started laughing in front of my face. I started laughing too!

"Are you feeling fine?" I questioned.

"Yes but I've been better. I ceased having headaches but I throw up a lot." she specified.

"I hope that you forgive me for coming late, mom. I just finished work and Penelope suddenly texted me saying that you were in the hospital." I explained, taking a deep breathe.

"Scarlet.. you shouldn't apologize to me. You should probably do that to Penelope. She was sleeping when it happened and you didn't even know what happened there." she said, pitifully.

I nodded and heard a call from my phone. It was.. my boss! He texted that he wanted me A.S.A.P at the shop sice there was unexpected visit.

He also texted that he had to go home to take care of his kids. He has a  family and yet.. he's so rude.

I agreed to come and took my cloak.

"Mom? I'm very sorry to leave so early but I have unexpected visit at the café. I'll be back in a bit, alright?"

"It's ok. As long as you come back alive and fine. The doctor won't let you in if you're sick." she uttered.

I smiled and left the room leaving her alone. I met Penelope on my way outside and hugged her hard. I started having tears, in my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Penelope! It was very rude of me to scold you when I didn't even know the whole story." I cried with a drooly nose.

"It's alright, Scar! As long as you didn't mean it, it's all good. And stop drooling everywhere. It's nasty.." she told.

I wiped my nose, bud my farewells and went to the bus stand to go to work.

The bus driver that drove me here saw me. "You, again! How is your mom?" he questioned.

"She's feeling alright. She just feels like she's going to throw up. No biggy!" I smiled.

"Alright, kid. Hop on! Don't just wait there!" he screamed happily.

I nodded and stepped inside the bus. The bus driver and I talked while he was driving.

Apparently, the bus driver's father has cancer so he understood how I was feeling. He had it for at least 1 and a half year, now.

He makes money for him by driving people around in a bus.

I didn't know that he suffers just like me to make money for his loved ones. If only I had a dad like he does. He would've helped me with mother's health...

The bus stopped beside the bus stop that resides beside my work place. I thanked him, again, and stepped out of the bus.

On my way there, I saw through the shop window a man sitting in the corner of the shop. I opened the door and saw my boss getting his stuff ready to leave.

"Bye, Scarlet. We'll see each other in 2 days since tomorrow's day off."

"Alright, boss... see you later, then!" I muttered.

I put my apron on and took my notepad. "What would you like to order, sir?" I asked the man.

"I would like espresso and a snack with it."

"Alright, sir! I'll be coming right back with your order so wait a bit." I uttered while noting his order.

While I was making the espresso, the man kept looking at me. Not in any way.. in a dirty and bad way that I certainly hated.

I had to think of some plan to make him leave this place. If I hurt him, I'll lose my job and get reported to the police.

I can't just file a complaint on him since there is no legal proof that he's doing something uncomfortable to me.

I don't even admiring someone in a dirty way is a crime... so what do I do about this?

I know! I'll call Elijah to come over! We're meeting up at the park anyway. He's a rich man and looks pretty intimidating with his glasses and his manners so why not?

I called Elijah while waiting for the espresso machine to set.

"The person you called is unavailable at the moment. Please try again later."

Ugh! If he doesn't answer, I'm going to be stuck with this bloody pervert.

I tried calling him at least 12 times until he finally answered.

"H-hello.. can you come to the coffee shop where I work? I can't really-" I said before cutting.

The man was calling me for his order. "Please wait a minute, sir! It's not set yet." I screamed so that he could hear me.

I prepared the donuts and the espresso on a small tray and headed towards his table.

"Thank you for the wait!" I smiled sarcastically.

"Thank you for the order, miss... Scarlet." he said looking at my name tag.

I covered it up and looked at my notepad.

"It'll be 8.50$, sir."

He took his wallet out and handed the money while purposely touching my hand. He looked at me with a perverted smirk and continued drinking his coffee.

This man is really trying to seduce me, isn't he? I hate men like that. Trying to be someone they aren't and tricking people into thinking that they're actually good!

I turned around to clean the tables.