My remaining patience ran out after she violently pushed me, causing me to hit the table. I choked with pain because of that.

I immediately grabbed the vase, I raised it and was about to throw it at her when the staff room door opened.

Mr. Chua entered the kitchen. Shooking his head and giving me a bad look. “To my office, Ariscalde,” he ordered with full authority.

I didn’t do anything but I was the one being punished. I even saw Lorie’s smiling face, acting like she had won.

When I got out of there, I was greeted by the dining area. The customers were busy and thankfully no one noticed the fight inside.

I looked at the other staff, they had a different look at me that surprised me. Annika is the only one I’m close to here, the others are afraid to meddle with what the witch Lorie is doing, they fear Lorie enough for them to ignore her bullying to other staffs. Who wouldn’t?

“Despite the embarrassment, I accepted you as my employee. I didn’t expect you to do this,” he accused.

“But Mr. Chua, no—”

“I heard everything!” He interrupted what I was going to say. “I heard all the things you do with the crew; it’s really disappointing.”

I looked at him with confusion. What is he saying? As far as I know, I am not doing anything wrong.

I was even more confused when he took my resume and threw it in the trash. That meant only one thing. “I’m sorry Ariscalde, but you’re out of a job,”

“But sir, I really need this job. I can’t lose my job, please sir,” I pleaded.

He handed me a small brown envelope. My shoulders fell when I looked at it. I bit my lips hard as I slowly took it from his hand. “That’s your last pay check.”

***

I wiped the tears falling down my cheeks before I continued walking in the middle of the crowded flyover. I don’t care anymore even if I’m barefooted.

Why am I always being tortured? I just want to work to earn money. Damn that scandal! That’s not me, I didn’t even do that.

That scandal is also the reason why I was conspired and judge and soon over got thrown out of acting industry. Why I disappeared from showbiz and became a poor waitress.

What am I again? A forgotten rising star whose wings have been plucked out before even flying. My awards were just decorations now.

I put on the other shoe first before entering the light rail transit. As usual, it was crowded enough for everyone to sniff each others stinky odors. I held my hand on the railings so I wouldn’t fall.

I have to go back tomorrow with the things I left behind. I immediately apologized to the passenger next to me when I stepped on his foot. “Thank you,” I said when he grabbed the big box I was holding because it almost fell.

“If it’s okay, I could carry that for you,” he suggested. I looked up to him because of that.

A wide smile greeted me after I looked up. I can’t stop closing my eyes. He’s blinding. He is so handsome to the point of being dazzling. Is he perhaps a celebrity?

“No thank you,” I refused, and I just focused on the iron wall.

The ride continued and the man next to me continued to chatter. In fact, he is getting into my nerves. Despite being close to him, I couldn’t understand what he was saying. He’s talking nonsense. Or maybe I just don’t want to listen.

“Oh, this is my stop. Bye, miss,” he bid. I gave him a faint smile.

I breathed a sigh of relief after he left. I was surprised when he took off his coat and put it on my shoulder. “You should keep it.”

Before I could even ask, he left. I didn’t see him anymore because someone else was coming out. The train started again and got even more crowded because there were twice as many passengers.

Just as I was about to take off the coat, I was immediately surprised. I caught my breath. At this point I wish that man hadn’t come down earlier.

My hand clenched to a fist; I couldn’t speak. Somebody’s groping my buttocks.

I looked around in case someone noticed. Now I realize why he gave me this coat.

I’m already crying; isn’t this day going to get worse? This is the worst day for me. I got fired, I have no money, and someone is molesting me. What else? I don’t want it anymore; it’s tiring.

From my wet eyes, I saw a familiar posture. Despite my bleary eyes, I can still see who that was. My eyes fall to the familiar bag he was wearing. It was still the one I got for him for his birthday.

I mouthed, “Help me.”

His eyes widened and immediately looked behind me. I don’t know whether to laugh or feel sorry for the people he pushed through just to get to my place.

“Freaking pervert! Shameless! Shameless!” he shouted in a feminine tone.

I immediately breathed a sigh of relief and clung my weak hands to the railings, I think my leg would fall off.

“Omg, Lin! Are you okay?” he asked full of concern. I couldn’t move immediately when he hugged me tightly.

The door opened and before I could recover, he pulled out the man who touched me. He pushed him hard, which made the man stumble on the floor. He yelled and cursed the man, and didn’t stop until I called for his name.

“Elle,” I called him, teary-eyed. I missed him so much.

It’s been two years since we last saw each other. After my contract got severed, and they fired me from entertainment, we lost connection. His name is Gabrielle in short for Elle, a man but a girl at heart. My manager, and he will always be.

“Shh, don’t cry. We’re going to put that fool in jail, okay?” he assured.

The guards picked up the man, and Elle immediately took me to the nearby police station.

“Wait for me here, I will talk to them,” he said and then left me on a long bench.

I leaned my body against the back of the chair. This day is tiring.

I turned to the left, and my two eyes immediately fell on the man sitting at the other end of the bench.

I looked down at his hands, which was wearing handcuffs. I simply moved away when he looked at me. I don’t want trouble no more. He was wearing a mask and a hat, so I could only see his eyes. I closed my eyes tightly because the seat is not that long—maybe a meter between us.

I can feel the he kept staring at me. “Psh, what an eyesore.”

My ears rang because of what I heard. Did he just say I’m ugly? I? Ugly? I have nothing else to be proud of except my beautiful face; he can belittle my everything except for my face.

“What did you say?” I confronted and it was too late before I regretted what I said.

I couldn’t do anything but swallow. I looked around, and there was a policeman in front of us who was inside a counter, but he was doing something there and won’t probably notice if this man killed me on spot.

Why is Mama Elle taking so long?

I tried to calm myself down. If he does anything unpleasant I will immediately kick him, I’m not kidding.

I don’t know but I think I really have a bad luck today.

My eyes widened as he crossed between us and came closer to me. My eyes were fixed on his blue eyes, and his lips were pressed against mine. What?

I just stared at him stupidly until he pulled away. Did he just kiss me?

“Would you believe me if I told you to marry me?”

H-Huh?