Chapter 2

The time I met Bruce was embedded in my mind in clear memory, like a picture or a video embedded to its highest quality. It happened when needed to I get out in the deepest of the unpunctual night out from an immediate decision out of longing to earn more money than I did on rusty, ruddy dusk. I was at the peak of my youth at that time, aspiring but unmotivated, young yet tired, alive nonetheless dead.

After getting the courage to move out and live independently, my mental strains, breakdown, and slaps on the cheek given by my mother back then were a pinch compared to the life I'm living right now. I'm having a hard time dealing with life and make ends after waking up to this so-called reality. I mean, we're animals as well so why do we need to struggle too much to pay bills to live?

In exchange for the freedom and mental clarity from the toxicity that I've experienced after being born were headaches because of bills and fatigue out from work. But I'd still choose this kind of life the second time around if I were to be given a choice. I'd rather suffer the body pains because for the sake of indulging my needs and wants through working than be back there, complying with my involuntary obligations while anxiously thinking if I'll do a mistake, make them mad, and be punished through means of verbal and bodily harm. It's like suicide.

Like a regular, unproductive young adult, sitting by the window of my small apartment located on the 3rd floor of the complex, I was immersing myself staring at the busy road highlighted by the grace of the lights of the sun that was slowly drowning in the skies adorned with the clouds that reflected its hue of bright orange, pink, purple and red, slowly transitioning to blue as the sun sets and the moon rises. Filling my mouth chips that tasted stale like cardboard, I watched the view of the busy road filled with a queue of cars held back by the busy traffic, crowded pavements decorated with posts streetlight, and the buildings facing mine showered wonderfully by the shine of hazy tangerine. I have been sitting, witnessing everything for long, slow minutes that was like forever however, this view felt ethereal yet ephemeral, like it's going to be gone and never come back.

My cloud pastel dream-like musing was suddenly interrupted when my phone suddenly rang. From the breathtaking view, I brushed my gaze back to my dull, almost empty apartment, particularly on the lounge where my small coffee table was, with my phone resting on its surface, ringing loudly and vibrating relentlessly. I frowned and internally groaned. I feel too tedious to pick it up, it requires a lot of energy to stand, grab it and slide the answer button. Heck in my penniless situation, I still have the balls to be lazy and unproductive. Well, unless it involves money then I'd be scrambling.

"Ugh," I groaned loudly in annoyance at how the device's ringing. Finally deciding to answer to call, I went on my phone and groggily sauntered to the coffee table, sprawling on the ground before picking it up and answering the call.

"Hello?"

"Hiii! Did you miss me?" it was my friend, Keshya. She's good at side-hustling though she attends a well-known university and has parents who are willing to provide and give her anything she asks for like a Mary Sue character in novels who has the world revolving around her. But it's not my choice to make anyway, I don't know her side but still, it makes me jealous and insecure sometimes. She almost has everything she wants, why work? She can just focus on college if I were her.

I shook my head when I realized what I was thinking. Never mind that I shouldn't think like that about her. She's a good friend who willingly helps when needed and she helps me find jobs too. Ugh, I really hate it when I'm livid with life's cruelty, I sometimes blame it on others' privilege.

"Because I missed you sooo much!" she added in a cheerful voice that made me break out a small smile on my face as my mood lightened. She really is a Mary Sue, nothing could go against her, she can even melt my envious heart with just her voice.

"We just had a coffee date yesterday though," I replied nonchalantly, slowly lying down on the floor with my smile still intact.

"You." Hearing how her voice sounds, I could feel that she's pouting on the other line. "Anyways! Are you free tonight?"

"Yeah, wish I could work this leisure time productively though," I replied, my chest heaving for a sigh.

"Good!" she interjected that made me raise a brow in confusion. "You remember my cousin Yaku? He'll be having a grand reopening for his bar and there will be a huge costume party!"

"You know that I'm not fond of drinking, right?" I immediately retorted with a sigh as an advanced rejection if she's going to invite me for drinks. I don't have the money to spend on alcohol's temporary comfort from my damned life and like what I said earlier, I'm too lazy unless it's for money.

"No, that's not it! He wants to hire extra waitresses for the part—"

"I'm in," I immediately cut her off midway and sat up. "When and where?"

"Sweet! Just an hour from now. I'll text you the location."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" I gasped and exclaimed, immediately standing up and walking to the bathroom in fast paces. "I haven't taken a bath yet," I said, raising my free arm and smelling my underarm. Sheesh, it reeks.

"Well, he told me about it just now," she excused the said: "Anyways, I need to get myself ready too. I'll text you the deets immediately. See you, Mikey!" she bid goodbye then hung up the call.

I halted my steps and took the phone away from my ear, staring at it for moments then huffed a sigh. "I told you not to call me that," I mumbled then charged forward to the bathroom to prep myself.

After a quick yet refreshing shower, I hastily prepared myself, especially my face and ran around my bedroom, hastily grabbing the things that I think I needed, stuffing them in my bag. I looked at the mirror one last time to check if I looked presentable. Light make-up? Done. Body mist? Check. Hair? Neatly tied into a high ponytail. Nails? Freshly cut and clean. Outfit? A white top tucked in my shorts matched with fishnets and white sneakers, a grandiose check!

Looks like I'm ready, I thought with a satisfied smile on my face seeing that I'm all set for my temporary job. I closed the windows, walked to the entrance where the key organizer laid and grabbed the keys to lock my door, and finally turned the lights out before finally reaching for the door to open it and leave.

Just as I shut it close, a paper fell off from God knows where and fell on the doorstep, just a few inches away from the tip of my shoes. Curious, I picked it up to read its contents, and I wish hadn't pick it up instead. It was my late rent notice. Frowning in irritation, I walked to the elevator, crumpling the harmless paper in my palms, and throwing it in the nearby trashcan. Geez, that cheapskate, perverted landowner, I already told him to give me two more weeks of extension. Now, I'm really serious about this job that I'm going to do tonight. I'll grind fucking hard that I'm getting a good amount of tips that I'll fucking slap my pay on his fucking perverted face. Just so he waits.

Now I'm starting to regret my decision about getting this temporary job and grinding hard tonight. I frowned at Keshya who her has back turned against me while she strips and puts on tonight's uniform.

"Are you serious?" I asked with a groan while watching her dressing up then brushing my eyes on the costume she just gave that was resting beside me.

The party hasn't started yet, and everyone's still setting up the club, especially Keshya's cousin and the establishment's owner, Yaku since it's a grand reopening after temporarily closing for a month to renovate the entire place. I've been here once, but as a customer and I could say, the club looks much better than how it used to look back then.

"Yup!" she answered cheerfully while pulling the strapless corset up to her chest, wiggling so it'd fit her right and I almost rolled my eyes.

I grabbed the folded costume, held its hem, and hung it in the air to scrutinize and judge it. I winced looking at its entirety. The waitress' costume for the party was a black corset teddy that had had a cutesy fluffy tail at the buttock part, lustering like it's made of latex but I'm sure it isn't made from it. it was a partial composition of a playboy bunny suit that a rabbit ears headband, a boy tie attached to a collar, cuffs for the wrist, and high heels. It looks cute, especially the corset, but seriously? A bunny suit? Well—not that I'm complaining but does it really have to be a playboy bunny suit?

"Ugh, fine." I groaned one last time before giving up and undressing, constantly mumbling inwardly that it's for the money, for the money, for the money! "Uh... should I take off my fishnets stockings?" I asked myself while looking at my nylon tights knit in a diamond shape.

"Girl, no!" Keshya, who was already finished with putting on her corset and began fixing her collar, downright rejected the idea.

"She's right, it'd absolutely look good if you match it with the outfit. Surely, the boss and the others won't mind that there's one odd out anyway as long as it's in style." A feminine throaty voice suddenly emerged out from nowhere. We both turned our heads and saw a brown-haired woman clad in the same costume, leaning against the locker and puffing a cigarette. Keshya and I stared at her in confusion, wondering who she was. "Millicent," she introduced herself like she read our minds.

"I'm Keshya and this is my friend, Michal. Don't you think she'd look cute if she keeps those tights on?" like the bubbly ball of sunshine she is, my sunshine-like friend introduced us like we were kids in preschool.

The red-haired woman, Millicent just nodded slowly while she takes out her portable ashtray and turned her cigarette out, replying. "Yep, and nice meeting you too."

"Right, let's see if it does." Encouraged by their words, I decided to keep them on and proceeded to wear the rest of the costume. "Oh, it really does look nice!" I said in approval while looking at myself in the room's large mirror, turning on different sides and doing a few poses to see more of myself from different angles.

"You look great, girl!" Keshya cheered.

"Told ya," said Millicent with a satisfied smirk on her face.

"Ladies, it's almost time!" another voice said and the three of us quickly scrambled on our feet and ran all the way out of the locker room. Just as we arrived outside, the club still has its luminescent lights on and there was a bunch of people circling into a group near the stage that had the DJ's station along with humongous loudspeakers, though there were some on other places, like the two janitors who were still mopping the floor and the bartender wiping the surface of the bar and the bouncers as well who are stationed on their places.

"We've waited for a fucking month for this so let's not fuck it up!" a man's voice echoed in the entire area. It was Yaku. Though he's a lanky person with the face of an average Joe, he's quite the cunning businessman despite his looks, and quite the loud voice too.

"YES, SIR!" everyone shouted that I unconsciously joined as well.

"Good now, let's get this party started!" he declared, and I immediately felt lost as everything went shut quick, the luminescent lights turned off and the neon lights turned on along with the electrifying music and the earsplitting sounds of the crowd of customers coming inside like there was a stampede.

I felt someone suddenly wrap their fingers around my wrist and grab me in a certain direction. I planned to resist the person dragging me when I heard them speak. "This way, Mikey!" I squinted my eyes to see the person in front of me clearly despite the blinding neon lights and realized it was Keshya. Thank God. I let her drag me and follow her lead. Through a few zigzags and beelines, we arrived at the bar where there were also other women clad in playboy bunny suits as well, lustered by the neon lights. I then realized that it was a meeting between all the waitresses. Surprisingly, with Millicent on the center, it seems that she was the head of the servers here.

"Remember, ladies. If a male customer ever tries to touch any of y'all and you felt uncomfortable. You either scream, run to the bouncers or the bartender. We'll beat those bastards right away. You may do the same as well to our valued customers, male or female. If you witness any harassment happening between any of the customers, you call the bouncers on them as well," said Millicent in the same throat voice but this time, in a louder volume because of the music. I didn't expect that she'd have that kind of role, but that doesn't matter. She probably does a good job then how she looks like to be doing.

As soon as everything was disclosed and settled, which included what to do, what to serve and observe, and most especially how to defend from harassing customers, all of us immediately went to work, each having a tray with four beers on it in hand. Keshya and I bid each other temporary goodbyes before going to work. Everything was plain smooth. I mostly spent the half-hour roaming around to offer beers then going back to the station to get more when I run out. Though the reek of sweat and sex, bodies crashing and bumping, blinding lights, and earsplitting music were annoying, I had to bear it. It was only a few rounds of walking around the wide area, but my feet were already hurt and sore. Maybe because I hadn't worn high heels for a long time and settled with sneakers or 1-inch heels. But it'd all be worth it in the end anyway.

"Thanks, sweetie!" a woman yelled and grabbed two bottles of beer from my tray, ending another round and beginning a new one. I only nodded in reply before turning on my heels to get another set of beers to pass around.

"Woah!" I bellowed as I staggered, almost dropping my tray when a hard figure suddenly bumped on my frame along with a thing having the shape likened to fingers brushing on my hip.

"Sorry!" the guy who bumped into me apologized, his eyes looking unapologetic and happy, rather. I turned my head to look at him with a forced smile painfully stuck on my face and nodded before strutting away. Fucking asshole, I knew he was aiming to touch me. Way to ruin my day—well it was already ruined by that perverted douche who pasted the notice at my door.

I internally groaned for the nth time in annoyance. It's always like this, even before I lived independently. I know that not all men are scumbags but the men I met so far in my 19 years of living are a bunch of fucking low lives that deserve to be punished in the depths of hell. Most of them were boys in my school, touching me in places through ways of unintentional bumps or caresses when beside me, particularly when sitting beside me in class. The sensation of their touch caressing my skin was felt creepy and made me uncomfortable. It got worse when I decided to leave home and took lots of part-time jobs. It wasn't just boys of my age but also older men, both customers, and co-workers. However, they're far worse as it always goes to the point that they'd ask for my name or my contact information, conspicuously eye-rape me and intentionally touch me in places further than the arm. Ugh, now that I've recalled the harassments I had gone through, my irritation grows and evolved into anger.

"Ayo, waitress! Where's our beer?" a voice suddenly boomed, and I automatically turned my head to the direction where it came from. Just a few meters from me were a lounge, that I presumed to be table 2, with four guys occupying it, the table in an abominable mess with snacks and bottles of beer.

"One sec," I replied before turning on my heels and walking into another sea of crowd to squish into these disgustingly sweaty bodies dancing with the music to reach the bar to ask if the order for those guys is ready, while constantly reminding myself of what the table number was.

"Beer for table 2," the bartender, who I don't know whose name is, announced and placed it on the tray that I reached my destination and just rested on top of the bar's surface.

"Great timing," I huffed a breath and immediately went back to table 2, where its occupants were busy chattering loudly, stuffing snacks in their mouths while eyeing every woman who passes by their table. I notice them stop and look at me when they realized that I was coming, bringing their order.

"Here's your order," I announced and bent my torso a bit so I could carefully place the beer bottles since, with the help of my heels made me taller than my usual height, made their table appear shorter than it only reached my stomach. It's going to suck but I must bear with it if I don't want to get into unnecessary trouble. What made me feel worse is my damned peripheral vision that shows me the men eyeing me shamelessly, especially at my boobs that were hanging down, giving them a good view. They were staring at me like a pack of nasty hyenas eyeing their prey. Thank God, putting down a few beer bottles won't take longer than thirty seconds.

"Thanks, cutie," one of them said but I didn't spare them a glance, let alone a piece of my attention as I stood straight. "What's your name?" one of them asked but I paid no heed.

"You're welcome," I replied nonchalantly, about to turn around to walk away and go back serving around when I heard them laughing from behind.

"Looks like she can't hear," one of them said but I ignored it and was about to walk away when suddenly, a large hand caught of my wrist. "Hey—"

I immediately withdrew my wrist and slapped the grubby hand that touch me. "Don't touch me!" I snapped at them, glaring poisonous daggers at the filthy bastard who stood up to catch my wrist.

The guy who held me raised his hand up. "Woah! We're just trying to be friendl—"

"Don't pull that friendly card on me" I cut him off, barring my clenching teeth. "And see that sign?" I added and pointed at the poster stuck on the wall on the left side that was saying about not touching the female employees or they'll be kicked out and be sent to the police by the bouncers themselves. "If you're touching me again or any of us, we'll scream and send you to jail," I then warned, and satisfaction washed over like a wave of tsunami as a victorious smirk ran across my face when I saw their face lost all its color and fell ashen.

"Is there something wrong here?" a man's voice suddenly asked behind me, and their faces went pallid than a corpse's. Curious, I turned around and realized that it was one of the bouncers patrolled inside. They're really doing their job well, I must say.

"They haven't done anything yet but keep an eye on them," I vaguely answered his question. He nodded in response and took it as my cue to proceed to do my job.

"You did well tonight, girl!" I almost choked on the water I was drinking when I felt someone smack my back. It wasn't strong but enough to make my back hurt, not to mention that it surprised me that much it made my throat contract.

I tapped my chest lightly a few times so I could properly swallow my water and avoid choking. Heck, I don't want to die from asphyxiation out of choking from drinking water because I got smacked on the back, the pathologist might laugh at my dead body. I turned around to face the person who smacked me and realized it was Keshya, looking at me with a bright expression on her face and oblivious that she almost caused murder.

"You as well," I replied and took another sip of my water before adding: "And I told you not to smack me so suddenly." I stretch my free arm to back to console my poor, battered back by caressing it softly.

She nodded mirthfully in reply and sat beside me before getting bottled water of her own. We're currently back in the locker room that was provided with drinking water, resting, and enjoying the last minutes of our given break. I'm glad that they did it much sooner because I think I might die from these killer heels I'm wearing.

"You both did well. Thanks for working hard," Millicent's familiar voice greeted us that caused us to turn our heads to her in surprise.

Once again, she greeted us with a picture of herself smoking a cigarette and the same old smirk on her face as earlier. "You too," I replied politely with a small nod and so did Keshya.

Millicent just shrugged her shoulders and took a puff of her cigarette while I raised my bottle in an attempt for another sip, but I stopped midway when I felt Mother Nature calling me down there. I went on my feet, surprising my two companions. "I'll head off for a bit, need to pee," I excused and hurriedly left the locker room to head off to the comfort room to relieve myself, shoeless and only having my harmless tights to protect my soles.

Once I was done, I hastily fixed my corset then washed my hands. "Wooh," I let out a breath when I felt the water's cool sensation assail my hands. The club was entirely well-ventilated, even the locker room that was meant for the staff was given good ventilation and provided cool air for us. The funny thing is, I didn't expect that even the restroom would be included in the ventilation and it's a lot colder than the party area and the locker room as well.

Ah, now I'm thinking about trivial things, I thought and shook my head while squishing a fair amount of soap on my hands. As soon as I was done, I grabbed a tissue to dry my dainty extensions and opened the door. Much to the relevance of my recent comparison, I could feel heat fanning over my face, the restroom is really lot colder than the party area.

I took a step forward to leave the bathroom when a force suddenly pulled me hard by the wrist as my vision darkened and something covered my mouth. I muffled a scream and immediately began resisting free, flailing both my feet and immobilized hands to no avail. The unknown force remained at constant strength began dragging me harder, pulling me with it.

What's happening? Am I being dragged? Why can't I see anything? I can't even let out a loud scream! Why is this happening?!

"Let me go! Let me go!" I started struggling to scream harder for help that I could feel the veins in my hurting throat pop. I began panting hardly for air for I cannot breathe properly, heaving my chest for more air. I can't breathe. I can't fucking breathe! My hands were shaking and cold as well were my feet. The insane rush of adrenaline leaking in my entire system in my veins felt miserable as my heart began beating faster and faster.

Everything felt like a nightmare. A forceful spiral sucking me to pits of anonymity.

Am I going to die? Is this where it all ends? My mind began creating a millennium of thoughts about my near early death as I struggled harder. I was pulled away from my reverie when I felt an unfamiliar texture hitting the soles of my feet and a horrible stench assailed my nose, it was too horrible that it made my bile rise to my throat. I realized that it wasn't the club's floor anymore! I'm being dragged outside!

In panic, I started to resist with all my strength, in a much harder force but the person.

"What the fuck—don't defy me further, fucking bitch!" a man's voice said, and I felt a much stronger force pull me. I stumbled on my feet, and I screamed in pain when I felt a sharp sensation assail the soles of my feet. It was like a nail or a broken piece of glass painfully seeping into my skin. I howled in pain when I felt my back to ache as another force pushed me against something hard. It felt horrendous, the pain combined of the injury of my soles and back, feels like hell.

"You were really feisty back there, you know," another man's voice said, and I gasped when I realized a sense of familiarity upon hearing it. that voice belongs to one of the customers in table 2!

"Untie me, you assholes!" I yelled at them. I can't see anything so I'm unsure if it's just him but there was another voice earlier before he spoke. He must be with his companions. The thought made a shiver run down from my spine and fear stealthily crept in my neck in the form of a crispy wisp, and it made me more courageous to scream at them again. "Untie me!"

"Not until we get a taste of you first," another voice said and my fear gradually increased.

I pressed my back against the hard surface behind me, standing on the tip of my uninjured toes, breathing sharply as dread suffocating my throat tightly and apprehension clutched my body tightly like a boa on its prey. "What are you doing? Don't come near me. Don't come near me, I'm warning you!" I yelled at them once again, my lip trembling and my throat aching sore.

What are they doing? What are they going to do to me? What is happening?!

"She told you to not come near her," a voice suddenly emerged, and I felt my fear ease for a second.

"Mind your own business, fucker!"

"Then let her go."

"Don't play dumb shit, get the fuck out of here!"

"And let you guys rape a helpless woman? That'd be a shame."

"Let's take care of him first then the woman."

"Three against one? That's kinda unfair on my side."

"Then don't play hero, motherfucker!"

I remained frozen on my spot, shaking vehemently as I audibly witnessed a series of sounds combined with fists punching, grunts, and groans. That was the only time I felt relieved that I couldn't because I don't have to watch the violence going on. I held my hands together, entwining my ice-gelid fingers together like I was praying. Yeah, maybe I was praying. I was hoping for those bastards to taste the bitterness of getting assaulted.

"P-please, those three were the ones who plotti— augh!" I heard another groan one last time before I heard a series of hard footsteps and feel a larger figure hovering to mine. I put my entwined hands on my chest as I instinctively pressed myself on the wall-like thing behind me further, flinching over my aching feet and fearing what this new person is going to do to me. I couldn't see him, but I feel tell that has a supremely large build while I'm probably nothing but a fly to him.

What's he going to do? Is going h—

"Are you okay?" a gentle voice asked and the darkness hovering over my sight slowly dissipated and my vision returns. That was the first time I met him.

"Eek!" I screeched when finally regained my vision.

Right in front of me is a large man dressed in a hoodie. I couldn't see his face clearly because there was barely any light that only revealed his ocean-blue eyes that were glaring it me like a ferocious predator. Behind him really were the previous customers I had threatened to kick out, lying cold on the ground, bloodied. He took a step forward and even though there was something behind me. Crouching, I instinctively took a step back, trembling with my hands on my chest.

"It's okay, you're safe now."

When he said those words in such a gentle voice, fear left my chest and was exchanged with hope. My shuddering knees gave in, not caring that the ground was dirty. It's okay now. There's no need to panic anymore. I was almost raped. But now, I'm finally safe. He stared at me while I was heaving my chest up and down, probably waiting for me to calm down. It took me long moments to finally recover. That time, every second felt slow, and the air felt suffocating that my chest hurts from breathing through my mouth. I still can't get over the fact of what had just happened, and I was saved from being harmed. Everything that happened before this gigantic savior came, was like an endless ditch of blindness and muffled unheard screams. Of panic. Of fear. Of immeasurable anxiety over my life threatened. It was mere moments of horror, and it was dreadful.

When I finally calmed down, I was able to get to my senses and recognized where I am. We were in a dark alley between the bar and the building besides that I believe to be a gym, it served as a dumpster area for both buildings. As expected with a place like this, it was dominated with a horrendous smell of trash and turd, and though I couldn't see clearly, the diminutive shade of light given by the nearby lamppost on the sidewalk showed that most of the area was dominated with trash. As I looked around, using all my senses to observe my surrounding, the realization came and hit me like a hard brick. I see it now, with no lights and those men covering my mouth, and if this kind giant hadn't come, I wouldn't have any chances of surviving sane, I might have ended up a goner. Thank God, someone came.

"Hey," his figure suddenly hovered over to me closer, his fingers slightly brushed over my shoulder, and I flinched in response, my body beginning to tremble once again. It seems that I still hadn't moved on from the fear instilled made by the previous situation.

Seeing that I was still afraid, he clicked his tongue. "Damn, those bastards," he swore under his breath, and my breathing hitched when I witnessed him hold the hem of his gray hoodie, pulling it up to his head. Fear and unease infused my system once again. Is he planning to do the same thing to me like those guys?!

I quickly scrambled on my feet to run but was halted when he threw the hoodie on my face. "Wear it. It's cold outside," I heard him said that eased my angst.

The air that night was cold, and it rendered me shudder more than how I used to earlier. I held on to his hoodie that bore a minty yet musky scent and pulled it away from blocking my face with my tremoring fingers so I could look at him. I felt the goosebumps rush all over my frame when I realized that he was looking at me all this time. I saw his ocean-like orbs move, staring at my trembling petite figure. He suddenly reached his hand out and I instinctively raised the hoodie to my head and close my eyes shut in defense, waiting for his next move. But nothing happened.

After moments of waiting for him as a cold wisp of air passed by, I noticed that I wasn't touched anywhere, but I could feel that someone's pulling the thick fabric that I was holding on to. I opened my eyes to look at him and saw him tugging on his hoodie that he just gave me, and I inwardly smacked myself in the face. He was actually trying to help me put it on by holding it. So, I released my fingers from the cloth, slipped myself inside it while he took out his phone from his pocket, and started typing on it then placed the phone on his ear like he was waiting for someone to answer a call. It then turned out that he was making a call.

"Hey... no, this is important... yup, I caught four guys almost raping a woman in an alleyway... should we wait here? Got it. Thanks, man." I listened to his small conversation while looking at him blankly as he pulled away from his phone from his ear and hung up the call. Noticing that I was looking at him, he opened his mouth to speak. "My brother's a cop, he'll take care of them," he said like he read my mind.

"I-I won't be getting a criminal record, right?" I stammered, pulling his bewilderingly large hoodie closer to my body, gripping on the strewn fabric tightly as if my life depends on it.

"Of course not, he'll just ask you a few questions."

"That's what they always say," I let out a small laugh while he shifted his gaze from my face down to my feet.

"Oh fuck," he suddenly cursed and squatted down to meet the level of my knees. I instinctively took a step back. "You're bleeding," he said.

"Ah, I forgot about that." I hissed when I felt the sharp pain tingling into my flesh. "Woah!" I screeched when I was suddenly lifted from the ground, my feet were hanging and barely touching the ground. I flailed my arms and sensed that I was drumming someone's hard chest with one hand. I looked up and saw those piercingly blue eyes staring down at me. My mouth gaped open when I fathomed that he was carrying me!

"You surprised me!" I muttered under a sharp breath.

He shrugged and spoke nonchalantly in reply. "But you're bleeding. It must've hurt."

"So?"

"So, we should go to the hospital."

"No!" I immediately interjected in refusal. "I'm okay, just a few bandages can fix this." I don't want to go there. I'll just end up paying a lot and I didn't apply for health insurance since I couldn't afford it with this unstable job of mine.

"Don't worry, I'll pay for it."

"And your brother?" I asked, glancing at the guys out cold on the ground.

"I'll tell the bouncer to take care of them."

Of course, I didn't hesitate any further. "Fine."

As soon as was the deal was made, he took a step forward and started walking while remained still in his arms, my hands resting on my weak stomach. Silence enveloping the atmosphere between us, making everything feel awkward. As we slowly left the dark alley, departing from the darkness and coming into the light, I was slowly getting a good view of his face.

I could say, the level of his looks' goodness goes as far as saying that it takes my breath away. He had this strong, sharp jawline that defined his sculpted face wonderfully, thin lips, rosy cheeks that complimented his fair skin, his face probably flushed because he was fighting earlier. He also has a nice Greco-Roman nose and ocean blue eyes that couldn't be any more striking.

I took my sweet time scrutinizing his face when a ray of light suddenly blinded my sight, causing my eyes to squint. Feeling tired, I buried my face on his chest, closing my eyes, and just let everything go with the flow. As he had promised, he talked to the bouncers about my situation in hushed voices. I remained to bury my face on his chest and listened to his conversation, and though I couldn't see what's going on, I could feel the heated stares of other people us, but I couldn't care less at the bystanders staring at us, my feet were hurting too much for all I care.

I raised my head when I felt him move and began walking again. Looks like he already finished explaining my situation. I looked ahead and saw that we're coming towards the sidewalk, probably to wait for a vehicle—most likely a taxi to come and pull up. The awkward atmosphere between us was still heavy like it was condensed, but of course, if the condensed water inside a cloud becomes too heavy, rain pours.

"Do you think they'll treat my feet nicely?" I asked, initiating a conversation while slightly swinging my legs to entertain my remaining anxiety.

"They're doctors, that's their job," he answered curtly with a chuckle, his chest reverberating against my shoulder.

"Nice enough that I could walk for work?"

"That I don't know."

"That sucks," I muttered under my breath. Now I couldn't fulfill my desire to slap the shit out of that landlord.

"You could apply for a medical leave, you know."

"Right."

"Bruce," he said, introducing himself and I immediately felt the chills run over me once again. His name fits his description perfectly, a buff body and humongous frame, a handsome face, and a deep yet gentle voice.

"Michal."

"Friends?" he asked, dropping his head down to look at me, his piercing eyes that held his blue eyes that reminds me of the ocean holding a sense of hopefulness in them. A small smile stretched on my face.

"We need to work on that first."