Kalila Miracle Hart

"I heard he's moving to a different city."

Those words had been stuck in my mind for days now. It was Aunt Kenzie's answer to my question about my father, and all this time it left me confused.

My curiosity kept bugging me, making me think of many reasons for his sudden move. But none of them made sense. How could it be so easy for him to leave? He had spent his whole life in this city—born, raised, married, and had a child here. My father had always been tied to this place. Leaving shouldn't be so easy for him.

But could it be true? Am I finally free from hiding? Is this the start of a life where I can finally breathe easier? I hope so because I really want to experience what life has to offer. I want to get drunk, go out, explore new places, and make friends, though the last one still feels almost impossible. Even so, I can't help but wonder, if my boring life would turn out differently.

"Kalila!" A voice snapped me out of my thoughts. It was Maggie, a co-worker at the library. "Do you know that guy sleeping in the far corner?"

I glanced over to where she was pointing and sighed. It was Marco, these past days he's been sticking to me like gum. I didn't want to get in trouble for him being here, so I quickly said, "Yeah, that's my brother."

I walked over to him and gently, tapped his shoulder. He jolted awake with a small scream, and I quickly covered his mouth to keep him quiet. "Marco, what are you doing here?" I whispered, trying to keep my frustration in check.

He looked up at me with sleepy eyes, "I was bored, alone in the house," he mumbled. I believe him without hesitation. Last night he went for a jog because he was bored, and he never jog before not once.

I sighed again "Then, you should get a part-time job."

His eyes lit up, and for a moment, he looked like a little kid. "Can I work with you?"

I shook my head firmly, "Libraries are a sanctuary of books—a quiet and peaceful place. You working here would destroy that." I pointed to a group of girls sitting across from him, whispering and giggling. Marco flashed them an innocent smile, making them giggle even more. The librarian hushed them, and I turned back to Marco. "See what I mean?"

He shrugged, still smiling, with that playful glint in his eyes. "I can't help it, if I'm that charming."

"Yeah, right," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Just try not to cause any trouble, okay?"

Marco nodded, but I wasn't convinced. As I walked back to my desk, I couldn't help but worry about what kind of  trouble he might bring. Still, despite the annoyance, it was nice to have him around, because I truly miss that man.

Marco is five years older than me, but he still acts like a little kid when we hang out. He wrestles me around until I get bruises, and then Aunt scolds him. Yet, there are moments when I see how much he matured. He's taller and buffer now, with longer dark hair, and his face has become more defined. Who would have thought that skinny kid would grow up like this?

Seriously, what did Aunt feed him that I didn't get? I'm still stuck with short legs and short arms, and my freckles that seem to get darker and darker. The only things that have grown are my belly fat and these "watermelons" in front, which aren't even that big. but it's not that I have a bad figure, I love myself more than anyone else, but still, I wanted to be just a little bit taller, tall girls seem to be more elegant looking and I'm here stuck with the word 'cute' every time someone compliments me.

I constantly kept an eye on Marco, just to make sure he wasn't doing something foolish that could get both of us kicked out. Sometimes, I wished he would just date someone from work because he seemed lonely. I can imagine how upsetting it must be to be away from family while working, but he did it anyway because he wanted to help Aunt Kenzie pay the bills and ensure a better life for her. I also told him that his getting older, and I don't want him to remain a bachelor forever—I want to see my future nieces and nephews, but he just laughed at it.

"Kalila, can you put these books back on the shelves? The boss asked me to run an errand," Maggie said, removing her uniform.

"No problem, I've got it, Maggie," I replied with a smile.

"Thanks, I'll head out," she said, giving me a grateful nod before leaving. I grabbed the book trolley and tried to push it, but the books were so heavy that it barely moved. I sighed, giving it another shove, but it was no use.

"Can I help?" a familiar voice asked from behind. I turned to see Marco, his smile was from ear to ear. He really gives off that golden retriever vibe.

"Yes, you can," I said, stepping aside.

Marco, effortlessly push the trolley taking control and steering it with ease. I couldn't help but feel a bit envious of his strength.

As we navigated the rows of bookshelves, I glanced at Marco. "Hey, remember to behave, okay?" I said teasingly, my eyes twinkling.

Marco chuckled. "I always behave, Kalila. You know that."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Sure you do." We reached the first shelf, and I started putting the books back in their proper places. Marco handed me each book, making the task much easier.

"How do you know where all these books go?" Marco asked, genuinely curious.

"It's part of the job, and I have a list," I replied, showing a list Maggie gave me earlier.

Marco watched me with a soft smile, his eyes lingering on me longer than usual. "You're really good at this," he said quietly.

I laughed, not noticing the warmth in his gaze. "Thanks, Marco. I guess I'm born awesome."

As we continued, Marco handed me a book and our fingers brushed lightly, No biggie we always hold hands when we were kids. But when I looked up at Marco, he quickly averted his eyes, and a faint blush colored his cheeks.

What the actual hell.

"Are you okay?" I asked, tilting my head to look at his face.

Marco cleared his throat. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just, um, zoned out for a second."

I smiled, shaking my head. "You're acting really weird right now."

"Do you want me to stop pushing this?" he asked, pushing the trolley a little bit harder, making it speed up and wobble slightly.

He managed to catch it when I was about to shout "Don't play around with that" I said holding my frustration, but I decided to focus back on the task at hand.

We worked in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds being the rustle of pages and the soft thud of books finding their spots.

At one point, Marco handed me a heavy book, he gazed at me for no reason at all, but I quickly brushed it off, assuming it was just Marco being Marco.

"Thanks for the help, Marco," I said as we finished the last shelf.

"Anytime, Your Highness," Marco replied, giving a mock bow before grinning at me.

As we walked back to the front of my desk, He suddenly held my hand, I was confused.

"Why, what's wrong?" I ask, my voice carrying a note of urgency, he always holds my hands when something scares him, like a bug or a crawling creature stuck in his back.

"Nothing, I just thought, it's been a while, since we held hands." He said with a smile that I couldn't decipher. I didn't say something but I know my face carries subtitles so he should know by now that his being so fucking weird. But he continued to hold my hand, gently rubbing circles around it.

"Are you dying?" I asked sternly, he even bother to respond instead, he just giggled and shook his head.

"Good, because if you're not going to let go I might choke you to death." I pulled my hand away and sat down behind my desk.

His going crazy.

By the time Maggie returned, it was time for our lunch break. Marco mentioned he wanted to eat something light, so we decided on sandwiches from a nearby deli. The smell of fresh bread and the sizzle of the grill filled the air as we ordered, it was phenomenal. But as always, my sweet tooth got the better of me. The sight of a rich, creamy cheesecake sitting in the display case was too much to resist.

"I'll take a slice of that too," I added with a grin, my stomach already rumbling in anticipation. Marco just shook his head with a small smile.

Once we finished our meal, which disappeared far too quickly for my liking, Marco casually offered to buy me a coffee. I lit up at the suggestion and told him about a coffee shop near our neighborhood that served the best iced coffee I'd ever tasted, luckily it was also near to where we were so we decided to take a walk. I'm also hoping that he'll go back home after this.

The shop was a small, cozy spot that only the locals seemed to know about, tucked away in a quiet corner, since we wouldn't be staying long here, I told Marco I'd wait outside on the small bench, The afternoon breeze rustled the leaves of the potted plants lining the entrance of the shop, and I settled into my chair. With half an hour left until my break was over, we had just enough time to relax and enjoy the coffee.

While I was busy looking around, my eyes absentmindedly tracing the flow of passersby, a sudden movement caught my attention. A girl was running toward me, her steps frantic and uneven. Her face was pale, like she had seen something that drained the life out of her, and there was something eerily familiar about her.

My mind raced, trying to place her face, when it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was the latte queen—the girl from the university who had humiliated me by ordering me to pour coffee over myself. The memory of that day, the ruined uniform and the trouble I went for it made my cheeks burn, and my blood boil.

Just as I was about to curse the hell out of her and let out simmering anger I held back since that incident, she stumbled to a stop in front of me, her breath ragged, and grabbed my shirt with a desperation that stunned me into silence. Her eyes, wide and filled with terror, searched mine as if she were drowning and I was the only thing keeping her afloat.

It made me thought of my 10 year old self.

"Please, you have to help me," she gasped, and her voice is trembling. The fear in her eyes pierced through my anger and confusion.

"What's going on?" My voice softened with concern, the initial anger quickly dissolving. She looked terrible, her skin a sickly shade of white, her lips trembling as if she was too afraid to speak the words that needed to be said.

"They're after me," she whispered, her head snapping over her shoulder as if expecting someone to appear at any moment. "Please, don't let them take me."

I glanced around instinctively, searching for any sign of danger, but I saw no one. This ally is pretty secluded only locals knew the way here. My eyes returned to her, scanning her for any sign of injury, But there was nothing—no blood, no visible wounds—just the iron grip of her hands on my shirt, fingers digging in so hard I wondered if she even realized it.

"Calm down," I urged, trying to keep my voice steady, though my heart was starting to race. "Are you hurt? Did someone do something to you?"

She shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes. "No, I'm not hurt... not yet," she choked out, her voice breaking on the last words. "But they will, they'll find me, and then..."

Before she could finish her sentence, I saw them—two big, scary men approaching with a menacing air about them. Their eyes locked onto us, the girl immediately ducked behind my back, her body trembling as she clutched at my shirt, her grip even tighter than before.

"Just stay behind me," I whispered to her, my heart hammering in my chest. "We'll figure this out." The words felt thin, almost like a promise I wasn't sure I could keep, but they were all I had to offer.

The men reached us, towering figures that blocked out the sunlight. Their expressions were hard, their eyes cold and calculating. One of them, a burly guy with a shaved head and a face like granite, stepped forward. His gaze was icy as it swept over me, dismissing me like I was nothing more than an obstacle in his way.

"Hand over the girl," he demanded, his voice low and laced with threat.

I swallowed hard, feeling the tension coil in my muscles, the instinct to protect myself and the girl flaring up despite the fear gnawing at my insides. Running wasn't an option—not now, not with her, she couldn't even barely walk straight. My palms were sweaty, my hands trembling slightly, but I forced myself to stand my ground. I just had to hold out until Marco came out—surely he wouldn't take much longer.

"What do you want with her?" I asked, surprised at how calm my voice sounded, and how my expression remained composed.

"None of your business," the other man growled, stepping closer, his eyes narrowing into cold slits. His presence was overwhelming, a physical force that seemed to suck the air out of the space around us. The menace in his voice was unmistakable, leaving no room for negotiation. This wasn't just a simple demand—it was an ultimatum.

The fear tightening in my chest was almost suffocating, but something inside me refused to give in. My mind flashed back to my old life, to the times I had to face men like these, and somehow, that gave me strength.

"Well, it is my business now," I shot back, lifting my chin slightly to meet his glare. "Kidnapping someone in broad daylight? That's brave. Not to mention, this girl is rich. So, I guess someone sent you just like dogs chained by money, huh?"

I could hear the quiver in my voice, but I hoped they couldn't. I held my head high, even as my heart raced and my stomach twisted in knots. My legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but I stood firm, refusing to show any sign of weakness. The men's eyes flared with anger, and the burly guy's patience was visibly wearing thin.

His hand shot up, ready to strike, and a jolt of terror surged through me. I clenched my fists, bracing for the impact, every muscle in my body tensing up. But I kept my face straight, my expression defiant. I hoped against hope that Marco would come out any minute now. I just had to hold on a little longer, keep these men at bay, and protect the girl behind me.

And then, out of nowhere, I felt a body covering mine, followed by the sound of a sharp blow. My heart skipped a beat as I looked up to see Marco standing right in front of me, his head snapped to the side as if he'd just taken a hit. Despite that, he still had a cup of coffee in each hand, remarkably unspilled.

This brat is playing superhero again.

He turned to me, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Kalila, can you hold onto this? Make sure it doesn't spill—it cost me a lot." His voice was calm, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. He handed me the coffee, his smile growing even wider, almost unnervingly so. "And say hi to your little friend for me," giving a quick glance at the girl cowering behind me. She flinched, and I could feel her grip on my shirt tighten. "Step back. I'll handle this very quickly,"

Shit..shit..shit

I've seen scenes like this in movies before, where someone always ends up bleeding or worse. I barely had time to think before Marco landed a blow on one man's jaw, sending him crashing to the ground with a thud. There are no people here, but I knew it wouldn't be long before a crowd gathered, and that was the last thing we needed. Marco glared at the other man, who quickly pulled a knife. My heart nearly stopped.

Fuck!

Marco looked ready to charge head-on. "Stop!" I screamed, loud enough to get everyone's attention. Marco halted mid-step, turning to me with a surprised look.

"What are you, a thug?!" I snapped at him, my voice tinged with both anger and fear.

I quickly turned to the men, my mind racing. "I already called the police! They'll be here in exactly 1 minute. If you keep this up, you won't have a chance to run!" I said, hoping my my threat  would work. The two men exchanged a glance before scrambling to their feet and running off without a second thought.

I lied I didn't call anyone.

I never had a chance to. I let out a shaky breath, feeling the adrenaline drain from my body. My relief was short-lived as I whirled around to face Marco, my anger flaring up again.

"Who told you to do that?!" I grabbed his arms with trembling hands, forcing him to sit down so I could get a better look at his face. His cheek was already beginning to bruise.

Aunt would beat his ass when she sees this. My whole body started to tremble uncontrollably, the aftershocks of panic setting in. My breath grew heavier, and my chest tightened, the weight of everything that just happened crashing down on me all at once. I could feel a panic attack coming on, the world starting to close in around me.

Sensing my discomfort, Marco reached out and held me. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. I struggled to answer as my mind grew hazy, and I felt like I was on the brink of passing out. "Why are you shaking so violently?" he asked again.

None of them knew about my severe panic attacks—how every night was haunted by the fear and trauma of that time when I almost got raped. There are nights when my dreams feel so cruelly real that I can feel the grip of the hands on my skin, I would wake up in fear, sweat and tears.

I fought to steady my breathing, knowing that now was not the time for this breakdown. Marco guided me to sit down beside the girl, who had gone silent and seemed paralyzed with fear as well. I slowly regained my composure, I turned to Marco, my anger resurfacing.

"How many times do I have to tell you to keep your anger in check?!" I yelled, my chest still heavy with emotion. "Why do you always resort to violence, you thug?!"

Marco's past was a mirror to my own pain. His upbringing was even worse than mine, filled with gangs and addiction. That's why he had learned to fight early on as a survival mechanism. But that didn't mean I had to accept his violent tendencies.

"But they almost hit you," he said softly, almost as if he was trying to justify his actions.

"Marco, he had a knife! Things could have gotten worse!" I retorted. A slap would hurt, but it wasn't the same as facing a blade. I was used to taking physical abuse from my father; I could handle that. But Marco's concern was misplaced.

Exhaustion washed over me, and I turned to the girl beside me. She was still trembling badly. "Hey, what's your name?" I asked her, but she didn't respond. "Hey, are you okay?" I gently touched her shoulder, but she flinched so violently that she fell off the bench. I immediately crouched down and tried to calm her.

"You're alright, they're gone now," I reassured her. She stared at me, and tears began streaming down her face.

"We need to get out of here," I said urgently. "Let's take her home." That was the fastest thing I could do now, with her state I don't think she can go home.

We tried to get her up, but she passed out from sheer fright. I caught her before she hit the ground. "Carry her on your back," I instructed Marco.

"Fuck no" This stupid ass really has the nerve to refuse in this situation.

"Fine, I'll carry her," I said, but Marco immediately crouched down. I place the girl onto his back as carefully as I could.

As I looked at them, a smirk spread across my face unintentionally. They actually looked good together in an odd way.

"What's so funny now?" Marco asked, noticing my expression.

I shook my head, dismissing the thought. "Nothing. Let's go."