What time did you usually wake up in the morning?

7 a.m. It's standard.

8 a.m. It's pretty normal.

10 a.m. Well, if you have a mom like the author's mom, you might need to prepare yourself for the worst; either you became hearing impaired, or you'll get a minor concussion. That woman was a famous Goal Shooter for the infamous local netball team in her town.

Just imagine her strength when she swings a pillow to you.

(Love you, ma!)

***

It's 5 a.m.

Too early, is it? Should the author change the time?

Okay, how about 6 a.m?

Sounds good?

Okay, let's start!

It's a beautiful morning. The sun is still in snooze mode. The dew drops from a beautiful young leaf, down to the ground. It's not too hot, not too cold. The air is breezy, fresh and lively.

However, for this one particular girl, this morning is such a torture for her. Just like yesterday. And the day before. And the other day as well.

Hefty in training suits, she wipes her sweats that drench the whole puffy red face. Her dead eyes are losing focus right now. She is almost unable to see which path she should take.

Right, or left?

She drags her legs to the left when something pokes her from behind. She jumps as she almost staggers to the front.

“How come you forgot the routine?” she glances at the person, feeling hopeless. Slowly, she turns to the right.

For a week, she keeps on wondering. What if she changes the path? Is it a sin if she did? Gradually, she feels sick of this morning routine. It's like a loop and she's stuck in it.

“You ain't going anywhere with that speed,” here comes the Dormammu!

How nice it will be if she is the infamous Dr. Strange!

“Faster, Lee!”

“I am,”

“What did you say?”

“I am!”

“I am? Are you sure?”

“I am trying my best, sir!”

Smirk.

She musters her almost deplated energy so she can run within the speed given to her. She persuades her body to bear the pressure just a bit more.

She almost there. Almost there...

And done!

“Aaahh!!” she screams on the top of her lung when she sees the main road, which is the goal in this grusome training. She held her breath and releases a huge deep sigh.

“Quite slow, compared to yesterday. What, are you trying to slack off?” she turns around, head down.

The man stares at her with a sharp glance. Today, he wears his black sleeveless top; quickdry material with his training shorts, flashing his tone body, sprinkles with sweats dripping from his glands.

A tasty ice cream for a filthy eyes.

But, not for Peony. Watching this man and aware of his nature, she sees a devil ascending from the hell.

“I don't get it...”

The man moves his sight towards her. His eyebrows entwines as he holds his hips with his big palms.

“Why right, not left?” words stucks in between a heavy breath. Yu smirks as his moves his right hand and puts a heavy burden on the tiny shoulder.

“Ouch...”

“Hold it...”

“I can't. My shoulder sores a lot from yesterday...”

“Don't be a weakling! It's just an hour session of kickboxing,” Yu gives her a tight sidehug. Peony whines as she tries to bear with the pressure.

Yeah right, an hour of hell!

She murmurs a bit.

But, in the end, the body just gives up. Naturally, she permits him to enjoy the moment. Just like that.

It's been a week since she joined the Brunner's household. Frankly said, it's not too bad, some day it is bad... Sometimes, it's even worst.

Peony needs to wake up at 4 a.m everyday. Which is not a big deal for her. She will serves breakfast for everyone, and here comes the torture. She needs to wake everyone up, so no one will miss school, or work.

An activity that consumed her energy, in great amount of it.

After some drama, tantrum, blues; even thought it's not even on Monday, she will spend the next hour cleaning the kitchen. More energy deficits at that time. After that, 6 a.m on sharp, she will taste the hell. At least for 2 hours.

It depends on the day. Monday is for shooting, jiujitsu on Tuesday until Thursday. Friday is a rest day but still she needs to do house chores like cleaning, cooking and grocery shopping. Weekends is for kickboxing.

But not before a nice light run, from the Brunner's house straight to the main road.

Even on her rest day.

She feels like living in a military camp. With these non stop training, she might as well sign up for military!

“Come...” Yu drags her to an eatry, just across the street.

“Could you please slow down? I can't even feel my legs...”

“You want me to lift you?”

Peony quickly stands up straight. There's no way she would let this man lifts her. Again.

Never!

It's humiliate.

Once, after a jiujitsu training, she hurted her ankle so she had difficulty to walk properly. So, this shameless guy lifted her, in front of everyone, in bridal style with a sneaky look. The whole gym cheered as they thought it was a romantic gesture.

Thinking about it makes her gag a bit. Her antiromantic side activates immediately.

There's no way she would let that happen again! Not today! Not in the future as well.

***

As they enter the eatry, another boy waves at them for afar. Peony smiles widely and relieves. Yu grabs her hand tight and puts it down. She grumbles as she tries to escape from his grip.

Yu doesn't even budge.

They walk towards the table and take their seat across Blue. The boy is wearing a white oversized sweaters with black jeans. He swipes his blonde/blue from to the back. With the huge black frame glasses, he looks cute and fresh.

“Order up. I had mine just now,” says the boy. He hands the menu to Peony, but Yu quickly snatches it from his hand. He stares at the menu for a moment before calls the waiter.

“Two hot tea, no sugar. Strawberry oatmeal with plain yogurt and pancake, just one serving...”

“Can I have a toast?”

“No,” Yu glares at Peony. She pouts a bit. She hates oatmeal. It makes her tummy full, but the meal dissatisfied her tastebud. Especially if it's plain, with no sugar or honey.

The waiter takes the menu from Yu and leaves the table. Blue watches Peony and giggles a bit.

“It's just a breakfast, honey...”

“Please don't mention ‘honey’! It makes me craving for sweet even more...” the girl knocks her head on the table. Yu glares at them, still in silent.

A phone call interrupts them. Yu checks his phone a bit.

“Stay here,” he says. Blue and Peony nod, as they watch Yu slowly disappear from the eatry.

“I had enough if this!” says Peony. Blue laughs as he flips the next page of the book that he reads.

“Be patient. That's the key...”

“Why is he loves forcing me all of this? I mean, this is not a weight watcher programme or something. I never express my desire to lose weight or anything!” Peony lightly stabs the table with a fork.

“I know Yu for a very long time. There must be a reason for every decision that he makes,” the conversation cuts off when the waiter serves their breakfast. “Just stay put, okay? It's all for your own good,” says Blue.

Peony nods a bit. Luckily, there's Blue who can cheer her up. They develop a good relationship for the past week. This boy is the epitome of fun times.

As she is about to eat her breakfast, they hear a loud thud.

“What was that?” asks Blue. Peony turns her head a bit to the side. They see a man fell from the stool on the floor.

Someone is hovering the poor man and mercilessly punch him.

“Wait, is that...?”

“Oh, no...” Blue quickly leaves his seat and run towards the two men. Peony puts away her spoon and slowly reaches the scene as well.

“Yu...” she calls the man. He glares at her with his red eyes.

“Blue, bring Peo to the car...”

“Yes,”

“What just happened?” asks Peony.

“Peo, follow Blue. Now...”

“But...”

“Are you deaf?! Get your fucking ass to the car, you bitch!”

Her iris enlarge, lips shiver a bit. Heart feels like stuck and beaming. Yes, Yu is harsh towards her, quite a lot. But, this is the first time that man is crossing the line. Too much.

Way too much!

Peony glares at Yu as she storms out from the eatry, leaving Blue behind to catch up with her. Yu curses under his breath, sweeping his hair back. Then he gives a deadly gaze to the man before leaving the eatry as well.

He is in a deep mess now!