Bella
Light coming through the gap of the window made me wake me up from my sleep as I covered my eyes to protect them from sunlight. Rubbing my eyes lazily, I let out a groan as my hands reached under my pillow to check out my phone. There are still 2 minutes left to ring the alarm. Should I sleep for 2 more minutes?
I knew I wouldn't be able to wake up then. So, I got up from my mattress as I slowly walked towards the bathroom stretching my hands at either side. Letting out a yawn, I put paste over my toothbrush and started to brush my teeth. After my morning routine and taking a shower, I came out of the bathroom. My body was wrapped around a towel as I dried my hair with another small towel and opened the small old cupboard to choose a dress for the day. It wasn't like I had so many dresses to choose from. Only two pairs of pants and T-shirts including a white floral dress that reached just under my knees. Oh, I didn't mention that floral dress was also a gift from Ria.
Smiling at the dress, I took it out from my cupboard, choosing it for my new start, new job. Wearing blue bra and panties underneath, I wore the floral dress and stood in front of the mirror, brushing my hair. I let my smoothly curled dark brown hair loose on my back as I wore lip gloss. I didn't have much makeup, just a small old eyeshadow palette and loose brush. Not like I wore makeup anyways. I liked my natural glow.
As I was about to enter my little kitchen, I received a text from Ria, saying she would be arriving anytime soon. I quickly took two pieces of bread and added jam over it, my regular breakfast.
I looked out of the window to loot up at the clear sky. Birds were flying without having anything to worry about. I wish I could fly like that too. Ria talked to her cousin about the job of maid, more like begging him to give me the job anyhow, as soon as I agreed to work yesterday and his cousin had no other choice but to agree. She said, I would get paid a lot to repay my father's debt and that only thought made the huge burden fall from my head.
The aggressive ringing of the calling bell startled me. Must be Ria but why was she so much in a hurry? I ran towards the door to open it. A gasp left my mouth as I saw an unknown man standing there. His eyes looked furious, like my dad when he used to come back home after drinking. But this man kind of looked sober, but his attire said he was probably living on the streets for months.
"Who are you?" My voice was shaking but I tried my best to hide it.
"Where is he?" His growled. His deep voice was enough to make me realize he was dead serious about that matter.
"He is no more." Shaky voice left my mouth as I realized why that man was here. For his money of course. But how did he find my house? Did they have men following me 24/7?
"I need my money right now!" He screamed, his chest rose up and down. I didn't know what I was going to do. I was totally alone in that place, no one would be there to help me. And I couldn't trust this person enough to leave me unharmed.
"L-listen, I'll give you your money back. Soon. But not now. Please-" he didn't let me finish my sentence as both his hands slammed on the door I was holding, pushing himself inside my small groove. I fell on the ground but was fast enough to stand up on my feet. God, Ria where are you?
His eyes roamed around my small house, surely searching for anything that could make me repay his debt. But what he didn't know was I had nothing but a mattress, an old cupboard and a mirror, including a small couch in my house.
"I told you I will give you money. Now leave!" I screamed trying to act strong so he wouldn't harm me. Or maybe that's what I thought.
"That's what I've been hearing for the last 3 years!" His eyes now placed on me as he stormed towards me. Before I could take a step, he grabbed my jaw in a tight grip, which surely would leave bruises after a few minutes.
"Either you give me my money, or I will kill you." I knew he didn't lie when he said he would kill me without a second thought. My hands clutched his arm as I dogged my nails in his skin. Each passing second, his grip became tighter. It seemed like he was about to break my jaw. But then I heard another noise in my house.
"Leave her, I said!" Ria said, her voice wore power, confidence, brave, unlike me.
I gasped for air as that man left my jaw and turned around to look at Ria. "So, you want to give me my money now?" He asked her, taking steps towards her.
"No please don't do anything to her p-please!" I cried out, thinking he would try to attack Ria too.
"Do not try to take any other step. My men are outside, waiting for me. If anything happens to me, I sure as hell can tell you won't ever be able to see the sunlight and beg for your own death." She gritted her teeth, being confident about the threats.
The man stopped in his track. "I just need my money!" He growled again.
"She said you will get your money in a month. She is not like her father. Now leave this place. You will get your money very soon." Ria said in a stern voice. Her chin was up, eyes holding boldness, showing she wasn't affected by that drunk man at all.
Without giving me another glance, the man stormed out of my house. As soon as he left, I ran towards Ria and hugged her tightly as I cried on her shoulder.
"Sshh.. no more crying, you are alright. And you will be alright from today." She ran her hand over my hair in a soothing way. Pulling out, she wiped my tears away as I sniffled like a baby.
"Now be the strong woman you are. You are starting your new job today remember?" She gave me a smile, putting her finger under my chin.
I smiled back.
" Ready?" She asked for the final time before stepping out of my house.
"Yes!" I said, excitedly and confidently. Finally, a new beginning.
"Did you tell your managers of your previous jobs that you won't be working for them anymore?" She asked as we walked towards her car.
"Yes, I did talk to them over the phone. The lady of the bakery shop was kind enough to let me go but the manager of the cafeteria was rude, and he didn't pay me for the last month too." I said, looking down. It wasn't his fault either. No one was allowed to leave the job in his cafeteria suddenly without seeking permission long ago before leaving the job. He mentioned it before a lot of times.
"Don't worry, you will be paid very well from now on," she said, slightly pushing my shoulder with her elbow. "Even the bodyguard of his mansion is richer than your cafeteria manager." She joked.
"It really is a great help, Ria. Thank you so much." I said, being so grateful to her.
"No thanks miss. Just give me a party when you are done repaying all the debts alright? Or maybe going to a nightclub with me for a night?" she asked teasingly. It's not the first time she has asked me to go to a nightclub with her. But those were not my type.
I rolled my eyes and laughed as we sat inside the car.
"Let's go!" She said excitedly, asking her driver to start the car.
I looked out of the window, hoping for the best start. This was the last time I was going to try to be happy.