KNOCK KNOCK!!
Sakura was startled awake, immediately sitting up as a loud banging sound reached her ears. She sleepily glanced around while rubbing her eyes.
She was in her hostel room, a small cubicle that could barely fit her bed, talk less of anything else.
There were a few clothes arranged on her creaky wooden chair and a ton of books scattered by her side.
"What was that soun—"
Bang Bang!
"Sakura, I know you're in there! Your rent is due, you drunkard!"
"Eeek—!" She jolted as she began fumbling around for her contact lenses when another bang resounded from the door.
"You think you can hide from me?!"
There was no time to put on her contacts…
"Glasses, where are my glasses?!" She tapped down her bed, the world a blur of colours, then her hand landed on something firm.
She immediately picked it up and put it on, already climbing out of her bed.
Finally, the world around took shape as she dashed through the room.
Without wasting any time, Sakura took off her sleepwear and tossed it to the floor, quickly pulling out some clothes from her closet.
In less than a minute she was already fully dressed…
This wasn't her first rodeo.
She grabbed a mint from her desk and hurried to her window, pulling it open.
"Why am I wasting my time speaking to this freeloader when I have a spare key? I'm coming in!"
'Is that even legal?!' Sakura wondered.
The window creaked open and Sakura hurriedly climbed onto it. She stared down at the six-foot drop in front of her, cold sweat pooling on her brows.
This was the hardest part…
She had even broken her legs once while trying to escape.
But the situation demanded sacrifice. If she was caught she would get an earful from the caretaker, but if she escaped—
She gulped.
The door to her room was pushed open but just as her caretaker was about to step into the room, Sakura jumped.
•••
Sakura arrived at the café thirty minutes late, limping into the building.
'I really need to sort this mess out,' she thought, sighing deeply as she sat on one of the chairs.
Even after working overtime she was still far behind on her loan repayment, her rent was due and there was a lot of stuff she still hadn't bought.
Last time, she stopped paying her electricity bill to save money. A few days ago she had cut off her water and began relying on her neighbour to bathe.
'Maybe if I eat four times a week instead of once daily I will save up enough mone—'
"Sakura."
"Eeek!" Like a startled cat, Sakura shot up to her feet and jumped back, only for her foot to get hooked on the leg of the chair.
The world swirled in her vision as she fell, eyes shut tightly, hands wrapped around her head as she waited for the pain to come.
But it never came…
Instead, she felt a hand hold on to her back. The grip was firm but at the same time not so hard that it hurt.
She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze locking on a pair of dark crimson orbs that shone like rubies.
For a moment she was at a loss for words, she could not remember anyone that had eyes this beautiful…
But then a second later, when she realized who it was, it was as though she had been doused in icy water.
Her spirit nearly leapt out of her body.
"B-b-b-boss?!" Sakura yelped. She quickly wiggled out of his grip and distanced herself from him, bowing repeatedly.
Kyle was the type of boss that would stroll in at any time he felt like, look the place over and leave without doing any real work.
Yet, here he was barely 8 o'clock, staring down at her like the demon he was. She could already imagine the insults he would rain down on her…
Idiot, bird, klutz…
"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't know it was you…"
'Today is payday, I hope I haven't gotten on his bad side already…'
If she wasn't paid, then she would definitely die of starvation, or worse, get kidnapped and sold for parts by the shady people she borrowed money from.
Sakura waited for his response, but strangely, Kyle did not say a word. Instead, he kept his gaze on her, his pupils nearly swallowing his iris whole as he concentrated on her.
Also… 'Did he just sniff the air?'
"Please sir, I will work overtime if I have—"
Kyle placed a finger on her lips, silencing her, then looked her over, his eyes gliding from her rough uncut hair, to her lanky body, down to the foot she was favouring.
Sakura felt like vanishing. 'Why is he looking at me like he wants to eat me?'
Something wasn't right. Kyle was paying far too much attention to her. It had been this way since the past week.
Sometimes he would sit in the café and pretend to go through some documents and yet, Sakura could always sense his gaze on her.
There was even a time she accidentally cut her finger and before she knew it, Kyle was right next to her, watching her like she was a specimen.
She was about to take a step back when Kyle suddenly appeared behind her, moving far too fast for her to keep track of.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, his fingers dreadfully cold, then leaned close to her ears before whispering:
"My office… Now."
Sakura felt a chill run down her spine, goosebumps rising all over her neck.
She wanted nothing but to run as far away as possible and yet, she knew she had no choice in the matter.
None of them did.
Kyle had made sure to pick workers who would be indebted to him. That was why no matter how much he abused them, they could not run, they could not complain…
She steeled her heart and followed closely behind him as they made their way to his office.
It didn't matter what the punishment would be, she would do anything as long as she could keep her job.
Immediately she stepped into the room, Kyle pushed the door closed and locked it, trapping her in the room.
Then he sat in his seat opposite her, legs crossed, and began thrumming his fingers on the desk.
"You may sit."
She hurriedly sat down, her hands folded on her lap.
Kyle scoffed, picked up a file from his table and tossed it right in front of her.
TAP!
Sakura jolted in her seat.
"What is the meaning of this, Sakura?"
.
.
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A/N
I was meant to upload two chapters today but to be honest, I'm not proud about the second chapter I wrote so I am going to either thrash it or rewrite it.
I will wake up at night to write enough to make up for today's missing chapter.
Thank you for reading!
Ps. We are in the Toga arc for those who have been asking, you will see a lot more of her in the coming chapters.