The Womanizer's Contracted Wife

"Make it quick, Amelia! Next time, you don't have any job to expect!" our manager shouted who is now hot -tempered with their newly recruited worker. Seconds later, his pair of mad eyes darted on me. "And you,” he pointed his fingers on me. “Bring this to the newly arrived customers!” He gave me a tray that contained grilled, smoked and fried meats. I nodded before lifting it carefully. From a distance, I caught a glimpse of a man's familiar shape. He was sitting on a sofa, together with his friends as their conversation swirled in a dirty cloud of smoke. "S-Sir ..." When our eyes met, I couldn’t explain the heaviness inside my chest. I suddenly missed his pair of unyielding glacial blue eyes that I used to admire before. "Oh my God! You're familiar?" Seigaiha, right? " I was stunned right after one of my batch mates recognized me. I had an apron on, and the fact that my hair was a little untidy showed how fatigued I was after working three part-time jobs ever since morning. I nodded in response to her question so she covered her mouth out of disbelief. "Seigaiha is here! Do you guys remember her? She was our valedictorian in high school!" My batch mates quickly approached my direction. I can no longer remember some of them, maybe because they changed differently while others are still vivid in my memory. I tightened my grip on the tray before deciding to put their orders on their table. "What happened? Don't tell me you're working here?" Eustace asked, wearing her bewildered expression. It was easy for me to recognize her. She's always been my rival, but I've always come out on top. She now has a chic appearance. Comparatively speaking, her short, black dress is a hundred times more expensive than the one I'm wearing, which is almost made of rags. "Yes. I'm a dishwasher here." I confessed so Comet's gaze deepened on me. Gwen clapped slowly as she approached my direction. "Gosh, I can't believe it! You're our valedictorian, aren't you? You even had high hopes of becoming a lawyer but look at you now. This is how low a job you'll end up with. It's funny how the world turned upside down.” I couldn't speak because even before, they thought so highly of me. I have always been known for being a quintessential genius because I always ace the exam all over our department. But now, I look totally hopeless. "What happened to you?" My chest even tightened because of that question from Comet. Even me, I really had no idea why my fate was too merciless to me. "From being the best, you've become the worst, Sei. Comet used to have a crush on you too but do you think that's how you look, you'll still like— "Enough, Eustace." She rolled her eyes. "Why are you stopping me? I was actually telling the truth. I just can't believe that Seigaiha has gone this low. It's really just a dream to be a lawyer." My ears ache because of their laughter. I wasn't able to speak because it was painful for me to hear how they underestimated me. Just like how I view myself, I was a disappointment for them too. "Stop working too much. Look at your image in the mirror first, Sei. You're really far from before." My chest tightened even more. I was expecting that Comet would cheer me up, similar to the thing he used to do for me before. But now, he was entirely different. I just want to totally vanish in front of him. He took something from his wallet and stood up to approach me. After that, without saying a word, he put the money in my apron pocket before whispering to me. “Fix yourself. I couldn't believe that I almost dated someone like you before. ” Before my tears totally fell down, I immediately processed my mind. "I-I'll go now. I still have a lot of things to take care of." Before totally leaving, I was still able to hear Eustace's last words. "Cheers to more dirty works, Sei!" When I returned to work, my tears immediately began to flow. Fortunately, I'm the only person here in the kitchen so no one can see me. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes because I felt so heavy. I made a long-ago commitment to myself that this would not be my life. I simply allowed myself to cry for a brief period of time before wiping away all of the tears and acting normally. Although I had many regrets about all that had happened, I still did not stop working. I heaved a deep sigh and started thinking that I heard nothing tonight and I haven't seen them. After I sorted out the trash and put it in a black sack, I went out to throw it away. After I did that, my cell phone rang. An unregistered number flashed on my screen but I still answered it since up until now, I still had high hopes of finding her. "Sei..." My heart started pumping rapidly after hearing that voice. It's been a year already. "Sej, can you send me money again? I just really need it right now. I'll make it up to you soon. I'll reciprocate all the things you've done for me once everything is settled." I don't know how to answer. She's been telling me those words since a year ago but up until now, she still left me hanging. "Sei, I'll be back. I'll graduate in a little while. Once I get my degree and find a job here in Manila, I'll go home to the province right away. I'll take all the responsibilities I left to you." I quickly wiped my tears but they were all traitors for escaping my eyes ONCE AGAIN. “Seigaiha, please… I just need to. I couldn't get help from anyone aside from you. This time, I won't break your trust. ” I heard her sobbing from the other line and I hate myself because I have always been too soft for the person I love. "All right, I'll send it. But I please, fulfil your promise. I want to be with you. I'm having a hard time here." For the first time, I was able to admit to her how I really felt. I was really tired of living a melancholic life. For the past three years since my mom was gone, I was never the same way before. My life just revolved around doing lots of part time jobs just to earn a penny to help her and dad and to pay for the unpaid house that my mom left us. I can't let that go because that's the only living memory I have for her. She always dreamed of having her own house and before she passed away, I promised to give her what she wanted. "All right, Sei. I'll hang up. I still have a lot to take care of." She immediately dropped the call. I couldn't get mad at her because I knew that mom's dreams also bothers her. She will be the first doctor in our family so even though I also have many dreams for myself, I put them aside because I have a lot of confidence in her that she can change the course of our lives now. For countless times, I tried to wipe my tears again. I would have gone back inside to finish my work if nothing had just run into me. A stranger was wearing all black attire. His hat also covered his eyes so I couldn't recognize him. "Aren't you looking where you're going?" I was annoyed and then picked up my cell phone that he almost broke. Instead of apologising to me, he kept looking somewhere as if he's hiding from someone. Instead of letting him add to the weight of how I was feeling tonight, I just left in front of him as if nothing had happened. But even before I could take more steps, I was surprised when he grabbed my arm to hug me. "Is there someone behind me?" he asked so I couldn't help but get confused. I tried escaping from him but he's much stronger than me. Later on, three men appeared. They look too tired from running and finding someone. “He’s here— Before I was able to finish my sentence, I was shocked when the stranger cupped my face and kissed me. I felt my knees turn weaker because of what he did. For the second time, I tried to get away but he just wouldn't let me. The group of men approached in our direction but when they saw us kissing, they also left quickly. It seems like this man in front of me also felt that they're gone so he let me go. "Tell me your bank account," he said immediately so my head heats up. I slapped him hard because he deserves it. He grabbed his blushing cheek after what I did. "Asshole! I'll report you to the police!" I tried to run away from him but he never let me go again. It was even more unexpected that he would carry me. "Let go of me!" I kept shouting but no one heard us. "Where are you taking me!?" I couldn't help but get nervous because maybe, he's part of a syndicate that plans to kidnap me. "Shut up. You're too heavy." "Let me go! I still have work left!" I never stopped screaming. Despite those shouts, he still remained silent as if he's a f*****g deaf. He just let me go when he could get me in a car. He also took off his hat so that’s where I could see the entirety of his face. "Tell me how much you want." I stared at him for a moment. He looks familiar. I suddenly felt like we've already met before or maybe, I was just exaggerating things. "You're two thick faced! Do I look like someone who's after your money?" He smiled at what I said. "I'll give you everything you want. House, car, luxury items? Name it." I felt even more annoyed. Is it really like this when you are rich? What the hell! I was expecting an apology because of what he did but he only made me even angrier. "Your money is yours! I don't need any of it so f**k off!"