Chapter 3: Of Contracts, Crushes, and Secrets
2798 Words
ALEXA'S POV
I saw a sign on the glass door of a coffee shop while I was heading home.
"WANTED: WAITRESS APPLY INSIDE"
I hope this is the solution to my problem. For some reason, Aunt Joyce wants me out of the house.
I've saved up from my part-time job during the two months of last summer, which is enough for me to rent a small room. But I still don't have a stable source of income for monthly bills.
I had a smile on my face as I walked out of the coffee shop; I got accepted as a part-timer. I only have to work for four hours, and I get to choose my schedule. My shift is from 7 PM to 11 PM. Since I'm in school from 8 AM to 3 PM, I'll use the time from 3 PM to 6 PM to work on projects, assignments, and other school-related tasks. I can't afford to fail. Then, when I get home from work, I can sleep right away. Aside from me, there are other students who also work part-time here.
AT HOME...
"Oh, have you found a place to move to?" Aunt Joyce asked while eating breakfast with Lorraine.
"Not yet, I'll look again later," I replied, looking down. I knew the next thing she'd do would be to yell at me.
"Hey, Alexa!" she yelled at me. "Whether you find a place or not, you're leaving this house!" She's lucky I'm not screaming back after all the yelling for a year. Maybe it's because they know I'm only adopted by Dad, so they're always angry at me.
Where can I find a place? A place where I can have peace of mind and happiness?
AT SCHOOL...
One week — yes, one week has passed, and I've become Alfried's loyal servant. I'm just his obedient follower. "Buy this, buy that, do this, do that, copy my notes, assignments, make my projects, deliver flowers for me to give to other girls." It's so annoying. If I could quit, I would.
FLASHBACK
"I'm done! I'm so tired of everything you ask me to do, and I'm fed up with your attitude!" Can you imagine asking me to buy something for you, then change your mind five times? I had to go back and forth five times already, and he probably wants me to do it six times.
"I won't allow you to quit, my dear slave," he said, relaxed, while sitting on a bench at school, with his feet resting on the table in front of him. He showed me the paper I signed.
"Give that to me, I'm going to tear it up!" I immediately reached for the paper, but he quickly pulled it away.
"It says here that if you don't finish being my slave, you'll have to be my girlfriend for another three months." He smirked. Why does he always do that? Honestly, when he smirks, it makes my heart flutter. I feel like I want to pull my hair out because of these stupid feelings I have.
At first, it was okay to be his so-called slave because the necklace was so important to me. I trusted that I could finish the contract quickly. And most of all, I thought he was still kind, caring, and sweet like he was when we were kids, but now he's turned into a monster. So, yeah, it's true what they say: assumptions can kill you. Lesson learned, Alexa, lesson learned.
"So, do you want to just be my girlfriend instead?" he asked, the monster that he is. Yes, I want to, I really do. I've liked him since we were kids, but this is ridiculous.
"Not even in my dreams, master," I stressed the word 'master' to make sure he understood. Even though I wanted him badly, I didn't want to be with him just because of this contract.
"Okay." He turned away. I was about to walk away when he suddenly turned back and looked at me closely. My heart started to race. I felt like there were cats running around in my chest.
Is he really going to kiss me? Wait, I'm not ready yet. I closed my eyes tightly, fingers crossed behind my back. This has to be my first kiss!
But why is he taking so long?
I peeked through my lashes—and wanted to disappear. My face was burning up like a furnace. Ugh! What's wrong with him? Is he seriously just staring at me like that?
No kiss. No lions leaping out. Just... his teasing smile.
"I'll kiss you when we're alone," he said with a sly grin. "Don't get too excited."
I nodded so fast, I probably looked ridiculous. What did I just agree to? Oh my God, kill me now!
END OF FLASHBACK
"Slave," the monster is behind me again. I'm so pissed at him. Sometimes I imagine turning him into a pumpkin. I still can't get over how he led me on earlier.
"Buy all of this," he handed me a paper, obviously a shopping list, along with money, and then left immediately. I took a deep breath before closing my locker.
I still wonder what happened to him over the last four years. All I know is that he was with his mom in the US, where he went to school. He was always kind, caring, sweet, and—above all—very smart. That's how he was when we were kids.
When I saw him again, I could tell he didn't remember me, or maybe he was pretending not to. But honestly, it's better that way — it's like we're meeting for the first time, and I'm not bombarded with questions.
I was heading home and decided to stop by the bookstore. According to the list he gave me, these were all school supplies.
As I was leaving the campus, I spotted him—Alfred—with a girl. They were walking together, laughing, and then getting into his car. How did they meet? Why wasn't I the one by his side?
A sharp sting hit my chest. It wasn't just jealousy—something deeper, a strange ache I didn't expect. I've never had a boyfriend, never even been close. Yet, seeing him with someone else felt like a silent reminder that maybe I never would.
This heart of mine is confusing—why does it hurt so much when we're not even together?
I looked away quickly, hoping no one noticed the sudden wetness in my eyes.
I went home to my new apartment and lay down on the bed. I felt so sad and heavy. I had moved in just the day before with the help of Manager Mae, who I now call Ate Mae. Her family owns the apartment.
My room is decorated in shades of light and dark pink. The small living room has a TV, a component set, and a cozy sofa. The kitchen is fully stocked with utensils, and there's just one bedroom. Ate Mae told me this apartment used to be hers when she was still studying. Like me, she was a working student—helping her parents while her siblings were in college.
Being accepted at that coffee shop feels like such a blessing. Not only do I have a job, but I've also met Ate Mae, who treats me like a sister. There's something about her I can't quite put my finger on yet, but I feel safe and comfortable whenever I'm around her.
I was heading home after work again. This has become my routine, and I'm used to it. The best thing about my new apartment is that it's within walking distance from both my work and school, which saves me money. While walking, I passed by a group of five guys beating up a nerd. He was clearly struggling to fight back, and he was bleeding everywhere.
I was quite far from them, but I could still see how badly beaten the nerd was. I wanted to walk away, but before I could think clearly, I acted on instinct.
I kicked the ground with my right foot and raised both my hands. A strong gust of wind swept through, sending the five guys flying in different directions, causing them to run off.
Meanwhile, the nerd was still on the ground. I approached him carefully; it seemed like he was barely alive. I didn't understand it, but I knew exactly what to do.
I took the water from my bag and opened the bottle. I swirled the water in my hands and made him drink it. A moment later, his breathing became steady. I heard police sirens approaching. I quickly stood up and ran away from the scene.
Since my parents passed away, I've never used my abilities again. My mom always reminded me that my abilities were a gift, but I needed to hide them for my own good, as people wouldn't accept me if they knew.
"Who am I really?" I asked myself as I gazed at the sky, watching the stars. They were so beautiful, but they could only be seen at night.
The night was peaceful, but my mind was far from calm. I wondered about the path ahead of me. How long can I keep running away from the truth? How long will I continue hiding who I really am?
I couldn't answer those questions. Every time I thought about it, I felt my heart get heavier. What if the people I care about find out what I can do? Would they still accept me, or would they push me away?
I found myself staring at the bright stars above, trying to get some peace of mind, but I couldn't escape the unsettling feeling in my chest. The wind whispered through the trees, and for a brief moment, I thought I heard someone calling my name.
I shook it off. No one was there.
As I approached my apartment, I realized how much this place felt like a home. The simple things, like the sound of my footsteps echoing in the hallway, the scent of fresh paint on the walls, and the comfort of knowing I had my own space—it all made me feel like I was finally in control of my life again.
I sat down on my bed, the thoughts swirling in my head, and decided that I needed to sleep. Tomorrow would bring another day, and I needed to be ready for whatever came next.
But before sleep could take me, my mind drifted to Alfred. I tried to push the thoughts away—I hated him, didn't I? But my heart had other plans. It pulled me back to memories I thought I'd buried: the way he was always there as a kid, how he looked out for me when no one else did. Now, everything felt so distant, cold—as if a wall had risen between us, impossible to tear down.
I closed my eyes, and the thought hit me like a whisper I didn't want to hear—maybe, somehow, I missed him. Not who he is now, not the stranger who barely spoke to me. But the boy I once knew, the one who cared.
A lump formed in my throat. I hated that part of me, but it wouldn't let go.
I swallowed hard and shook my head, forcing the feelings away. There was too much pain, too much loss already. I didn't have room for this too.
THE NEXT DAY...
I woke up to the sound of my alarm ringing. My head was a bit heavy, and my body felt sluggish from the lack of rest, but I forced myself out of bed. There was no time to waste. I had school, work, and more responsibilities to handle. I couldn't afford to be weak.
As I prepared for the day, I noticed that the bruise on my arm from last night's scuffle had faded. I was lucky no one had noticed the use of my powers. It had been such an instinctive reaction to the situation, but I knew that if anyone found out, everything would change. I couldn't risk it.
At school, everything seemed normal at first. I walked past my classmates in the hallway, gave a few quiet nods, and headed to my first class. I kept to myself, like always. But no matter how hard I tried, my mind kept drifting back to last night. Who were those guys who attacked the nerd? And why did I feel this strange pull to step in, even though I usually stay out of things?
The day passed in a blur. Between classes and running errands for Alfred, I barely caught a moment to breathe. It felt like I was always moving—doing things for everyone else, trying to live up to what they expected from me.
But somewhere deep inside, a small voice started to whisper—was I forgetting myself? Was I giving so much that I was losing who I really was?
When I finally finished my shift at the coffee shop, it was already late. Exhaustion weighed on me, but I couldn't let myself rest yet—I still had a report to finish for school. I sat at my desk, opened my laptop, and started typing.
But my mind kept wandering... back to Alfred. Back to the day he smiled at me, like I actually mattered to him. Was I holding on to the past too tightly?
I shook my head, trying to focus on my work. I couldn't afford to get distracted. There was no time for daydreams, no time to dwell on feelings that weren't helping me.
I glanced at the clock. It was already past midnight.
I closed my laptop and went to bed, trying to silence the thoughts racing through my mind. I couldn't worry about Alfried anymore. I had my own life to live, and that was all that mattered.
THE NEXT WEEK...
It had been a week since my encounter with the nerd, and nothing had changed. I was still trying to balance school, work, and the contract with Alfried. My life felt like a constant juggling act, with no room for anything else.
One afternoon, as I was walking to the coffee shop, I noticed something strange. A familiar face was standing outside, leaning against the wall. It was Alfried.
I froze for a moment. Why was he here? Was he looking for me?
He caught sight of me and waved lazily. "Hey, slave," he called out, his voice dripping with amusement.
I sighed. "What do you want, Alfried?"
He grinned; his usual cocky smile plastered on his face. "I need you to run an errand for me."
Of course. He always needed something. I tried to hold back my frustration, but I could feel it building up inside me.
"Can't you do it yourself?" I asked, my voice edged with irritation.
He raised an eyebrow. "You agreed to this, remember? Don't make me remind you of our deal."
I rolled my eyes but didn't argue. I knew I had no choice. I had signed that stupid contract, and now I had to live with it.
"Fine," I muttered, "What's the errand?"
He handed me a piece of paper, and I looked at it with a frown. Another shopping list. I hated this part. But it was the price I had to pay to survive.
I took the paper and turned to leave, but before I could, Alfried spoke again.
"Hey, Alexa," he said, his tone softer than usual. I stopped in my tracks and looked at him.
"Yeah?" I asked, a little surprised by the change in his voice.
He didn't say anything at first—just held my gaze with that sharp look he always used.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Thanks."
I blinked, surprised. "For what?"
"For helping that guy the other night. I saw it all. Don't know why you bothered... but thanks, I guess."
His voice was quiet, but there was something beneath it—something he wasn't saying.
I stood there, unsure what to say. "Okay," I whispered, turning to leave.
"Yeah," he said softly, a hint of something like frustration—maybe even regret—lurking in his tone.
I had just taken a step forward when Alfred suddenly grabbed my hand. He pulled me into a tight embrace—so tight, as if I would disappear the moment he let go. We stayed like that for several minutes. I couldn't bring myself to push him away, partly because of confusion and surprise, but also, I'll admit it... I liked the feeling
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Hi-Yu
- Writer
