Illicit Touch (English. GxG)

Was it bad if I craved a bigger city? As I stared out the window of our cafe and enjoyed the breathtaking view of the Twin Valley River, I couldn't stop thinking about city life. Don't get me wrong. My home was perfect for me, a postcard-pretty small town and a suitable paradise if you wanted a life. Residents spent quality time in the parks, which included fantastic restaurants and bars. However, when it came to being the home of an eighteen-year-old girl like me, it wasn't ideal anymore. It felt like somewhere out there, an exciting adventure was waiting for me. I was missing something. "You just missed the tip, you i***t!" I was startled as Aunt Gilda shouted at me. Before I knew it, the tray on my hands was now on the floor together with the broken mugs messed up by the latte's foam. Groaning, I dropped to my knees and picked up the hot broken pieces back to the tray. When I stood up, Aunt Gilda blasted me with ice freezing water. "That's what you get from daydreaming when you're supposed to be working!" she lashed out and scanned around, giving an awkward laugh to our customers. "Forgive this i***t for what happened. She's been here ever since a small brat but couldn’t do her task better." "I… I got his tip before he went out. It's in the… the cashier," I reasoned out, my grip on the tray tightened. "Whatever." She gave a dismissive wave of her hand before turning back to me. Cold humiliation froze not just my skin but also my nerves. Even my tears felt icy as they streamed down my face. I could hear the customers murmur pity words towards me, making me want to just disappear right on my spot. This was my daily routine. With almost no breakfast, I would run backward and forwards, serving the customers what they ordered. I would skid across the floor, arms full of plates. Thank goodness, most of the customers and tourists were patient. Regardless, some were rude and aggressive sometimes. By the time they had yelled at me, unchecked tears were already streaming down my face. O0o I could only spend my precious time off at night. When everyone else was sleeping like a log, I'd lie in my bed, read a nice romance novel, and lose myself in a fantasy world where no one could harm me. I would gaze at the stars when I finished reading, thinking that everything would be fine the next day. The sound of my phone ringing jolted me out of my thoughts. As soon as Hogue's name appeared on the screen, my mood lifted. He was my boyfriend who was working for a newspaper in San Francisco. He used to reside here in Beaufort but moved to the city to pursue a better career. When we parted ways three years ago, he promised to get me out of here as soon as he was ready to provide things for me. I was still holding on to that promise. I pressed the call and stuck the phone to my ear. "Hey…" He cleared his throat, inhaled deeply, and began singing in a cool, deep tone. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Charley, happy birthday to you…" He finished the song with an incredible wavering effect. “Aww…” I giggled. "You remembered.” "What makes you think I forgot about your birthday? For the past three years, I've been greeting you." "And that's how long we've been separated as well, "I whispered. Regardless, a smile spread across my face. I was both delighted and sad. "Thank you so much, Hogue. You're the only one who believes I exist. I wish you were here.” Despite living in a hellish environment, knowing there was someone out there who appreciated and loved me was a wonderful feeling. At least, in some ways, that's what made living so great. “Well, sorry to disappoint you. I’m not getting back there to be with you,” he said, chuckling. “I know,” I whispered, my shoulders sagged. “But I have a plan. How about you go here instead? There’s a vacant slot in my office that might interest you,” he suggested. My eyes stretched wide. For a moment, I froze but deep inside my heart was pounding hard. “I’ll be working in the city?” He cackled. “If that’s how you interpreted it.” “Oh, jeez!” I fanned myself and began to pace back and forth across my small room. I could feel myself fainting but I’d never felt more alive in my eighteen years of existence. This was the chance I’d been waiting for. No one could stop me from flying away and chasing my dreams. “Baby, are you still there? Please don’t collapse there just yet. I’ll still be needing you,” he teased. “Okay, this is what you do — grab the earliest bus tomorrow. But if you are too excited to see my handsome face, the last trip is still available right now." I nodded, wiping the tears blurring my vision. “You know I can’t wait to see you too, Hogue. But my things aren’t yet prepared. So I guess I'll book the first trip in the morning.” “OK, great,” he said. “I’ll fetch you at the terminal, baby. See you tomorrow. I love you.” “I love you more,” I replied with all my heart. I didn't waste any time and started packing my belongings into a back bag. Thank goodness, I had enough money. Now was the time to harvest what I’d saved from working as a helper in Aunt Gilda’s cafe. Speaking of Aunt Gilda — I always wondered why she was so fond of treating me like a rag. Did I sin even before I was born? I didn’t want to leave her like this. However, I had no choice. Her humiliations and insults had no more room in my heart. My things were all packed. I was about to sleep when the open window caught my attention. I rushed towards it but the sight of a dark van parked in front of the house made me still. A man dressed in a black suit stepped out of it and proceeded to walk to the front door of our house. I raised an eyebrow. Who could it possibly be? Someone to whom my aunt owed money? Or a customer picking up his chocolate cake order for a special occasion? And who would order cakes this late in the evening? I went down the stairs as quietly as a mouse and sat on the base of the stairs. Although I hid in the bathroom, I would be able to hear their conversation because our house was small. “Did you make up your mind this time?” The man's strong voice echoed all across the living room. “Don't waste my time, Gilda. I've got a flight to Vegas in an hour. You must hand over the girl to me.” “Just a moment, please. I'll get her upstairs and you can do anything you want to her.” I heard Aunt Gilda laugh. I wanted to move but I felt rooted to my spot. Trying to figure out who they were talking about, I became increasingly worried about the suspicion I have. "Oh, there you are!" Before I knew it, Aunt Gilda was grabbing me by the arm. “It's time for you to go, i***t. From now on, Mr. Santini owns you.” “No way.” A shrill voice escaped my trembling lips as I yanked my arm from her. “What have you done to me, Aunt Gilda? Who’s that man?” Her face tightened. “You should be thankful, i***t. That man is loaded beyond imagination. He will provide us with anything we want. In exchange, you just need to please him.” A dark grin curved across her face as she scanned me. “Come on, you know you can do it. What’s the use of having a hooker mother? I'm sure you can lure him with no effort, just like your f*cking mother did with my husband!” I blinked, trying to process what I had heard. “N-no. My mother was nothing like what you accuse her of. She was way more decent than you!” She slapped me so hard, my head hit the wooden railing of the stairs. I didn’t care if I made her temper spark. She was insulting the memory of my mother. I couldn’t just nod to that! I rushed up the stairs as quickly as I could before she made another attempt to harm me. I locked the door and grabbed my bag, my vision distorted by tears. Aunt Gilda began banging on the door. I had no choice but to escape through the window. o0o Despite being bruised, I was able to go to the bus station thirty minutes later. Other passengers continued to stare at me, but I was unconcerned. At the very least, I was no longer in the darkness. I was safe.