Loving the Stalker Under my Bed

Chapter 18 – Meeting that Man

Chapter 18 – Meeting that Man

* * *

A steaming bun with canned coffee in an everyday convenience store.

This was my first time tasting this kind of food. Nancy might have never been good mother material, but the witch never tried to deprive me of my necessities.

I was still given the same food and sets of brand-new clothes.

Though it might not be excessive, my evil stepmother made sure that I looked presentable in every possible way. Not because of the little affection that she has for me, but due to the effect I have on her face value.

My life turning into a Cinderella story will be her biggest nightmare.

And since Nancy despised the idea of being looked down on, she made sure that not a single person would be able to say anything against her. We are a perfect family in the eyes of society, making me a loved stepdaughter that this world hasn’t seen before.

My first bite of the cheap steaming bun almost brought tears to my eyes. It doesn’t suit my palate, but beggars cannot be choosers.

It doesn’t matter whether I’m eating those fancy meals or this factory-made bread. The freedom I am experiencing right now, away from their eyes, is the best thing this life has ever offered me.

Hardship and working a low-paying job are small prices for living in this kind of present.

“A dollar and fifty cents.”

My attention was called after I heard the cashier’s voice. He said those words in a lifeless tone, without showing interest in the customer he was looking at.

I swallowed all the liquids in my mouth as I saw myself being in his position after a few days. The only difference between us is that I will never show that kind of indifference.

Just seeing myself living on my own excites the hell out of me. This is it – my mind screams. Who cares if I will do this kind of job as long as I am doing it for myself?

Nothing but pure happiness. It was bliss in its highest form. My heart trembled as I envisioned the future awaiting my poor self.

“... Cling …” The sound of dropping coins echoed through the entire store. That is a melody to my ears, making my smile grow even bigger than before.

However, the creepy smile on my face instantly vanished when I saw the face of the customer who left the counter. He was wearing a far gloomier expression than the cashier. His clothes were the same pair that he wore when I last saw him.

Inside the convenience store, together with me and the bored employee, is the trainee teacher, Calvin Hager.

He caught me intensely looking at him as he passed along my way. I don’t know if I should be ashamed of what I’ve done, but his disinterest made me think otherwise.

It has always been like this between us. Calvin and I – the poor souls of our school, could never call ourselves comrades in arms. We can only fight our own losing battles and never give a damn about the rest of humanity.

And I could never be thankful, since I don’t have to waste my time wearing a fake mask just to please his existence.

He ignored my presence, and I reciprocated right on the spot.

Calvin’s coldness reflected all the bad memories that he experienced. Much to my dismay, the indifference that I wanted to give back pulled a different interest inside of me.

It was the law of attraction to those cold eyes full of malice and hatred.

They are telling me to follow the man who owns those rotting balls of fury. And there could be nothing scarier than that.

* * *

My first day of running away from home basically became an idle one after I dilly-dally inside the store.

My initial plan to look for a house was instantly thrashed when the rain started pouring like a madman. It continued for half a day, leaving me with no choice but to stay inside the convenience store.

All my luck was used up when I turned Nancy into a punching bag.

Well, I don’t have a single regret in my body as I reminisce about the happening of that fiasco. Nancy, on the ground, while I was on top of her, letting out the built-up stress in my thin body.

Those were the most precious memories of my life.

Who could have told me that my stepmother and I would be able to bond like that? Not once in my entire life, did I see myself having a moment like that with her.

It was as if I was born to experience such bliss.

However, that bliss has ended after the sky dropped its last tear. The sky is already dark and finding a place to sleep would be harder and harder as minutes and hours passed by.

I hate to say this, but no matter how determined I was to be independent, the fact that I was still a sheltered child until this morning will never change.

This well-lit street and the busy people are scaring the innocence out of me. School made me believe that this world at night is the most dangerous place for the rich.

That I should be on my best behavior and should never walk in this place all alone. It would have been a great thing to consider if not for my current situation.

“Hey! Catch that bastard! Sean promised a hundred bucks each after we delivered him to them.”

Cold sweat came flowing down my skin when I heard that despicable name. There is only one person that I know with the name Sean, and there is no way that a good thing will happen should he get involved.

I wanted to run away from them, but my legs froze due to fear. Nancy is already bad news, but getting involved with that young demon is a nightmare that I never want to experience.

Rumors always have their roots, and the dark gossip looming around him could never be unfounded. One of them is true and that thing alone made Sean a walking disaster.

And as their voices made it nearer and nearer to my location, another person bumped into me, pushing my body down to the ground.

A curse almost escaped my lips, but the face that welcomed my anger was none other than the trainee teacher who gave me a cold stare. My eyes widened in shock as my body forgot the pain brewing in my butt.

Our separation has been too short, and this reunion is an unwelcome situation that I do not want to take place.

“Sir Calvin?”

Having Sean and Calvin in the equation is nothing but trouble. Being caught up with this man is the same as saying that I’m going back to the hell that I was able to escape from.

There is no way that I will walk by myself back to the s**t hole.

“Hey! There he is! …”

I saw some goon-looking men from a block away, pointing to our location. They are the typical small-time villains who played the fool’s role in order to highlight the main antagonist of the story.

“…Stay there, you punk! I’ll be sure to give you a broken bone - Hey! …”

His passe line came to a stop when Calvin did not even bother to listen until the end. He instantly recovered from the shock of bumping into me, and immediately ran away.

I could only sigh as I stood up from the roadside and pretended that I didn’t know Calvin.

My night is still long, and his problem is none of my concern. This might even be the last day that we will be seeing each other in this place.

After all, I planned to get away from this city as soon as I could. Accidentally bumping into any of my classmates or my family would be the last fortuitous event on my list.

“…That woman is with that punk. Catch her as well.”

However, fate seems to have a different plan as I ran after Calvin, saving my ass away from those goons.

Whatever our future will bring, all I could wish for is that we will never cross paths, ever again.