Chapter 5

Schuyler Savannah's P. O. V.

"Schuyler?" I quickly turned around when I heard someone calling me.

I was ready to smile when I suddenly stopped myself and looked at her with no emotion visible in my face. Her smirk widened while eyeing from head to toe and I could already feel the next insults I'll hear from her mouth.

"You work here? I thought you'll go abroad and spend time after college." She suddenly gasped and acted worried in front of me. "My, I forgot. Do you even have funds to attend college?"

"Who's she, Alana?" We heard someone ask and when I turned around to look, it was a woman, probably a year older than us, walking towards our direction with a confused look on her face. "Please, don't tell me you're friends with this… Anyway, you're not, right?"

"Oh, please! How would I be close to someone who didn't even have the chance to submit an application for college?" Alana laughed and rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, you're in debt right now, yeah?"

I balled my fist secretly while holding the tray with the menu on it as I stood in front of them. As much as I wanted to refute this, I know that I can't and I have to restrain myself to not lose this job. I need this right now.

"D-Do you want to order anything, Ma'am?" No matter how hard I tried, my voice still broke after asking her.

Alana laughed again, letting me feel the insults she has for herself towards me. I bit my lip so it would not tremble.

"You know, just listen to me, alright? If you want to be successful, then freaking turn the machines off and stop looking so pitiful in front of everyone just to gather donations!" She flicked her hair and sighed. "You're sickening. Really."

"Was it her, Alana?" Her friend asked and I saw when she eyed me with pity and disgust. "No wonder you always talk about her. She had the face, but scheming! Damn, girl. Don't you feel sorry for your sick parents? You're using them for money!"

I lowered my head and tried to catch my own breathing, all of it just to stop myself from disrespecting a customer.

'How can they speak like that as if I have ever solicited money from them?'

"Anyway, let's go inside. My parents are there already, Alana."

"Yeah. Let's not make them wait any longer."

After they left my sight, I quickly turned around. I was so ashamed to face anyone right now so I begged my co-worker to switch areas with me, luckily, he agreed. I didn't leave the kitchen just to not bump with anyone who would only insult me in front of the other customers.

When my night shift came, the restaurant was already closed, but I still needed to help clean the place. I was wiping the table when I heard the door open.

"I'm sorry, we're close!" I quickly said in a loud voice for that person to hear me.

But instead, I heard footsteps coming my way and he even stopped just right beside me. I arched my forehead and slowly looked up while still wiping the table.

My body flinched upon seeing that man beside me, standing and watching me with no emotion in his eyes. I took a step back to get myself away from him.

How did he know that I'm here?

"W-What are you.. doing here?" I roamed my eyes around us and found no one else.

"Have you forgotten? You asked for two days before you can move into your husband's place." His voice was so emotionless that I couldn't read him right. "You should be grateful. He gave you two weeks instead, but you're overusing his kindness, don't you think?"

"W-What?" Disbelief was written all over my face as I looked him in the eyes. "You sick b*stard!" I slapped his chest and he didn't even react a bit. "Tell your master that I'm not moving in with him! And so what if we're legally married now? I could just file a complaint that you threatened and forced me to sign that d*mn marriage contract!"

I carried the tray and my cleaning materials from the table. I saw when his eyes went to my hands before he faced me again.

"It's disgusting! Tell him that." With that, I turned around and made my way out.

"Are you sure with your decision, Mrs. Riego?" I heard him ask in a low voice.

My body froze after hearing what he just used to call me. I used to hate my name when someone would call me, just to insult me, but hearing this person call me with a different name.. it feels different. It feels relief and strange, but it's not right. None of it is.

I didn't answer him and continued to make my way to the kitchen when I heard him mutter his last words.

"You'll pay for it, and your regrets will not be heard." I wanted to ask him what he meant when I just suddenly heard the door.

I turned around and found no one else inside the restaurant, but outside.. There was a black car and that man was heading there. I couldn't see them clearly, but I did see when that man knocked on the window and someone opened it from inside it as they spoke with each other.

Is he… there?

I can still remember the threats he told me. He'll harm my parents.. And honestly, I don't believe his words anymore. Because if he really can do that, then he would've done something already for the past two weeks that I was avoiding him.

He can't touch my parents, not especially if there are laws protecting us. And only if I have money to pay for a lawyer, I would divorce him right away.

I WAS WALKING back to the hospital when I felt someone following behind me. There's that feeling again. And I knew that the smartest thing for me to do is to run. So, that's what I did.

For the past few days, I have been used to doing this. Running from someone who would follow me whenever I cross the street. I sighed after realizing that the guards looked alarmed again after seeing me enter the hospital in a hurry.

"Again, Miss Savannah?" One of them asked and tried to look out of the hospital glass wall.

I glanced behind me too and found a figurine of a shadow there. Obviously, he's staring straight at me before he disappeared into the darkness.

"It'll be better if you'll file a police report already, Miss Savannah. This often happens to you, it's getting alarming!" The other guard said and tapped my shoulder. "We can help you file a complaint."

I know that the best thing to do now is follow their words, yet I found myself not wanting to. That man might be scaring the hell out of me, but somehow, he's making me feel an emotion inside me that I was looking for, just to know that I'm still alive after a whole tiring and rough day.

The way he makes me feel thrilled and scared is something I love feeling. It's problematic, but it honestly does help me.

"I-It's alright," I politely smiled at them and logged my name in the record book. "Thank you."

I went up to my parents room, feeling so down and exhausted. I didn't even greet them when I arrived and I just let myself fall on the couch after closing the door.

My eyes fixated at the sight of them, peacefully sleeping in their hospital bed. I know that man can't touch us as long as we're protected by the laws, but I still have to play safe. I'll save up money and once it's enough, I'll run away from this place with my parents and transfer them to a different hospital.

Though, I wanted to laugh at myself for thinking that way when I honestly don't even have anything at all.

I fell asleep without cleaning myself and when I woke up in the morning, my body was aching everywhere but I had to force myself to get up and go to work.

As usual, I bid my goodbye to my parents before I opened the door and ready myself to work, but as soon as I exited my parents room, I was greeted by people outside and waiting for me.

"Good morning, Miss Savannah!" The Doctor greeted me, but I couldn't feel relaxed even despite his smile after glancing at the man behind him. "Ah, this is… President Smith."

I nodded my head at him, "G-Good morning."

"Are you off to work, Miss Savannah?" The doctor asked and his face slowly became hardened.

I wanted to say that I'm busy but if it's something I had to do for my parents, then I could always spare an hour for them.

"Do you need something, Doc and Mr. President?" I asked, even though my heart was racing in nervous.