CHAPTER 3: Bracelet

ALLYS POV

(Still a continuation of her flashbacks)

Tatay Arsing must be furious now and really looking for me. But I didn't regret leaving now. Because he hasn't treated me well from the very beginning.

I suddenly remembered how he would beat me since I was a child, until now that I'm older. And how he would lock me in a room without even feeding me.

My parents are dead, and he took me in because he was my mother's second husband. But I thought he would treat me well, but that was just wishful thinking. He was only kind at first, and all the kindness he showed was just a disguise.

I closed my eyes tightly and covered my face. I tried to stop my little sobs from coming out, so I just cried silently. I didn't want to get any attention from the other passengers here on the bus.

I didn't want to disturb the few passengers who were already asleep in their seats. It was late at night, and I should have been sleeping peacefully in our small house now.

But that animal. I knew he was so bad and a worthless person, but I didn't expect him to do that to me.

I couldn't help but feel anger and hatred towards him.

I remembered again the reason why I wanted to get out of his control so badly.

Just this morning, I noticed that Tatay Arsing was giving me different looks and how he would get excited whenever I turned my back on him. Sometimes he would subtly touch me when I was washing dishes. Sometimes when I served him food at the table. There were also times when I saw him peeking at me in the bathroom.

I'm not blind and insensitive not to know what those looks and touches meant. It was the look of a person with lust, and I wasn't wrong. Because earlier, while I was sound asleep in my own room, he suddenly came in and tried to rape me. He's really an animal!

I closed my eyes at the gentle touch of the wind on my face and gently wiped away my tears. Without realizing it, I looked at the scenery outside the window. The whole mountain range was starting to light up. A sign that morning was about to arrive.

I couldn't believe that I had gotten out of Tatay Arsing's control without even bringing anything, not even a single belonging.

Yes, I knew that I had dreamed of leaving Santa Monica before. But not in this way.

Not in the way he raped me. I hugged myself and closed my eyes tightly.

Where am I going? Where will I end up now? Where?

I was also cold because I was only wearing a thin white dress. I was also almost barefoot.

Because of the rush earlier, I wasn't even able to put on slippers.

You're pitiful, Allys. Do you know that? You're so pitiful.

"So gross."

I heard my seatmate say.

"Your foot is bleeding."

She added.

I couldn't help but look at her. She looked at my wounded feet and then glanced at me.

I could clearly see the disgust in her eyes.

"God! Why am I so unlucky today," she lamented in an affected voice and even massaged her temple.

"This is ridiculous! With so many seats here, Miss, you really chose to sit next to me. Really?" she said sarcastically and rolled her eyes at me.

I couldn't help but stare at this woman.

She has long, wavy hair that suits her smooth and fair skin. Her sparkling earrings and necklace are also noticeable. Her small, pointed nose is also eye-catching.

Based on what I see now, I'm sure she comes from a wealthy family. I can only say one thing about the woman next to me. She is beautiful and very sophisticated.

Far from me who is only wearing a simple thin dress. I also watched her hands that were now typing on her expensive cellphone.

Her high nails are beautifully shaped with beautiful red cuticles.

I couldn't help but feel ashamed of her.

I bit my lip and bowed my head because of the shame I felt. Did I have to move seats now?

"Hello, Carla. Yeah, I'm on my way to El Fuego right now. I didn't know it was this hard to commute. If I had known, I would have just brought my car. This is so hassle, but to think that I'm gonna see him, I felt it is all worth it. Yeah! I know right."

Even though I didn't want to listen to what she was saying, I couldn't help it because she was right next to me. I was also amazed at the way she pronounced the English words.

"Yes. I'll go home after I visit him. Come on, Carla, don't be like that. You know that I dreamed to be with him since then. Silly you! Ok. Ok, I'll hang up now."

I just closed my eyes and immediately looked away and ignored the woman next to me.

"Seriously? You're still here?"

I opened my eyes when she spoke to me again.

"Just find somewhere you can sit, okay? I don't like you sitting next to me," she said while raising her beautiful eyebrow at me.

I couldn't speak immediately because of what she said.

"Fine! Fine! Look, I'll give you this bracelet of mine, and just find a seat somewhere else, okay? Here," she said again and handed me the bracelet she took off.

What is this? A bribe?

"B-but-"

"Can't you understand? I don't like you. I don't want you next to me. Look at you. You're a total mess. Your presence beside me already irritates me," she complained.

Her voice was getting louder now, causing the driver to glance at us in the mirror. I also noticed the few passengers who were awakened from their sleep, so they were now looking at our location.

"What's the problem here, Ma'am?"

The conductor asked as he approached our location.

"You see, I don't want her next to me." She complained to the conductor.

He glanced at me and then spoke to the woman properly.

"But Ma'am, this is a public bus, and she's paying for her seat, so it's okay."

"What?! Are you kidding me? Then I'll pay for her seat. Find her another seat. I don't want anyone next to me," she said sarcastically and forcefully placed her bracelet in my hand.

"There, it's all yours already. Leave now, leave."

This must be the most insulting thing that has happened in my entire life. To be embarrassed in front of many people. I had no choice but to stand up and move to the back seat of the bus.

"I'm sorry, Miss," the conductor whispered to me.

"It's okay," I only answered.

Could this day get any worse? I frowned and looked at the bracelet she gave me.

It was shiny and full of small ornaments. I estimated that this bracelet was expensive.

Is that how they are, the rich?

They will use everything just to get what they want.