04 THE DEVIL AGAIN

I arrived home with red eyes because of crying. I need to find a new job soon, or we will be homeless. I promised my landlord that I would pay him at the end of the month because I was hoping to last longer in my job, but I was wrong.

It is all that devil's fault. Why is he doing this to me? What did I do to him for bullying me like this? A sob left my lips, and I slumped on our two-seater sofa in our small living room.

"Tin, why are you crying?" My brother appeared from the bathroom. I quickly wiped my tears and smiled at him.

"You're home early. It's only one in the afternoon. Why are you here?" He settled beside me and looked at my face, but I avoided his eyes. My brother, even though he was just fifteen years old, was taller and bigger than those kids his age. He stood five feet and nine inches. He got his height from our father, who is six feet and two inches tall, while our mother is five feet and six inches. I, myself, stood five feet and seven inches.

"What happened?" He asked again, his worried eyes boring into my face. I don't tell him any bad thing that happened to me because he has a temper. Whoever bullied me back when we were young, he would beat them despite the kids who bullied me being older than him. He is overly protective of me, and I'm sure as soon as I tell him about Mr. Devil Anderson, he will quickly run to him and beat the life of him, and I don't want that to happen. I'm sure he will end up in jail.

"I lost my job."

"Again? Why? Your boss is not satisfied with your performance again?" I nodded my head fiddling with my finger on my lap.

"Ty, if I can't find a new job soon, we will be homeless. Our landlord gives me time until the end of the month, and it's two weeks from now. We don't have any money left, Ty." I cried this time.

"Tin, I can find a part-time job to help you. There's a cafe near our school which is hiring students. You don't need to give me an allowance if I get a job."

"Ty, I don't want you to work while studying. I only want you to focus on your study. Don't worry; tomorrow, I will search for a new job."

"But, Tin"

"No, but you just study, and I'll find a job." His shoulder slumped down, and pulled me into his embrace.

"Tin, I know you were fired not because of your poor performance. I know you. You always want everything to be perfect no matter what you do. Tell me honestly, why are you fired?

"A customer complains. He said that I gave them poor service, and I ended up arguing with the customer; that's why my boss fired me." He nodded his head.

"That customer is an asshole."

"No cussing." I glared at him. He pouted.

"I'm just telling the truth. Maybe that customer is a rich brat who loves to bully the poor."

"Forget that guy. I'm sure tomorrow I can find a new job. You didn't answer my question. Why are you home early?" He bites his lips and then lowers his head.

"What did you do this time?" I asked, pulling away from his arm.

"I punched my classmate." He nervously said.

"Tyron!!! I screamed.

"He is a bully. He always bullies me. I always let it pass because I don't want you to get mad at me. But he crosses the line this time. I didn't care what he was saying about me. I don't care how bad or how badly he mocks me, but he bad-mouths you this time. So I punched his filthy mouth."

"What did he say about me?"

"He made up some nasty stories about you. He said you stopped studying because you got pregnant and aborted it. He said you are whoring around. He said how could you afford to rent an apartment and send me to school? It is because you are whoring around those rich people who are working at the Anderson Corps. He said you got a job there because you hooked up with one of the higher-ups there."

"What? And where did he get that information?"

"I don't know."

"How does he look after you beat him?"

" He has two black eyes and busted lips. Sorry, Tin, I was suspended for a week. I tried to hold myself, ignoring what he was saying, but I couldn't. He went too far."

I pulled him into my embrace this time. "I understand. If someone bad mouth you, I'll beat them too." I whispered. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me.

"Okay, since you don't have school for a week, you do all the household chores while I search for a new job.

"Yes, Ma'am." He replied, smiling.

"My hero." He grinned and kissed my cheek.

The next morning I woke up early and prepared everything I needed for job hunting while Tyron prepared our breakfast. I took a bath and dressed up. We eat our breakfast together before I leave.

I went to every cafe, restaurant, and office I passed by, but they were not hiring a new employee. It was already one in the afternoon. I don't eat my lunch because I'm saving my money. I'm planning to eat bread later. I spotted a pastry shop not far away, and I went there to buy something to eat and drink, but I was so ecstatic when I saw the hiring sign written outside the door. I quickly went inside.

"Excuse me, is the job hiring still open?" I asked one of the staff.

"Yes." She replied, smiling.

"I want to apply."

I went home with a smile on my lips, and my smile widened when I saw our apartment was sparkling spotless with dust.

"I'm home."

"Tin, How is job hunting?"

"I got a job!!! I shriek and throw myself at him. He laughed and spun me around. He set me down on the floor after a few seconds, both grinning at each other.

"I'm going to work at the pastry shop. And I'm going to start tomorrow." I excitedly said. Since I was young, I dreamed of being a pastry chef. I love to bake when our parents are still alive. I always bake a cake every time there's an occasion, but since they died, I haven't baked again because we don't have an oven.

"Congratulations, Tin. I'm sure you are thrilled right now."

"Yes, I am."

"Okay, now go take a bath, and we will eat dinner soon." He said, smiling. I nodded my head and quickly took a quick bath, and we ate our dinner full of laughter.

***

"Good morning." I cheerfully greeted my boss when I arrived at the shop. She is in her forties and a soft-spoken woman.

I've been smiling since I woke up, and my brother kept laughing at me, calling me crazy, but I ignored him. No one can pop my bubble of joy today. I got my dream job, and I'm keeping it. I will do my job as best as I can.

"Good morning, Athena. You look so happy today."

"Yes, Ma'am. I dreamed of working in a pastry shop for a long time already. I love to bake."

"Great then. I'll put you in the kitchen. You help our bakers there. Come, I'll introduce you to them." She leads me to the back of the shop, and my eyes shine to see the three huge ovens there with the two women mixing ingredients using a mixer.

"Ladies, I got a new assistant for you." The two women look at us, smiling."Bom, Claire, this is Athena. Please assist her with what she's going to do.

"Hello, girl. Come. I am Bom, and this is Claire." They offered their hand to me, and I shook it.

"I leave her in your care."

"Don't worry, boss. We will take care of her." Our boss smiled, nodded her head, and left us behind.

"Come, Athena, Wear your hair net, apron, and gloves. You measure and weigh all the ingredients written in this paper. We will bake all of that today. After that, you can help us take out the cake from the oven, and I'll teach you how to put the icing on and design it." Bom said. I smiled and nodded my head.

I wear my hair net, apron, and gloves and quickly start working. I finished weighing and measuring all the ingredients after two hours while Bom and Claire were busy mixing and baking cake, as well as bread and different kinds of sweets. I'm eager to learn how to bake all that sweet.

Bom told me to watch the oven and take out the cake when the timer went off.

We eat our lunch together, and I found out that Bom and Claire are very fun to be with. They talk about everything under the sun, and I never felt left out. They always join me in their conversation.

We returned to our work at one in the afternoon, and we started designing the cake, and they taught me how to do it. I know how to do it, but they are very artistic in designing the cake, and I wanted to learn everything.

I had been at my work for a week when the devil appeared again, and again I lost my job. Bom and Claire helped me to find a new job, and I found a few new ones, but it didn't last long because of the devil. He always has a way so that my boss fires me.

Bom and Claire contacted me, telling me to apply to this club. They said maybe Mr. Devil isn't connected to this kind of business. Bom said she knows someone working there, and she makes sure that my work will only serve drinks and nothing more.

I am desperate to find a new job now. I already borrowed money from Bom and Claire to pay our rent. I know I couldn't find a decent job while Mr. Devil Anderson exists, so I grabbed the job despite it being dangerous. I didn't tell Tyron about it because I'm positive he will be against it.

Within a few nights, it was alright. Some customers touch me here and there, but I could handle it. Tyron asked me what my work was because I already get home in the morning, but I lied to him and told him I was on a night shift and working in a 24/7 grocery store. I told him about Mr. Devil, and he was furious, but I'm relieved he listened to my warning not to go and meet the Devil.

I'm getting comfortable with my job until one night. There is this man; he is in his early twenties. He is good-looking and looks rich. He asked me to sit with him, but I quickly denied him and told him my job was just a server. He didn't force me, and I'm thankful for it.

The next night he returns and offers me money to sit with them. I wanted to deny it, but I thought about our rent, and I agreed. He seems like a gentleman, and he doesn't touch me. He only sits and drinks with the man with his companion, sometimes including me in their conversation.

"The next night, he comes back again, and the same last night, he offers me money to sit with them. I agreed because he didn't do any perverted things to me last night. He offered me a drink, and I quickly declined. But he keeps urging me to try it just once, and I give in, and that's a foolish thing I did. After a few minutes of drinking the alcohol he gave me, I felt my body become heavy. My mind was awake, but I couldn't move or speak.