Chapter 5

Grace Pov

And after that passionate night, Al and I parted ways, again. This time is far enough. Nevertheless, Al and I still continue to exchange messages in our spare time. he followed Lucy to college with the woman he adored, while I chose to stay away from my parents and my sister. Choosing my own path in life following the flow of destiny to carry me.

But it turns out that it is not an easy path. My life is not as beautiful as the dime novels I always read. where one would gain good luck leaving their family to live alone.

Come on, Grace! Stop dreaming! Magic only exists in fairy tales and fictional stories. While in real life you have to be prepared to face the bitterness of life.

It's an encouraging mantra for me every time I want to give up and go back to my parents. I can imagine if I came back like this they would even more think of me as a loser and a useless child.

No.

I don't want to. Just look on the bright side, at least here no one will compare me with others. Although sometimes I feel jealous of those who easily get a job. While I ... hah! occasionally being a cashier at a mini market looking for additional work as well as to pay for college and daily needs. Over the years, there have been no significant changes in my life except for my successful completion of my bachelor's degree. I think with this title I can change my life a little. I also started looking for a job according to my abilities and degree. But again, it's not easy.

Damn it!

"Couldn't my life be just a little easier?" I complained to no one. Maybe on destiny.

In the end I still go back to being a cashier. Catering to every annoying customer who sometimes just comes in to spend their dollar and then asks for my cell number.

If I didn't remember hitting people was a crime that could land me in jail, maybe those fat perverts would have been battered by my fists. I don't know if I'm taking self-defense classes yet. Just in case because I live alone. but in reality I can make every opponent fall in the ring. Perhaps that is the only thing I can be proud of.

"Is there hot water here?" someone asked handing me two cups of instant noodles on my counter.

"It's there," I replied pointing to the right side of the minimarket in a lazy tone.

"Want to eat together?"

That's the fifth time tonight someone asked me to eat together. I looked up to see who else the fat man was trying to seduce me this time.

"Hi Grace!" but what I found was a handsome man in casual clothes smiling sweetly at me.

"Albert!"

My work hour is over. I took my small bag then approached Al who had been waiting for me in front of the convenience store. he sat at one of the tables that the minimarket owner provided if a customer wanted to eat there.

"The noodles are a bit cold and mushy," Al said pointing to the cup of noodles he had bought earlier.

"It's okay," I replied immediately sitting in front of him. I drank water first before eating the noodles which were really getting cold.

"So... what are you doing now?" asked Al to start the conversation after a few mouthfuls of noodles escaped my throat.

"Don't you see? I'm still a cashier," I replied curtly. because he had seen my own situation then why did he ask. Just want to make fun of me.

Al laughed crisply. "Yeah I know. But didn't you just finish your bachelor's degree?"

I chose to finish the noodles in the cup first before the before answering Al's question. noodles got so soft and unpleasant to eat again.

" Finding a job is not as easy as turning the palm of the hand, Al," I replied, a bit irritated, remembering all my failures. "I've tried applying for jobs according to my degree, but none of them are interested," I continued now in a languid tone.

I looked up at Al. I snorted at his stare. "Don't look at me like that! You're making me look even more pitiful."

Al took a deep breath. He stirred his cup noodles, which still had a lot left, but the man seemed reluctant to eat them again.

"You still haven't quit, Grace?"

Al didn't need to explain where our conversation was going. Even though we haven't seen each other for a long time, only this man understands me the most. Maybe more than myself.

"Isn't your goal getting out of your parents' house so that you are free to choose your own path?"

I'm still stuck here not knowing what to answer. What Al said was correct. I left my parents' house so I could be what I wanted but somehow, as if I was bound by nature I still tried to prove to my parents that I could also be what they wanted me to be.

I just need a chance and time to prove it.

"Then why do you still choose the same path. The path you don't really want?" Al's words sounded a little harsh to me. More or less I feel hurt and angry.

"I also do not know!" I replied annoyed.

"Four years is not a short time, GraceUntil when are you going to continue to be shackled in the shadow of your parents who want you to be someone else?"

Al said and this time I looked at him deeply.

" You talk like that because your life is easy, Al," I snorted harshly. did this man come here on purpose just to make me emotional?

"Grace, isn't that---"

"Don't try to patronize me! You only know my life story but don't know what it's like to be me!" I continued to cut off Al's words quickly then pushed the chair I was sitting on hard enough to leave the place that was starting to make me sick.

"I'm not patronizing you but I'm just trying to tell you if what you're doing now will only make you lose your identity.

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