愛、執着、そして拷問

It was such a splendid, Sunday morning.

People were walking around the places, minding their own businesses.

There were families as they made their way to the church to spend their family-day for that week.

Whilst others were groups of friends having a get to together or something after a long stressful week of studying or working.

Of course, there were couples who were enjoying their dates too, like love birds that were at large!

The place was bustling with activities.

At one of the exquisite-looking store that was located at the far end corner of the street, a young lady could be seen standing just before its transparent, yet squeaky clean glass pane.

The lady was simply admiring the snow-ball toy glass ball that was displayed in the store.

She was wearing a red Santa cap to match her cute elf costume. That was despite the fact that it was was not anytime near yet for the Yuletide season to come.

But because of what she was wearing, it was not that hard to ascertain that she was working at the nearby theme park.

Most likely than not, the lady was working as a part-timer and was portraying the role of one of the Christmas elves.

Well, for whatever reason that the owner has for choosing that kind of theme despite the time of the year, our main character could never be bothered asking why.

As long as she has her job, that would suffice because she could not afford to be choosy.

She badly needed a job to earn some bucks since she was like practically living from paycheck to paycheck just to make ends meet.

Yet because of her condition, she could not simply take on any normal jobs.

Unbeknownst to anyone, she was dyslexic.

No matter how hard she tried to read letters, she really could not do it like others.

It was as though whenever she tried to read, the letters were just sort of kept on dancing before her eyes!

That was why any job that required one to read was something out of her league.

Good thing that she, somehow, had a knack on performing. Singing, acting, dancing... name it! She could certainly do it.

But reading????

Nuh... That was way out of her options.

"Abby, take this bag for me.."

A middle-aged woman said as she handed the girl in elf costume a paper bag.

But before the girl named Abby could even take a proper hold of the paper bag, another two paper bags came straight right to her sight.

"Take these too."

"Alright, Mara..."

Abby replied as she reached out to the paper bag being handed to her using her other free hand.

"Take mine as well...'

Clara said, who looked exactly the same as Mara. Except that she was wearing a different set of clothes.

Mara and Clara were identical twins, and they don't just look the same; they also practically share the same behavior as well! They were both devils incarnate whose sole purpose was to make Abby's life a living hell.

Of course, nothing more could be said to their mother.

As one of their progenitor, Aunt Sarah was no different from her two annoying daughters. In fact, they were like a complete package that came straight from hell.

Oh, by the way, Mara and Clara were Candice step-siblings so it only goes to say that Aunt Sarah was obviously her stepmom.

Abby had never gotten a chance to meet her mom, she was told before that her mom died from a car accident when she was little. While her dad remarried again when she was five and then died three years later.

Yeah...Abby was supposed to be their family member, not a nanny. But just like a typical stepfamily gone bad story, Abby suffered the same fate and ended just like any other unlucky child.

"You guys were aware that I still have a part-time job to attend to, right???"

Abby asked as she tried her best to accommodate all of the paper bags on her arms.

"Yes., sweetie. But not before I have my coffee..."

Her Aunt Sarah replied in nonchalance as she crossed the street where a cafe was currently brewing and releasing an enticing whiff of a freshly brewed coffee.

"Ohh.. a cup of espresso would be really nice in this cold weather..."

Abby said to herself.

But sadly she could not afford to buy one at the moment because she was trying to save as many bucks as she could.

Abby's two sassy step-siblings obviously followed after their mother and went inside the cafe as well. Leaving Abby to attend at all of their shopping bags, all by herself.

After a short while, the three emerged out from the cafe, each of them having a cup on their hand. Clearly, not a single one of them had thought about buying poor Abby a cup of coffee of her own.

"OWW EM GHEEE!!!! OMG!!!!! Sissy! Can you see, what I am seeing?!!!!"

Clara squealed all of a sudden. To be honest, she sounded like a pig that was being butchered when she did that.

"Oh! GOSH!!!! Was that Bryan?! Our campus heartthrob??!"

Mara squealed back with the same amount of energy as her twin sister.

"No... Wait... Hold on... How do I look, Clara ??? Do you think Bryan will like me???"

"You wish! You look awful, Mara. Prince Bryan will only have his eyes on me... So stop dreaming. He is mine.."

Clara rebuked with a voice full of cattiness. Then she flicked her heavily styled brunette hair and that was how the two illusionative sisters started bickering with one another

"You guys are twins, remember? So you two technically looks the same. Besides, can't you see that Bryan was with his girlfriend, Candice right now? I doubt if he would even notice any of you two at all"

Abby butted in a matter of fact tone.

"Shut up!!!!"

The two sisters refuted her words almost at the same time

"Hold this for me, instead!"

Clara added afterward then to vent her annoyance, she shoved her strawberry flavored frappe towards Abby.

However, since both of Abby's hands were already occupied by their shopping bags, the other party was no longer able to hold the frappe properly.

"Move out of the way, you are blocking me!"

Mara followed her sister's shove with another of hers and in the process, Abby, unfortunately, lost her balance and fell on her back. This resulted in Clara's drink spilling all over Abby's face.

"You are so clumsy!"

Mara and Clara both taunted Abby in unison again for the second time around.