An Hour Later...

"I see you're having a good time." A masculine voice muttered and I fell startled at Collins unexpected grin at me.

"Umm.. Good m..orning." I managed to say something. Feeling guilty, I stood up from my seat but he wore a gentle smile as if nothing happened.

"No, don't stress yourself my dear. Sit down. I'd be awaiting you at home." He slapped the money in front of me with a stern look before leaving. I felt the rush of blood flow in my head. Trying to be less edgy.

"What are you thinking, young lady! Calculate my stuff!" an old woman with shiny gray, perm hair hissed at me. In the panic, I woke into reality right way. I never realized she was even there. "Be fast young lady! I have a family to attend to!"

"Okay ma'am." I answered her. The shopping trolley was filled with dozens of provisions. It was as if she'd done shopping for the whole street. Counting her provision and calculating, my mouth went numb again. I held back the saliva, avoiding being yelled at again.

"You're bring really sluggish!" The woman hissed, while standing at akimbo.

In an instant, the puke I'd held in poured out of my mouth. To her angry face, permed hair and all of her provision.

Without saying a word, I rushed into the restroom to retch. Dylan, the other attendant that with a customer rushed to me.

"Are you alright?" He knocked on the door. "Open up, please!"

I forced myself to puke more... Only coughs came.

"Are you alright?" He asked again. I turned on the shower and washed down my face. Then caught the drain on my denim jacket. 'Oh no,' I cried mentally and quickly took it off to wash out the stains.

After a while, I opened the door and went back to my corner. Dylan was attending to another customer. My eyes were dizzy but I managed.

"Where is the elderly woman here?" I asked him.

"I didn't meet her." He stretched his gaze at me before turning back to his customer.

She must have left out of anger... Looking at my desk, an heavy breath heaved out of me. This work is really tiring. I should tell Collins about my pregnancy. He might let me stay at home for a while.

I got water into a bucket and a piece of rag to clean up the place.

***

3:00 p.m,

The door flew open and Noah walked in. My eyes widened in surprise, no... I have to pretend we don't know each other.

He walked to where I was seating, smiling from ear to ear. "Hello sweetie. How are you doing?"

I looked around. Tobi who had just arrived from a meeting turned to us with suspicious eyes.

"Stop calling me that!" I whispered aloud to Noah's hearing.

"Come on, what are you scared of? It's not as if he's here." He looked around and caught Tobi peeping.

"Hello sir." He greeted and turned back to me. "So, I came to check on you. Let's go for lunch...it's stuffy in here." He complained.

"No, just go away!"

He held my hand and pulled me out of the position.

"I'd be right back!" I manage to tell Tobi, he just smiled.

Getting outside, I jerked off from his tight grip. We walked to a restaurant and ordered us, lunch. After that, he took me to his detour.

At the waterfall.

Noah stopped his motorbike at the usual spot.

"Why are we here again, Noah?" I rolled my eyes at him.

"Don't you love it here? I wanted to spend one more time with you. At least, before this week ends." With this, I blushed at his cheesy words.

The tall trees made me rember when we first visited. And just then, I realized that some reason, I feel better whenever I'm a with him..

"To ease your worries..." His strong arms suddenly wrapped me and threw me on his shoulders. I screamed with fear, no one had ever carried me like this... Except dad. I remembered our last moments together. Next thing, Noah threw me into the depth of the flowing water, right being the water fall.

"Noah, stop!" I begged but he didn't listen.
"Awww!" I let out a screeching scream sitting in the water with all my clothes on. "You're a bad influence."

"Swim into the ocean of happiness!" He splashed the water to my face. "Come on, I want to see you swim!"

"Are you crazy? How dare you wet my clothes without my permission?! This isn't funny. How do I clean up?"

Noah splattered the water on me and I did the same to him in revenge. But instead of getting angry, he made fun of me.

"Stop it already, you jerk!" I hit Noah with the water in my hands. He held me in and deepened my body into the clear water. I pulled away from him swiftly as realized my whole body was already wet.

Gently walking out of the water, I stood my the banks, watching him play.
"Why are you standing there?" He asked me. "Take off your clothes and join me."

I watched him take off his shirt and blue jean trouser. With only his shorts on, he walked up to me.

From nowhere, I felt my body shivering.

The sudden coldness was inescapable. I wrapped my arms against my chest, watching him.

He placed his hand on my forehead abd then, the nape of my neck. "Oh no, you're burning up again. You need to take off your clothes." He told me.

"N... No, I d.. Don't want to." I could feel my innocent teeth convulsing to the words. An heavy breath escaped my lips as I wondered how I got into this mess at first. And anytime I feel happy, the next minute, sadness follows.

"Okay, I'd close my eyes if you want to." He faced the water, with his back at me.

"It's not that, Noah." I closed my eyes at the disturbing through and finally gave in.

Taking off my drippy jacket and then my shirt and trouser, I walked up to him with my undies. Doing this, shame ate my eyes that, I quietly walked into the water. Sprinkling an amount to up, he joined me in an instant.
Just then, his hand touched my arm and then my neckline.

"Are the bruises? What scar is this?" he asked, finally noticing my body.

"You ask too much questions. Can't we just enjoy this moment together, huh?"

"Don't tell me it's all your uncle's doing."  He nodded at me in disapproval.

I decided not to reply him this time with my eyes closes abd my eyebrows, raised. I loved the feel of the temperate water. Noah could be a parrot sometimes.

"Okay, so... I called my mum and told her about you already. She promised to help out. She said she'd inform her friend personally when next they meet."

"Really?!" I opened my eyes in excitement to the good news. "What did she say?"

"I feel my mum isn't willing to help. She was asking how related you are to me and all. I just have this feeling."

"I'm not sure she's interested in this case but she agreed to discuss with Mrs. Williams, her friend."

"Aww! Do you think she'd be able to take my case? Nobody would want to support me anyway." I turned away, worriedly.

Watching the water.

"But why? She'd help right?"

"It might take a while. My mum would have easily called and told her on the phone right away. I just feel we should leave already."

"What? I don't get you?" I moved closer, trying to get his point.

"Instead of waiting, why don't we just  leave already. Out of California, somewhere safer just for the both of us."

"What?! What if my uncle finds us there again. I'm scared that if I leave, he'd still come after me. What if we're being chased by the cops? I can't go through that especially in this condition."

"Oh, that's true." He took a frank look at me. "What are you planning to do with the pregnancy? Would you tell him?"

"I don't know... Probably. He needs to know one way or another. The last for pregnancy I terminated almost took me along with it. Right now, I'm just scared of what might follow."

With these, shame caught me until my eyes started to bleed out emotions. Nosh held me in a soft hug.
"You don't have to worry about anything, Sylvie. I want you to know that everything about you is perfect. I just wish I could do better. I want to take you far away from your uncle. I know without him, you'll gain your freedom once again. You don't have to be a slave to anyone, you deserve better." he said to me with the sheer softness of his hair running through my hands like the water running through a stream.

Lost in his gaze, I lose my eyes with the hope that, the best would come, anyways. And if I'm meant to lose my life while terminating this pregnancy. So be it. I'm fed up of living already.

Just then, I perceived his woody scent of his skin close to mine. Noah touched his lips to mine in a gently grip. The feel of his lips on mine was just like the prom night. Just like the way I didn’t want to do this and the way he passionately kissed me. I push against his lips and I could sense this is what I needed. I loved the pressure of his lips pushing me very slow until we deepened our young bodies into the calm water.
With my hand on his shoulders, his skin was cool like the water.

And somehow, the soft, passionate kiss gave me sensations as if it was going to be the last time. Neither of us wanted to let go even though it was getting darker and we had to leave. I broke the kiss, finally catching a breath.

And despite the heaviness going through my head, I buried my blushing face into the reel of my hands.

"I'm feeling okay now. But can we stay here a bit longer. I'm scared of facing my uncle. I just have to face him."

"Can I come with you?"

I hit Noah hard on his shoulder and he burst into laughter.
"You dare not."

"I really wish I could though. You deserve better."

"You make me love this place even more... It's beautiful."

"You're more beautiful." He muttered
Lost in his eyes, he lurched up as if something bite him.

"Before I forget..." He brought out his phone and scrolled through.

His hand held it to his face, towards my direction.

"What are you doing now?" I asked in concern.

"Just stay still, Sylvie. I need a perfect picture of you!"

I nodded my head at his attitude while Noah took some shots of me.

After that, he took a selfie of the both of us before we walked to his motorcycle and left. Holding tight unto him, he dropped me off at the street before mine.

" Thanks for today." I told him.

"Don't mention. I'd see you soon, Sylvie. Take care of yourself." He said with a frank smile while I bade him goodbye. Not sure if Collins was home or not, I trekked home and pulled the door knob. The door slides open without difficulty.

"Jeez! He's at home." my mind, like titanic sank into my ribcage as I tool a step in.

"Where are you coming from?"

Looking at him and he had an apple in his hand, the other held a knife.

"Have you sudden gone deaf?! Don't make me repeat myself! I said where did you spend the night?!!" With just that question, I could feel my increased heart rate. Although I'd expected him to ask me this abd practiced tons of lies but at this instant, I couldn't even remember my name.

I swallowed in a amorous amount if saliva and realized that he'd been waiting for me at the living room.

"Umm... Good evening." I greeted.

"What's good about the evening?! Where are the drugs you're meant to bring. What happened last night?!" He asked about ten questions in a second.

"I heard you left with a guy. Who was he?!" I could feel the heat in his words already. As if he'd land another hot slap at my cheek. I frightened.

"Umm.... A classmate. We just met there and... I tried to ignore him but-"

Just then, he let out an heavy sigh and smirked at me. You are such a troublesome girl. So he's actually your classmate and not your boyfriend?

"Y... Yes sir. "

"Oh, okay then. I received a call from Tobi this afternoon, he said you're sick." Collins rolled his eyes at me and the anger laced in his eyes suddenly vanished.

"You must be tired, get into your room. " I cringed when he said that. Was I dreaming?

About to leave, he grabbed MG arm and pulled me closer. "Don't forget. I'd be taking a close watch on you."
He snarled at me with a grievous look in his eyes but he covered it up with a fake smile and walked into the kitchen. As if he was frying chips.

Although, the house was as tattered as rags, I'd never seen Collins like that before. I felt there was a reason behind his sudden kindness. 'Did he see us together?' I wondered and climbed upstairs.

Entering my room, I dwale in the thought of dysphoria that took over me.