Chapter 4

"Mama, no. Please, no." I said and trying to step back as Mama holding a stick to punish me.

They saw me buying a burger near our school. That is the only time I am trying those burgers. I heard from my classmates that it's delicious so I want to try but they saw me before I bite it.

"Where did you get the money to buy a burger?" They are not giving me enough money for myself.

So, I cook food at home so I have something to eat at school. They are only giving me a transportation fee.

"No, Ma. I am keeping change every time I have from the transportation fee." She slap me. "You really have the guts to tell me that."

She turn me around and start hitting my legs with her stick. I am crying because of the pain. "Ma, I won't do it again. Please, stop."

"From now on, you'll be walking home and going to school. When I said no burgers, no burgers!" She continues hitting me until the last one but that last one makes my legs bleed.

I sit down as soon as I open my eyes. My breath is heaving, I am crying and sweating.

"Are you okay?" I turn around to see who it was but I can only see a silhouette of a man so I start panicking.

He start walking towards me. "D-don't come c-closer. Stop!" I said and he stop.

"It's me,"

I didn't give any attention to him. I cover myself with a comforter as a sat down. I need to calm myself through this.

I saw him moving again. "I.. I s-said don't come c-closer! I-I'll be a.. g-good girl. P-please d-don't hurt me." My tears are falling again. Scared of what he can do to me.

"I won't. I won't hurt you." and the lights turned on.

I froze and look at Señor Matthew. "S-señor,"

"I heard your voice when I pass by the door so I enter. I'm sorry," I simply nodded and look away.

I need to focus calming myself. I close my eyes and think of the sky. It can calm me down so I have to. My breath is slowly coming back to normal and I'm not trembling anymore.

I saw Señor just standing where he stop and looking at me, watching me. "Are you okay now?"

"Y-yes,"

"Can I come closer?"

I don't like the idea but I still nodded. He might hurt me. I adjust myself at the headboard as he sat at the end of the bed. "Nightmare?" I nodded without looking. His stare makes me nervous. I don't know why.

"Do you want to open up?"

I didn't replied because I don't know how. No one asked me of it before. I have friends at school but I never open up or tell them what really I'm feeling.

"I see, it's a no."

I bite my both lips and slowly look at him. He is just looking at me softly like he can brake me by just looking. "I'm sorry for not coming a little bit more early. If I just known." I don't understand him. I don't get what he wants to tell.

It's not his fault that my poster parents are like that. He didn't know me that much so why is he sorry.

"I want you to be open with me but if you still don't trust me then I won't force you." I keep my silence.

I don't have any words to say. It's true that I still don't trust him because he still might hurt me.

"I'll get you rest. Call me when you need something." I nodded at him and watch him go.

When he's gone I put my hands on my chest where my heart is. It's beating so fast. Am I that scared of him but this feeling is new to me. I never felt this to my parents when I'm scared. I don't understand this.

I let it go and take a rest. The next day, I feel okay so I took a bath and go down to make some breakfast. It's still early so I bet Nana Maria and other helpers are still asleep.

I cook garlic rice, hotdog, bacon and egg. I don't know how to make Señor's coffee but I still try. I am preparing the table when Nana and Señor Matthew both showed up. "You're early." It was Nana.

"I just want to c-cook breakfast for e-everyone." I am nervous again now that Señor is watching me.

He sat on his chair and look at the coffee. "You made this?" I look at my fingers. "Y-yes but if you don't l-like I'll a-ask Nana to make your u-usual coffee." He didn't response.

I watch Señor Matthew take a sip on it. He didn't give me any reactions but when he saw I'm looking he put the coffee down. "I like it," I don't know why it made me smile.

"Okay,"

Then I turn my back to go back to the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" He asked and I pointed at the kitchen. "You always skip meal when I'm at the table."

It's true. I always have my excuses when he's asking me for breakfast and dinner. I don't feel comfortable eating with him so I have to wait for him to be done and eat with Nana.

"I won't take this a no now. I don't like waiting, Lorraine."

I bite my lower lip and look at him then the kitchen where Nana Maria came out with a milk on her hands.

"Join Señor now, Lorraine." Then she gives me the milk. She said it's for me.

I slowly come closer and sit down. I saw him smirk but it fades away when he saw me looking.

I let Señor Matthew put garlic rice on my plate. "What do you want?"

"Hotdog and eggs."

He put it all on my plate and I start eating. "How's your sleep?"

I look at him. "Good,"

"Another nightmare?" I shook my head.

I notice that he's not wearing his usual suit. He is just wearing a black t-shirt and a gray short. Seems like he won't go to work today. For the past week that I've been here this is the first time I saw him in black t-shirt and I like it.