Chapter 3 Life at ERR

Kyle's POV

"Mom, Dad.. I'm around" I said as I walked into the house but I was welcomed with quarrels and yells as usual.

It was Mom and Dad, they were quarreling again, there's no day they won't fight over the same issue, an issue one would just cry over and finally let it go.

"You were too careless, I have never seen a woman as dumb as you are, as long as you are staying under this roof with me, without that child, then I will continue to make your life miserable " My Dad yelled at her and she yelled back.

"Read my lips Austin, I don't care, Make me feel so miserable all you want, It won't change anything and I'm not gonna leave this house, what else do you want me to do Austin huh?

It's not like I'm so happy that we lost a child, I'm not. I made it so quick to bear you another but you.. "

"Will you just shut up? " Dad cut in sharply.

I heard the whole story over and over again, I know exactly what happened.

*Nineteen years ago..... It all happened nineteen years ago. Isn't it suppose to be over by now?

Mom used to work at a mall and as usual, she placed the six month old baby Ralph in the baby cycle while she attended to the customers with so much interest.

When there were less people to attend to, like she always do, she went to check on the sleeping baby she kept in a baby tricycle but he wasn't there.She had checked around, asked people whether they carried him to pet him or something but none.. he wasn't found. It was the worst day of her life.

When she got home, being the strict man her husband (my Dad) was and he still is...

She had to lie to him that she took the baby to the hospital because he had hot temperature. That same night, she lured Dad to bed because she lost the hope that Ralph cannot be found. As if it was too easy to have another child, she slept with Dad that night.

A secret cannot be hidden for long. After a week, Dad became suspicious since his wife (My mom) kept on saying baby Ralph is in the hospital.

Dad went to the family hospital (the same hospital Mom was referring to) and there were no record of the baby except his birth record.

With the meanest look he has, he confronted my mom with a hand on her neck threatening to kill her if she doesn't confess what happened to the child. She did confess how the baby was kidnapped while she was engrossed with attending to the customers at the mall.

She should have just told him the whole truth when it happened. Now Dad won't take it easy with her, he went ahead, closed down the mall and like it wasn't enough, he normally recall the issue day by day which will always result to chaos.

Meanwhile, mom was pregnant - Me. As a result of what she did, a form of apology.

Since I knew the truth, I have been on the fence because I don't know who to blame or who to take sides with. Is it my mom who lied to Dad and had sex with him so that she could bear him another child quickly or my strict, mean and harsh dad who cherish the first born more than anything else.

"Look for that child or you will never know peace" Dad barked.

My heart is in pieces. It's a day by day anthem yet I can't get used to it.

I walked passed them to the kitchen to get my dinner which I know mom would have cooked already -maybe before the quarrel - today.

Not even a welcome from them, I walked passed them avoiding to be hit as I went to my room with my dinner and a cup of juice. Then I locked the door.

I know mom would be the first person to come meet and welcome me when the conflict is over - for that day.

I'm so sad, when will all this be over - forever?

I drank a bit from the fruit juice then I suddenly remembered the newbie, Audrey.

I have never been so close with someone like that ever since I got to WHS, I made no friends except Elena.

No one wants to make friends with someone from the slums, since they came from a rich family and lacks nothing. I've come to realise that when one is wealthy, they tend to develop pride and they stay away from people different from them... Well, except for Elena. Yes, she is from a wealthy home but she is very different from others in terms of attitude.

Audrey; She is just like me..

If I'm not mistaken, Audrey and I are the only the poor students in the whole school..

There might be many more but most are pretencious.

I finished eating, dropped the plate aside, sat upright and began to do what I love the most - singing -It will sure take me places someday.

I began to sing one of my favourite songs but my parents voices won't even let me hear mine.

Arrgh! I lay on the bed hopelessly with a pillow on my head, covering my ears... Yet, I could still hear them, loud and clear.

Audrey's POV

I walked into the beautiful restaurant with blinking, sparkling and flashy lights.

There were so many people, some were with their lovers, some were alone drinking and there was this particular table circled with guys, ruffians... Ugh! I hope I'm not making a mistake.

I walked straight with no exact direction and a girl noticed I was lost.

"WHS babe" She called out as she walked over to me.

Wait! How did she know where I school? Oh I was still wearing my uniform.

"Hi" I replied.

"Do you want something? or are you looking for someone? You seem lost" She said to me. She's friendly, thank goodness.

She wore a pink shirt and I noticed she wasn't the only one, their uniform I guess.

"I.. I'm new here, like I came to work here" I tried to explain myself.

"Are you Audrey Kathleen?" She asked me.

"Yes " I answered.

"Oh come, we've been expecting you! " She said.

Like We? Who are the 'We'?. I just smiled nervously anyway.

"Climb this stairs, the first room you would come across is the manager's room" She directed, pointing at a Zig-zig stairs.

"OK thanks! "

"You are welcome" She said and went to serve someone. She was with a tray of food which smells yummy!

I got to the room she had directed me to, stood there for some seconds asking myself if I was really ready to work here, then finally, I knocked on the door and I got a response immediately.

"Come on in"

I sighed then opened the door and walked in.

"Evening ma'am" I perfunctorily greeted.

The restaurant manager is a woman and she is very plumpy.

"Evening, are you Audrey? " She queried.

"Yeah"

Indeed everyone has been expecting me.

"Come over here or will you keep standing there? " She said.. That was when i realised I was still standing at the door.

"Oh" I mouthed and moved closer.

She brought out a new pink shirt from somewhere maybe the drawer or a very small closet, Then she dropped it on the table.

"Here is your uniform, you must have noticed it" She said.

"Yes ma'am" I said.

"Since you are not with a jean trouser or skirt then you would be wearing it on your school uniform " The woman said.

Ah! Awkward!

"The bathroom is behind, go ahead and change into it, then start the work immediately. When you climb down the stairs, meet with Vivian, she will tell you what you have to and need to do" The manager said.

"Ok " I said and turned the knob to take my leave.

"I am Mrs Blakeston" I heard her say. I just nodded and left her office.

Ok, now I'm starting to work here..

I went to the bathroom, pulled off my school uniform shirt and wore the pink shirt given to me. It had a badge on it. "ERR, Eat, Rest and Relax"

I sighed as I noticed that my dressing looks so weird, why do I care anyways, it's not like one of my million crushes are gonna show up here.

I tied my hair in a bun style. The same hair, I overheard one of my new rich classmates saying to another that it's suffering from vitamin D deficiency.

"Oh... They are so stupid" I muttered as the thought crossed my mind.

I kept my uniform into my backpack and kept the backpack somewhere I think is safe. Then I climbed down the stairs..

By the way, Who is Vivian? and who am I gonna ask?

While I wandered, my eyes caught something, I mean someone.. Mr Handsome but rude.

Simon, what's he doing here?

T.B.C