Chapter 5 FIVE

Ayu took one last look around her house. Her heart refused to leave the village where she had spent her childhood. This hometown would always be a reminder to her not only of where she lived, but also of where her friendship with Ali flourished. The tips of her lips turned up; everything about Ali reminded her of joy. Each step she took today could mean the end of her joy. She dabbed her teary eyes with her knuckles as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"What exactly are you waiting for? Is it a miracle? A miracle will not come to you, poor girl!" Her mother's reprimand slapped her so hard. Her heart was in pain. "How did you get into the habit of daydreaming?" Scurrying down the rocky road, that woman in a disheveled gown grumbled.

Ayu's pace was slowed by the weight of her soul, not the large suitcase in her hand.

"Why are you as slow as a snail?" The next reprimand came from her mother's mouth, and Ayu hurried without looking at the bruises on her palm.

On her way, she reflected on the tragedy of confronting that stranger the night before. That had a big impact on her mother; her face paled, and the dread followed her everywhere. She had packed her belongings in a bag even before the sun came up. That was a little suspicious, but the courage to inquire withered. Ayu's heart thawed as he watched her in terror. Nonetheless, she was certain that the culprit was the reason for her mother's decision.

"Mom..." Despite her exhaustion, her steps quickened. Persuading her mother to reconsider their flight might not be too late. "Please, Mom, can't we stay? Furthermore, we have no relatives in the city. I promise to work after school as long as I am able to live here and graduate from this village's school." Her mother came to a halt.

"You talk a lot! Please hurry!" She continued her journey.

"But at the very least, give me time to update my transfer document to a new school. My report card has been delivered to the teacher."

"Who said you were going to a different school?" Ayu's eyes widened in surprise. Beseeching her mother to send her to school was not going to work this time. A thought occurred to me. The inspection of that thug would most likely give her a hint of how to persuade her mother to stay.

"Mom, who is that rogue? Do you know who he is? What if he continues to pursue us? Mom, this village is the safest place for us." Ayu's questions stopped her from moving forward.

"We need to get to our destination before sundown." Instead of responding to her questions, she changed the subject.

Nothing seemed to sway her mother's opinion. She remained firm. Even when her mother was a hundred meters away, Ayu's feet remained firmly planted. Her mother's back appeared smaller and more obscure in her view due to the large distance between them.

"Hey...you're getting late." Ayu swiveled around in her surprise. A few feet behind her, Dave had straightened up. "Wait! Why are you bringing the suitcase? You're not going anywhere, are you?" His eyes squinted with interest. Her thought hushed. This may be her only opportunity to flee her mother. Ayu jogged toward Dave in a quick movement.

"H-help me..." Her trembling lips confirmed her anxiety. "Let's go to school."

"Yes, but what happened? And why aren't you wearing your school uniform?"

"Allow me to explain later." She didn't move. Ali's approach froze her as she peered over Dave's shoulder. Under his white and gray school uniform, a thick dark jacket draped his broad towering torso. One of his shoulders was slung with a backpack. When Ali closed her eyes, their gazes locked.

"What are you looking forward to?" Dave paused before swirling. When he realized Ali was already with them, his expression became uneasy.

"I'm concerned after hearing that you and your mother left the village this morning." Ali's voice was able to comfort her as it always did. She was overjoyed to learn that he cared about her.

"Don't worry, I'll accompany her." Dave's interruption jolted her out of Ali's spell.

"Ayu...!" Ayu's dream of living in the village was dashed by her mother's yell. That skinny woman ripped off Ayu's blouse in an instant, almost exposing her shoulder if Ali hadn't spontaneously covered her with his jacket. Ali defended her honor.

"Aunty... I'm sorry, but could you please tell me why you and Ayu have to leave? What about Ayu's school?" Ali couldn't help but feel compelled to ask her.

"I understand you are Ayu's friend, but that doesn't give you the right to question anything we do or choose in our lives. Take care of your own affairs." She quickly grasped the suitcase and clenched Ayu's arm. Ayu unexpectedly let go of her grip.

"I'm not going anywhere, Mom." Her pleading mumble was ineffective in gaining her mother's sympathy.

"So you're going to run with these guys. I didn't bring you up to be a slut!" Ayu's cheek was slapped. They were taken aback by her mother's reaction. Her mother's punch was less painful than her mother's insulting words. Her reddened face was marked with anger and embarrassment. Fortunately, she was able to keep her problems inside. She remained motionless, her hopeless blank stare fixed on her shoes.

Ali and Dave could only watch helplessly as her stumbling steps followed her mother until the next turn swallowed her up. They did nothing wrong by allowing her to leave. They had no responsibility for her.

Her right hand was free of her mother's grip, but it was occupied by her belongings, while her left one held Ali's jacket over her body. Wandering around in the sun with no idea where this journey would end frustrated her.

Her clothes were soaked in sweat. Frazzle had hit her legs. Thirst and hunger roiled her throat and stomach. The sun had made her skin look dull. Her mother, however, refused to let her take a break. Her anguish compelled her to inquire about their destination and the time it would take to get there.

"Mom, where are we going? How long will it take to get there?"

"My friend lives three blocks away. We'll live with her until I get a job and can afford to rent a house." Her mother responded.

They landed when exhaustion had almost depleted all of her energy. A brothel-style house posed haughtily in front of them. Gorgeous coquettish young girls walked in and out of the place, hand in hand with masher-like men. Ayu was overcome with uneasiness.

A woman in a striking red mini dress, exposing her corpulent flesh, greeted them. Her crimson lips and blond dyed hair were a striking contrast to her sun kissed dark skin.

"My house is not a refugee camp or a shelter for asylum seekers," the woman growled emphatically.

"Please assist me this time. I have nowhere to go, "Her mother persisted in her pursuit. Meanwhile, Ayu had hidden her sad face behind her small smile.

"I won't be merciful because you've lied to me multiple times, but..." she looked at Ayu and measured her body from head to toe, "I think giving you a second chance won't hurt."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't know how to repay you."

"You'll figure out how to pay me later. Simply bring your belongings to the room that my servant has set aside for you. And Ayu...she'll be staying in the main house's guest room."

"Why don't you allow us to share a room? So you don't have to waste your resources "Ayu's mother proposed it.

"I am the proprietor of this establishment. Here, only my rules apply."