SHE'S TOO FAT

~Ariel~

I tried to balance the takeouts and Honey in my arms as I scurried down the street, looking for a dry spot to escape the heavy rain.

Honey let out a whimper and I sighed. She must be very cold. I finally sighted a spot and ran over to it without hesitation.

I dropped Honey carefully and balanced the takeouts. She whimpered again and I looked at her.

"Don't act like you were used as an umbrella. You were the one in my jacket and I see you perfectly dry" I glared and she whimpered again, nudging my feet.

I settled on the floor and carried her in my arms. I stared at the empty street with a sigh.

"How do we go home now? I used all my money on food" I lamented. I gave Honey her treats and picked one of the takeouts to eat.

As I ate, my eyes wondered to the billboard. As expected, her face was on it with a plastic smile. She had one of those flavoured creams in her hands.

"Mi Rae. She gets prettier every day" I smiled. I admired her a lot. She was so classy and polished.

"Kim? Is that you?" I heard a voice yell amist the downpour. I frowned as I turned to see Mrs Rose drenched in the rain.

Aishh! I should have known she would be worried. I got up and quickly helped her to our little shade.

"You didn't have to look for me. I can take care of myself really. You could get sick" I said. She rolled her eyes.

"It's almost ten pm and you are still out here, don't you know how dangerous it is?".

"I'm sorry. Have some food?" I offered and she shook her head.

"You don't have to spend your money feeding me, Kim. I'm fine".

"I am not feeding you. I am hungry as well and I can't possibly finish two takeouts. It's only polite to offer it to the person next to me instead of throwing it away" I replied and she smiled.

"There you go again with your word play, trying to confuse me". She took it from me and I smiled happily.

Mrs Rose has been with me for almost eight years. She is homeless just like I was few months ago.

There isn't much a difference though. I stay in an abandoned building, with a leaking roof. The owner could decide to visit one day and evict me. It's not nice to have a stray on your property.

Mrs Rose sleeps in the homeless shelter. Don't get your hopes high. By homeless shelter, I mean a shack you share with fifteen people at a very outrageous price.

You can't leave your property there and return with the hope to find it. No bathrooms or toilets. Just a place to sleep at night.

How did I end up on these streets? Here's my life story. When I was five, my parents and I were going to spend the holidays in Hong Kong. Somehow, I got on the wrong flight and ended up alone in Seoul with no parents.

Honey is the only thing I have left of them and that was probably sixteen years ago. How did I survive? Don't ask, I don't know as well.

I was relieved when the rain subsided. My room would be flooded but it's better than staying out here in the cold.

"Let's go home?" I asked Mrs Rose but her gaze was trained somewhere else. I followed the stare and stiffened at the sight of the local goons.

They were about six of them, drunk and rambling. It was then I realized how dangerous this part of town was.

I suddenly wished the rain hadn't stopped. Maybe they would still be in the pub, drinking their lives away.

We stayed in place, hoping they wouldn't pay much attention as they staggered ahead.

This was a very dangerous spot and somehow, the goons seemed to armed always. No one ran into them without getting trouble whether they were drunk or sober.

They acted more like assassins than robbers. They would never leave without drawing blood.

One of them glanced our way and I lost my breath. Mrs Rose pulled me from behind almost immediately.

I couldn't breathe. My chest tightened so much that it forced a gasp out of my lips.

"Kim? Are you okay?" Mrs Rose asked worriedly. I couldn't reply. I let out another gasp as I tried to breathe. It suddenly felt hot.

"Kim? Kim?".

I couldn't move. The pain was fading and her voice too.

"Goodness! She's not blinking" Mrs Rose panicked voice was the last thing I heard.

I woke up with a slight headache. I tried to open my eyes but my head played like a thousand drums. Did I call this slight?. I was gravely mistaken.

After many failed attempts, I got myself to sit up. What happened and why does my head hurt so much?.

The door flew open and Mrs Rose entered with a small bag. Her eyes lit up the minute she saw me.

"Oh Kim! Thank goodness you're awake. I was scared for a moment there" She said engulfing me in a tight hug. That was when I recalled everything.

I had one of my stupid episodes infront of her. I felt so embarrassed. I must have scared the poor woman to death.

"Biane" I muttered and she pulled away.

"I got you medicine. I can't assure you they'll work cause I got it from a pretty cheap store. And I told them you were in some form of shock. Thinking of it now, it might as well be fake." She frowned as she examined the bag and her doubts.

"I am alright. It just happens sometimes but not often, I promise" I assured her. Then I began to wonder how I got home. Mrs Rose obviously brought me back. Oh Kim!

"I honestly didn't mean to trouble you. I'm sorry" I apologised again. She chuckled and pinched my cheek.

"It is alright. You would have done same for me so I don't mind. Get some rest, it is quite early" She said.

I wanted to lie back but I suddenly remembered I had a job. I quickly glanced at the clock beside my bed. My eyes widened as I sprang to my feet.

"9am?! I thought...ahhhhhh..." I groaned as the pain in my head hit me.

"You need to rest, Kim. You've not fully recovered yet" Mrs Rose pleaded.

I was already at the bathroom door. I didn't pay much attention to her as I took off my clothes and dashed in. I showered and dressed as quickly as I could.

"Would you atleast slow down to eat breakfast?" She groaned but I was too busy pulling on my only pair of decent shoes.

"I'll see you when I get back" I said quickly, pecking her. I didn't wait to hear her reply as I ran out of the building, down the street.

'Please don't fire me. Please don't fire me' I prayed silently as I got to the pizzeria.

"Kim? Oh how relieved I am to see you! I thought we would never finish making the deliveries today but here you are" The manager went on speaking the minute he sighted me.

I didn't object. I did not want to be fired. I greeted some of my co-workers and proceeded to pick my license.

"Hurry up! We don't have time" Our manager yelled and I quickly stacked a few pizza boxes to carry. I loaded it in the companies truck.

I rushed back in to pack the remaining boxes.

"I thought you wouldn't come in today considering you've never been late" Lina, my coworker spoke beside me.

"I didn't mean to. I overslept, sorry" I apologized. She was my senior colleague and I didn't want trouble.

"I don't see why you're apologising to me. The manager deserves that explanation" She shrugged. I bit my lip.

"He didn't seem to mind earlier, when I came in" I said quietly.

"Because he was too occupied but that doesn't give you any right to be insolent. You didn't even sign the time sheet and trust me, he'll address it when it's time for your paycheck" She scoffed.

"But I didn't mean to. Okay, I will apologise but can I atleast make this delivery first?" I asked.

"What's the point? You still someone to read the addresses for you to record on your phone because you're dumb enough to not know how to read" She stated.

Her statement didn't fail to attract eyes on me. I bit my lip and looked down in embarrassment. Everyone knew I couldn't but she didn't have to spell it out.

It wasn't like I couldn't read everything. I get the easy words right. The big words are a little complicated to understand.

But that didn't mean I couldn't read addresses. I wouldn't be employed if I couldn't.

"That's enough, Lina. You don't bully people in my presence. Kim, get to work and Lina, I want in my office".

I was glad he came to my rescue but I feared Lina would be in trouble for that.

"Yes sir" I mumbles, scurrying out. I loaded the truck and picked out the address book. I wonder why we have so many orders today.

The first set of deliveries were quite easy. However the mansion before me didn't seem like it would be easy.

The security cameras were very visible and as soon as I got to the gate, it slid open. My jaw dropped as I looked around.

Paradise on Earth. Poverty is really not good. How could someone build something this magnificent without money?. It looked like something out of a dream.

I wandered a bit, dazed by the beauty. Who lives here?. I didn't realize how far I wandered until I came upon a pool area.

The giggling and splashing of water snapped me out of my little trance. Three girls and a boy. There was plenty of wine and cigarette packs on the table.

What if they didn't make the order? How would I explain my presence? They probably smelled my anxiety cause their heads whipped to face me at once.

"Who are you??" Was the first question.

"Delivery girl" I replied quickly, pointing to the three boxes of pepperoni pizza.

"So Domino now sends rags to deliver pizza" one of the girls said with distaste. My jaw dropped.

"But this is our uni......." I tried explaining but the guy guy cut me off.

"Bring that over here".

I sighed in relief and walked over to him while the girls watched me like a hawk.

"Uhm.....sign here. You're Mister Jung Woo right?" I asked and he rolled his eyes before snatching the sheet from me.

He signed it and I quickly took it, hoping to leave as soon as possible. Halfway through my escape, I heard him yell.

"Hey, hold on....this isn't what I ordered". Huh? I was pretty sure I didn't mix it up.

I walked back to him. He gave a smile I couldn't understand. I stared at the pizza.

"What is wrong, sir? It is pepperoni with...." A slice of pizza landed in my face and I gasped. The girls giggled.

"I just thought I should offer you a slice. It'll be rude not to considering how pale and thin you look. You probably haven't tasted it before" He shrugged like it was normal.

I got the slice off my face in agitation. Who does he think he is?. I'm not even thin!

"That was so cool, Woo. Give her more, she's staring" One said. I quickly averted my eyes and turned to leave.

Their laughter trailed behind me as I scurried away. They might think it's funny to just make a joke out of everyone simply because they're rich.

I scoffed and walked out of the gate to the truck. I switched on the radio and grinned as my favourite song played.

Slay by Li Shugar.

I won't let some rich brats ruin my mood.

~Moore mansion~

"Is Canaan back?" Mrs Moore asked as soon as she stepped into the mansion.

"No ma'am" A female servant replied. Mrs Moore frowned deeply.

"It's been three days already. Where could he have gone to? He has been cancelled on two important interviews and three contracts. What do I do with this child" She thought aloud as she walked pass the servant.

She stopped at the foot of the stairs and asked, "What about Shugar?".

"In her room, ma'am. She just had dinner".

Mrs Moore said nothing as she ascended the stairs. She went to Shugar's room and found the door open.

Shugar was already in her pyjamas and her hair was wrapped in a towel. She smiled as soon as she saw her mom.

"You're back! I'm sorry I had dinner without you but I promise it wasn't that good anyway. Rihanna burnt the chicken again and I had managed leftover soup you made" Shugar pouted. Mrs Moore chuckled.

"You complain so much about food but you can't even cook."

"I'm a singer and these hands play guitar. You can't possibly blame me" She whined.

"Have you heard from Canaan?" Mrs Moore asked.

"Not since three days. I've gotten a lot of calls from his manager too. I think he ghosted everyone like he usually does" Shugar shrugged.

"I'm worried about him. What if he's in trouble? How do we help him then? I don't know why he behaves like this. It is not okay to just disappear on everyone." Mrs Moore said.

"I expect you to know Canaan better than everyone. He's always been like this, eomma. He'll be fine".

"But he didn't take his guards........"

"Ma! He has a lot of guards positioned everywhere he's likely to be. You don't know all of them so you can't be so sure" Shugar groaned.

"What if he's out in the cold? You know his health condition. What if he hasn't eaten? He forgets to eat a lot and he needs someone to constantly remind him. He's not okay by himself. We have to find him please" Her voice rose with panic as she spoke.

Shugar pulled her to sit on the sofa and wrapped her in a hug.

"He'll be fine. Just don't die before he comes home".

Shugar's phone rang immediately and she groaned when she saw he caller ID. She answered the call.

"No, Fernando, he's not yet home" she spoke before he could utter a word. She heard a sigh at the other end of the line.

"It's been three days! The clients are getting impatient. The board are on my neck and ABD.....Do you really not have an idea of where he could be? We've already searched his penthouses and beach house."

"It's just three days, Fernando! The longest he's been gone is three months. Relax, he'll come back when he wants" She said and Mrs Moore glared at her.

"I guess we'll just keep looking then. Goodnight" He ended the call and Shugar sighed. She didn't get why everyone was panicking. He disappears all the time yet they ack like they're just experiencing it.

"Go and shower, mom. You need to eat dinner and get some rest" She said to her mother. Mrs Moore left sullenly without argument.

~Ariel~

After collecting my pay, I headed for my second job. It was at the local library. The pay is very little but I don't mind a little extra.

I walked a good distance to the library and wiped my sweat with my sleeve. I pushed it open and walked in.

The old lady looked up from the counter and a warm smile graced her face.

"You're quite early" She said.

"Do I get a bonus?" I teased and she laughed.

"Maybe but only if you get the top shelves cleaned and cleared".

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, I am really grateful" I vowed repeatedly thanking her. She chuckled.

"Go and get it cleaned already. I don't want you to break your neck for nothing".

"Thank you" I bowed and dropped my bag at the usual spot. I set a bunch of stools and found my way to the top.

I glanced over at the library. It was empty except for someone who sat few metres away from me.

I couldn't tell if it was a boy or girl. I focused on my job. Ma'am Nana was very generous with her bonuses and I wanted to make it worth it.

Maybe if I impress her, she would increase whatever amount she had in mind. Honestly, money was a good motivation to work.

I hummed a song in my head as I threw down books and wiped off the dust and cobwebs.

When last did they clean up here? Her former workers certainly cheated her with their ghost cleaning.

"Careful up there, Kim. I don't want you to hurt yourself" I could see the worry in her expression as she spoke. It made me smile.

"I will be" I assured her.

I successfully cleared the first and stepped down. I adjusted the stool to the next one and tried to ignore how close I was to the customer.

I climbed on it and started throwing it down. I didn't notice how unbalanced the stools were until it wobbled.

I gasped realising I must have shifted it out of position when I was pulling.

I tried to balance myself as I threw down the books, it wobbled more and slid off the second stool, sending me off.

I yelped as I landed on a pile of books. The pain shot through my entire system and I let out a cry.

The chair pulled back and that was when I realised it was a he. The hoodie covered his face perfectly. Sweatpants and even socks.

I moaned in pain and he glanced at me. I thought he would atleast give me a hand so I stretched mine.

He simply picked his phone and left. I sat in shock forgetting the pain for a second.

~Ariel~

I blinked rapidly

"Are you okay, Kim?" Nana came rushing to me. I tried to tell her I was okay but I ended up hissing in pain.

"I warned you against those stools, didn't I? Now you probably have a twisted ankle or a broken leg" She sighed as she examined my leg.

"Can you try to stand?" She asked and I nodded. I held on to her for support and pushed myself up. I let out a cry. It felt worse than just a twisted ankle.

She didn't let go of me, thankfully. She got to me to sit and went over to get the first aid.

"This might not be the time to say this but I told you so

You put in so much for a bonus only to spend it on pain relievers" She said and I stared at my leg pathetically. I would be needing a lot of those.

"Do I get up to a hundred?" I asked hopefully.

"That is not enough to treat a broken leg. I will give a massage and if it doesn't get better, you'll have to see a doctor" She said.

"Oh! Fifty then" I muttered and shut my eyes as she took care of my leg. It was a lot more painful than the breaking. I screamed and thrashes and pleased for her to stop but my pleas fell on deaf ears.

By the time she was done, I almost resented her. I got some relief in a few minutes but I'd not go through that pain again.

"Feeling better?" She asked.

"No, I'm still in pain" I said grudgingly.

"Really? And who's fault is that?" She huffed. I looked away with a pout. Why is she so mean after submitting me to the brutality of her hands?.

"I'll get a cab to take you home. You need to rest that leg" She said, walking away from me. There goes my bonus! I mourned inwardly.

"Thank you, ma'am" I yelled after her but she was already out of the library. I looked at the books on the floor

She is going to arrange everything by herself now.

What is the point of a bonus if I only added to her stress?. Adjusting my seat a bit, I reached for the books. I hissed as pain shot through my leg.

I really can't do this. I gave up and shifted back into the chair. That was when I felt something hard against my foot. I lifted my leg and looked down.

What is that shining object?. I bent over, swallowing the pain I felt. I picked it and gasped. A diamond ring?!

"Kim, the cab is outside. You......what is that?" She asked as soon as she saw it.

"Uhm....a diamond ring" I replied uneasily.

"And where did you get it? Did you steal it? I don't know you to be a thief, Kim and I'm sure you can't afford this. Do you even know how much it costs?" She began talking on and on.

"I did not steal it. I found it under my foot. I think someone left it......" I tried to think of the possibility that someone this rich could come to a local library.

"Give me that!" Nana almost snatched it from me.

"I wasn't going to take it, ma'am. You'll put in the Lost and found box right?. Incase the owner comes looking" I said and for the first time, she gave me a fake smile.

Does she really think I was going to take it?.

She helped me up and took me to the cab. She counted a thousand won and my eyes widened.

"Take this for your treatment, okay?".

I could only stare in disbelief. My pay was roughly a three hundred. Did she really have to spare so much money because of my leg?.

"But this is........"

"Take it, Kim. The driver is getting impatient and we don't want him driving away" She gave a genuine smile this time. I bowed and practically kissed all over her hand.

"Thank you, thank you. I am really grateful. Thank you. I wish I could show how......"

"Kim stop rambling and get in" She laughed. I nodded and got in. I waved at her before the car took off.

Mrs Rose was asleep on my bed by the time I got home. I smiled and sat beside her after much struggle. The room had many buckets in it, filled up with water.

I rested my head against the wall with a small sigh. This is the only spot without leakage and I had to move my bed ther so it doesn't get drenched. Atleast, it won't unless the room floods.

Honey's bark made me sit up. Where is she anyway?. Almost immediately, she came in with Min Ah.

Min ah is my best friend. My only friend too. I've known her for five years. She works in one of those big boutiques in town and I got to meet her when I delivered pizza there.

She has been very sweet and helpful. She visits with groceries and sometimes, she gives me pocket money. She offered me to move in with her but I couldn't burden her that much.

"Ariel!!!!" She squealed and jumped on me. I cried out in pain and she got me in panic. I held my broken leg in tears. Mrs Rose woke up too.

"Why are you crying? What happened to your leg" Min ah asked worriedly. I couldn't reply. The pain seemed to be getting worse.

"Kim, what happened to your leg?" Mrs Rose asked. I tried to suppress the tears so I could answer.

"I fell...o-off a s-stool i-in the l-library..." I managed to say.

"You fell? What were you you doing on a stool? Nevermind, I'll get you some pain relief" Min ah said rushing out.

"Stop crying like a child. It's just your leg" Mrs Rose tried to tease me.

"But I am a child" I sniffled and she chuckled. Honey curled beside me and I pulled into a hug, sniffling into her fur.

"You are twenty-one. That makes you a adult to most people" She stated. I pouted but remained silent as the pain subsided. Min ah returned with drugs and I took them without complaint. I wanted the pain gone.

"What are you doing here? It's not yet your break time" I asked Min ah.

"I know but Mrs Rose needed help to apply for a job" She shrugged. I looked at Mrs Rose.

"A job?".

"Yes, as a cook for some reach people. Take a look at this poster" Mrs Rose said enthusiastically. I took it and scanned through it. My eyes nearly fell out.

"Seven hundred thousand monthly for a cook? Are you cooking for the president?" I gasped and they laughed.

"I honestly don't know who they are but they must be very rich and influential to pay this insane amount for a cook. I made sure to write the best application I could come up with and with your cooking skills, Mrs Rose, I bet you will get it" Min ah cheered on.

I was still in absolute shock. Maybe they get groceries from heaven or maybe they expect the food to give long life.

"Don't die of shock, Kim. I need your support" Mrs Rose smacked my head and I smiled.

"I wish you all the luck in this world" I said hugging her.

"I wish you all the salaries so you can take us shopping" Min ah added, joining the hug and we giggled.