Daoist's imaginary world

HUSTLERS - 13

Mason first started by asking me simple questions about my age, where I came from and so on. But then moved to complex questions like who my parents are, my family and other really sensitive topics that made me feel uncomfortable.

Mrs Briggs knew how sensitive I was on the topic of family, so she immediately cautioned her son and told him to apologize.

I wasn't really expecting him to apologize since he did nothing wrong. Even Liam agreed with me on that because he scoffed when Mason apologized.

After dinner, Mrs Briggs and her sons did some more catching up in the living room. I already felt out of place and didn't want to intrude on their time together, so I greeted everyone goodnight and went to my room.

The next morning, I woke up early so that I could leave the house before anyone woke up. I rushed to the bathroom, took my bath and got dressed. When I got downstairs, I was greeted with a sweet aroma coming from the kitchen.

I wondered who the person could be as I entered the kitchen. I was expecting to see Mrs Briggs but I was surprised when I saw Liam is instead. But I was more surprised that he knew how to cook.

He didn't seem fazed by my presence when he noticed me. Instead, he fixed a plate for me and gestured for me to take a seat. I was still in shock to move but snapped out of my daze when he said something along the lines of '......don't worry.....it's not poisoned '.

Even if he meant it as a joke, I was still offended.

©daoist20

MY HEART - 13

Both girls left the principal's office after he was through with whatever he had to say to them. Chloe caught up with Layla who was waiting for her in the hallway and the two friends left the school premises.

As they were leaving the entrance, Jennifer caught up to them and demanded to speak with Chloe alone. Layla was about to say something but Chloe stopped her and told her that it was okay. Reluctantly, Layla left the two of them alone.

Immediately Layla left them, Jennifer began throwing her series of questions about what they both discussed on the school field the other day. Since Chloe was in no mood for dealing with her s**t, she simply reassured her that she hasn't told anyone 'their little secret '.

Chloe, assuming that was all Jennifer wanted to say, turned to leave but Jennifer being the mean person that she is, asked her about what she wrote down on her report. Chloe told her that she shouldn't worry about it since it wasn't something that got her in trouble, then walked off.

She wasn't about to deal with Jennifer since was busy nurturing her broken heart. She met Layla upfront and they walked home with Layla bugging her about what she and Jennifer talked about.

Since talking to Jennifer had already dampened her already sour mood, Chloe kept walking and ignored Layla's probing. The two of them went to Chloe's house since they had an assignment they needed to do together.

©daoist20

MY HEART - 12

Chloe couldn't get rid of the voices of both Mark and Jennifer talking in the library two days ago. She never in a million years would have thought that those two were involved together or had a connection.

Jennifer was the typical mean, popular girl who had high standards when it came to dating, the type of guys she got involved with were always the popular hot jorks, not someone like Mark.

Mark was just....Mark, he was a nerd but he was slightly popular, not because he engaged in sport but for his brain. That was why Chloe admired him, he was just him and never craved for any kind if attention like the jorks.

So it was confusing as to why those two would BE involved in the first place. She had promised herself that she wouldn't dwell on it, so she won't.

Yesterday was the last day of the punishment and like the day before, Jennifer didn't show up. She did the cleaning herself. Today was the day she was to submit her report to the principal's office for assessment.

After classes were over, Layla escorted Chloe to the principal's office. When Chloe went in, there sat Jennifer in all her fake innocence sitting across the principal's table. Chloe took her seat beside Jennifer and tendered her report to the principal.

The principal took the report and read it. He seemed to be pleased with it as he was nodding his head to show his satisfaction. He said their reports matched and he was quite impressed that they were able to cooperate.

©black_swan

HUSTLERS - 12

It took every willpower in me not to run away to God-knows-where. It was like my whole body was on shutdown. I was scared of turning the doorknob and entering in, but I still did.

I entered the living room and Mrs Briggs was the first to notice me, then her sons followed her lead. I felt their eyes pierced through me as I got closer.

Mrs Briggs motioned for me to seat close to her. When I did she introduced them to me and me to them. Liam was the eldest and he was three years older than me while his younger brother, Mason was the same age as me, just a couple of months older.

They both stared at me for a long time like I was an alien before they were scolded by their mother. They quickly corrected themselves, then Mason offered me his hand for a handshake. It felt weird but I still shook his hand. Liam must have felt like an oddball because he reluctantly let out his hand for me to shake.

Mrs Briggs was more than happy to see the exchange, she took it as a sign that the three of us would get along well. Her words not mine.

She stood up and went to the kitchen to set the table ready for dinner. I was feeling my anxiety build the more I sat down with the two boys, so I went to Mrs Briggs set the table.

When we were done, she called the two boys to the dinning. The dinner was going well as I watched Mrs Briggs happily interact with her sons while I was invisible, that is until Mason decided that he wanted me to join in the discussion.

©black_swan

MY HEART - 11

Chloe spent the rest of the day avoiding Jennifer, which was pretty much a success.

After her classes ended, she went to get the cleaning supplies and started cleaning without waiting for Jennifer. She was almost done with cleaning the cafeteria and Jennifer had still not shown up.

'Maybe she was cleaning the gym? ' Chloe thought.

She finished with the cafeteria, then went to the gym but there was no one there. The gym was still very messy.

'she didn't come here after all ' she thought again.

She would have waited for Jennifer but she really wanted to go home on time today so she started cleaning without waiting for Jennifer to show up.

She was halfway through and the nemesis had still not shown up. It felt strange and fishy but she still continued. She finished and went to the library to empty the trashcans.

As she was opening the door to the library, she heard voices whispering from the other side. She leaned her ear closer to figure out who the voices belonged to.

She recognized one of the voices, it was a voices she had been hearing even in her sleep for the past week, her arch nemesis, Jennifer. The other voice, well she had been dreaming of that voice for the past two years. It belonged to her crush, Mark.

What were these two doing alone in the library! And what were they whispering about?! She leaned more closer to the door,

'we have to stop this Jennifer. I can't keep doing this '

©daoist20

HUSTLERS - 11

Her sons were coming tomorrow and I still haven't been able to get an apartment. My savings wasn't enough to get one. Apparently, getting an apartment is a lot more expensive than I thought.

"What am I going to do now?" I asked myself as in stood at the counter. My shift was going to be over in two hours. Which means I have barely two hours to do my findings. This was going to be my last chance. Her sons were coming tomorrow.

Mrs Briggs took the day off to clean her sons' room against their arrival, so that would be an opportunity for me to do my findings without her finding out.

After almost two hours of searching, there was still no luck. How are apartments to expensive these days. It's so unfair, life must really hate me this much for it to treat me like this when I need it the most.

I walked back home with my shoulders down. I was totally disappointed that I wasn't able to get an apartment that fits my budget and Mrs Briggs' sons are coming tomorrow.

I wasn't ready to face them yet. More like I wasn't ready to face their reaction when they know I'll be staying with them in their own house.

As I got closer to the house, I heard laughter. There was no one around the surrounding, so the laughter should be coming from the house.

Did Mrs Briggs invite some people over?

The voices sounded like there was more than two people in the house.

I opened the door and my whole body turned cold.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE!!!!!!!!!!!

©daoist20

MY HEART- 10

She looked up from her food at the person. Lo and behold, it was the very person she had been trying her best to avoid all morning.

Chloe was about to greet her but she cut her off telling her to meet outside immediately. Chloe groaned inwardly, not because her plan failed but because she had to leave her precious lunch.

'That poor food was going to be wasted '

She followed Jennifer out of the cafeteria not making a single sound. Jennifer led her to the school field. When she looked around, she discovered that they were the only ones there. Even Jennifer's minions weren't in sight.

The moment they stopped walking, Chloe asked Jennifer about her minions to which Jennifer tsked and replied that what she wanted to discuss wasn't of any concern to them. So Chloe gestured for her to get on with whatever she wanted to discuss.

Just as Chloe suspected, what Jennifer wanted to discuss was about the previous night. She told or more like commanded that Chloe keep what happened to herself and not tell anyone. She also threatened that she would make her already miserable life more miserable.

Little did she know that Chloe had already told Layla everything. How could she not, Layla was her bestfriend, they always shared eachothers secret.

When Layla saw how tensed Chloe was all morning, she asked and Chloe could not help but tell her.

What would Jennifer do if she found out that there was one more person who knows her other side.

©daoist20

HUSTLERS- 10

WHAT! HER SONS ARE COMING BACK?! WHY?!

I couldn't get it out of my head ever since Mrs Briggs told me that her sons were returning. She was full of happiness and energy. She must have missed them so much and they gone for just a year.

(I know, I know...a year is a lot of time )

Closing time came quicker than expected, or maybe it was just my nervousness speaking. Either way, I wasn't ready to face her sons. It has been just the two of us for the past month and I was already comfortable.

We closed the shop and she drove us home. When we got home, I went straight for my room after bidding her goodnight. We already ate at the cafe so there was no need to prepare dinner.

I laid on my bed trying to find sleep but all I could think of was 'what if they rejected me' ' what is they didn't like me' 'what if they told their mother to throw me out'.

I know many people would say it's just my insecurity kicking in but I couldn't help it. Not many people fancy the idea of a stranger living in their house. Mrs Briggs was nice enough to put a roof on my head but what if her sons and husband wasn't in support of that.

I have to find a place to stay soon. I had overstayed my welcome. I shouldn't have to wait until I was humiliated.

The next few days was used to plan how I was going to move out and rent an apartment of my own, but if I eventually found a place to stay, how was I going to tell her. She had already taken me as her daughter.

©daoist20