Right Here Waiting [JENLISA]

The Payment

Revised Chapter

NOTE: THIS IS JUST PURELY FICTIONAL. THE EVENTS AND CHARACTERS ARE NOT RELATED TO THE REAL ONES.

Buriram, Thailand, 1999
"ALL OF YOU ARE STUPID! Why did you let him escape?" A man in a black leather jacket screamed at his men. His voice cut through the night air, sharp and full of rage.
"Sorry, boss. We lost track of him," one of the men responded with a slick, evil smirk. "But don't worry. I know where his house is."
The boss simply nodded, a silent command. His men scrambled into their vehicles, tires kicking up dirt as they sped toward the new location.
Upon arriving, they quickly surveyed the area. The moment the boss spotted the man they were chasing, he motioned for his men to move in. Caught completely off guard, the man found himself surrounded, the glow of the headlights pinning him in place.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he pleaded, dropping to his knees. "I didn't mean to run away from you."
"GET UP!" One of the men grabbed him, yanking him to his feet by his bicep. The man grimaced in pain as the leader, Mr. Kittisak, sauntered closer.
"You really thought you could escape us, huh, Manoban?"
"Forgive me, Mr. Kittisak!" Mr. Manoban begged, kneeling again. "I will pay my debt. Please, just give me time."
Mr. Kittisak let out a cold laugh. "Time? I have given you so much time already, and you never complied."
"I will, this time! Just plea-" A harsh kick from Mr. Kittisak sent him sprawling.
"PAPA!"
"HONEY!"
Two new voices pierced the tense silence. Everyone turned to see a woman in her thirties, holding the hand of a little girl with short hair, who was hugging a bottle of milk. The two ran toward the man on the ground.
"Papa," the little girl said, a wide, innocent smile on her face. She had no idea what was happening, but her mother did.
"What did you do this time?" the woman asked Mr. Manoban, her voice a low, tense whisper. She then looked up at the men surrounding them.
Ignoring his wife's question, Mr. Manoban crawled back to Mr. Kittisak, grabbing his pant leg. "Mr. Kittisak! I have something I can give you to pay for my debt!"
The woman quickly pulled the little girl closer, shielding her with her body. The child smiled up at her mother, then hugged her before resuming her drink. The little girl's eyes darted around her mother's embrace, finally landing on the men. She paused, slowly giving them a toothy smile while still biting down on the nipple of her bottle. The men, however, paid her no mind, their attention fixed on their boss.
"Where is it?" Mr. Kittisak asked, his hands deep in his pockets.
Mr. Manoban let go of the man's leg and crawled back to his wife and daughter. With a sudden, forceful movement, he shoved the woman to the ground, snatching the little girl from her arms.
"HONEY!" the woman cried out as she fell.
The little girl was startled at first, but when she saw it was her father holding her, she relaxed. She hugged him, sucking on her bottle as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
"Mama," she whispered, looking down at her mother on the ground, and smiled.
Mr. Manoban walked toward Mr. Kittisak, holding the child out like an offering. "This!" he said. "She is my payment."
"WHAT?"
"NO!"
Mr. Kittisak and the woman both yelled at the same time. The little girl, hearing the loud voices, pulled away from her father's neck and looked at the loan shark. She then, without a moment's hesitation, offered her milk bottle to him.
"Nom nom," she said, waiting for him to take it.
Laughter erupted from the men. When the girl heard it, she gave them her now-famous toothy smile. Mr. Kittisak, fueled by a sudden rage, slapped the bottle from her hand.
"I DON'T NEED THAT!" he roared.
The girl's smile instantly vanished, replaced by a look of terror. She began to cry, her small body shaking.
"LISA, STOP CRYING!" her father yelled. She bit her quivering lip, trying her best to obey. Tears still streamed down her face, but she managed to stifle the sobs.
"Fine. I will accept her as your payment," Mr. Kittisak said, an evil smile spreading across his face.
"NO! YOU CAN'T DO THAT, ARTHIT!" The woman tried to run to her husband but was held back by two of the men.
"Thank you, Mr. Kittisak!" Mr. Manoban said cheerfully, handing his daughter to one of the men.
Lisa was immediately taken from her father's arms and carried toward a vehicle. As soon as she was no longer with him, she began to scream and cry again. "MAMA! PAPA!"
"LISA, MY BABY, NO!" The woman fought to get free, but the men holding her were too strong.
"Have a good night, Mr. Kittisak!" Mr. Manoban said, bowing as the leader walked back to his car.
The men in the other vehicle drove away with Lisa. The woman, finally released, tried to chase the car, but her husband stopped her. When the vehicles were gone, she turned on him, her face full of pure hatred.
"HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU MAKE OUR BABY A PAYMENT FOR YOUR DEBT?" she screamed, pounding on his chest, angry tears streaming down her face.
Mr. Manoban simply let her hit him until she passed out from exhaustion. He then carried her into their house.
"It's the only way I know," he whispered to himself.