⊰᯽⊱┈──╌❊╌──┈⊰᯽⊱
Paris ran as fast as she could, going up the stairs that lead to the yacht's rooftop. She gazed around, and before she could even decide what she was going to do next, she heard a sudden gunshot that scared the shit out of her.
She was doomed.
The gunshot resonated in the air. It wasn't aimed at anyone, it was just a threat from Kai to frighten Paris.
Without having much of a choice, Paris turned around to face her fate. The gun that was previously aiming at the sky, was now pointing towards her in Kai's hand. The bodyguards were standing behind their boss, also aiming their guns at Paris.
"Be my bodyguard, or be the Fish's food? You choose Paris." Kai asked in a demanding voice as she stepped forward, walking closer to Paris.
Seeing this, Paris slowly retreated some steps back, raising both of her hands to the air. However, Kai kept coming closer as Paris kept retreating, reaching almost the edge of the Yacht's rooftop.
Hearing no response from the other, Kai continued, "My patience is limited. I'm going to count to three."
Paris still remained silent, her teeth clenched together inside her mouth.
"One." *BANG!* Kai shot the air once again.
Paris' body squirmed as she heard the gunshot coming pass her but not hitting her. Her fists clenched along with her teeth, she didn't know what to do in this situation.
Kai perked a brow, enjoying her reactions. "Two..."
"Aagh!" Paris shouted, frustrated. She felt like she was in between a wall and a sword. In this case, in between a gun and the ocean. "Being your bodyguard? I'd rather DIEEE!" Her voice sounded high pitched at the last part.
What Paris did next was something that Kai was not expecting at all. She actually ran and jumped off the yacht. Not even considering the other option she had. Such a stubborn woman!
The bodyguards immediately gazed down to look for her, but there was no trace left behind, she actually vanished in the ocean.
"Let her go this time." Kai sighed, shaking her head. Next time they meet, she will make sure that it's not near the ocean.
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It was already night, and Paris was able to find her way back home. The yacht was fortunately near land, so she swam back, and then asked around town until finding her way back.
When she got back home, she found Parker on the living room. He was crouching down, organizing some books that seemed to have been knocked on the ground.
"Parker, pack your bags. We are leaving-" Her words were cut off when Parker lifted his head up to face her. His eyes were red and moist, as if he was crying not long ago.
Seeing this, Paris gazed around the house, becoming aware of the disaster in front of her. It was not only books that were knocked to the ground, but also other furniture, like the table, and some decorations.
"Who did this? Was it Kai's fucking people?" Paris asked with both a concerned and furious expression on her face.
"Kai who? What are you talking about?" Parker asked back, not knowing what she was talking about
"The mafias, of course. If it wasn't them, who would do such thing then?" Hearing no response from Parker, she continued, "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" She examined his body, making sure there was no scratch on him. There wasn't.
"I'm okay." Parker finally responded, closing his eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek. Paris immediately embraced him in her arms, stroking his head.
"But..." Parker sobbed, "Uncle isn't."
Paris' eyes widened slightly at this. "Where is Uncle?" She asked as she slowly pulled away from the hug to stare at him.
"The rent people took him to the backyard to..." His voice trembled.
"What? To do what?" Paris shook his shoulders.
"To beat him up." Parker finally said in between sobs.
Paris didn't think twice and rushed to the backyard where she found her uncle being kicked by four men at the same time. "Uncle!" She came closer, but her steps stopped as one of the men got on her way. "Didn't we already cleared off all my debts? Why are y'all beating him like this? There must be some kind of misunderstanding here." She told them.
"Cleared all debts? I think you are the one at a lost here, young lady." The burly man in front of her said. "There wasn't any money delivered to us."
Paris' expression was filled with confusion as she stared at them and then at her Uncle. Her Uncle looked so miserable right now. His face was swollen and bleeding all over the places.
Another of them spoke, "Your Uncle invested that money in my club. But he must have forgotten that all the investments have risks. He still owes me about fifty thousand dollars more."
Paris couldn't believe what was just being told to her. This only meant that all that money that was taken from the watch was all invested into a club, and the house rent was still not even paid yet. Did her Uncle seriously fooled her like this? He took all that money for himself, and didn't even think of his family? This can't be happening.
'This has to be a lie. Please tell me this is not true, Uncle.' Paris thought to herself as she stared at her Uncle who couldn't even make eye contact with her from the shame.
The men were about to continue beating him up, but Paris interrupted them, saying, "Uncle, tell me the truth. They are lying, aren't they?" Her voice sounded both furious and pained, but her Uncle still didn't reply to her.
"Young lady, stop fooling yourself even more. Everyone knows already that your Uncle is a regular at my club. He lied to you about the money, and he was also cheated by his own friends." The man explained.
Paris' expression was dark underneath her bangs. She didn't even know how to feel towards her Uncle anymore. She couldn't believe that her Uncle's gambling addiction would become this bad to the point that he would betray his family like this.
Her brows furrowed, eyes becoming red as she gulped down both the tears and pain. "Fifty thousand, right? Give me one month, and I'll return it to you." She told the man.
The man inhaled his cigarette and then exhaled the smoke in Paris' face before answering. "Alright, but I won't give you a month. I'll give you just one day! If you don't have it by tomorrow night, your uncle will be dead meat!" He threw the cigarette on the ground, and stepped on it. "Let's go." Was the last thing he said before he left with his people, leaving Paris and her Uncle finally alone in the backyard.
"Paris, I'm sorry. I'm terribly sorry." The Uncle finally spoke. He grabbed Paris' hand, hoping for her to understand him, but Paris pulled away immediately, and ignored him. He continued, "Paris, I didn't mean to do any of this. I swear. My friends really cheated. You have to believe me."
"Uncle, stop bullshitting." She turned her pained gaze to face him. "Are you done with your bullshit, Uncle?"
"Paris..." The Uncle was shocked by her cold reply. She had never spoken to him like that. "I'm your Uncle. Calm down and talk to me nicely, will you?"
"This is the only reason why I haven't beaten you up myself! Because you are my Uncle. I still can't believe what you have done." Paris bursted out furiously. "Now I understand. A gambler like you only cares about himself!"
The Uncle was left speechless by her fierce words. He was about to speak, but was cut off by her, "Leave, Uncle."
"Paris, I'm sorry. I know I'm wrong. Just give me one more chance, please." The Uncle insisted for forgiveness.
Paris' brows trembled as she tried to maintain the stern expression on her face. She seriously was at the edge of crying. She was so upset and disappointed right now. "Didn't you hear me? LEAVE!" She shouted loudly, even Parker was able to hear her from inside the house.
"I raised you since you were a little girl. Are you really leaving things like this between us?" The Uncle said, but seeing that Paris had no intentions of showing him mercy, he finally left the house.
Paris placed a hand on her forehead, gulping down all the pain and fury before entering the house again. She didn't want her brother to see her like this, so she had to control her emotions.
The house was still in a mess, but Parker was thankfully able to organize it in a way were they could still walk around without having to trip with anything on the way.
Paris felt exhausted by everything that happened today. She tossed herself on the couch, and closed her eyes for a while. She pondered about everything. All the money is now gone. How will she pay all the debts now?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the smell of preheated pizza that Parker placed on the small table in front of the couch. He sat next to her, resting a hand on her shoulder, trying to console her. "There was still some pizza left. Eat some with me." He smiled slightly at her, even though he was upset in the inside.
Paris smiled back at him, the pain still showing on her face even if she tried to hide it too. She took a slice of Pizza, and started eating with him. "Mm! It's still delicious!"
"I know, right?" Parker responded as they both began laughing together. However, the laugh didn't last for long, and Parker added, "Paris, don't worry about the money. Just leave it as it is. We can move to somewhere else that we can afford."
There was silence for a while. Paris glanced around the house before answering. "But I like this house."
"I also like this house, but...Nevermind, Just forget it." Parker sighed, staring at the ground. He also had to admit that he didn't want to leave this house. They were afterall, raised together here.
Paris shook her head with a soft smile, hearing his response. "The rest of the money that is left, is the last savings for your university. That's more important right now."
Parker pursed his lips at this. "Paris, studying won't help us in anything right now." He couldn't help but to sob as he said this. Tears forming in his eyes again as he continued, "Let me help you work, please."
Paris noticed his eyes, and held his face gently. "Parker, what I want for you the most is for you to have a degree, live a better life than mine, and have good friends. I don't want you to disappoint our parents like I have with my life decisions."
"No..." Parker sobbed harder. "You're not a disappointment. Mother and Father know. They know that you have done your best to take care of me."
Paris gently wiped the tears away from his eyes with her thumb. She didn't like seeing him cry like this. An angel like him deserved better than this.
Parker, "Don't forget, you're not alone in this, Paris. Let's work hard together."
Paris smiled and laughed at this. Tears forming in her own eyes this time. She rubbed her eyes, making sure that Parker didn't notice, but Parker already knew that she was crying too.
"Are you hurt somewhere?" Parker asked as he held her hand.
Paris shook her head, and then replied, "Parker, you're the smart one here. Leave the hard work to me, and you go study."
Parker shook his head in response, "No, Paris. Please let me help you. We could get enough money together and pay all the debts we have. And then, we could open a small bar business together by the beach, just like you always wanted to."
Paris laughed again with tears in her eyes as she listened to her brother speak. She couldn't help but to smile at him. How could he be this adorable?
Parker, "You could make the drinks. And I could play the live music on the stage to entertain the guests."
Paris, "Ooh~ My brother is so cool."
They laughed together at the idea.
Paris, "Doing that, in reality, it won't be easy, you know? Haha. You'll scare off all the costumers with your singing."
"Hey, that's not true." Parker pouted as he crossed his arms. "Just wait and see. You'll be impressed."
They laughed once again before holding each other in a tight embrace.
Parker, "I love you, Sis. Very much."
"Me too." Paris said as she pressed a kiss on Parker's forehead.
That was their last conversation before Parker headed to bed. Paris accompanied him until he fell asleep and then covered him with the blanket properly before going to her own room.
The next morning when Parker woke up, he noticed that Paris had already left the house. She probably left to buy something at the grocery store. That was what he thought.
However, when he went to the kitchen, to prepare breakfast, he noticed that Paris had already done it for him. She made fried eggs with bacon, and bread. Underneath the plate there was a letter she left behind before she left. Parker picked it up to read it.
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Parker, I got good news!
The owner of The Happy
Bar has a nice friend who's
going to help us clear all
debts we have. And she is going
to help you with the school fees
until you get your degree.
But in exchange, I have to take
care of her bar in a private Island.
I feel so fortunate right now.
I suddenly get to do my dream job.
I'm happy right now, and I hope
you are for me too. Unfortunately,
there's no phone signal over here.
No internet either. Or else, I would
take many photos for you to see
every day. I love you, Parker.
-Paris
╚═══════════════╝
⊰᯽⊱┈──╌❊╌──┈⊰᯽⊱