Chapter 82
I was starving; full out roaring stomach style. All I could remember about the dinner I "ate" last night was the food that I barely touched before Adam waltzed in and kicked me out.
Wow, I actually felt more offended by the fact that he kicked me out before I got to actually eat anything than the fact that he kicked me out, period.
So there I was, sitting alone in a depressed looking corner of a depressed looking restaurant with a depressed looking table on a depressed looking chair, feeling depressed. My hoodie was covering my face from view and it gave me a sense of isolation and privacy, if that even made sense.
A waiter came to take my order and I spent 3 whole minutes just going through the menu because nothing looked appetizing enough to eat. Goddamit stomach, make up your damned mind.
Finally, I settled for a Bolognaise spaghetti and blanketed mozzarella with french fries on the side.
What can I say? A girl's gotta eat what a girl's gotta eat.
The waiter left to input my order while I decided to let myself look around and stare as I please. People would probably think I'm rude for staring but I honestly couldn't find it in me to care anymore. I was too tired and too carried away with the depressed mood of my surrounding to even think about what would be running in their heads by then.
Something in the corner of my eye caught my attention though; a familiar hair color that I couldn't possibly forget.
It was impossible to forget the shade of his hair even if it was styled then. I quickly turned my whole body to look at the man who was walking past the restaurant with three little kids in his arms. A little Asian boy was sat on his shoulders and was pressing his tiny fingers onto the man's forehead to the point that the area started to turn white.
A dark-haired girl with dark skin and doe-like eyes was being carried against the man's side and was playing with the fabric of the man's shirt. His left arm was circling her small waist and he hugged her close to his build. His right hand was linked to a slightly chubbier little boy's hand. The kids looked around with their innocent and oblivious eyes while the man's eyes were cautious and weary.
While his grip on the kids seem to be loose and his strides weren't going on a frantic pace, his eyes darted everywhere a few times as if to make sure that they weren't being watched. I casually placed my menu up and slid my body down on my chair slightly to hide my face while I watched them.
I kept on watching them through the restaurant's window while they strolled past by me. The little girl tugged slightly on the man's shirt and pointed somewhere to their right.
My eyes followed their line of sight and saw a park with an ice cream stand near it. I saw the man nod and with a slight disbelief, watched them cross the road to get some ice cream.
I didn't know what I was expecting but it definitely didn't include the man, who I thought was a maddened and cruel, man to comply to the little girl's demands and actually buy all three of them a cone of ice cream each.
After buying the ice cream, they kept walking and turned a corner, disappearing from my sight. I released a breath and looked to my left where the waiter was looking at me weirdly with a tray full of my order in his hands.
My stomach grumbled angrily at the sight of it, demanding to be fed as soon as I get my hands on the food. The second the waiter set the food on the table, I took the laid out utensils and started wolfing down on it. While chewing, I tried to savor the taste and think about what I saw earlier at the same time.
Surprisingly, the food in my mouth didn't turn bitter at the thought of the guy who forced me into joining the competition that might claim my life. The sight of the children clinging onto him softened a part of me that saw him as the enemy; the part that hated him for being a threat to my family and to Adam's.
It was definitely my fault for diving head first into this life impulsively without thinking about the consequences that might affect the people I love. I was selfish and stupid. This train of thought was what made up my mind to leave Adam.
‘Who were those kids?' Now that I thought about it, it was a bit strange. Could it be his children?
Considering our generation's high teen pregnancy rate, I shouldn't be surprised. But that's not likely since none of their features resembled his; not even by the slightest.
Or it could be children he snatched from gullible parents; although I didn't see fear etched on their faces or understand why he would do that if it would add up to the list of people he needs to spend money on, it was still possible. He could be into child trafficking. I mean, he didn't exactly present me a very bright first impression.
Perhaps it's his nephews and niece? I never thought that the man who threatened me in the woods would have the heart to nurture or be kind to children. He did blackmail me by endangering my loved ones' safety, so excuse me for my lack of faith and belief.
Thoughts that those children might be trafficked sent a ringing alarm in my head. I stood up abruptly from my chair, almost knocking my chair backwards, and pulled out a few notes to pay the bill before dashing out of the small restaurant.
I took off running in the direction I saw them head last.
