A TO

potholed road, feeling the

I was going to see my mother an

rking my pink scooter just by the b

g lot since let’s be honest, I didn

el back in the days when the Nazis thought that

and leaky taps not forgetting doors that creaked in the middle

it was a re

job I would get us out of there.

you ask, the elevator in this place didn’t wor

irs though. I wasn't exactl

opened. I entered the house silently praying that my mother wa

dinner”, mom’s voice spooked me and I turned my head to s

s ending at five. Why ar

hat I was seventeen years old teenager w

this. We lost our dad a year ago to a horrid acc

d her because losing dad hadn’t been easy for us. I didn’t go to college, and we spent all the money payin

tting rid of the old boots

out that job-

get fired? Ali, that’s

fault this time”, I rec

let me guess you insulted your boss for being a racist. No. No. Let me take another guess

get a job tomorrow, I promise you”, I reached

t, Ali. I think it’s ti

his. This-this is just

e self-absorbed jerk. You know the thing about b

uld see the way he looked at me as if people of my

en’t. Maybe that’s why I was still poor, maybe God knew if someho

eas and some rice. Afterward, I went to check on Ra

iends since kindergarten. He was the first kid

iddle school to high school up to now. How

n then came back to San Francisco to work in microfi

d?” He teased brushing

e the universe hates you?” I huffed watc

celebrate the fact that he had been hire

but deep down a pang of jeal

uckled using his right hand to pu

’t know am just tired o

talk

e not taking anything se

at happened today? Any

got humiliated by a self-absorbing

oa calm d

zed twice! You know very well I never apologize but I swallowed my pride and apologized t

want me to. You just have to say the word”, Ray reac

I couldn’t lay all my loa

he last thing Ray needed was someone like me ruining

ob and everything will be alright”,

g will be

e night planned out for us. One that will surely put a s

the funny thing about it was that

an expansive Thai restaurant called Ma

to celebrate than in a Thai restaurant”, he suggested his

oks a bit lavi

, Ali”, he placed h

ordered Thai food and eaten at

let’s go eat”, he threw his keys at the skinny

ith lavish greenery, and an open kitchen to give you

combined with the hanging little chandeliers on each table ga

the third table fr

m underdressed

me, he was understanding but most of all he had the

hat sly smile

ook good in any

ying and you are doing it right now”, I

ognizes you here. Frankly, ever

es of snobs. Some were on their phones, some are laughing, a

en where the chef kept the lovely couple entertained. T

d. I could only see the right side of his face but

Ca

me my job. The

i?” Ray called and I t

m”, I sa

Ray aske

he. There, don’t look, but he’s seated right across

not to look!

er you tell me ‘don’t look”, he raised his

it is our first time dining in an exclusive hotel such as this”, Ray joked

re in the world…as if he hadn’t

t sit and watch”, I s

” Ray called from behind but I was alre

r. It’s so piercing to hear you laugh after you cos

Carter’s stormy icy eyes shot at me and I

irlfriend, I assumed, asked runn

had worn a hoodie and baggy sweatpants while she, on the other hand, ha

r”, Mr. Carter s

girl you got fired from t

talking about?” His

all day and is freaking tired of this madness!” He s

d? Why, yes

and with one hard glare

I suggest you get out of here before I call the

asked surprised that

” He quirke

s on me on what grounds? I hav

ked and suddenly my eyes flung to

as c

end up

with Aliya Maria

ook the bowl of wasabi splashing i

my hand and suddenly, we were runni

een terrified but actually, I was terri

hat he d