Hate To Love You, Love To Hate You

I Hated You The Day I Met You

“FLASHBACK”

It was a Tuesday night. I had to do an extra shift at the restaurant before I could go to work at Gavin’s bar. Thankfully, Gavin didn’t mind me working a couple of extra hours at the restaurant on busy nights. The bar doesn’t get customers until late at night, and here I can get better tips, so I don’t mind working a few extra hours as long as I am getting some more money.

The restaurant I work at is called, Daz. It is a high-end place where all the rich people come to dine. They are people who talk like they have nothing but secrets and eat like they have stolen their meals. I have served many big names. And among those big names, I had to serve Claudia and her friends last week. I didn’t expect to ever see her again, but there she was – almost five years later, looking as beautiful as she is. I am not going to lie, I envy her. I didn’t want to live a luxurious life like her, but her comfort causes me discomfort.

There she sat along with three other people, dressed in a dark green silk dress, wearing pearls that I couldn't even afford to glance at, designer shoes, and a handbag, gracefully laughing at something that one of the men said, where I stood by her table, dressed in my black and white uniform, keeping my gaze down because I was too angry to look at her in the eyes. No, I am not embarrassed at the difference between us, but I am angry because of what she did to me.

Even if I did go to my dream school, I would never have reached her social level, but I could have made so many changes in my life. She stole it from me. I might have forgiven her if she needed that scholarship just as badly as I did, but that was never the case. She always lived a comfortable and far better life than me. She didn’t need that scholarship, but I did.

I didn’t want to interact with her. I just wanted to take her order and leave, but when she saw me – she softly gasped. “Oh my, Luna – is that you?” No, she didn’t have to call me out like that. She could have ignored me. She could have pretended as if she didn’t know who I am, but why miss a chance, right?

I lift my gaze and look around the table. She was the only woman, the other three were men. All three of them dressed sharply. It seemed like they were coming from some formal event. I looked at Claudia and faked a smile, “Yes. Have you decided what you want to order yet?” I asked politely. I can't get rude and lose my lost job to this mere interaction.

Claudia glanced around the table and softly chuckled, “Do you remember me, Luna? I am Claudia.” How could I ever forget you, Claudia? I stiffly nodded. She grinned and looked around the table, “Guys, she and I used to go to the same high school.” The smile on her face was enough to boil my blood.

She didn’t have to introduce me to her friends. I felt extremely conscious when all eyes were on me. They all must be thinking about how different we both are – how could we go to the same school? That’s what I used to think – why did Claudia opt for public school when her family had all the money to send her to a private school? Then I used to think maybe it was because her family wants her to stay in touch with humility, but now I don’t know what to think. Maybe she came just to steal other people’s opportunities. She must not be able to do so among the riches, but it was easy for her to do it to people like me. People who don’t matter.

I cleared my throat, “What would you like to order, sir?” I asked the blonde man that sat right in front of Claudia, completely ignoring her.

Her smile flattened, “Oh,” she muttered under her breath. Her shoulders sunk. She must have realized that I didn’t want to talk to her. I don’t care. I don’t have any will to do this chitchat with her. I just want to take her order and be on my way.

An Asian man was sitting beside her. He was dressed in a navy blue suit. His hair was neatly combed back. I could see his hand reaching out for Claudia's arm. He glanced at Claudia with so much adoration in his eyes. His eyebrows knitted together as he witnessed the sadness in her eyes. I had the urge to roll my eyes at her. The man averted his gaze at me and his expression changed. The softness in his eyes hardened. His square jaws clenched. His hawkish eyes zeroed in on me. I immediately knew I was in trouble.

“Apologize to her,” the man dared to say to me.

Claudia gasped and quickly glanced at me and shook her head before she looked at him, “Oh, Austin – no,” She tried to softly tell him off, but Austin didn’t care. His eyes were still on me. He was glaring at me like I disrespected Claudia. I didn’t. I just ignored her. If only this man knew what she did to me.

“Excuse me?” I said.

Austin scratched the tip of his nose. He straightened his back and raised his eyebrows, “I am telling you to apologize to her now.” He wasn’t yelling. His tone was low, but there was gravity in his voice.

Everyone at the table looked at me, including Claudia. I glanced down at her and gulped. I had the urge to tell this man no. I wanted to act stubborn and tell him that he was being unfair to me, but I didn’t because I knew it would only get me in trouble and cost me my job. I can't afford to lose this job. I earn the most from it. I clutched the iPad in my hands and gulped down my pride. I lowered my gaze and once again gave in, “I am sorry,” I muttered.

Claudia put her slender finger on my hand. Her hands were cold, like her soul. “Luna, it is fine. Please, don’t apologize.” I narrowed my eyes at her duality. She could have said that before I was forced to apologize to her. The insult was at the tip of my tongue, but I held it in. I only nodded my head to her.

I was about to ask them again what they wanted to order when that rude man spoke again, “We want another waitress. This one is yet to learn how to be respectful.” Austin said to his other friend, who just sat silently.

The blonde man looked at Austin, “Austin, that’s enough.” He muttered before he glanced at me, “I am sorry about that.” I already liked this man. He seems to be way more reasonable and respectful than Austin. I am pretty sure he is Claudia’s boyfriend.

Good for them, they seem to make a perfect couple – a couple of jerks.

Even when the blonde man intervened, it didn’t help me. I was replaced, and because of that, I was scolded by the manager. She gave me a warning before I resumed working. All the time Claudia and her minions were there – the Austin guy was giving me dirty looks.

“END OF FLASHBACK”

I heaved a sigh and laid back on the bed. I clutched my hair in my hands and blew my cheeks out. I wish I had the power to just punch that man and Claudia that night. I would have done it without even giving it a thought. I was struggling to sleep when I heard someone whispering my name. It was Daniel. We two share a room. Our apartment is small. We don’t have a separate room for everyone. There are just two rooms, mom takes one, and Daniel and I share the other. Mom takes the smaller room, while Daniel and I share the slightly bigger room. Besides that, we only have a small living room and an open kitchen.

“Luna?” Daniel whispered. We never wake up till late. I wonder if I woke him up.

“Yes?” I plopped myself on my elbows and looked toward his bed. I watched as he pushed the blanket away and sat on the bed. “Did I wake you up?” I asked him, but he didn’t answer me. I watched as he switched on the lamp and pulled his school bag from the corner of the bed. He unzipped it and took something out. I couldn’t see what it was, but whatever it was – it fitted in his fist.

He climbed out of bed and stepped closer to me. He stretched his fist out to me. “Here. Keep it.” He whispered.

I knitted my eyebrows together and asked, “What is it?” I brought out my hand.

Daniel shrugged and placed the money he was holding in his fist. There were a few crumbled $5 bills. They total $25. I felt a lump in my throat as I looked at him, “I have been saving money for you to pay bills. I am a big boy now. I will get a job soon.” My heart clenched in my chest. My eyes immediately filled with tears. My poor Daniel – my sweet Daniel.

I could help but wrap my arms around his skinny waist and press my face on his stomach. Tears leaked from my eyes, “Ew, no hugs.” He said and pushed me away. Daniel doesn’t like physical interaction. “Go to sleep now,” he told me before he jumped under his blanket and switched off the lamp. He tossed his back at me and went to sleep.

And just like that, my little brother helped me out of my misery. I know what to do now. I wiped my tears and pulled my phone out. I glanced at Daniel and softly smiled before I walked out of the room. I know it was late at night, but I didn’t care. I called Andrew.

He picked up after a few rings. His voice was hoarse. I woke him up. “Hello?”

“I am in. But I have a condition. I want you to draft a contract, and in that contract, you will state that no matter what happens to me you are going to pay my family. And I am not going to settle for a small amount – if I am risking my life, I want you to name a huge amount in the name of my family. If you do not accept this term, I am not going to help you.”

Andrew was silent for a few seconds before he sighed, “And if I agree, are you going to give your all to squeeze a confession out of Dr. Forte’s daughter?”

“Not just a confession – but as much evidence as I can collect – but the more concrete the proofs are, the higher the amount I need.”

“You know that will put you in great danger, Luna, right?”

“I don’t care. I don’t care if I die. I just want you to put all the money I will earn in my mother's and brother’s names. And you should better make sure they live a peaceful and comfortable life if I am not around.”

“I have to discuss this with my superiors, but I am sure they will not have a problem with it,” Andrew replied.

That night, I played the most dangerous game I could think of. That night I rewrote my faith – for worse, and somehow for better. Last week, I hoped that, along with Claudia, I would never have to see Austin again either – but I, myself, changed it – and engraved him in my life.