87 Chapter 39 (1/2)

The moment the fog cleared from her brain, Satele found herself in the black street, a street where all shady dealings and black markets ran rampant throughout the night.

If she wanted quick money, this was the right place.

Only, once the adrenaline and insanity disappeared, her knees quake. If not for the images of her mother and brother kept appearing in her head, she had long turned tail and ran away from the place.

She continued walking forward, ignoring all those curious stares she got, particularly everyone around her. She was a new face, and she didn't belong here. Even so, she continued walking. Her eyes were searching for anything that could help her.

Her stepped halted when big boots and leather shoes barged her way.

Satele frowned, hiding the quivering of her lips and the fear in her eyes when she gazed over and saw two men twice her size. From their rugged faces, stinky alcohol cigarette breaths, and the creepy smile and l.u.s.tful eyes were enough indications that they were up to no good.

”Where are you going, sweetheart?”

”Don't see you around here before. Are you a student?”

They questioned at the same time, and Satele quickly made a sidestep and walked around them, scurrying away in a hurry. However, she found her efforts in vain when the men effortlessly blocked her way once more. And this time, they moved closer towards her.

For a moment, her mind went blank while her body was paralyzed. She glanced at her surroundings only to be reciprocated with avoiding gazes and unsympathetic eyes. Realizing no one was going to help her, her trembling legs took a step back. Though her eyes didn't give anything away, glaring at the two men with threat, hoping they would be intimidated and go away.

Unfortunately, the two responded with a maniacal laugh.

”It seems the little girl is lost?”

”Why don't you let us escort you back home, yeah?”

One of them reached out his hairy, stinky muscled arm at her, which caused her brain to be in a frenzied state of panic that she didn't know how to react.

”Move.”

But before the stinky arm had the chance to grab her, a deep gruff voice resounded from behind them.

The two turned, fuming with alcoholic energy to fight.

”What did you say, a.s.shole?!”

But the barraged of curses and insults didn't continue when the two saw who it was. Their att.i.tude shifted one hundred eighty degrees.

”M-Mr. D!”

If Satele didn't encounter the two, she would think that they were not the same men. Their voices turned from one being the kings of the street to a complete kitten mewling for their mother.

She took a glance to know who it was who could scare the two who were like bears in size and was shocked to see it was just a guy probably in his twenties with unusual white hair while tattoos decorated his exposed arms.

D's face didn't change as he snarled, ”Scram! You're blocking the sidewalk!”

He didn't have to repeat it twice as the two bears scrambled and disappeared.

D's piercing scary crimson eyes then caught Satele's, which almost made the latter's knees. .h.i.t the floor. Though he appeared harmless, Satele could feel that the guy was much more dangerous than those two.

”What's a girl doing around these parts? Lost? Don't you know this is the black street that everyone avoided? Are you r.e.t.a.r.ded?”

But the moment he spoke, all Satele wanted to do was stuff a cloth in his mouth.

”None of your business,” she snappily answered, which caused D to raise a brow.

Lightly shaking his head, D resumed his walk. ”Whatever, not my problem. It's not like I'm the one who's being targeted by the thugs here.”

Fine hairs of her skin rose in chill, and Satele unconsciously shifted her eyes left and right. And like the smoke was clearing in the street, she could now see that she was being watched.

*gulp

Before she knew it, she chased after D and grabbed his shirt.

”Help me.”

D stopped and slowly turned towards her with a 'why should I' kind of face.

Biting her lips, Satele was unable to word out what she wanted to say without feeling humiliated and embarra.s.sed.

D frowned and casually flung her hands away.

”I'm in a hurry. I don't have time for lost little girls like you. If you don't know the way, then follow me. I'll show you the way out.”

D then resumed walking only to be stopped when he sensed that no one was following him. Turning around, he found the woman in tears.

W-w-what happened?

Despite everyone might say, and despite how scary looking he was, in truth, he was a man who didn't know how to treat a girl –– especially the ones who were crying.

”W-W-Why are you crying?! I-I didn't even do anything!”

Satele didn't know that her tears were already falling on her cheeks. She wiped it away, but the next second, her cheeks were wet once more.

Looking over at him, she saw the genuine concern on his face, which didn't go so well with his scary appearance, and her tears burst out once more.

She already reached her limit!

D didn't know what to do while glancing left and right, feeling all uneasy when Satele continued to cry. He walked near her and reached out but halted midway. Unsure of what to do.

Nevertheless, when he saw that she was lowering her head, hiding her weak state from the public while those tiny fingers kept wiping her eyes, he couldn't help but reach out and gently patted her head.

”H-hey, don't cry . . . Don't cry . . .”

He tried to cooed with no success as she only burst out crying, and this time, her shoulders were shaking. He was at a loss on what to do now and started to panic. He thoughtlessly grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

”Don't cry. Here, come on. Come with me.”

Satele didn't react, and D secretly thanked all the G.o.ds he knew when she, at least, started to walk. Letting him pulled her along.

----

”You need two million dollars for your mother's heart operation?” D almost spat his beer when he heard a very cliché reason why the girl was sauntering aimlessly in the black street.

They were at the restaurant near the heart of the city, a safer place to be. Much safer than the black street.

Staring at her, who was meek as a newborn kitten, like the world was ending, and she already gave up hope to continue living. He shook his head and asked, ”By what? Selling yourself?”

Satele didn't even have the energy to feel embarra.s.sed nor shame as she nodded. Her head was hanging low while her swollen eyes were droopy. Her fingers held her gla.s.s of juice, didn't mind it was turning white, and crinkle from the cold.

Sweeping Satele with one look, D muttered, ”No offense, but no one would pay that kind of amount on you.”

Satele sighed, sounding depressed by the second.

”What choice do I have? I have to get the money as soon as possible.” Her lifeless eyes then stared at D. ”If you know a loan shark, that's also fine.”

D pressed his lips in a tight line before he spoke out in a disapproving tone.

”Forget it. Don't ever think of those loan sharks. They're called sharks for a reason. They will eat up your life as payment, even chewing your bones.”