Chapter 11

"Daniel! Lunch is ready!" Emma yelled from the staircase to call her husband who replied with a quick 'coming!'.

"Axel? Help me with the plates, please? Emma asked her son. Axel nodded and quickly setted up the plates on the dining table.

While on the other hand, Hazel was gazing on the outside garden. The sun shined brightly. Birds chirped. Cool breeze flew around the bushes and trees. It was quite a lovely scene for the girl to see. She barely gets to see them outside from the university campus.

"Hazel dear? Come join us." Emma called out. Hazel was pulled out of her trance and she joined the Collins family for the dinner. For the very first time in her fucked up life, she felt like she is at her home.

"So, you're Hazel?" Daniel, Axel's father asks Hazel after an awkward silence. Hazel looked up to the masculine man and smiled nervously.

"Yes sir." She swallowed her food down her (somehow) dried throat. Axel muffled his laughter but earned a stern look from his mom.

"Axel was right. You two do look alike." Daniel smiled.

"Maybe we are lost twins!" Axel exclaimed.

"No shouting at the dining table, Axel. That's practically a bad manner." You might assume Emma said it to Axel but in reality it was-

"I'm sorry, Hazel." Axel apologised. Hazel smiled and ruffled his fluffy brown hair causing the brunette to giggle.

The household was brighten up with Hazel's sunshine aura. The Collins thought a lost family member came back to them. Hazel spent the rest of the day with Axel and his family. Hazel, for the first time, felt complete. She felt she doesn't need anyone if she has them as her family. But fortune is something after all.

"Thank you so much, Emma and Daniel! I had an amazing time with you." Hazel beamed as she stood by the front door, preparing to leave for home.

"Ah! We had more fun. You should come by more often." Emma hugged the brown head girl and kissed her forehead lightly. Daniel came in and hugged her.

"I wish I had a daughter like you. You're so sweet!" Daniel grinned. Hazel blushed furiously. "Axel, drop her home." Axel nodded.

The duo were walking down the streets which were enlightened by the light heads, a few cars zoomed past them while some people walked passed them.

"Hazel? I have a question." Axel spoke up after some time of silence.

"Ask away."

"Why did you go to your parents apartment yesterday?"

"Mum and dad take money from me to live a life. I just go to their apartment to give them money. They eat food and stay under a roof by my incomes but still they torture me. But yesterday, I rushed out of the house and forgot to give them money. I guess, I'll be dead meat for sure mext time." Hazel chuckled nervously. Axel was debating between, 'Should he laugh along?' or 'Should he scold her for going into the hell hole?'

What kind of person gives money to the people who torture them instead of thanking them?! This shit is tragic! What kind of k-drama is this shit?! Well, seems like it's worse than one.

"Don't worry about this shit. It's everyday, bro." Hazel said like nothing happened. Axel was shocked to his core. He blocked the girl's way by standing in front her. "What are you doing?"

"Hazel?! How can you be so insensitive?! Your parents literally torture you and beat the fucking shit out of you and you are unbothered by this fuck? Sis, you have to be kidding me!" Axel lets out a frustrated grunt as he stomped his feet on the ground. Hazel was beyond confused.

"What are you saying?"

"You know very well what I'm saying, Hazel. Don't act stupid." Axel said sternly. "You are moving with people's strings which are attached with you! Cut those off girlie! Live your life! You only live once! Wake up!" Hazel Adair was questioning herself,

Whatever she is doing, is this herself?

Is she really moving with people's strings which are attached with her?

Is she awake?

"Hazel, I love you to death. I swear. But I can't see you suffering like this. They just busted your lips today, tomorrow, they'll bust your whole body and throw it somewhere, we won't able to find!" Axel tried to convince. Hazel just simply nodded and went up to her apartment door.

"Thanks for dropping me off Axe... Take care and text me after you reach home." She said in a monotonous tone.

"Haze- *sighs* Okay. Good night, sis." The brunette walked away leaving Hazel alone and internally broken.

Hazel went inside to her tiny ass apartment and close the door. She clamped her mouth to muffle her painfully loud sobs. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She needed to let it out. She slid down the door and brought her knees close to her chest, hugging them like her life depends on it.

'Why am I like this?! Why didn't I understand this fucked up shit earlier?! Why am I so fucking stupid?! Why am I such a fucking stigma to my loved ones?! Why?! Just why?!' Her mind screamed as she cried until there were no tears left to cry.

"I'm tired of this shit." She muttered before standing up and harshly wiping her tears off her rosy cheeks. "Crying is pointless and it only makes you weak." After stripping off from her clothes, she stepping into the shower and let the cold water run down her tired body.

she sighed in content as the water drops hit her body and rolled down her pale snow white skin. Her beautiful, dreamy hazel eyes were closed as she kept standing under the shower head. Her eyes burned from all the crying.

she stepped out of the bathroom and wrapped a towel around her body before doing her night routine quickly. She was tired. Not just from all the stuff she did today but from-

EVERYTHING...

Life has been unfair with Hazel Adair but if you see the good side of it, she gained a lot of things. She learnt how to be independent. She learnt no matter what happens, never give up. Giving up is for losers. She is not a loser, is she?

She admits that, life is not easy. It never has been but after the day ends, Life Goes On...

She made herself a motto in life-

"Haters gon' hate. Players gon' play. Live a life, man. Good luck!"