Rudy

"Argh!" Emily's eyes fluttered open the following morning, and the first thing she felt was pain. 

"My muscles ache badly..." She mumbled then sighed as she remembered the past events from the previous day. 

Before she could dwell further on that, her phone rang.

"Ugh, not now." She grumbled, glancing at the caller ID. It was her manager from the bar.

"What does this man want so early in the morning?" She wondered as she accepted the call, already dreading what was coming.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Her manager's voice boomed through the speaker, making her wince.

"What do you mean?" Emily asked gently, although she already knew where this was heading. Her stomach turned with anxiety.

"How dare you harass and assault a customer? Do you know who that man is?" He demanded angrily. 

Emily sat up straight, her fatigue instantly replaced by indignation. Her hands were shaking with anger.

"Excuse me? He harassed me first! I was only defending myself! Or what? Should I have just stood there and let him have his way with me?" She shot back. 

"Oh really? Is that why you broke his nose? Do you know he is demanding compensation and I had to pay his hospital bills?" The manager snapped at her. 

Emily scoffed in annoyance. 

"How is that my problem? He deserved what he got for being a creep!" She retorted. 

"Well, it becomes your problem because I'm using your pay from the weeks you have worked to settle his bills! Every single penny!" He informed her. 

"What? You can't do that! That's my hard-earned money!" Emily exclaimed, her voice rising with disbelief. 

The manager firstly chuckled dryly before he spoke up again. 

"Oh, I can. And by the way, you are fired! Don't even think of coming back here!" He delivered the final blow. 

Emily felt like someone had punched her in the gut. But she refused to let him hear her pain. Her pride wouldn't allow it.

"Well, good riddance actually! Finally, I will be free from your toxic management! You are always taking out your frustration on innocent workers. You are the worst manager I've ever had! Trust me, you won't get another hardworking employee like me!" She yelled, her voice trembling with anger. 

"Don't you dare-" The manager started but Emily cut him off.

"Save it! I don't want to hear your voice anymore!" She snapped then ended the call and threw her phone onto the bed.

That was when reality hit her. 

"I have just lost my best paying part-time." 

"Why has my life been so shitty this week?" She grumbled and the tears she had been holding back finally broke free, streaming down her face. 

"Yesterday has been absolutely horrible, and now this?" 

"Why is everything falling apart? What am I going to do now?" She sobbed into her pillow. 

Then a gentle knock on her door interrupted her breakdown.

Emily quickly wiped her tears and opened the door to find her father, David, standing there. She tried to compose herself, but she knew her face would betray her.

"Emmy, what is wrong?" He narrowed his eyes on her, looking concerned. 

 "Have you been crying?" He asked softly. 

"No, it's nothing, Dad. I'm fine." Emily said, forcing a smile, even though her heart was breaking.

"I just watched a sad movie before sleeping last night." She lied. 

David didn't look convinced, but Emily quickly changed the subject.

"When is John's college tuition due?" She asked, referring to her younger brother.

David's face fell. 

"Emmy, I will find a way-" He was saying but got interrupted. 

"No, Dad! We have talked about this. I won't let you work yourself to death trying to handle everything alone. You're already not well." Emily cut him off, her voice firm but gentle. 

"Remember what I told you? Let me help you like Mom would have. I'm already gathering the tuition fee, so please use your savings for your treatment." She said pleadingly as she took his hands in hers. 

"But the treatment is so expensive. Maybe we should just use the money for food and let whatever happens, happen." David protested, his eyes filled with guilt. 

Emily's eyes flashed with anger and determination. 

"Never! I'm not losing you like we lost Mom! You are getting that treatment and getting better for us, period! John and I need you, Dad." She maintained firmly. 

David heaved a heavy sigh. 

"Come eat before you leave for work." He told her. 

 ~~~~~~~~~

Later that evening, after closing from her afternoon job; 

"It is going to be fine. I just need to look for another high paying job or maybe a stable one this time around." Emily thought as she walked down the street, reading every sign post she came around. 

Then a bold advertisement caught her eye. One of the city's biggest companies was hiring, with multiple positions available.

"Oh my God!" She exclaimed. 

"This could be it. Maybe what happened is actually a blessing in disguise." She mumbled, quickly taking a picture of the contact information. 

 ~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, as early as possible, Emily, dressed in her best formal attire, was rushing toward the interview room. 

"Please don't let me be too late. I need this job. I can't let Dad and John down." She prayed silently, clutching her portfolio tighter. 

Although she had woken up early, but had wasted time choosing the best outfit to go with. 

In her haste, she didn't notice the person turning the corner until it was too late. 

She crashed right into a solid, hard chest.

"I'm so sorry, I-" Emily was trying to apologize but the apology died in her throat as she looked up.

Her eyes widened as they met familiar ones. It was the mysterious man from the accident – the one who had been so rude after she saved his life. 

"You?" She exclaimed in disbelief, taking an involuntary step backward.

However, the man's response made her blood run cold.

"I have been looking for you."