YOU WILL REGRET THIS!

BENJI

Today was indeed a special day for us as it was our lovely Bria's twentieth birthday. I couldn't believe how fast the time had gone, and right in front of my eyes, she had already turned twenty now.

I still remember her three years old crying self, eight years old Bria shooing away cats and dogs so that they wouldn't eat her biscuits, the ten-year-old self of her taking care of the kids and helping me with the household chores, the fifteen years old Bria decided to drop out of school and opted for the distance learning programs so she could save some money, take care of the kids and also help me in the house and our little cafe.

'And one day your little birdy will fly in the high sky with her prince charming!' I hated my consciousness every time it reminded me of that painful fact.

If it was in my hands, then I would never let her go away from me, out of this house. All these years, I couldn't bring myself to trust any man with Bria.

Boys these days are just not as sensitive as we used to be, I think!

Two days ago, the kids came to me asking if we could go somewhere to celebrate Bria's birthday. No matter how much I liked their idea, I also had to keep reminding myself about our financial condition.

After Bria's parents- my close friends- died in an accident leaving behind a three-year-old little girl in my hands who barely survived that accident, her mother also entrusted me with what little fortune they had saved for Bria.

And that included this two-storey house which was large enough to accommodate eight people, and a small property around it, along with some cash.

It would have been enough for both of us if only that kind-hearted girl had not decided to take six orphan kids under our care. I was totally against that idea at first when we found baby Juan under the bridge- abandoned and shivering, crying for food.

But after spending a week with him, I couldn't bring myself to abandon that baby or give him to the authorities. So I did all the legal processes and adopted him.

Little did I know that five more were also going to be a part of our small family.

But sitting at the breakfast table watching them all loudly bickering, teasing and chattering amongst each other, I don't wish to change even a single thing about it.

They are my world... my only family for the past many years!

So because of our tight financial situation, Eva came up with an economic idea. We decided to visit the nearby amusement park where I used to take them before.

But in recent years, the work kept piling up so much that I couldn't find time to take them to the park.

Everyone liked Eva's idea, and Lily and Lillian began planning how to make Bria sit on the giant Ferris wheel to see her crying for her life.

Bria is scared of heights, by the way!

The afternoon passed in a blur, and it was already time to go to the amusement park.

The smile didn't leave Bria's face watching the thrill bubbling in kids as they chatted animatedly about what they wanted to do there.

We got into our van and were already on our way to the amusement park. Once I hit the breaks, those pawns of Satan didn't waste a minute and were already a lot in the crowd.

I watched Bria yelling at the top of her lungs as she tried to keep her eye on every kid but to be honest, it was humanly impossible to handle those little monsters.

The situation got so out of control that Bria looked like a woman on the run from a mental asylum. People gave her weird looks as she glared in every direction, with her face flushed pink.

I decided to stay away from her as I didn't want to be the embarrassed one there.

Another thing about Bria Maxwell- Never and I mean never go near her when she is angry!

Anyways, I needed to post the letter that I had prepared in the morning, so I took that opportunity and apologised to Bria mentally for leaving her with the kids like that.

But that letter was important too!

By the time I returned, I saw her sharing rides with the kids. We didn't realise when it was already time to go home. And if you ask me, then I was more than glad about it.

I was exhausted, and I was sure so were the kids and Bria!

We got back home late in the night, but we didn't expect to see a shadow sitting on the steps of our patio. As soon as we hopped down our van, Bria caught my eyes in confusion.

The man wore black pants, and a black suit with a white shirt underneath. His head hung low and the only bulb above the front door didn't help in getting a good view of his face.

I handed jack to Eva and told the kids to stand at a safe distance.

As we walked near him, he must have sensed our presence because he lifted his head and then stood up.

His face was devoid of any expressions, but his eyes told how irritated he was.

Perhaps he was waiting for too long.

But who was he?

Before I asked him anything, my little tigress took an intimidating step towards him and crossed her hands, eyeing him warily.

"Well... Are you going to stand there like a statue or got any genuine reason to sit at my front door at ten in the night?" She demanded in an authoritative tone, but only I knew the skill she had developed over the years.

It was all just an act of defence.

The man, a couple of years elder than Bria, tilted his head and said in an arrogant tone "Took you long to get back home Miss Bria Maxwell."

"Who are you?" I asked, not liking the way he looked at the kids and then his eyes lingered on Bria for longer than I liked.

He smirked before slipping his hand into his pocket and pulling out a white envelope from it. He gave it to Bria, and she instantly opened it to read the papers inside of it.

"This is a legal notice from my Boss. You have one month to leave this place and your house. My boss will send you the papers for this place with some... Compensation. Sign the papers. Take the money and leave." He said in a robotic voice like he had recited it for hours and was not very interested in the conversation.

We all stood looking at him dumbfoundedly. I instantly took those papers from Bria and began reading them. It took Bria three whole minutes to get back to her senses, and the first reaction she gave was something I didn't expect.

That girl burst out laughing as if she had just seen the funniest scene from her favourite comedy movie. But I didn't share her feelings as I confirmed the authenticity of those papers.

She met my eyes, and she must have sensed the worry on my face as her laughter subsided and the reality sink in.

"Get out"

"Pardon?"

"I said get the fuck out of my property before I snap your little... well, not so little neck and bury you in my backyard with lilies planted on your grave. And never and I mean ever dare to come back near my home." Bria's voice boomed, cutting the silence of the night. At that moment, she didn't care that she had used a bad word in front of the kids as she was fuming with anger.

Thank God we don't have any neighbours around, or I am sure they would have called the police by now.

"I will suggest you watch your precious little mouth, Miss Maxwell," The man said in a threatening tone, his eyes blazing with anger.

Enough of that! I was about to interject when Bria beat me to it.

"Listen, you fuckface. I am not some damsel in distress that will come begging for mercy at your feet. How dare you come to MY house and order me to leave my house that too within a month?! I am warning you for the last time. Get. The. Hell. Out. Of. Here!" Bria stretched her hand, showing him the way out.

"My boss-"

"I don't give a single shit about you or your boss." She growled like an angry lioness.

The man gave her a long look before shrugging his shoulders. "Fine! It seems like you don't understand the easy way. I will take your leave, Miss Maxwell... For now! It's getting late and it is not safe for a pretty lady like you or your innocent little friends to roam this late at night."

His gaze shifted behind Bria, where all kids were standing and watching the scene before them with nervousness.

"This is a very bad world with many bad people Miss Maxwell. You may never know what-"

Before he could utter one more word a sound of crack echoed in the silence.

I could only gasp in shock.

Bria... just punched him square in the face!

Before I got back to my senses, the man was already shouting at her.

"You will regret this! You don't know who you are messing with."

She ignored him completely and stormed towards the front door to open it. I ushered all the kids inside the house before things escalated more than they already had.