-A few years ago –

It was raining when she had woken up in the hospital. She felt ill and sick, or maybe she had always been sick.

“Selina are you ok?” it was her grandma, the only person she could go to. The only person who would understand and the only person who accepted the mistakes she made.

“I just had a nightmare,” her weak voice managed.

“It’s all better now. Are you sure you’re up to this?” Grandma Ren asked.

She was an old fragile looking woman. Wrinkles from her labor the past few years had grown onto her face, but she remained beautiful as ever. Grandma Ren lived alone in a small house living off her husband’s money after he had died.

“How is he grandma?” asked Selina. “He’s healthy, right?”

“You’ve done well. You’ve taken very good care of him,” Grandma Ren replied Selina’s hair. “There’s no need to cry. A family has already signed up to pick him up.”

Selina smiled up at her grandma with tears in her eyes and for the rest of the night listened to the pounding of the rain.

Selina had returned back to school after summer break ended. She wasn’t ready to speak to anyone yet, but still she insisted on going back. The only thing she had left to do for her family was to complete high school even though they disowned her at the moment. Selina still wanted to do something silently for them. She hoped maybe one day they would be proud of her. As she walked up the stairs she didn’t notice a pair of eyes watching her.

Selina sat still in class for the rest of the year and graduated successfully. At her graduation ceremony only her grandma was there to support her and encourage her.

- Present -

Aaron flipped through his picture book smiling to himself and quickly shut it when he felt someone jump onto the bed beside him.

“Hey! What are you looking at?” asked Calvin lying next to him on the bed.

Aaron had, by now, wiped the smile off of his face.

“Leave me alone,” Aaron said. “You’re always bothering me at the wrong time.”

Calvin smiled as he put an arm over Aaron’s back, “It’s that one chick, right? You’re always staring at her pictures. Can’t you tell me who she is?”

“No!” Aaron told holding the book to his chest. “Leave me alone.”

“Forget it then,” Calvin said, “she looks old anyway. Come on dinner’s ready.”

Aaron held up his fist after Calvin as he left.

“Forget you,” Aaron grumbled and opened the picture book to steal a quick look at the girl’s smiling face once more then hid it under his pillow and ran downstairs.

After he graduated from high school Aaron had moved out of his home to live with Calvin. They were both working in Calvin’s uncle’s bakery shop. The two had always dreamt of opening a shop together and strangely they liked baking.

Aaron arrived at the table and grabbed his spoon when Calvin smacked his hand.

“Ow!” Aaron shouted. “What?!”

“We have to pray first,” Calvin told, “thank God for giving us this food.”

“You’re bull crap, who wants to thank God for having you,” Aaron shickered, “forget it, lets just eat. Would you rather starve first while praying or fill your stomach and pray?”

Calvin made a face at Aaron but did as he said and started to eat.

***

Selina closed the door behind her as she entered the small house. She had not moved out and hadn’t used a penny of her grandpa’s money that her grandma had left behind for her. Shortly after her grandma had passed away everyday of Selina’s life seemed a more and more meaningless. After she had lost her job she had failed terribly in looking for a new one.

Selina threw her purse onto the table and grabbed a cup of milk to drink. As she walked pass the telephone she pressed on the “play messages” button. The first few messages that played meant nothing to Selina. The next message that played after that was one asking for an interview tomorrow noon. Selina quickly smiled and laughed to herself jumping up and down but paused as soon as the next message played.

“You’ve been hiding well but I found you at last Selina. After I find out your address, we’ll meet nonstop. Goodbye.”

Selina stood there frozen as her cup of milk dropped to the ground. She could feel herself shaking. She’d been hoping to be free from that nightmare and almost believed that it would never happen again to her. That voice…that man…she hated him. She didn’t feel safe around men and the only person she could go to was her grandma because her father was dead. Her father used to have a friend whom Selina got along with very well but he disappeared after her father’s funeral and Selina lost hope of solving her father’s murder then.

He was murdered 7 years ago.

Selina lay awake in bed all night. Every time she closed her eyes and fell asleep she always thought she heard a shadow lurking in the night or her doorknob being twisted open. Selina would wake up with beads of sweat on her forehead. It felt like forever before the sun finally arose. As soon as it did, Selina got out of bed and hurried out of the house to go somewhere where there would be plenty of people. She desperately needed to be surrounded by life.

Selina found herself sitting at a table outside a café eating her small breakfast. Of course there was plenty of company around her. Everyone was heading somewhere living their usual normal lives. Selina couldn’t help but think about how good it would be to feel normal again instead of checking over her shoulder every now and then to see if someone was following her. After drinking her cup of coffee Selina got up and started to head down the sidewalk.

She had applied as a waitress. Even though she knew she wouldn’t get much money from a job like that but she needed a job pretty bad. She stopped in front of the Bakery Restaurant down the middle of a block. It was interesting, in her point of view, that a bakery could also be a restaurant. Selina never thought that this kind of restaurant would exist and still be able to rake in money, but after stopping here a few times she found that men were the only employees.

No wonder they attracted so much girls.

“Do you need something, Miss?” a voice asked.

Selina spun around to see a round man standing behind her wearing a white jacket. His face was round but full of life and a dark mustache sat under his nose.

“Oh…uh…I was just taking a look,” Selina replied.

The man smiled, “Are you Selina?”

Selina became silent for a moment almost shocked that the man knew her name.

“Yes,” Selina replied.

The man threw out a loud laugh that made Selina jump back.

“We’re going to skip the interview,” the man waved his hand about, “my name is Sam. You know how to cook?”

“Yes,” Selina answered following him through the doors and into the kitchen.

“Well, you applied as a waitress but I’ll have you cook half of the time too,” Sam informed, “looking at you, I’m pretty sure you’ve had some experience, correct?”

“Yes,” Selina replied again.

“My nephew and his friend will be coming in soon so you can start heating up the stoves and clean the tables and counters,” Sam instructed, “and since you’re a girl, I’m pretty sure you can say more than yes.”

“Yes,” Selina replied then cleared , “sure, Sam.”

Sam heaved a loud laugh and walked out, “I’ll be back at noon. Calvin should know how to get things done. See ya.”

Selina watched him walk out uncertain of how to get things done. Selina stared all around her. The tiled walls seemed to be scrubbed pretty clean. The round tables were decorated with lace tablecloths with matching chairs around them. The wooden floors didn’t actually shine but Selina could tell they had been mopped the night before. The door leading to the kitchen was set right next to the entrance and there was a counter right along the wall possibly where they took orders and where customers paid for their food.

Selina turned around to the long stove behind her and looked at the shelves and cabinet above it. She pressed her lips together as she looked around for some kind of switch to turn the stove on. Selina paused when she heard someone yawning behind her.

***

“I’m so tired! If you hadn’t been moving and making all those noises in bed yesterday…” a voice began and stopped.

Selina stared back at him blankly wondering what he meant by that. The taller boy standing next to him laughed and poked Aaron in the ribs with his elbow.

“Don’t mind him. We weren’t doing anything, so don’t take it the wrong way, and to add on to that, I’m straight.” Calvin joked before breaking out into a seizing laugh.

Still, the girl looked back at him expressionless.

“Ok, maybe that wasn’t so funny,” Calvin murmured before clearing his throat. “I’m Calvin Chen and this is Aaron Yan.”

Selina nodded, “Sam told me.”

“What’s your name?” questioned Calvin.

Selina looked at the wall from the corner of her eye as if it might come crumbling down any second. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with Aaron’s hard stare.

“Selina…Ren.” Selina answered.

“That’s a pretty name,” Calvin commented making Selina feel even more uncomfortable. “So you know my uncle?”

“Uh...yes,” Selina replied.

Calvin scratched the side of his cheek, “But I had no idea Sam was going to recruit someone else…especially a girl…”

Selina turned to look at him with a half surprised look stuck onto her face.

Calvin smiled foolishly, “I didn’t mean it that way, but on the bright side we won’t have to work so hard right, Aaron?”

Calvin turned to Aaron who seemed lost. He followed Aaron’s gaze over to Selina and stifled a laugh.

“Aaron! Hey Selina, just a warning Aaron’s a real womanizer so beware of him,” Calvin joked.

Selina moved her eyes over to Aaron who quickly looked away embarrassed.

With Selina standing there it all seemed like a dream come true. Aaron felt himself freeze, he didn’t know how to react, and felt as if he had lost all senses of talking.

“I…I’ll go out…clean,” Aaron offering not knowing what was coming out of his mouth.

As he headed out, all he could think of was what an idiot he was being. Without looking where he was going, Aaron walked into a chair stumbling over his own feet as the chair fell to the ground. He quickly picked the chair up and walked away like the speed of light. Behind him, he could hear Calvin’s loud chuckles, but nothing from Selina. He made a face before walking into the bathroom and after the door closed he stared at himself in the mirror.

“Aaron! What a moron you are! You’ve practiced acting in front of her a dozen times!” Aaron talked to himself. “Act cool! Act cool!”

Aaron nodded to himself and opened the door just to find that after a few steps he was already tripping over his own feet. From behind the counter came Calvin’s loud mocking.

“When you gotta go, you gotta go right, Aaron?” Calvin questioned. “You seem to be in quite a hurry today.”

Aaron made a face and felt himself turn red quickly. Calvin's mouth was even large than usual today. He gulped and made a dash for the door. After stopping outside he deeply exhaled quickly.

“I’m so embarrassed,” Aaron muttered, “if only Calvin would shut his big trap for a moment.” Aaron sighed loudly. “Why did Sam have to choose her? I feel like such an idiot. How could I have tripped over that stupid chair in front of her?! She must think I’m the world’s biggest loser!” Aaron covered his face in his hands. “Why did Sam have to recruit Selina of all the other girls?”

***

Selina watched as Aaron hurried out of the door finding that he somewhat looked familiar. Calvin turned to her with a big smile.

“What a kid, huh?” Calvin pointed toward Aaron. “How about we make fun of him a little?”

“I think we should start getting the restaurant ready,” Selina suggested ignoring Calvin’s idea.

She didn’t want to help Calvin make a fool of Aaron. She knew how bad it was to feel like a fool.

“It’s just a little fun,” Calvin said and headed for the door.

Selina bit her lip wondering if she might be able to help the poor boy.

***

“Sir, are you ok?” Calvin asked making his voice high pitched as he placed a hand on Aaron’s shoulder.

Aaron removed his face from behind the palm of his hands expecting to find a woman, but instead it was only Calvin. Aaron shoved his hand away quickly.

“Calvin!” he shouted.

Calvin gave a loud laugh.

“Ok, ok. Hurry up, we only 30 minutes left before the restaurant really opens,” Calvin told then pointed back to Selina, “I want to have more fun with you but the lady wouldn’t let me. Would you believe it? The pretty lady actually helped you.”

Aaron couldn’t help but smile a little as he glanced over at Selina who was looking down the street.

As the day began, Aaron couldn’t help but keep glancing over at Selina who was happily taking every customer’s orders with a smile on her face that seemed so real. Calvin who was carrying out dishes couldn’t help but notice how bad Aaron was making the food and noticed his stares toward Selina.

“This kid could care less about his customers,” Calvin muttered to himself with a smile.

The door opened around noon and in came Sam.

“How’s it going? Enjoying your work?” he bellowed as he entered the kitchen.

Selina nodded in reply. Calvin headed back toward the counter and leaned against it.

“You should check on Aaron. I think he’s had too much a dose of staring,” Calvin joked.

“Humorous as you are, I hope you don’t scare off the customers. Here take the plate,” Sam said handing Calvin a plate filled with food and too much soy sauce.

“Give me that Aaron. Why don’t you go help Calvin some bit, huh?” Sam suggested taking the cooking utensil out of Aaron’s hand and gently pushed him out of the kitchen.

He froze there and turned to look at Selina before quickly turning away and stumbled toward a table. The customers sitting there looked at him alarmed, but he gave them a foolish smile and greeted them before walked away. Selina curiously watched as Aaron went to gather some dirty dishes and turned as another customer entered the restaurant.

Wiping dirty tables, washing dishes, mopping the floors, bringing orders out to the customers was what Aaron did for the rest of the day. He walked back and forth pass Calvin watching him chat lazily with the ladies. Sometimes he wondered if Sam and Calvin were really straight, since they never seemed to have a girlfriend but hang around a bunch of men.

The day soon enveloped itself into night. Sam locked the door after the last few customers left and slumped down in a chair. His big stomach stuck out from under his white jacket as he sat and fanned himself with his hand.

“Whew! What a day right, Selina?” he questioned.

Selina just looked at him and gave a small smile and returned to scrubbing the counter top.

Sam sighed as he watched her, “You work really hard for a starter. I think I better give you an increase in your wage.”

“I worked hard too,” Calvin cut in walking over while drying his hands on his apron and tossing a wet towel onto the counter which Selina grabbed and threw into the sink.

“Chatting with girls is a hard job. I guess so,” Sam nodded.

“Hey!” Aaron snapped. “You two are being so unfair. Sometimes I wonder how you really manage this restaurant.”

“It’s something you won’t ever have,” Calvin said sarcastically, “something called luck.”

Aaron made a face as Sam chuckled. Calvin took out a towel from inside his apron and placed it into Aaron’s hand forcefully then pushed him into the kitchen.

“Why don’t you help Selina scrub the oil off the tiles?” Calvin suggested and returned to sit by his uncle.

Selina glanced at Aaron through the corner of her eyes while she continued to scrub. Aaron gulped feeling sweat form on his palms as he stood there dumbfounded. He bit his lip and slowly turned and did as Calvin had told.

Calvin chuckled and turned back to Sam raising his eyebrows.

“I think your mother was right. You were really born after me,” Sam said toying around with his hat.

Calvin leaned forward, “I think Aaron really likes this new lady you got.”

Sam frowned at Calvin and turned back to see the two working hard on the walls.

“Why you say so?” Sam questioned.

“You know there’s this picture book Aaron never lets anyone see,” Calvin started.

Sam nodded, “I saw him looking happily at it once.”

Calvin shook his head, “He thinks he can hide it away from me but I looked inside it once.”

“That’s like stealing into someone’s private property! How can you do that?!” Sam said loudly.

Calvin made a loud hushing noise and glanced over at Aaron before returning back to Sam.

“There’s a photo of her inside,” Calvin whispered.

“What’s so special about that?” Sam frowned. “So what if he has a picture of Selina?”

Calvin rolled his eyes, “Aaron’s completely drooling over her!”

Sam shrugged as if it was nothing special at all, “Boy meets girl. I still don’t see it as appealing.”

Calvin rubbed his head as if he was really, really frustrated, “Aaron has never liked anyone else because of her.”

“You hear that Aaron?” Sam called out loud. “Calvin’s calling Selina a…”

Before he could go on anymore Calvin whacked him on the head.

“There’s nothing to say,” Calvin told and got up from the table pushing his chair in. “Sam, you still need your nephew to tell you how to clean up?”

Sam frowned at Calvin angrily and Calvin rushed off into the kitchen before Sam could do anything. Calvin stuck out his tongue and turned to look at Aaron and Selina with a grin. Aaron looked away as if looking at Calvin could be the worst thing he did the whole day.

***

Selina stared down the street after she walked out of the restaurant. Sam was behind her locking the door with Calvin talking loudly to Aaron who wasn't bothering to listen.

How would she get home this late? What if…what if he was still following her? Selina gulped as if swallowing her saliva could make her fear disappear.

“Selina?” a voice asked.

Selina whipped herself around to see Sam calling her.

“How are you going to get home?” he questioned.

Selina looked back at him unsure. How could she tell him of all the people in the world? She barely knew him and she hated talking to strangers. Besides Calvin and Aaron were there too, but they were all guys.

Selina wished she could shrink right on the spot.

“You don’t live too far away, do you? We could give you a lift,” Calvin suggested.

Selina felt herself stumble back. She didn’t want anyone to know where she lived, especially if that person was someone she didn’t trust.

“I…uh…” Selina stammered. “I’ll get a cab or something.”

“Are you sure? It’s not safe for a lady to be out alone,” Sam began.

“No, really it’s fine. I don’t want to waste your time,” Selina politely refused then quickly glanced around to see a cab coming their way.

She quickly waved for it and before stepping into the car she thanked them.

***

Aaron watched her go half worried. As the cab disappeared he felt like chasing after it. Calvin knocked him in the ribs with his elbow and laughed.

“Don’t tell me you feel like stalking tonight,” Calvin joked.

“I’m not like you. I’ll never go that far,” Aaron muttered and walked away.

Calvin pointed after him, “Hey, don’t get mad! Get glad!”

When Aaron didn’t turn around Calvin shouted, “I was just joking! Don’t take it to the heart! Take it to your lungs!”

When Aaron started running Calvin shouted, “Ok, ok! I’m sorry! Honey!”

“Get away! You’re freaking me out!” Aaron shouted as he pushed Calvin’s arms off of him.

Sam watched as the two chased each other around in the empty streets feeling exhausted yet happy.

***

After giving the cab driver cash Selina walked toward her house hesitating. She glanced around in the dark to see if there was anyone. She gulped and unlocked her door clumsily dropping her keys a few times before she finally managed to open the door. Selina reached for the light switch first to find that nothing seemed amiss or out of place, yet she couldn’t push the feeling away that there could be someone following her.

“Why didn’t I let them drive me home?” she wondered to herself as she made sure twice that the door was locked.

Again that night she lay awake discovering that she couldn’t go to sleep.