CH 5
Rebuilding A LifeLuHan stared into the mirror, his toothbrush forgotten in his hand as he studied the new lines on his face. He had always been careful with his skin, knowing that his good looks could get him anything and everyone, but the past few weeks spent working for the Luo's had taken a toll on him and it showed. The darkness around his eyes and the few pimples that had begun to plague him were a physical side effect to the work he had been doing and the long hours kept; he had been used to doing no work and sleeping until mid-day only to party until the early morning hours. Now he had to rise at eight and work until eleven or later, often not getting to sleep until past one in the morning due to his showers. He was tired; physically tired, mentally tired, just tired of the whole ordeal.
With a sigh he finished scrubbing his teeth and spat into the sink, washing it away with water before finishing getting dressed and heading out the door of his bedroom. He had become resigned to the fact that this was a part of his sentence; he had to serve it and serve it right if he ever wanted his old life back. 'The first thing I am going to do is fly to Maui and sleep for a week,' he thought, stepping down into the kitchen with a fake smile on his face.
At least he was pretty sure it was fake. There were times when he caught himself actually laughing at something a customer said, times he found himself enjoying the mealtimes with the little family, times he mentally slapped himself when he began wishing he could have changed that night. There was nothing he could do. And technically it wasn't his fault... Jimmy should never have pulled out in that intersection.
"Good morning, LuHan," Mrs. Luo gave him a tired smile, but he was quick to notice the way that it didn't reach her eyes this morning. She looked worn out, frayed along the edges as if she were breaking apart on the inside; her makeup was done perfectly but it didn't hide the dark circles under her eyes or the pain within them. LuHan looked way quickly before he could start doing any of that stupid thinking again.
"Morning," he said brightly, hoping his forced cheer would make her happier and stop moping around, and grabbed a plate to serve himself some fried rice and hard boiled eggs. When he turned back toward where she had been standing he was relieved to find she was gone, and so he made his way into the dining room to take his place at the table. To his surprise she wasn't there, and his steps faltered as he felt suddenly nervous sitting at the table alone with Grandpa Tzu and Vinson. Despite the last few weeks having become routine for LuHan, the old man still only grouched at him, while Vinson had become indifferent. No glares and no snide remarks, but also nothing at all. He was silent, judging, and it made LuHan even more uncomfortable than the harsh comments. At least he knew how to deal with those and could fight back.
He stood there wondering if he should sit down before he finally decided against an awkward breakfast and to go eat in the kitchen. Just as he made up his mind, though, it was too late; Vinson looked up at him and motioned at LuHan's usual seat. "It doesn't bite," he said quietly, and so with another long pause LuHan took the seat and dug into his meal, keeping his eyes on the rice in front of him. The other two men at the table also resumed their meal and they ate in silence, LuHan wondering where Mrs. Luo was but too intimidated to ask either of the others.
Mrs. Luo finally reappeared right before service began, helping in the kitchen despite her hands being shaky. LuHan was astounded to see her this way; she was always so kind, so calm, so great in the kitchen, yet today she continuously dropped things, cut vegetables the wrong ways for the dishes they were supposed to go in, and even burned several dishes. Old man Tzu seemed worried about her; he kept casting glances over his shoulder at her, watching closely anytime she chopped anything as if he was afraid she was going to cut herself.
Which she finally did, at which point Grandpa Tzu stepped over to her and spoke quietly in her ear. LuHan had been back there getting a refill of tea for a customer, and he was shocked to see tears spring in her eyes and run down her cheeks as she nodded her head to her father and wiped her hands on her apron. She dried the tears almost as quickly as they had come, and headed into the dining
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