[8:30 A.M.]

I walked to the building and greeted other staff after I got out of Diana's car.

I couldn't help but feel my heart was heavy, as if someone was pressing down on my chest. Diana should've definitely remembered what she did last night, but she just stared at me and lied. 

And I know what that means...

It means, "I made a mistake since I was drunk, and I don't want to get stuck in an awkward position because of it... So let's pretend it didn't happen at all... In the end, it meant nothing!" 

I let out a sigh and then put my stuff in my locker...

"I got excited last night like a fool~..." I muttered.

John suddenly appeared in front of my face and asked, "What are you saying to yourself?"

I jolted back and answered awkwardly, "Haha~ Nothing~... Just random thoughts~..."

He wrapped his arm around me, leading me outside the staff's room. "Let's begin our work~..."

I nodded, "Yep~."

~

[17:45]

Since John and I were tired of placing books on shelves, we decided to grab a coffee to rest a bit. 

As we walked to the second floor and got to the counter, I heard a guy's voice calling us, so I turned my head in its direction. 

My eyes widened in shock when I saw Diana and Ethan sitting there. I approached their table and sat down with them for a while until John also joined us, even though Diana didn't look comfortable.

While we were talking, I kept glancing at Diana from time to time, sitting across from me. Her glaring daggers at me with a gloomy expression and not participating in our conversation made me feel pretty awkward.

As John rested his hand around my shoulder, I flinched a bit, thinking that Diana might've misinterpreted his actions. So I squirmed out of his arm, but he placed his hand on my thigh while speaking to Ethan. I was bewildered by his sudden touch, and it actually made me startled, especially in front of them. However, when I was about to push his hand away, Diana asked, "Are you two dating?"...

And the only thing that came into my mind was, "What I didn't want to happen, it had already done!"

Both of us denied in an instant nervously...

There was no reason why Diana was so worked up, but John and her were arguing out of nowhere...

Honestly, I was so confused about the whole situation...

As I tried to say something, Diana got up and approached John to land a fist on his face... 

The punch caused John to fall to the ground, furious... 

I sprinted towards him to check his face worriedly as Ethan held Diana back...

But she yelled at me, which made me jolt, "Why would you apologise to him? Stop saying sorry to everyone stupidly!"

When I tried to explain to Diana and calm her down, she said something that broke my heart really bad...

"This is why people keep abusing you, Lily. Because you're a pushover."... 

Her voice echoed in my head, repeating again and again... 

As our boss, Daniel, came to the scene, I took John to his office. "I'm so sorry~ John~..." I said to him while we stepped down the stairs...

"What's wrong with that maniac girl?!" He grumbled. 

"She's not like that~ She~ just~..." I couldn't finish my answer, and tears rolled down my cheeks unconsciously as I was overwhelmed...

John stared at me with a puzzled face and sighed, "Nevermind... Let's not talk about it..."

We got to the office and sat down quietly and didn't say a word to each other until Daniel came.

He told me to return home but kept John in his office since they wanted to talk privately...

~

[18:30]

I anxiously headed to the staff's room and picked up my things, then I rushed out of the building while trembling to hold back my sadness...

As I stepped onto the sidewalk, I noticed Diana was waiting for me. I stared at her while I froze in my place and frowned unknowingly, unable to get close to her...

She approached and said with worried eyes, "Lily..."

I averted my gaze by turning my head, "I'm sorry, but~ I can't face you right now~... let's talk later..." 

I took a step, trying to get away, but she grasped my wrist, "Lily! Look! I didn't mean to~..." 

I snatched my hands out of her grasp and cut her words off. "I don't wanna talk nor listen to you!!!" I snapped at her.

She stopped in front of me and grabbed my shoulders, " I didn't mean to say those things to you!!! I was just furious because you apologized to him when you did nothing wrong!" 

I looked up and glared at her, "Why would you hurt John out of the blue?!!! You shouldn't have done that!" 

-"I tried to protect you!!!" 

+"He's my coworker, and he's a nice guy!!! He's a bit more friendly than others but has no malicious intentions towards me!!!... You literally misjudged him, Diane!" 

Diana's grasp on my arms tightened as she groaned, "No! I didn't!!! Touching someone like that ain't friendly at all, Lily!!!... He wants to fuck around with you! Why can't you see that?!"

I felt my heart crumble in pain, then I let out a laugh and said, "Maybe I can't see because I'm indeed a pushover like you said!... If not, I wouldn't have let you lie in my face this morning!... "

Diana dropped her hands as she was taken aback and just stared at me in panic...

Then I added, "Now, I wonder who wants to fuck around with me?!" 

She muttered, "No~ That's ~ not~..." 

I took a step back and said, "I'm sorry but I guess we need a break~..." then I started to run away from her as she called my name and tears were falling down nonstop and made me sob loudly... 

I crouched down after I got far away from her, crying out loud... 

This love hurts~ 

My heart hurts~

I can't tolerate this~ 

She sees me as a loser~ 

a pushover~

~

[19:10]

When I got home, my mom grabbed my forearm and dragged me to the living room, "Lily, did you receive your salary? Give it to me! I need it for Luie's school!..."

I looked at her as I was in pain in my chest, "Is this the only thing you can ask me right now?!"

She glared at me, "What?!" 

"Can't you see I'm crying and I'm not okay?! Is my salary more important than me?!" I yelled at her. 

She slapped me in the face, "Don't raise your voice on your mother!!! You cry all the time, Lily! And that's not new! Give me the money!!!"

I held the spot that I got slapped as I felt the sting feelings on my cheeks. "Have you wondered why? Have you ever cared?! I don't wanna give it to you! I worked my asses off for it! Because I needed this money!" 

My father walked downstairs and asked, "What's this fuss about again?" 

My mom grumbled, "This ungrateful brat talks back to me!" 

"Lily, respect your mother!!! And do what she says!!!" He nagged me.

I threw my bag on the ground and shouted, "Am I even your real child?! Are you sure you didn't adopted me or something?!! How could you be so cruel to me like this?" 

My dad approached me and grasped my hair forcefully, dragging me upstairs. "You've never learned from the past, Lily."

Then he kicked my room's door and tossed me onto the ground. "Pick up your things and get out of my house! You rat!" 

I crumbled in pain, still lying on the floor and shouted out loud, "AAAAAHHHHH..." 

My dad just hit me with his belt again in response, and when he was done, he let out a huff and said, "Get the fuck out before I kill you... I don't want a child like you..." 

I felt half unconscious since my whole body has become numb in pain. I looked at the doorframe of my room. The people who were supposed to be my family were standing there, watching me unfazed...

I let out a moan and put my palms on the floor and pushed so that I could get up. 

Then I stuffed my things into a backpack and a large sack. Funnily enough, I didn't really have much stuff... 

I walked out of my room while my body ached terribly and headed downstairs. Before going out of the front door, I looked at them sitting on the couch, splitting the money between them, "I hate all of you!"

And rushed out of the house...

~

[19:10]

Diana's POV: 

After Lily left me there, I went back home right after. 

As I got into my room, I slumped down on my bed, completely frustrated by what had happened... 

"DAMN IT... DAMN IT... DAMN IT..." I cursed as much as I could to calm myself down...

I was lost in my thoughts for a while, thinking how could I fix this messed up situation... 

~

[19:58]

However, my thoughts were disrupted by my phone's ringtone... 

I answered the call and it was Alex, Ashley's brother. "Hey, what's up?" I asked.

He said hesitantly, "Em~ Dee~ I guess I need to tell you something~..." 

I jolted up and asked nervously as his voice was showing something must be wrong, "What?!" 

-"I~ was walking back home from somewhere when~... I noticed Lily was sitting in the park nearby~... and~..."

+"Speak up, Alex!!"

-"I guess she got kicked out of the house~ I asked her to come to ours or Ashley's, but she refused~..." 

I got shivers down my spine and asked anxiously, "Is she still there?!!"

-"Yeah, I think so~... I thought that maybe you could help her~... "

+"Okay, thanks for calling me! I need to go! Bye!"

I hung up the phone and stormed out of my apartment. returning to my car and driving off to find her.

"Why didn't she call me?! Gosh!" I grumbled...

I knew we had a fight, but something like "Getting kicked out" is such an urgent matter!!!...

~

[20:23]

I've searched the whole park anxiously, praying she wouldn't have gone elsewhere...

As I spotted her sitting on a bench and staring blankly at the floor, I ran towards her. "Lily!" 

She raised her head up with teary eyes, and one side of her cheeks was red. Her clothes and hair were messy. 

"How did you...?!" she asked, almost too shocked to speak with her eyes flickering at her stuff, probably not wanting me to notice what was going on. 

My heart throbbed in pain as it couldn't stand the sight I witnessed... 

I approached Lily and nuzzled her hair, "Let's go home." 

She snatched my hand and said, "I have no home~"

I kneeled down in front of her and held her hands as I stared at her, "Lily~... I know you're mad at me, and you can be... But now's not the time to argue~... Come with me~... Please~..." 

She clenched her fists under my hold and didn't answer me... 

I stood up and picked up her sack and backpack, then grabbed her wrist with my other hand, dragging her to my car... 

Lily remained silent the whole way, however she didn't refuse either... 

~

[21:06]

We got back home and I put her belongings in the corner of the bedroom as she was standing still in the middle of the living room. 

I glanced at her, never seen her like that, which kinda concerned me...

"Go on and take a shower... " I said.

But there was no response...

I stepped closer to her, and then pulled her into my arms,"It's alright~ You have me~... and also~... I'm sorry for my rational behaviour~... "

She flinched in my embrace, sobbing loudly without answering... 

I held her tight and stroked her hair gently until she got calm...

I whispered words of comfort, telling her everything would be alright despite the fact that I was so angry about what they'd done to her. 

She snuggled closer to me and I could feel the tension leaving her body. After a few moments, she pulled away and walked to the bathroom....

When Lily stepped out of the bathroom with the robe I gave her a month ago so she could use it while staying here, I grabbed her arm lightly and made her sit on the edge of bed. 

I held her chin up and rubbed the ointment I brought on her red cheek. Her eyes and nose were still red from all that crying while she looked at me with hurtful eyes.

Then I said, "Take off your robe."

"What?!" She asked as her eyes widened. 

I let out a sigh, "I need to apply the ointment to the parts~... You've been~... Hit~... As well as the pain patches..."

Lily took off her robe shyly, staying silent again while she was avoiding my gaze. 

If it was any normal day, I'd have definitely jumped on her by seeing Lily naked in front of me because it was indeed tempting, but that night all I could see was her bruised body and the pain she had been through...

And that made my heart sink in sadness...

I sat next to her and started from her back and the other part after. 

We both stayed silent for a while...

As I was done, I picked a T-shirt from my closet and handed it over to her.

Then I said, "Live with me from now on... Don't come back to that house..."

.

.