Chapter 7
Hailey's POV:
Even if I didn't make it back alive, my grandmother would never be worried. She hated me that much. The guards took me back to the house. My head hurting from all the screaming and fighting. I was still screaming when they drooped me on one of the bamboo seats. The kind guy looked at me with pity while Von was furiously punching stuff on his phone without caring about what was going on.
"Hailey," my grandmother warned, "behave yourself!" She ordered.
Even Von flinched at the sound of her roaring
"Don't you dare" I told her.
I was always the respectful, loving granddaughter. Even when I was hurting, I never showed it. Always smiled and followed all her instructions. But I couldn't keep quiet and get sold off. I needed to come up with a plan. I needed to get myself out of this mess right now. I must think but couldn't focus because my grandmother kept warning me with her cold eyes. She can't do this to me. My heartfelt heavy when I thought about my dream and goals. I worked very hard to get to this point, and now this? I felt tears in my eyes and for the first time ever I couldn't hold them back. It was never my thing to break down in front of people. I hid my emotions so well. Today, I couldn't just be that strong girl. Here I was weeping like someone had just broken my heart into a million pieces.
The kind guy walked over to me and surprisingly gave me a warm hug. I needed one. His action only boosted me to cry some more. This indeed was my reality. My happening.
"It's okay. I know that this is all too much for you to handle, but, you might end up being grateful for this opportunity. It won't be such a bad idea" he told me.
I just shook my head. I really don't want to be anybody's property. This wasn't an opportunity. I was going to be imprisoned. The only difference was that this was forever. No parole. Trial. Hope of finishing my sentence. Me with an unknown pervert until my death. Oh, I had a brilliant idea.
"I am pretty convinced that whosoever that bought me could get any woman of his choice," I told them with a smile, wiping the tears using the back of my hand. "You see, I am obviously not such a man's taste. Maybe I could work as his maid while I get other jobs to pay him back whatever he paid my grandmother. That way, he can go for a more sophisticated woman," I said, smiling, feeling on top of the world. I mean, I came up with a solution no one even considered.
"I wish it was that easy," the kind guy mumbled.
"You are an ungrateful, spoilt, brat, Hailey. Do you ever think that your stupid proposal would lead anywhere?" my grandmother asked.
"How much were you paid?"
She sneered at me and gave no response.
Turning to the kind guy, "how much did you pay her?" At least he seemed like a better opportunity of getting a response than my grandmother and Von.
"Nobody has time for this shit. Just listen to your grandmother, will you?" Von growled.
"Whosoever that put you up to this must be insane. And, you acting in this manner means that insane people also work for an insane man. No offence." I told him.
"None taken. If you want to survive in your soon-to-be new environment, I advise you to watch your tongue," he told me, continuing with what he was doing on his phone.
Was he actually telling me that there was no going back on this? This was his way of telling me what the future held? This was another level of pain But I didn't cry, I just kept quiet.
"How much do you owe them?" I asked the kind guy again.
"I'll pack your stuff," said my grandmother.
"I don't want you near any of my stuff." She irritated me at the moment. She had no right to put her filthy hands on my stuff. A hand she used in exchanging her only grandchild for money. Was this not another form of human trafficking? Only that this time, it was done by my flesh and blood, not a stranger. Maybe that is why it stabbed my heart the more.
"Why is nobody answering me?" I screamed, hitting the table with my hands.
"Five million dollars and a new house," Von said casually, shrugging. He said it with ease, like he had just mentioned a hundred thousand dollars.
"What did you even do with the money?" I asked my grandmother. What could an old woman do with five million dollars, please? God, I wish I never met her. I wish I could strangle her or punch her. I might as well pack up and go serve my new master. How long was it going to take me to repay the loan with interest, when low-class people who worked hard all their lives were never even able to save up to a million dollars. I'd never been so angry in my life. I have to find a way to get back here as soon as possible. I knew that my new master had more important things in his life than to look after me, so he would get tired of staring at me and toss me out in no time.
Then, I would find a way to face my life and put all this crap behind me.
Heaving a sigh, "what do you need me to do?"
"Charles, we have a new order," Von said to the kind guy.
Charles read the content on Von's phone and replied, "Hailey, for now, you do nothing. Mention this to no one. Go to school and finish your finals. When it is time, we will be back."
I was confused as ever.
Without caring to explain further, both of them stood, packed up their goons and left. What just happened? Was it over? Questions that had no answer was what I was faced with.
"Let me tell you, you might think that this is unfair, but, life itself is unfair. If you know what is good for you, don't even think about doing anything silly or else, you will regret it. Leave like nothing happened. If you dare to mention this to anyone, anyone at all, I will kick you out of my house." She finished.
Heavy heart, almost tearing, I left her without even looking back twice.
******
The next one week passed by in a blur. I celebrated my eighteenth birthday, wrote my finals, hung out with Lilly and Justin. To distract myself, I went to watch Justin practice more often and got ready for graduation. I tried not to think about the incident that took place a week ago again. Because when I did, I felt like I was going to pass out. It was as if I was living my life in a hurry knowing that it could be taken from me at any time. Was I a coward if I should run now that I have the opportunity to? I can't comprehend why my life was this messed up. I was beyond frightened. My nights were now filled with restlessness, as I kept having nightmares of being attacked. I frequently woke up sweaty and hyperventilating since that day, feeling hot and uncomfortable.
What killed me the most was not knowing. I didn't know who bought me. His name was only mentioned. No picture. No insight of what I was going to expect. I have never been in a position where I was helpless. This time, I think I wasn't just helpless. I had no choice. I was going crazy. The scariest thing was that, we heard no news from them since then. They never showed up or called. Just absolute silence from their end.
Pushing the disturbing thought out of my mind, I focused on getting dressed. My high school graduation was today, and I was excited. Lilly, Justin, and I had big plans to have an awesome after-party. Technically, it was Lilly's idea. Her great plan to finally get Jason. The party was at Justin's. Maybe, my opportunity of letting him know exactly how I feel before whatever that would happen takes place. My future now was uncertain.
I was wearing a white dress under my blue graduation gown. It was simple, but fitted me perfectly, showing off my small curves. I was also wearing four-inch heels. A little too loud for a graduation ceremony, but I needed the added height. All this was from Lilly's collection. I rode with Lilly in her car to school. 'The universe, just for today, show me a little kindness. Please,' I whispered under my breath, hoping that, that one request will be fulfilled.
We arrived and quickly adjusted ourselves one more time before joining others. Lining up for the ceremony, we waited patiently for our names to be called. It was a happy day for all graduates. Even the weather showed that. A perfect day—not too hot, not too cold.
Lilly's name was called first. Luckily for her, her last name starts with 'J.' My last name is Oscar, so I had to stand until they got to O. Fortunately, our graduating class was made up of a few persons. That was because my town was small and had a little population.
My name was called, and I went to accept my diploma. Looking out onto the crowd, I smiled and waved at the cheering crowd. I was on the brink of tears because I had no one cheering for me in particular. No parents. Not even my grandmother showed up. She has never called about anything that had to do with me. Today wasn't any different. If only I had parents…would my mother be proud of me wherever she was? Would my father…
I shook the principal's hand and turned to go back to my seat. And At that moment, I saw him again. My blood froze in my veins. He was sitting in the back, watching me. I could feel his eyes on me, even from a distance.
Somehow I managed to find my way down from the stage without tumbling. My legs were trembling, and my breathing was much faster than normal. I took a seat next to Lilly and prayed that noticed my shocked expression. Especially not observant Lilly. Why was Mr. High and Mighty here? What does he want from me? Taking a deep breath, I tell myself to calm down. Surely, he was here because of a more sensible and meaningful reason. Maybe he was here for his brother or a sister, or to even give a speech. Something else. Anything at all.
Reassuring myself, my nerves calmed down, and I was able to focus. But I knew that his presence only meant trouble. Big trouble. A shudder ran down my spine at the thought.