Loan Sharks

The moment I asked Rico, his face suddenly changed as he smiled at me, "Only Rico, Vern. Kindly give this to the family over there?" He asked, handing me a tray of food while pointing to the table outside the Food house.

I didn't realize someone had already taken the vacant table outside.

I nodded. "Will do, Rico." I said smiling.

"Thank you." He said as he glanced at me and went back to the kitchen.

I walked carefully towards the outside. "Is that our order?" Said by a lady, her face was pale, the same as with the rest of the customers.

I smiled at her, "Yes ma'am."

"Great." She smiled... and I don't think if... it was just me but it seems like her smile was... empty.

However, I am glad that people eating in this food house are kind compared to the one I had before. I always experience bad actions from the customers but I don't have the choice to rant, all I do is to get away from them or finish serving the food as fast as I could and walk away.

This time I have no worries, people in this place are more friendly than I imagined it should be. I was imagining the worst since it is night time and I am sure people going at night were drunk or bad men.

Speaking of bad, my eyes fell on the road from where a group of men were walking, and unfortunately, one of them saw me. Fudge!

I served the food as fast as I could and took the apron from me as I went inside of the Food House up to the backroom where my things were kept.

I was in a hurry when Rico saw me, "Vern, are you okay?" He asked but because my mind was clouded with so many things on how to get alive tonight, I forgot to answer him especially when I heard running footsteps inside the Food House.

I ran and walked out to the backdoor, I heard Rico called my name but I was in a hurry to save my life not to be discovered by the loan sharks, "Fuck!" I cursed when I saw one of the men got out through the backdoor and saw me.

I ran up to nowhere holding my bag tightly. I could feel my heart racing against my chest. Fear covered me... fear for my father.

Loan sharks are composed of people with dark desires, they could kill people they wanted to, especially those who do not pay them.

"Hey! Stop right there!" One of them yelled at me. No, I could not stop. My life is at stake here, and I hold my father's life. If I die today I couldn't take care of him anymore, I could not just leave him in the hospital alone, unconscious. I have to save myself in order to save my father.

Even if I couldn't extend his life... as long as I could give him a proper funeral, I will be at peace after then.

Aish. Thinking that I will lose my father hurts so much. I will keep on blaming myself for that.

I ran until I saw the playground, I kept on running but I couldn't lose them, they ran too fast! "Stop!" I heard a voice of a man yelling for me to stop, followed by a gunshot.

"Agh!" I screamed as I stopped on my track putting my hands above my head. All I did was pray, my tears have not fallen out of my eyes but fear is dominating my essence.

"Please... please... don't." I pleaded as I heard footsteps getting closer. I just keep on begging, not even looking at them.

"Where is your father?" Someone asked and his voice was hard.

"Please... spare me... please..." I keep on pleading.

"I said where is your father!" He exclaimed which made me flinch. I could not run anymore knowing that they have guns and I have nothing but my bag.

"He... he's g-gone." I stuttered too afraid of the situation as I looked at him. He is so big with a giant body which made him even scarier.

"Do you think I will believe you? I've been fucking looking for the two of you but you were gone! You run away from me! Do you know how much I hate that, don't you?" He asked as he clenched his jaw.

"Please... spare me..." I pleaded once again.

But I felt a pang of pain in my cheek when he slapped me so hard which made me fall to the ground.

"If I ask you, answer me!" He exclaimed in anger and I could hear his men laughing at the scene as they encircled around me.

I cannot die today, oh God. I couldn't even scream for help or they would kill me. People who tend to see us, run for their lives instead of saving me.

These men are known as Loan sharks and once they kill, they show no mercy. The giant man who seemed to be their leader kneel in front of me as he gripped on my hair making my upper body rise up.

His jaw clenched, "Now, answer me. Where the hell is your father?" he asked, gritting his teeth in anger.

I couldn't just tell him, I could lose my life but I can never sacrifice my father. I shook my head as a tear fell from my eyes.

"Shit!" And I received another slap on my face making me fall flat on the ground.

He pulled the trigger of his caliber as he looked at me. "I will ask you for the last time-"

"Please, I will pay my father's debt... just please let me leave." I pleaded, taking this chance to save myself as I tried to gather my strength to stand up.

"You?" He laughed wickedly as his face turned deadly, "Do you think I am a joke!? How could you pay me a million dollars, huh?"

I freeze, a million dollars? For only two years, it increased that much?

I clenched my fists, they are evil! I know I look like a child but I'm not an idiot. However, with this situation, I cannot get away from them. I can't do anything.

If this is death... I don't think I could accept this. I will do everything just to get away from here.

"Two years, we've been looking for the two of you for two fucking years! And now, you are asking for time? That's bullshit!" He said as he spit on me.

My tears keep on falling out of my eyes, I have no way out here. My mind keeps thinking about my father's safety, I don't think Sheina could take care of my father anymore, I don't think Sheina could give him a good funeral... at least that is all I could ask for right now.

I bit my lip trying to stop the sobs that were about to come out. "You useless bitch! For the last time, where is your father!?" He exclaimed as he pointed his gun at my head.

I guess, this is my death.

"Any last word?" The giant man said and I could feel my heart beating so loud.

This is my last day here on earth and I never expected my life to end this way. The excruciating pain in my body from his slaps is nothing compared to my fear.

"I-"

*Bang!

"Agh!" I screamed covering myself with only my arms after I heard the gunshot.

So this is the end of me huh... but suddenly, I felt nothing... I mean, I didn't feel the bullet touch my skin. I took the cover of my arms and looked at the giant man but instead I saw a fine young man already holding the gun that was in the hand of the giant man earlier.

H-how did he do that? Where did he come from? I was shocked and surprised at the same time.

"If I were you, I wouldn't do that." He simply said to the giant man. His voice was hard but not intimidating.

However, looking at the loan sharks, they were stunned on their spots, their eyes widened as if they saw a ghost. No one ever dared to speak as they seemed to process who was the man standing in front of me.

"Y-y... you?" The giant man stuttered pointing at this young man in intense fear... and fear is just an understatement to the rest of the loan sharks.