Chapter 7 Fight Back

"HELLO, Ma'am, welcome back!" the guard gladly greeted the young lady.

Nica smiled at the guard before coming in.

"Why is it quiet?" she asked the bartender because she could not hear any music.

"Because it is still early, Ma'am." He scratched his neck, he did not know what to offer to her.

"Oh!" Nica's mouth and eyes widened as she looked around. Only now did she notice that she was the only person there and there was still sun outside. Because of the sadness she was feeling, she forgot that the gig of the resto and bar only starts at six p.m. When she looked at her wristwatch, it was only quarter to five.

"I am sorry, Ma'am. You can come back later, so you would not feel bored."

"It's ok, I just wanted to relax. Can you just play a music?" she requested. She feels her body is tired even though she did nothing.

The waiter already knows her because he is the one he often orders for her song request every time she hangs out in this place.

"All right, Ma'am. Would you like your favorite food to be served, as well?" the waiter politely asked to Nica.

"Yes. Thank you," somehow, her loneliness lessens by talking to someone who does not know her. She feels like they were more real people and that the kindness they show to her are genuine.

She leaned her back in the chair and closed her eyes to feel the music. She did not know how many minutes she had been sitting there and she felt like she was already half-asleep. Her spirit awoke when the waiter spoke.

"Ma'am, our Big Boss cooked these for you!"

Nica's left eyebrow automatically rose at what the waiter said. She stared at the food, it looked delicious and it smells good. The arrangement of the dessert is also elegant, as if it were for a special person.

"Our Big Boss came and he saw you here alone. I told him that you are a regular customer here so he thought of cooking for you as a thank you and appreciation," the waiter's explanation.

"Please extend my gratitude to him." Nica smiled at him. She did not want to bother herself with personally thanking their boss.

The waiter understood her request, he knew she did not want anyone to know her. He once asked her name because a customer ordered him to know it for him and the young lady bluntly said that she is a private person.

A moment later and the rock song that was off the stereo suddenly stopped playing. It was replaced by a sound that was new to her hearing, but it was pleasant. What was even more pleasant was the voice of the man singing. She knows that voice and she tried to look for its owner, but she cannot find it. She looked at the waiter and he signaled that the person singing was behind the stage. She just smiled and continued eating while enjoying the man's beautiful voice.

(Title: Heroes tonight)

"I'm walking alone, the streets are empty..

The only thing I can see is my own silhouette..

I'm getting stronger, step by step..

The clock is ticking but there's no time for regrets.."

Nica smiled bitterly as every lyrics of the song lingered in her heart. Eventually, she chuckled because the singer seemed to know her and how she was always alone.

"I've been flying from town to town..

From London to Taiwan...

I've been all around the globe..

Trying to protect your soul.."

Nica did not realize that she was about to finish the food because she was enjoying listening to the voice of the man singing. His hoarse voice nearly made her want to fall in love.

"We are heroes tonight..

We will fly above the sky..

We are heroes tonight, yeah..

We are heroes tonight..

We will fly above the sky..

We are heroes tonight, yeah.."

Nica wondered how he looks like. His attractive lips she saw that night.

"I'm feeling like a dynamite..

Ready to explode right up in the sky..

I need you to listen, I need you to hear..

And don't show any fear.."

Nica smiled, a smile that indicates sadness, as she listens to the song.

She looked around when the singing stopped. He did not seem to like the reaction registered on her face, so he did not finish singing the song.

The waiter approached Nica and apologized. "Ma'am, Big Boss said he is sorry because he dedicated you the wrong song."

"Tell him I am okay and I am thankful to him." She grabbed money from her wallet and handed it to the waiter. "Keep the change, thank you, I felt full." She sincerely thanked him before leaving.

She wants to meet and know more about their big boss, but she lacks willingness to make the move. She fears the unknown feeling that is starting to bloom in her heart. His voice and the image of his lips -- the only part of his face that she saw clearly -- would not leave her mind.

"WHAT'S the matter and you called me at this hour?" Larry's question to Chrismith.

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"That looks heavy and you're very serious." Larry joked with his friend. Even though he is their big boss, they treat him as a ‘buddy’ because that is what the latter wants.

"You're the one that woman who is a regular costumer in the resto talks to most often, are you?" Chris stared at his friend intently.

"Is there a problem with her?" Larry's forehead furrowed.

"Nothing, I just want you to be even closer to her and find out the things she wants and anything."

"Huh? Why?" confused, he asked. "I mean, for what? And why order me and not Jake, who likes that Missy?"

"That's exactly why I am asking you instead of Jake." Chris emphasized.

Larry scratched his forehead even though it was not itchy because he was even more confused by his friend's answer.

"I know you don't like her so you're the one I ordered." Chris explained to his friend.

Larry grinned as he stared at Chris as if he is analyzing him. "Tell me first the reason why you don't want other men to approach her."

"Let's say, I know her personally."

"I see," Larry replied while nodding his head. "Why don't you personally approach her then?" He asked, as if interrogating him.

"She's like a wild animal afraid and won't let herself to be tamed."

Larry felt the sadness in his friend's voice, thus he did not ask any more questions. He could not believe that someone who is often chased by women, is now having a problem with a woman. He does not want to admit it, but he could see that an arrow from cupid had pierced his selective heart.

"Woah, that seems really troublesome."

Chris chuckled at Larry's comment. "I can say so. Anyway, tell me everything you know about her since she became a regular customer of the resto."

Larry barely ran out of story when he started. Chrismith smiled and at the same time, he was saddened by what he heard. He now knew why he felt that way, even though he knew her as a wicked woman.

Earlier, seeing the sadness and joy on her face as he sang, he felt as if a part of his heart was being pinched. He wants to know more about her. Why unhappiness envelops her despite living in luxury.

When Nica arrived at their house, the surroundings were quiet. She knew her father was not there because of some business. She looked around their side yard, nothing had changed there even after her mother died. One of the reasons why she stays with her father, even though she can take care of herself, is because of her mother. She promised her mother that she would take care of her garden. She would not let her stepmother change anything in their house.

"You sure have such a thick face!"

Nica was unprepared for Margaret's sudden encounter with her. Her eyes glazed over as she held her cheek that was hit by her stepmother's palm.

"How dare you ruin my daughter's date with her boyfriend!" Margaret continued to scold her as she pointed at Nica's face.

"How dare I?" Nica pointed to herself and stepped forward. She quickly grabbed her finger that was pointing at her.

"A-Ouch!" Margaret complained in shock at what Nica did.

"You want to know how daring I am?" She smiled demonically and twisted her stepmother's finger.

"Aww! You devil, let go of my finger!" Margaret screamed in pain and called a maid to help her.

Nica pushed and let go of her stepmother's hand before her ally arrived. "That's not all you will get when you try to hurt me again!" She shivered with anger. She could still feel the pain in her cheek caused by Margaret's hard slap.

"Your horn is getting longer, devil!" Margaret scolded Nica while holding her hurt finger. "You won't succeed in your plot to snatch like your mother did!"

Instead of getting mad as before, Nica smiled at her stepmother. She knew that she wanted to trigger her to go crazy and the ending would be she was the victim.

"You know, you're just giving me more ideas on how I can ruin the life of your dearest daughter."

Margaret was taken aback by Nica's behavior. That was not what she expected and she did not like her sweet smile either.

"Mom, what happened?" Janice hurriedly approached her mother who was obviously hurt.

"That's what motherfvckers deserve." Nica scornfully said to her sister.

"You're being too much!" Janice yelled at her half-sister. "I don't mind if you hurt me, but not my mom!"

Margaret quickly puts down the hand of her daughter that was pointing at Nica, fearing that she would be the one who would get hurt this time.

"Oh, really?" Nica laughed. This is the first time that she is enjoying having a scene with the two. "Should I be scared because you finally know how to fight? You're no longer going to hide in your mother's skirt to look like a dainty in everyone's eyes?" she sarcastically asked to her half-sister.

Janice's face flushed with anger, but her tongue could not find the right word to tell to her sister.

"Janice, don't pay attention to her anymore, she's already possessed by a demon," said the maid who only serves Margaret. "Just take Madame Margaret to the doctor first to get the bone in her index finger checked."

Nica just laughed at her half-sister who was teary-eyed because she pities her mother who complained that her finger hurt.

"Don't forget to call daddy and tell him what I did!" She provoked them while laughing. She no longer felt afraid of the thought of her father being angry with what she did. Unlike before that she could not do anything even when she was hurt by her stepmother.

"What are you looking at?" Nica glared at the maid when she caught her looking at her.

The maid quickly walks away in fear that she would use her to lessen her anger.

A/N: No copyright intended, credit to the rightful owner of the lyrics of the song that was included in this chapter. (Heroes tonight by Janji Feat.)