Chapter 1

"Did you deliver the papers like I told you?!" demands Mr. Jett with a beer in his hand, sitting in the living room couch.

"Yes dad�there�s a letter here for you,� replies Sunisa, dropping the letter on the table in front of her dad.

"Awww�what is it this time?!" Mr. Jett shouts, after glancing at the big bill in front of his red eyes. Sunisa stops midway in the stair steps and rolls her eyes.

"It�s always this way�.," Sunisa says under clenched teeth. She comes down the stair and walks toward her father. "Dad, you could have paid them using the money you�re wasting to buy alcohol. Besides, alcohol�s destroys your body and especially your brain." She catches a look at her father�s cold and angry eyes and tries to flee.

"Who are you to lecture me?! You need to learn a lesson to have better respect!" shouts Mr. Jett, taking hold of Sunisa�s hair and with much strength, swings her around. After receiving a few punches, blows, and slaps, she escapes her father�s grip and runs out the door. "You come back right now or else you will not be allowed to step into this house anymore!" Scared, like always, Sunisa�s mind goes blank and she runs as fast as possible, not even knowing where she was heading. With big tears in her eyes, a bloody nose, and pain, she bumps into abusinessman, who seems to be lost. The man turns around and was appall.

"Miss, what happened? Are you being chase by robbers?" asks the man, looking around to see if anyone was following Sunisa.

"No�.sorry sir�if you�ll excuse me," responds Sunisa, walking away and wiping away her tears. The man runs after Sunisa and hands her his handkerchief. "No, thank you."

"But you need it miss. Your nose is bleeding�I suggest you go and get medical attention," insists the man.

"Oh�I could clean it when I get home," Sunisa lies, faking a smile.

"It�s not just a bloody nose miss�.you have several bruises,� the man answers shyly.

"Oh�umm�well thank you anyway�don�t worry, I�m on my way home�my mom will take care of it,� replies Sunisa, feeling embarrassed.

"Alright then�,� the man ends and walks away with a smile on his face.

"That�s weird�.what�s to be happy about?� Sunisa wonders. He�s laughing at your colorful face idiot! Sunisa said to herself. Where could I go now? I�ll just have to wait until dad leaves for the casino and then go and get my belongings. With that plan in mind, Sunisa takes out a napkin from her pocket and wipes her sweaty face. She hears her stomach growl and rubs it. She hasn�t eaten since breakfast and now it�s already 5 P.M. Feeling for her purse, she checks inside to see how much she has. "Good. Just enough to have a bowl of noodles and water." She walks toward a small eat-out store and takes a seat.

"Miss, what would you like?� asks a kind lady with an apron on and wet hands. Sunisa could tell she has been washing the dishes.

"Ummmm�if you have noodles�I�ll take a bowl and a cup of water,� answers Sunisa.

"Alright�it�ll be ready in a couple of minutes,� responds the nice lady, walking back into the store. Sunisa could feel every small pain when she moves her mouth to speak. She was getting a headache from the smell of dried oil from the oncoming traffic beside the sidewalk. Suddenly, the nice lady pops out carrying a bowl of hot noodles and a glass of water. She also brings along a first aid kit.

"Thank you�,� replies Sunisa as the lady puts the bowl and water on the table.

"Ummm�if..if you don�t mind�I would like to put healing cream on the wounds on your face�,� the lady hesitates shyly.

"That�s okay�you don�t have to�,� answers Sunisa, smiling.

"Let me do it�I can�t stand seeing a person hurt,� explains the lady, which gives Sunisa no choice.

"Al�right�,� responds Sunisa. As the lady cleans and puts on the bandages, memories flash back from when Sunisa�s mother use to do that because her father would hit her whenever she interrupts her parents� arguments. Tears fill Sunisa�s eyes and all she could do was hold it back until the lady leaves. After the lady was done, she leaves and comes back out with a cup of hot boiled herbs. �What�s that for?�

"Oh�I made it for you�it�ll help your face recover,� replies the lady, taking her seat beside Sunisa.

"Why are you so nice? You don�t even know me,� asks Sunisa with confusion. "No stranger would ever be nice to another stranger.�

"That�s true�but in my case�,� the lady�s expression changes and her eyes sparkles with tears, �I want to help as many people as possible�sorry for being so rude and interrupting your eating. I�ll leave.� Sunisa knows that there was something the lady was not saying because it was hard to say and it hurts like the times when Sunisa has to talk about her mother�s death and the words would not come out. She quickly finishes her bowl of noodles, water, and the cup of herb. Entering the store, Sunisa finds the lady bending down on the floor washing a big bucket of dishes.

"You need help?� asks Sunisa standing in the doorway. �And how much would it be with your healing cream and herbs included?�

"What do you mean? You get it free this time�,� answers the lady with a confident smile. �You know�you are one of the very few people I see still smiling even when they�re hurt.�

"Oh�well thanks. I just don�t feel right accepting your free food so�I�ll help you wash the dishes,� Sunisa agrees bending down. �You must have a lot of customers.�

"Yeah�,� answers the lady. �So what�s your name young girl?�

"What? Do I really look that young?� Sunisa chuckles.

"Of course�.,� replies the lady giggling.

"I�m Sunisa. Nice to meet you�um..,� the lady interrupts Sunisa.

"Nam..my name�s Nam,� answers the lady. Sunisa takes a look at her watch and notices that it was already 5:45 P.M. which means her father must have left. �What do you say we be friends?�

"Okay, deal made,� answers Sunisa excitedly. �Ummmm�I know we�ve just became friends but I�m seriously looking for a place to stay. If you agree, I would like to stay here with you and help out.�

"Sure�you�ll give me company,� replies Nam with a cheerful face.

"Can I start beginning from tonight?� asks Sunisa curiously.

"Of course�you�re welcome to move in anytime,� Nam assures.

"Why are you so sure that I�m not a criminal and allowing me to live with you?� Sunisa asks.

"It�s always good to be free from barbed wires and get fresh air�,� Nam answers. Sunisa rushes home and with many prayers, she unlocks the front door to find that her father has left. She runs up to her room and packs her belonging into her mother�s old, torn-up suitcase. With the suitcase in one hand and a pillow and blanket in the other hand, she heads out the door, wishing not to return to her home anymore like her father has said.

"You can share this room with me�,� Nam says, showing Sunisa the smallcrowded bedroom.

"It�s great!� Sunisa shouts with joy because her own bedroom was worse than this one. �But who sleeps in the other bedrooms?�

"Ummm�,� Nam pauses for a minute and then closes the door behind her, "well�my family history�s not that wonderful�my other two sisters are�.I mean they work by night�if you know what I mean. I didn�t want them to do that, but I guess you can never make anyone do something you want them too unless they agree.�

"You mean this is some kind of a private prostitute house?� asks Sunisa, looking shocked.

"Yeah�I guess so�but it�s only at night though. I should have told you this first. I apologize for not doing so..,� replies Nam.

"It�s alright�at least I�ve got a place to stay. It�s better than living under a bridge,� Sunisa responds as they both start laughing together.

     Mr. Jett arrives at the Golden Eagle Casino and walks around looking at which game he should play first. He spots one of the guards and quickly hides behind one of the slot machines. As the manager walks pass, he catches a glance of Mr. Jett and makes the guards force him into the office.

"Mr. Jett, why can�t you just use that little brain of yours? We warned you that if you ever return without paying your debts first, you�ll suffer the consequences,� the manager reminds with a burning face.

"Bububut I don�t have the money, sir. What can I replace it with?� Mr. Jett asks with a frightened face. �I�ll give you what ever you want...just let me go.�

"Anything huh? I�ll have to talk to the boss first. Let him go,� demands the manager with an evil smile.

"Thank you sir!� Mr. Jett shouts as he stumbles out of the casino without looking back.

     After taking a quick shower, Sunisa makes her bed and unpacks her belongings. Nam sits on her side of the room reading a book. Suddenly, drunken voices came from the main door and Sunisa could hear the door being slammed open. Then, high heels were taken off and kissing sounds and fast breathing were heard. At last, the creepy sounds fade away after another door was shut.

"Just ignore them,� suggests Nam.

"I�m going to bed�good night,� Sunisa responds as she quietly gets in bed and pulls the covers over her shoulders.

"Sweet dreams�,� Nam whispers, turning off the lamp between their beds.

     As the sun�s bright rays rest upon Sunisa�s face, she opens her eyes to the warm light coming from the blinds. She looks at the other side and sees that Nam�s bed was already made. She pulls down the blanket and takes a big stretch.

"What an early bird you are!� Sunisa said entering the kitchen where Nam stood frying chickens.

"Got to be early or else I won�t get everything done�,� responds Nam, looking at Sunisa�s tired face. �I think you need some water to wake those sleepy eyes.�

"Yeah�I need to wash my face�then I�ll come and help you,� replies Sunisa, heading towards the bathroom. Someone was in the bathroom so she waited by the door. "Hey! Someone�s gotta use the bathroom too you know!� Sunisa shouts knocking on the door. Just then, a man opens the door and stares at Sunisa with crazy eyes. He motions towards her.

"What�s your price girl?� asks the man with a satisfied voice. �Hey! How �bout tonight?�

"You�ve mistaken,� Sunisa corrects. "I�m not one of them.�

"Mistaken, huh? Everyone in here�s every men�s desire,� the man replies.

"Watch your language! I don�t think you would want me to shove words into your mouth�,� Sunisa warns with a hard cold tone. As she tries to enter the bathroom, the man grabs her shoulders and pushes her against the wall.

"Watch my mouth, huh? Let�s see if you can shove words in my mouth. It�s alright if it can�t be tonight�but I�ll make sure it�ll be some other night�,� the man whispers with a twisted smile that sends electrifying charges through Sunisa�s body. Sunisa stood there like a manikin that can�t open it�s mouth to speak back while the man just walk back into one of the other rooms. After Sunisa washes her face and brushes her teeth, she changes into a pair of stitch-up jeans and a tank with straps. She enters the kitchen again and clips up her hair.

"What should I help you with, Nam?� asked Sunisa.

"Well�let�s see�you could stay outside and be the waitress,� suggests Nam, concentrating very hard on her chickens, not wanting to burn them.

"Alright�I�ll be outside if you need me,� Sunisa says as she heads out the door. The same man walks out the door behind Sunisa and takes a seat. She puts the chairs down, ignoring the man that disrespected her earlier.

"Hey girl! You�ve got a customer here,� shouts the man without patience.

"I don�t see any�who are you referring to?� asks Sunisa, looking around.

"Me of course!� the man answers with a cold voice.

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