Chapter 1

"Mom, where are you going?"

I looked at my mother who's busy rummaging through her things in the sofa. Her hairs done today, she had put make up on her face and that dress. It's my first time seeing it.

"I have a date with Oscar today." She looked at her reflection in the mirror again. "Wake your brother up and go to work. We need money for the electric bills."

I rolled my eyes without her noticing. It has always been like this. My mother would go out and have dates with different guys and I have to make a living. I am a product of a broken family. My mother raised me alone while my father is with his new family. Such a tragic story right?

"Will you go home later?" I asked, hopeful that she hears my plea in it.

She clicked her tongue making that weird sound and looked at me.

"It depends." And in a swift, she walked out in front of me.

I sighed and sat on a small sofa in the middle of the room. I looked around our small shabby apartment. The paints on the walls are fading, the chairs are more likely to break if you carelessly sit on it. Well, at least it doesn't cost that much.

I stand up from the small sofa and hastily walked to my brothers room. His name is Adan and he's 6 years old. He's currently enrolled in a public school 5 minutes away from here while I work during the days and go to school during the night.

"Yow! Pooper, wake up!" I shook his arms not minding if he'll be hurt with it or not. "Wake up pooper! " I continued screaming and shaking him until he sat panicking and looking around. Pft. What a face!

"What? What?"

"Mom's out. Go take a shower and come outside to eat."

He plopped himself up and with pouty lips he stands up and walked out of his room. Tsk. I on the other hand walked to my room to change to my casual attire which is a pair of faded jeans and a white t-shirt. I quickly got my coach class A bag which was given to me by my friend last christmas and went outside of the room.

I passed by the small kitchen table next to the small sofa and saw my brother eating a loaf of bread and jam.

"Gotta go to my shift. Stay here and lock the doors." I warned as I ascend towards the door.

"Yeah yeah. Now go, before Mr. Ackerman scolds you."

I stuck my tongue out before walking towards the door. Tsk, sometimes that brother of mine gives me headaches.

The donut shop I work on is just a walking distance from our apartment. Mr. Ackerman, the owner of the donut shop offered me this job the moment he saw me crying on one of his benches outside. That time was really rough. My mother didn't come home for three consecutive days and we have bills to pay. I don't know what to do because I was jobless but thank goodness I broke down on one of those benches because if not, I might be in the streets, begging for people to give me a sum of money.

"Good morning Tori!" Ben, my co-worker greeted me as soon as I entered the shop.

I flashed him my smile. "Good morning!" Ben is a good friend of mine. We knew each other since childhood. He's two years older than me and he's like a brother to me.

"Good morning Mr. Ackerman." I greeted once I got in the shop and got my apron to work behind the counter.

"Good morning Tori! Did you have breakfast already?"

I pursed my lips and tilted my head to the side to say "no".

"You should eat breakfast. Grab a donut and coffee and eat. Customers won't be here till 8:30."

I nodded and went near the glass case to get my all time favorite donut, which is a pink lemonade donut with rainbow sprinkles on top. I also prepared my macchiato before sitting in one of the stools inside the counter. Mr. Ackerman is like a father I never had. He takes care of me and worries whenever I got myself into problems.

I was enjoying my donuts when the bell rings, a hint that we have a customer. Weird, it's still 7:30. I got up from my seat and readied my smile.

"Good morning! Welcome to Donuts Delight. What would you like to have today?"

A tall and slim guy appeared infront of me. He looks familiar, where did I saw him? He has this mesmerizing brown eyes, a tall nose and red thin lips. He looks like a softy not the bad boy type.

"Two glazed donut and an americano, Tori."

I furrowed my eyebrows. He knows my name. Who is he?

I shrugged the thought and walked near the glass case to get his glazed donuts and prepare his coffee. After finishing it, I rang the bell to get his attention.

"Two glazed donuts and one americano."

The same guys stands up and get his drink from the counter. At first, he took a quick glance at me before getting the plate and cup and heads back to where he was seated. Hmm... weird guy.

I walk back to the stool and finished my breakfast before I went to the kitchen to cook the donuts for later.

"Cristine, morning!" I greeted as soon as I passed by her. She nodded and went outside. Probably, going to the counter to replace me since I'm here in the kitchen.

The whole day I was just cooking donuts then going back to the counter and vice versa. I had chipotle for lunch and of course donuts for desserts.

The end of my shift came and I quickly changed into my normal clothes, bid goodbye to my co-workers and Mr. Ackerman before running towards the house. Once I got there, I went straight to my room, took a shower and change into my uniforms. I went outside and I saw Adan busy watching his favorite anime.

"Hey bud, I need to go to school. Make sure you lock the door okay?"

He looked at me and flashed his smile.

"Yeah yeah! Now go!"

I just nodded and went straight to the bus stop so I can ride a bus for school. This has been my routine everyday—well except during weekends cause every weekend I go to work during the day and do the chores at night.

Sometime later, the bus stop and I got in. When I got in, I scanned the whole bus looking for a vacant seat to sit on. The bus is crowded today. I looked left and right until I saw a vacant seat at the far end. I immediately went to the sit and sat beside a guy in a hoody. Is he cold? I mean it's usually cold since December is fast approaching but today's weather has higher temperature than normal. Weird.

"Tori!"