**Present Day
Inglewood, California, USA**
The next day, Elara woke up with a splitting headache. She barely had the strength to open her heavy eyes. Kaia, who had just entered the room, stared at her quietly before walking toward her.
Elara looked up and saw a teen girl whose looks were breathtaking, with old-world blue eyes and black curly hair cascading over her shoulders.
Elara felt a bit awkward. She didn't know what to say to her sister.
"I'm so sorry," Elara whispered, tears welling in her eyes as she leaned into her sister's chest.
"I really am sorry for troubling you," she added, crying without stopping.
"It's okay, Elara. I know it's not easy on you. I understand your pain and distress even when you don't show it to make me feel bad," Kaia said, gently stroking her sister's head.
"You are still human, Elara. You need comforting. You are the best big sister in the whole world. I love you, Elara," Kaia said, hugging her sister's head.
"I love you too, baby," Elara said, hugging her sister's waist.
"You should get up now. It's almost 8 o'clock; you'd be late for work."
Registering her sister's words, Elara raised her tear-stained face in shock.
"8? Why didn't you wake me earlier, Kaia?" she asked hurriedly, standing from the bed.
"I wanted you to have enough rest… and besides, it wouldn't hurt if you didn't go to work for a day or went in late," Kaia said, also standing.
"I've decided to look for a job. I'll be 18 soon and will be able to get my ID card," Kaia said as she walked toward the cupboard in search of an overall for the slightly windy weather.
"I'm going to use my savings to pay my previously owed school fees."
"Why do you suddenly have that in mind?" Elara asked, furrowing her brows as she headed to the bathroom.
"Honestly, I feel like a burden, and I feel responsible for Kael's death. If you didn't have to cater for me and pay my school fees, it would have been much easier for you to cover Kael's medical treatments and medications… and our brother would still be with us today," Kaia said, a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Kaia, don't say that. You are definitely not responsible for his death. He had to go," Elara said sadly.
"But even so, I still have to find a job and not be a burden," Kaia said, wiping her tears. "I can't continue mooching here… things aren't easy for you. I have to learn to be independent. Please don't doubt my thoughts. I just want to help reduce the burden."
"You are the only family I have left. I'm responsible for you and the bills because you're my sister. How can I let you fight alongside me?" Elara said seriously, ignoring the time.
"But I have to be independent. I can't let you be overwhelmed by the workload and burden from me. I can't keep depending on you," Kaia insisted.
"No! You shouldn't start working until you turn 20," Elara said, staring at her sister intensely.
"But you started working at 16," Kaia said, feeling cheated.
"That was a different case… if I hadn't, we would have starved. We wouldn't have had a roof over our heads, and we would have lost Kael long ago."
"But we are neck-deep in debt," Kaia said again. "You need help… $200,000 isn't a small amount."
"I do need help, Kaia, but not from you. I can handle it myself. You are not getting a job, and that's my final decision. We will not have this conversation again. Do not let it repeat itself," Elara said sternly, entering the bathroom.
"I'm leaving for school!" Kaia said, picking up her backpack and leaving.
Elara hurriedly got ready and also left for work. She arrived just in time, as the restaurant was set to open at 9:30 a.m.
She entered excitedly, feeling optimistic about her day. She had managed to keep a job for more than two weeks apart from her side hustle as a ballerina for kids' birthday parties without debtors coming to embarrass her, unlike her previous jobs, which she could barely hold for a few days.
Her day had gone by exhilarated and full of life… until some men entered the restaurant.
Seeing their faces, eerie smiles tugging at their lips and malevolent gazes scrutinizing her, Elara realized nothing lasts too long.
At first glance, one could feel the portentous aura emanating from them from their gaits, tattoos, clothes, and piercings. They were clearly not the type to frequent such a place. Only one word could describe them: thugs.
Their presence made the customers uncomfortable. Side talks and murmurs circulated as the group of four men walked to a table in the heart of the restaurant.
Elara's gaze followed them until they settled. Hoping they hadn't noticed her, she turned to run and hide but the last flicker of hope vanished when the manager beckoned her to attend Table Seven.
"The thugs are seated at Table Seven," she thought, facepalming at her terrible luck.
"The universe must be cruel to throw such a stroke of luck at me," Elara muttered, tears threatening.
From the moment they walked in, she knew encountering them was inevitable yet she had held onto hope. Maybe luck would be on her side today. But at the mere sight of them, she knew: Lady Luck had gone on vacation.