"Hey, Robinson! Changing shift already!"
"Oh, right. I'll just finish this and I'll be out! Good job today!"
“Yeah! Good job to everybody, too!"
"Goodbye everyone!"
"Good morning and goodbye!" Every night shift employee stampedes towards the exit of the hotels kitchen.
After finishing up the last breakfast menu that needs to be prepared, I leave the kitchen and go straight to the locker room. There are only three remaining male employees still in the middle of changing out of their uniforms as I arrived.
I take off my apron and change from my uniform into a sweater. I also wrap a muffler around my neck since it's going to be freezing cold once I step out of the building. It's going to be rainy season soon.
"Hey, hey. Did you hear the news?" One of my colleagues whispers to the other, yet, loud enough to be heard from where I stand. "I heard the executives are preparing for Presidency turnover."
"No way! You mean the old Higgins will finally retire?"
“I don't think he's retiring per se. At least, according to the rumor I heard circulating around, he's hospitalized which is the reason they're going to assign a temporary president."
“So what then? Don't tell me that brat Clark will take over? Isn't he just in high school?"
“What else. After all, the president is very stereotypical towards male CEO and apparently Clark's the only male heir that's next in line. And do you know what's juicier news I heard?" He looks over his shoulder and discreetly glances at me. "I heard that they'll be cleaning up staffs from executives down to rank and file. They said they no longer welcome any part-timers."
"Really? Then..."
"Shh! Quiet down. And there's more. All the squatters living at the Higgins' properties will be sent away because they're planning for a widening of the resort. Even with all that, the Higgins refused to provide a place for mass evacuation.”
I jolt on the spot after hearing the news. I'm both a part-timer and we're currently living on the Higgins' property. I can't exactly call ourselves squatting since the old Higgins gave that house to my mother for being a loyal nanny to his children for some time until her health failed.
“Damn, that's $hitty! I have relatives living at the Higgins' property. Where will they go if that will really happen?"
"Oh, really? I'm sorry to hear that, man. But anyway, it's just rumors. Besides, even if it's true, they're still preparing. Maybe it wouldn't be that soon to take effect."
I close my locker with a loud bang before dashing out of the hotel. $hit! $hit! I need to go talk to my mother. As I run along the coastal road back home, I look at the beach out of habit. The sun's not up yet but the horizon's starting to change color as the dawn slowly turning into morning.
However, the scene I've always been appreciating turns into something horrifying when I saw the girl yesterday. Unlike the usual times that she's either sitting or standing by the shore, right now, she's staggering further deep. Not to mention, cold ocean water.
"$hit!" I curse and madly dash towards her direction. "Stop! Little girl! Stop right there right now!"
My mind goes blank with only two words keep repeating loudly in my ears. Save her! Save her! I dive into the water and catch her where it's waist deep. But with her short height, it's already reached her neck and she's beginning to flail her arms in panic.
"Goddamn it! Whats up with you!" I clench my molars as the cold seeps through my bone and my teeth begin to chatter. "Stop struggling! It's ok now. You're safe now."
There's no time to waste. As soon as I reach shore, I quickly run home while carrying the little girl in my arms. She's small and shivering like crazy. Her lips have turned blue while her slightly opened eyes are all white. If I take any longer, she'll have hypothermia.
When I reach home, it's to be expected that people aren't up yet. My sisters are probably still working right now. While my mom, having weak constitution, is still asleep at this hour. So I have to handle this thing by myself. With trembling yet brisk movement, I shed the girl's clothes while the tub's filling up with warm water.
"Oh, my fu¢king $hit!" I carry her into the tub as soon as she's näked and gawk at her in disbelief.
No. No, it's not a her. What the... Why's this kid wearing such girly clothes when he's got a di¢k on him as well? I groan in relief when his lips start to color and his eyes roll right back at the front once again.
"Just what happened to you?" I can't help but ask in worry while still holding him in the tub.
He blinks a few times as if confirming for himself if he's actually seeing me right now. He shivers and looks at his surrounding before his eyes bulge and return to me. He clutches my shoulders in a death grip and looks at me desperately before his tears overflow from his eyes.
"I'm a bad person!" He suddenly wails out loud to the point that his face contorts and his eyes squeeze shut, spilling more miserable tears down his cheeks. "No one loves me! They all despise me! I'm a bad person!"
"Oh, no! I don't think you are." I say frantically while wiping his tears away with my hands. "Why would you say that?" Without thinking, I join him in the tub and hug him from behind. “Tell me what happened?" I urge.
The hug might've surprised him since he suddenly stops wailing, although he still sobs and sniffs from time to time. He doesn't answer my question and falls silent instead. I'm not surprised that he doesn't want to open up to someone he only talked for the first time despite our daily encounter at the shore.
"The water's getting cold." I pick up the soap from the dish and hand it to him. "Here, do you think you can wash yourself up while I prepare you a change of clothes?”
"Yes."
"Good. Then I'll go out first."
“Uh... Um... Th-thank you..."
I smile and ruffle his hair. "It's Kaye. My name's Kaye and you're welcome."
I leave the room and change into dry, clean clothes then search my closet for something he can wear with his small stature.
“I... I'm not r-really from this island." The boy says as soon as he steps out of the bathroom with the fluffy towel wrapped around his tiny frame.
"Is that so?" I snatch a towel from the hook and sit on the bed. "Come here."
"Um..." He fidgets in front of me while I wipe his hair. "Ever since I was born, we've lived in the big city for eight years in a very small house. Although we're struggling every day, I liked it there. Um... One day my mother told me we're going to vacation. I was s-surprised because we've never been to one because of our financial situation. But, um… I was happy nevertheless. And then two months ago, we came to this island."
Despite his occasional stutter and stammering, it's surprising to hear him string long sentences in one go. He's like a typical kid who's in his curious stage with endless questions and one too many stories to tell.
However, hearing his story, I can roughly guess what could've happened next. But I dare not interrupt his story while I watch him staring down his slightly pruned feet. He reaches up to wipe his nose and sniffs. Yet, when he blinks, another batch of tears run down his cheeks once again.
“Um... My m-mom only stayed for a couple of days and..." He sobs but quickly stops himself. "S-she left. She she said she won't take long. B-but it's been..." He clenches his fist and raises two fingers between us. "...been two months yet she's never returned.”
"Maybe she's back to her work." I carefully say. "Maybe she's only away from work for a couple of days and her boss needs her to return. Didn't she leave a contact number so you can call her?"
"My mother has no phone. And although I have no idea where we take our food on the table, I'm aware that my mom has no steady job. So I doubt if there's even a boss to worry for her return."
"So that's why you've been staring at the ocean every day? Were you waiting for your mom?"
"Y-yeah." His lips quiver.
"Where do you live right now?" I ask with a frown remembering that they were only here as tourists.
"I... I d-don't know who they are. But I heard them t-talking... Apparently, the old m-mister um... he's actually my father. But he's always sleeping and um, his wife doesn't l-like me. T-that's why I d-don't want to stay in their house. Even... even my s-siblings are mean. Maybe maybe I'm a bad person t-that's why they do-don't like me.”
"Hey now." I grab his waist and put him on my lap, patting his head for comfort. “I don't think that's the case. Maybe they're just a bit shocked by your sudden appearance. Maybe if you just give them enough time to adjust, they'll eventually warm up to you.”
"Y-you..." Sniff. "You mean that?"
"Yes." I ruffle his long hair and smile before lifting his chin to inspect his expression. "Are you done crying now?”
"I... I didn't cry!" He shoves my hand away and covers his face with an arm. "Men don't c-cry, you know."
I chuckle at his ridiculous words. "Says someone that's wearing girl's clothes."
"T-that..." He stiffens and hides his face although I can see the streak of blush spreading to his ears and neck. "It's because... It's because...Unh…”
"Well, you don't have to force yourself to explain if you don't want to tell me about it."
"Ah, I'm s-sorry."
“Why are you apologizing?" I pick up the shirt I prepared and slip it on his head.
"T-thank you." He looks up to me but can't seem to meet my eyes as if he's embarrassed. "I'm... My name's Su...Summer."
"Summer, huh." I chuckle and pinch his chin up so we're eye level. "It's a wonderful name for a boy."
The corner of his mouth twitches and he quickly averts his eyes once again. He's one shy type of kid. If this keeps up, he'd become an unsociable person growing up. Which would be a waste because he's really a good looking boy. Wearing girl's clothes make him look even more eye catching.
"When I hear the word summer, I immediately think of the beach and the scorching sun like this island. You know this island has a lot to offer for a new comer like you. Try exploring other places here. I'm sure you'll find a lot of fun things to do and people to interact with. By doing so, you won't feel lonely while waiting for your mom but rather you get to enjoy your stay here. You know, you look better when you smile especially with your blue eyes and the yellow sunbeams at the corners." I smirk and caress his cheek. “So be bright and cheerful as the Summer, yeah?"
“Bright and cheerful?" He nibbles his lip and looks straight into my eyes this time. “You... You're really so c-cool. When I grow up, I I want to b-be like you!”
I chuckle, combing my fingers through his hair before putting him down so I can get up. The moment he stands, my shirt he's wearing reaches his ankles and the wide neckline drops to one shoulder, exposing skin. He looks so cute and the urge to cuddle him overwhelms me.
I let him wear one of my boxers as well and I smile at how adorable he looks. I right the shirt up so he won't get cold. Come to think of it, he's really more feminine looking despite his real gender. If not for what I discovered earlier, I'd still think of him as a girl.
"Let's come out for breakfast so I can send you back to your own house." I tell him and turn but he pulls at my shirt instead, stopping me from going out. "What is it?"
"You um, knowing t-that I'm a boy... C-can we make this a s-secret between us?"
Albeit surprised and a little confused, I only nod my head and cross my heart. I don't know the reason and I don't want to ask if he doesn't want to tell.
“I promise.” I hold his hand and usher him out of my room.
"Kaye, you woke me up with your extra energetic way of coming home." My mom says as soon as I open my room. "Oh, who's this?"
“Her name's Summer. I saw her earlier drowning in the sea so I rescued her and sent her here."
"Oh, my! That was dangerous. And who's kid is this?"
"Well..." I look down at the boy but it's obvious that he doesn't want to say from whose family he's from.
Recalling his story earlier, he said he doesn't know who those people are. Besides, he also mentioned they were mean to him which makes me thought to just keep Summer to myself. My mother seems to understand the silence and smiles warmly down at him.
"Well, that's not really important at this time, is it? Right now, good breakfast is waiting for us so come, both of you, and eat!"
"Mom, have you heard about the old Higgins?" I immediately ask after taking a seat.
My mother freezes from taking a bite of her egg and looks at me with worried eyes. "Yeah, I have. But..." She smiles as if to hide her troubled expression. "There's nothing to worry. They're just rumors after all. Go on, eat some more. Summer, you eat more, too."
I grit my teeth because I know my mother. She'll try her best not to worry us her children and keep everything to herself. But I won't have that. Although she refuses talking to me about the details, I too, will try for myself to help with our situation.
I look at Summer who suddenly acts comfortable around my mother and I smile to myself. Maybe he's really looking for a mother figure. Poor kid. Come to think of it why is his biological father not looking for him? Wait, did he say he keeps sleeping? What does that even mean?
"Kaye, don't space out. The foods waiting."
"Yeah." I nod and resume eating.
After breakfast, I take a quick shower and change into pajamas. Working part-time in the kitchen hotel has turned my body clock upside down. Where people wakes up by now, I'm yet to take my own sleep. After stepping out of the bath, I saw Summer cuddled up in my bed and sleeping peacefully.
"I transferred her here since she fell asleep on the couch earlier." My mom whispers outside the door.
I nod and smile at her before joining Summer under the covers. Seeing as I've tucked myself in bed, my mom slowly closes the door before her footsteps eventually goes further and further. What am I gonna do with our situation?
Without thinking, I draw Summer close to me as if seeking comfort. Not long after, I finally fall into peaceful sleep with him enclosed in my embrace.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 33 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments
Cheong jin
that's so cute!!
2020-04-06
4