A Callous Player

years

I was just on my way

ing at the side of a busy street in São Paulo, I turned to

The next hearing is next week. Your presence here is very much needed, Emily, even if

bout it. Bringing the cell close to my mouth, I started walking while I tried hard to keep my voice even. "He knows I am here, but

happiness, he could give me the whole world. But I couldn't be there. I lost my ri

that I wanted to cat

there in my place as it triggered the memory of that day when the aut

it hurt to see the child I ha

not even two, a fruit of one of my parents' extra-marital affairs. The everyday quarr

ake things right between our parents so we could be a happy family. That wish soo

ld take some legal action against that

n't someone on

went to dad's home and asked for Cheryl. T

updated if I get anything we could use to win the case. I might be late, but I will co

ve you." My eyes traveled down from the silk stole around my neck, and I noticed the locket of my chain through my floral shi

hiatrist once a month during his lunch brea

he would finally open his eyes and start seeing me as a burden. Of course, he would. Just because he was mom's friend doesn't change the fact that I had been using him sin

utes for the right bus that would dro

nal swimmer and worked three different places in a day to earn more so I could provide for that girl. Even the one million dollars

oundings. Tired eyes even looked lively as if they knew their reasons. Most of them were returning from their workplace with gr

person wouldn't want to waste that time

t couple of minutes. My grandpa usually traveled in that same black car. Could it be him? My mood brightened up instantly when I

ssets, but I needed that money despera

Please, Lord. Please

y eyes on the windshield. I would chase tha

g anticipation. I moved closer to get a better view of the passengers inside, at least as I had seen all of my grandpa's drivers in h

! You know how he changes every

t Cadillac XTS. Though I couldn't see who was sitting in the back seat clearly from that distance, I felt in my skin that he

put an annoyed scowl on my face and pushed past the travelers or passengers from my w

ve a loo

d I did it holding my breath. The light in my eyes dimmed again when I saw a suited man

ut why are you so hell-bent on ruining others' day? Do you think only you have problem

. Though that tinted black glass didn't let me notice that man's expression in the back

ast that car, hoping he wouldn't take it th

couldn't bring myself to turn around and

down, and then I saw the bus stand become crowded suddenly as the suited man finally st

took out their phones and began taking

Look who w

lord. Is

e my luck. May I take

graph, please? I am so

at fan of y

d, but that man's eyes were not on them but me. And he didn't look pleased to see me a

from him and hoped my bus

way from my life. I asked him to bless my boyfriend and me to be good parents to Cheryl, and he made me a single parent. I begged him to take my pain away from my heart, and he pushed me to face the hardships a single p

es looked for a cab, but they were full of passengers, and even if they didn't have one, they wouldn't stop for me. I caught sight

sides. Though the bus wasn't full of travelers, I found only one vacant seat available, so I took that and thought about taking a

lap, not wanting him to see me, but I hea