NOVEL WEB Meant to be
Chapter 4 : Meant To be
"HEY YOU!!!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the stunned silence like a knife.
Joy froze, her heart racing as she met the boy's gaze. She could feel the weight of his accusation bearing down on her, her stomach churning with guilt.
Joy's voice trembled slightly as she responded, her eyes reflecting a mix of regret and determination. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I will take responsibility and help fix the damage."
Joy's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as the boy recognized her, his eyes widening in familiarity.
"Wait, I know you! You're the pretty lady who bought my grilled beef earlier. What's your name again? Ah yes, I remember, Joy! Your name is Joy, right?" the boy exclaimed, his face lighting up with recognition.
Joy's heart skipped a beat as she nodded in confirmation. "Y-yes... I am Joy."
Suddenly, a wave of realization washed over her as she remembered the boy who had sold her the delicious grilled beef earlier.
"You're the grilled beef vendor!!" Joy exclaimed, her eyes brightening with excitement.
"Yes, I'm the vendor. Nice to see you again," the boy confirmed with a grin.
Joy couldn't help but smile back at the boy, feeling a glimmer of relief amidst the chaos surrounding them.
"You quite made an impression... Look!! ... You even made a huge hole in our wall," the boy chuckled, pointing towards the gaping hole in the restaurant's wall.
Joy's cheeks burned with embarrassment as she followed the boy's gaze, her eyes widening in horror at the sight of the damage she had caused.
"I-Uhh..." she stammered, at a loss for words as she struggled to find a way to make amends for her reckless actions.
"Who the hell made this mess! Who destroyed my restaurant!!!" the restaurant's owner's furious voice boomed through the chaos.
In a panic, the teenage boy grabbed Joy's hand and pulled her away from the angry owner.
"Wait! Let go of me!" Joy protested, her heart pounding with anxiety as she tried to explain the situation.
"We need to run away quickly, my boss is not someone you want to mess with," the boy said urgently, his voice tinged with worry.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Joy nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's go!"
With a sense of urgency, Joy grabbed her belongings, and together with the boy, they dashed out of the restaurant, their footsteps echoing in the empty streets as they fled the wrath of the furious owner.
As they found refuge in the dimly lit alley, Joy's exhaustion was matched only by her gratitude towards the boy who had helped her escape the wrath of the restaurant owner. She looked at him, her expression a mixture of appreciation and embarrassment.
"Thanks for helping me back there. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble," Joy said, her voice tinged with sincerity.
The boy returned her gaze with a warm smile. "Well, I'm happy to help people. I'll be going now; I need to fix the hole you made. My boss will beat me if I'm not there."
"Wait! I'll help you fix it. It's the least I can do after all the trouble I caused," Joy offered her assistance, determined to make amends.
The boy hesitated for a moment before gently taking Joy's hand. "No, please. If the boss finds out that you're the one who broke his wall, he'll compensate you not with Crowns but with something else."
"I appreciate your concern, but I can handle myself. Let's fix the wall together and make sure no one finds out about this," Joy insisted, her cheeks flushing with determination as she gently pulled her hand away.
"It's okay, I can handle it," the boy replied with a reassuring smile.
With a nod, the boy turned to leave.
"Wait! What's your name?" Joy called out, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"My name is Chris, Chris Alcantara!" the boy replied, turning back with a warm smile.
"Nice to meet you, Chris! By the way, my full name is Joy Dela Cruz. Thank you for helping me back there," Joy said gratefully, returning his smile with sincerity.
Chris waved goodbye to Joy and walked back towards the restaurant.
"Take care, Chris! I'll see you around!" Joy waved back, watching Chris disappear into the night, feeling a newfound sense of connection with someone unexpected in her journey.
Curiosity mingled with worry spurred Joy into action as she stealthily grabbed her belongings and trailed Chris to the restaurant.
Concealed behind corners and walls, she observed his every move, her concern for his well-being intensifying with each step he took.
With bated breath, Joy watched as Chris entered the restaurant, her heart pounding in anticipation.
Suddenly, a scene unfolded before her eyes that filled her with a mixture of shock and anger
The restaurant's owner's hand connected with Chris's face in a brutal slap, causing him to stumble and fall to the floor.
"You fucking pest! Where have you been? Go fix this wall this instant!" the owner bellowed, his voice dripping with rage.
Joy's eyes widened in disbelief and indignation as she witnessed the boss's merciless treatment of Chris. Anger simmered within her as she struggled to contain the urge to intervene.
To be continued....