High Hopes|✔

Chapter 6

O P H E L I A ' S P O V

"D-Did I say something wrong?" My voice cracked as I looked up at Kace.

I didn't know why, but the mere thought of having done something to upset Mr. Morterez in any way saddened me.

"Of course not, Angel. He's just really busy." He told me softly as he ran his hand up and down my arm comfortingly.

He ran his hand down his face and he almost looked guilty as he hugged.

For what?

"Look, I gotta go and talk to him, your lunch break should be nearing, I'll see you later okay?" He told me as he pulled his phone from his pocket, dialing numbers on it.

"O-Okay," I tried to ignore the light butterflies in my stomach at the attention when he kissed my cheek and left with his phone to his ear.

After he left, I hesitantly headed to Rachel's office, knowing that I'm in for a shouting of the century because once again, not only did I make Mr. Morterez leave, but also Kace.

"Who is it?" Her authoritative voice rang from the other side of the door, which sent a deep tingle down my spine.

"I-It's–" I swallowed. "It's m-me." I stuttered more than usual. "Ophelia." I whispered lastly.

There was a pause on the other side of the door and I can almost hear the sinister smirk forming on her perfectly glossed lips.

"Enter." Her voice sounded slightly deeper, commanding.

I unsurely turned the knob to the door with my sweaty hands and afterward, I shut the door as I entered and stay planted firmly in front of it, waiting for any further instructions.

Rachel sat in her chair, feet resting on the top of her desk as she turned the chair slightly as she looked down at her nails, lightly playing with them.

"That's two times in one week." I flinched when I heard her low voice.

I knew that it was better for Rachel to actually yell when she was angry. Something about when she spoke in such a low, taunting voice had me trembling in my worn out sneakers.

I knew what she was referring to. She meant that for two times this week, I managed to get rid of her customers because of my stupidity.

"I was in here thinking of a suitable punishment for you— and then it hit me." She said as she stopped playing with her nails.

I looked down at my intertwined fingers, waiting frightened for her to continue.

"Your life is all the punishment you need." She laughed lightly. "I mean— you lived in an orphanage, your parents are dead, you work a less-than minimum wage job, you never went to college and you have this thought that if you save up enough money that you will. You live in a worn out house, if you would even call it that, and to top it all off, you barely have enough money to buy food." She laughed loudly.

There it was.

The best punishment for me was simply hearing what my life had become. It was simply hearing how pathetic I was and what I would never accomplish.

Angry tears were already spilling out of my eyes uncontrollably at her words but I didn't let her see them, although I'm sure that she could hear my sniffles.

My heart tightened painfully at the thought of my parents and how I've failed them, how I will never fulfill their dreams of me going to college and making anything of my life.

It all came tumbling down on me that I will never amount to anything.

"That'll be all for now." Rachel shooed me out of her presence with amusement in her voice from my pain.