Salsa couldn't believe that this was happening to her. She felt as if stuck in her worse nightmares where she is in a dark cave surrounded by fire-breathing dragons with no way of escape and no knight riding a white horse coming to save her.
She had been ordered by her father to go pack her belongings because Master Chang has somewhere to be. What could be more important than a girl"s world crumbling around her?
Her feet dragged her slowly like a snail towards her room as if they too could feel her reluctance and anguish. Her vision was blurry from her silent tears. Weeping in her soul was the only thing she could do despite how much she wanted to scream her grievances out loud. Why can't she have a say in what happens to her? Who in the universe decided that a female is only a property never to be heard, only seen with no opinion of her own.
Her hand when they reached to open her door shook like a leaf, and they were so cold that she could see the green imprint of her veins.
Inside her room, she was confused about what to pick, not because she had a lot to choose from but because her mind was clouded with so many fears, doubts, and worries about what the future holds for her that they could barely think, nor function in the capacity she needed to pack her meager belongings.
Finally, she was done.
She looked down at her small wrapped clothes with a look of mild surprise. She couldn't remember picking up her clothes and putting them together. Guess her brain was functioning on autopilot.
She stepped out of her room and headed back to the living room. Her troubled mind couldn't help sending out a prayer to the Great Di Jun to help her out of this mess or make the hallway connecting her room to the living room stretch for eternity so she will never get there.
" Sal! "
She jumped at the sound of her name and turned to see her two older brothers heading her way. They looked a mess, dirt all over their body with sweat pouring off them. Probably just came back from the farm. Despite the dry hard ground, her people have no choice but to try and cultivate it. Good thing they have some crops that could grow with minimal rainfall.
" Hey where are you going with those? " one of her brothers asked pointing at the small duffle bag clutched tightly in her hand.
" And what is with the tears? " the other asked sounding worried.
Salsa looked at the two identical pairs of brown eyes peering down at her and broke down. Her twin brothers immediately pulled her to their bodies trying to console her.
" What is it, sister?" Qianfan, the older twin asked pulling back a little to stare down into the tear-filled eyes of his sister. Salsa could barely speak through the emotions clogging her throat. " Father...sold me, " she finally blurts out, sobbing hard against her brother's broad chest.
" WHAT! " Junfeng barked in shock and disbelief, pulling away from his sister. He looked at his brother whose emotion mirrored what he was feeling. Rage. A psychic communication passed between the twins. Like practiced synchronicity, they both turned towards the living room, a hard look in their darkened brown eyes, their foot-stomping hard on the wooden floors.
Salsa's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to call back her brothers, knowing that whatever they are planning to do will be futile but the words hung in her throat because they were already speaking. She shook her head and meekly followed.
" Father can we speak to you, " the boys demanded with a venomous look at the stranger. " Alone, " they added turning to look at their father.
Their father tensed up at his son's demanding tone. He knows why they want to speak to him but nothing they say is going to change anything.
" You can talk to me here, " he told them flatly, not looking in their direction, an impassive expression on his face.
The twin's furious eyes glared daggers at their father, their fists tightening, as their breathing became harsh. They didn't want to wash their dirty linen in front of a stranger but if their father is forcing their hand, then he leaves them with no choice.
" We are not going to allow you to sell our sister to some stranger, " Junfeng snarled harshly glaring at the man sitting calmly on the couch.
Salsa also followed his eyes and was raged to see the slight amusement in his eyes as if her family were some circus freaks hired for his amusement. He doesn't seem to care that he was about to destroy some young girl's life.
Her attention went back to her brothers and their father when her father's silence provoked another forceful demand from Qianfan this time. Her brothers have always been very protective, and even though everything looks so abysmal right now, she couldn't help hoping that her brothers can talk some sense into her father.
The slender older man looked back at his older sons, they looked ready to battle with him. He knew they will take his selling of their sister hard but there was little he could do about it. He was up to his neck in debt. A tired sigh slipped out from his lips.
" I am sorry is already too late, " he said with a shameful look, casting his eyes away from the demanding ones of his sons.
" What is that supposed to mean? " Qianfan demanded coldly, his eyes narrowing suspiciously at their father.
" It means young man that your father sold your sister to me for hundred pieces of gold coins. "
A gasp of surprise emanated from behind Salsa and they turned to see her younger brothers at the door. The three of them. Paisley and her ten-year-old brother Yuze looked confused, while Yufei, thirteen year old looked shocked. He looked to his older brothers for confirmation but they were both glaring murderously at their father.
A glance at his sister made his chest tighten when he saw the fear and worry in her green eyes. He made his way to her side and took her hand in his giving her a comforting squeeze, letting his older brothers handle their father.
The twins couldn't believe what they just heard. What is their father doing with hundred pieces of gold coins unless...
Their eyes grew wide before they narrowed suspiciously at their father. Their father has always had a problem with gambling.
" Where is the money? " Junfeng demanded harshly.
The older man's whole frame tensed up.
" I don't have it, " he said defensively not looking at his family, his face though blank was suffused with redness.
" WHAT! " Qianfan screeched in disbelief. " ALL OF THEM?! " he demanded.
The older man nodded shamefully.
The boy's shoulders slumped in defeat before they turned to the stranger in their room.
" We will pay you the money back sir just give us some time, " Qianfan bargained looking pleadingly at the man.
Master Chang was greatly amused by the boy's words. He threw back his head and let out a cold and mocking laughter. He laughed until his belly ached.
" And where pray boy do you intend to get the money to pay me back? " he mocked sarcastically, his eyes sweeping around the shabby tethered living room. Everything looked as if it was falling apart.
Junfeng growled at the man's mocking tone, his fist clenched tightly at his side.
" We will get the money, " he barked in a determined voice. He doesn't care what he has to do but he and his brother will find a way.
The man's bushy brow hiked up at his words.
" Do you have the money now? "
The brothers and the rest of the family looked away knowing that kind of money can never be found in their house.
The man smirked coldly at them.
" Well since you don't have my money now I will have to take what I was promised, " he got to his feet and took a step in Salsa's direction.
Qianfan and Junfeng moved to block his path.
" Take me instead, " Qianfan offered shocking his family.
" WHAT! " his father looked sharply at him.
Qianfan ignored him and held the stranger's eyes.
" I am strong and I will do anything you want of me. "
Master Chang paused with a hand to his chin as he regarded the young man. He was right. He looked tall and strong and will do amazingly well in his trading business, but he already has enough hands in that, and he will never be able to provide the services his sister will provide to him.
" I am sorry young man, you might be good looking young man but I prefer the softness of a woman in my bed. Your beautiful sister will do nicely, " he said with a hungry look in his eyes.
Before the words could leave his mouth entirely he found himself flat on the ground.
Junfeng was so angry at the filthy words coming out of the stranger's mouth that his fist was moving before he could think about it.
" YOU WILL NEVER LAY A HAND ON MY SISTER! " he screamed at the prone figure.
His action left everyone dumbfounded and they could only gawk at the man passed out in their living room in shock. It took a lot of seconds before their brain could come to terms with what have happened.
" What have you done?! " their mother cried in alarm.
Salsa couldn't believe what her brother had done. He just decked a man from the Central City, a rich one at that. Their family was doomed. His brother has always been so hot-tempered, and always allows his fist to speak for him.
" What are we going to do? " she asked in a small voice.
Everyone in the room looked at each other cluelessly.
" Let me see if he is still alive, " Qianfan suggested leaning down to the man. He touched his neck for a few seconds before straightening up with a relieved look on his face. " He is still alive, " he said glaring at his brother.
Everyone released a huge breath. Junfeng looked away from his twin eyes but he didn't regret what he did he was defending his sister and will do it again.
" What do we do now? " their mother asked looking towards her husband.
" Maybe we should pour him water, " Yuze suggested coming to look at the stranger. He poked his prone form with his toes, marveled that anyone could be this fat.
" STOP THAT! " his father growled pulling him away from Master Chang.
" Hey, I am just trying to help, " he defended freeing his hand from his father.
" That is not helping stupid, " Yufei flung at him rolling his eyes.
" At least I have something to say, what is your suggestion? " Yuze demanded, challenging his brother.
" Not now, boys, " their mother scolded.
Salsa shook her head at her two younger brothers. They always fighting each other. She was going to miss her brothers she thought with a melancholy feeling.
" I think we should just let him be and wait till he wakes up, " Qianfan suggested.
Everyone in the room cast a nervous glance at each other before nodding their heads in agreement.