The girl rested her head on my chest, seeking a hug, which I obviously gave her. Gently, I ran my hand through her hair, giving her as much affection as I could. It was the least I could offer at that moment.
Suddenly, the door opened, and a boy who looked about 11 or 12 walked into the store, eager for some candy. I was about to help him, but the girl stepped in, surprisingly taking over the task with a calmness I hadn't expected.
Despite her movements being a bit hesitant and her hands trembling slightly, focusing on the job seemed to ease some of the tension weighing on her shoulders. Each order, each exchange with the customer seemed to gradually pull her away from the fear that was suffocating her.
"You did really well," I praised her as soon as the boy left, the doorbell ringing as he departed.
"Thanks," she replied sweetly, accepting my affection with a small smile. "But it's nothing special, I just did my job like always."
"Well, you deserve to be praised every day for doing your job so well." I patted her hair again. "How are you feeling?" I asked, keeping my tone light, almost casual, trying not to overwhelm her.
She bit her lower lip, looking away towards her parents before lowering her head, clearly shaken. The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken words. Her eyes wavered, and after a long moment, she whispered, her voice trembling and fragile:
"Can you save me?"
Those few words seemed to drain the last of her energy, as if she was forcing herself to say something she didn't quite know how to express.
I didn't need any more details. Not at that moment. I knew the last thing I should do was press her to talk about what was troubling her.
"I've got this." I held her hand firmly, trying to convey all the strength I could, assuring her that somehow, I'd help her.
For now, what she needed was the assurance that she wasn't alone. I had no idea what the whole problem was, but I'd be by her side.
Time is cruel and always marches on relentlessly. Looking at the clock, I felt the tension rise, as it was Eva's lunch break. She was counting on me, and I was weary of feeling inadequate. My shyness and insecurities closed in around me, making the moment feel heavier and more uncertain.
I took a deep breath. I wouldn't let that girl down. Face-to-face with that angry look, with those gray hairs and a stern expression, I had no idea what to say, but I stepped up.
"Let's go. I know a really nice place nearby, it's a good restaurant," I said as naturally as possible.
"What do you mean, 'we'? Just get out of the way, I want to talk to my daughter alone. For starters, who are you to her?"
My heart raced uncontrollably; as usual, just one person raising their voice was enough to intimidate me, but in this case, being a coward wasn't an option.
"I'm her boyfriend," I lied once again.
Eva seemed surprised, but when faced with her parents' inquisitive looks, she just nodded. Holding my hand tightly, she was determined to trust me at that moment.
That said, Eva's intimidating father didn't seem at all inclined to accept me around. Of course, I wasn't about to give up that easily. After a heated argument that seemed endless, he finally relented, realizing I wasn't going anywhere. In the end, if he wanted to talk to Eva, it would be with me there too.
The whole situation was really scary; inside, I felt insecure and terrified, but responsibility pushed me to keep going. I temporarily closed the store and guided the two of them to a nearby fast food place, not just any fast food, but one with pretty mediocre fries.
I had originally planned to go to a restaurant, but I was too irritated with that stubborn old man and decided to go somewhere with crappy food. Yes, it was childish, but who cares.
I hurriedly ordered food for everyone, grumbling under my breath about having to pay for it all. I really didn't want to argue, though, so I just went along with it. With Eva helping me carry the trays, we returned to the table, where the couple was already seated, their sour faces making it clear they weren't pleased.
I sat down and had the brief pleasure of seeing the man's discontent as he ate a soggy, greasy fry. I knew that place wouldn't let me down.
That said, all good things come to an end, and my happiness was cut short when he opened his mouth to speak.
Soon, the father started his lecture, scolding Eva for leaving home. I understood why he was angry; after all, she had worried them a lot, but...
"Just out of curiosity, why are you here?" I interrupted the man's irritated speech.
"Isn't it obvious? To talk to my daughter." He gave me a look full of hatred that almost made me lose my confidence and stay silent.
"At any point today, did you actually look at her?" My words were harsh, carrying a genuine anger I was starting to feel. "Did you come here to vent your frustration or to try to understand her? If all you want to do is yell and let out your anger, let's go. If you want to understand her, start by looking your daughter in the damn eyes. Can't you see she's..."
I couldn't finish the sentence; the right words just wouldn't come, or maybe I thought saying more than that was unnecessary. Either way, I vented my anger and said what I needed to say. After that, I looked at the man firmly while he seemed to prepare for another long argument.
"Dad, please, could you...," Eva tried to intervene, her voice trembling. Luckily, this attempt was enough for him to finally look at her properly, noticing how much his daughter was shaking with fear. It was clear he had gone too far.
Meanwhile, the elegant lady next to him — completely the opposite of her loud companion —watched everything in silence. Her expression was perfectly serene, revealing little emotion.
"Alright, I'll save the lecture for another time..." The man reluctantly admitted some fault, stepping back a bit and allowing Eva at least to breathe. However, he seemed ready to say something more serious, but I interrupted him before he could continue.
"And by the way, do you want to know what she's been up to? How she's doing? Maybe talk about the game last night? I don't know if you watch basketball, but it was an amazing game."
I was really getting annoyed with how little they cared about being parents, seeming only interested in giving a lecture and then controlling Eva in one way or another.
In response to what I said, at least something changed. They finally seemed to realize and put on a smile, trying to actually talk to their daughter. The situation was still uncomfortable, no doubt, but at least there was some dialogue.
Her mother, unexpectedly, mentioned she was taking an online philosophy course, something she found surprisingly fun. The father, though quieter, asked a few questions here and there. Eva, still a bit unsure, started to relax little by little and, to my surprise, spoke excitedly about her recent attempt to start a YouTube channel.
But for what?
Her father quickly ruined the pleasant moment, making it clear that, in his opinion, that idea had no future. And that's when he launched into his endless, tiresome speech about responsibility, finishing with the old demand that Eva give up her "fantasies" and focus on getting a "proper" college degree.
As he spoke, Eva squeezed my hand tightly, but this time, she wasn't trembling as much. In her gaze, which had once seemed fragile, there was now a flame of unwavering determination.
"Dad, I want to be a singer and do...," Eva's voice gradually faded, and her last words were almost inaudible, but they clearly expressed her desire: "I don't want to go home."
"You didn't hear me, this is a waste of time, you're going to..."
"That's enough." I stood up, pulling Eva close. "Have you ever thought about actually listening to the people around you? You don't have to agree, but at least listen, idiot."
"Of course I listened, but there's no reason to take teenage illusions seriously."
"Seriously, did you really listen? Then do you know what your daughter's future plans are?" I then looked at the stoic lady. "And more, do you have any idea what your wife thinks about this? If she thinks anything, since she seems so quiet, like an accessory. You know, ma'am, we're talking about your daughter. I think you should get a little more involved."
Annoyed, I took Eva and left, ignoring their complaints. I was done dealing with them, so we ran away from that place. Of course, the future would still be there, but for now, I decided to handle things that way.
Once we were far enough, I stopped and let the girl go, apologizing for acting impulsively. But before I could continue apologizing, she placed her index finger on my lips, telling me to be quiet. Then, her angelic voice reached my ears:
"Thank you."