Maya, a teenager who's in secondary highschool. She likes to bake some cakes and she dream to become a popular baker and serve some highest peoples around thr world. She living on a apartment with his boyfriend Alfred, they met at the campus few years ago, and they go out together. Month by month, Alfred's behavior changes he become more aggressive and possessive when it comes to her, ordering her some stuff that she doesn't want to do. She was at the classroom, listening to her teacher who's teaching about personal developments of a person.
"Hey, Maya! I heard there's a famous new opened cafe near your apartment...do you know it?", her bestfriend ask.
"..y-yeah, i already see it..", Maya said.
"...i heard there's a handsome man who's owning the cafe, did you already see him?", she ask again.
"...nah, i still not going inside of it, just outside..while its close..", Maya answered her.
Her bestfriend asking her to take her in the cafe, but she refuse because her boyfriend wants her at home after the class. She just smiles and look back at their teacher who's still teaching.
"...you know besh, you should break up with him...don't let him manipulate you or something..", she said to Maya.
"...h-he's not manipulating me..", she denied it.
Class has ended, Maya is now at her locker putting back all the stuff on her backpack, especially her books that she needs. Suddenly, a young lady slam her locker door. It was Tricia, a famous girl in the campus, and everyone is flirting with her, even her boyfriend Alfred.
"...look at this trash, she still dating my Alfred, why keep him? He doesn't love you okay, just break up with him...you just wasting him..", she said and bump her shoulder at Maya.
She just ignores her, and immediately left the campus. She doesn't know why she's not doing what Tricia said to her, Alfred is just using her as a maid, not a wife or girl. She suddenly bump on a young adult who's holding a box of cafe and coffee.
"Oh! I'm sorry, its my fault...i'm not looking around...are you okay?", he ask her.
"...y-yeah, i'm fine...wait, is that a coffee and cakes?", she ask.
"Mhm? Yeah it is...its from my cafe, you should visit there sometimes..", he said and laughs.
"...uhm sure, let me guess its for Mr. Sanchez?", she ask.
"..hm? Yeah yeah, but i think i'm going to lost...your campus is so big..", he said while lookjng around.
"...well i can help you..", she offered.
"..oh? Thanks that's a big help..", he said and help her get up.
The hallway of a secondary high school campus is long and lined with rows of lockers on both sides. The walls are painted in soft colors, like cream or light blue, with some posters about school events, rules, or motivational quotes. The floor is made of shiny tiles, reflecting the fluorescent lights above. Classrooms are spaced out along the hallway, each with a wooden door and a small glass window. Students move about, some chatting in small groups near their lockers, others hurrying to class. The sound of footsteps, conversations, and the occasional bell fills the air. A bulletin board near the center of the hallway displays announcements, schedules, and colorful student artwork. Everything feels alive and busy, a typical day in a high school setting.
Maya lead the young adult towards the faculty room, while they walking she can hear the whispering of other students about her and the unknown man. She ignores them, and start a conversation with them.
"...oh! Are you the owner of the cafe near at the Eclipse Apartment?", she ask with a nervous smile.
"Oh yeah, why? You live there?", he ask with a cutr smile.
Maya suddenly blushes, she look away and look at the floor. Maya's friend was right, he is handsome.
"...i actually didn't even think that i'll do delivery this early...i mean, i just opened my cafe and i don't have a plan to have delivery for a while...you know, try to get some employees first...but i didn't expect that my business will bloom this fast..", he said.
Maya's heart was throbbing so fast, she blushes because of how handsome and gentle to talk the man is. After some few chatting, they arrived at the faculty and gave the orders at the teachers. He go out the room with a smile, and put the money on his pocket.
"...thanks for you help, here take this.
", he gave his number to her.
"...call it whenever you need something like job or some orders...", he added with a smile.
"Wait...what's your name?", she ask.
"...sorry girl, i'm older than you by few years...but Elliot is my name..", he said and wave his hand.
As Elliot start walking away to go back in the cafe, Maya was happy that she talk to a gentleman. She suddenly realize the time, she put the number on her bag, and run to the exit. She arrives on her apartment, the squatter apartment building looks old and run-down, with faded paint peeling off the walls. The windows are mismatched, some with broken glass or patched with cardboard and cloth. Rusty metal bars cover a few windows, while others are wide open, letting in light and noise. The building is cramped, with small balconies cluttered with clotheslines, pots, and random items like broken chairs or old toys. Inside, the narrow hallways are dimly lit, with bare bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The walls are stained and cracked, and the floors are uneven, made of rough cement or broken tiles. The air smells of cooking, dampness, and sometimes trash. Doors to apartments are made of thin wood or metal sheets, many with makeshift locks. Despite the tough conditions, signs of life are everywhere—kids playing in the hallway, neighbors chatting loudly, and the hum of radios or TVs from behind closed doors.
Maya get inside of their apartment, when suddenly Alfred was in the door waiting for her, he grabbed her hair and pulled her inside of the apartment. She groans in pain and tries to get his hand off, he push her at the couch, and stomp her arm.
"...where did you go!!? Did i tell you to go home early!!? WHY ARE YOU LATE!!", he shout while kicking her.
"...stop...please...its hurts..", she beg.
"Stop!? If you don't want to get hurt, follow all what i said!!!", he said and throw a can of beer on her head.
She start crying out of pain, tears fa on her face. She start trembling because of fear, he didn't become too violent to her ever since she changed. Maya start getting scared at him, out of nowhere Alfred took a knife on the kitchen. Maya crawl back, trying to get away from him.
"You need to learn...you like cooking right? Let me take one of your finger so that you learn your mistakes!", he said and grabbed her hand.
"No!!! Please no!! No!!", she beg, while pushing her hand away.
Alfred pinned her hand in the table, and suddenly cut off her index finger. Blood spilled out, and now dripping at the floor from the table. She cries so loud, feeling the pain on her hand, Alfred got pissed because of her noise, he gets up and swing his knife towards her, with a quick rush of adrenaline, Maya swiftly kick Alfred's head, sending him at the floor. After that, Maya continue to cry out of pain, she feel pain on her body and hand, she run outside fo the apartment. Alfred get up and immediately follow her, everyone outside of their apartment was shock and scares because of Maya's situation. She came down the elevator, luckily it close the gate immediately, so Alfred didn't get inside.
"...run bitch, run!!", he said with a creepy expression.
Maya was traumatized at what happened, the pain on her hand keep on stinging her wound. As the elevator open, she immediately run away from the apartment. Alfred just got down from the stairs and followed Maya at the street. The street is dark, lit by a few streetlights that flicker now and then. Maya runs as fast as she can, her breath shaky and her hand pressed against her bleeding finger. Her heart feels like it's about to burst out of her chest. Behind her, heavy footsteps pound the pavement. Her boyfriend is chasing her, gripping a sharp knife, his voice loud and angry.
"Maya! Stop!" he yells.
She doesn't look back, too scared to see how close he is. Her feet slap against the ground, stumbling over cracks in the sidewalk. Every step hurts, but she keeps going. She turns down a narrow alley, hoping to hide. The sound of her boyfriend following gets louder. Trash cans clatter as she pushes through, her hands brushing against cold walls. She spots a small light in the distance, maybe a shop or a house. She runs toward it, her legs aching, her mind filled with panic. She knows she can't stop, no matter how much it hurts. She saw the new opened cafe, and it was about to close, she immediately rush towards the door, and blocked it with her hand.
"...help please..", she says when she suddenly saw Amber, the little girl she help few days ago.
"MAYA!!!", he yell out.
She immediately get inside of the cafe, and close the door, blocking it. Amber saw her hand, she got scares and run at the kitchen to get Elliot. Elliot recognize the young girl, he check her hand and it was bleeding so bad, suddenly the door got pushed by someone.
"...who's that?", he ask.
"...m-my boyfriend...he did this to me..", she said while groaning in pain.
Elliot understand the situation, he locked the door first, then told Amber to take Maya inside of the kitchen and treat her finger. Amber nodd and take Maya at the kitchen, she took the medical kit under the sink and go back to Maya. Meanwhile, Elliot unlock the door, and step back. He look at Alfred who seem looking for someone, he crosses his arm and watching him.
"...finding someone?", he ask with a smirk.
"...hey, where did you hide my girl?", Alfred ask.
"...girl? Who?", Elliot ask like his tripping him.
Alfred got pissed and walk towards him, grabbing his collar, "If your not gonna tell me i'm gonna stab you right here..".
"..oh! I'm scared...like i let you hurt that young girl...", Elliot said and quickly hit his belly with knee.
Alfred coughed, and stepped back.
"Kid, put it down," Elliot said firmly, shifting into a stance, his legs ready to move.
"You think you can just walk away from this?" Alfred shouted, charging forward with the knife.
Elliot dodged, leaping back as the blade swiped inches from his side. Without hesitation, he spun on his heel and delivered a sharp kick to Alfred's wrist, forcing the knife to fly out of his hand. It clattered to the floor, sliding under a table.
"You don't need to do this!" Elliot said, but Alfred wasn't listening. Growling, Alfred grabbed a chair and hurled it toward Elliot, who ducked and rolled to the side.
Elliot sprang back to his feet and countered with a quick sidekick to Alfred's thigh, causing him to stumble. Alfred snarled and swung wildly with his fists, but Elliot was faster. Using the edge of a table for balance, he launched a powerful jump kick that slammed into Alfred's chest, sending him crashing into the counter. He grabbed his collar and stepped his face.
"...you make me do this kid, now don't ever touch that girl or else...i'm gonna freaking kill you...GO!", Alfred got scares and pushes him, running out the cafe.
He sigh, and look at the kitchen, he then walk towards there.