"Good morning mummy!"

"Good morning Risa, my precious baby"

Mana hugged her daughter as Risa giggled under the early morning sunlight.

"C'mon we don't want to be late for school!"

Mana's morning routine was quite hectic. She had to tidy her house and get Risa ready for school. She was 20 and hadn't found a good job yet. But even if it all seemed hopeless, 4 year old Risa was very understanding and helped her mother whenever she could.

Hurriedly, Mana prepared their breakfast while Risa put on her uniform. She ran to her mom and asked her to button up the shirt. Little Risa found it hard to do that and Mana always smiled at her failed attempts.

Mana had an important day today. The most prestigious college in the city had a job opening- a cleaning lady. It wasn't a high paying nor a very nice job, but without any education certificate, she had no choice but to accept it.

Boarding Risa on her van to school, Mana resolved to have a successful day today.

As she locked the door, her neighbours were staring at her. Mana frowned. She knew they were snickering about how Mana is too young to have a baby. But it's not her fault. And she will never forgive that guy for what he did to her. Even though she had a beautiful daughter, Risa still reminded Mana of the pain she went through.

Mana wanted to give Risa a fulfilling life and that no one in this world dared to lift a finger on her.

Mana boarded the train and reached her destination. It was surely a big college, almost like a hotel. She climbed up the stairs and met her employer. Her employer was a very sweet lady and welcomed her in her arms.

"And please let me know if you need any help. You're like my daughter."

Mana almost teared up. How long has it been since she heard such kind words?

"Thank you so much for your help and support!"

Mana wore her work uniform and began her duty. She went to the backyard to sweep the fallen leaves. As she was sweeping, she caught a man staring at her. He was a student standing near the classroom door wearing his lab coat.

He was rather handsome with blonde hair and had beautiful green eyes. Misa was taken aback by his beauty but she felt very uncomfortable at the way he was staring. She decided not to dwell and continued with her work.

Soon it was lunch time. Mana took her lunchbox and ate quietly near the shed. She wasn't the same jolly girl she was once in school. Not after what happened to her.

"Can I have that?"

Mana looked up to the person standing in front of her. It was the green eyed boy!

"What...?" She was least interested in talking to any man. She was deeply repulsed by men.

"I am really hungry. And I haven't gotten any money for cafeteria"

It's just a favour to a stranger. Nothing more, She thought.

"Sure, just bring the box after school in the cleaner's staff room"

She handed him the box and tried to walk away when he grabbed her hand. "No! Stay here with me"

Mana's blood began to boil, but her knees weak. It was coming back to her again.

No no no NO I CANNOT!

"Don't touch me!!" Mana jolted her hand out of his, and ran away.

Dumbfounded, the green eyed boy stared at her, unable to process it.

Mana searched for an empty room as her panic attack worsened. Her heartbeat rose and she was struggling to breathe. All her memories from that day came flooding in.

It was a regular school day and her classmate decided to 'have fun' with her in front of many boys from her class. Kisaki pinned her down a table and started to threaten her.

Tears rolled down her cheeks and she thought of what he said that day.

"Be calm and let me do my thing, or else your sister won't live to see another day". Kisaki was the son of a famous CEO and if he wanted, he could easily bury the truth with money.

Mana was numb to whatever happened after that. Her memory was foggy from the trauma but the pain was still lingering.

She quickly took out her medications and swallowed them. She stood up, almost losing control of her feet, and slowly began to walk outside. She thought of her sister, Hana. She hadn't seen her for four years. Well, her mom kicked her out after Mana was pregnant, refusing to believe she was raped, and thought she did this to herself.

Will this nightmare never end?

Mana used up all her energy into working the rest of the day and headed home. On the way, she bought Risa's favourite pork buns and fish. It was a long day, and she just wanted to see Risa's smile. Risa had already come from school, all freshened up.

"Hi baby, did you have a good day at school?"

"Yes mommy and someone is here to see you!"

Mana noticed a pair of school outside their tiny apartment. It was pretty big. A man?

And there he was, the green eyed boy. Mana took a step back. Her hands were shaking violently. She tried not to lose her composure so as to not scare Risa.

"Big brother Takumi said you're his friend, mommy. So I let him in." Risa smiled, but Mana's face grew pale. What does he want?

"Hi Mana, I never got a chance to introduce myself today. I am Takumi Watanabe, a second year student at the university."

"He..llo Takumi, I am ...uh... Mana Taka...hashi. Wh...y are you in my hou...se?" Mana gathered all her couraged into saying that. She reached for the door, ready to pick Risa up and run.

"Oh I just wanted to thank you for the lunchbox. You're an amazing cook! I loved the egg rolls you made."

"Yes!! Mommy can also cook fish nicely" Risa exclaimed.

Mana was still skeptical, but relaxed a little. Maybe he just wants to thank me. "Really? I am glad you liked my cooking. And um thank you for staying with my daughter all this while."

"Oh no problem! Risa is very cute and we got along very well. Didn't we Risa chan?"

"Yes I love Takumi kun! Mom can we have him over for dinner please?"

Mana felt uncomfortable as ever. She hadn't talked to a man in four years. How could she ever have one over in her house? She went over to the kitchen to keep her groceries.

"I'm sure Takumi kun is very busy. Maybe some other day Risa"

"Oh no it's okay I am not busy today. My family is out of town and I can't cook. So I'll be grateful to you and your cooking. And oh as a thanks, I brought over dessert"

Mana was confused. Why can't he take the damn hint? But seeing her daughter get along with him so well, she couldn't refuse.

"Okay then, you can stay over for dinner. In exchange help me out a little. I got fish today Risa!"

The three of them joked around and made dinner together. It was almost natural to have Takumi around. He was fun loving and they talked a lot. Turns out he is a year younger than Mana. They all had dinner together, almost like a family. There was a lot of laughter and joy. Mana hadn't felt this happy in a while.

"Thank you so much for today. I gotta tell you again, you're such a good cook!"

"Hehe thanks Takumi. Well I'll see you tomorrow at school then".

Risa and Takumi hugged and he headed towards the door. Risa went inside to prepare for bed and Mana went to see him out.

They exchanged their goodbye smile and Mana closed the door.

"Wait! Mana!" She opened the door to see Takumi all red. "I have something to tell you."

"Yeah, what's up?"

"I like you".

Mana was not quite convinced. How could a complete stranger out of nowhere show up at her house just to say he likes her?

"What do you mean by that?"

"When I saw you today, I just knew it had to be you forever."

With these absurd words, Mana was pretty sure he was just a pervert. But since he knows where her house is, she tried to be very polite to him.

"I'm sorry Takumi kun, but I lead a very busy life and have no time for relationships. Besides, we don't know anything about each other."

"But—"

"Goodnight". Mana closed the door on him, but she wondered if she made the right choice. Risa really seemed to like Takumi kun. But what if he is not trust worthy? Random guys like these cannot be trusted.

The next few days went by as peacefully as it could, with no sign of Takumi. That's good I guess. I don't have to take stress this way.

It was the weekend and to celebrate the end of the first week of her new job, she went for some drinks at a bar with her only friend, Miyuki. She dropped off Risa to spend the night with Miyuki's kids. Though Miyuki was 5 years older that she was, they had been friends for over 10 years.

Their friendship hid no secrets. Miyuki had helped her get back up on her feet when she was kicked out.

"Wait wait WAIT he said WHAT?"

"Shhhhh! he... he said he liked me. And I mean, it's pretty absurd right?"

"Yeahh pretty cocky of him to say that to a stranger"

"That's what I thought!"

The night went on with drinks on drinks. Mana felt good about this unwind. She deserved it. But she drank more than she could handle. And she was absolutely wasted. So much that she went up to random strangers to comment on them. Miyuki wanted to get her home, but Mana insisted on embarrassing herself for the night! Causing a ruckus everywhere, she went in search for guys who 'looked like creeps'.

"GuYs wHo lOoK riCh AnD sNoBby, cOmE oUt!", Mana shouted. "HeY! yOu wItH wEirD dYeD hAiR! WhY dO gUyS rUiN LivEs?"

She caught hold of a stranger from his back and pulled him towards herself. But it was a quick jerk and they both tripped.

"Watch out for your head!" The stranger quickly put his head behind her head while they fell on the floor hard. WHAM! The whole bar turned to see them.

Luckily he put his hand out to lessen the blow. Mana groaned as she fell on the floor and the stranger on top of her. She opened her eyes and there he was. Takumi.

Before she could hold herself up, she ruined the night by throwing up... yes... on him...

The night was a blur after that. All she remembered was Miyuki frantically trying to call her.

The next morning, Mana woke up with a splitting headache. Her eyes could barely open as the sunlight was gushing inside her room. She groaned at herself and regretted every single choice she made. The night was blurry but she was sure it wasn't pretty.

CLANK! What's that?

"Who's there?!"

"Oh shut up it's me"

Mayu was relieved it was Miyuki but a part of her was sad. "Oh Miyu chan. I thought Takumi kun was her—"

She looked up to find Takumi kun here too. Shit. He smiled at her while she fixed her disastrous face and hair from last night.

"Mana, why didn't you tell me Takumi kun was such a sweet boy! He helped us get back here last night after, you know, passed out."

"Takumi kun was there? Wait what? What happened?"

"You barfed on him, idiot"

Mana's eyes widened and she started to gush out numerous apologies to him.

Takumi kun laughed at her. "Mana chan, it's fine! I didn't mind. You should stop"

"Please let me pay for your tshirt at least. I think it's ruined isn't it?"

Before Takumi could deny, Miyuki tapped in with a beautiful idea. "Why don't you guys go shopping together?"

Mana held a sharp 'Why are you trying to set us up on a date' eye to Miyuki. But Miyuki giggled away, excited for their first non-date date.

"Actually", said Takumi. "That's not a bad idea. I needed a new pair of pants too. Will you join us Miyuki san?"

Mana looked over to Miyuki to get her to say yes to it. But, of course, Miyuki refused to join them. "No I'm really sorry. I've got to go to...um.. my... yoga class. So, I'll leave for now. Have fun on your date guys!"

Ugh she doesn't do yoga!

Mana felt uncomfortable alone in the room with him. Why would Miyuki leave me alone? Miyuki knew how she couldn't be with guys. Perhaps, Takumi kun can be trusted....

"Well Takumi kun, let me go get ready. Then we'll go for shopping."

"Yes sure please take your time. We could have brunch together later." Takumi started to take advantage of the situation.

"Alright." But Mana had to counter this. "But let's make a small detour before going."

"To where?"