Chapter 48: Mr. Annah

"Two Iced-Americanos, please!"

Hearing Mika's loud voice from across her table, Jule's fingers fidgeted vigorously on her lap.

With her eyes glued to the table, she was hesitant to take a look at her father—who sat there with his legs crossed and eyes glaring around the cafe.

Mika's head turned to see if Jule was doing okay only to notice the glistening skin of her neck.

A deep sigh, Mika's shoulders dropped.

"Fxck."

She mumbled under her breath out of habit before looking away.

"So,"

Jule flinched upon hearing his voice that only brought the sickening chills over her skin.

Squeezing her own hand under the table while she avoided his eyes, Jule waited for him to finish his sentence.

"How's my child doing recently?"

Jule frowned as soon as those words left his lips.

*Don't you know*?— was what she wanted to say at the moment but that very strong urge was shooed away by what she responded with.

"Why..are you here?"

She asked, hesitant but inside, Jule very well knew this gentle-look he has now was just one of those masks he uses to lure people.

His wide and gentle smile immediately shortened when he met with his daughters cold tone.

But when he saw the look in her eyes that told him how scared she was, a small chuckle left his lips.

"I see…"

His eyes observed her body language that only described two things.

One, she was scared.

And last but not least, she very well knows why he's here today.

"You are very educated, Jule."

Jule's eyebrows squinted as soon as she heard him say.

Mr. Annah scoffed before rubbing his temple.

"Of course, you know what this dad wants, don't you?"

His lowered gaze made Jule's eyebrow's stretch before her expression turned to agony.

Her eyes turned away from the sight of her father who didn't look like the one she used to live with.

Rather than a father, he looked more of a filthy brothel man.

"Yeah, papa."

The tears that merely formed in her eyes screed disappointment while her breath heaved.

"I know very well. I-I know that.."

She coldly looked at him as he didn't bother to look up.

"You want me to be a product you want to sell."

His head raised before his eyes fell on his daughter that shed tears.

Sniffing as she noticed how everyone's eyes almost fell on her, Jule sniffed, wiping the tears away.

"But I'm not surprised, anyway."

Her shoulder shrugged and Mr. Annah felt like the way through her mind which he mapped was torn into pieces.

His hand clutched the tissue in his fist before his jaw clenched at the sight of his daughter who looked noticeably—just like her mother—to be specific, his fourth wife.

But his expression was immediately changed to a very pitiful one.

"Oh no, Jule. Never."

His words made her hesitantly look at him from the side.

"I mean—doing that to my own daughter? No!"

He exclaimed with his eyes glaring into hers with so much care.

Expecting her to speak something, Mr. Annah was left with silence which only gave him a green signal to continue with his luring tone.

"Jule, my child,"

Jule slowly looked up from her lap before tears fell down her pale cheeks.

A glint of sparkles can be visible in his eyes when he saw her gaze that held the hope he was acting for all this time.

"I did this for you."

He slowly leaned forward when he said it loud and clear for her ears.

Her hands trembled when he reached for it over the table.

His hand extended for hers to hold but Jule couldn't bring herself to.

Not when those events flash in front of her eyes with no pause.

"I did this for your mom, Jule."

Her eyebrows squinted when he said it with a sad smile on his face.

Her lips parted for her to deny it.

This very fearful disgust she felt over this very father of hers.

But when he completed his sentence by saying that,

"I did this for my wife I want to get back with."

The realization or whatever it can be called, has hit her then and there before she saw it all.

The true colors he was hiding behind this very pitiful face he held.

"Jule, your drink–"

Jule stood up before Mika could sit down with them.

Her eyes didn't only hold fear this time but also the familiar disgust.

Mr. Annah narrowed his eyebrows as he watched Jule take her bag and her files.

"Mika, let's go."

Mika looked back and forth at Mr. Annah and Jule.

"Let's go!"

Jule stated sternly before Mika stood up holding the drinks in her hands.

"Jule, wait, listen to me."

Jule ignored her father who didn't seem to get that she understood all his traps.

"Jule, I'm not lying! I really wanna get back together with you mother."

Jule shook her head while she paused.

"Let's go?"

Mika asked, trying to ignore as much as presence of him.

Jule looked around before noticing her ID card on the table.

Jule took a grip of it only for Mr. Annah to hold her hand.

"Jule, will you listen to me? Your father–?"

"Let me go, dad."

Jule said, with her cheeks stained and eyes red with such pain she never felt.

"Jule-"

"Dad, let it go."

Jule spoke aloud making him gritt his teeth within his patience falling over the edge.

"Jule, don't make me do this."

Jule's eyes met her father's as he breathed out.

Her eyes scanned his face.

Her vision was almost blurry but that didn't prevent her from seeing how much of an addict he looked like.

"You are coming with me."

Fear took over her body when his grip tightened on her wrist.

"No. L-let me go."

Jule stated while Mr. Annah pulled her with him.

Her eyes widened as her feet sweeped off from the place where she stood.

Tears flew out of her eyes as the events that took place last night came back to her mind.

"No!"

She yelled as the cafeteria went silent.

"Hey! Stop—"

Mika protested but when Mr. Annah's ruthless glare fell on her, he gritted his teeth.

"Go away!"

Mr. Annah spat aloud before pulling the Jul who tried to stay still.

"No, please!"

Her pleads were unheard by her father as he neared the door of the cafeteria making her body turn pale and numb.

Her hand that he gripped tight fisted before she closed eyes tightly.

"N-no, I don't want to!"

She yelled aloud as she pulled her hand out of his grip in a swift moment.

He turned around with wide eyes as Jule stepped back within her chest heaving up and down.

"No. I won't come with you."

Said Jule as Mika stood there, stunned by what was happening at the moment.

"What did you say?"

Jule's hand fisted over the jacket she wore before her shoulders quivered.

"I'll take care of my mom."

Jule said, shiveringly yet confidently which only provoked Mr. Annah from top to bottom

"You..!"

His hand raised to slap Jule as Jule closed her eyes, expecting her cheek to be stamped by his tight and strong slap but when she felt nothing but the cold wind over her stained cheeks, a soft frown formed on her face.

Eyes slowly opened to see, they only widened when her eyes met with Jack's stern face.

His hand held up Mr. Annah's in the air as he glared at him.

Jaw clenching as Mr. Annah's eyes met with Jake, he tried to wiggle his hand out of his grip.

"You! Who are you!? Let me go!"

Jule immediately stepped forward to tell Jack to let him go but when she felt him grab her hand, she looked down at it then at his face.

He winked, which only made her blink in response.

"Jule, Jessica needs you in the class."

Mr. Annah frowned as Jack spoke to Jule with a very polite tone.

"M-me?"

Jack nodded with eyes blinking as a he's.

"Yes. She needs you there."

Mr. Annah sensed that something was oging on as he clenched his jaw, watching Jack gently look ta his daughter.

"Hey! You! Let me go–"

Jack's eyes shot towards Mr. Annah which made his voice pause in an instant.

"Okay."

Jule spoke as she hesitantly took the bag Jack looked at his friends who sat at the table across.

"We'll be back, take care of this."

He let Mr. Annah go before Mr. Annah reached for Jule.

"You–"

But before he could take a hold of Jule's hand, Jack did instead.

His eyes glared into Mr. Annah's as he pulled Jule behind himself.

Jule's teary eyes met with Jack's, which held something she was so familiar with.

"Let's go?"

Jule hesitantly looked at her father, who was soon surrounded by Jack's friends.

"B-but–"

A hold of her chin, Jack scanned her eyes which were so fragile like she herself.

"**You're coming with me**."