Craving Scarecrow

The day passed, and Nina slept well that night.

Finally, the day arrived. During the night, Nina and Draven bought a beautiful cake for Mina.

"Happy birthday, Mina," they both wished her. She started crying.

It had been years since she had seen a birthday cake or received any wishes. She hugged her sister tightly, tears and snot covering Mina's face in happiness.

"Guess something really bad happened to them. Her smile and happiness are genuine. Nina really works hard for her sister," Draven thought to himself as he offered a gift to Mina.

Mina immediately tore the wrapping. Inside was a beautiful red dress and a queen's crown.

The night passed in celebration, with joy filling the time and distance between them.

The next morning, Nina reached the bar, only to find that Draven was missing.

"Damn it! That idiot! I told him not to work overtime. He wasn't well but still worked overnight. Now, I'm short of staff!" The manager came out of the kitchen, angrily venting.

"Excuse me! Is the manager angry at someone?" Nina asked her senior.

"Don't you know? Your boyfriend is suffering from a fever. What a shame...he worked overnight for a piece of trash like you," the senior snapped as she walked away.

Nina's eyes widened. She held her head, recalling Draven's happy face.

"Hey, what are you spacing out for? Get to work!" The manager shouted near Nina's ear, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Oh, sorry, sir! I was...." Nina stammered.

"I don't want to hear excuses. Get to your post, or I'll cut your payment." The manager stormed off.

"Hey, did you see that? Nina is such a bitch. She used Draven like a piece of gum," a staff member whispered to another.

"What do you expect? She is a bitch, after all. You can expect at least this from someone like her," the other replied.

Nina tried to concentrate but couldn't. Hearing the backbiting, she finally left her work and went to the manager.

"Sir, I want to leave for today," she said firmly.

"What? I can't allow that. Can't you see we're short on staff?" The manager glared at her.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I have something important to take care of," Nina insisted.

"What? Are you talking back to me?" The manager's eyes narrowed, his fists clenched.

"Sir," a senior staff member interjected, "I heard about someone who wanted to leave work early. The owner fired them, and now they're jobless because of one mistake."

The manager chuckled. "Really? That's a strict rule. Go back to work."

The senior smiled and walked away. The manager then turned to Nina with a grin.

"If you leave now, you'll lose your job. What do you want?"

"Sir, I've never taken a day off since I started working here. I just need half a day off. Can't you allow that?" Nina's voice trembled with emotion.

The female staff exchanged smirks.

"No. Either finish your shift and leave, or get fired," the manager said coldly.

"I heard she needs money and will do anything for it," one staff member whispered to another.

"That's why she started hanging out with Draven," another one added.

"Exactly. She won't leave the job.....she can't get another one," they laughed.

Nina clenched her fists. "Sir, thank you for everything. I won't forget it."

She placed her apron on the desk and headed for the exit. The staff stared in shock.

"What? Do you know what you're doing?" The manager yelled.

"Can't you see? I'm quitting," Nina replied without looking back.

"You're a newbie! Don't forget I hired you because you were desperate. Now you're giving me attitude? You don't know how the world works, kid. Beg, and I might forgive you!" The manager slammed his desk.

Nina smiled softly, opened the door, and stepped outside. The manager's face turned crimson with rage, his blood vessels bulging. "How dare she?"

From a distance, a soldier observed Nina's every action, his eyes glowing with a white aura.

Nina stood in front of a house, hesitating before knocking. She clenched her fists and finally knocked.

After some time, a completely drained and shivering Draven opened the door.

"What? Why are you here? You idiot, you'll get fired...." Draven muttered before collapsing.

"Draven, watch out!" Nina slid forward and caught him.

When Draven opened his eyes, it was already noon. His clothes were gone, the house was clean, laundry was hanging outside, and his fever had subsided.

He searched for Nina and realized he was resting on her lap.

"Why are you here?" Draven stammered as he woke.

"Don't push yourself. You're still weak," Nina said gently, touching his chest.

"What happened to your job?" Draven asked, removing her hand.

A leaf drifted down outside the window as the scene shifted indoors.

"I left my job to help you. I became your destroyer," Draven muttered, ashamed. "Let's go beg the manager. Maybe he'll take you back."

"Enough!" Nina shouted, tears streaming down her face. "You sacrificed your happiness for me. Do you want me to watch you beg now? I can't take it anymore. Stop doing everything for me. Just focus on yourself...I'm already in your debt."

Draven, distracted by her tears, lost his balance and fell onto Nina. Their eyes locked, unable to look away.

Draven's warmth comforted Nina. He leaned closer and whispered, "Can't you see? You are my only happiness."

Nina's eyes widened, her heart racing. As Draven tried to get up, she pulled him back and kissed him. Draven froze, his mind unable to process the moment.

"What's going on? Is she out of her damn mind?" he thought, his hands shaking as he collapsed onto her again.

After the kiss, Nina turned her face away.

Draven instinctively grabbed her arms. "You know what you did, right? I don't think I can hold myself back anymore."

"That's fine. I'll take whatever you want to do," Nina said, meeting his gaze.

Outside, a bird took flight as the sun set.

"My big sister is late today," Mina said, looking out the window.

From a distance, the soldier continued watching, holding a small mermaid statue in his hand.