Chapter four

"You know that you would be punished, for helping me of course and you still want to help me, knowing it'll get you in trouble if Mrs Kim finds out."

"Well I don't care about them, I'm not in support of how they treat you, Jason, you're a nice man and you deserve good treatment ."

"Just take this like a friend helping a friend in need," she remarked. 

Jason shrugged.

"I still think you should just leave it, I can handle it, I don't want you to get into trouble because of me on your first day here."

"Just let me worry about myself," Tonia replied.

She picked up the mop stick and began to mop the already-cleaned room.

Jason was relieved but he looked at Tonia in disbelief, admiring how much of a good heart she had. He just hoped she wouldn't get into any trouble for helping him.

"Take my luggage inside, before Mrs. Kim sees it. You know how dramatic she can be." 

Tonia said, shaking him out of his thoughts.

"Okay," Jason said, smiling. Then he took her bags and headed to her room.

By the time he came back, Tonia was almost done. She was fast and focused. When she finished cleaning, Tonia was already tired. She placed her hands on her waist and exclaimed, "I think I'm gonna die soon". She grunted and sat down on the couch while Jason cheered her up.

Jason looked at Tonia with a smile on his face, she looked so tired and funny. Like she was about to die.

"I told you, please get some rest, " Jason urged.

"You're right about that, Jason," Tonia replied, breathing heavily.

She was about to leave when Jason ran after her and hugged her. 

"I'm so grateful for your help, Tonia. Thank you so much. I would have probably been lying unconscious."

"Don't worry about that, I’ll always help you if I can.”

Just as they were concluding their conversation, they heard footsteps walking towards them. Jason and Tonia turned only to see Mrs. Kim approach them with a stern look.

Mrs Kim reached Jason and gave him a resounding slap. “How dare you give another your work to do for you?”

 "Auntie Kim, please stop it!" Tonia cried out.

"Not a single word from you, fool! Do you think you can walk into my father’s house and talk to my mother anyhow, it pleases you?” Zoey said, walking down the stairs.

Then, Mrs Kim faced Tonia and grimaced, fuming in anger. “It would be best if you keep your dirty mouth shut. And who gave you the right to help him? Huh! Have you lost your mind? Or you don't have respect anymore? Didn't you think twice before involving yourself in his mess? Be warned next time, I won't tolerate it."

“Auntie I didn't mean to disrespect you, the work was too much for him and I thought to help. It was a simple help I rendered to a friend.”

Zoey glanced at her mother, in total shock. She couldn't believe the guts Tonia had to answer her mother in the way she did. 

Jason Quack Tonia’s shoulder. He didn't believe that Tonia would have the guts to speak with the madam of the Garrison family. 

"Are you okay? Tonia, you are going to get punished because of me." I mumbled into Tonia’s ears alone. But instead of whispering her response quietly, she said it loudly. 

"I’m not scared of punishment, I can't keep quiet over this level of wickedness done to you. Jason, you don't deserve to be treated like an animal because you were adopted. I mean, it wasn't your fault that you didn't have the mind to do bad business. You are a good man and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.”  

Mr. Kim was lost, she couldn't fathom what just happened. When she composed herself, she slowly walked and stood in front of Tonia and the next thing she felt was a hot slap on her cheek. Which shifted her head in another direction. 

"How dare you? I can see that you’ve grown wings. And can easily talk to me rudely and question my instructions in my own house.” Mrs asked, glaring at Tonia.

As she was holding her cheeks, trying to absorb the pain, she felt another resounding slap from Mrs. Kim. This time she fell on her knees as she wasn't expecting it. 

“Ouch! She exclaimed. From the look on her face, it was clear that she was trying not to cry. Jason wanted to help but he couldn't, Mr Kim had warned him not to intervene. 

"Don't even try it! Otherwise, I'd give you the worst punishment you ever imagined," I felt so bad because it was all my fault that Tonia had been mistreated, I should have never allowed her to help me. 

"You should just leave this house!" Zoey shouted.

Tonia chuckled painfully, stood up from the floor, and she dusted her hands.

"Zoey, you must be very stupid to think that I love being here, you guys are so mean and wicked how can you treat Jason like an outcast? To even think you guys are better than him is laughable," Tonia scolded.

Tonia is one outspoken person that I know, no matter who you are, if you dare mess up she will give it to you like you want. 

"He is human and you should treat him as such," She added and began to sob.

Jason couldn't just stand there and watch Tonia get into more trouble because of him and he tried to stop her.