Cold Hearted ⭒ Cobra Kai

5.1.5^

"I've been trapped in a cage. Sorrow said I should stay, but I found beauty in this pain. Gave me strength to break these invisible chains."

~Invisible Chains by Lauren Jauregui~

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Warnings: abuse, addiction, anxiety, biphobia/homophobia, depression, domestic violence, slight eating disorder, language, panic attacks, sexual harassment/assault/abuse, violence, and other mature themes

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Miguel's POV

The time comes for me to find a place for the night, but I'm trying to save what little money I have left for food more than anything. I'm mad at myself for letting those surfers take advantage of me.

I walk into a hotel and hide behind a column as a woman approaches the check-in desk. I listen intently.

"I'd like this to be charged to my room: Morales, 617."

I watch the woman enter the elevator and a sharply dressed man enters the hotel. Behind him are more men, who I assume to be colleagues. Behind the counter is a huge selection of tourist pamphlets of all different colors.

They check-in and I slowly walk over to stand behind them. I put on a worried and sad puppy dog face and the crowd slowly moves to the elevator now, too.

"Can I help you?" the woman at the desk asks in a robotic tone.

"My, um, mom and I got separated and I don't have a key to the room. I don't know where she went, but I have a migraine and just want to sleep," I explain to the lady. "Can you check room 616?"

The lady eyes me suspiciously and then looks at the computer, "Room 616 is vacant."

"I thought that was it," I frown worriedly. "My last name is Morales."

The lady types more into the computer. "Room 617."

"Oh, I'm stupid," I allow my voice to crack.

"Aren't you a little old to be so clingy to your mother?" the lady tries to phrase it nicely.

I'm prepared. "Not since my father died, ma'am. I'm worried I'll lose her, too."

Her face softens, "You poor thing. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Since I'm here, do you have a pamphlet of things to do while I'm here or restaurants or anything? I'd like a good distraction for me and my mom," I tell her.

She turns around to peruse the brochures for me while I lean over the desk and change the room on the computer to 616.

The lady places the brochures on the counter for mean then scans a card. "Here's the key to 617. Go find your mom and I hope your headache gets better."

"Thank you," I nod as I grab the card and walk to the elevator.

I keep my head down and smile to myself as I land on the sixth floor. Then, I walk out and find room 616. I swipe my card and the lock lights up green. I slip into the room and bolt it behind me.

I walk around the hotel room and feel a sense of accomplishment and guilt. This isn't who I am at all. This isn't how I was raised to be.

Still, I'm kind of proud of myself for pulling that off.

I lay on the bed and forget all of my doubts because it is so soft. I'm instantly asleep.

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