Chapter 2: CINDERELLA

CHAPTER 2

CINDERELLA

She trudged wearily up to the stairs of her apartment building, her feet heavy and her shoulders slumped under the weight of a long grueling night. The hum of the city outside was muted by the thick walls, but the fatigue in her bones was palpable.

As she fumbled with her keys and pushed open the door to her apartment, the stale air inside hit her like a wall. The dim light of the hallway cast a melancholy glow over the space. She was drained because of what just happened and the giggles inside the room lifted her soul.

“I’m home!” she announced upon closing the door, kicking her shoes to the side.

A girl in her messy bun and circle-framed lenses was sleeping on the sofa. Beside her was the five-year-old little boy who left his open bag of chips just to run towards her open arms.

“Mommy!” he shouted in joy. With that, the girl on the sofa woke up and immediately stood up to recite some scientific words that looks like alien words to her ears.

“Gwendolyn,” Ria uttered her friend’s name as she carries the little boy.

Gwendolyn was alerted and realized where she was. “Oh, you’re home.” She steps towards her to take the paper bags in her hand. “Oh! Is this for me?” she asked, taking the coffee from the bag.

“Of course. Thanks for looking out for Grant,” Ria smiled with her tired eyes.

“Sure! No problem. Besides, I needed someone that can help me stay awake late at night. And Lumiere was keeping me up,” she mumbled as she took a sip from her coffee and put a slice of bread in the toaster. She always calls the little in his second name. “What are sisters for?” Gwendolyn walked by the mini refrigerator and tapped it. “Nanay gave you some rice cakes.”

She nodded and a sparkle glistened in her eyes. “I’ll dig it in by tomorrow. For now, I will put this young man to sleep first.” She looked at the boy who was as tired as her leaning by her shoulders. “You needed a rest now, young man. And you too. You can’t stay up late every night,” she reminded the two.

“Don’t you want to go back, Ria?” Gwendolyn asked, almost whispering. “Our hometown is more peaceful. You will not be working this late and Lumiere can have a better life. Who knows if he can recover faster?”

“Gwen. I told you many times. I am happy here. I am leaving peacefully with my son,” she said in a serious tone.

Gwendolyn smiled bitterly. While she heard a slight hum from her son.

“I’ll see you, sissy. I just need to do mommy duties.” She winked at her before making her way to the bedroom with her son in her arms.

With a gentle hush and tenderness of a mother’s touch, she tucked her little one snugly into his bed, smoothing the covers of his sheet. She took a sigh at the sight of her child.

“You okay Mom?” he asked in his cute little voice.

She smiled. “Of course. I’m your supermom!” she exclaimed.

Hearing him giggle is slowly lifting the weight of the day from her shoulders.

As she leans in close, laying beside him, her voice becomes a soothing melody, weaving through the stillness of the night like a lullaby. With each note, she lulls her child into a peaceful slumber, her words are a blanket of comfort that envelops him in warmth and security. As the last verse of her song fades, she placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, whispering to him of a sweet dream.

She had him when she was still a teenager. How she had him was a nightmare, but when he was born, he became her light and reason to get on her feet back again. That made her give the name of Grant Lumiere, which means light. She loves this kid more than her life and she will do anything just to give him all that he needs.

“Good night, Mom. Good night, Dad,” he whispered his eyes closed and adjusting himself, hugging a tanned teddy bear as big as him.

With that, a sudden pain in her chest bloomed. She had told to her child that his father went away and they do not know when will he return. She lied that his dad is doing something important that he can’t talk to him even on phone.

All her lies were acceptable. But she wonders if her child will be mad if he ever finds out the truth. She coiled herself beside him, pressing her lips on her knees.

Fear, that is what she thought. She is afraid of facing the past. She is more afraid now that the man from her past suddenly shows up.

“What should I do now?” she asked herself, bowing her head to her knees, her tears are about to fall.

The next morning, Ria arrived early for another duty at the Sweet Café where she works during weekdays. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries envelops everyone who enters their café in a comforting embrace. The gentle hum of conversation by the counter and the clinking of cups and saucers create a gentle background melody, inviting anyone to step inside and take a seat.

 “Good morning,” she greeted the barista behind the counter who was obviously not busy for that hour. “The café looks empty today,” she commented as she ties her red apron, her eyes roamed around.

“Well, a rich and handsome customer was waiting for someone by the patio. He reserved the whole café until lunch,” Trixie told her. She was the girl that she was with last night as a part-time waitress.

She could say that Trixie was her buddy on every work that she took.

“Is he a VIP?” she asked, as she took a peek by the large glass window. She knows that the patio veranda behind their small building was reserved for special guests.

Her eyes are drawn to a man seated on a comfortable chair outside. He is dressed impeccably in a tailored suit that fits him perfectly. The fabric hugged his broad shoulders and sculpted physique. The deep navy color of the suit is offset by a crisp white shirt and a dark tie, adding to the air of sophistication and refinement that surrounds him.

Because of the tall bushes, she couldn’t see the face of this man.

“Curious, eh?” Trixie teased her.

“No,” she answered instantly.

“You can see him right now. He was waiting for you for almost an hour now,” Trixie told her, making her eyes bigger.

“Me?”

She nodded. “He reserved the café just for the girl named Ria who works here. Lucky you,” she said as she shook her head, smiling. “Now, go. Before your chance of marrying a rich man will be gone.” Trixie even pushed her towards the door.

Her breathing stopped upon mesmerizing those beautiful almond eyes. Their eyes just met and she could not command her feet to walk away.

“This is a customer, Ria. A VIP,” she reminded herself as she began to step closer to his table. Sitting by the patio is a man named Grant and she wonders what he needs right now. Thinking about it is making her heart pumps in an uncontrolled beat.

As she draws closer, she notices the subtle details that made him even more striking- the glint of a watch on his wrist, the glimmer of a cufflink as he adjusted his sleeves. His eyes are intense and piercing.

His lips curl into a faint but charming smile and greeted her. “Good morning, Cinderella. Found you.”