Few days later Ruby joined back to the office. Linda also moved from her apartment. As per Linda's mom's request, she tries to go for at least one full meal a day after office, so she use to go to Linda's restaurant every day after office.
"Hey Auntie. What's up? What do you have special today in the menu?" Ruby and Linda entered into the restaurant. She place her bag at the corner table and head back to kitchen.
"I am coming back after freshen up" Linda went to her room at the upstairs.
"OK", Ruby replied to Linda and busy again chatting with her Auntie. "Auntie, where is Den?" there is another reason she comes to the restaurant which is the Part timer Den. Whenever she sees him she always remind her younger brother Den. She misses him a lot. She tried a lot to search for him but she couldn't find any traces. Now she does not know whether he is still alive.
Linda's mom is busy making dinner for them "He went out for a delivery. He will be back soon." Her answer suddenly break her thoughts. "He is a very good boy. He is diligent and responsible. But he doesn't like to talk much. Whatever I tell him he always follows without a single question."
"Yeah, Ok. He seems very busy. I had a younger brother like him, so when I see him I remind him." "Oh really? That's nice, where is he now."
"He is no more here Auntie." Ruby's voice is shaking when she spoke; she tried to hide her tears.
"It's alright my dear. Don't think much ok. Now come to the table, dinner is ready. I am calling Linda, you start eating first." Linda's mom went to upstairs to call Linda.
At that very moment, Den entered into the restaurant. Den is looking for Linda's mom.
"Hey Den, How are you boy. Auntie said you went for a delivery. All done today? Ruby feels delighted when she sees Den every day.
"Hey Ruby. I am good. Yeah all deliveries done now. How is your injuries? Are you all right now?" Den also feel some unknown attraction towards Ruby. He greeted her whenever he sees her with a bright smile.
"Yeah, I am fine now. Den! How is your studies? You must let me know if you need any help, okay. I am like your elder sister; don't ever hesitate to tell me." Whether Den agrees or not but Ruby domineeringly wanted to involve with the kid as his elder sister.
"Ha..Ok, yes ….I will for sure." Den suddenly feels blank about the matter that Ruby tried to be his sister. He obviously wanted to have an elder sister but sudden offer from an unknown person made him little uneasy. However, he liked it a lot; it is like little relief from the pain in his heart.
He was too little when all of his family left him alone but few memories were so solid that he would not forget ever in his life. He remembered going to the Vientiane's old Buddha temple in west end "Begi" riverside along with his Mom and siblings. Nini and he always grabbing little transparent white river stones from Begi River bank and gave them to Aaron. Aaron than chooses 3 best ones out of them and wrote their names. Then they put those stones beside the big banyan tree near the Temple. Every month they come back again do the same process and when they found earlier stones, they were so happy to see them. Den went sometimes to search those stones but he could not find any of old stones from his childhood.
Den went back to his home after completing his work in the restaurant. He had started taking note copy jobs for his college friends. After restaurant deliveries, he copies different lectures from the professors with detail explanations. For each class, he took $5, so he never misses college classes. Because of his responsible behavior and dedication all, the professors like him so much. Many of his classmates give him copies for detail explained notes of the class. Whatever they do not understand during class, they can easily understand by the detail notes by Den.
Next day early morning Den reached to college. It was raining since morning. He checked the watch, it's still 40 mins left for the first class to start. He is early today. First class is Chemistry class. He entered into the first floor hall {{.."I still need to copy 2 more copies, before first class I must finish them" }} he sits in front row, opening his leftover work.
"Hey, are you Den?"
A sweet girly voice distract his focus. Den looked back.
"Yeah, I am Den. Who are you?" Den asking back to the girl with questioning eye.
"Hi, I am Lee Jini. I am in the same class with you. Don't you know me?" She surprised that why doesn't this person know her because everyone in the college knows her very well as younger young miss from Elixa Group of companies, daughter of former CEO Lee Jihang and sister of current CEO Lee John.
"No, I don't know you. Why I have to know you? Den does not wait for the answer and resume what he was doing before.