Kehna's POV
"Mr Garcia, I've been coming here to help out a lot, since my mother started working here. I thought maybe, it would be better, if I asked for a job here"
"You're right, you've been helping a lot, but does your mother know about this?"
"Of course, I'm going to tell her once you accept to give me a job".
"I'm not sure Kehna"
"Sir, I can do anything, washing dishes, sweeping or even serving"
"I know, but what I mean is that your mother won't like that, and except for that you're close to my daughter" he had too many good reasons for him not to give me a job. So I had to think quick about how to persuade him. "Sir, you have a point, I and your daughter are close but come to think of it, my mom won't have a choice because the money both my mother and father earn won't be enough for us as a family". I was thankful he was kind of convinced with my speech.
When I was done convincing him to give me the job, he finally accepted. I didn't have to worry about getting a job anymore, but now I had to worry about how my mom would react. After our discussion, I and Mr. Garcia concluded that I would be washing dishes and also serving food, so I guess it's a good start, a little bit of experience won't hurt.
I went in as planned to help my mom. "Where have you been? Didn't you arrive awhile ago or didn't you come here after you got home?"
"No, I already arrived, but I was talking to your boss". She looked confused. "I asked him for a job"
"Why do want to have a job all of a sudden"
"Mom, haven't you thought of it, we can't continue living like this, because what you and dad earn isn't much for our family" she stopped what she was doing, and focused on me. "Kehna if you're doing this because of our financial state, then no, I won't allow you"
"Mom, this has nothing to do with the financial state. Okay, maybe it does. Except for that, mom I think it's a good experience"
"It seriously doesn't change the fact, that I don't want to put you in that state"
"Mom, please" I hugged her, "I will spend more time with Stella, don't forget she's also the only child" she still wasn't convinced, but she agreed.
"I'll directly come here after school, we can go home together. We also bargained on 20 pesos every day except for weekends he said he would give 45 pesos, I think that's much of a gain, I would earn 190 pesos every week, but he said I'd have to take a test first and that test is going to be next week"
"What are you going to do in that test?"
"I'm going to show that I can wash dishes and also serve food"
"That sounds okay" and that's how that topic ended.
The next day,
Mrs. Arellalo's POV
I woke up and remembered that I haven't told Kehna's dad about our discussion, I didn't think of this idea, as a good one because he would have to stay home alone every day. I quickly got ready because I had to get to work earlier today. To my surprise, Kehna wasn't awake yet. "Kehna get up, I need to go to work!" I raised my voice
"Hmm... what time is it?"
"It's almost 9 pm!"
"Yeah, sorry I forgot to tell you we aren't having the first period". She said still sleepy. "Why? Anyways get up" I tried dragging her out of bed, "Come on Kehna I'm serious we're having our 6th anniversary,
I have to be there early please" that's when she finally decided to open her eyes and get out of bed. After half an hour of waiting she finally got out of the shower.
"Finally, you're done"
"I didn't even take that long, how come you're acting like I was in there like forever"
"Hush, Kehna just go pack your things. I want to make sure you're provided with everything, before I go"
"Mom, stop being like this, I can take care of myself"
"I told you to go and get ready!" when she was done packing her stuff, she finally approached the kitchen where I was, she sat down and I served her, her breakfast.
We bided goodbye and I left. As I came out of our apartment, I immediately saw a black tinted car at the bus stop, where Kehna's school bus normally arrives. I didn't take it as anything, so I continued walking.
The way to my working place wasn't that far away from my home, but since this city isn't that open. I unfortunately, was mostly walking alone on the street and this was very uncomfortable. I checked my phone for the time and realized if I didn't walk faster i would get there late, for sure.
I didn't come late. I got to my destination and tried catching my breath "Claudia!"
"Oh, good morning Mr.Garcia"
"Claudia how many times do I have to remind you. You don't have to speak with me so formally that's why I even call by your name" I bowed my head a little.
"I'm sorry"
"No, you don't have to be sorry, I just want you to feel comfortable, like every of my worker". he quickly said. "I'll try to speak informally with you from now on"
"Thank you",
"I'll get to work now"
"Yes, sure" I got to work, I started by greeting every staff, that were around.
"Good morning, everyone!" I said and then started cleaning the kitchen. After I was done, I went to the hall where our guests were supposed to sit and started cleaning there too. Soon I overheard Mr. Garcia talking on the phone it seemed like a staff wasn't coming or was quitting.
I saw that Mr. Garcia looked a bit frustrated. I wanted to go confront him but also hesitated, because, on one hand, I should focus on decorating this place to look as elegant as possible. But on the other hand, I think it's a bad thing for our boss to be extremely down while celebrating something as big as this.
So I approached him "Sir, is everything okay?"
"We were supposed to go to Seattle today, but all of a sudden Liam wants to quit. He could have done this on any other day, but not today. This can not be a coincidence, he booked a bus, he probably already cancelled it because he's not coming so we'll have to take a public bus.
"The bus is going to arrive in some minutes, please go and inform everyone else" this trip wasn't just any trip, it is a trip, where we get to advertise our restaurant, that's why we're going to open a bit late today. "Let's go everyone hurry!"
"Are we already going?"
"Yes, Mr. Garcia says we'll miss the bus, if not" I didn't say Liam quit, because I thought it wasn't my job to do so, "Isn't Liam suppose to pick us up?"
"I don't know, but long story short we have to go now" and that's how we rushed out and left. We successfully entered the bus everyone got a sit since we were lucky enough and the bus wasn't that full.
"Seattle here we come" someone shouted from behind meanwhile, I was sitting next to Mr. Garcia.
1hour 30minutes later,
"We're here let's go" Mr. Garcia whispered to us and we slowly started moving ourselves to the exit. When we finally got out of the bus the first thing we thought of doing was taking a picture,
"Benjamin, please come take a picture of us"
"Sure" I think a stranger overheard us, then she said... "I can also take it for you, so you can join",
"Ahh, yes thank you" so we took as many pictures as necessary a started sharing ourselves in groups, to go to different streets to advertise, but then we realized.
"Where are the flyers?"
"Umm..."
"Please tell me you didn't forget it" he asked Benjamin and I could already see Mr. Garcia flaming, "I can go back, and pick it up".
"Please sir, don't be mad at him"
"I was also one of the reasons why he forgot. He was a bit pressured" he wasn't responding to that either so I left him alone, so he could cool himself down.
"Guys, I think it's not a good time right now. I'll be on my way" I whispered the last part
"Let me follow you, he's going to kill me before you get back" Benjamin whispered back "No, borrow me the key will you?" He gave me the key to the restaurant and I made my way to the bus. After a while of waiting, the bus arrived, I could still the others they were waving at me and I waved back, but I don't think Mr. Garcia even knew I left, because he didn't react at all.
I sat down on my seat, waiting even if I knew I'd had to wait way longer than just some minutes.
All of a sudden all I saw was black, I didn't know everything could be over in just seconds, I wouldn't have thought that everything could be over this quick, but one thing I knew was, I couldn't give up, I have to be there for Kehna. I tried recovering strength by breathing in and breathing out but it didn't help. I continued repeating the same sentence "I can't give up" breath in breath out "I can't give up" breath in breath out, I just wanted to rest and close my eyes for some seconds.
At Seattle,
Mr. Garcia's POV
"Okay, now tell me how are we going to go on with our advert?" After I said that, I realized Claudia was missing "Where's Claudia?"
"She went back to pick up the flyers for our advert" I was going to start scolding, but then my phone rang. I was going to ignore it, because I had better things to do at that moment, but picked up seeing it was a private number
"Hello?"
"Hello, this is Med Health hospital we're calling to inform you about our patient here Ms. Claudia Arellalo, you were the only person we could reach from her contacts"
"Where is she, is she okay?"
"Please come to Med Health hospital and if possible bring a family member with you"
"Hello, hello?"
"They hung up. Where's Med Health hospital?"
"It's like 30km away from here," Benjamin said
"Okay, come on we can't wait for the bus let's take a cab, we all won't fit in one cab so make groups and take another cab" we all rushed, we were lucky and immediately found a cab, we entered "Please take us to Med Health hospital" but I couldn't get comfortable because my mind wasn't at rest "Sir, shouldn't you call Kehna?"
"Yes, you're right" I took my phone out and called Stella, because I didn't have Kehna's number. "Stella!"
"Papi, why are you calling me now, I'm in school!"
"I know Stella"
"But, please let Kehna know her mum got into an accident. Okay I have to go now" I quickly hung up, but realized that it might have not been such a great idea to tell Kehna about it.
At Amsterdam high school,
Stella's POV
I excused myself from class because my dad suddenly called me, which was very unusual. After my teacher let me out, I quickly picked up and my dad told me the most shocking thing, I had many questions, but he hung up so quick. Now, I was left with myself struggling to find a way, to explain this to Kehna.