Mom and I drove to the zoo after our morning dip by the beach. Yup, despite her feeling opposed going to the zoo because she said it was a childish idea for me, mom still gave in. She had no choice anyway. She asked me back at the beach as we rested for a bit before we go back to swim again.
"So, Cassie, after our morning dip here on the beach, do you want us to go to the spa first before a pedi?"
I scrunched my face at her suggestion.
"Let's go to the zoo, mom. I want to see the tigers and lions and elephants. It's been a while since we hang out together so let's enjoy seeing the animals."
"You are really such a kid, Cassie."
"Well, I'm just fourteen years old, mom. Let's go see those animals after this."
Mom stood up.
"Then, let's swim to our hearts content and see the zoo after then."
She said looking back at me before we went to the sea for a final dip and swim.
We were watching the tigers and the lions when a teenage girl maybe like my own age and her sister saw me with mom. At first, the two sisters just simply watched us from afar but the younger girl got excited after seeing me. She walked towards me while mom and I watched those felines sipping our coffees.
"Cass Smith!" The young kid said excitedly. "Can I ask you to get a picture with me?"
She asked a little bashfully but was looking expectantly at me with her doe eyes holding a camera. Her sister smiled shyly at me as she observed us from afar. Only the little girl had the courage to approach me.
I looked at mom and she just smiled at me giving her permission. I smiled back at the young girl.
"Sure," I said then I looked at her sister who was watching us from the distance. "Why don't you ask your sister to join us? I'm sure she would also like to have a photo of me."
I told the little girl. She must be eight years old.
"Sure," she said swiftly and dashed to get her sister.
"Her sister must be like you, Cassie. Not too courageous to talk to people even when they want to," said mom observing the two girls as they walked back to us.
"Cass is the person that I'm not, mom," I said to her as we waited for them. "But I do my best to fill her shoes."
She looked at me.
"Well, you're doing a good job to imitate Cass though to be honest I don't think that girl ever did an autograph while with me."
"But, is it okay, mom?" I asked her while looking back at the big cats. I guess, it should be okay because she's a very popular teenage idol. Paul did tell me, too that I easily agree when her fan approaches me. I just couldn't say no. So, even when I'm being my own Cass version of Cass, I wanna do it. I can't say no when they look at me expectantly.
The two sisters finally approach us.
"Hi," the older sister greeted me. She was really a shy person. She blushed as she talked to me. She must be same my age. She was holding her sister's hand.
The younger girl gave me a toothy grin and confessed.
"Sheera adores you so much, Cass. She has posters of you in her room. She has always wanted to meet you in person."
"Reeza, you talk so much," her sister admonished her.
She just giggled while looking at me.
I smiled back at the younger girl and looked at the older sister.
"Thanks a lot, Sheera. I really appreciate that."
She blushed again.
"I just love you a lot, Cass. I love your character as Zarina Sphinx in Cool Witches. You are so funny there and sassy."
She was talking about the hit TV Series of Cass where Cass played as the smart sassy witch at Magick Academy where her everyday life as a witch deals with fighting her arch enemy Clarissa Rale, bickering with her guy best friend Chad Mirren who harbored a secret crush on her and finding ways to fulfill a prophecy that will prevent dark magic from winning over the hearts of regular witches.
"I hope they get a third season for that one," she said looking at me.
I just smiled at her while mom took the young girl's camera.
"I'll take your photos, kids, so, pose for the camera," said mom to us.
Before mom could get snap a photo of us, the younger girl spoke so fast excitedly.
"Can you, my sister, and I have a separate photo of you and a group shot, too, please, Cass?" she asked her eyes were very bright from excitement.
I nodded at her and smiled.
The older sister, Sheera, spoke again.
"I really apologize, Cass for my sister, Reeza. She can just be too excited when it concerns you, so I hope you forgive us."
"No, biggie, Sheera. I'm happy I can bring happiness to Reeza. So, let's take our pictures together and a goofy one if you like."
"Hey, that would be fun," said Reeza gleefully.
"Are you ready girls?" Mom asked in front of us. "Go, take your poses."
"I'll go first, Sheera," said Reeza.
She touched my hand and held it.
"I like your hand, Cassy," she said to me, "it's very soft."
I held her hand too.
"So is yours, Reeza."
"This photo will be my most precious treasure," she said grinning back at me.
Mom took our photo. Then, Sheera and I had our own photo taken together. Then, the three of us and finally the goofy shot where we all posed like we were tigers and lions with our faces scrunched and our hands held like paws.
Reeza was so into it, she even made a roar before the photo was taken. She hugged me tight while thanking me.
"Thanks a lot, Cassy. You made my day the happiest ever."
"Thank you, Cass for letting me and my sister have a photo of you."
"Sure, no problem. And thanks for following me, girls."
"We'll always, Cass. Bye!"
The two sisters left walking to the direction where they've come from.
We stayed in the zoo and had lunch there. Then, mom and I went to the spa to rejuvenate ourselves and enjoy massages which mom and I really enjoyed. It felt like the stress I'd been living with for the past few weeks simply disappeared while our muscles were carefully and thoroughly kneaded by those masseuses.
"I told you, Cassie, you're gonna love this," mom said so relaxed while she and I lied on a flat surface on our stomach.
"Yeah, you're right, mom. Haven't feel so refreshed and never felt this good. I'll always go with you, mom," I said almost sleepily while my back was kneaded by an Asian woman.
After our relaxing spa treatment, mom and I visited her favorite salon where she and Cass frequented and had our feet and fingers manicured.
We went to the mall after it and as we passed the stalls and bookshops I saw all my faces on the front page cover of every magazine that was displayed either on the glass or the stands. It was surreal.
I mean, I know Cass is famous but of course, I've never really cared how famous she was until I live in her image and this image brought many girls even older ones smiles to their faces as they check her on those mags that they bought.
She was a phenomenon to reckon with.
I smiled with happiness while I saw those people holding those monthly issues. Cass is used to it but I'm not seeing those people's excited faces, I wish I can see Cass.
My face turned misty and wistful as I thought of her.
"Don't worry, Cassie, Cass will wake up soon," mom said seeing me touching my shoulder. "Let's go watch a movie."
She held my wrist pulling me away as we continue to walk and went to the movie house and watched an animated comedy film about family. We got out of the movie house and found a restaurant for dinner. When we entered the door, once again I saw our neighbor, the Jones' sitting inside. They waved to us and I wouldn't have wanted to join them but mom was a gracious person and so we walked towards them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Jones, what a coincidence to see you here."
Mom greeted them.
"Join us, Liz and Cass. Let's have all dinner together."
Mr. Jones invited gesturing us to sit down.
At least, Stephen wasn't around with his parents, I thought as we took our seat. We took our order and mom chatted with them while I only listened. Our food was served and we just started eating when Stephen entered the place.
The table we occupied was a six-seater dining table and it was a rectangular table so mom and I sat from across Mr. and Mrs. Jones. He walked towards us.
"I'm sorry, I'm late, mom, dad," he said looking at his parents then he must have noticed us. He turned his head to look at us and I just can't help it but notice that his eyes lingered on mom.
"It's alright, Stephen, we just started. Have a seat, honey." Mrs. Jones said slicing her steak.
And there it hit me. I watched as he took the empty seat directly across her.
I knew it. He must like mom.
What if mom remarries and marry him? My thought ran as we ate and I watched him as he smiled and talked to mom. What if he asked mom to marry him?