Rosetta walked hurriedly down the dimly lit street, her stomach growling painfully. Her shift at the hotel had ended hours ago, but finding a taxi at this hour had proved impossible, coupled with Tracy's interference with her duties. The smell of sizzling meat caught her attention as she passed a small food stall with a faded sign and a few plastic tables scattered outside.
Unable to resist, she stopped and walked inside. "Can I get a plate of beef steak and a cold drink, please?"
The waiter, a young man with a warm smile, approached her quickly, balancing a tray. "We've only got orange soda left. Will that be okay?"
Rosetta nodded, pulling out a chair and sitting at an empty table. "Sure."
The waiter returned with a plate of beef sizzling steak and a chilled orange soda. Rosetta wasted no time, cutting into the meat and chewing hurriedly. It was her first proper meal of the day, and each bite felt like a small victory.
Meanwhile...Tracy leaned against her car, her frustration boiling as she scanned the street outside the hotel. Rosetta was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is she?" Tracy muttered, her nails tapping irritably on the hood of her car. Finally, with a growl of frustration, unable to find Rosetta, she slid into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut. Speeding off into the darkness, leaving a screech of tires behind her.
Jacob, who had been standing by his car, watched Tracy's dramatic exit with a frown. He shook his head, wondering yet again what exactly was going on between her and Rosetta.
Sliding into his Porsche, Jacob started the engine. He drove aimlessly for a while, letting the hum of the city wash over him when a familiar scent hit him, it was the scent of grilled beef steak.
He slowed down, spotting a street stall he hadn't visited in ages. His stomach grumbled at the thought. "Why not?" he muttered, pulling over and parking.
Jacob entered the stall and called out to the waiter. "Peter! Still open this late?"
Peter turned with a grin. "Young Master Jacob! Long time no see."
Jacob chuckled, pulling out a chair. "It's been a while. I was in the area and couldn't resist. Can you get me some beef steak? The usual, spiced and well-done."
Peter nodded eagerly. "How many plates this time?"
Jacob thought for a moment. "Four. Wrap up two, and I'll have the other two here. And a cocktail, no alcohol."
"You got it, sir!" Peter disappeared into the back.
Jacob leaned back in his chair, pulling out his phone. As he opened the selfie camera, the corner of his screen caught something unusual: two piercing eyes staring back at him from another table.
Lowering the phone, Jacob turned, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Rosetta?"
Rosetta froze her fork halfway to her mouth.
"What are you doing here?" Jacob asked, walking over to her table.
Her brow furrowed. "Why do you care? Do I need your permission to be here also ?"
Jacob raised his hands defensively, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "No, not at all. I was just concerned. It's late, and you're still out dear."
"My name is Rosetta—not 'dear,'" she snapped, setting down her fork.
Jacob laughed, pulling out the chair across from her and sitting down. "Fair enough. Look, I know we didn't get off to the best start, because of Tracy and the incident at the hotel the other day, but I promise I'm not as bad as you think."
Rosetta stared at him, her expression skeptical. "How are you any different? Birds of a feather flock together. You stood there, watching your girlfriend or whatever she is to you dehumanizing me without saying a word"
Jacob grinned and spoke in one breath "You're funny. I tried but Tracy is one hell of a stubborn girl. And please we are just friends, she isn't my girlfriend and I don't have a girlfriend. But I'm also not a bird, Rosetta. I'm Jacob. Can we start over?"
Her gaze softened slightly, though she still looked very unconvinced.
Jacob leaned forward, his voice gentle. "Listen, I get it. Tracy hasn't exactly been kind to you, and it'd be easy to pull me in with her. But is that fair? To judge me by her actions?"
Rosetta hesitated. His words made sense, but trust didn't come easily to her. Finally, she nodded. "Okay. If you're different, and if you won't call me names or look down on me, we can… start fresh."
"Deal," Jacob said with a grin. How innocent was Rosetta, Jacob grew more interested in her.
Just then, Peter returned with Jacob's food. "Here you go, sir. Two plates, spiced just the way you like it."
"Perfect, thanks," Jacob said. He glanced at Rosetta's nearly empty plate and ordered an extra plate for her.
She raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I need more?"
Jacob smirked. "Your plate's empty, and I saw you eyeing mine. Don't even try to deny it."
Rosetta's cheeks flushed. "I wasn't"
"Relax, Rosie. It's fine," Jacob interrupted, sliding one of his plates toward her.
"Rosie?" she muttered, narrowing her eyes.
"Sorry, Rosetta," he corrected, holding up his hands.
Peter brought a clean plate and wrapped extra food for Rosetta at Jacob's request. "Here you go, miss," he said kindly, setting it down.
Rosetta hesitated but finally nodded. "Thank you… Jacob."
"No thanks necessary," Jacob replied. "Friends don't need to thank each other."
Rosetta bit into the beef steak, savoring the flavors, and for the first time in a long while, she felt her defenses lower ever so slightly.
Outside the stall when they were done eating Jacob stood by his car as Rosetta prepared to leave. He held out the bag of wrapped beef steak. "Take it. You'll need it later."
Rosetta shook her head. "I've taken enough."
"Rosetta," Jacob said softly. "Let me do this. Please."
Her eyes met his, and for a moment, she saw no judgment, no pity, just genuine kindness. Slowly, she took the bag.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Jacob smiled. "Goodnight, Rosetta. See you soon."
She turned and walked away, clutching the bag tightly, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days.
Jacob watched her until she disappeared down the street, then leaned against his car with a quiet laugh.
"She's amazing," he murmured to himself, shaking his head as he climbed into his Porsche. Rosetta ended up walking home, with a full stomach and enough energy, she lost the urge to take a taxi but saved the money.
Thomas was already asleep when she arrived home, she quickly took a shower and dozed off as soon as her body touched the bed.
The next morning, Rosetta sat at the back of her lecture hall as usual, her pen tapping lightly against her notebook. The professor's voice droned on about economic theories, but her mind wandered.
She thought about last night, Jacob's unexpected kindness, his teasing but gentle tone, and how he'd insisted on helping her despite her reluctance.
"Stop overthinking it," she whispered to herself, shaking her head. Making and keeping friends was hard for Rosetta, she had been betrayed several times.
The door creaked open, and her heart stuttered as Jacob walked in, his usual confident stride turning heads. A few girls in the front row giggled and whispered to each other as he smiled politely before scanning the room.
His eyes landed on her, and for a brief moment, the noise around her seemed to fade.
"Morning," he mouthed, his lips curving into a grin.
Rosetta blinked and looked down at her notebook, pretending not to notice. But when he began walking in her direction, her pulse quickened.
"Is this seat taken?" he asked, pointing to the empty chair beside her.
"Don't you have your own friends to sit with?" she muttered, keeping her eyes on her notes.
"I do," he replied, setting his books down anyway. "But I figured you could use a study buddy."
She rolled her eyes but didn't protest as he slid into the chair.
After class, Jacob followed her down the hallway, weaving through the throngs of students heading to their next lectures.
"You're avoiding me," he said, falling into step beside her.
"I'm not avoiding you," she replied curtly.
"You didn't even say goodbye after class."
Rosetta sighed, stopping abruptly. "Why are you talking to me? Aren't you worried about what people might think? I am known as the trash picker, and the waste bottle collector, some even call me double duty. Why do you want to be seen with me? "
Jacob frowned. "What people? Caleb? Tracy? If I cared about their opinions, I wouldn't be talking to you in the first place."
She crossed her arms. "You're a second-year student. Popular, good-looking, wealthy… I don't fit into your world."
Jacob took a step closer, his voice soft but firm. "Who said anything about worlds? I'm just trying to get to know you, Rosetta. You don't have to allow the labels they call you, to define you."
Her defenses wavered for a moment, but she shook her head. "People like Tracy won't let this go. She already hates me."
Jacob chuckled lightly. "Tracy hates everyone who doesn't worship her. You shouldn't take it personally."
Rosetta turned to leave, but his next words stopped her in her tracks.
"I see you, Rosetta."
She glanced back at him, her brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I see how hard you work, how strong you are," he said, his voice steady. "And I think that's worth more than whatever nonsense Tracy or Caleb spout. Soon I may join you on one of your escapades"
She swallowed hard, unsure how to respond.
"I'll see you around," Jacob said, his smile softening as he stepped back. "Take care, Rosie."
"Don't call me that, only my grandfather calls me that" she muttered, but there was no heat in her voice. Jacob smiled and walked away.
Meanwhile, in the cafeteria, Tracy sat at a corner table with Caleb, stirring her iced coffee aggressively as her eyes darted across the room.
"He's talking to her again," she hissed, glaring at Jacob and Rosetta through the glass doors of the lecture hall.
"So?" Caleb said lazily, leaning back in his chair. "Maybe he's bored of being around stuck-up rich kids like us."
Tracy's jaw tightened. "Don't be ridiculous. Jacob knows better than to get involved with someone like her."
Caleb chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "You're jealous."
"Of Rosetta?" Tracy snapped, her tone incredulous. "Please. She's nothing but a..."
"A threat?" Caleb interrupted, smirking as her glare deepened.
'' Nothing of that sort, I just get irritated and angry that my Dad refused to tell me what they secretly spoke about
"Admit it, Tracy. You hate that Jacob's paying attention to her instead of you. It's written all over your face."
"Shut up, Caleb," she snapped, shoving her drink aside and standing abruptly.
"Where are you going?"
"To remind her of her place," Tracy said, her eyes narrowing.
Back at the campus, Rosetta sat on a bench under the shade of a large tree, flipping through her textbook as the late morning sun warmed the quad.
"Enjoying the view?"
She looked up to see Tracy standing a few feet away, arms crossed and a cold smile on her face.
"What do you want, Tracy? I'm aware you are not accountable to me in this school" Rosetta asked, keeping her tone even.
"I want to know why you're suddenly attached to Jacob like a leech," Tracy said, stepping closer. "Do you think someone like him could ever take you seriously? You're just a charity case to him, Rosetta. Nothing more."
Rosetta's grip on her book tightened, but she kept her voice calm. "Why do you care who Jacob talks to? Let me do the worrying, why are you bothered, Tracy?"
"Because people like you don't belong here," Tracy spat. "You think you can waltz into our world and win him over with your little sob story? It's pathetic."
Before Rosetta could respond, Jacob's voice cut through the tension.
"That's enough, Tracy."
Both girls turned to see him walking toward them, his expression stern.
"Jacob..." Tracy started, but he raised a hand to silence her.
"Why are you always trying to tear people down?" he asked his voice calm but edged with frustration. "What's your problem with Rosetta?"
"She's my problem!" Tracy exclaimed, her voice rising. "Ever since she showed up, you've been acting… different. Like she's more important than me!"
Jacob sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Tracy, this isn't about you. Your importance should be limited to Caleb alone to the whole world"
Her face twisted with anger, but she didn't respond. Instead, she spun on her heel and stormed off, leaving Jacob and Rosetta alone.
Rosetta closed her textbook, standing slowly. "You didn't have to do that."
"Yeah, I did," Jacob said, his tone softening. "She was out of line."
Rosetta hesitated, then nodded. "Thanks."
"Anytime," Jacob replied with a smile. "Would you walk with me?"
She blinked, surprised by the request. But as he extended his hand, she found herself taking a small step forward.
"Sure," she said quietly.
As they walked together across the quad, Jacob felt his heart stir again, a quiet certainty settling over him.