A sweet and cozy café in a busy city. The outside has big windows where you can see colorful cakes and flowers. There are small tables outside with checkered tablecloths, perfect for enjoying coffee in the fresh air. Inside, soft music plays, and the smell of fresh coffee fills the air. The walls have bookshelves with books and games, making it a great place to relax. Comfortable couches and different chairs invite people to sit and enjoy their drinks. Friendly baristas serve tasty coffees, teas, and homemade snacks. The warm lights create a welcoming feeling, making it a favorite spot for everyone.
If you asking me what am i doing infront of a cafe? Ha ha! Its my owned cafe...i built this for my career, to become a popular cafe all around the world. Well, my story is actually...not good, but i'll tell you guys so listen!
I'm Elliot and i lived on a countryside when i was young, after i graduated at college i set off towards my dreams, i start living at the city of Manila to earn money for my own business investment, i tried every kind of work, construction, waiters, even cleaning a toilet at the national park. I did all of that for my dream, i save up all the money and start investing it to build a beautiful cafe, yeah a cafe...its my dream to build a beautiful cafe that everyone can drink coffee peacefully.
Elliot stand infront of his own Cafe with a bright smile on his lips, his eyes was full of excitement to start his long awaited business.
"...okayy! Let's start by opening our store!", he says and enter inside of his cafe, flipping the sign with a word 'Open'.
As the day continue, he keeps waiting for some customers to get inside. Until night comes, he was on the door sitting outside with a sad expression. He didn't know that from the start of a business, its not always ending good like the other peoples.
"..aw...dang it...what a day, no one came inside of my cafe, even one", he said while covering his half face using his right hand.
I didn't know that building a business is hard, the planning was easy but the actual work? Nah, its so hard especially if you invest all for one day...i don't know what to do that day, i just stay sitting and feel the lose i got, but i thought its gonna end like that...
Suddenly, something fell and make a noise in the kitchen. Elliot thought that his getting rob inside, so go immediately go inside and took the broom. As he enter inside of the kitchen, he found a little girl who sitting at the floor, eating the cake he bake earlier. He lower his weapon, seeing a innocent girl who want food only.
"..i-i'm sorry mister...i didn't m-mean to steal your cake..", she said shyly while putting back the cake in the plate.
He smiles and kneel infront of the little girl, "Go on, finish it...i'll just give that to you instead of keeping it here without anyone gonna eat it.."
The little girl smile with full of joy, she start eating the piece of cake again. Elliot was confuse about where she came from, from what the girl's look she has curly, golden blonde hair. Her large, bright blue eyes sparkle with innocence and curiosity, reflecting her playful nature. Amber has fair skin with a slight rosy glow, she was wearing a rugged and torned off t-shirt featuring her favorite cartoon characters paired with comfy leggings. In short she looks like a homeless little girl.
"...hey kid, where's your parents by the way? They probably looking at you, since its already nig—", he was cut off when the little girl suddenly speak.
"I don't have any parents anymore...my mother died after we lose our home, she did her best to—", she was also cut off and tears start falling on her eyes.
Elliot suddenly got nervous because he never take care a child even he was a kid too. He look around for something he can use to stop her from crying, he suddenly remember what his mother did when he was crying before.
"Elliot, cry whenever you want...i'm always here, gonna hug you okay...shh..", his mother said before.
I remember that time, i accidentally punch my classmate and the result of that, my teacher got mad at me, scolding me. O came to my mother, crying out loud you know what she did? She just hug me, and rubs my back. That time, the only person who can calm myself is my mother and her love towards me.
Elliot slowly reaching her back, pulling the little kid towards his chest. He wrapped his arm at the little girl's body, and smile at her.
"...cry whenever you want, i'm just here feel free to hug me okay, i understand that you lose your mother...because i lose mine too..", he said with a bright smile on his lips.
"Don't get affected by your mother's death, she want you to become a strong and kind person, so don't cry anymore okay...", he said and take off his hand to her.
The little girl rubs her eyes, she looks at him and smile warmly while tears continue falling on her cheeks. He laughs and gives her another piece of cake from the counter, the little kid giggles and start eating the piece of cake. He stands up and look outside of the back door, searching if she have someone with her, but it seems she's alone living ij the dark, with just herself and the frozen wind.
"Hey kid, what's your name?", he ask and close the door.
"...Amber, its cute right!", she said with a cute smile.
He walk towards the counter and start cleaning the kitchen. He was thinking of adopting the little girl since she can't let her stay sleeping outside, its dangerous for a little girl like her.
"...tell me, do you like here?", he ask while wiping the counter full of cream.
"..yes! I love this place, full of delicious foods!!", she says while lifting her hand, and giggling.
"...then i'll let you stay here, in exchange you'll help me here in the cafe, got it?", he said with a smile.
The little girl suddenly stop eating, tears once again drips on her cheeks, her happy expression turn into joy and excitement. She stands up, dusting off her clothes and run towards Elliot.
"Waahhh!! Thank you mister!!", she suddenly jump and hug Elliot tightly on his neck, choking him.
"W-wait!", he fell at the floor, while holding Amber.
"Thank you mister!! I won't sleep at the dumpster anymore!! No rats and bad peopels anymore!!", she said while rubbing her cheek on his cheeks too.
"...just help me at the cafe okay..", he says and just let her do whatever she want.
"Yes sir!", she get up and salute to him.
That night, i didn't expect that i will meet a little girl who will eventually become my own family. At the daylight, she help me at the cafe by cleaning the tables after the few customers use it, after that as a reward i will give her a piece of cake behind the counter. On the night, we both cleaning everything and will closed the cafe together. I'm also teaching her some basic readings and writings, my apartment is above my shop so its easy to get in my house, i let her sleep at the bed, while i'm sleeping in the closet since there's a extra mattress that i can use. I don't know how it happens, but after Amber lived in my cafe customers start entering inside and ordering some coffee and foods that i'm selling, because of that we always earning more than i expected. When the shop is closed, i'm taking her out of the cafe and brought her to the mall, where i thought she will like the game corner, but that's not what i expected, she immediately pull me towards the food court and she start buying some snacks...that only for her, funny right.
A dark night inside of Elliot's apartment, he was at the sink, washing some dishes. Amber fell asleep after eating so much, he was smiling because he thought that his business will fall immediately after opening it, but because of Amber it grow so fast and they earning thousands almost hundred thousand. As he was peacefully washing the dishes, Amber suddenly moan while sleeping. He was confused why she suddenly moan, he wipes his hand with a towel and approach the sleeping Amb—
"Wahhhh!!! No!!!!", she suddenly get up with tears falling her eyes, her bright eyes was full of fear now, like she have nightmares.
Elliot immediately kneel infront of the little girl, "What happened? Amber?", he ask.
Amber continues to cry, while holding his clothes, he can see how scared the little girl is, he slowly pull her and wrapped his arm on her body.
"...shh, its fine...Amber, its fine..i'm here i'm not gonna leave you okay..", the little girl continue to cry while hugging Elliot.
"...stop crying now okay, i'm just here...", he said with a smile.
"...i won't leave...i promise ", he added.
Amber is now sobbing on his chest, gripping his clothes tightly, still scares but she stop crying. She move away from the hug, and wipes her eyes, Elliot smile and took the towel on his shoulder, and wipes her tears.
"What happened? Did you have nightmare?", he ask.
"Yes, someone...took you...and they brought us on a scary place..", she said while sobbing.
Elliot start laughing, while pulling her back to his chest, putting his arm to her shoulder.
"...Amber, i'm not going anywhere like i said, i won't let anyone took you okay", he smile and kisses her forehead.
"...go on, get back to sleep i'll just put the dishes back at the cabinet...", he said and stand up walking towards the kitchen.
"...uhm, Elliot...can you sleep with me? I'm scare...", she ask with a puppy eyes.
Elliot can't take Amber's cuteness, he just cover his face using his hand, he chuckles. He look back at the little girl with a bright smile, Amber smiles widely. She stand up and follow Elliot at the kitchen to help him putting back the dishes.
Like i said, i didn't expect that my life will become unexpected, i suddenly become a guardian of this little girl. Oh well, i'll do everything to make her happy, she deserves to enjoy her childhood while she can, not like what happened to me...
On a rice field, a child was getting bully by other kids, he was getting throw by rocks and yelling something.
"Go away child of a freak!! You deserve what happened to your parents!!", one kid said and throw a rock at the kid.
...i don't want that to happen to other kids, not while i'm alive.
Outside of the cafe, a young lady is standing and staring at the beautiful structure of the cafe. She touches the door, and it seems she was thinking something.
"...soon, i'll become a great baker...", she said.
Suddenly a young man appears behind her, and it call her, "Hey! Come on, we'll be late at the party..", he said with a mad stares.
The young lady tool away her hand, and nods at her boyfriend. She walk back at the car, but she look back again at the cafe, smiling at it.
"What are you smiling for!? Get inside hurry!!", he shout.
The yoyng lady flinches and immediately head inside of the car. Both of them drove away from the cafe. Meanwhile, inside of the apartment upstairs, Elliot and Amber was on the bed, sleeping together. Amber was on top of him hugging him, sleeping so deep.