1

★beginning★

"Buenos dias mi amor! Buenos dias mi amigos, amigas!" I greeted all of them who are here at our cafeteria.

"Buenos dias mi amor Hart!" Nell greeted me back. Hart?! It’s Heart! He always called me like that!

"Good morning Heart, where is your mom?" Aleng Julie asked me. She is my Mom's friend, Nell is her son. They are also our partners who help us to manage. this restaurant. But, it's not growing anymore. Because something has changed in our lives, so others have also changed their view about us.

"She's coming here Aleng Julie, she's with Merien," I said, mentioning my sister, Merien.

"Ah, alright, good that they’re on their way. Wait, with Merien? Is your sister’s feeling all right?"  Aleng Julie asked.

"She's feeling fine. Mom didn't want to take Merien with her, but my little sissy insisted and said she didn't have anything to do there alone and continue to persuade mom, so mom just agreed and also because there's no one whowill care and look for Merien there," I answered.

"Is that so? Oh hey, have you been able to enroll yet? I heard that your tuition fee is going up, it’s getting higher and higher. Why did your mom let you go there when you could just go to study in other university where Nell is studying. The tuition there is not that high," she said.

Yes, the tuition at our school has become expensive. Thank you for the ordered of little prince. Rumor has been clarified, and it was true that it was because of the order of the school owner's son. Because of whoever that demon is, will be a student there too! That brat will study in that school because his parents ask him to. Power of rich people!

"It's ok, we can handle that. We haven't even been able to enroll yet, maybe until the end of May," I said with a smile.

"That's good to hear. I don't know why you still studied there, but whatever it is, hope you’ll study well," said Aleng Julie.

"Mom, wasn't that the only wish of Uncle Ivan? That his children will  study in a good school that he never experienced? Is it because the courses at the school that I studied at are limited?" Nell interjected. Yes, it is limited! The course that I’ved chosen is not qualified in the school where Nell studied.

"Yes. That's it. He made a wish but he didn't even wait for his wish to come true. He was just like your father," said Aleng Julie.

Aleng Julie's husband is also gone. He died because of severe lung cancer disease.

"Okay, it's okay. Dad told us that even if he's gone, we'll just remember that he's always there for us. He's with us, here in our heart. That's why you should believe it too, Aleng Julie, he never left you completely, don't sulk because I also feel that your husband is always there, in your heart," I said. The atmosphere in here changes very quick.

"Yes. I know that, it's just his trick because he said he won't leave us, that's when he said that, that time he already knew his illness, he hid it," Aleng Julie said sadly. Aleng Julie has been grieving for two years because her husband's family blamed her the death of her husband, so she can't stop blaming herself because that’s what she thought too. That it was her fault because she done nothing and didn’t care her husband that much.

"Mom, that's right. It's early in the morning and you're dramatic situation really bothered other people. It's the beautiful rays of the sun that we should focus on for a good start to our day. A bright day. So, if it's appropriate, we'll start because there are many more customers coming,"  Nell trying to grab her mother’s attention. 

"Many, I hope we have more customers now," said Aleng Julie.

"Crash out those negative vibes, Aleng Julie. Mama is coming, if Mama finds out that the artists here are emoting again, making some dramatic events, she probably won't praise us for our skills of it, ayys!" I said while smiling.

"That's right, mi amore. Start your day with a smile to make your day shine and brighter than yesterday. Oh, isn't it good English?! I'm good Ma, right? Studying is not that bad too. Hehe!" Nell trying to changed the topic and lighten up the mood.

"Tsk, it wasn't a waste. Well, your adviser said before that you're taking cutting classes again and again. Then someone will report about it to me that my son studied at Jadestone University. Basically, it's good that the guard let you in there," Nell's mother said.

"Aleng Julie, he’s not going to enter through the gate. He came in through the wall, climbing the wall so that he can go inside!" I said it with monotone, opened it up with Nell and her mother.

"It's really hurt, it's hurt hehe. It hurts, it penetrates my brain hehe. Why did you dropped it? I, I went there for you," he said. Crazy! Where is his brain?! He climbed against the wall just to came inside at our school and just to see me? Shit thing!

"Did I tell you to go there?! Tsk, Mama Julie your son have brain like a five years old boy that time," I said making Nell frowned. Aleng Julie laughed.

"Yieee, you can call my mother Mama too." Nell teased me out of a sudden.

"Hey Nell, don't teased Heart, let her call me mom, don't you want to be sisters? That's the reason why Heart just call me Aleng Julie because you're interfering," said Aleng Julie. Yes, I really call her mama before but Nell always mocked me about it and even tell his other classmates that thing. That her mother is my mother too, which is nothing serious but Nell’s buddy believed that I and Nell have something. Like, geez! We are friends only.  The power of the virus topic.

"Good morning to all of you!" mother greted us as they arrived. They’re here!

"Good morning to all of you," said Merien, my sister.

"Good morning," Nell and Aleng Julie greeted at the same time.

They talked some more before deciding to open the cafeteria.

"Heart!" mother shouted.

"Why Ma?"

"Aren't you going to enroll for the upcoming school? If you’re going to enroll, you're going to enroll Merien too! Go with her because she's new at your school. And you, Merien, don't stay away from your elder sister? You're new there, you need to be extra careful okay?" mom reassured.

"Ma, at the end of May," I replied.

"What about at the end of this month? It's better to enroll early. The registration for this year's enrollment has taken so long. And you said it simply at the end?! When the class is really about to start, that's when will you act and move?! That’s it heart, if you want me to go there later," said mom.

"Mom, is it okay if I don't go to school this school year?" I asked. Because the tuition there is too high, it’s expensive. 60 thousand pesos every semester per student. Then there are two of us to school there this upcoming school year. How about our daily expenses? We can't just always rely on the cafeteria. The cafeteria is not at good condition this past few weeks. The sells are not that great to earn more.

"Heart! Why? You know that it is the last degree and then you'll give up?! Heart, you know that's our dream for you," said mom.

"Mom, can I just transfer to another school? To other school where the tuition is not that—"

"Hey! Where?! Well, there are only two universities here in our area and the others are too far away. Heart, we know that the one you took is nowhere to find on the other university. I mean, the tuition of other universities are much higher than the tuition in Jadestone University." Mon told me frankly. 

"Mom, how about the scholarship that uncle John offered to me?" I asked.

"Heart, can you do that in the US? It is so far away from here," mom asked.

"Mom, listen, it’s just like this. So you won't be angry anymore. I'll just get part time jobs,  I will be working student. I'll also want to help someone since we're both going to college there. Besides, now it's necessary too let's save for Merien's health and especially for yours. Ma, promise if I can't handle studying and working at the same time, I'll give up for it too. I will stop. Please let me help you too. Because the income of this cafeteria is still not enough, not that much. And we can't just close it forever. Because you have been valuing it for a long time," I said. Because they always think about their responsibility as parents. And because of that, they don't want us to suffer. But, right now I'm having a hard time. Not because of the hardships of life but because of the hardships our parents are experiencing just so that we can live easy, happily and live well.

They don't even think about themselves. All they think about is our welfare. I'm ashamed of myself because I didn't even help them.

Mama looked at me, "Okay, I'll agree. But if you are having hard time, you'll stop working. Just let Mama find a way, okay?" she said making me smile. She also smiled back.

"Okay Ma, thank you," I said.

"It's right here. Our firstborn is already big now. Time flies so fast. You're going to graduate, soon. Merien is also a college student. It's a shame--"

"Well, I thought we were the only ones who didn't get accepted for being actors, it turns out that those who don't get accepted for our acting skills are also not good at acting haha!" I said, changing the topic.

"Heh! You already know how to teased me huh?"

"Of course! You taught me so well! Hehe, just a joke!" I said while laughing, Mama just laughed too.