Chapter 3 PAULA EDWARDS

Paula's POV

"Paula, I have something to say to you," said Grandma, while I was getting ready to go to school.

I fixed my eyeglasses as I sat on the couch next to her. "What is it, grandma?"

"Father Jordan told me yesterday that there was a couple who went to the church yesterday. They asked him about-

"Grandma, not again today. For sure, the couple has nothing to do with me. They will never look for me again, I know that. And I already accepted the fact that I will never see them again. They didn't like me, that's why they left me. If they don't care about me, then why would I even care about them?"

"Paula-

I put my hands on both of her shoulders as I looked into her eyes. "I know you're just concern about me, grandma. I'm fine without them. I even lived twenty years of my life without seeing or knowing who they are. You're already enough for me, grandma. You already fulfilled all the responsibilities that my real parents weren't able to do. Please stop looking for them already."

She then heaved a sigh and gave me a nod. "Alright, I won't try to look for them again. I promise you."

"Thank you, grandma..." I hugged her. "Thank you..."

"Alright, I think you need to hurry now. Cindy's already outside." Grandma said.

I eased away from her. "Take care of yourself while I am away, okay?"

"I will. Oh and by the way, can you buy some beef before you go home later? I'd like to cook some beef stew later."

"Really?! That's my favorite! Okay, I'll beef later!" I took my backpack and stood up. "I'll be leaving now, grandma."

"Take care, sweetheart."

I just waved goodbye to her, then I finally went outside our little house. I have been living with my grandma since the day that she found me in front of a church. My actual parents just left me there, leaving no note or without even telling anyone why they did that. It was Christmas eve that night and so grandma became so happy when she saw me. She thought that maybe I'm a gift from heaven to her. She always wanted to have a daughter since she never got to marry someone. She was living alone in a small brick house and runs her own mini library business.

"Paula!!!" with her loud and ear-piercing voice, Cindy came running towards me while holding a magazine in her hands.

"Good Morning, Cindy. What do we have today? For sure you have something to talk about your prince charming again." I said as we started walking.

Cindy Castillo is my best friend who works as a server in a coffee shop near our University. She's living with her parents and her two younger siblings. She's cute with her short blonde hair and full bangs, making her look like a doll. She loves to tell me about her ultimate crush every single day. "Guess what, Paula?! I just saw Peter Anderson yesterday! He ate in our restaurant and I was the one who served him!" she excitedly said while jumping like a kid.

"Really? That's good for you then. But then, it's actually strange for a celebrity to eat in a not-so-expensive restaurant, right?"

"I'm actually thinking about that, too. But maybe he just wanted to try our coffee. Or maybe they were having a shooting near our coffee shop!"

I nodded. "That's right."

"Oh, and I have another thing to tell you!"

"What is it?"

She showed me the magazine that she was holding. "Look at that man in that cover! Isn't he super hot and handsome?!!"

The cover of the magazine was a young man with thick black eyebrows, a perfect v-shaped face with a sharp jaw, and high cheekbones. He also has red lips that could make all the girls want to kiss him. He was wearing corporate attire with his arms crossed. "He's handsome," I said, then averted my gaze. "By the way, who is he? Is he a celebrity too?"

"Dude! He's the owner of our university! And guess what? He's the richest and most successful self-made CEO here in New York! Isn't he so perfect?!!"

"Really?" I said as I reached for my phone inside my bag.

"Yeah! But there's a problem."

I started dialing my boyfriend's number on my phone. "What's the problem?"

"He's married." Cindy pouted.

"Married? At such young age?"

"Uh-huh. He's married to a fashion designer."

I shrugged. "Oh well, only rich people get to marry rich people, anyway."

"That's right, and those Cinderella stories, they are all shits."

I had to dial Jake's number again before he finally picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hello, Jake?" I looked at Cindy to excuse me. "Where are you?"

"Here at school." He replied.

"Alright, Cindy and I are on our way there now too."

"Okay then, I'll wait for you at the entrance."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

Then I hanged up the phone and put it back inside my bag.

"That's it?"

I looked at Cindy. "Huh?"

"I mean, that's all that you wanted to say to your boyfriend? No I love you? No flirting?"

"Cindy, you know we're not like the other couples that you see."

"That's right, I've never seen a couple that acts like best friends anyway. I even doubt if you guys already kissed."

I just shook my head at that crazy thought of my best friend. But actually, Jake and I never really kissed. We've been in a relationship for two years now, and I love him so much. I met him when I was in high school. He was my ultimate crush back then because he was the most handsome guy in our school. Then one day I got surprised because one of my classmates told me that Jake wanted to meet me. He confessed to me one summer night and, of course, I immediately said yes.

I only have simple dreams, and those are; to graduate and get a decent job, to give my grandmother a decent life, and to live with Jake forever.