Chapter 4 4

"For the time being, you will live here in my house while you look for a place to live." Manang Lily said softly to Celeste.

"Thank you very much, this has been a great help to me."

"Gosh, I still know you and your mother and I were close that day."

"Oh really, my mother didn't mention to me that she has a helpful friend."

"Gosh, you're flattering me. Besides, this will be your room. I'll get a blanket and a pillow for you so you can rest."

"Okay, thank you." She smiled.

Celeste cast her eyes around every corner of the room. She realized that it was a bit small but it was okay with her instead of not having a place to sleep tonight.

"This is your blanket and pillow. Are you okay in your room? I'm sorry, my house is small."

"It's okay with me. Thank you very much for letting me stay here."

"You're welcome and you can rest early now we have work for tomorrow."

Celeste just nodded in response to the old woman and stretched her body before lying down. She felt calm because he could finally rest after a long day and she was tired all day.

She was staring at the ceiling and thinking about her daughter who was left in the province. She misses it even more, especially her smile. But she has to endure it for her daughter because she needs to work. If she doesn't work, she doesn't know where to pick them. This job she received is a big help so that her daughter does not go to bed hungry.

She took a deep breath and saw in her mind the face of Noah, the man he loved the most. Ever since she left him, she has had no news of the whereabouts of the man she once loved. She wants to forget all the pain she went through on their wedding day and how he left her in tears in the middle of the church.

She loves Noah very much but she just hurt her.

She was about to fall asleep when his phone rang, she took it from the table and answered it.

"Hello, Mom. How are you there?" Celeste said

"Hello Mom, this is Stacey." She cried while talking.

"Oh, Stacey what happened? Why are you holding your grandmother's phone where she is?" He asked her daughter.

"I borrowed it from her, I said I'll call you. Grandma is right here next to me."

"Oh, why is my daughter sad?"

"I've already missed you." The child sobbed.

"Me too Stacey, I can go home there if Mommy saved a lot of money. Don't cry, and besides, it's already late at night."

"Yes Mom, goodnight. Always be careful."

"Goodnight too, be careful there, please, say hello to your grandmother for me."

"Yes, Mom bye ."

"Bye, Stacey."

The mother and daughter ended the call with tears in their eyes. Celeste misses her daughter so much. It seems that the child is also having a hard time with their mother and daughter's situation. Celeste just chose to sleep so that she didn't have to think about it. She slept with a heavy feeling because her daughter was not sleeping next to her.

*****

After two months of Celeste's stay in the city, she is used to waking up early to work.

Every day she sends money to her mother. During her two months of working, her life was going well except for the first day when the owner's daughter humiliated her. Since then, no one has quarreled with Celeste, she has also become many friends who are her customers and fellow waitresses with a kind heart.

Celeste left the house early with her aunt Lily. They are looking for a ride to the restaurant. After they found a ride, they immediately boarded and hurried because they were running late.

When they arrived, they immediately dressed in their uniforms and Celeste immediately took her place.

A new customer enters the restaurant and Celeste immediately approaches him.

"Hi, what's your order? Here's the menu." Celeste spoke to her male customer.

"Just give me anything as long as it tastes good."

"Okay, sir,"

When Celeste was about to leave, her male customer suddenly grabbed her by the hand. Her eyes went wide open and startled, she looked at him from behind and asked, "Why sir?"

"Do you want to come with me later to the hotel?"

"That's not allowed here, sir, and I'm not a paid girl, I'm a waitress!" She said firmly and Celeste pulled her hand away from the man who was insulting her.

The man stood up and held her tightly by the arms again.

"Ahmm you will like it." It said in a whisper.

"Sir, if that's all you came here for, you better leave, this isn't a bar!" Celeste said loudly, making the people around them look at her.

The man got angry and pushed Celeste hard causing her to fall to the floor.

Suddenly, Celeste's co-workers came to her to defend her.

"Sir, you are not allowed to hurt our fellow waitresses. Leave before we sue you!" One of Celeste's male co-workers said.

The man said nothing and left straight away.

"Are you okay, Celeste? What does he need from you? Why did he push you?" Another of her co-workers said.

"He was rude to me and wanted me to go to the hotel with him," Celeste answered directly.

"People are really bad now." One of her co-workers, a woman, said.

"Why are you gathering there?" A woman's voice came from behind them.

When they looked at it, it turned out to be the restaurant owner's daughter who spoke. The woman who caught all the curses.

They bowed their heads and said it was nothing.

"Oh, what are you doing there, get back to work!" The cursed woman screamed.

They immediately returned to their respective work. Celeste is still thinking about what happened to her earlier. What if it happened outside and not in the restaurant? She realized that no one would defend her and that the man would eventually get her and take her to the hotel. She thought that she would perish.

Celeste immediately entered the room where Manang Lily was treating her and prayed, "My God, keep me away from bad people and keep me away from harm. I still have a child to raise. Please take care of me..."