Wrongfully Yours

Celeste clenched her hands because she was nervous that her fiance might not come. The nervousness she feels is as strong as the thunder and lightning in the sky.

She opened the door of the bridal car she rode in and looked up at the sky. It was too dark around and it looked like it was going to rain.

She looked at the people inside the church whose faces clearly showed that they were in confusion.

She saw her mother coming to her place with a worried expression on her face.

"Hija!" She said while holding his cold hands.

"Mom, why isn't Noah here yet, where is he?" She asked while crying because she was afraid that he might not come.

"We've been waiting for him for a while now but he's still not here." She said as she reluctantly told her the truth that he wasn't here yet.

"I'll wait, Mom, I don't want to leave and I don't want to be sad on our wedding day."

"Hija, he's an hour late, he should have been here a while ago." She said, "And maybe-"

"Maybe what, that our marriage won't go on?"

"Hija, you should rest. I don't want to see you hurt and hoping he will come."

"I do not want to rest Mom!" She said firmly.

After a while, Noah's mother Bernadeth came to them followed by her husband Frank with a small piece of paper.

"Hija!" Noah's mother called her. "You need to read something." She added.

The paper she was holding was handed to Celeste's hand and she quickly opened it. Noah's handwritten letter opened to her and stated, "I don't love you anymore. Forgive me but our marriage will not go as you wanted."

Her heart felt like it was going to explode from the pain she felt and she immediately released the paper she was holding and fell it into the ground the tears she had been holding back completely fell.

Celeste went to one of her friends who was standing by the big door of the church. She came closer and hugged her tightly. "Celeste, calm down," said Celeste's friend Jane while gently stroking her back.

"How can I calm down?" She wiped her tears and held out his palm to his friend, " "Lend me your cell phone," Celeste said.

Her friend immediately gave her, her cell phone and immediately called Noah. When Noah answered her call, she immediately spoke, "Noah it's true.... is what you wrote true? Are you even serious?" She asked as her heart beat faster.

"Don't try to call me again. Maybe it's better to forget me and every word I wrote is true." He said and immediately ended the call.

The phone fell from her hand. She swallowed hard because of the pain, the pain she felt in her heart was unbearable. She collapsed where she was and abundant tears rolled down her cheeks.

They prepared for this day to come but he left her alone and in tears. Celeste loved Noah more than herself but he did nothing but hurt and betray her.

The people in the church were looking at her with pity on their faces. Her mother came to her and wiped away the tears that were still falling. She hugged her daughter tightly. Celeste's mother's embrace helped a little to ease the pain she was feeling at this time. She stood up slowly and looked directly into her mother's eyes.

"Mom, I want to say something,"

"What is that hija?"

"I'm pregnant and Noah is the father." She said directly. Her mother's face showed shock.

"Hija," She said softly. She shifted her gaze to Celeste's fiance's parents and suddenly she rushed toward them with an angry look on her face.

"Tell your son that he cannot leave my daughter, because she is pregnant and the father of the child is your son! The marriage must go ahead! Find him." Her mother said continually that almost shouted.

"Please, just calm down. We don't even know where our son is. We don't even know that something unexpected will happen today. I am also a woman and I feel the pain your daughter is feeling." Noah's mother answered Celeste's mother.

"I can't just calm down here. My daughter is a woman who needs to have a husband!" Celeste's mother responded.

Celeste feels so much pain these days that she feels like she will die from the pain. The man she thought would love her completely, only left her among the people close to her. Shame, sadness, and pain are in Celeste's entire system. She wanted to get mad and shout to the world why all this happened to her. She is just a simple girl whose only dream is to marry the man she loves.

******

Ten months later, the baby's loud cries could be heard throughout the public hospital room.

The nurse held the baby in her arms as she hurried upstairs to the bedroom where Celeste lay.

"Your daughter is very beautiful, congratulations, your daughter is a girl,"

said the nurse Celeste smiled as the nurse handed over to her only child.

After a while, Celeste's mother entered her room with fruits and was surprised to see her granddaughter in Celeste's arms. She quickly approached and took the baby from Celeste's arms.

"My granddaughter is very beautiful. What will you name her?" Asked the mother who didn't even look at Celeste because she was too amazed by the beauty of her granddaughter as if she was holding a precious treasure that she didn't want to give to anyone.

"I'm going to name her Stacey Alessandra Williams."

"Don't you want to use her father's last name?" She said,

"I don't want to, if possible let's keep it a secret from him that we have a child. What other reason would there be if he found out the truth? He left me a long time ago?" He told her mother sternly.

"If that's what you want, I will agree, ours is my most beautiful grandson." She said while looking at her granddaughter with a smile.

"Do Noah's parents know that I gave birth, mother?"

"Yes, they are on their way here to visit you and your son."

Since their marriage was interrupted, Noah's parents also do not know where their son is. There is no indication that it is as if Noah has rejected his parents either. They didn't even receive a text or call from their son.

"Also tell his mother that I don't want Noah to know that we have a child," Celeste said to her mother who didn't even look at her.

"Yes, Hija, forget about him too. Start a new life with me and your daughter."

*****

Four years later, at the bus station. Celeste arrives in the town with her four-year-old daughter.

Carrying the baggage, she carried them by himself. She crossed the road holding her child when suddenly a man in an expensive car yelled at her, "Are you going to kill yourself, Miss? Look where you are going!"

"I'm sorry I didn't notice you because I was carrying my baggage," Celeste explained.

"Stand aside, I'm in a hurry!"

"Don't yell at my mom, do you want me to report you to the police?" Stacey shouted, seething with anger.

"Stacey, don't yell at someone older than you, that's bad." She is teaching the child correctly.

"He's bad, he fought you."

"Get over there!"

"Oh yes, I'm sorry again," Celeste said.

They look like pitiful creatures on the road. But even though Celeste's posture is like that, it is undeniable that she is still beautiful.

Tears streamed down her face as her cheeks turned crimson red.

"Mon, why are you crying? Is it because of that man, you want me to punch him in the face?"

"Not Stacey," She laughed at her mischievous daughter, Stacey.

Her tears flowed because she realized that this would not have happened in her fate if Noah had married her, they would not have suffered, especially her daughter who had already experienced hardship at a young age.

"If only your father was here Stacey, we wouldn't be like this?" She said to her daughter.

"Let's find Dad, Mom I'll help you. Is that why you're crying mom, do you miss my dad?"

"No Stacey, I'm just thinking about you."

"Don't cry mom, I'm with you." Saying this made Celeste smile.

The mother and daughter hugged on the side of the road while waiting for their relative to pick them up at her mother's place, Asun.

He kissed her daughter on the cheek took a deep breath and put a bright smile on his face.

"Let's go home,"

"Yey, I'll see grandma again," Stacey happily said to her mother.

******

After a few months of their stay in the province, Celeste dropped her body tiredly on a hard bed due to the day-long search for a job in their province.

Her mother, Asun, entered the room and asked, "Have you found a job Hija?"

"Not yet, there are only limited jobs here in our province, I will have a hard time here, maybe I will just go to the city, maybe there are many opportunities there." She said,

"Hija, maybe Stacey doesn't want you to be away from her. That girl is very affectionate with you, she looks for you right away. He said earlier that she misses you even if you were gone for just one day." Her mother explained.

"That's what I'm having a problem with, Mom. But what can I do? I have to move to another city so I can give her a good life. I don't want her to starve." Celeste said

"Just explain it to her properly. Maybe Stacey will understand."

"Yes, Mom,"

"Besides, go to sleep, did you eat?"

"It's done, I just ate at the small restaurant in our town."

"Is that so, go ahead and rest."

*****

The next morning, Celeste woke up early to prepare for her departure. She prepared the requirements for the job.

She heard the door open from her daughter's son's. Her daughter came out of the room and looked at her mother confused.

"Mom, where are you going?"

Celeste sat on their bamboo chair and called her daughter, "Come first, Stacey, I have something to tell you."

Her daughter came closer and she touched her face.

"Stacey, I have to move away from our place to find a job in the city."

"Will you leave me?"

"I'll get back to you when I've saved up money there, this is for you too, I don't want you to starve because I don't have a job. Mom needs to work. I hope you understand." She explained this to her child.

"As long as you come back Mom, bring me lots of toys and also be careful there. I'll miss you." Her daughter said while hugging her mother.

"Yes Stacey, you'll be kind here, while I'm gone. Don't give your grandmother a headache."

"Yes, mom."

"Is there anyone here" A voice came from outside, Celeste immediately went to it, maybe it was important.

"Who are they?" Celeste asked.

"Hey Celeste, do you still know me? I'm your younger friend, Amelia."

"I still know you, Amelia," Celeste said and now they hugged because of the joy of seeing each other again.

"I heard you are looking for a job?"

"Yes, why did you ask?"

"I know something, my aunt is looking for a waitress at the restaurant where she works in the city. She would have hired me but I don't want to move to another town. I will miss this place, so when I found out you were looking for a job, I went to see you right away. Do you want to grab the opportunity?"

Yes, where is that?

"This is the address."

Her friend Amelia handed Celeste a piece of paper with an address on it.

"I'll be right there so I can get started," Celeste said.

"Yes, I'll just text my aunt that I found you as a replacement."

"Alright, thank you so much, Amelia. It's been a huge help to us." Celeste said and they hugged again.

"I miss you so much that you've been gone for so long," Amelia said.

"Haha.. me too."

"Get ready. I'll send you a tricycle to town.

"Really? You're kind, Amelia."

"Of course, you're my best friend and we look alike." Amelia even joked with Celeste.

"Wait, I'll say goodbye to my mother first."

"Alright. I'll wait for you here."

Celeste entered their small house and told her mother and daughter that she was leaving. Her daughter cried as Celeste rode a tricycle.

Asun calmed her down to stop crying. It hurts Celeste to look at her daughter crying but there is nothing she can do because she has to work so that they can have a daily supply.

"This is the new beginning of my life. Maybe tomorrow fate will agree with me." Celeste whispered to herself.

The tricycle he was riding continued driving until it disappeared from her mother and her daughter's sight who were left in their place.

Today is Celeste's first day at her job as a waitress. She is happy with her first job because it will help her family who was left behind in the province. She was immediately taught what she should do.

"Celeste, come on." Manang Lily, Amelia's aunt, said.

"Yes," replied Celeste.

"Here in this restaurant, you are not allowed to go too far, you need to act quickly and bring the customers their orders immediately when it is ready. Is that clear?" Manang Lily said in an authoritative tone.

"Yes," Celeste replied directly.

"Also, all the tables must be clean and you wipe them immediately when the customer has left, the owner does not want any dirt left on the table." She added

Celeste just nodded at what the old woman taught her. Manang Lily is the oldest waitress in the restaurant where they work. She is entrusted with all the necessities that a waitress like her needs to work.

"Also, be careful there are customers who are rude to waitresses like us, except for me because I'm old. And you need to adjust your clothes so they don't insult you. Do we understand each other?"

"Yes,"

"Oh, let's get started."

Celeste immediately acted on what the old woman asked her to do. They are very busy because many people are eating inside the restaurant now. This restaurant is popular because of its good ambiance which is also sometimes played with good music. Sometimes even groups of people come here to sing inside the restaurant. The restaurant is big and rich, it is not hidden from the knowledge that many people come here, as well as tourists from other countries.

A beautiful woman entered the restaurant and sat on the side near the window. Celeste immediately approached her to ask what she would order.

"Good day ma'am, what would you like to order?" Celeste said while smiling at the beautiful girl in front of her.

"Just water please." She replied.

"Okay, ma'am. Just wait for a second."

Celeste left to get water to drink. A few seconds later she was back with drinking water for her first customer.

She presented it to the woman and the beautiful woman immediately drank it with a look of stress on her face because it was immediately consumed with not even a single drop of water left.

"Here," the beautiful woman handed the glass to Celeste and she immediately took it from the girl's hand.

After a while many customers arrived so she prepared himself so that she could properly give the customers their ordered food. Celeste didn't waste a minute, she went back and forth taking the orders from the kitchen and giving them to the customer. Her coworkers are also busy.

Celeste wiped one of the tables because the customer who was eating there had left and she immediately took the plates and spoons. When she turned around, she bumped into a very sexy woman with red lips. The things she carried immediately fell and shattered.

She apologized frantically and immediately cleaned up the scattered things on the floor.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you." She said while picking up the broken plates.

"Next time miss, look where you're going, unsteady like you are not allowed in our restaurant!" The woman shouted at her.

"Are you the owner of this restaurant?" she asked.

"Yes, and do you want me to fire you?"

"No, I need this job. I'm sorry again." She begged.

"Hmm... I like it when someone pleads with her life because it depends on her job. Alright, I still have mercy, but you have to pay for the broken plates and I'll tell Dad to deduct that from your salary. It's clear!" The woman screamed at her with her eyes wide with anger.

"Okay, that's it. Just don't fire me."

"Hmmm... I like you, girl. Get out of my way and I might kick you."

Celeste immediately stepped aside and gave way to the woman who fought her.

Only now did she realize that people inside the restaurant were staring at her. She quickly cleaned the broken plates and went straight to the kitchen.

Manang Lily immediately met her and asked what happened.

"I didn't do it on purpose, I didn't see her so I broke things." She said while crying.

"Oh you have a wound, let's treat it," Lily said.

Celeste was taken to a room full of supplies and her wounds were treated there.

"Oh, it hurts."

"Next time, be careful. Even if there are a lot of people, you should focus on what you are doing. You just bumped into the owner's daughter."

"I'm sorry but I already apologized to her."

"It's a good thing she didn't report it because her dad wasn't here. If her Dad was here it might be deducted from your salary. But our boss is kind, only his daughter is the cursed one."

"Oh, that's okay if she reduces my salary. Just don't fire me. It's already difficult, I still have a child left in the province." Celeste explained.

"Oh, it's been treated, you stay here first. Don't move it for now, it might bleed again. I'll take care of your work there."

"Thank you."

You're welcome. Just be careful next time so that what happened to you earlier doesn't happen again.

"Yes, thank you again."

"Alright, I'm going back there."

Celeste nodded to Lily and let the tears fall that had been forming in the corner of her eyes, not because of the pain but because of what happened earlier. The suffering he suffered since Noah left him was too much. It hurts to face reality if you're just a poor bastard. People look at you differently if you have money, you will be respected while the poor suffer and are humiliated.

He wiped the tears that fell from her face and spoke, "Can I handle all the pain that I will experience here in the city? Can I handle it? But I have no choice but to handle it for my daughter." She said bitterly to himself.