Dear Jesus,

By 8:00am sharp, Mommy Sarah turned over the sign that read 'Now Open!' on the glass window pane of the restaurant.

We had hurriedly had a light breakfast, driven down to Sarafoods and prayed over the business.
Soon enough, customers started trickling in.

Since we were short on staff, I had to double as a waiter and a kitchen assistant.
I would shuffle between taking the orders and delivering the breakfast dishes.

I wore a purple checked apron that Mommy Sarah gave me over my dress. It made me look like a real restaurant staff.

The menu was not too complex.
For beverages, there was coffee latte, tea, creamed milk, orange fruit juice.
There was bread, scrambled eggs, fruited custard, caramelized syrup poured over jello, chicken burger, chicken soup. We also had Gingerbread cookies baked (Yeah! I saw Mommy Sarah make real life what I thought only existed in the folklore fairytale– the gingerbread man).

John largely helped his Mom in making sure the kitchen was not a mess. He was in charge of washing dishes, putting back used utensils to their rightful positions, sweeping, wiping cabinets and disposing off the waste bin.
And when he wasn't doing that, he would be taking records and counting money collected from the customers.

The rush was in the morning, from around eight to ten o' clock.
And by ten, I was damn exhausted.

We had a short break. The chicken soup was delicious.

From 12:00pm to around 3:00pm we got busy again. A steady influx of workers on their lunch break came to get something to bite.

I was in the kitchen collecting scraps of the dough Mommy Sarah had kneaded when the doorbell chimed again.
John was attending to other customers so I hurriedly cleaned my palms on my apron and went out to them.

Shocked to my bones, my legs screeched to a halt at who I saw.

It was Miss Beauty Queen and her boyfriend. Trisha Colerett and Maxwell Newrit.

I could have chosen the easy way out and turned away but I didn't have any choice. I threw up a quick prayer to you, took in a deep breath and willed my frozen feet to continue it's motion towards the window-side table they had settled into.

Trisha's full, black, virgin hair was packed into a big bun. She looked as beautiful as the diva goddess she is, with her bronze, smooth, flawless skin.
Max's face fluctuated between nervousness and resolve, like he had something to say and get over with.

"Good afternoon. May I take your orders?"

Trisha's face shot up from the menu she had been scanning. Her large, mascara-outlined, black eyes expanded almost twice its size when my face registered. Her glossy lips parted slightly in surprise.

"Radiance? What in the world are you doing here?"

Sigh, here comes the time of long explanations.

"Um... It's a long story. Anyways, what would you like to have?" I said smilingly.

Maxwell who had been grimly silent spoke up, "A bottle of water will do for me."

My mind couldn't comprehend that order.
A bottle of water? He could have gotten that in any normal street shack. Are they just here to get free shelter and AC?

"But baby... They've got grilled trout on the menu and I know you love that," Trisha said, placing her hand on his that was on the table. He recoiled and said nothing, staring at the table.

Trisha sighed. "I'll have coleslaw and with one bottle of water as well."
Hmm, maybe she's a vegetarian that's why she's got the perfect shape, I thought as I scribbled down her order on my notepad.

"I'll be back in a jiffy," I said and left for the kitchen.

When I brought their orders to their table, I realized that they were engaged in serious conversation. They stopped talking. I hurriedly and quietly set before them the queerest afternoon order I had taken so far.

I went back and hid in the kitchen. Curious, I couldn't help staring out the glass window partition to the dinning area, their window side table to be specific.

"Is anything the matter?" John's baritone voice said just behind my neck.

I jumped.

"You startled me!" I whispered fiercely to his face, hands over my chest to pacify my frightened heart, trying to act calm at his proximity.

"Are we being alien invaded?"

"No!"

"Then why are you stalking those customers? Do you know them?" He looked in the direction I had been looking. His grey eyes darkened at what he saw. "Is he your boyfriend?"

I bursted out in laughter. In my dreams. Plus, I'm not the kind of girl boys like Max hang around with.

"No, no, no. Definitely not." Are you jealous? I almost asked.

"Oh then, stop stalking on them."

"I wasn't stalking on anyone. I was only checking on the welfare of our customers and my school mates."

"You were stalking..." he said trying to win this argument. And then he said in realization of my words, "...Ooohhh, they attend Charios High?" He looked at them again in disbelief.

They looked like the picture perfect couple. Athletic build, tall and handsome boy with a very pretty, black princess. It would have been difficult for me to believe also, if not for the fact that I know them up close.

"Well, technically 'they attended' will be the right statement since we're graduating very soon."

"Wow!" he breathed. "So you mean they 'were' your classmates." He emphasized the 'were'.
I looked back at them and nodded.

I saw as Maxwell stood up abruptly and went out the door, leaving a stunned Trisha sitting alone. He didn't even take his bottled water with him. Trisha's shoulder slumped and tears trailed down her cheeks.

"Uh-oh! That doesn't look so good," John said.

"One minute, John. I gotta go," I said. I strode over to Trisha.

"Trisha, what's wrong?" I asked in concern as I sat opposite her in the chair Mark stood up from. Her coleslaw was untouched.

"He's left me," she said in a heartbroken, flat tone.

I didn't know what to say.

"I knew this was going to happen sooner or later. But why? Why now? Why now Max?" She cried bitterly.

I allowed her to sob her heart out while at the same time praying to you to give me wisdom to handle this.

"Here."

She looked up, her mascara was ruining her face and I could see mucus in her nose.

"Have this," I continued as I passed the Kleenex I held in my hand towards her.

She mumbled thanks, dabbed her teary eyes and blew her nose in a not-so-queenly fashion.

"I must look like a mess. I'm so sorry to disturb you. I just can't help but cry. All my time, investment and hopes were dashed. He left in the end."

"I know someone who never leaves," I said softly.

She looked at me, surprised. "Why, Radiance. I never knew you also had someone. I thought you became a Jesus Freak."

Why, oh why is everyone asking me or hinting on this whole boyfriend issue?

"It's not what you think. I was actually talking about Jesus."

No reply.

Ok, maybe it was not the best time to talk about you yet. I didn't feel any particular prodding from you yet.

Holy Spirit, what should I do?

Love. Show her love.

Bingo!

I decided to listen. "What happened?"

"Well, he has been acting off and detached for some time now. I didn't think much about it. I thought it was the exam stress and all that so I disregarded all the gossip about the possibility of me and him splitting up."

"We were supposed to go on a date yesterday. Actually, I was the one who suggested we do, you know couple stuff and all that. I waited and waited. He didn't show up. His phone was switched off. When I called him this morning to ask him why, he said we should meet to talk and he hung up on me. I prepared for torrents of lies and pleas. I was willing to forgive him."

"Then he just told me it is over between us. I was shocked. I asked him why? He said I was too corky and slow. He said he has found another. Simone, that b*tch of a girl. That, that wench." Her face contoured into an angry scowl at the mention of her latest archenemy's name. She was livid and trembling by the intensity of the hate and anger in her voice.

I winced, both because of the cuss words she used and also because of who the backstabber was.

She's the girl who pushed me on the wall that day at school and caused me to pass out. Simone was once the right-hand side-kick of Genevie. Looks like she's become the crown leader of Dazzling Diamonds gang.

"Don't be bitter, Trish. Forgive."

"Forgive her? I don't think so."

"You have to. You don't want to leave Charios on a bad note with your classmate. Plus, you were the one who pleaded on her behalf the other day, asking me to forgive her."

"We're already on a bad note. Whatever! To hell with her and Max. They can as well elope to Paris on their happily ever after relationship."

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that this was why having a boyfriend when you aren't ready for marriage is not such a good idea. It would only cause heartbreaks.
I withheld myself because Holy Spirit told me to show love not condemnation and judgement.

"How are you coping Radiance? I'm glad that your Dad's name has finally been cleared. But I also heard the news that your house burnt down. Is it true?"

"Partly. But I thank God none of us was hurt. Plus we're staying with friends at the moment. Everything's fine, really!"

"Ok, if you say so."
Something came up into my mind.

"You have my number right? We'll chat later tonight. Don't worry. Everything will work out in the end. I have to go, I'm working part-time as a waitress here. And don't worry about the bill. I'll pay for you."

"Really? Gee... Thanks for everything."

"You're welcome." The chair scraped the floor as I stood up.

"Ray?" she called as I turned to leave.

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind if I ask you to take me to your church. You said Jesus never leaves."

I wanted to do a backflip on the spot. The only impediments stopping me were that I didn't know how and I was in the middle of a restaurant. I'd have only succeeded in embarrassing myself.

I gave her a big fat smile and said, "Sure! I'd love to. There's going to be a vigil program next week Friday, that is the first Friday in December. I'll send you the details. Hope you can make it."

"I will."

"Make sure you finish up your coleslaw. I'm paying for it, you know."

"I'll try," she chuckled. It was nice to see her beautiful smile again.

**********
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