Chapter 9

The wind chime at the top of the door of the coffee shop made a sound so Granny Perry looked at the door to see who's coming.

"Hello Ziah, long time no see, how have you been?" Granny Perry asked after Ziah went in front of the counter.

"Not good granny. It's been more than a week and I still can't find a job." she said sighing. She is usually aloof and reserved. She doesn't talk much specially to stranger but she somehow find it comfortable talking with her land lady.

"Be patient. I am sure you will find the perfect job that you are looking for."

"But I don't have the luxury to wait, at this rate I might run out of money and live on the streets."

"Hmmm.. Let's see, how about you help me here with the coffee shop?" Ziah raise her eybrows and smiled

"I don't want to offend you and I would love to work here, but I am afraid you can't afford to get any helper at this rate." The old lady laugh at her bold statement and asked

"Why would you say that? Do I look like I'm in the verge of bankruptcy?

"Not really.. But look at your shop, only a few customers are coming in here, I doubt if you are earning a lot. It seems that the income of this shop is just enough to sustain you." she said as a matter of factly.

"Actually your right.", then she laugh again. "I actually can't afford to pay you using the shops income, but I can surely provide food, while you are waiting for a job." Granny Perry said with a grin.

"Are you being serious?" Ziah asked the old lady.

"Why? Don't you like my offer?" the old lady is smiling at her brightly.

"Who says that I don't like it, of course I like it, how can I say no to free food?"she returned the warm smile that the old lady gave her.

"Granny..." Ziah called her land lady.

"Yes?" Granny Perry asked

"I just noticed that the blind girl who always visits you hadn't came here for sometime already."

"Oh, you mean Nally?" Ziah nodded to confirm it.

"His brother Lello will be practicing medicine at a hospital starting next week. He will be staying at the hospital most of the time, and Nally will be staying with me for the meantime, so the two of them went out of town for a week to spend more time together. They should be here later this afternoon."

"Are their parents not living with them?" Ziah asked frowning.

"I don't know much, and I don't actually asked them, but from what they said, their parents have died when they were younger."

"But Nally is blind, and her brother is still studying, how do they afford their living expenses?"Ziah as curiously.

"It seems that you are very interested with the siblings..." Granny Perry looked at Ziah with a playful smile.

"No, its not what you think, I don't fancy her brother, I was just curious." she explained.

"But I did not said that you took a fancy to Lello." Ziah stopped with her eyes blank and not knowing what to say, then she heard Granny Perry laughing.

"You silly kid, I was just teasing you.." Granny Perry said playfully and Ziah glared at her in return.

"Well you see, from what I heard, Lello has started working as administrative assistant in a company before and apparently he saved that company from bankruptcy when he was only sixteen years old. And that company is supporting their living expenses, he was now working there as a consultant so he only needs to be there at certain times, that is why he can still study."

"He did all of that at that age?Is he a god?" she asked shocked.

"Lello is a gifted child with high intelligence. Actually, it is not only him who is gifted, his sister Nally is also a very talented girl, she can play the piano excellently and she also sings very well. She said that when she was younger she also paints and had an exhibit at the age of eight." Ziah's lips turned 'o' at what she heard. 'So the two of them are both exceptional', Ziah thought but she chose not to voice it out loud fearing that Granny Perry might tease her again.

***

"Hello granny" Nally said as she and her brother walked inside the coffee shop.

"Hello dear, did you enjoy your vacation?"

"Yes, it is sooo much fun." Nally replied happily.

"Really?"

"Yes! I'll tell you all about it later."

"Ok, I'm counting on it. Do you want your favorite, strawberry milkshake?"

"Yes, will that be ok?"

"Of course. Take a seat." she helped Nally take a seat and gestured Lello to have a seat as well.

"How about you Lello, what would you like to drink?"

"Just a cup of coffee please." he politely answered.

"Ziah, dear, can you prepare us some drinks please?" she called out to the girl standing beyond the counter who gave her a small nod.

Lello look back at the counter and saw the girl before. He was preoccupied a while ago and not paying any attention at the surrounding so its only then that he notice the beautiful girl at the counter. He heard Granny Perry clearing her throat so he hesitantly pull away his eyes from that girl.

"She's Ziah." Granny Perry said. Lello was confused on what the old lady is saying.

"That lady over there", pointing her lips at the girl who is busily preparing their drinks. "Her name is Ziah, she moved in here more than a week ago, and is temporarily working here at the coffe shop." Granny Perry explained smiling. Lello did not respond and just remained silent.

"So are you leaving tonight?" the old lady ask after Ziah gave them their drinks.

"Yes, I am sorry for asking you to take care of Nally, but I can't just trust anybody with my sister."

"It's ok dear, I would love having Nally with me. And I actually do not need to give her special attention, Nally is a very capable lady, she actually can take care of herself, aside from providing her company, I don't think I have to do anything more. So she's not really a burden." The old lady gave a knowing smile to Lello, and held Nally's hand.

"Rest assured that Nally's safe with me." Lello heaved a sigh of relief and look at Nally. This was the first time that he is going to leave his sister.

"Nally, this is only temporary, just give me a week, and I'll do something to negotiate with the hospital about my working arrangement so I can come home everyday." Lello assured his sister.

"You don't have to worry, I am fine. Just please take care of yourself. Do not just work and work, you also have to rest, so make sure you do that ok?" Nally gave her brother an underatanding smile to convince him that she'll be fine.

"Ok, I've got to go, you take care." Lello kissed her forehead and bid goodbye. He gave a thankful hug to Granny Perry and took a quick glance at the lady beyond the counter before he go.