A ( 8 )

AMEIRA is on her way to the convenience store where she works. Everything you need for your home is already there, such as food, materials, and paint.

Her hands were in her pockets as she headed to work. She wore a long black cloak, which she used to wear so that she would not be recognized. Maybe she didn't want anyone to recognize her identity because her beauty undeniably grabs attention, she doesn't know why.

Her eyes were just focused on her feet, and her face was expressionless. Many convenient stores, such as the sari-sari store and food stalls, have already opened, and many individuals were getting ready for work and were now opening their shops. There is also not only one convenience store, but a plethora of food businesses in this area. There are some that are even bigger than the convenience store where she works.

Ameira looked up when she saw the store owner, a middle-aged woman, opening the convenience store where she worked.

She ran quickly to help her. "Good morning, Aling Lordes," she replied as she carried the goods out of the store in an attempt to speed up the process.

Then, Aling Lordes put her hands on her waist, surprised at Ameira's presence. "Oh, here you are, Daisy. How is your sister doing after being diagnosed in the hospital? Is she okay?" The old woman asked in surprise.

Last time, Ameira told the old woman that she would be gone for a few days due to the illness of her sister. Although she wasn't sure when she would return, she promised to come back as soon as everything was okay. The truth is, this is not what happened.

The old woman is kind to her and she has been working here for a long time, so Aling Lordes already treated her as family. However, she shuns the old woman's family.

It's not that she doesn't want them, she just doesn't want to have a relationship with anyone and she doesn't trust people even if others say they are kind.

As she will not be staying that long, she introduced herself as Daisy. She'll be gone too when the right time comes.

"She's fine," she said sparingly and coldly.

The old woman nodded to her and helped Ameira to finish the job quickly. The sun is already shining and in just a few minutes the convenience store will be full of customers.

Despite not being obvious, the convenience store where she works is famous because Aling Lordes is kind to everyone and lends out money to the public. She is known throughout the subdivision.

Ameira was busy arranging drinks in the three refrigerators when she heard someone come downstairs, most likely from the second floor of the house.

This whole house is owned by an old woman. If she is not mistaken, on the first floor the old man sleeps with his children, grandchildren, and daughter-in-law. Her grandson is on the rooftop. Lordes had previously explained that to her.

He was imprisoned for defending his sister, so her grandson was not there.

Even though she didn't care, she still observed and looked around.

"Good morning, La! " The man said. Maybe it was her grandson who had just been released from prison.

"You're leaving early too?" The old woman obviously didn’t expect to see her grandson fully dressed for work.

"Yes, ‘La. The client that asked us to build the bookstore wants to finish it right away. "We will go early to show the design made by my friend Aleja." The man explained. Ameira's forehead furrowed as she remembered the man's voice. It is very familiar.

She stood up straight after the refrigerators were full. She wiped the back of her palm with a few beads of sweat. She was about to leave when she suddenly stopped. A bulk of a man blocked her path. She hadn't even heard his footsteps, so she was caught off guard by his sudden approach.

She quickly erased the astonishment from her face. She apologized and stepped aside to avoid the man before examining other products in the store.

"Oh! Misty! Wow ~ what a coincidence! You work here at our store?" The shock on the man's face was apparent, from his widening eyes until they glittered, to the way his mouth curved.

Ameira stopped what she was doing.

'Misty? Did he call me Misty? So, he knows Misty for sure.'

She finally turned to the man and recognized him.

'It's him, the guy in the Paradise Club. I wonder how he knew Misty, 'cause based on his looks and sense of humor, Misty wouldn't lay her eyes on him,' she thought.

She glanced at him from head to toe and tilted her head back towards the shelf of goods as if nothing had happened.

"Wait—don't tell me you don't remember me?" The man did not stop pursuing Ameira.

When she was sure that the products were in the right place and in order, Ameira walked away. She just looked straight ahead even though the man was still following her.

The man grabbed her by the elbow before she could finally leave. "Yah, I'm talking to you. Has what happened last night become so ingrained in your mind that you can't remember it anymore, or are you just pretending you don't remember me?" His voice was a mixture of sadness and frustration.

She grabbed her elbow, which startled the man.

"You got the wrong person," her face and voice were emotionless. She took her eyes off the man again and moved to the other shelf.

The guy sneered. "No, I'm sure that you're Misty, especially your voice, which sounds very cold. Jeez," he exclaimed, hugging his shoulders as if shivering.

But Ameira still ignored him and walked over to Aling Lordes who was frowning, wondering what her grandson was up to.

"Aling Lordes, I gotta go. I'll just deliver the food," she said to the old woman and took the products she would deliver. She just walked past the guy who was insisting that she knew him.

Also, she passed another guy who she thought was older than the naughty man. He just stared at her while drinking the iced coffee he was holding. Ameira avoided looking at him and got on the scooter that was there then she drove it away from the store.