Queenie Austin had just arrived from processing her University Entrance Admission when Mia Castro approached her.
"Queenie, come with me, let's go home to Q province, it's a festival this Sunday."
"Mia, you know I have a job, I can’t?" she refused.
“Come on, you need to at least relax once in a while. All you do is work and work,” Mia insisted.
Queenie thought for a while, yes Mia was right, all her life she did nothing but work. Queenie was only sixteen years old when she started working as a maid and servant in the market so she and her recognized mother could feed their empty stomach.
You heard it right, recognized mother because Queenie thought it was her real mother, she just found out the truth about her adoption two years ago before her adopted mother died because of breast cancer. Her biological mother was her adopted mother or auntie's youngest sister who got pregnant early at the age of fourteen and after her biological mother gave birth, she left their house and since then she never showed up again. Queenie’s Auntie Cristy became her mother and Auntie Cristy’s husband, Uncle Alex, became her father. It was fortunate that the two were longing for a child so when she came they didn't hesitate of adopting her.
But this fortune only continued till she reached her ten years of age. Her dear Uncle Alex died in a car accident and from then on, she and her Auntie Cristy had experienced hardship and difficulty in life. And as they said “when it rains, it pours” suffering poured into them when her Auntie Cristy was diagnosed with a third-stage breast cancer. Having been devastated by the illness, her Auntie Cristy was unable to earn a living and all the responsibilities were put on her shoulders. And to support their daily needs, she worked as a market helper and servant.
She continued to work in the market not only for food but also to support her education. Luckily, after all the hardship she graduated in high school. Another blessing came in when she got a job at Cold Brewed Cafe shop near the University belt which also allowed her to continue her studies while working with them.
After gathering all the information and requirements she immediately went to the University to enroll. She chose the University which is closest to the Cold Brewed Cafe shop for her convenience so she can go back to work faster at any time.
She only has one week before the classes begin, and Mia’s offer was perfect for her to relax and enjoy before she faces the new journey of her life--the college life.
After a while she said, "Alright, but I have to ask permission from our manager first. If she agrees, I'll go," Queenie said happily to Mia and Mia smiled bigger with teeth visible.
Because of her good performance at work not to mention that ever since she started working at the cafe she didn’t take any leave, getting Queenie’s manager’s approval was just as easy as counting one-two-three. Without any further explanation, her manager quickly agreed to her three-day vacation.
Mia’s parents and siblings greeted them happily as they arrived in Q province, early morning of Sunday, the day of the festival. Queenie was surprised and delighted that even Mia’s neighbors and other relatives were also there to welcome them. Excitement and curiosity was traced in their faces to meet their visitor.
Queenie was so grateful for their warm welcome and kindness. Without any words they immediately gave Queenie and Mia something to eat from what they had prepared for the fiesta and some of them invited Queenie and Mia to come to their houses to join in their small party and gathering.
In the evening, after dinner, Queenie and Mia went to the plaza to watch the Festival show. This is the most awaited event of the day and the festival is not complete without this.
The plaza was a bit far from Mia's house. After 15 minutes of walking, finally, they arrived at the plaza which was already crowded with the audience from different barrios and foreign visitors like her.
The dance contest already started and the singing contest immediately followed. It was ten o'clock in the evening when the beauty contest began. One by one, the beauty contestants came out to show off their evening gowns when the heavy rain suddenly fell.
The audience froze in shock and ran in different directions to find shelter.
Queenie and Mia saw an open gate and they immediately ran into the yard, but Queenie and Mia got frozen on their feet when they saw a big man standing at the doorstep of the house.
They shivered not only because of the cold but also because of fear so with a stiffened body they turned around. They were about to run out of the gate when a baritone voice of the man reached their ears.
"Get inside, you're soaking in rain," he said blankly.
Again, they stopped and slowly faced the man. The man turned on the light on the patio and both of them were stunned and both eyes turned wide as they witnessed the handsome face of the mysterious man.
If she was not mistaken, the man was almost the same age as them but compared to the average height of male of his same age he was taller.
They both hesitated at first but looking at their current state they still got inside. Anyway, who would refuse to be with such a handsome creature? Queenie is not fond of handsome men but his charisma and appearance awaken something inside her--something that she really can’t explain.
‘Wait, isn’t this a ghost or a vampire? I heard there are a lot in the provinces,’ Queenie suddenly thought then stepped back.
“Hey Queenie, come on! Why do you keep standing there?” Mia pulled her impatiently and Queenie hesitantly followed.
"Good evening!" they greeted the man in chorus as they approached him.
He just nodded with a blank face and did not even try to smile.
"Please get inside," Queenie was tickled when he heard his masculine voice.
“Thank you! I'm sorry for bothering you,” said Mia, trembling in the cold.
Without a word the man turned around, Mia and Queenie stared at each other and furrowed their eyebrows. What happened to this man, is he unhappy to entertain us? But after a few minutes the man returned with two white towels and two white bathrobes.
Queenie’s eyes lit up to see how thoughtful and caring this man was but still built-up a protest in her mind thinking that they will only be wearing this bathrobe but of course, she had no choice but to accept whatever he offered to them instead of getting sick and shivered in the cold.
"Here you can change your clothes with this," he handed over the towel without looking at us.
‘Is he ashamed of us or is he annoyed because we bothered him?’ Queenie asked meaningfully in her mind.
She smiled and thanked him. Mia, on the other hand, immediately looked for the bathroom to change her clothes.
She secretly laughed at the man as he still turned his back on them while giving instructions on where the bathroom is.
‘Is this how the countrymen are ashamed?’ Queenie asked herself.
When Mia came out of the bathroom she immediately went in there and all her questions about the man’s action were now answered as she looked at the mirror. The thinness of the blouse she was wearing sees through her body and brassier.
She suddenly covered her reddened face with two hands. She realized that it may be the reason why the man didn’t face them directly. ‘Oh my, it’s really embarrassing. How am I going to face him now?’ Queenie said angrily to herself.
‘Relax Queenie, you can do that, you will never see him again when you return to M City,’ she said, trying to convince herself and to wash away the shame.
When she came out of the bathroom, the delicious aroma of food welcomed her and her stomach groaned. Different dishes were served at the dining table. Mia and the man were already sitting there and waiting for her.
"Queenie, come quickly, let's eat," Mia invited her and seemed excited to taste the delicious food in front of her.
She turned her gaze to the man who bowed his head while looking at the food. Thinking that he might be hungry now, she quickly pulled out the chair and sat down.
“Thank you! You even bother to prepare food,” she sat across from the man who was still not looking at them.
"It's okay, it's good that you came so someone can eat the food we prepared," he responded, this time he finally looked at them.
"Why did you prepare so many foods when you have no guests?" Mia asked curiously.
"This is what we are used to, yearly many guests come here but this time no one came because they heard that Daddy is not here."
‘Oh, I see.’ His Dad might be a prominent person in this place, Queenie can’t help but wonder.
They really enjoyed the food, no doubt the delicious food was cooked by the expert chef. Queenie surveyed the place, the huge size of this mansion and the expensive furniture showed how rich this family was.
"Do you want to sleep now or do you want us to have a drink?"
Queenie was surprised by his sudden question. The idea of sleeping here never reached her mind and now he even offered a drink. Anyway, there’s no wrong with his offer, so why make it a big issue.
"All right, let's have a drink!" Mia replied cheerfully.
"How about you, are you okay with it?" the man asked Queenie.
Queenie nodded and smiled.
He immediately took three glasses and a bucket of ice cubes and put them on the center table. Then he left again and approached the bar station and took a bottle of red wine.
This would be the first time that Queenie can taste and drink this wine. Mia and she usually just drink beer since these are more affordable for them.
Surprisingly, while drinking they had fun chatting with each other. They almost talked about all things under the sun except their personal matters, they didn’t even ask each other’s names.
Of course, the man knew their names because Mia and Queenie kept calling each other in their names. And they don't even bother to find out the name of the man, it’s enough that he allowed them to stay overnight and enjoyed drinking and talking with each other.
They almost ran out of empty bottles when Mia bid goodbye to sleep. Queenie and the man were the only ones left to drink. Long silence happens between them when they are left alone. No one dared to talk and suddenly felt strange with each other. Queenie fixes her eyes at the glass of wine.
Queenie thought that this man might not be interested in her. This thought even gave her an awkward feeling and was about to say goodbye but the man didn’t agree.
"Excuse me, is it okay if I leave you here?" she asked shyly, looking at the man’s finger that was currently making circles on the lips of the glass wine.
"No, just stay here, I still want to be with you."
Queenie was surprised when she heard it. It didn’t seem like the man wanted her company.
"It looks like you don't want to talk to me," Queenie couldn't help but say.
"You are right, I don't want to talk to you because this is what I want--" the man suddenly grabbed her neck and brought her face close to his, and slowly kissed her on the lips.