Chapter 8

Saturday morning, Rowie woke up earlier than usual. She prepared the table for three. While cooking, she cleaned the house which was not that big for them. She woke up her Mom and little sister after that.

"You could have woke me up so that I could help you." Janice pouted.

"Mom, I can manage. It's already done, though. I can't change anything anymore." Rowie smirked.

"Really. Okay, I get it. Let's eat!" She stated, and then started eating. Raven laughed at her Mom and started teasing her.

They would laugh as if nothing happened yesterday. Good thing James did not showed up that morning. It was as peaceful as their normal days.

"By the way, Mom I'm off to work. Manager Gloria requested me to help the new part-timer this morning."

Janice nodded. "Okay, then. Wait for me and I'll call for a tricycle driver for you."

"No need, Mom. I'll walk. Gonna buy Raven a new set of books, too."

"Really? Will you be okay?"

"I will."

Rowie kissed her Mom in the cheek and teased Raven a little by messing her hair. Raven couldn't help but scold her sister which she just laughed off.

Like what she said, she bought a new set of books for Raven which was normally, a child's book. But according to her little sister, she's not a kid anymore. That's why she picked up the books like, Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and Seven Habits of a Highly Effective Teen by Stephen Covey. It was worth it, though. She could read it as well.

After buying the books, she went straight to the convenient store where she worked. She immediately smiled after seeing Manager Gloria, a Japanese half-American widow, around fifties but still looked gorgeous as usual.

Her white complexion was fairer than Rowie's. Well, she's already tan, though. Her eyes would smile whenever she smiled as well. Luckily, she did not marry again after her husband.

"Good morning, Gloria!" Rowie beamed after giving Gloria a peck on her cheek.

"Good morning, Rowie. Goodness gracious! Your cheek – is it your father again?" She couldn't help but notice.

She would often convince Rowie to send her Dad behind bars but she'd refuse. She didn't want to disturb Gloria, as well. She was fine as it was, except the fact that her Dad's hurting her Mom.

"It's okay, Gloria. It was just a scratch. He didn't mean it." How she wished.

"But still, I told you I will help you. I can't tolerate something so abusive, dear."

"I'm fine, Gloria. As long as I give him what he wants, he'll not hurt anyone of us. It's just that, I didn't have the money yesterday."

Gloria shot Rowie a pity look, sighing after that. "I understand. It must be hard but always remember that I'm always here to help you. You're already like a daughter to me."

"I know, Gloria. You are like a mother to me, too."

"Haven't talk to Janice since forever. I promise I'll make time to visit her sometime. If possible, I can accompany her to my brother's hospital to check on her asthma."

"You know my Mom, she won't agree. She'll always be bothered about something if she couldn't pay it back."

"She doesn't have to."

Rowie sometimes wondered, why would Gloria run a small convenient store if she could go abroad and enjoy life. She had the money and all. She did not question it because she knew that something was behind it. Asking Gloria about that would be rude, she thought.

Gloria and Janice met because of Rowie. They became best friends after that. Gloria already treated Rowie like a daughter she never had – same goes with Raven. Rowie found comfort around Gloria. She helped her when her Dad was abusing her.

There was the start of everything. She opened up to her about how her Dad treated them. Gloria talked to James but she couldn't speak to him properly. She also offered Rowie a work when she refused to accept charity. At least she could pay the money back. Well, like mother like daughter.

Half an hour while working, a young man around Rowie's age came. His hair was clean-cut with brown highlights. His eyebrows were thick, defining his serious and attractive eyes. He had pointed nose and red lips, while his jaw was like the epitome of manliness. His face was serious except that he was smiling from ear-to-ear. Rowie shook her head before her eyes could land below the guy's face.

"You're here, Clyde. It's still 30 minutes early before your turn," Gloria turned to Clyde and gave him a hug which he gladly returned.

"I am just so excited, Aunty. This is the first time Mom let me work out of business."

He is Gloria's Nephew? Rowie asked herself. No wonder.

"Fine, then. Let me introduce you to your workmate." They walked towards Rowie who just finished giving the previous customer her change. The girl customer didn't hide her giggle while looking at Clyde who didn't even noticed it.

"Rowie," Gloria called. "This is Clyde, your new workmate that I told you about. And Clyde, this is Rowie, the girl I always talked to you about."

Talked to him about me? What would that be? Good things, I wish.

"It is nice to meet you finally, Rowie. Aunty can't stop talking about you whenever she visits me. I'm kind of jealous."

"Nice to meet you, too. You don't have to be jealous, though."

"Why not? Everything aunty told me was true. You're really gorgeous!"

Rowie's face flushed red. She laughed nervously after what she heard and as an instinct; she scratched her nose.

"So, I am looking forward on working with you."

"Me, too."