Chapter 16

My eyes blurred with tears as I exited most of the Herrera gates.  After the scene with Kobe, I decided to say goodbye to Kobe's parents.  And for him, I can say I will teach my heart to forget him.  I started walking and I put inside my dress the envelope containing the money, I don’t want to receive anything more from them but I can also use it for my new life.

My mind was flying and I didn’t know where I was going, I had no relatives and was known here is my aunt.  I can't go back there either because I'm just going to hurt myself.  I already feel thirsty and I also feel tired and hungry.  My eyes searched for something to eat because I was really hungry, but suddenly something rang on the side of my clothes and I remembered that I was carrying my cellphone.

I saw on the screen that Nicko was the caller, I didn't want to answer but it kept ringing so I just answered.

"Where are you?"  He immediately asked a kind question.

"I'm fine Nicko, I want to be alone,"  I answered and I heard his sigh.

"Camilla, please where are you now? I'm worried about you."  the cold voice said.

I don't know but why do I feel this way about him?  "Nicko, please let's talk later? Don't worry I'm fine."  I just answer.

"Call me when I can talk to you and see you."  He said softly.

"All right,"  I answered and turned off my phone.  I had to change the number because I knew Nicko wouldn’t stop not talking to me.  I put my phone back in my pocket and turned forward but suddenly I bumped into someone.

I was shocked and didn’t move immediately and I looked at the groceries strewn on the cement.  Suddenly I bent down and was confused to help the woman and help pick up her purchases one by one.

"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to,"  I said but I didn't hear a word here from the woman I bumped into, I thought she would get mad at me.

"Mila?"

I looked up because of the name he pronounced because only in our province am I called Mila.  And when I stared at the woman, she seemed familiar to me.

"Mila, it's you! Oh my god! We also met again, it's me. Gracia is your good friend in our village."  It is happy to see you again.

It was only then that I remembered what he said Grace was my childhood friend Grace, we were almost the same age as her twenty -three.  I didn't recognize her right away because she looked so different.

"Is that true? Is that you, Grace?"  I can't believe my question because I didn't expect to see him again since I left the province and go there to Manila.

"I'm Camilla Ruiz."  She still said my full name.

I smiled and suddenly hugged her because I felt like I had an ally.  We used to be together when we were kids when swimming in the sea without saying goodbye to our parents.  But since my parents died, I left the province to live with my aunt in Manila.

"How are you? You look better than me now ah? I'm really surprised that you're the one I see now."  Smiling she added.

I was just looking at her because her brown skin turned white like mine, I was naturally white because of my mother's inheritance.  She also has a blonde hair color that suits her.  Her body also improved and she had sexy.

"I know I've been beautiful before so don't look at me like that. But you look better, wait what's up with you? You look rich already."  It's an exciting question.

"Me? No, I'm just okay. I'm glad we met because somehow I had other acquaintances here in Manila."  I spoke to her.

"I'm also really very happy, what are you busy with? Come to my house first, then next time to you."  It says happily.

"Hmm? I don't have a house."  I replied with a raised eyebrow at her.

"Are you sure? You don't have a house? Where do you sleep, take a bath? Not really?"  It's an unbelievable question.

I laughed at her reaction.  "Now it's gone, I'm looking for a place to sit now. I'm going to look for a job as well."  I said more and suddenly her face lit up.

"That's right, I don't have anyone with me at home anymore. You're just there to have fun and we'll be together, if I take care of work I'll look for you."  Smiling it says.

I was happy because my thoughts were solved immediately, I went with Grace.  She also lives quite far away, she said she just went to the place where we met.  Then he also allegedly bought groceries.

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"It's okay that your house isn't that big but it's just right, especially if it's just two people,"  I spoke as I walked around the entire interior of the house, with two bedrooms and a small living room and kitchen.  He cleans and tiles the floor as well as the sink.

"Yes, but my rent here is expensive, it's only eight thousand. I can afford it but of course, you know I have someone to support me in the province."  She said seriously as she put the rest of her purchases in the refrigerator.

"Yes, it's lacking, wait a minute, what kind of job do you have?  I asked as I sat on the couch which was not large.

"Ah, is that so? I'm a bartender at a wealthy RestoBar. But my old friend in another country just let me in there. I also have tips that I collect especially when customers are generous."  She told the story and released the juice, translated into two glasses.

"Ah, that's why you also earn a lot, your job is really good and you somehow save and help your parents. I also want to earn."  I said softly and handed the glass with juice.

"Don't worry I'll find you I know a lot we can find a job."  Smiling she said.

"Thank you,"  I answered and drank the juice and so did he.

"Wait, of course, I remember. Aren't you good at singing?"  Question it.

"Ha? Y-yes, but I haven't sung in a long time. Then I'll be shy about that."  I answer because since I got older I no longer sing I am shy and nervous.

"I agree, but can you still do it? My boss looking for a single female singer for his RestoBar. What do you think? I'll take you with me tomorrow morning right away?"

"But, Grace. I might not be able to."  I answered but she smiled.

"I'll take care of it, can you do that? You'll be famous here and you'll be discovered, right? You know you'll be a famous singer someday."  It says happily.

I just smiled because of what he said even though I was suddenly nervous because I might not be able to sing well.

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"Camilla, go ahead and try."  Grace pushed me upstage with bands.

"But I'm nervous there are people already,"  I told her because of the strength of my heartbeat.  There are a few people in the said bar and I'm nervous.

"All right you can do that, Boss is there at one of the tables watching you. I'm pretty sure he'll take you there."  She pointed with his snout at the boss he was saying.

I followed the look with what he was saying and saw a man sitting alone and seriously drinking alcohol.  I can't see much of its face because it's a bit bent.

"Camilla? What's up? It's easy, drink this first to get rid of your nerves."  It reaches for alcohol.

I nodded and was immediately stunned.  My knees were shaking as I stepped on the stage and the bands signaled me to approach them and they whispered a question of what I was going to sing.

"Wait, what's a good song?"  I answer because I don't know what I'm going to sing.

"What is your power song?"  Smiling asked the man holding the guitar.

For a moment I thought. After all, I really couldn’t think because I was nervous.

"Just through the fire Chaka Khan,"  I answered and they nodded and the first intro started playing.  So I was even more nervous, I sat in the high chair with the mic attached.

I look in your eyes and I can see

We've loved so dangerously

You're not trusting your heart to anyone

When I sang the first lyrics, I didn't know but I looked at the boss and our eyes met.

You tell me you're gonna play it smart

We're through before we start

But I believe that we've only just begun

Suddenly everything was quiet so I was even more nervous and I looked at Grace who was ok, I could feel the rattle in my voice so I calmed myself.

When it's this good,

there's no saying no

I want you so,

I'm ready to go

Through the fire

To the limit, to the wall

For a chance to be with you

I'd gladly risk it all

Through the fire

Through whatever, come what may

For a chance at loving you

I'd take it all the way

Right down to the wire

Even through the fire

I was relieved because I sang so well and I wondered why the others stood so quietly.  While the boss was staring at me and I was free to see him and I can say that he is good-looking.

I know you're afraid of what you feel

You still need time to heal

And I can help if you'll only let me try

You touch me and something in me knew

What I could have with you

Well I'm not ready to kiss that dream goodbye

I lost my nervousness and I was relieved when I sang, I was a little confused because the boss was looking at me.

When it's this sweet, there's no saying no

I need you so, I'm ready to go

The high notes are up and I need to be good.

Through the fire

To the limit, to the wall

For a chance to be with you

I'd gladly risk it all

Through the fire

Through whatever, come what may

For a chance at loving you

I'd take it all the way

Right down to the wire

Even through the fire

Through the test of time

I took a simple deep breath for the twitch.

Through the fire

To the limit, to the wall

For a chance to be with you

I'd gladly risk it all

Through the fire

Through whatever, come what may

For a chance at loving you

I'd take it all the way

Right down to the wire

Even through the fire

Through the fire, to the limit

(Through the fire) through the fire, through whatever

Through the fire, to the limit

Through the fire, through whatever

After my song they all at once shouted more and I did nothing and I sang again, I didn’t expect them to like it and I was enjoying it too.

After I sang two in a row, Grace's boss called me and said he would talk to me.  I was a little nervous to face that boss even though I felt like he liked my song.

"All right, come on in. He's kind. He's a bit of a cold person."

I even turned to Grace because she took me here to their boss's office to talk.

"I felt nervous to face him,"  I replied that my heartbeat suddenly quickened because I thought he was a cold person.

"That's not it. He is a single,"  Smiling Grace added.

"You have to know tha't I have a hus-- let me go inside."  I was cut off from saying goodbye and I didn't go on because she might ask more, Grace.

"Okay, good luck."  It's still a wink.

I knocked first before I tried to turn the door and it opened.  I immediately inhaled the fragrant smell inside and the cold from the aircon.  When I entered I carefully closed the door and I was not able to look directly at him.

"Sit down."

It speaks but doesn't look at me because it's busy holding the folder, maybe is reading it.  I sat down and simply rolled my eyes around and I was amazed because it was nice. After all, all the equipment was in order.  The purely fragile cabinet has its opening.

"Sign it and you may go."

I was stunned by what he said as he handed me the folder he was holding and handed me a ballpen.  I looked at the content this is a contract and some blanks need to be filled up.  I read here that it has been effective for six months.  I haven't seen anyone else so I started writing even though I can't believe it's that easy to accept me right away?

After I wrote and signed, I handed him the folder.  He just took it and put it in the drawer, I hesitated to get up if it was ok.

"You can go out so you can let Grace know what time your schedule is."  It says it seriously.

"Ok thank you,"  I answered nervously and got up to go out.

"What's your name again?"

I stopped turning the lock when I heard his question.

"Camilla, Camilla Ruiz,"  I answered and bowed to pay my respects, he nodded but he was staring at me so I felt like I was burning so I immediately opened the door.  I hurried out of the hallway and went down the stairs, crowded because what time was it too.

Turning across to me I saw Grace in uniform as a bartender.  I approached her to tell her what we had discussed.

"Camilla, how are you?"  It is a strong question while something is being done with holding bottles and glasses.

"It's ok."  My answer is strong because the band is too loud here.  "I've already signed the contract, I'm surprised."  I'm still attached.

"Really? It's okay, it's you. Sign immediately while others are still waiting for the calling."  Laughing it says.

I felt ashamed of what Grace had said.

"What are you going home for? Do you know you're going home? Because if you can't you can wait to take me for a while."

"I can go home, So you don't bother me yourself,"  I answer her immediately.

"Are you sure? You already have a key, just be careful because it's already ten o'clock at night."  She spoke and reminded me.

"Yes, all right thanks again,"  I answered and said goodbye to her because I was already drowsy.

I went out at the entrance and looked for a ride, I was waiting to see a black car coming from the parking area here.  It was so close to me that it stopped in front of me.

Surprisingly I looked out the closed window and it suddenly opened, I saw a serious face and none other than the boss I had talked to earlier.  I didn’t know what to say because he was just staring at me.

"Get in."  He said coldly

Astonished I looked at him because I couldn’t believe he was going to ride me.

"I-I'm okay, thank you--"

"Come here."  He commands authoritatively and looks into my eyes.

I didn't do anything because I felt like I had to follow him, I turned around because that's when he opened the front door.

"What place?"

It asked and I couldn’t speak right away.  But in the end, I still said the address and just fell silent again.

"Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience."  I nodded but I heard no answer from him when I got out of his car, his car started immediately so I just took a look at it.

I went inside the house and rested immediately so that tomorrow I might be busy.

Here in this job and new world, I will forget about a Kobe Herrera, just in case we meet again.  I’ll make sure I’m different from the Camilla you’ve met.

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