My Last And My Only

Chapter 1

"I'm not coming home for dinner, Dad. And that's final!" said Khae with her voice louder than usual. She frowned. She is talking to her dad over the phone. Her dad is convincing her to go home early tonight just so they can have dinner together—with his girlfriend. She rolled her eyes. The thought of her dad having a girlfriend made her more furious. She pressed the end call button.

"Khae, I want you to meet her. Please co—" Marcus, Khae's dad stopped. He realized his only daughter just hung up on him. With disbelief and frustration, he shook his head.

"What am I going to do with you, Mikhaela?" he thought. Marcus massaged his nape hoping to ease the discomfort he's feeling. He feels stressed out.

"There's no one and nothing can ever persuade me to meet that woman!" Khae is still preoccupied with the thought of her dad and his girlfriend. She's really pissed off. "How can he have a girlfriend? He can't even spare some time for me. He never had time for me, actually. And doesn't he love Mom anymore? The thought of her mom made her sad. It's been five years since she died. I miss you, Mom.

Lindtsey could see Khae at her usual spot in one of the corners of the café. She was sitting alone. She wanted to join her but she was busy. Two of their employees were absent and she had to help. She could see from the counter how Khae's serious face turned angry... then sad. "What's wrong with her?" Lindtsey was worried. She made sure first the crew could manage without her and then went to Khae.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Lindtsey asked. She noticed Khae was teary-eyed.

Khae was startled when she heard Lindtsey's voice. She looked at her.

"Hi, there. Yeah, I'm fine." Khae forced a smile.

"Your eyes say otherwise, though." says Lindtsey, who's now sitting beside her.

"I saw you talking to somebody earlier, was it Tito Marcus? Did you have a fight again?" Lindtsey asked. She knows everything about her. Lindstey has been her friend since high school.

"He wants me to meet his girlfriend tonight." Khae made a face.

"What? Tito Marcus has a girlfriend?!" Lindtsey exclaimed. "Now I know why you looked pissed earlier."

"I don't wanna meet her. I don't want her or anyone else for my dad, Lindts. Nobody can ever replace my mom." Khae's voice cracked. Her tears started to run down her cheeks.

"Oh, Khae... Don't cry." Lindtsey hugged her while caressing her back. They stayed in that position until Khae stopped crying.

"Thanks, Lindts." Khae took a deep breath. Lindtsey handed her a tissue. "I'm sorry for making a scene." Khae noticed some customers were staring at them earlier. She felt embarrassed.

"It's fine. You feel better now?" Lindtsey smiled at her.

"Yeah, thanks again." Khae smiled back at her friend feeling grateful.

"Don't mention it. Got you always." Wait, lemme get us some drinks." Lindtsey stood up and headed to the counter.

Without her knowing, someone had been watching Khae from afar. The stranger was in a bookstore just across the street.

The stranger had been looking at the girl wearing denim jacket since she entered that café. The stranger could only see the side view of her face but could already tell the girl was pretty.

"She's pretty." The stranger thought. I wonder if she's waiting for someone. A friend, maybe? Or perhaps she's waiting for her boyfriend..." The stranger made a face.

" I wonder who is she talking to now?" The stranger saw Khae talking to somebody over the phone. "Hmm, she seems to be in a bad mood." She seems upset with something. What could it be? She's pretty even without smiling. I wonder how prettier she is when she smiles." Sigh.

Twenty minutes earlier...

Khae decided to spend her time at Mezzo. She was already at the vicinity when she informed Lindtsey that she was coming over.

"Hey, Lindts. Are you at the café? I'm coming over—" Khae called Lindtsey. She is just few meters away from Mezzo now.

"Khae, yeah, sorry but—" Lindtsey wants to tell Khae that she's busy and might not sit with her like the usual. "I'm kind of busy right now!"

"It's okay, do your thing. I won't bother you. Promise." Khae made an easy comb job with her hand to keep the hair from falling onto her face. She looks so cool when she does that. She's so pretty and exudes so much swag and charisma, according to her friends. While walking, she noticed a guy sitting at a kiosk. He was looking at her intently. She raised her eyebrow. But the guy just smiled, unapologetically. She rolled her eyes. Khae hates it when boys show admiration towards her.
And she hates it even more when girls do it. She sighed in exasperation when she saw two girls looking at her direction.
Oh, no! Not again!

"Hey, look at her... she's pretty! The girl in red was giggling while looking at Khae.

"Oh my, yeah! How can she be so pretty and handsome at the same time?!" The other one exclaimed.

Khae heard all that but she just  ignored them. She kept walking and in no time, she reached Mezzo.