At the orphanage, children came and went, adopted by families looking for a kind, smiling, or at least good-looking child. Most of them soon found homes, but one little girl was always left behind. That little girl was Arika.
Couples who were interested in her, with a slight spark of hope in their eyes, quickly changed their minds when they saw her file. At first, it seemed that everything was going well, but then, as they read the cold and derogatory words, their faces would change.
—It has no personality.
—It is like an empty shell.
—It shows no emotions.
But it wasn't that Arika had no emotions... she simply didn't know them. She had learned to live in the shadows, to expect nothing from anyone, to make her feelings disappear, to close herself off like a wilted flower to protect herself.
At school, the situation did not improve. Her classmates ignored her, and when they noticed her, it was only to tease her. Cruel words and laughter echoed in her ears, but Arika remained silent, as if the words could not touch her. Sometimes they would even tease her, pushing her or leaving her out of the games.
Until Reize came along.
That day, when a group of children were teasing her, a firm and determined voice interrupted them. The voice sounded like a thunderbolt in the middle of the din, clear and direct.
—Leave her alone —Reize said, folding his arms, with a look that exuded confidence —. Just because she doesn't talk or express herself doesn't mean she doesn't have feelings. Just because she's not like you doesn't give you the right to treat her that way. Or do you think you're better off picking on someone who can't defend herself?
Silence fell over the group like a relentless slab, dense and cutting, leaving a void impossible to ignore. No one dared to respond. One by one, the children drifted away, the taunts and jeers vanished into thin air. That was the beginning of it all. From that day on, Arika was no longer alone.
With Reize, she experienced many emotions for the first time. Joy, sadness, anger. And she discovered what it was like to laugh until her stomach hurt, to cry silently at night and to feel understood, as if someone could finally see beyond her shell.
Years passed. As teenagers, Arika and Reize spent hours in a field near the school, where the sound of the grass swaying in the wind and the open sky offered them a little refuge.
One afternoon, under the shade of a tree, Arika broke the silence between them.
—I will become strong... I will be as brave as you, and I will protect you too —he said with a determination he had never shown before.
Reize smiled, without a hint of doubt on her face.
—I'll be looking forward to that..
From that moment on, Arika dedicated herself to becoming stronger. Not only physically, but mentally, because she understood that to defend herself in a world that seemed implacable, she had to be strong in all aspects. Reize was always there, watching quietly, not forcing her, giving her room to grow.
But her time at the orphanage was over.
One day, the caretakers gathered the elders together, with a grave tone in their voices, as if giving them the news of an expected goodbye.
—We can no longer care for them— they said regretfully—. There are too many children and not enough resources. Besides, they are old enough to fend for themselves.
There were no protests. No one rebelled. So, with a feigned smile, they agreed to leave. They were dismissed with words of encouragement, and, in their hands, they were handed some money, as if that could replace years of neglect.
The two found a place to stay. Looking for work was difficult. Life was not easy, but, little by little, they managed to stabilize. However, Reize's luck changed one day. The company where she worked closed down overnight, without warning, leaving all the employees unemployed.
Just at that moment, in the cafeteria where Arika worked, a colleague resigned from the company.
—You can take his place — he suggested without hesitation.
Reize agreed. From then on, they worked together. They shared not only the workspace, but also the burden of memories, experiences, and the complicity that only true bonds can offer.
Arika didn't know how much time had passed since that day Reize appeared in her life. She had been trapped in her thoughts until, looking up, she saw the coffee shop in front of her.
She entered through the back door, set her things down, cleaned up and organized the supplies, as she did every day. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the warmth of the place welcomed her with open arms.
When everything was ready, she opened the front door. The first customers arrived soon after. Since it was early in the morning, most of them just ordered coffee to go and left immediately. So it was not difficult for her to serve them all alone.
At half past nine, Reize appeared.
The soft tinkling of the bell over the cafeteria door marked her arrival. She was a brown-haired girl, pulled partially back with a simple hook, letting a few loose strands fall to the sides of her face. Her eyes, a warm brown color, lit up at the sight of Arika. She was wearing casual clothes: a light jacket over a light blouse and white sneakers, comfortable to move in.
She gasped.
—Sorry... traffic was impossible.
—Was it that bad?
She leaned against the counter, still catching his breath.
—You have no idea... First, the bus wouldn't go a meter. I got off thinking I'd find another one, but nothing, everything was at a standstill.
—And then?
—I kept walking, but it was the same story everywhere. In the end, I took a shortcut and ran here. —she dropped into a chair and sighed—. What a way to start the day!
She pulled out his phone and showed some pictures of the road.
Too many incidents in one morning.
Arika looked away from the screen.
—I'm going to get wáter —she said with a laugh—. Get some rest.
Reize asintió, aún recuperándose.
Reize nodded, still recovering.
A few minutes later, Arika returned with a glass of water and held it out to him. Reize took it with a grateful smile and drank slowly. Once she had regained her breath and the color in her face, she calmly stood up.
—I'm going to change—she said, before walking away towards the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Arika stayed behind the counter, waiting for the next customers, as the cafeteria was practically empty.
The day went on.
Shortly thereafter, a lady and her young daughter entered the cafeteria.
The woman, who looked no older than forty, had a serene and elegant beauty. Her tanned skin looked smooth and cared for, standing out naturally in the dim light of the room. Her brown hair, with warm highlights, was tied back in a low, neat bun, held with a discreet golden clip that let loose a few strands around her face, softening her features. Her eyes, an intense and expressive green, conveyed warmth and a comforting tranquility. She wore an elegant and well combined outfit: an ivory blouse of light fabric, with delicate embroidery on the sleeves, accompanied by a wine-toned pencil skirt that accentuated her refined demeanor. She completed her attire with nude-toned low-heeled pumps and a dark leather handbag that rested discreetly at her side. Her presence gave off a perfect balance between sobriety and distinction.
At his side, the little girl, about nine years old, held her hand enthusiastically.
Her fair skin stood out delicately under the soft light of the room, while her long blonde hair, wavy and carefully combed, fell in soft curls defined to the middle of her back, reflecting golden sparkles with every movement. Her eyes, a deep, warm shade of brown, exuded an infectious joy that lit up her face. She wore a pastel pink dress with a wide skirt that brushed her knees, adorned with small embroideries of white flowers that ran along the hem and subtly up the bodice. A satin ribbon, in the same shade of pink, cinched around her waist, forming an elegant bow at the back. Her shoes, white patent leather ballerinas with a small fabric bow at the toe, shone neat and shiny, as if just brand new, completing her delicate and festive look.
Arika approached them with a friendly smile and led them to a table near the window. The lady elegantly settled into the chair, crossing her legs naturally, while the little girl -without letting go of her mother's hand, sat across from her, moving with a mixture of excitement and curiosity. As soon as they were settled, they both ordered a cake, and the little girl could not hide her enthusiasm. When the lady, in a soft and proud tone, mentioned that it was her daughter's birthday, Arika smiled warmly.
—It's her birthday —the woman explained, fondling the girl's hand.
—Oh, what a special occasion! —Arika exclaimed with sincere enthusiasm, leaning a little closer to the little girl—. We have several delicious cakes, but if you like strawberry, just today we have a very nice and fluffy one. It has soft cream and fresh strawberries on top. Would you like that one?
The girl's eyes lit up like two sparks and, without a word, she turned her gaze to her mother, seeking her approval with a slight nod of her head. The lady, with an expression full of tenderness, nodded with a smile.
—Do you want that one, dear?
The little girl nodded enthusiastically, her wavy blonde hair swaying gently with the movement.
The girl nodded enthusiastically, her wavy blonde hair swaying gently with the movement
—Perfect! — Arika replied with a broad smile—. Then I'll go get the prettiest cake for the birthday girl. Besides, I can write your name on it. What's your name?
Shyly, the girl murmured her name, and her mother repeated it softly to make sure Arika got it right: Althea.
With nimble steps, Arika went to the display case, picked out the cake and, with great care, wrote her name in chocolate: Althea. However, as she watched the letters form under her hand, something in her chest tightened. That name... it felt eerily familiar. He frowned slightly, trying to locate in his memory where he knew it from, but the answer did not come. She shook her head to shake the feeling away, placed a small candle in the center of the cake and returned to the table with a smile.
—Happy birthday, Althea!
She put the cake down in front of the girl and stood up next to them to sing Happy Birthday.
Despite the joy of the moment, that strange feeling did not disappear completely from Arika's chest.
After that the lady asked Arika to bring her some tea and for her daughter some ice cream. Arika nodded and went back to the counter to prepare the order.
Meanwhile, in the warehouse, Reize finished checking the products and came out stretching lazily.
—What's wrong? —he asked as he watched Arika put away some birthday candles.
—It's a girl's birthday —she replied with a smile, discreetly pointing to Althea, who was tasting her cake with obvious delight.
Reize smiled at the scene.
—It would be nice to give her strawberry ice cream too —she said, watching Arika pull out a large ice cream cup.
Arika shook her head softly.
—We don't have strawberry. Just chocolate and vanilla.
Reize frowned thoughtfully.
—Wait… I think I left a jar at the grocery store a few days ago.
Without another word, she turned and went back to the storeroom. Meanwhile, Arika put the ice cream cup aside and began to prepare the tea. As she finished it, she noticed that a new customer had arrived, taking one of the tables near the entrance. She approached politely and took his order.
—Good morning, what can I get you.
—A coffee and an apple pie —asked the young man in a calm and polite voice.
Arika returned to the counter and efficiently prepared the order. When Reize returned with the strawberry ice cream in hand, he paused for a moment next to Arika, scanning the shop with his eyes until his eyes fell on the man in the suit.
—Arika… the young man at the table, did he ask you that? —she asked with a curious tone, handing the ice cream jar to Arika.
—Yes —Arika nodded, not giving it much thought, and placing the ice cream from the canister into the glass.
Reize narrowed her eyes, as if assessing him from a distance.
—Mmm… he looks tall. From the suit, I'd say he's an office worker. Although from here I can only see him from the back, his posture makes me think he looks good. What does he look like? — Reize asked curiously, squinting at the table.
Arika blinked, remembering only the brief glimpse she had given him while attending.
—He's… quite attractive —she admitted, with a barely concealed smile.