Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Ava Devlin's pov;

"Why do you look sad, yuyang? What happened?" I asked the little girl who sat alone in the playground.

"There's a dance performance for a music event."

"Are you afraid of performing in front of everyone?"

She shook her head and said, "I hope my dad watches me dancing on the stage."

Why does her dad do this every time to her? I wonder what job he is working at even once he wasn't able to see his daughter's dance? Is it tough to take a leave for a day? Yugang doesn't have a mother, didn't he know that he has to take care of her more? But he doesn't come to pick her up from the school. He doesn't attend PTA. He doesn't bring her to school. He doesn't come to any programmes. Is he some kind of celebrity to be hidden from everyone?

"I promise that your dad will be there when you dance on the stage. You believe me, right?"

"Yes, Ms Devlin."

"Then I'll promise that your dad will be here watching you dancing on the stage. Don't worry, I'll take care of it for you."

She gave a smile and said, "Thank you, Ms Devlin."

I patted her head and said, "Go and play with your friends. Can you see them? They're waiting for you to play with them."

She nodded and left to be with her friends.

Whatever he is. I'm going to make him come to see his daughter dance this time. But what is he doing for his living? I heard that he's working in a big company. What name is it? Let's find out!

While I was leaving to my house, I saw Isabella talking to some big tall guy. Who is she talking with? I walked closer and found that it was yuyang's father. How does Isabella know Yang's father? Do they know each other or are they relatives? Let's ask Isabella tomorrow and I leave for my place.

In school,

I asked Isabella to meet me on the terrace of the school building and waited for her on the terrace.

"Ms Devlin?"

"I called you to ask something. How do you know yuyang's father?"

She gave a confused look.

"Yuyang? Who's yuyang Ms Devlin?"

She doesn't know who Yuyang is, so I think they aren't related to each other. Then why did she talk to him?

"Do you know Mr Johnson then?"

She gave a nervous look and said, "Mr Johnson... Yeah, I know him."

"How do you know Mr Johnson?"

"He's my new tutor, Ms Devlin."

I thought he was working in a company. When did he start tutoring high school students?

"Do you have his number? I want to contact him for a purpose."

"Yes, I have his number. Shall I share his contact number through a message, Ms Devlin?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Ms Devlin."

"You may go to your class now, Ms Garcia."

"Thank you, then I'll take my absence, Ms Devlin."

After she left, I saved Mr Johnson's number on my phone and made a call to him. He answered.

"Who is this?"

"I'm Yuyang's teacher, Mr Johnson."

"Did yuyang give me my number?"

"No, I got it from one of your students that you're tutoring, Mr Johnson."

"What did you call me for?"

"I want to meet you. When will you be free, Mr Johnson?"

"Why do you want to meet me?"

Ah! So rude but I'm not giving up!

"I have to talk about Yuyang's dance performance at the music event. Can we meet when you're free, Mr Johnson?"

"I'm free on weekends."

"Okay, then we'll meet on Saturday, Mr Johnson."

I ended the call with him.

He sounded rude but still agreed to meet. Good.

Weekend came,

I asked him to come to a cafe nearby the school at 2 p.m. I arrived at the cafe at 1.45 p.m. and was surprised to see Isabella in an apron.

She came running to me and said, "Welcome, Ms Devlin, come inside."

"Do you work here?"

She let out a nervous chuckle and said, "Yeah, only on weekends, Ms Devlin."

I smiled at her while saying, "Get me one cappuccino. That's enough for me."

"Thank you for ordering. Your order will be served in minutes, Ms Devlin" and ran to the counter.

The door opened. Mr Johnson is here. I looked at the time. Wow! He's punctual.

I stood from my place and greeted him. He greeted me back and took the stool opposite me.

"I hope you already know the reason why I asked you to come here, Mr Johnson."

He gave a nod.

"Do you know how yuyang waits behind the stage before performing for your arrival at every event? If you didn't show up once or twice it is different but you never showed up for any of her performances. She gets upset after each performance. It's not a good view, Mr Johnson. Some days before, she wasn't in her class. I searched and found her in the playground alone. When I asked her, she said about you. She said that you promised her that you'll be there for the next performance. Do you know what she said to me after that? She said that she knew that you were lying but still she hoped that you'll be there like every time she did. Nobody wants a second-grade kid to think like that. I don't know how hard your job is but it's important to see your daughter's performance at least once. Every time, your absence makes her worried a lot. I don't know how you'll take this but you have to be there for her this time without fail, Mr Johnson."

Some guy came and placed the cappuccino on the table and left.

"I hope you understand what I said, Mr Johnson."

He gave a nod and said, "I'll be there this time, Ms Devlin."

"Thank you for understanding, Mr Johnson. And, if yuyang has a mother, I wouldn't compel you like this. Since she has only you, expecting your arrival isn't a crime, right?"

He gave a nod and said, "I can understand, Ms Devlin."

"Thank you for coming, Mr Johnson. Nice to meet you."

"I'm glad too, Ms Devlin."

"Ms Garcia?" I heard Mr Johnson calling my students names.

I turned to find Isabella standing in front of the counter. She walked to us.

Mr Johnson asked her, "What are you doing here, Ms Garcia?"

I think Mr Johnson also doesn't know that she's working here like me.

"I work here on weekends, Mr Johnson."

"Oh. Fine. How much do you get here?"

I interrupted them and said, "I'll get going, Mr Johnson and Ms Garcia."

They both gave a nod together before I left the cafe.

Isabella's pov;

While working in the cafe, I was thinking about Ms Devlin. Why did Ms Devlin ask for Big Brother's number suddenly? And who is yuyang? I clearly remembered that She asked me 'do you know yang's father?' what does she mean by that? And she asked about Big brother. YuYang's father? Big brother? So yuyang must be Big brother's daughter? And how did Ms Devlin know about Big brother's daughter? Argh! So confusing.

A customer arrived.

When I went to welcome them, it was Ms Devlin.

"Welcome, Ms Devlin, come inside."

"Do you work here?"

I let out a nervous chuckle and said, "Yeah, only on weekends, Ms Devlin."

"Get me one cappuccino. That's enough for me."

"Thank you for ordering. Your order will be served in minutes, Ms Devlin" and ran to the counter.

I said the order to Charlie to prepare a cappuccino for a customer and stood behind the counter. After getting the cappuccino, I walked out of the counter to deliver it to Ms Devlin. But I was shocked to see Big brother sitting with Ms Devlin.

I walked into the counter back and pleaded with Charlie to serve the cappuccino to table three.

I hid behind the counter and waited for them to leave the cafe. Good god. There weren't any customers coming while they were in the cafe. When I looked at them, they talked for a long time. What are they speaking about?

Charlie, "Why are you staring at them? Do you know one of them?"

"I know two of them. But in different atmospheres." And continued looking at them.

"Why can't I understand half of the things you're saying?"

"Then you gotta think like me."

"I don't want to be a crazy person."

"Are you calling me crazy?" I let out a sigh and said, "Anyways, I'm not in the mood to talk with you." And continued looking at Big brother and Ms Devlin.

After some time, they looked like they were leaving so I came out of the counter. Suddenly, While Ms Devlin was leaving, Big brother called out my name. Sh*t!

"Ms Garcia?"

I walked to them and stood beside them.

Mr Johnson asked me, "What are you doing here, Ms Garcia?"

I shouldn't call him Big brother.

"I work here on weekends, Mr Johnson."

"Oh. Fine. How much do you get here?"

Ms Devlin interrupted us and said, "I'll get going, Mr Johnson and Ms Garcia." And left.

I let out a sigh of relief.

"I work here only on weekends so I work for eight days per month and the pay is one hundred dollars per month, Big brother."

"Wait, Why did you call me 'Mr Johnson' in front of Ms Devlin?"

"She's my class teacher. What if I get caught? Okay, how do you know about her by the way?"

"She's the teacher of yuyang."

"Yuyang?" That name again.

"My daughter. She takes classes for my daughter too."

"Big brother! What more secrets are you hiding from me?"

"It's not like I hid it on purpose. You didn't ask me."

"Which she's studying and Which grade she is in?"

"Your school. Second grade."

"Mine? Why didn't I know about this? You know everything about me but I don't know anything about you, Big Brother. How did you know that?"

"Because I did a background check on you."

"Background check? For what?"

"It was before signing the contract. I wanted to make sure that you won't run away with all the money so..."

"What did you just say, Big brother?"

"I mentioned it was before signing the contract. I didn't mean it."

"I'm so mad, Big brother."

The door opened and customers came.

I avoided his eyes and said, "I have to work."

He left the cafe.

While I was waiting at the counter to get the doughnuts and pretzels, Charlie asked me, "Is it your brother?"

"Who?"

"The guy who you called 'Big brother'."

"No. He's my tutor, that's why I call him Big brother."

"Oh. Okay."

I took the order and served it to the customers.

"Charlie, do you have a girlfriend?"

"Do I look like I don't have a girlfriend?"

"So you do. What's her name? What is she doing?"

"Why do you suddenly want to know about my girlfriend?"

"I just wanted to know. Knowing each other's life can make two people friendlier."

"I don't think that's your intention. What is it?"

"You got me. I thought I could introduce my friend to you but it all went in vain since someone has a girlfriend already."

He laughed and said, "Do you like me that much to the point you wanted to introduce your friend to me."

"Let's end this conversation since there's no point."

I took the Americano from him to serve the customers.

After finishing my shift, I waited for Charlotte to arrive.

"Aren't you leaving?" Charlie asked me while giving me warm milk.

"I'm waiting for Charlotte."

"Oh, why don't you like Americano or cappuccino or latte?"

"It doesn't suit my taste."

"Do you mean that I'm bad?"

I laughed and said, "It's not just your menu, I don't drink anything apart from milk. I grew up like that."

"You can try now, who knows maybe you'll like it this time."

"Nah! I don't even like the smell so I'm not putting my life at stake. I'm sorry if it hurt you."

He shook his head and said, "It's fine. Actually, you can leave. It seems like Charlotte will be late today. And customers aren't that much either."

"What if customers start pouring in after I leave? It's fine to stay since my mom will come at nine or ten."

"What about your father?"

I let out a sigh and said, "Father. I forgot that I had one."

"Why do you sound like you don't care? Don't you like your father?"

While I was about to say it, Charlotte came and apologised for being late and started working.

I left the cafe after Charlotte started working.

While I was on the way, it's been years since I thought about my father. I really forgot that I had one. Thinking about that, I don't have any memories of my father inside my head. Mom said he left us for another woman. Since then, he has never come to us. Growing up without a father wasn't a big thing for me, because you can't miss what you didn't have. On other hand, my mom suffered a lot raising me. She did many many jobs for our living and my school. I always wanted to attain the legal age to work from my childhood to take care of my mother and myself.