A Shot of Espresso

A Blessing in Disguise

So basically, what I felt for mom was way too different from what she feels for me, even dad. I loved them that much lest it was a kind of love that they had refused to reciprocate. Like waves on the sea that people had always taken for granted.

I am in deep thought when someone poke me at the back snapping me out of my trance.

"Ehem!"

I heard Gal clear her throat. I turn around only to find out her face is plastered with distraught same as the facial expression she portrayed way back when we first met.

Flashback:

My mind was totally disheveled and way too exhausted to absorb everything that had happened. I was driving my white Ford mustang Shelby which was a gift from my dad after finishing my college.

Shelby's all I had right now, no mom especially, no dad to look after me. I tightened the grip at the stirring wheel, I stomped hard on the gas pedal raising the reading on the odometer. I was too preoccupied when unfortunately came a girl rushing down the road. Pulsated with adrenaline, I hurriedly pull the clutch down, stepped on the break afterwards making the car come on a major halt followed by a screeching sound.

Unable to move for seconds my mouth agape, heartbeats fast, immensely baffled, "Should I ditch the woman? then what? Leave her miserable? No, no, no I can't endure it."

Though my feet felt like jello I decided to find the woman who was now nowhere to be found through my line of sight. I took a deep breath and went out my car only to find her laid on the pedestrian with arms crossed on her chest whilst her left foot almost touching the bumper while the other was slightly bent. She was stiffened and overcame with terror; her hands were terribly shaking. I immediately helped her up and gazed at her keenly, turned her carefully left to right, front to back if there were any injuries, thank God there were only minor bruises on her arms.

As she recovered from the almost sudden death encounter, she slapped me forcefully leaving me dumbfounded cupping my almost numb cheek, I told myself "Right, two slaps in a day, lucky me!" then made an apology.

"I'm so sorry, I never meant to-" she then cut me, raised her right eyebrow while her left hand leaned on her waist and the other was raised directly to my face, she hollered,

"Sorry?! That's all you can say? May I remind you missus, you almost got me killed!"

She was now fuming mad, stomping her feet, I drew myself closer and without a thing or two kneeled before her, "Look, I know I'm screwed and I admitted it but hear me out first, I'm really... really sorry please forgive me, let me get you to the hospital or ask me anything just to pay for the mess I've caused you," she heaved a sigh of defeat and pull me up.

"Fine," she uttered and guided her to the front seat as I made my way to the driver's seat then started the engine.

The drive to the hospital was entirely awkward until she started the conversation.

"I'm so sorry for my sudden outburst-" I cut her- "You don't have to. I was the one at fault after all." I smiled at her reassuringly.

"Better not bring me to the hospital, I mean I'm totally fine aside from the fact I got bruises and was late for my modelling interview," her tone was sarcastic with a pang of dismay.

Guilt crept up and with trembling lips I suggested "I uhm, I g-guess I'm gonna get you there I promised. L-let me have the a-address, p-please?"

My suggestion somehow lightened her mood so she did dictate to me the address. After almost thirty minutes we pulled up in front of a high-rise building painted with silver on its edges and a royal blue on its façade which revealed a great deal of sophistication. It had also a logo of the agency, "Beau Monde Modelling Agency".

Before she got up, I recited to her the famous line of Suzanne Collins from the Hunger Games movie, "May the odds be ever on your favor!"

She then winked at me and made a three-finger salute as what Katnis Everdeen did in the movie then bid me goodbye.

I was in deep slumber when I was awakened by series of loud knocks on the windshield. Standing right next to my face was a dejected woman suppressing a cry. I descended the windshield and gestured her to get in. That was when she let out a blaring cry, "I'm so sorry, I know it's all my fault." I pressed her hesitantly to my arms whilst patted her back.

"No, it's not, I would never be enough. I failed the interview and they weren't even impressed with my outfit!"

I don't understand what kind of model they want, look at her she's totally fine and a perfect fit for a runway how come she failed? She let go of me, her face was avalanche with tears.

"Agents change their mind all the time, looks change, trends change, people change, modeling industry is fickle. But just because you got rejected doesn't mean you're not worth it, maybe it's not the right time, remember the verse from Ecclesiastes, there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. Just try even if it meant falling apart so many times but never ever surrender."

She immediately pulled me for a tight hug and uttered "Gracias!" til' she loosened her grip which gave me the chance to get the tissue from the backseat and offered it to her.

"Bienvenidas! You look awful, your mascara's everywhere you're a rising model not some kind of a creepy clown. Wiped it," I replied.

She chuckled then looked in the mirror and started to mop the smudge on her face. After doing so, she looked at me perplexed put a finger on her temple and asked, "Why're you still here by the way? I thought you already left?"

Eased by the sudden change of topic, I smiled, "I've done you a favor, remember? And as a matter of fact I had nowhere else to go. I'm Alexa Gonzales by the way, twenty years old," I offered my hand then she glanced at me, brought her hand to mine and shook it.

"I'm Gal Pedraza, 19 years old, half Spanish."

"Pleasure to meet you then!" told each other in unison then we made a loud crackling laugh.