Legacy

As soon as Diana stepped into the bar, she wanted to go back. She had much better things to do at home but her best friend sent her an "SOS" message and her mother practically shoved her out the door. Her Mom said she needed to see the world outside of their home and the small grocery store that they have in front of it. Her mother insisted that she needed to meet more people outside of their small community where everyone knew everyone. A couple brushes past her by the entrance of the bar. They look at her, the girl shoots her a sharp glare while the guy smirks a surprised appreciation. She is suddenly self-conscious, feeling the need to cover her long silky legs that are exposed from the short denim skirt her friend Lea made her wear. Her so-called friend also picked a black halter top that hugged her slim figure and exposed her perfect made-for-a-goddess shoulders. If Lea didn't volunteer to take care of her mother for the night while she was out, she would've shoved the tiny outfit her friend made her wear up her... RING! RING! "Hey! Where are you? I'm here at the bar already." She asks the person on the other line. "I'll be there in 10 minutes, Bestie. Just go ahead and order anything that you want. I'll pay for everything when I get there," Marcy answers. Marcy, short for Marcelino, is her best friend. They have been schoolmates since preschool. They grew up right next door to each other, went to the same college, finished the same course— Business Management and started in the same company. They would've even shared the same success story as her best friend is now General Manager of a major branch of the hotel chain they worked for if Diana didn't quit over a year ago to take care of her mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She used her separation pay to start a little store in their home until it grew into the mini-grocery they have now. She's now earning enough to support her mother's treatment and medication plus their basic needs. In a way, that was her own success story. Her mother always said she was her lucky star and she also said Diana got her talent for business from her father— a father she never knew and her mother refused to talk about. She doesn't even know his name since she's using her mother's last name— Mendoza. "Are you sure? If you're not here in 10 minutes, I'm out of here!" She says. "Hey! Can't you just enjoy your life even for one night? I'll be there." "You know that I wouldn't even be here if not for your melodramatic pleas and tearful begging for me to keep you company because your boyfriend cheated and left you again." "Bestie, please. I'm sorry I'm late but please stay. I need you." Marcy pleads. "Whatever. Hurry up! 10 minutes." "Yes! See you, Bes." They end the call and Diana looks around the place. She feels like she's on an alien planet. She also feels more exposed than she intended to be with her little outfit and black high heels. Thank goodness, Lea didn't notice her slip a thin bolero jacket in her bag earlier. She takes it out and puts it on then makes her way to a table near the stage where an acoustic duo is playing. She just sits there for some time watching and listening to the song they're playing, one of her favorites— Adventure Of A Lifetime by Coldplay. She finds herself singing along to the words she knew by heart.   I feel my heart beating I feel my heart beneath my skin I feel my heart beating Oh, you make me feel Like I'm alive again Alive again Oh, you make me feel Like I'm alive again   Maybe this night won't be as bad as she thought. "Good evening, Miss. Ready to order?" A baritone voice asks her, it's a smooth voice with a smile to it. She looks up to its owner and is met by a pair of deep-set brown eyes. He is smiling and it's probably the most handsome smile she's ever seen with his pink lips curved up to show a perfect set of teeth and a deep dimple on his left cheek. "The night just got better," she thinks. He watches as the pretty girl tucks her hair behind her ear and smiles at him timidly. If he hadn't seen the shy kindness in her brown doe eyes and the awkwardness in the smile on her full red lips, he would have thought of her in the same way as all the other girls who threw themselves at him by the way she's dressed. "Uhm... I'll have a soda please and..." She looks down at the menu. "Nachos." "Soda? You mean rum and coke?" He asks. "No. Just Coke. Thank you." She says. "Doesn't drink." He thinks. "What's a pretty girl like you doing alone in a place like this on a Friday night?"  He wonders to himself then he smiles at her and speaks out. "Okay, Miss. I'll be right back with your order." "Thank you..." She looks at his upper left chest where the other wait staffs’  name plates are placed. She frowns. He doesn't have a name plate and he's not in his uniform either. "Jacob." He says. "You were looking for my name?" He asks. "Yeah. The others have it. Do you really work here? Is my friend pulling a prank on me? Are you the accomplice?" She squints her eyes at him.  "She's smart and observant too. Interesting." He thinks then out loud he says, "I do really work here and I haven't met any of your friends. I'd love to though. They're very lucky to have such a pretty and smart friend like you." She bows her head, blushing profusely as she again tucks her hair behind her ear, partly embarrassed by her crazy speculation and partly melting under his warm gaze. "Thank you, Jacob." She whispers. He's not even aware of it but he smiles to himself as he watches her chew on her lip nervously and struggle not to look at him again. "I'll be back with your order..." He repeats, letting the sentence hang for her to complete it. "Diana." She tells him as she shyly turns to him again. His smile widens. "Diana. It's a pleasure to be at your service tonight."