Something Like Gold

Chapter 12

The city she chose was Makalani, a small but bustling town known for its vibrant markets and hardworking people. It was a place where no one would recognize her as the wealthy heiress from the capital. Here, Ria could blend in and live a simple life, just like anyone else.

When Ria arrived in Makalani, she found a small one-room apartment to rent. It was nothing like the mansion she had grown up in, but it was enough for her. The apartment had only a bed, a table, and a window that looked out onto the busy streets below. There were no luxuries, no servants to cater to her every need. But for the first time in her life, Ria felt free.

Now that she was settled, Ria knew she needed to find a job. She couldn’t live off her family’s wealth if she truly wanted to experience life as an ordinary person. After walking around the streets of Makalani for a few days, she came across a small restaurant called Mama Kay’s Kitchen.

The diner had a cozy, inviting atmosphere with the smell of home-cooked meals filling the air. It was always busy with people coming and going, and something about the simplicity of the place drew Ria in. With her heart racing, Ria walked inside and asked Mama Kay, the owner, if she had any job openings.

Mama Kay was a kind woman in her mid-50s with a round face and a warm smile. She looked Ria over, noticing her neat but modest clothes, and asked a few questions.

Satisfied with Ria’s answers, Mama Kay decided to give her a chance. “We can use another waitress around here,” Mama Kay said, “but it’s tough work. You’ll be on your feet all day serving tables, cleaning up, and dealing with all kinds of customers. Do you think you can handle it?”

Ria smiled, determined to prove herself. “Yes, I can handle it. I’ll do my best.”

And so Ria began her new life as a waitress at Mama Kay’s Kitchen. The work was much harder than she had ever imagined. She spent long hours on her feet, carrying trays of food, cleaning tables, and taking orders. Her back ached and her hands became rough from the constant cleaning.

But despite the exhaustion, Ria found a sense of purpose in this simple life. For the first time, she was living a life that wasn’t handed to her on a silver platter.

The customers at Mama Kay’s Kitchen were regular people—workers, families, and students who came in for affordable meals. They treated Ria just like any other waitress, and that’s exactly what she wanted. She was no longer the rich heiress from a powerful family. She was just Ria, the new waitress at the diner.

As Ria wiped down a table one evening, she looked out at the busy streets of Makalani and smiled to herself. She had left behind the world of wealth and privilege, but in doing so, she had found something more valuable: freedom.

She wondered what the future held. Would she find the love she had been searching for? Or would she eventually return to her old life, marrying the man her father wanted?

For now, she was content to wait and see. This was her time to find out who she truly was.

And her journey had only just begun.

As Ria continued working at Mam’s Kitchen, her life in Makalani began to settle into a routine. The work was still exhausting, but the sense of independence she felt made it worthwhile. However, everything changed one evening when Tony, the kind construction worker she had gotten to know over the past few weeks, asked her out on a date.

It had been a long day at the diner, and Ria was busy cleaning up when Tony, with his usual warm smile, approached her.

“Hey Ria,” he said casually, leaning against the counter. “I was wondering—would you like to have dinner with me sometime? I know a quiet spot by the river.”

Ria’s heart raised. She had grown fond of Tony’s company over the past few weeks. He seemed genuine, down-to-earth, and different from the men she had known back in her old life. There was no pretense, no showy displays of wealth—just simple, honest conversations. And more importantly, she thought, he didn’t know anything about her background. To Tony, she was just Ria the waitress.

Smiling, she agreed. “I’d love that.”