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Jazmine Garcia:

Brewing coffee and serving it to customers, is a part of my life so far along with my studies. But the instant I received my degree after four years of hard work, I sat up to apply for a good position as an intern at a leading construction company in New York.

A full-time job will change my lifestyle and even provide tranquility to me, which I have been yearning for since I started doing multiple part-time. I had no idea how and when I grew my interest in Architecture, but whenever I invest my time in it, I feel contented. Maybe stalking Adrian for all those years had made me walk in his footsteps. By and by, I stopped stalking or thinking about him long ago. My brain pictured a good picture of the social difference between us. If Adrian is the sky then I am the earth. If he has fame, then I have just a name called Jazmine. He is the CEO of Martinez Constructions and I am just a common girl.

However, I applied to Martinez Constructions under the pressure of Aliyah. My best friend forever. We didn't even learn Alphabetics but even a bachelor's in Architecture together. Eventually, her job was fixed in Martinez Constructions, as it's her company.

I scrolled my mobile screen again and again until I was startled by my boss, Claver. He is the owner of the Morning Cafe, the place I work. "Jazmine!" He yelled at me with irritation, as I had been getting on his nerves for the past few days because of my negligence. I gaped at him. "Don't force me to drop your mobile in a coffee blender." For the first time, I watched Claver displaying his anger toward me. Which is unusual, in my case. I tried my best to be a perfect and obedient waitress. I grinned at him. "You can't keep charming me with your extremely sweet, but venomous grin." I puffed my lips out, outcasting my naivety to him. "Stop with those expressions and serve hot chocolate with french toast on table number three!"

"Is Aliyah here?" I pried as my ears twitched with those words. He nodded. Hot chocolate with French toast is her all-time favorite brunch to have in the cafe, where I work part-time. However my shift was going to end, so I took out my apron and grabbed my sling bag after I brewed her coffee. Next, I plated her French toast with extra toppings.

Watching more than four blueberries, three raspberries, and three slices of strawberry, my boss's eyes widened and then he threatened me, "I am going to cut the price of extra berries from your salary, Jazmine."

"Boss! She is my best friend."

"And this is my cafe." He keeps me reminded whenever Aliyah visits me.

"Fine, you can deplete from my salary," I affirmed to him. But I am sure, he will not do that. He is a cute, little man in his mid-fifties. He is divorced with two sons.

I walked to table number three of the Cafe. Aliyah didn't look like usual Ali. She gave me a strange yet fearful smile. When I settled opposite her, she was blushing, biting her lips, and drumming her fingertips on the table. I studied her facial expressions, she was forcing a smile which seemed to be inconvenient.

"So, did you get an internship?"

"Nope," on reminded by her, I went through my emails to find no new messages which depressed my mood. To be on the safe side, I even checked in Spam. She took a piece of French toast and continued her way with a strange smile. I raised my brow, still holding my mobile in my hands, and asked her, "What's wrong with you?"

She gave me the once-over, finding that my body was devoid of the cafe apron, She pried, "Your shift ended here."

"Yes, I had a shift from morning six to twelve, today."

She rubbed her hands, "Great, let's go to some isolated area and speak in peace."

As I looked at Aliyah, It seemed she had something to confess. Our friendship is based on openness and honesty, so I could sense that she was hiding something related to her crush, Duke. I couldn't help but ask her in a hushed tone, "Did you sleep with Duke?" However, to my surprise, my voice came out louder than intended.

She gaped at me and then at the people sitting around us at the table. Who paid no attention to us, luckily. "Holy Shit, Jaz! Why don't you understand when I say: whisper the secrets?" She ended up with command in a hiss. "And no, I didn't, he still seems to be like Aliyah Martinez doesn't exist in his surroundings."

"Oh!" I exclaimed and settled back in my seat.

As a supportive friend, I attempted to reconcile and assist Aliyah with her situation involving Duke. However, Duke, who is quite studious, seemed to have more of an interest in books rather than pursuing a romantic relationship with my dear friend. Despite my efforts to convey that she is the offspring of a billionaire, he merely viewed her as an unwelcome intruder in his otherwise peaceful coffee cup.

"So, what's the matter?"

"I prefer to discuss this in some private place."

"You mean in Gent's lavatory," I advised. She crinkled her nose.

"I assume, we are more than comfortable here. But!" she raised her index and warned me, "You will not yell, shout, or scold me."

I nodded.

"So..." she started, leaning back against the chair for one second, then in the next second, she settled her arms above the table.

"So?"

"Uff! Jaz, why did my mom, give me this task?"

"Which task, Ali?"

"Mom wants me to put forward a proposal."

"What proposal, Ali?"

"Wedding proposal for Adrian's bride!"

I couldn't take my eyes off her for almost half a minute. Suddenly, my world came to a deadlock. Was she talking about Adrian Martinez who has been the subject of my dreams, thoughts, and fantasies since I was ten years old?

"Uff!" I tilt my head left and right. We are not on Mars. We are not in my dream. Then...but a wedding, that will be the last thing I can ever think of.

Adrian's bride!

"Jaz! I know you are against marriage thing but Adrian is a nice person. He agreed to marry you. And if you marry him, he will give you money for your father's treatment."

As soon as she spilled those words, I came back to my sanities, as it just cut my heart grievously. and I ended up snapping at her. "What do you mean? You want me to beg in front of your bother..."

"You are taking me wrongly."

"I didn't expect this from you. I thought there was someone who would understand me more than my father. But. I was wrong. So wrong. Ali, I am not that weak to be dependent on any rich guy to treat my father. Or to lessen my self-esteem."

"Jazmine. That's the thing. For five years, I have been watching you. You work like an insane person day and night by doing unlimited part-time jobs without any care to live a life for yourself. My brother is a very soft-hearted person and will take care of you very well. You need someone to take care of you."

"What if he insults me, disesteems me: That I was taking money from him for my father's treatment and got married to leave a luxurious life? No. Never." I stood, slinging my sling bag over my shoulder, and whirled, ready to walk out of the cafe. I was feeling angry, frustrated, annoyed, and discouraged. Ali, shouldn't have said it.

Why does everyone consider me a weak person? What if I am a woman? I work enough to be independent and take care of my father's treatment.

I went straight to the park opposite the cafe. "Jazmine!" Ali followed me.

"Aliyah, please leave me alone." She grabbed my hand.

"Pacify yourself and give a thought about him for once. I only want to see a happy, joyful unicorn-loving Jazmine." She hugged me and mumbled, "Sorry to hurt your feelings." And then she meandered away.

That Jazmine will never come back, Ali. She left since my mom left us. Or got missing. Or dead. 2017, was the most difficult year of my life whose consequences have left unbearable pain in our hearts.

On one side, I was coping with the truth of my mom's never coming back, and on the other hand, my father indulged himself in alcohol addiction. And he gave himself a tremendous yet terrific gift, alcoholic liver cirrhosis

A horrific shiver passed through my spine, comprehending the consequences of alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

It infuriated me cause I worked hard to keep my father alive while he would not leave any option to damage his liver. He can't leave without alcohol, and alcohol doesn't want him to be alive. I just want to ask him, can't he give up alcohol for his daughter? I am scared of losing him...what if I am left...alone?

My brother is a very soft-hearted person and will take care of you very well. You need someone to take care of you.

Her words replayed in my brain again and again. In some way she is true, years passed but I hadn't given time to myself. But the wedding will put another responsibility on me and I am not ready to take any and ignore my father. I can't leave my father alone.

It's been more than an hour since she left me alone in the park. I sat on an empty bench and stared at the group of kids playing with each other. Aliyah will be the last person, I can imagine losing. I took my mobile and texted Sorry and love you to her.

Adrian's Bride!

A voice echoed in my head.

Unexpectedly, I felt a tingling sensation in my belly. I touched my stomach and warned it to stop these things. After four years, I am experiencing the crazy effects of adrenaline. My part-time jobs kept me so busy that I barely had time to take out for my studies and pondering about Adrian was impossible. I stopped stalking him or collecting his pictures from magazines or newspapers.

I unlocked my mobile thought for a couple of seconds and then typed ADRIAN MARTINEZ on the search column of my goggle.

The first picture of Adrian took my breath away. The last time, I saw him, he was twenty-four and had a clean shave but this picture had a five-o-clock shade and he looked a lot older. His emerald eyes were the same. He looked extremely handsome. To strengthen, more handsome as four years ago.

Unicorn! The pet name he gave to me sounded in my head like the strings of a Cello when I ran the bow against them. So enticing and alluring to hear.

At that moment, the actual reality hit me. Adrian's wedding with me. Who might have brought this up?

But Aliyah said that her mom is desiring Adrian and me to swap the wedding band.

Adrenaline actions were back in my stomach and it also made the blush creep down my cheeks. "Does he remember me?" I whispered to myself.

Pacify yourself and give a thought about him for once. I only want to see a happy, joyful unicorn-loving Jazmine.

****

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