JA couldn't get back to sleep, no matter how much she wanted it too. Her mind kept on wondering, still thinking about that man in her dreams.
She suddenly remembered these lines from him, "Don't look at my face, feel me in your heart"
What does it mean to say?
She quickly reached for her phone and logged in to her Facebook account. She went to Zacky's timeline and viewed his profile.
Her heart was beating so fast, kept thudding and pounding inside her chest.
Then she went to a reading platform and read Zacky's other stories.
She was thinking, what if she would go back into writing?
Yes, JA was a writer long before, but because of her sad experiences, she stopped writing. And after reading Zacky's works, she is now determined to be a writer again. It was also one of her dreams in life aside from teaching kids and becoming a professional singer.
She tried to message Zacky in messenger. And after a, while he responded.
As their conversation went on, she noticed something strange in him, which she couldn't exactly identify what is it. She tried to analyze everything until she came up with a certain decision about making him the character of her story.
After some time of thinking about it, suddenly she received a phone call from an unknown number.
"Hello cher, this is Chris", a sweet voice spoke from the other line.
He is one of her kids in Bannister Academy and she was wondering why the kid called her at this hour.
"Oh hi, sweetheart, anything I can do for you?", she asked.
"Can you come to my birthday party tonight at 7:30? It will be held at Movie Stars Café. Please cher...please...!", Chris pleaded.
Oh my God!
She forgot that it's his birthday today. It slipped off her mind when in fact, she was thinking about it last time.
"Oh! Happy birthday, sweetheart", she greeted him.
"Thank you cher...But will you come, please?", he pleaded again.
How could she say "No" to this kid? She didn't want to upset him, especially on his special day.
He already suffered depression about thinking that his parents, don't love him anymore since his baby sister was born.
She's just glad she was able to save him then. And that she was able to explain to him everything.
"Yes sweetheart, I will."
She heard him shrieking with laughter.
"Thank you cher, see you around. Bye...!", he said happily.
"Bye"
**************
She felt she was already starving so she went out of her room. That's also the time when her brother went out of his room. He was already wearing a business suit so she's sure that he is now going to work.
"Good morning sweetie, did you sleep well? Your face is haggard this time, that seems you did not get enough sleep. Are you okay?" he asked intensely looking at her.
"I'm fine boo.", she responded.
"Umm boo, one of my kids invited me to his birthday party later at seven in the evening. Can I go? Remember Chris, the one I saved from the rooftop?", she said.
He nodded.
"Okay, but call me as soon as you go home so that I can pick you up," he said.
"No, boo it's okay, I'll be bringing my car anyway."
"But still, I wanted to pick you up. Okay?", he insisted. He gave her a kiss on the cheek then went downstairs.
"Bye boo, take care," she said as she followed him.
"Bye sweetie, take care too".
She went to the kitchen and brewed a cup of coffee. She took some slices of bread and add some bread stuffing.
Suddenly she felt a little dizzy because she couldn't get enough sleep thinking about that man in her dreams and Zacky.
Zacky...
Zacky...
She kept on repeating his name.
"Am I attracted to this person? But how could I? I don't even know him. I haven't met him personally" the other side of her brain told her.
She heaved a deep sigh. As much as she could she doesn't want to think about it.
She went inside her room and looked for something to wear at Chris' birthday party.
But then she was thinking on what will be her birthday gift to him.
She looked at her watch and it was still 10:00 o'clock in the morning, so she still have time to buy something for Chris.
She took a shower and took the clothes she usually wears when she goes on shopping.
"Nanny, I will be out for a while. I need to buy something for my kid's birthday present" she said while rushing to the entry door.
"Yes darling, take care"
She was about to go to the garage when she spotted someone not familiar. The man went closer to her wearing a flirty smile on his face.
"Good morning ma'am, you must be surprised about my presence. Sir Jareed hired me as a security guard here," he said.
She looked at the man that stands 5'11, wearing a blue uniform, physically clean and well-groomed. He has a well-built muscles that made him attractive to look at.
She just nodded and smiled at him. She was thinking why her brother did not mention it earlier. It's not necessary to have a security guard in their house. They are not used to it since they moved here in Manila. Besides, the house has CCTV cameras so it's totally safe. But since it's her brother's decision, so it would be all up to him.
"Umm, ma'am, my name is Dave. And you must be Miss Jannah", he added.
"Yes, but you can call me JA", she responded.
She excused herself from him, coz she needs to go now.
She started the car's engine and sped up the road.
She really did not have an idea of what to give until she ended up buying a laser remote control race car for Chris.
*********************
At home...
It's 6:00 o clock in the evening. It's time to fix herself to go to the party.
Movie Stars Café is quite far from her house but she could take the faster route in going to the party's venue.
JA was just wearing a light blue above the knee off-shoulder dress and a wedge sandal heels. She just put a slight makeup, lip tint, and face powder. She grabbed her bag and then placed her birthday gift inside.
"You're so pretty darling", Nanny complimented as she went downstairs.
"Thanks, Nanny. I have to go now"
She was about to get inside the car, when the security guard, approached her.
"Good evening ma'am,", he said with his eyes glued at her.
Men are always like this which she found so annoying.
She just nodded and smiled at him.
************************
At the party...
The place was so really fantastic. It was well-decorated with banners and balloons that made the environment lively and great-looking. At the center, a birthday tarpaulin of Chris was posted on the wall. Below the tarp was a rectangular table where foods and drinks were placed. At the center was a three-layer chocolate cake, with candles around it. Chairs and tables for the guests were properly arranged with beautiful covers and skirting that made the whole ambiance warm and comfortable.
There were already guests inside. Mostly were the parents of the kids that were invited to the party. She looked around to look for Chris. Until someone approached her with his hands wide open ready to hug her.
"Teacher, I'm glad you came", Chris said and hugged her tight.
"Happy birthday sweetheart", she greeted him and pinched his cute cheeks.
Chris chuckled, showing dimples on his cheek. He was really a cute kid, with a cute nose and sparkling eyes.
JA messed up his hair, then she stooped down to Chris' eye level.
She handed him her birthday gift that made the kid so happy.
"Thank you cher JA", Chris said in excitement.
"Teacher, teacher,!" voices coming from a distance. The kids were running towards her. All of them were wearing party hats and they were all so cute.
"So, you're all here. Do I need to check your attendance kids?", she jested. And they all chuckled.
"Teacher, my Uncle is here.", said Josh as he pointed out the direction of the man he called his uncle.
She saw Ace in a distant chair, smiling at her and waving his hand.
Suddenly Chris pulled her hand as the child headed to where his parents were seated. The woman was carrying a 3-month-old baby.
"Dad, mom, meet teacher JA. She is pretty right?",
"Cher, this is dad and mom. And this is my baby sister"
Chris' parents smiled at her and they shook hands.
After a moment, the party began. She enjoyed watching the kids, laughing, playing parlor games, and jesting around. After some time, Chris blew out the candles and dinner followed.
When everybody was done eating, Chris grabbed the microphone and said something that made her nervous.
"Thank you all for coming. Especially teacher JA. You know she is good at singing," said Chris.
The kids were all shouting.
"Yes, yes..!"
"Teacher, all of us wanted to hear you singing. Is it okay if you sing that song you sang with us on your first day in school while playing the piano? please...", Chris pleaded with both his hands clasped together.
"Yes, teacher. Please sing the piece of your soul." Josh shouted while clapping his hands.
JA was so surprised. She did not expect that the kids would suddenly request her to sing.
"Cher, please... the piano is there.!", they said as they pointed out where the piano is.
She did not notice there was a piano in this place.
"Chris had really planned for it", she thought.
"Cher please...this will be my best birthday gift ever.", Chris said, blinking his eyes so appealingly.
JA smiled at this cute little kid. She stood up and was ready to come forward, but Chris ran towards her and held her hand as they went to the center.
There was resounding applause from everyone.
Everybody was silent as she seated on the piano bench. All eyes were set on her that made her feel nervous.
She started playing the piano for the intro and everybody was clapping. Then she started singing.
"One day in your life, I'll remember a place. Someone touching your face,
You'll come back and you'll look around you...
One day, in your life you'll remember the love you found here
You'll remember me somehow. Though you don't need me now, I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart. You'll remember one day...
One day in your life, when you find that you're always waiting
For the love we used to share
Just call my name and I'll be there...
...You'll remember me somehow
Though you don't need me now, I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart,
You'll remember one day,
One day in your life,
When you find that you're always lonely
For the love we used to share
Just call my name and I'll be there...
Finally, she's done singing with her tears rolling down her cheeks. She really could not control herself but to cry every time she sings this song. She wiped away her tears with her hands and then she stood up and bowed.
There was another resounding applause from the audience.
The kids were running towards her, and they hugged her so tight.
"Why are you crying kids?", she asked while wiping their tears with her thumb.
"Because you made us cry cher", Josh said.
"Oh! did I make you cry, or did the song make you cry?", she asked.
"We're crying cher because you're crying", the kids in chorus. And they all chuckled.
"Thank you cher, for granting my request", Chris said.
"My pleasure sweetheart," she responded.
"This is the best birthday gift I ever had, cher. I love you" Chris said in loud voice enough to
be heard by everybody. They were all looking at them. Chris rolled his eyes and cover his mouth
with his hands. Then he giggled.
"We love you cher", kids in chorus.
"I love you more sweethearts," JA said and hugged them all.