Forbidden Romance

"One Cappuccino please." In the cosy corner of the cafe, the five-year-old tiny girl stood in a queue holding a 10$ note in her hand. Gloria pinched the girl's pouted cheeks and pulled that crumpled 10$ note from her hand. That girl rubbed her cheeks turned crimson and grunted at her and her mother with angry eyes. Seemed like she didn't like the way she was pinched. Gloria's fingers danced across the computer screen. She swiftly processed the order. "Table number forty-five." Gloria relayed the order with a broad smile and handed the bill to the mother. She was looking quite young, perhaps of the same age as Gloria. She took off her orange cap and placed it on the table. Adjusting her glasses, Gloria hurried steps echoed in the cafe as she darted towards the restroom. Finally, she found a moment to catch her breath. it was her last order. The weekend rush had kept her on her toes. She hadn't even had a chance to take a break for a bathroom visit. Leaning against the restroom door, she fished out her mobile phone Her fingers swiftly tapped on a mobile screen as she calculated the commission made today by sales. Surprise lit up her eyes. The earnings exceeded her morning expectations. New Year and Christmas were arriving by the next month, so her thoughts shifted to online window shopping for a new pair of clothes. She went through the wishlist which had hundreds of dresses that she saved so that she could buy them when their price dropped or in the mid-year sale. A tap on the restroom door interrupted her digital shopping spree. "Hey, we're closing. Anyone in there?" Startled, Gloria realized she had lost track of time. It’s been almost an hour and she was still in the toilet. "Oh s**t!" She patted her forehead and hastily pulled her pants up. She came out readjusting her clothes. As she exited, she met with Daniel’s smiling face. She thought Danial must have left but no. He was standing in front of her. “You’re here.” She asked him, and everyone else was left. "Shall we leave, we are getting late." No matter how she gets late, it's Danial who always waits for her. He was her colleague and her school friend. He helped her to join this cafe two years ago when she was in urgent need of a job. She wore the helmet and sat behind him. "How was your day today?" Danial asked her and gave the accelerator to his bike. "It was hectic. But still good. I managed to earn a good amount. Thanks to you." Gloria never forgets to thank him. "It's okay, no need to thank me every time you see your sales," blushed Daniel. Gloria playfully pinched his cheeks and he winced. Gloria couldn't guess whether he blushed again or her pinch turned his face red. "When will you stop your habit of pinching cheeks? You know it hurts in the cold," he complained. She has been doing it since they were in the school. Gloria chuckled, nodding. "Then I'll do it more often." Gloria was an independent and beautiful girl who wanted to live her life with her own rules and terms. Curly golden brown hair framed her face, complementing her blue eyes that appeared so deep like the ocean. Her pale face that she got from her mother, and her bow-shaped perfect lips and sharp nose from her father. She has entirely carried the best genes from both of her parents, lucky enough to get the best facial features from both of them. She was studying for her master's in education. "Easy there.." She gently patted Danial's shoulder, signalling him to stop the bike. Playfully she teased him. "Are you willing to drop me till my room?" “I hope you will allow me one day,” Daniel replied, her brows raised. He often made such jokes. Getting down from the bike, she entered her apartment building. It was quiet, a stark contrast from the Chaotic scene when she left. Children playing in the lobby, ladies sitting on the bench and bitching about their mother-in-laws. Now she could even hear the pin drop down. The elevator arrived and she got inside, hitting the 5th-floor button. The lift arrived at the floor and she entered her home. It was a small tiny room- a kitchen house which attached a bathroom. She took this house on the rent two years back. It was the cheapest affordable house she could get in New York City. Later she got a roommate Selvia who bore half the rent with her. Danial dropped her off at the apartment as they were living on the same road. That's how she learned to survive in the York City alone. In her room, she swapped her cafe uniform to a pink flowery night dress. Turning the kitchen lights on, she searched for rice. The rice cooker plug was damaged so she opted to whip up a quick fix—instant ramen. The familiar aroma filled the air as she cooked. It was like a ritual of comfort after a long day. Sylvia was awakened by the utensil clatter. She queried from beneath her quilt, "When did you get in?" Gloria bit her tongue, no matter how carefully she does her things she always awakens Selvia. She felt bad about it because Selvia had a shift in the early morning. "Just now," Gloria replied, serving herself a steaming bowl. The hot steam coming out of those long noodles offers solace to her dry cold face. She placed the bowl on the small study table and went to take the fork. Sylvia joined her, pulling her quilt along. "Throw in another fork," she asked Gloria. They shared the same bowl. They chewed ramen and talked about their day, that was a most amazing hour for both of them. Mid-bite, Selvia probed her. "Have you met anyone interesting?" She was checking her Tinder and stalking profiles of handsome men. Gloria frowned as she twirled the overcooked noodles on her fork. "Not at all," she said, shaking her head. The Munching sound while chewing noodles seemed that it was not perfectly cooked. "Fine! I am switching to your account." Sylvia said. A month earlier, she had created a Tinder profile for Gloria, hoping to find her a potential match. However, Gloria hadn't bothered to open it. She left all matches pending. "Wow, You are matched with this boy, Noahoxide. Whatta handsome boy." Sylvia showed her the profile but Gloria swiftly snatched the phone and rejected that guy. "f**k! Why did you do that? I wanted to talk to him." "Are you crazy? Stop hunting young fuckboys who are only interested in f*****g. I've told you, when I love someone, it's forever." She replied, her voice raised in frustration. Sylvia pressed her lips and shifted the topic to something else. "Are you moving with your mom after your masters?" Gloria shook her head. "No, I'll be staying here." She answered. it's been two years since she was living away from her mom and sister. Her relationship with her mom completely changed since the day she saw the wedding card on the table. Not her relation but her life changed completely. Gloria does not belong to a poor family. Her father was a renowned marketer from New York City and had a lavish lifestyle even after the death of her father as her father left a huge fortune for them. She was blessed with everything around her until that evening when her mom decided to marry her boyfriend. A white card with a silver borderline, and a feather delicately attached to the corner of it. Gloria opened it and was stunned to see the names inside. Her mother had already decided to marry her boyfriend, a California-based famous politician and businessman. She had never seen that man, not interested for sure because she was busy with her studies and taking care of her younger sister. But one thing she realised was that her mom's frequent trips to California were not just for business meetings but about meeting that man. Soon her mom sold their home and decided to move to California after her wedding. Gloria chose to stay in the Newyork not wanting to uproot her life. Also, she didn't like the way Mom completely changed after she found that Man. Gloria was admitted to a master’s in New York City. But her sister Rachel was fond of luxuries, even Gloria didn't want her younger sister to suffer in the crowd of New York and struggle with survival. So she didn't ask Rachel to stay with her. This way Gloria's mom and sister left for California and stayed in the big mansion of that politician. “Oh! Do you have a step-sibling?” Sylvia asked her excitedly. “Don’t know,” Gloria said, lips curling down. She never heard anything about her step-sibling from her mom. Even Rachel didn’t mention anyone to her. “If you have a stepbrother, why don't you set him up for me?” Sylvia blinked at her. Gloria could not help but laugh at her. It’s good that they had no step-sibling, otherwise, Rachel would have been troubled. “You know, I had a step-sister and she was extremely evil. So much that I wanted to slap on her face every time I saw her. But I could not.” Sylvia told her, they were discussing their family. Gloria’s attention shifted to her mobile which was vibrating. It was Rachel. She answered her phone and went to the balcony. “Gloria, when are you coming?” Rachel asked her. Gloria tapered her eyes, her sister sounded a little upset. It was one o clock, she never expected her sister to call her and ask her to come. “Does something happen?” Gloria asked her. “NO, I was missing you. You promised me you would visit me before the New Year.” Rachel spoke in a heavy voice. Gloria felt bad, she just joined the office. “It's difficult for me to get a holiday, but I'll still ask the manager,” Gloria told her, and they had a chat for half an hour. Rachel excitedly told her which places she would take her to visit. Gloria hung up the call, and then she gave a thought. In these two years, she only promised her younger sister to visit her but never met her. She checked her commission and decided to book the tickets for California. The flight was in the early morning but today something unfavourable happened due to rain. "The announcement was made: 'The flight from New York to California is delayed by half an hour due to inclement weather. We apologize to the passengers.' Gloria checked her watch and felt frustrated. She had arrived at the airport well ahead of time today, only to find out that her flight was delayed.