Cafe La brunch stood out in all it's glory. Ariel walked in with the heavy box of chicken. This had to be the last batch of her morning delivery, she had a gig with Bianca by 10 pm tonight.

“That'll be thirty dollars ma'am.” She informed the plump scary looking lady behind the counter. Reluctantly, she rummaged the pockets of her tired apron, drew out some notes and shoved it in Ariel's palm. “Thank you, Ariel bowed and ran off — adjusting her brown baseball cap. She was so preoccupied with rounding up her deliveries she didn't see the little boy trying to walk in. She accidentally knocks him over.

“Ouch! Khan yelps holding his smarting elbow. She squats beside him in remorseful concern. “Oh my God I'm so sorry pumpkin, are you hurt?.” She picks his teddy bear she had also knocked over and hands it to him.

His eyebrows narrow as he pouts at Ariel. “Bad aunty.” He protests. Ariel gasps in surprise, she is baffled. “I already apologized, kid.” He stands up and cleans the dirt off his latte colored shorts. “Where are you parents?.” She peers curiously, but gets no reply. Instead he runs into the cafe she has just emerged from. She watched the proceedings between him and the mean lady through the storefront glass. The lady seemed to be hurling curse words at the little boy. She swings a ladle towards his direction and he runs away, clutching his teddy bear so tight it'd be gasping for air if it was alive. Tears stung his eyes as he ran, once he left the cafe door, Ariel was quick enough to catch him. She led him by hand to an alley.

Taking her hat off, she let her wavy hair loose and sat down on a slab beside the crying child. “She's so mean.” He sniffed. Seeing this cute strange child she just met cry, broke her heart. She placed her hand over his frail shoulders and hugged him. Surprisingly, he hugged her back, and would occasionally adjust his soft beige hair beneath her chin. They stayed that way, feeling the soft wind drift until he sniffed. Ariel unlocked her embrace, she had to go, but she was curious about who this child was.

“My name is Ariel, what is your name?.” She hoped he'd be willing to divulge, he didn't seem like he was in a good state. “My name is Khan.” The seven years old slurred. The sorrow in his voice went beyond his age. “And the lady at the cafe is my guardian, she doesn't like me because I'm always sick.” He sobbed.

“Shush…don't cry, it's not your fault.” She hugged him again, desperate to provide as much solace as she could. Khan had always been a sick child with different health complications.

“She said I'm the reason her life is hard, she'd have to raise money for my kidney surgery.”

“She asked me to go back to the orphanage I came from.” He looked at her with teary eyes and such overwhelming sorrow. His sadness broke Ariel, but she was more pained she could not do anything to help. She was going to ask Bianca for assistance. Although it has never worked, for Khan's sake she had to try. His guardian was not a pleasant person to grow up with. “I'll get you out of here.” She promised, but it was met with a negative shake of head. “My aunty Rain is not a bad person, she just gets frustrated at times.”

“So that's her name?.” He nodded.

Ariel sat in silence with the sniffling child, she bought him some snacks and a lollipop. She promised to come back for him before she left, unaware it may be the last time she'd ever see him.

Bianca was furious when Ariel stepped in. Her audience were getting tired of waiting. The white fur rested elegantly on her shoulder, her purple sequin dress clung elegantly to her slender figure. Her updo hair framed her asymmetrical face perfectly.

“You're late!!!.” She thundered once she saw Ariel. “I'm so sorry Bianca, I was a little bit delayed.” “Save it, I'll be up in ten minutes.” She walked backstage with Ariel following closely on her tail. She shoved a microphone in Ariel's hand and Ariel assumed her position back stage. Bianca went on stage admist loud applause and cheers. Ariel sang a classic opera, while Bianca lip synced perfectly. Their practice sessions usually took an entire month so they could both be in sync. After the performance, Bianca bowed before the audience, the auditorium shook with deafening cheers and a loud applause.

Once off the stage, Bianca went to her dressing room to relieve herself of the weight of some jewelries. Ariel followed behind her swiftly. Once in the room, Bianca yanked off her hoop earrings and necklace. “Umm, Bianca, I have a request.”

“There is no money Ariel, I've explained to you several times. My agency is going to ditch me if I fail to meet the target. All the money I have goes to them, they just give me a cut, which I share with you my dearest friend.” She walks up to Ariel and holds both her hands in smiles.

“But you're the most popular singer in the country.”

“ I'm not asking for myself Bianca, I want to help a kid.” She persists. Bianca lets go of Ariel's hand. She walks to the dressing table and pounds her fist on the dresser in anger — startling Ariel.

“You have every right to feel entitled, I'm already used to you being selfish, it's a price I have to pay for the fame you gave me.”

“Bianca.” She whispers softly trying to come close. She raises her hand and halts her. “It's okay, I'll give you a thousand dollars. I'll inform you where to pick it up when I have it.”

“Thank you.” Ariel replied in gratitude and left. She could feel Bianca's angry gaze behind her head.

Bianca was filled with spite for Ariel, she had to do something about her, and she had to do it fast. Few minutes after Ariel had gone, Damien who had been hiding from Ariel walked into the dresser. He had been present the whole time. “I hate her.” Bianca cried. Ariel’s existence had become a thorn in her flesh ever since she rose to stardom. Her greatest fear was that one day, Ariel would pull the rug beneath her feet and she’d fall hard on the ground. “We'll figure something out.” He assured the agitated Bianca.