She's My Sleeping Pill

Right now, she was sitting in front of Tristan with a computer in front of her. There was an open video call but there was no one on the other side of the call yet. However, with the name at the bottom, she knew that she would be talking to Stefan.

“As long as you didn’t do anything wrong, you don’t have to be worried,” Tristan told the young woman who was barely legal. They thought was already of legal age because she was already working but when they asked her basic questions upon her arrival, they found out that she was still 17 years old and was using fake IDs to work.

“Hi.” Zia was startled when Stefan suddenly talked on the other side. “I just finished cooking breakfast for my wife.” Zia just smiled faintly without saying anything. “Do you have any idea why you are called today Ms. Zia?”

“Yes.”

“Then, tell me.”

“I’m here because of what I did to your wife.”

.....

“Bingo! So, why did you do that?”

Zia fiddled with her thumbs from anxiety as she kept her head low and avoided meeting Stefan’s eyes. She was afraid. “Unlike other people, I know that Mrs. Dumrique genuinely cares for the children. I know she would notice something if it was her. I know she would be able to free those children from the unfairness.”

“You knew about their nasty treatment and probably experienced it as well. Why didn’t you tell my wife? She could have looked for other ways instead of wasting her time there.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I just really want to help the children because I don’t have the power to do so.”

Stefan could completely understand her and he wasn’t really mad. He just wanted to know if they could still trust this woman one last time. “Since that is the case, why don’t you report them?”

“No one would believe them.”

“If you have a solid piece of evidence, would you do it?”

“Yes, sir.”

***

Since there were no classes anymore while the teachers finalized their students’ grades, Cayenne had so much free time in hand. She was helping Jonas in her vegetable garden to water the plants as well as pull some weeds even though Stefan told her not to do it.

After that, she washed their laundry and checked some of their things which made her realize that the missing items from last time were just in the closet and some of the items present last time was now gone. She didn’t know what was going on and she knew that no one from their household took them. First, their clothes have always been washed by her or by Stefan separately, and sometimes, they wash their clothes in a laundry shop. Their helpers would never get inside the master’s bedroom unless she asked them to. So, she never suspected them. And yet, she didn’t know where they could have gone. Some of their kitchenware were missing, too.

“This is so weird,” Cayenne told herself as she looked for some tea sets and bowls. “I probably misplaced them.”

Cayenne was doing whatever she can to be productive in the morning when her phone rang incessantly. Seeing Faith’s face on the screen, she answered immediately and listened to what this girl wanted to complain this time. To her surprise and disappointment, it was about her misjudgment. She never thought that she would hear such horrible news about the kids. Thankfully, she already thinks about doing this thing.

“I can’t believe this. Those children were already suffering! Did you see their bones sticking sharply to their skin?! It was a horrible sight. I have been so guilty since I arrived home and to hear this news, it angers me to the boiling point!”

“Calm down. Chill. I’ll think about this. I am so glad that we didn’t give everything in one go.”

Faith calmed down a little but not five seconds later, she burst out in anger once again. Of course, she’d be angry because of what the villagers did and Cayenne could understand that. She didn’t want her friend to stop helping others just because of this one incident.

“Don’t worry. We’ll bring justice to our effort and make sure that those children will not suffer anymore.”

“Well, if you say so.”

“I’ll give you a message once I have settled everything on my end.”

The internet was blown away by this issue and the government agency responsible for child care was also called out for being irresponsible over the years. If they believed the villagers before, if they didn’t stop caring for these children, these innocent babies wouldn’t be taken advantage of.

“Cayenne is very kind. That is why many people would take advantage of her kindness.”

“I felt bad for Mrs. Dumrique and her classmates who came to help.”

“This is the fault of those people in the Department of Child Welfare. They should have responded to this a long time ago.”

“If Cayenne didn’t show off her kindness and generosity, no one would do this to her.”

“Cayenne is not showing off, alright! Being kind is already given to her. If you can’t even help people like her then, shut up!”

“She could always help without publishing it in her post or her vlog.”

“She publishes it because she wanted people to know it wasn’t just her effort. You are just envious of her.”

Words of support, as well as negative voices, have emerged from this issue and it was directed to Cayenne. Being in the eye of this storm, she decided to keep her mouth sealed, lest she’d make things worse. All she wanted to do now was to get those children out of harm’s way and punish those villagers for what they did.

Tristan and Elena sent Zia to the orphanage first since she was still a minor. If people find out that she was using fake IDs, she would still be taken away and her employer might be punished for taking her in.

“Don’t worry, our madam will get in touch with you soon. She will find a way for you to work again. For now, just stay here and wait until you turn 18.” Elena stated while gently patting the girl’s head. “The people here are good. They take care of children and do not take advantage of them. You can help them a little if you feel indebted.”

“Thank you for everything that you have done.”

“Save your ‘thank you’ for our madam next time.”