** The Verdict of the Law **
The news about what happened at the coffee shop spread like wildfire within the small Filipino community here in Edmonton. They say that when you are abroad, news travels fast—especially when it involves a scandal. Over the past few days, I hadn't seen Bianca anywhere in the city, and according to Sarah, the Edmonton Police had formally taken over the case due to serious charges of theft and defamation within a business establishment.
"Bro, according to my coworkers at the other site, Bianca is facing some massive trouble," Kiko brought up as we ate an early breakfast on a Tuesday. It was still freezing outside, but the warmth of the coffee and our conversation was enough to wake up my senses.
"Why, bro? Didn't she already get fired? Is there more to it?" I asked while pulling on my thick socks.
"The laws here are different, Canada style, Aiden. Bianca is only here on a Temporary Work Permit," Kiko explained seriously, having lived here longer and knowing the rules inside out. "Once you get a criminal record for theft, especially with the police getting involved, the authorities automatically report it to the CBSA—the Canada Border Services Agency. Her visa can get revoked, and she can be deported back to the Philippines."
I stopped adjusting my shoes. Deportation? That meant all the money Bianca spent to get here, her dreams, and her chance to earn dollars would completely vanish just because of one poor decision driven by a prideful person like Chloe Perez. I felt a twinge of pity for her, but I knew she had chosen that path.
By the afternoon during my shift, the coffee shop was relatively quiet. I was handling the counter by myself while Sarah was in her office talking on the phone. A moment later, the front door chimed, and the sound of the bell seemed to make my heart race all over again.
Chloe.
But this time, her mocking, spoiled smile was gone. Her face was pale, etched with deep anxiety, and she entered all alone, looking utterly panicked. She hurried straight to the counter where I stood.
"Aiden..." she whispered, her tone stripped of its usual haughtiness for the very first time. "Where is Sarah? I need to talk to her."
"She's in her office, miss. She's still on the phone," I answered politely yet coldly. "If this is about your order, I can take it."
"No! It's not about coffee!" Chloe's voice trembled slightly as she clutched her designer bag for dear life. She looked at me with a mix of shame and terror. "The police raided Bianca's place last night. And I found out she dragged me down in her statement to the cops! Even though the shop's CCTV had a glitch that day and didn't record a thing, when the police seized Bianca's phone, all our text messages were right there—the exact chats where we planned the whole setup to frame you for the missing cash! Aiden, please... tell Sarah to drop the case. I'm just an international student here. If it's proven that I conspired in a crime, my student visa will be revoked and I might get deported too!"
I stared at her. The wealthy politician's daughter, the girl who brought her elite entitlement all the way from Manila to Canada, was standing right here in front of me—in tears, begging someone she once dismissed as a floor cleaner wearing a rag-like apron.
"Miss Chloe," I took a deep breath, forcing myself to keep my composure. "When you bumped into me at the mall, I apologized even though you were the careless one. When you walked in here, I respected you as a customer even when you belittled my appearance and my job. But setting up a trap just to make me lose my job and get kicked out of Canada? That's crossing the line."
"I... I know! I'm sorry! I just got carried away by my anger!" Chloe sobbed, gripping the edge of the counter as if her knees were about to give out. "I'll do anything, Aiden. I'll pay you! How much do you want? A thousand dollars? Two thousand? Just name it, and get the police report dropped!"
"Not everything can be bought with your parents' money, Chloe," a firm voice cut through our conversation from behind.
Sarah. She stepped out of her office holding a folder. Her eyes were serious, showing zero trace of pity. "I heard everything, Miss Perez. And just so you know, this coffee shop no longer holds the case. The Edmonton Police and immigration authorities are handling the investigation now based on official procedures and the digital evidence retrieved from Bianca's phone. Bianca is already facing deportation charges, and your status as a student is currently under review by your university and the government because of your involvement in a criminal conspiracy."
Hearing the words review and deportation charges made Chloe's legs finally buckle underneath her. She slumped down onto one of the wooden chairs near the counter—the exact chair where she used to sit just to roll her eyes at me.
"You need to leave my store now, Miss Perez. If you cause any more trouble for Aiden or this business, I will call security immediately," Sarah warned.
Chloe had no other choice. She stood up trembling, wiped her tears, and slowly walked out of the coffee shop carrying the heavy weight of her grave mistake. Her luxury and wealth were no match for the justice system of the country she had looked down upon.
Once Chloe was gone, Sarah turned to me with a smile that instantly lightened the heavy atmosphere. "Aiden, processing this whole mess has been exhausting. But I have some good news for you to make up for all this drama."
"What is it, Sarah?"
Sarah opened the folder she was holding and handed me a new document. "Since Bianca is gone, we need a new Full-Time Shift Supervisor. I've watched your dedication, your honesty, and how you handle difficult situations. I am promoting you effective next week. That means a higher hourly wage, health benefits, and a guaranteed slot for your Permanent Residency reference letter in the future."
My world seemed to pause once again, but this time, it was out of overflowing joy. Shift Supervisor. A higher position, better pay, and the ultimate dream of every OFW—the stepping stone to Permanent Residency so I could finally bring Nanay and Tatay here to Canada!
"Thank you so much, Sarah! Thank you!" I couldn't help but pull my manager into a brief, grateful hug.
"You earned it, Aiden. Go celebrate with Kiko tonight," she chuckled.
On the drive home, I didn't even wait until we reached the house. I immediately video-called Nanay Rosa in Hong Kong and looped Tatay Noel in Bataan into a group call.
My parents' faces popped up on the screen. Behind Tatay, the new, shiny, and sturdy roof of our house was visible, completely free of even a single leak. Our living room was finally dry.
"Nay, Tay! I have great news!" I shouted cheerfully into the screen while Kiko in the driver's seat laughed along. "I've been promoted as a Supervisor here in Canada! I'll be earning more, and I've locked in the papers I need to bring you both here someday!"
"Oh, my God! Thank you so much!" Nanay cried from Hong Kong, wiping her tears with a handkerchief while smiling widely. "Thank you for all your hard work, son! My son is doing so well!"
"We're so proud of you, Aiden," Tatay Noel added, his voice steady yet thick with happy tears as he looked up at our new ceiling. "We won't have to deal with the rain anymore, and someday, we'll all be together again."
As I stared at my parents—safe and happy—I looked out the car window. The snow falling over the city of Edmonton no longer looked harsh or intimidating. It looked like glittering stars, proving that a simple boy from Bataan, armed with little more than his buckets and dreams, was steadily winning his battles on the other side of the world.
***
After all this time, the moment you have been waiting for is finally happening... Aiden and Maya are officially meeting for the very first time! They cross paths at last, but fate might not be on their side. Is this unexpected meeting a blessing, or a setup for heartbreak?
If you enjoyed seeing Aiden rise above the drama, please support my other stories and add "A Lease of Love" (Rental na Pag-ibig) to your Library!
Stay tuned as we approach the Grand Finale this August 18! Don't forget to like, comment, and share your thoughts below!
