Generosity

Camilla wondered the brightly lit streets. And cars stuck in a jam constantly honked as they moved at snail pace.

With some drivers even yelling as frustration filled their being.

Most of them were workers going back home after a busy and stressful job only to be stuck in a traffic jam.

It was then that her stomach growled.

She clenched her stomach as she felt like her stomach walls were moving.

And with each movement came a piercing pain.

I need to get myself some food.

And like the universe knew she was angry, a sweet aroma pierced her nose.

It smelt so good that she almost salivated.

Looking ahead at where she thought the smell came from, she noticed a food stall.

Immediately, she made her way to the food stall and ordered noodles.

She tapped her pockets as she searched for her money. A frown appeared on her face when she realized that she had dropped all the money she had on hand.

If it was 3 hours back, she wouldn't care at all. As she was determined to end her life.

But after the mysterious man saved her, that idea vanished out of her head and was replaced with a desire for revenge and justice against the three people that made her life a living hell.

A burning desire to start all over again and make her way back to fame as Camilla and not Becca.

To show her best friend that she can still earn back whatever she deserves even without using the name Becca.

To show her doubters that she was the superstar she was supposed to be.

But with this new feeling, she wasn't the empty shell she previously was. The empty shell that had been wiped of all emotion and feeling but pain.

She still had the pain, yes. But this new desire made it bearable. Slightly!

She regained feeling all over her numbed body. And it was then that she realized she was hungry. Extremely hungry and starved. It was like her stomach would jump out her body any time now.

She stared at the old lady that had already prepared her order. With a pleading look, she apologized and opted to leave immediately.

Her eyes had dark circles around them from the excessive crying.

And her lips were chapped.

Just as she took five steps, the old lady called her back; "Young lady...come back here."

Camilla hesitantly turned around as she knew she was about to get a scolding for wasting the woman's food.

"Yes..." she looked down to the ground. Not daring to look into her wise wrinkled eyes.

Quietness filled the atmosphere as the old lady simply stared at Camilla.

"You can have the food. For free," she said with a gentle smile.

"Re... Really" Camilla slowly raised her head. Only to find a kind and gentle smile on the lady.

She had expected farrowed angry brows and a deep frown but instead she got the opposite.

Thinking back at her status a year back, she cursed her fate yet again.

She had all she ever wanted back then. But the one thing she didn't have was love. Of which she didn't mind as she knew someday the right person for her would show.

But now, she was at the mercy of a mere food stall owner.

"No... I can't. Accept that mam...I."

"I am not taking no for an answer. Take it. It's your choice what you wish to do with it after here." the old lady insisted.

With the sassy look, she gave the maid, Camilla could only agree as she took the white paper bags of food that were handed to her.

" Thank you, mam. "

" Any time. I know life right now isn't what you expected. But great things lie ahead dear. Here... I have something for you." she turned around and headed to the back of the stall and picked a black handbag on the shelf.

She walked back to the front as she opened it and picked out some money.

Camilla's heart melted at the kindness the lady showed her but she couldn't just accept it.

First, she offered her food for free, and next, she gave her money.

She was simply too generous.

"No mam, you have already done enough for me. I can't accept that this time mam." she gently pushed back the old lady's arm that was stretched out to her.

"No silly. I insist..." the lady stretched out the money to Camilla again.

"No mam, you're too generous. At this rate, I'm only bringing a loss for your business." Camilla blushed in embarrassment.

"You're misunderstanding. You have to take this...it belongs to you." the old lady flushed a bemused smile.

"Belongs to me?"

"Well yes...You dropped this at the bench earlier this morning. I tried to call you back but you were already too far. And you know the old generation can't keep up with the young generation. So I held it tight for you."

Having heard the old lady's statement, Camilla recognized her.

It was the lady that had woken her up from the bench.

So, it meant that she had dropped the money from there.

But her actions melted her heart yet again. She had kept the money for her! If it were any other person that got their hands on the money, they would selfishly spend it without hesitation.

"Thanks... Mam. I owe you a lot." she stretched out her free hand and accepted the money willingly.

"Don't mention it. Now go get yourself something nice."

It was such sweet people that made Camilla happy.

Such people filled that empty void in others' souls.

People that were kind to those who lacked.

Who weren't selfish and cruel like her ex-best friend.

They always made her smile.

And being with such people had become her hobby. And if she couldn't find one, she would be that person.

She often visited orphanages and old age homes to spend time with the lovely people there.

She helped them materially and emotionally.

She donated a lot of money to them and helped raise school fees for the poor children.

Her noble acts made her a likable person where ever she went.

And not a single person didn't know of Becca.

It wasn't because of her job as an actress, but her generosity as a human that made her famous.

The day she did the auditions back in university, the judges had asked her about her hobbies, and like as if her consciousness had taken over, she told them everything she loved.

Although she was nervous standing in front of the camera and lights and the big figures that judged the audition, talking about sweet people made her relaxed.

She told a long tale of the people she spent most of her time with.

It wasn't meant to be part of the audition, yes. But the judges got carried away by her sweet, tender, innocent, and kind personality that they couldn't help but listen to her stories.

At first, they thought that she was acting coy and trying to impress them.

But when they secretly researched her, they discovered that whatever she displayed in front of them, was her real self.

And they had never met anyone like her.

With that, they gave her the lead role.

Thinking back at the compass days, she could now make out the reason why Lorene didn't get the role back then.

Her personality was completely off course from the role that was meant to be played. Had she known Lorene was the person she was today, she wouldn't have bothered saving her from the bullies.

If there was one thing she regretted, it would be her generosity and kindness towards Lorene.

She regretted the day she walked up to the cheerleading squad and helped Lorene stand up.

_0_

Camilla walked over to one of the benches where the food stall customers would dine. And sat down.

She opened her pack of noodles and begun eating using the chopsticks that came with the pack.

A bright smile formed on her face as the delicious meal rolled down her throat.

She severed the taste as she felt a warm tingly feeling in her stomach.

It was the most delicious noodles she had ever tasted in her entire lifetime.

"Thanks again, mam...You're cooking is the best!" Camilla complemented after she throwing away the disposable pack in a dustbin.

"Glad to hear dear..."

"Good night!" she waved the old kind lady a goodbye before continuing with her aimless wander.