Lunchtime came and the customer started to get less. It is normal since people prefer to have lunch instead of snacks.
Alexa groaned in pain after feeling her legs numbing for hours of standing. When she saw her mother walking towards the door to flip the sign from open to close, her expression brightened up. Finally, she can rest.
Being a cashier was not as easy as she had imagined. She thought that standing behind the counter, taking people's order was the easiest job she can get in the cafe but it turns out differently.
Before her mother could even reach the door, a man entered the cafe which causes for Alexa's shoulder to slumped in disappointment.
'So close!!!' she screamed inside. Her nose wrinkled in annoyance as she watched the customer approach the cashier.
'If mommy's legs are just a little bit longer. A few inches more, this man wouldn't be here now.'
Alexa took in a deep sighed and wait for the man to come close.
"Hi," he greeted, unaware that he was the reason why her lunch is going to be delayed.
"Hi," she replied. Mirroring the thin smile he has on his lips.
"I want to order," he stated, still looking at her.
"of course you do," she faked a smile, deep inside she just wanted to grab the cash register and slap it to his face.
"I need 10 lattes, please, to go."
"Would you like to pay cash or card?"
"Cash," hearing that, Alexa typed in his order and opened the cash register.
A loud bumping sound has made her divert her sight on the counter. She saw a transparent pouch with coins inside.
She gulped hard, wishing that the man will not pay thru coins. It's not like she minded it, she doesn't have a problem counting the coins but, the coins were in five and ten cents. Before she can finish counting the amount she needed, his coffee will be cold.
"Is this the exact amount?" she hopefully asked. She noticed that the previous customers she has had already prepared the cash before she could even take their orders.
So when she saw the man shaking his head, a murderous smile curled up her lips.
Once again, she blamed her mother's legs for being too short.
(No wonder, Uncle Ken calls her shorty.) she plucked her lips as she thought of it.
Her hands stretched to open the pouch, she grabbed a handful of coins and scattered it on the counter.
"Would you help me please?" she asked. The coffee cost one hundred each and the coins he has were in ten's and five cents. So this is really gonna take forever to count.
"Are you not scared I might cheat?" the man asked in skepticism.
Alexa's face went flat, wondering if he meant it or not.
"I am pretty sure my mother will not sue you for a coffee. Ten cents won't bankrupt us."
"I heard it, Alexa! Count it properly!" her mom suddenly yelled from the kitchen.
Alexa's eyes shut by itself, she can feel the thunder roaring inside her tummy.
"Mom I am starving!" she shouted back. She's not hesitant to say that in front of the man since he was also not ashamed to pay in cents and let her count it by herself.
"I have an energy bar, you can have it," the man said, handing her a packet of rice energy bar.
Without a second thought, Alexa shamelessly took it. She will need all the energy she has to count his money.
Her fingers picked up the cent one by one, while her other hand shoved the snack in her mouth.
Even though she had just started, Alexa wanted to cry.
"How long did you save this money in your piggy bank?" she asked with irony.
The man chuckled, "I actually got it from the bank," he replied.
"Did you steal it?"
"You can say that" his answer made her raise an eyebrow.
"Well, next time you rob a bank, make sure to steal the paper notes. Goodness! The bank must be so thankful now that they got rid of their coins," she pretended to wipe a non-existent sweat on her forehead and look at him with criticism.
The man looks matured. There were dark bags under his eyes and short beards on his jaw. She sighed and started counting again. The man might be wearing an expensive suit and has a handsome face but his wallet has completely ruined his 'wall street' look.
After she finished counting the price for one coffee, Alexa straightened up from bending her body and groaned in pain.
She stretched her arms and yawn. When she saw the man staring at her chest, Alexa's eyes widened in disbelief and immediately wrapped her arms around her chest.
"You pervert! Why are you staring at the breast!" she blurted.
The man stared at her, a line appeared in between his eyebrows, looking puzzled.
"Breast? They are flat," he calmly said.
Alexa's face suddenly reddened in irritation, she lowered her sight to her breast and poke it with a finger.
"They are not flat. They are bouncy," she said, pouting her lips.
Realizing what she just did, acting so casual in front of a stranger. Alexa suddenly felt ashamed.
To hide her embarrassment, she scoffed and poke a finger on his chest.
"Are you a pedophile? Why are you looking at me? Do you know I am still underage?" she scolded him.
"What pedophile? I am only 22 and the zit on the forehead says that you're not underage," he mockingly replied.
Alexa's eyebrow rose by itself. She had never liked octopus but she suddenly wished to be one so she could give him eight slaps at one time.
Her eyes narrowed, she felt as if she's a dragon ready to blow him a fire.
But, to her surprise the man suddenly leaned closer, looking straight in her eyes. She then remembered that her eyes were not normal and she's certain that they are black now.
"Wow! Your eyes are really pretty!" he whispered.
Alex took a step back, she shut her eyes and tried calming herself. Even though the man has mocked her by calling her flat-chested, the irritation she felt has faded when he praised her eyes.
She rolled her eyes on him and went back on counting the money. It took her almost more than half an hour to finish counting all the money.
After putting the coins in the purse Louisa gave, Alexa took in a deep sigh and look at the man.
"How many sugars do you want?" she asked.
"seven,"
Alexa took seven sachets of sugar and handed it to him.
"I need seven for each coffee."
Alexa's face went blank, she took another sigh and started counting the sachet of sugar.
Inside she was crying, her finger almost numb from counting the coins and now she needs to count 70 sugars.
(What kind of punishment is this? Have I wronged him in my previous life?) she asked.
She put the sugars inside the plastic and handed it to him.
"Here's your seventy sugar Mister. I would have offered you health insurance but then I thought you might pay me using coins again and I just can't- I can't count anymore," her voice almost broke down as she said those words.
The man snickered as he accepted the plastic, "Well, that's too bad. I am going back here tomorrow to buy more coffee," he said smiling.
"What do you mean more?" she asked in terror, her face went paled as she imagines herself in the same situation as earlier.
Instead of answering her question, the man turned around after saying 'Goodbye'.
Alexa slumped her body down to the chair, she has been standing and counting for many hours that she was not sure if she felt more pain on her legs or her hands. Though she's positive that tomorrow, she will be in for a battle.