Concentration has always been the center of determination that breeds success and fruitful results.
All those are what Natalie is not feeling.
She is tired and stressed.
In a span of a few minutes, her life had done a backflip and a center split. A broken home and a broken heart! It is like dragging a spear across the black woman's heart.
"Dante, the coffee machine is broken!" Jenna yells from her place in the kitchen. The door to the Manager's office slams open and Jeremy O'Connor rushes out with the two top buttons of his shirt undone.
His rosy cheeks are sweaty and... Pink. There's no doubt he was getting some with Dante. Well, perks of being the co-owner and husband to the co-owner.
"Oh. Hey Jeremy!" Jenna chirps as the aforementioned man runs into the kitchen.
"Jenna, Monika, Natalie, Cor... Wait, where's Corrine?" Dante's husband raises a questioning brow which causes Jenna to laugh nervously.
Jenna's eyes dart around in search of Monika. The former had never been the one to be known as the greatest liar or the greatest maker of reasonable excuses, the only thing the 29-year-old could do is smile and spread gossips and rumors.
"Er... Di...did, Cor...Corri-"
"She had an upset stomach, she had to use the restroom."
Jeremy's jaw falls open. So did Jenna's. Natalie herself is also surprised. Those words fell from Natalie's lips before she could think. She wasn't even prepared to think.
That is what she's been doing for the past week.
Not thinking.
Jeremy succeeds in covering his surprise with a weak cough. He tucks his hand into his denim shorts before waving his free hand at a grinning Jenna.
"I'll call Jameson to take a look at it." Then he walks out.
Jeremy got the title "O'Connor" when he tied the wedding knot with Dante two years ago. They both invested in the breakfast Cafe and, so far, it is running a huge success. In contrast to Dante, Jeremy is the strict boss. Not extremely strict but strict enough to keep the workers in check. God knows if only Dante ran the Cafe, they'd be having tea parties every day instead of actually working.
"Nice what you did there! Corrine would be so grateful!" Jenna jumps to stand beside a dazed-looking Natalie, who sits slouchy on the stool on the worker's side of the counter.
"Yeah," Nat murmurs.
Jenna perks up when she sees Monika strolling towards the counter, clutching a serving tray.
She just comes out of the Exclusive corner of the Cafe; It is situated in the same cafe but a different unit. Different cooks, but the same waitresses.
"Hey, Moni!" Jenna says, "Nat just totally saved Corrine's botty,"
Natalie's cheeks turn red.
Jenna is simply exaggerating.
There is no big deal with what she did. True, this was the first time she spoke in a whole week—aside from greetings—but still... Hence, her embarrassment.
All Natalie wants to do is loosen her curls from its ponytail and seek refuge behind the comfort of her hair, instead, she flashes a little smile and turns back to the register.
Monika hums in reply and places the tray in the stack in the kitchen. She nods towards Natalie's direction in recognition.
"Where's Corrine anyway?"
"Troy came in to buy burritos," Jenna replies, adding air quotes in the 'burritos'.
"Oh, right. Troy,"
"I think something is going on! I'll be so mad if they're dilly-dallying without consulting me first." Jenna pouts childishly.
Monika scoffs, "You're not her mother. She can dilly-dally whomever she wants to dilly-dally with." She ends with an eye roll.
The 29-year old Latina mocks hurt with a loud gasp. She smacks Monika's arm with a playful glare.
A grinning Corrine skips in, later on, whispering to Jenna and Monika about what she was going to wear on Friday night. Turns out, her long-awaited crush asked her out.
Natalie is genuinely happy for her, who wouldn't be? Corrine is a walking bundle of giggles and hyperactivity and any man would be lucky to date her.
Dating.
That is a touchy subject for Natalie now.
She is practically back in the market now and she couldn't even acknowledge it. It took the slightly depressed woman three to four days for the fact that she's no longer someone's girlfriend to sink in.
The remainder of the day stretches and Natalie is eager to leave. The constant glances Monika threw her got her uncomfortable. Immediately it clocks 6 pm, Nat packs up her potable purse and almost zooms off the Cafe. The only thing that stops her is Corrine's voice.
"Hey! Natalie!"
'Oh, not again,' Natalie thought wearily before letting her grip on the door handle loosen. She turns slowly and smiles in question.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Um, do you have plans for the weekend?"
Natalie blinks suspiciously. She knows this line far too well. This is a scenario where one of them would ask for her plans for the weekend then invite her to hang out with them to which she declines. Same old. Same old.
"Yes. Yes, I do."
"Oh," Corrine pouts and Jenna walks up to the brunette and places a palm on her right shoulder. "I was thinking to invite you to hang out. You know, for saving my ass with Jeremy. I know you don't talk a lot, so this means so much to me."
Natalie bites her bottom lip.
Should she accept?
What were the pros and cons? The odds?
Her mind swirled at just the little question of whether to hang out with them or not.
Corrine looks sincerely and turning her down would make Natalie look like a cold bitch...
"I'm sorry, I'm busy tonight. Bye."
Off the Cafe, she flees.