Once again, here I am at the counter. I've already done my morning tasks and now I'm waiting for you-know-who to get here. I really wish there was more going on here, but as I mentioned yesterday that's not very likely. Luckily, I remembered to charge my phone so at least I have SOMETHING to do. Hm...actually, now that I think about it, there's not much to do on my phone either! There's no new shows to watch, I'm too OP in all my mobile games, I've refreshed every single tab I have open 5 times, there is quite literally nothing! I sigh and play around with the soundboard app I downloaded. It's probably the most interesting thing in my life at the moment. But hey, maybe I could go to deli? Any food there would be better than my fifty cent ramen for sure. Then again, if I can only spend fifty cents on my breakfast, lunch, and dinner I probably can't afford anything they're selling.
Speaking of ramen, there's a fridge in the employee break room that has a cup I stashed away. I probably should take it before another one of my peers does. I walk to the break room and start rummaging through the fridge. I thought about taking a lemon-lime soda since someone had left a pack, but I (half-heartedly) resisted the temptation. Once I get the ramen, the most I can do to cook it is to leave hot water running into it. It's still a bit crunchy when it fully cooks, but last time I tried to microwave the water it...didn't exactly work out. When the water noodle-ifies the noodles I turn off the tap, but as I turn to grab a spoon I notice something wrong.
I thought I heard something. Drip...drip...drip... . I look at the sink and check around the pipes, and then that's when I see it. One of the pipes is dripping water! Oh no, what happened? It was perfectly fine before I cooked my food. Holy carp, maybe I broke it! What do I do? I don't want my boss being mad at me! I don't want them to pay more for repairs and water damage! I can't call the plumber (reason being I'm broke). How do I fix it...-hey, that's it! I'll fix it! I mean, I did fix my kitchen sink all by myself! Granted, I had to call my neighbor to help me halfway through, but I like to think I did most of the work! I'm not sure if they have tools here though.
But at that moment, I heard the front door ding open. I rush over to the counter with my noodles to greet the customer. Actually, this is the only time I'm glad it wasn't a unique customer. "Hey, Topaz! Great to see ya." I giggle, "I thought you weren't coming today?" I can see the pain and stress on her face after the last sentence. "Haaa, yea, it's-" she sighs, "A long story.." "Awe, that's too bad. Couldn't you have messaged me though?" I asked. "Message..message..." she mutters and pats her pockets. Her pain and stress turns to pain, stress, and anger as she curses under her breath, "I knew I forgot something.." I frown at her dismay, "Well, at least you're here now! I'll call you an cab later." "Oh, thanks..!" she tries her best to sound thankful through all her tiredness. Topaz goes to sit in her normal seat. I eat my noodles...
WAIT- No, geez. "Hey, Topaz!" I shout. "Ngh...yea..?" she groans. "You got a multi tool?" I ask. She looks like the type of person that would carry a weapon on her, whether it's for self defense or to stab someone and rob them. Y'know, I've kinda assumed she was an ex-convict. Hey, focus Mistral! She rolls her eyes and grabs one out of her pocket, "Of course, I bring this and not my phone.." "Well, can I borrow it?" I walk over to the break room and wait for Topaz to respond. She tosses it to me- I pick it up when I miss the catch. "Thanks!" I go to the faucet to complete my quest. I would've thought Topaz would've asked why I asked for it, but I don't think she cares. I start investigating the pipes of the sink. They're the exposed types of pipes so I don't have to crawl around in a cabinet like an insect. I start trying to screw in the loose pipe, but looking at it, it wasn't properly alined with the other pipes. I try using my raw strength to bend it the pipe in the right direction, but with my wimpy arms it's no use. Then, using my big brain, I decide to unscrew it and to screw it back in place correctly. As I start work on the screws, the dripping gets more...intense. I back away from the waterfall of dripping water. I wave the pocket knife at the water as if to dispel the evil demon lurking in the pipes.
The evil water demon must've got really offended, because at that moment the loose pipe flew across the room and all the water started gushing out! In a moment of panic, I run over and try to use my apron to clog it. It works...for about a second. After a few seconds little droplets of water start leaking through. I guess Topaz must've heard too. She peaked inside the room, "Hey, Mistral is everything o- OH HOLY-" I can't decide whether to laugh or cry, "Erm...could you call a repairman-?" She closes the door and I can hear her running around to find my phone. The water starts getting a little too much, too much to the point I start shoving my foot into the pipe. Eventually, she bursts into the room with fidgety hands holding my phone, "What's the number?" Geez, I can't remember the number...uh..- I know it began with a 9? Maybe the next number was a zero...what was the jingle to that commercial again? "Uhm...". Topaz looks at me with annoyance, "You really don't remember?!" I'm kinda scared from her anger, but I push through my fear, "Whatever! It's saved in my contacts." I tell her my password and she dials the number. I don't really know what's she saying since I'm too sad my favorite pair of Vans is getting all soggy. I bet it was- kinda embarrassing to explain. Not for her, but for me. Probably saying something along the lines of, "Oh, it's nothing! It's just my IDIOT of a best friend broke a pipe doing whatever idiot best friends do with pipes and now we're all gonna drown!" Maybe not, actually... Yea, there would be more cursing and sighs for sure.
I'm glad she didn't leave me in the dust, and I'm glad she's not as big of an idiot as me. She assessed the situation, grabbing a small trash can from the corner of the room. "Move your foot!" she shouted, ready to switch it out for the can. That's when we ran into another problem. "Uh..." I kept trying to pull my foot out to no avail. Topaz caught along and put down the can, now trying to help me release my foot from the clutches of the water demon. Hey! At least Topaz is more awake, right? ...Poor girl-
Luckily, after 30 or so minutes the plumber finally came. I wonder what went through his mind, watching an annoyed vampire trying to help pull the leg of a fabulous pink fairy out of a pipe. Nonetheless, we managed to get my foot released and fix the pipe. Thankfully, Topaz agreed to help pay the fines, that gorgeous glowing saint. I obviously still had to pay half of the fee, and I felt my wallet scream in agony as I paid up. Topaz and I mopped up all the water and returned the break room to its less than average state. As I promised, I ordered Topaz a cab (which only made my wallet scream louder) and profusely apologized to her until the moment she stepped in the cab. Before they left, she rolled down the car window and spoke to me. "Eh, today wasn't 'the greatest'..." she said. I felt the apologies building up again. She continued, "But it wasn't...completely awful- wow, that's surprising..." I couldn't tell if that was sarcasm, but I lightly smiled anyways. "And, y'know, the music you sent me wasn't half bad! But that's kinda a yesterday thing..." she smiled. She rolled up the window and the cab started driving off. I waved bye to her up until the car was out of my sight.
-For carps sake, I gotta make it up to her.