1st of August. 3:40 PM
This day is just dull, well, maybe except for what happened earlier on the rooftop.
After Mr. Transferee guy threatened me, I kicked him right in his balls, and he kneeled down to the ground holding his manhood in pain.
"You're messing with the wrong person here," I said as I flick what is left of the stick and pressed my foot down over it. I walked away and didn't even dare to look back.
I went back to the classroom. A few minutes into the class, he still did not show up. I don't understand, but a part of me is worried. Worried because he might tell the Headmistress about our little encounter. I keep fidgeting my hands while overthinking what might happen next. I hate the fact that I am walking on eggshells at the university.
Finally, the bell rang for dismissal. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we go home early. That's why the girls earlier wanted to throw a party as soon as possible.
I grabbed my things and hurriedly went out of the room to avoid Valerie and the girls, but I failed because they were waiting at the door.
"Where do you think you're going, Queen?" Valerie asked. Oh, I could hear it in her voice that she wants me to slip up a few mistakes so she can drag me down.
"Grandfather just called earlier this lunch. He told me we will be having dinner," I said. I knew when I said "Grandfather," even Val cannot make me do what she wants me to do.
"Oh, okay. Well then, see you tomorrow?"
"See you tomorrow," I said and gave her a cheek-to-cheek kiss.
I rode the university's shuttle car and hurriedly walked out of the building where I came in this morning. Instead of taking a cab in front of the university, I walked a few more blocks away from it. As soon as I looked around and saw no students of the same university I go to, I called for a cab and told him to drop me off at the nearest station.
The city was filled with pollution and people walking the sidewalks. Busy with their phones or chatting with someone they know. Since it wasn't rush hour yet, the streets were not that full. The shade inside the car changes every time we pass by different buildings. I can only see a few trees and greens. It's unfortunate how the world ended with blacks, whites, and grays.
"We're here," the driver said, interrupting my existential thoughts. I gave my cash and left the cab. I joined the crowd of people going to the subway. If you're a first-timer in the city, you will get lost.
I took a bag from my usual storage box and then went to the public restroom to change. I tied my hair up in a ponytail, removed my makeup, and left with just a natural lip color and a flush of blush. I put on some fake glasses to desperately hide my identity.
I hopped on the next train to the Westside Coast. I rechecked the time on my phone, and I have thirty more minutes before my shift starts. I scroll through my Instagram account and check updates from my other socialite friends. I look into Valerie's Instagram story, and I see her hanging out with Chase in his hotel room? This girl can't just play a low profile. She loves the spotlight on her. A few minutes later, I felt a bit tired and took a short nap. I need to gather enough strength if I am to survive the night.
I was woken up by the sound of the squeaking train, and the nudge on my shoulder as people moved forward when the train stopped. Looking once again at my phone to check the time, I rushed out of the train and ran to a nearby building outside the subway station. I walked to the service staff door and knocked. I was surprised to see Ms. Ava, my supervisor, at the door.
"Thank God, you're finally here!" she said, pulling me inside. "Come on, hurry up and put up your uniform. A lot of people are about to come because it's almost rush hour." Oh yeah, I forgot. The entire café will be filled with students and employees from all over the place, but luckily not those who can identify me.
It's the usual here in the café. I am grateful for our branch manager, allowing me to work my shifts even after school during MWFs and on weekends. I need the money if I even want to live far from my mother.
Honestly, being independent was not part of the plan. I was already happy and content with my life before. I had all the money to buy whatever I wanted. Still, if I knew that this time would come to our family, then I should have chosen a different lifestyle before. If only that incident didn't happen, then all could have been well.
Karma's genuinely a bitch.
I usually go to the café to serve drinks and food to our customers, or I'm outside giving pamphlets of our fantastic menu. No one knows who I am here except Ms. Ava.
When I'm interviewed for the vacancy, I tried my best to keep my identity but failed horribly. Ms. Ava identified me right there and then. She told me that she knew immediately when I walked from the front door. I never asked how she knew me, but she assured me no one would know.
Here I'm known as Selene Davis, basically my Mom's maiden name. Since mom's maiden name is a bit common, it wasn't that hard to hide my identity.
"Selene! Go grab the order of table two, please," Ms. Ava said. It was so quick for her to call me by a different name. Sometimes, I tend to forget that I am known here as Selene.
I was almost finished dressing up when I realized I lost the pin with my name on it. I looked into my bag, but it was nowhere to be found, and a short flashback came to mind.
"Ugh! That guy. When he bumped me, it must have fallen off my bag," I whispered to myself.
"SELENE!! TABLE TWO!" Ms. Ava shouted. I hurriedly go along without thinking about the pin anymore. I just got to focus first on what is now, and that is my job.
It's already 9:00 PM, and an hour to go, I can finally go home. The tables were not that busy anymore compared to an hour before. The remaining people in the café just got out of their late shifts from work, and a few students were drinking their frappes.
I was back in the kitchen about to get the next batch of orders when I suddenly heard a glass break. I rushed towards the main area just to see Ms. Ava on the floor with the shattered glass. I walked towards her and asked, "Are you okay?" She only nodded. I could see tears welling up in her eyes. She could have hurt herself. I called the other girls to help Ms. Ava up.
"What seems to be a problem here?" I asked the guy who was in front of me. He has a muscular build like someone who goes to the gym and spends almost all of his time there. He reeks of alcohol. All I can do is breathe through my mouth.
"Are you insulting me, Miss?" he said with a popping vein just right beside his right eyebrow.
"Oh, no! I didn't mean to insult you, Sir. It is just that you reek of alcohol, and it is very uncomfortable. I didn't mean disrespect. Please forgive me," I said, bowing my head for an apology, yet suddenly I felt a hand gripping my hair. The only thing I could do was scream. The other staff wanted to help me out, but I put my hand out, gesturing them not to come close or the situation would worsen.
"You, bitch!" He said furiously. I was ready to accept his slap across my face when I felt his hand loosening his grip over my hair, yet to my surprise, I was pulled over to a man who is just a tad taller than me. I could not see his face because mine was buried in his chest, but when he spoke, his voice was familiar, "I think you should go, Sir. You are causing a scene here in the establishment, and I don't think that looks good on you when I call the cops since you reek of alcohol. You are drunk. You should go home," he said in annoyance but still in respect. I wanted to get loose from this familiar guy, but I failed because he was just too strong for me to handle.
I felt his hand taking his phone from his pocket and dialed a number in one hand. The phone rang, and I was about to laugh when I heard who he was calling, but he said, "Is this Precinct 55th? I wanted to call for a disturbance in the neighborhood. There are these men who are causing trouble--"
Before he could even finish his call for help, the other man who was with the one who hurt me told his boss to just go. They left the café after that little charade we just pulled off.
"Hey, Aunty. Sorry about that call. I will see you tonight. Bye," the familiar guy said without even waiting for his aunt's reply. I could honestly hear his aunt's furious tone on the other side of the call.
After that scene, I pulled the guy out of the café and into the back alley. I shoved him hard to the wall. He deliberately made his entire body light so I could drag him.
"What do you think are you doing? Are you stalking me?" I snapped at him, but he just laughed. Is he insulting me?
"Stalking you? Why would I? Do I know you?" He asked with a smirk on his face. Oh, I really wanna punch that smirking face off of him.
Then I realize, the fuck, Luna? Of course, he wouldn't know me. It was just a coincidence that he was in the same neighborhood where I am working. No one knows I am working here. He can't recognize me with this face in this uniform. Stupid Luna!!
"I--I…" I stammered, looking for the right answer. "I'm sorry. I think I mistook you for another person," I said, ducking my head down and walking back to the café, but before I could even get enough distance from him, he spoke.
"I'm surprised that our Queen B is working in a café far away from all the socialites and rich people."
I stopped walking. I froze. Did he figure out who I am? I couldn't think straight. Why did I have to confront him? I could have just acted grateful like any other staff would when being saved from a drunkard? My life is over. I thought I could still live at least being a Queen B, but I was wrong.
I could feel him walking up to me till he was already behind me. Suddenly, I feel a cold breeze touching my skin. I could still hear cars honking in the distance but a blur. I could only hear my heart beating fast and his steps getting closer and closer. I feel like I'm going to faint.
He grabbed my left hand, forcing my body to turn around to face him. I could see his face. His eyes reflected like glass as soon as the moonlight hit them. He placed his head over my shoulder and whispered to my ear, "I told you to be cautious of me. I'm not who you think I am."
His devious laugh made my stomach turn upside down. I cannot move nor say anything. All I was thinking was that I am done. The entire Greenfield University will finally know what has befallen Luna Harper's life.