"Here's your change, Ma'am. Please let us assist you if you ever have any concerns. Thank you!" I said politely, smiling excessively to the customer, who's at the counter with me, ordering peacefully.
My name is Kaiden (Kay-then). I mostly do hard work on my temporary job and school. I work here at the cafe as a barista, only for weekdays. Luckily, I somehow love my part-time job since I enjoyed making and brewing some coffees and other stuff that I can do here inside the cafe. About the school, I'm currently studying for a bachelor of science in Entrepreneurship at a famous university here in the City of Capital. About my parents, they died of a major accident from the helicopter that flew off and got crashed due to technical errors. The company from my dad's got shut down after the incident, and even I couldn't handle it as a very inconsistent person before. So what left is that he gave his property worth about 250 million pesos to my bank account. My auntie named Marites, took care of me after the crash from 5 years ago when I started there to move out for college ten days ago. I give 50% of the money left to Auntie Marites because she deserves it from being diligent and responsible, and I hope she'll use it in a timely matter.
For now, you can imagine me in a school uniform with my long khaki canvas apron, currently working at the cafe at 6:30 pm. I'm working because I wanted to be fully independent without touching my parents' money, and I know this will be a tough challenge by only spending from what I earned.
"Kaiden!" Jaime shouted excessively with excitement after pushing the two-way wooden door with massive force while welcoming himself in. It results in a banging sound effect that totally shocks some of my customers.
Oh yeah. About my friends, Jaime is my only one. Jaime and I met and became friends ever since we were in childhood. Jaime and their mom were once my neighbor and moved out to this City before me. Because of Jaime's mom, who she will be marrying a wealthy and healthy foreigner, and their mom also decided that Jaime will be studying there.
After Jaime knew that my parents died from the accident, they immediately decided to check up on me every day while I was in the hometown with my auntie despite the time that we haven't seen each other for years. At first, I was surprised that Jaime still remembers me, which got their lead to find me on social media. We used to talk through phone calls and tell each other about how my and Jaime's day was.
As of 10 days ago, the day before our first day of college at the university and where I finally got here to study, Jaime and I have finally met together and became super duper close again. Their worries began to ebb after seeing me in an excellent condition. However, Jaime continuously checks on me every day still, especially before the class and after my work shift at the cafe.
Jaime is a boy, and they had a boy's name before, and it was James. However, if you can see Jaime, they always dress in a girl's uniform, and everyone in the school is okay with it, including me. I didn't ask about their sexuality because I already assumed it by myself. But about the pronouns, the best thing to do is to ask the person. When I asked Jaime once, Jaime said they wanted to be called with "they/them/their" pronouns for some practical matter, and I respect that since there is nothing wrong with it as long you treat the person with respect.
Please don't make assumptions because they might want them to refer to different pronouns. Simply ask if you're going to talk to them :D
"Jaime..." I spoke and smiled awkwardly. My eyes shift on each occupied table while slowly waving my hand in the midair. For some reason, I am worried that the customers, some of them can be hard to deal with, might complain to my partner, which can also fire my part-time job.
Jaime stands on the counter with me as I'm in charge of today's shift, "How's your day, Kaiden? But before you answer that, have you sense anything different?" Jaime asked gently, staring at their phone mirror and my eyes alternatively.
"Uhm, let me guess..." I stare at Jaime from head to toe. "Nothing else is new except your make-up, Am I right? And my day at school went great, I somehow got confused at first, but I bought some time to understand it for tomorrow's quiz," I responded genuinely, smiling in tightly-lipped after.
Jaime puts their hand on the chest as a gesture to feel proud, "Aweee, That's good to hear. And yes, I just had my make-up, so what do you think?"
"I must say... that you look prettier than before." I honestly compliment Jaime, with my eyebrows are lifted and filled with amazement.
Jaime shows their left hand with the universal gay hand gesture as they feel flattered of themselves and feel speechless simultaneously, "Oh Kai... I-I appreciate it." Jaime softly told me with my nickname, smiling radiantly, and I smiled back without exposing my teeth.
Oh dang, I'm still on duty
I realized that Jaime should be ordering by now. I look at Jaime's back, and I feel so screwed from leaving my responsibilities that I should focus on working instead. Because the customer's line instantly fueled up from the last time I check Jaime's back and talk about my best friend's stuff. "Oh Jaime, aren't you ordering anything?"
"Oh right, just my usual Kaiden," Jaime gently responded. "Probably we will talk later at my table Kaiden," Jaime smiles, leaving the counter to the empty table after they paid their order.
"All right." I wave briefly and continue to get back to working on my duty. I shifted my eye to the next customer, and I kindly asked for her order, "Sorry for the long wait. What can I get for you?"
Thirty minutes had passed to 7 pm, and it is time to end my today's shift. I firstly asked my partner Kenneth for permission to leave, and he quickly agreed. So I wear off my working apron and begin checking my stuff before moving to Jaime. I get to make my matcha latte first before leaving, and this serves me for free just because I'm a worker here at the cafe, and I only do this sometimes.
This is what I called a privilege that is very worth it :D
Jaime lives in the same dormitory as me but different solo dorms. So all the time, we go home together by taking a chance to walk, where it all depends on the weather and good thing it's not raining for now.
I move to Jaime's table, seeing them smiling over their phone. Memes, perhaps.
"Jaime, I'm sorry for the wait. I just finished my today's shift, and maybe we can talk while heading home? "I asked for forgiveness and started making it up for them.
Jaime immediately shifted their eye at me, "Nah... don't be sorry, I had observed that there were a lot of customers, so I understand." Jaime stood up and began picking up their lady-side bag and ready to go, "Let's start moving!" Jaime holds my right arm with their left arm tightly and locks it together before moving out.
Since we are now on the sidewalk on the highway, cars are just passing by, and stores are closing down. Where here, sometimes going in the streets at this early night alone, is somehow dangerous.
"So I saw this on Facebook, where the famous and rich student is now official to enroll at our university, haven't you heard of that?" Jaime started a conversation.
"Not yet till now, tell me about it, Jaime," I said, smiling tightly-lipped in high intensity.
"Oh, why don't you install Facebook before we start?" Jaime said
"You know that I don't have time for that, Jaime, and besides, I see nothing essential about social media, no offense." I genuinely responded.
"Fine, let's talk about him." Jaime excitedly starts discussing.