"Welcome!" I shouted cheerfully as the bell on the door jingled, indicating a new customer. I decided to take on a part-time job at a cafe while studying to reduce the workload for my aunt. I mean, she used up so much of her life savings just to let me go to college; The least I could do was to help her with the household funds.
"Seline! I didn't know you were working here!" A voice I'd gotten used to resonated throughout the cafe.
I looked up surprised. Dylan, in a casual light blue shirt and black jeans, came through the door and headed straight for me. He wasn't alone though. He was with a girl who looked around our age but was much shorter than Dylan. She was very thin and had short, choppy hair with a dark brown cap pressed firmly over.
"Jen, Seline. Seline, Jen. Jen and I have known each other for almost 10 years now, she's like my diary already. Jen, I met Seline in college, she's a really nice girl." Dylan immediately introduced us when we came into proximity.
"Hi Seline, it's so nice to meet you. You're really pretty." She held out her hand in greeting. Despite her tomboy-ish outward appearance, her voice was really soft and angelic.
I blushed in response to her words. "Oh no no no, please don't say that! It's nice to meet you too, Jen!" I took her hand gently and shook it. Her hand felt so small and delicate in mine.
"Now that we've gotten the formalities over and done with, can we please have some cake? I'm craving for sweetzies." Dylan whined impatiently beside us.
"Okay, okay, Mr Whiney. I'll go get some cake for you guys right now. Go grab a seat first." I rolled my eyes at Dylan and smiled at Jen before heading towards the kitchen at the back of the cafe.
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"Chocolate velvet cake with double serving of black forest and caramel sauce!" I placed the two plates of goodness in front of them.
"Wooow." Dylan widened his eyes in excitement. "I like the sound of that." He lifted his utensils up in the air, but not before passing Jen hers.
"Such a gentleman." I teased.
"Whaaaat. I have always been a gentleman."
"Really." I lifted my left eyebrow at him.
"Such lies." Jen chimed in from across the table.
"What, are you two in cahoots now?" Dylan pouted indignantly, pointing his fork at me and his spoon at Jen.
Both of us burst out laughing.
"Do you come to our school, Jen?" I asked her out of curiosity.
"No, I don't. I'm not schooling actually." She gave me a small smile.
"Oh, are you working then?"
"No actually. I'm not in good health so I just rest at home most of the time."
"Oh! I'm so sorry to hear that. I really hope you get well soon." And you just had to talk about that, Seline, I mentally slapped myself.
"Aaaand the topic has become so gloomy." Dylan interrupted us. "Can we eat our cake now?" Dylan stared at Jen and then at me with a bored expression.
I gave Dylan an apologetic look before standing up. "Sure, sure. Shall leave you guys alone now. Got to go back to work anyway." I smiled at Jen and turned to go back to the kitchen.
"Wait, Seline!" Dylan called out to me.
I stopped and turned around. "What is it?"
"Remember the party tomorrow! And thanks for the cake." Dylan gave me a wink before going back to devour the rest of his cake.
"Yeah, yeah." I rolled my eyes at him and made my way back to the kitchen. I had been trying not to think about the party these few days. I mean, no matter how much you think about it, me and party just don't click together. Like oil and water. Or coke and mentos. Or religion and religion. I took a deep breath. I'm only going because of Dylan. I sighed inwardly. Can't wait for tomorrow to be over.
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