I sleepily got up at around 6 am and checked my phone. There was a message from Draken, "The director decided that we're going to meet my friends at 8 am tomorrow at Sunflower Café."
I immediately jumped out of bed and started getting ready. Then took a relaxing bath, to help calm my soul. I let my hair down because it would be a disadvantage if I fought. Therefore, making me less likely to fight. Furthermore, I wore a simple white dress with a sun pattern, sun earrings and white sandal heels. I also decided to carry a small yellow purse and made sure to use my favourite perfume, Diptyque Fleur de Peau Eau de Parfum. 'Fleur' may be in the name, but this perfume doesn't actually have a floral scent. It smells like musk and pink peppercorns and amber all joining forces to create the perfect scent. It's clean and soft like a cotton shirt that's fresh from the dryer, yet sensual and warm like the perfect summer night. Making it my all-time favourite perfume.
I used it because it always puts me in a good mood when I smell it, and I'd be meeting Draken's other friends today. I might as well make a good impression.
After finally getting ready, it was already 7:30 am. I quickly topped the look off with some lip gloss, then ran downstairs to find Draken still in his pyjamas serving breakfast.
"You're not ready?" I asked confused.
"Hm?" He looked up, "Oh, wow. You look pretty, Rose."
"Thank you, but..."
"Oh, yeah! Your question. We aren't leaving until 9:30."
"The message said 8 am." I pouted.
"Yeah, but I know my friends. They can't be on time for anything unless their managers force them to be."
"Oh... sigh." I plopped into my seat. "Then, I rushed to get ready for nothing..."
"What is that perfume you are wearing? It's... intoxicating."
"Oh, it's Diptyque Fleur de Peau Eau de Parfum. I love it, but I only wear it on special occasions."
"This is a special occasion?"
"Yes, I'm meeting your friends for the first time. This is a big thing in friendships. Depending on my impression, we might end up integrating friend groups!"
"You'd have to have a friend group first." Draken pointed out.
"Gasp! I'm offended."
He laughed, "That aside, movie logic doesn't always apply to real life. They're a difficult bunch. Focus on getting along with them first."
"Alright! I'll try my best to be friends with everyone!" I said excitedly, then I paused and thought about that thing. "Except him."
"That's fine. Now eat before my food gets cold."
Breakfast was tasty as usual.
"You ever considered being a housewife because mwah." I did the chef's kiss thing with my hand.
"Maybe I can be your housewife."
"I mean, with this talent, you could be anyone's housewife."
"..." He stared at me blinking then said, "Never mind. I'm going to get ready now."
"Okay!"
"If you need me, I will be in the shower. You are welcome to come find me."
"Alright."
I swear I heard him mutter something, but I couldn't make it out.
"Huh?" I wanted him to say it louder.
But he yelled back, "Nothing!"
After an hour, Draken came down. He wore a pair of black pants and shoes, but an oversized yellow and white button-up with a few buttons on the top unbuttoned that was loosely tucked in and a white undershirt.
"Oh, we're matching! Sort of, but still, we're already matching like best friends!"
"Right... Best friends. That's definitely what I was going for..."
"Was it not?"
"No, yeah! That's definitely what I was aiming for!"
"But you sounded disappointed."
"What? No, you're imagining things. Anyway, let's go." Then I barely heard him mutter, "I give up."
I didn't understand what he meant, so I just chose to ignore it and followed him instead.
The director drove us there but when we got there the director said that he won't be joining us and that he already rented out the building so the cameras and microphones were already set up, and then he left.
"Rose, you can go in ahead of me. I have a problem to deal with quickly."
"Alright." And so I entered first.
There were already two girls sitting at the table in the centre. One of them was Pandora, she was on her phone. The other I had never seen before scoffed, then said, "Finally."
"Sorry, I'm late." I apologized.
"It's fine. Come here."
"I want an iced, Ristretto, 10 shot, venti, with breve, 5 pump vanilla, 7 pump caramel, 4 Splenda, AND poured, not shaken."
I stared at this girl, dumbfounded. She was short, maybe 4'11 and had shoulder-length brown balayage hair. Her face was round, and her cheeks looked pinchable as they still had baby fat. She had a cute button nose and eyes like teal crystals. Her rosy lips were full and dimples revealed themselves when she smirked at me.
She was adorable!
"Something spilt there and I would like it cleaned. Get the chair changed because it's uncomfortable. And I'm so god-damn hot! You should do something about that, too." However, her voice was not as cute it felt like that of a mature voluptuous woman, but the words she was using her heavenly voice to say were ruining her image.
I was upset that she thought I looked like a worker, even though I was all dressed up. Also, the fact that she would treat a worker like that rubbed me the wrong way. But I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.
"Oh! And since you used to be famous, you can sign your autograph on my cup. I'm sure you miss that feeling."
That was it. She knew exactly who I was and was treating me like this on purpose. I smiled as brightly as possible and said in the most pleasing voice I could muster, "Of course."
I went behind the counter and made a plain coffee. It was my first time making coffee, and I was quite proud of it. I carefully brought it over to the table and then placed it in front of her.
She stared at the drink then at me with the cutest angry face I'd ever seen, "What the hell is this? This is NOT what I ordered."
"I know. But it's what someone as plain and basic as you deserve." She may be unbelievably cute looking with a sexy voice, but her personality is as basic as it gets.
I continued, "In fact, saying that is disrespectful to the poor cup of coffee. At least the coffee is wanted. I am not your servant, and neither is anyone who works here. Everyone sits in these chairs, and no one has ever complained about anything before. As for you being hot, don't you think everyone else also feels the heat? You aren't special, so get off your high horse and think about the other humans who sacrifice hours of their day working here and dealing with people like you."
The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Who does she think she is to treat people like this? Especially people who make strawberry and basil ice-cream cake with meringue and pink peppercorns.
She dumped the let me remind you, BOILING HOT coffee I just made on the ground, "So what? They get paid to do it. I'm not getting paid to eat here, so you should sacrifice tooth and nail to make sure I am served adequately. So do your job right before I get the manager out here to deal with you."
Luckily, I instinctively jumped back, or my legs would have been scorched. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to fight this disrespectful mini Karen, but there were cameras I'd be made out to be the bad guy, and I'd be at a complete disadvantage. So, I continued my protest instead. At least some people will side with me.
"Hmph." I turned on my heel and went behind the counter.
I grabbed a cup and filled it halfway with ice, and then I hesitated. 'Should I really be doing this?' I thought to myself.
I looked back at the girl, and she was talking to her friend with a smug "I won." expression. Fuelled by rage, I filled the cup with cold water. I carefully walked over to the table, and then dumped the contents on her head.
She jumped up and screamed.
"Please enjoy. I made it with extra love." I smiled and winked.
"Do you want to get fired?!" She yelled.
"Who told you I worked here?"
"It's obvious that someone like you who fell off would only be able to do jobs like these in these disgusting little shops. Only rubbish like you work at places like these. And that's why little things like you should know your place and suck up to the people with money who pity you and use places like these." She came right up to me, but ironically her head barely reached my chest, so she didn't look as intimidating as she wanted to sound.
Anyway, she really pissed me off, so I slapped her. "That was for all the workers of this café. They aren't your little play things, they aren't your servants, and they most definitely aren't rubbish. And for your information, I don't work here. I'm the filming partner Draken mentioned."
After I mentioned Draken's name, Pandora looked up annoyed. The girl then suddenly threw herself onto the ground.
Just then, two guys enter. Pandora immediately jumps up. "How could you?! You just got a chance to redeem yourself, and you're already bulling others???" She accused me.