"Mr.Sid, I am very grateful to you. Thank you so much for having faith in me" I said,
"Why don't you stay with me at my house?" Mr.Sid asked a question Which I had only one thing to answer with.
"That's so kind of you but don't want to trouble you" he had already done a lot by giving a job at his cafe and changing me into a cute self.
"Nah! It's fine. Having a kid like you in a home is quite as much as a blessing" Said Mr.Sid, as he walked out of the studio. I followed him to his car.
" Sorry, Nire I can't drop you off. I need to go somewhere else as soon as possible" He said
"It's okay. I will go on my own from here," I said bending my upper body a little in a respectful manner.
"Okay, then see you tomorrow " with a slight smile on his face he said and left with the car. I watched him until the car was nowhere to be seen in the crowded city.
——-
Mr. Sid had appointed me to do part time job from 5 pm to 6 pm. I don't know why but he called this time slut 'Golden Hours' I guessed more customers arrived there at that time.
Later I get to realized while walking back to my dorm, that one Ad agency was close to our cafe.
"You can take Saturday and Sunday off but if you like to work overtime then you may work on weakened as well it will advance your paycheck" I was dressed in my usual outfit with this cafe's apron on, listening to Manger Oak.
"Hi, I am Tu Jun" he had a pearl white face, oval face, and cherry red lips
"You got beautiful eyes" sharp eyes on the glamorous face, a female barista complimented my eyes as she walked past me and dropped the tray on the counter. Gazing at me with wondering eyes she continued "New right?"
"Umm"
"Hi I am Him Ram" forwarded her hand to me,
"I am Nire Roy" I smiled and shock hands with her, she seemed to have a friendly nature
After getting burned by the coffee machine several times, I finally learned how to use it.
"Have a lovely day" with that it was the 11th customer, and my cheeks had started hurting because of smiling continuously [now I understand your pain laughing Buddha] I said in my mind.
"Tired?" Tu Jun with a smile came and sit beside me, at this hour few people were entering the cafe. The remained were mostly college students.
"will get used to it"
"Okay then my shift is over" Ham Rim took off her apron, hung it on the hook, and left the cafe.
It was me and Tu Jun alone handling the cafe, suddenly the atmosphere seems to be changing. After serving Espresso to young students sitting at the table, I glanced at the entrance of the cafe.
The thin line of eyeliner was making his sharp eyes look stunning Pink lipstick went well with the outfit he was wearing. Although he had piercing on both ears, the black rings didn't make him look evil instead they complemented his look.
I remind staring at the guy who just entered the cafe.
[Nire, Ignore him] my bran told me and I divert my attention from the guys.
He greeted every person in the cafe with a heartwarming smile, to my surprise everyone even Tu Jun seemed to feel blessed as the guy glanced at them one by one. When he was about to look me this way I turned my head to another side as if I was busy.
"Americano and a crape cake" was the guy's order, he was sitting on the other table chattering with his man who came along with him.
"What's your name?" As I placed his order on the table he asked. I was still avoiding eye contact you know they say having eye contact with someone as attractive as him for more than 7 seconds can make you fall in love with them.
"Why should I tell you my name?" I said and walked away, It seemed that the angel was getting annoyed for some reason. He stood up and said something to Tu Jun and exit the cafe with a grumpy face
"Nire what did you do?" Tu Jun said running to me with a worried face on
"What? Tried to ignore some people"
"Nire, Si Si'U is not a random guy. He is the face of the A.I.R brand and singer of the Destiny band."
"So?"
"Oh Nire, He who come you ignore such a talented star."
"Well…" I kept on searching for the reason. Maybe his Sharp eyes weren't sharp enough to stamp my heart or It was my poor heart that still wishes for love after getting humiliated by Punnet.
The next day, I was working a bit late. Tu Jun and Ham Rim had already left the cafe as their shift were over and now It was only me who was serving the approached customer. Soon after I washed my makeup as my shift was now about to over.
"Makeup makes a huge difference," I said to myself as I gazed at the mirror which was reflecting my ugly self. I should accept It, I should accept that without makeup on I'm worth nothing more than a trash bin Whoever comes by throws jokes at me making themselves cool and making me feel sorrow.
Suddenly, I heard the doorbell ring I glanced at my watch. It was 10 pm. At this hour who can come just to drink coffee.
"Hello how can-" I stood stunned It was the same person as yesterday. It was Si Si'u glancing at me with bored eyes. [Nire put your mask on].
"Who are you?" before I could even make a move he asked. he said who are you. WHO ARE YOU. [Thank you, god, he doesn't recognize me].
"I asked Who are you ?"
"Oh, I am... Jay "
"Nice to meet you Jay" He forwards his hand to me for handshake, we shook hands followed by smiles he then continued " Are you going to close the shop?"
"Yeah,"
"Oh"
"But I can take your order"
He smiled and made a thoughtful face, he then continued " Americano"
He said and waited patiently as I made his order. The cafe once again filled with the aroma of coffee steam, I turned on Music so that he can enjoy himself in the cafe while I mope the floor.
"Where do you Live?" he asked me as I served his order on the table along his side.
"Sir, We are not allowed to give our personal information to customers. Sorry" I apologized and sat on the other chair; opposite of him
All of sudden my phone began to make noise overcoming the bit of slow music in the cafe. I answered the call,
"Hello," From the other end my mom spook, It was 10 pm here in Seoul which meant would be 1 am in Nepal. Mother can Sacrifice anything just for her child, It was true. My mom to whom sleep mattered the most woke up just to talk with me.
We had a normal conversation but It was now special to me, Maybe because I wasn't getting to hear her screaming at me to make me do this and that. Now, I understand How sweet Mom's voice was. My mom was asking me the usual quotations which contain worry in them.
"Okay mom, I won't sleep empty stomach nor will eat junk food."
"Good night dear," she said and hung up the call
"Where Are you from?" He again asked the question in a different way, and he was amazed.
"Which Language were you speaking?"
"I am from the place where the light of Asia was born, I was speaking the language which is known as the daughter of Sanskrit language"
"Now you are talking in raddles," he said as I walked to take the cup
"I am not gonna repeat myself" I began to clear the mess on the table, cakes crumbs were all over the spot. I must admit that he was a messy eater.
I cleaned the area and the mug and kept it on the shelf where all the others were hung. Meanwhile, the other mean didn't show any sign of hurry. Was he waiting for me? I asked that question while keeping the apron in its own place.
Yesterday, when I was new we had a terrible meet but today when I was my usual self and you are pretending nice to me.
He exited the cafe after placing some amount on the top of the counter, he smiled before leaving. I kept in and closed the cafe. His appearance was like that silence that occurs after a storm. The clear sky was the replica of his eyes and his pink lips were the color of light autumn.
"Where is that other guy?"