I STARED at the text again. Nothing.
I turned to Anna, "He must be very annoyed." "He has every right to. I mean, if I wasn't aware of your condition, I'd have despised you a long time ago. I'd just assume you keep making silly excuses to cancel our outings because you've got beef with me or maybe you don't want to be around me..."
"..Why don't you want to come out to him? It'll make things easier, you know?"
I rubbed my left palm against my right arm, "I do. I just don't want him to know I have a weakness as weird as this. Plus, to him, it might just seem like another silly excuse."
"Hopefully, you have tomorrow to make up for today, if your freaking boss doesn't make you take overtime again." "But look at the bright side. At least, I'm getting extra on my pay." "And you'll keep risking it even as it costs you your relationship?"
I sighed and stood up from the bed, checking the time, "I'm just tired at this point. I just want to get out of college and gain my ground in fashion design. Then, I won't have to worry about this dang cafe no mo'."
I picked up my white office bag from the bed, "I'm off to work now."
Annabel got up also and picked the black tote bag that matched her sleeveless top.
The sleeveless top was cropped and displayed a vertical temporary tattoo on her waistline that spelled out Alive. To go with this top, she had worn a pair of baggy blue Denim Jeans and Nike shoes.
"I'll drop you off," offered she. "Don't you have somewhere to be right this moment? You really don't have to-" "It can wait. Plus, I want to drop you off," she silenced.
"Thank you."
I tried to look into the mirror but Anna dragged me out of the hostel and over to her car.
{~~^~~}
I walked into the cafe and met Adrian attending to a group of customers.
He sure is dedicated.
"Hey," I heard him say just as I walked past the counter.
I froze in my tracks and turned back to face him who was now back to attending to the customers. I rose my eyebrows as my eyes widened.
Was he talking to me?
"Hello," I responded, crossing my fingers.
Adrian turned around and smiled, slowly squinting his eyes in glee.
I walked into the backroom with my hands over my mouth, trying not to show my reddened chocolate cheeks to the judgy kitchen.
Picking up my apron and tag, I fastened them on. Clara had called earlier to inform me that she wouldn't make it because she had something more important to do.
I sighed.
I didn't know we could do that.
I walked back into the main cafe. The music trying to come in was blocked by the transparent walls of the cafe and could only be heard in hushed tones.
I let it soothe me as I cleared up the tables and placed the used coffee mugs in the dishwasher.
Watching how more exhausted people trooped in as I walked out of the backroom with clean cups, I inwardly sighed.
Seems the party is on fire. Why don't they serve drinks there? Dumbass planners.
I stared outside and noticed the blinding colorful lights coming not too far ahead. The rush continued in the cafe, not slowing until after an hour.
I picked up my phone and scrolled over to Thomas's inbox. Staring at the unreplied text for so long, I felt my eyes should have compelled him to pick up his phone and think again about his girlfriend on read.
I looked at the time.
8.30 PM.
By now, I'd have probably been in that nice restaurant with him and everything would be alright.
I sighed and stared around the empty cafe before going on with the cleaning alongside Adrian.
He surprised me. I sure did get my hopes up when he started the exchanging of pleasantries. After that, he spewed nothing to me. Maybe he did that because he didn't want to seem rude.
The bell softly jingled and Adrian and I simultaneously raised our heads.
The lady was dressed in a nude turtle neck, blue Jeans, and matching nude sandals.
She walked into the cafe with a daring aura as she creased her forehead. Stomping all the way to where I stood, she got hold of the collar of my shirt and pulled me to herself.
"You whore! You're Wendy, aren't you?"
A strong scent of chicken drew into my nostrils. I frowned at her.
What the hell is going on?
I had wanted to slam her face on the table beside us but I didn't want to lose my job just yet. So, I turned to Adrian. Surely, he could use his manpower to get her off of me gently.
Adrian tried to take a few steps towards us to release me from her grasp but was halted to a stop as the lady weaved her glare at him.
She shook her index finger briskly towards him, "Uh-uh-uh! It's between me and this bitch, young man."
Having no other option, Adrian swiftly headed for the manager's office.
"I didn't even do anything to you!" I yelled at her, trying to gently push her hand off my now-wrinkled collar.
"Babe, stop this!"
My eyes shone in horror as I watched Devin step into the cafe; it all dawned on me.
I sighed, "Ma'am, I see what happened. I can expla-"
The lady pushed me off before my words could even get to her.
"Get me any coffee, stat!"
I picked up from the floor and held my eyes to the ground, "To go?"
"What the hell do you mean to go? Do I look like someone in the mood to go?"
Fuck this woman. Fuck this establishment. Why the hell will someone advance me like this and I won't be able to defend myself? What sort of foolishness is this?
I staggered off to the counter and poured out some caffeine.
This lady seems like she needs sleep. Why is she taking coffee?
I placed the black coffee-filled cup on a tray and walked over to the seated couple. Devin was talking to her, obviously trying to calm her down as she kept on fuming like she could bring out fire from her nostrils.
She got up and approached me as she saw me walk toward them. Grabbing the hot coffee, she dunked every single drop on my head.
I shrieked and let go of the tray as the hot liquid rolled down my neck and unto my white shirt.
I could feel my skin almost peel off my skin as the burn never subsided.
"Fuck!" I screamed as I held my head.
"Babe!" Devin yelled at his girlfriend before trying to rush over to me. She stuck out her arms sideways, restraining his movement, "Don't you dare, Devin. You wouldn't want to lose your job."
She turned to me as I tried to hold in my tears, seething my teeth instead.
I swear to God, I hate this job!
"Let this be a lesson to you and whoever is planning on following your dirty footsteps. Stop stealing other people's boyfriends, go get yours. And if you already have one, I'm sorry for him. Leave my boyfriend alone, you slut! Get a life," she shoved me and I bounced on the ground, the force throwing my glasses off my face.
Adrian rushed over to me to help me back up, picking my glasses from the floor. He stood directly in front of me.
She was about to head for the door when Mr. Lenin called out to her.
"We are deeply sorry for the trouble our worker may have caused you. Apologize at once, Miss. Davis!"
I bowed my head and clung unto the hem of Adrian's shirt as tears dropped unto the tiles. I couldn't utter a word even if I tried. The pain she caused me was excruciating, yet I was the bad guy in the story.
"Babe!" Devin yelled out for the umpteenth time.
Is that all you can do? All the help you can offer?
"You better shut your ass up!" She snarled at him.
I watched her hold unto Devin's hand and drag him out of the cafe. My gaze met with that of Thomas, who stared at me dead in the eye without a hint of smile on his face.
I stared back with my watery out-of-focus eyes.
Can today get any worse?
"Miss. Davis, step into my office. Mr. Pullay, the customer." "I'm not her to purchase anything," Thomas shot at my manager before turning to me, "Meet me in the car."
He walked out of the cafe and I, to Mr. Lenin's office, trailing behind him.
"Tell me, what really happened?" He asked as we settled down.
I spoke amidst sniffles, "T-The lady was once here with that guy. Later, the man saw me on my way home and asked for my number. I agree we got close but I swear, I never made any advancement towards him, and neither did he to me."
He handed me a box of tissues as tears refused to cease from sliding down my cheeks.
"It's alright, Miss. Davis. Next time, be very careful about things like this. Since you had seen that he was with someone, you shouldn't have given him your number. I wouldn't want such happening to my staff, guilty or not. I would have reported this to the police if I had known sooner but you know, I didn't. What had occurred to me was the fact that the customer is always right and for that, I am awfully sorry."
I nodded, sniffling.
"I'll inform the higher authorities about this and surely, you will be compensated. Don't bother about work for the rest of today. Just go home and treat yourself. You may leave when you're ready."
I stood up and walked out if his office, trying not to think of the aching burn on my head. I stepped into the main cafe, meeting Adrian who was now mopping the coffee-stained floor.
I held my hands in front of me, "I'm so sorry for burdening you like this." He looked up at me, "It's alright. It's not your fault anyway. Are you feeling alright? The coffee was quite hot." "I'm fine," I looked away from him.
"Do you have something to change into?" I shook my head in the negative. "I can give you my hoodie if you don't mind." "I'd like that very much. Thank you."
He trailed me into the back room and handed me a grey hoodie from his locker before heading out for me to get changed.
I pulled off my nametag and apron, opening my locker to place them in when I met my glasses laying peacefully in my locker
I thought this was gone for good.
I kept it, alongside my wet shirt, in my bag after changing into Adrian's hoodie. I walked out of the backroom, clinging unto my bag.
"Thanks once again, Adrian." "Sure. Take care of yourself."
The bell softly jingled as I walked out of the cafe.
...
..
.