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Luna's POV
'Wong's BBQ joint'
My hard gaze captured the lettering at the glass door of the small food area, my nose already picking up on the all too familiar savoring air of Mrs. Wong's famous local soup, the mouth watering scent of meat on the griller, and the reek of alcohol.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the glass door, welcoming the noise and warmth of the small eatery.
Customers usually pile in after work hours in groups for work dinner, some students and others friends and families eating out, but even if it was just 5pm, the place still has a fair amount of customers.
Heading for the door behind the front counter, I tuned in on the old but high pitched voice of Mrs. Wong beckoning me over, immediately noting she must have seen through my facade and making a quick turn for her office door instead.
The 45 years old woman pulled me inside her small office the moment I got close enough as she inspected my unsuspecting form, trying to read the lightest trace and change of emotions in my hard eyes.
"You're two hours early for your shift" she spoke softly "what happened?"
"I got fired" I shrugged effortlessly
"From Bao's restaurant?"
"And the convenience store" I corrected.
"Oh, you poor thing" Mrs. Wong pulled me to her chest. "You've been working so hard, are you okay?".
"Of course, why wouldn't I be okay" I relaxed into her caring hold, shutting my eyes as a sigh left my lips
"I'm fine".
"Don't work until your shift starts, okay? You can sleep here until then, don't worry, I'll increase your pay while you search for other jobs"
"Business has been good recently because of the recipe you taught me for the new soup menu" she rambled as she ruffled my hair before letting go of the hug and leaving me alone.
I sighed, opening my eyes, my hard facade dropping for a moment as I dropped to Mrs. Wong's soft chair and relaxing into it as I slowly drifted off with a sniff in my short moment of peace.
...
"Two servings of soup and one bottle of beer for table 3!!!!"
"5 bottles of beer and more Barbecue for table 8!!"
"We need another glass at table one!!"
I was quick on my feet, to and fro with trays as rowdy customers barked out their orders.
Serving the new glass for table one, I moved back to the counter for the five bottles of beer and barbecue for table 8.
Mrs. Wong's work uniform made my job easier as it was much more flexible. A pair of blue jeans trouser, a red T-shirt and matching red apron that I retrieved the bottle opener from after serving the drinks at table 8, about to leave when a cold hand held mine.
I looked down to recognize the man who had pestered me a week before to accompany him to a motel and I internally recoiled in disgust.
Plastering on a fake smile, I asked "can I help you with anything else?"
The pervert smiled sickly at me "we're going to need shot glasses".
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I had already emptied two beer bottles while pouring shots for the group at table 8 and I could still feel the perverts piercing gaze on me from across the table even if I never looked up.
On the fourth bottle when I had to move to the other end of the table to fill the cups, I felt his disgusting hand on my hip that quickly moved to squeeze on my butt causing me to shriek and drop the bottle of beer, and on instinct, turning to punch him on the nose as I let out curses.
The adrenaline leaving me in shock of what I had done as I spotted the pervert on the floor with a bleeding nose and Mrs. Wong hurrying to the scene, pulling me behind her as she questioned
"What happened here!".
"This slut!" My assaulter got up, pointing an accusingly crooked finger at me. "Assaulted me for no reason".
"You must have done something to make her hit you, my Luna is never violent" Mrs. Wong shouts back as the attention of every table was pulled to the scene.
"Fangyi" my assaulter turned to the people at his table. "You saw what happened, did I do anything to her?"
"No"
'Liars' I thought 'you clearly saw him grope me'.
"Luna, what did he do?". Mrs. Wong turned to me, my whispered response causing her to gasp in shock as she burst out in flames, turning back to the group of men
"She said you harassed her??!!"
"You swill! You assault me and accuse me wrongly? Everyone saw you punch me" the pervert came forward with his hands raised causing me to flinch behind Mrs. Wong who challenged
"You touched her you pervert!"
"Did any one see me do anything inappropriate to her?" He asked the crowd that had already abandoned their food to get cold as they let out choruses of "No's" except a young girl alone at a corner with her phone.
"That's not possible!" Mrs. Wong tried defending but was cut off by my assaulter
"Is this how you train your workers? To assault customers?"
"If you don't discipline her properly for assaulting a customer" he took out his ID
"I'll file a lawsuit against your restaurant's management for supporting assault and you'd go bankrupt in a week!"