Noah stood outside his new store, staring at the fresh Crunchy Bites sign. The bold letters gleamed under the golden morning light, standing tall against the glass windows.
It felt surreal.
He ran a hand over the apron tied around his waist, trying to ground himself.
This was supposed to be a simple stall. A way to survive. A way to avoid being stuck in the same cycle of struggle.
Yet here he was, about to open a second location.
The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying.
He exhaled slowly, stepping forward.
Through the glass doors, Rina was already inside, checking the cash register, while Jonas, the new hire, adjusted his cap nervously.
Noah pushed the door open, the bell above jingling softly.
Rina looked up and grinned. "Didn't think you'd freeze up outside."
"I wasn't freezing up," Noah muttered, though his heart had been racing.
"Sure, boss," she teased.
Jonas looked up. "Uh… is it always this nerve-wracking before opening?"
Noah gave a small smile. "Only when it's your first time."
And this was his first time opening a real store.
Not a makeshift stall. Not a temporary setup.
A real business.
He took one last deep breath before flipping the sign to OPEN.
The doors were open. There was no turning back now.
--
The first hour was quiet.
A few curious office workers trickled in, scanning the menu. A college student ordered a meal and sat by the window, scrolling through his phone.
Noah manned the kitchen, working through orders methodically. The scent of frying chicken filled the space, rich and inviting.
But the silence felt deafening.
He knew first days could be slow. People hesitated to try new places.
But deep down, a small part of him was afraid.
What if this place didn't take off? What if people didn't like the changes?
Rina must have noticed his tense shoulders because she nudged him. "Relax. It's just the morning."
Noah forced a nod, though his chest remained tight.
Then, something shifted.
A man in a delivery uniform took a bite of his meal.
He froze.
Noah's heart pounded. "Everything okay?"
The man chewed slowly, then let out a low whistle. "Damn. This is good."
His voice carried in the quiet shop.
Another customer an office worker looked over. "That good?"
The delivery guy nodded. "Crispier than anything I've had around here."
The office worker turned to the counter. "I'll have what he's having."
Noah exchanged a glance with Rina.
It was starting.
---
By noon, the place was packed.
Office workers, students, commuters, they came in waves.
Noah barely had time to breathe as the line stretched toward the door. Orders came in faster than he could process. The fryer sizzled nonstop, and the heat of the kitchen was suffocating.
Rina handled the register with practiced ease, but even she was moving faster than usual.
Jonas, on the other hand, was starting to crack.
He was new. He had trained for this, but training was different from the real thing.
Noah caught him fumbling with a tray, his hands shaking.
"Jonas, breathe," Noah instructed, handing him a new batch of fried chicken.
Jonas nodded quickly, trying to keep up.
Then it happened.
A full tray of freshly fried chicken slipped from Jonas's hands.
CRASH.
Golden, perfectly crispy pieces scattered across the floor.
For a second, the whole kitchen froze.
Jonas went pale. "I..."
Noah clenched his jaw. He could feel the eyes of customers near the counter, waiting. They couldn't afford a delay.
His first instinct was frustration, but he shoved it down.
"Clean it up," he ordered. Calm, firm. "Fast."
Jonas scrambled to pick up the mess while Noah immediately dropped more chicken into the fryer.
Rina gave him a quick glance, as if assessing whether he'd lose his temper.
Noah just focused.
There was no time for anything else.
---
An hour later, just as Noah thought they were stabilizing, his phone buzzed.
It was their supplier.
The moment he picked up, his stomach dropped.
"There's a delay. Your next batch of chicken won't arrive until tomorrow."
Noah squeezed his eyes shut. Not now.
They had maybe three hours of stock left.
He turned to Rina. "We've got a problem."
She frowned. "How bad?"
"No new chicken until tomorrow."
Rina cursed under her breath.
"We can't close early," Noah muttered. "Not on the first day."
They had to adjust.
He glanced at their menu, mind racing.
Then, an idea.
He turned to the kitchen. "Reduce portion sizes slightly. Add extra rice and side dishes to every order."
Rina hesitated. "People might notice."
"They might," Noah admitted. "But if we shut down, that's worse."
She nodded. "Alright. I'll start adjusting orders."
It wasn't a perfect solution, but it bought them time.
---
By closing time, Noah was physically and mentally drained.
The kitchen was a mess. His apron was stained. His arms ached.
Jonas collapsed onto a chair, exhausted. "That was insane."
Rina stretched, rolling her shoulders. "We pulled it off."
Noah leaned against the counter, staring at the emptied trays.
They had survived the first day.
Barely.
But tomorrow?
They had to be better.
--
The last customer walked out, and the bell above the door jingled softly.
Noah let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
The shop was finally empty.
Only the scent of fried chicken and the hum of the kitchen remained.
He turned the sign to CLOSED and locked the door, pressing his forehead against the glass for a second.
It didn't feel real.
They had made it through the first day.
But at what cost?
His feet throbbed. His arms ached from lifting trays, stirring batter, and working the fryer. His apron was covered in grease stains, and his hair stuck to his forehead from the heat of the kitchen.
Behind him, Rina slumped into a chair, rubbing her temples.
Jonas, completely wiped out, groaned and leaned against the counter. "Is… is it always this bad?"
Noah smirked weakly. "You mean busy?"
Jonas shook his head. "I mean… brutal."
Rina chuckled, though she sounded just as drained. "Welcome to the food business, newbie."
Noah sighed, glancing around. The kitchen was a mess.
Grease splatters stained the countertops. Empty ingredient containers were stacked in a corner. The fryer oil was murky, begging to be changed.
They couldn't leave it like this.
But his body screamed for rest.
Just sit down, his exhaustion whispered. Leave it for tomorrow.
He shook his head. No.
Tomorrow, they had to be better.
He pushed off the counter. "Let's clean up."
Jonas groaned. "Now?"
"Now," Noah said firmly. "It'll be worse in the morning."
Rina, already grabbing a rag, smirked. "Told you, kid. No easy days here."
Jonas muttered something under his breath but grabbed a broom.
---
As they cleaned, Noah replayed the day in his mind.
What had gone wrong?
The supply shortage. They barely made it through. They needed a backup plan.
The kitchen workflow. Too many delays. Jonas needed more training.
The menu. They had run out of some items too quickly. Maybe they needed to adjust portions.
And what had gone right?
The customers loved the food.
Word was already spreading. By lunch, new people were coming in because of recommendations.
They had survived. Barely. But they had.
As he scrubbed down the fryer, Noah made a silent promise.
Tomorrow, they wouldn't just survive.
They would be ready.
---
An hour later, the shop was spotless.
Jonas looked like he might pass out on the floor. "Please tell me we're done."
Noah tossed his rag into the laundry bin. "We're done."
Jonas immediately collapsed into a chair.
Rina stretched her arms. "Not bad for a first day."
Noah exhaled, staring at the clean, empty store.
Tomorrow would bring more challenges. More mistakes. More stress.
But for tonight…
They had done enough.
He grabbed three cold bottles of soda from the fridge and tossed one to Rina, another to Jonas.
Jonas blinked. "Seriously?"
"You earned it," Noah said.
Jonas cracked open the bottle, taking a long sip before sighing. "Man… that's the best thing I've had all day."
Rina grinned. "Wait until you survive your first full week."
Noah chuckled, but he felt lighter.
For the first time that day, he let himself breathe.
The hardest part, the first step was over.
Now, it was time to keep moving forward.
---
End of Chapter 24
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