They went back to work, and Claire took a call from her sister. When her sister heard what happened, she was about to come over, but Claire reassured her that everything was okay. This helped her sister calm down.
Once the work was done and the last customer had left, it was 5:00 p.m., and they finally closed up. Weasley then called Alexander from the kitchen.
"Here, Alexander, this is 10,000 pesos for your first day. The extra is from your boss, Valentine, for saving Claire from those troublemakers. You'd better accept it, or I won't be able to explain this to Ms. Valentine if you refuse," Weasley said, handing over the money.
Alexander was reluctant to take the money, thinking it was for a trivial matter. But seeing how insistent Weasley was, he reluctantly accepted the extra amount.
"Thank you, Uncle Wesley" Alexander spoke gratefully.
Seeing Alexander accept the money, Weasley smiled and went to clean the kitchen. When Alexander asked about Sophia, Weasley replied that she had gone home early because she was tutoring someone.
Alexander couldn't help but admire her. Balancing a morning job with evening tutoring was impressive.
Alexander then left the kitchen and saw Claire sitting alone at the table. With no customers left, she was the only one there. As soon as she saw Alexander, she hurried over and said shyly.
"Alexander, can I invite you to dinner or maybe go out to eat? I really want to repay you for your help." She spoke with a hint of redness in her cheeks, her usual playful demeanor replaced by a more bashful side.
She was really grateful towards Alexander and decided to invite her to eat outside to repay him. But when she remembered that she invited a man to eat outside.
"Isn't this a date?" She said, with her cheeks that is red as a tomato.
Alexander didn't see anything wrong with Claire's offer; it was natural to feel indebted. However, he thought it was a minor issue and was about to decline.
"I'm sorry, but it—" He started to say, but then he saw Claire's face, which looked like she was about to cry.
Seeing her distressed expression, Alexander quickly changed his mind. "I'm free, so let's go," he said, alarmed by her sadness.
Claire's expression brightened instantly upon hearing his reply. "Hehe, let's go then," she said with a smile, and quickly left the restaurant. Alexander couldn't help but feel a bit tricked but decided to follow her anyway.
They walked through the bustling streets, surrounded by crowds of people. The two stayed close together, walking side by side.
Claire couldn't help but blush, feeling like this outing was more of a date than just a thank-you. When they finally arrived at the large mall and went inside, Claire asked, "So, where do you want to eat?" Her gaze lingered on Alexander.
Wanting to wrap things up, Alexander pointed to a place. When Claire saw where he was pointing, her face turned bright red, all the way down to her neck. She simply nodded and followed him to the restaurant.
When they arrived at the restaurant, they noticed that every table was occupied by couples. Claire's face turned bright red, but Alexander paid no attention and went straight to the counter with her.
Remembering that this outing was just a gesture of thanks and not a romantic date, Claire managed to calm down.
As Alexander placed his order, he said, "I'd like a medium-sized chocolate frappe. What about you, Claire?" He glanced at her as he spoke.
Claire was lost in thought and didn't hear what Alexander said. "Hello, Claire, what do you want to drink?" he asked again.
"Ahh, what?" she said, snapping back to reality and looking at Alexander with a questioning gaze.
"I said I've already ordered my drink. What about you?" Alexander repeated.
Claire realized she had been absentminded and quickly responded, "I'd like a strawberry frappe, medium size, and also some fries, please."
"Okay, ma'am and sir, that will be 236 pesos," the cashier said.
Claire paid for the order, and they took a seat in the center of the restaurant where it was empty. With Claire's beauty drawing attention, it was clear that they were both under the spotlight.
Feeling the stares from others, Claire shrank her head towards the table, worried that people might misunderstand her relationship with Alexander.
Meanwhile, Alexander, oblivious to the situation, simply waited at his seat for their order.
The place they were at was called "Sweet Sips & Bites," a café typically favored by couples or married women. Alexander had no idea about this, even after noticing the romantic décor and heart-shaped designs on some of the cupcakes.
He was focused on just getting this over with so he could head home. When their order finally arrived, Alexander took a sip of his drink and noticed that Claire looked unwell, almost as if she had a fever.
"Are you okay, Claire? If you're not feeling well, we can leave," Alexander said, concerned by her pale appearance.
Claire, touched by Alexander's concern, smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Let's just finish this first." She waved towards their drinks.
"So, Alexander, which school are you planning to attend?" she asked.
"I'm planning to enroll in Sagebrook College for a Bachelor of Secondary Education. I've always wanted to be a teacher because I find it really fun to teach students." Alexander replied.
Claire nodded in response and then asked, "What about you? Which school are you going to, and what course will you be taking?"
"Actually, I want to pursue a BSBA course because someday I'd like to help ease the burden on my sister with managing the business," Claire said, taking a sip of her drink.
Alexander nodded, considering that managing a restaurant must be challenging. They continued chatting about various topics until it was 7 p.m.; they had been talking for about an hour.
When they left the café, they found themselves outside the mall, and it was already quite dark.
"Do you want me to accompany you home? It's dangerous to be out alone at this hour," Alexander offered, looking at Claire with concern.
Claire smiled at his care and shook her head. "Don't worry, Alexander. I've already called my father to pick me up. You can go now if you want."
"I see. I'll just wait until you leave to make sure you're safe," Alexander said, standing up.
Claire couldn't help but appreciate how protective he was.
After a while, Claire's phone rang—it was her father. She said her goodbyes to Alexander and then left. Alexander watched as her figure grew smaller in the distance before he also departed. He took a ride to a nearby bus stop and left the mall.
Meanwhile, at another corner of the mall, Claire got into a parked car. A driver was at the wheel, and a middle-aged man with a distinguished presence was seated inside. Claire greeted her father warmly as she got in.
Claire's father nodded and, with his gaze focused on the road, asked, "Who's that boy?"
Claire was taken aback by the sudden question but responded, "That's Alexander, a new employee at my sister's restaurant. I invited him to dinner as a thank you for saving me. Please don't cause him any trouble, Dad."
Her father's brows furrowed when he heard about the dinner invitation, but his expression became serious when he heard that Alexander had saved Claire.
"Who dares to attack our family in broad daylight? Don't they fear the consequences?" he said, his demeanor shifting to a fierce and intimidating presence.
Sensing her father's anger, Claire quickly tried to calm him down. "Dad, don't be angry. I'm fine, aren't I? I'm just worried that Alexander might get hurt because he was involved in this trouble because of me."
Her father's expression softened slightly, but he still looked at Claire with concern. "Who was responsible for this harassment?" he asked.
"It was the Black Serpent Gang, Dad," Claire replied.
Upon hearing the name, his brows furrowed, and he fell silent, his eyes filled with determination. "Don't worry, I'll protect this kid. As for the Black Serpent Gang, I'll come up with a solution," he said resolutely. With that, the engine roared to life, and they drove away from the mall.