"You're fired!" The café manager's voice trembled as she looked at her paperwork, avoiding eye contact. She took a deep breath and finally met Jasmine's gaze. "I'm sorry," she mouthed.
A drop of tear escaped Jasmine's almond-shaped brown eyes, tracing a glistening path down her smooth, brown skin. Her long lashes trembled, and she exhaled a shaky breath, her long pointed nose twitching as she struggled to contain her emotions. The drop of tear dropped into her deep dimple. Sitting in front of Catherine's messy desk, Jasmine noticed heaps of files and a computer monitor. Catherine had her hair in a messy bun, her shirt misaligned, and her name tag read: "Catherine Bells, Morning and Night Cafe in Manager."
"Jasmine, you've been doing well here," Catherine started, her voice softened. "But the café isn't doing well. We have to downsize. Since you're the last hired… I'm really sorry."
Jasmine wiped her face and brushed back her curly hair. Words escaped her as she placed a hand on her forehead, trying to compose herself. "It's fine…". Those were the best words that could come out of her mouth, actually, that was the words she needed to hear, she doesn't want to deal with the inner thoughts that are exploding like fireworks
"It's not fine, honey. I know how hard you've worked," Catherine said gently.
"If I were doing well, I wouldn't be the one getting fired. But you know what? It's fine!" Jasmine forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes as she stood up.
"I'll pack my things now. Who will take over the counter?" she asked, swallowing hard.
"I haven't concluded on a suitable person yet," Catherine replied.
"But customers will be coming in any minute—oh! Sorry." Jasmine gave a strained smile and walked away.
"I'll send your pay tonight and process your redundancy payment."
"Thank you." She walked to the door without looking back,. on getting to the door she opened it, looked back "Don't be hard on yourself, I had a bad feeling about today since I woke" she said to Catherine with a smile , went out the door and shut it.
Once outside, she leaned against the wall of the corridor, her face became watered as her eyes couldn't stop to pop out water uncontrollably. She leaned against the wall of the corridor, the tears came flowing unstoppably as at some point it had her heart burn and air stuck in her lungs, she whimpered as she held on to her chest like she could bring out to control it as she was gently sliding to the ground, she swallowed hard and took a deep breath. Realizing she is now totally seated on the floor, she stood and briskly walked through the corridor until she got to a door tagged "changing room", tears spilling down her cheeks..
She hurriedly entered the changing room. Inside, the four bunk beds placed at the four sides of the wall felt oddly comforting. She climbed to her upper bunk by her left , grabbing her diary, blanket, charger, and the last of her chips. With her phone in hand, she stuffed everything into her backpack, memories flooding back.
"Guess I'll have to get used to my apartment," she whispered, licking her lips before walking out.
She walked down the corridor until she got to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, six bakers working neatly in their uniforms.
"Hey! Where have you been?" a male baker asked, kneading dough.
"Are you sick, baby girl?" Brenda, a pale skinned female baker with freckles, chimed in as she carried a tray of pastries to the oven.
"Customers will start coming in now, and you need to get back to your stand. Dennis said we have a lot of reservations today," the male baker added.
"We always get a lot of orders," Jasmine replied quietly.
"What did you say?" Brenda asked, closing the oven door.
"Nothing, Brenda. I need to talk to you," Jasmine said urgently.
"I have something for you after my shift," the male baker mentioned.
"Sure," Jasmine replied, forcing a smile as her dimple appeared. She walked out with Brenda following close behind.
"'Cuse me, boss! Be back in a jiffy!" Brenda called, shutting the kitchen door.
Jasmine leaned against the wall as Brenda stood in front of her, concerned on her face.
"What's up?" Brenda asked.
"Well, I've been fired," Jasmine admitted, her eyes darting away to hold back tears.
"What!" Brenda gasped, covering her mouth. "Why? What happened?"
Jasmine struggled to find the words.
"Oh, sweetie! I'm so sorry." Brenda stepped closer, wrapping her arms around Jasmine in a tight hug. Jasmine's composure finally broke, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Apparently… she said…" Jasmine stammered and whimpered between sobs.
Brenda pulled back and wiped Jasmine's face. "She said what?"
"She said I am doing a good job but the cafe isn't.."
Brenda's eyes widen "she said what?!"
Jasmine nodded twice
"But…"
"Don't worry about that! This is just my bad luck," Jasmine cut in as Brenda placed her thumb and index finger under her chin and looked away for a while, while Jasmine untied the apron wrapped round her waist and unclipped her name tag and handed it to Brenda, Brenda received it
"It is not about luck here, I feel you are being cheated…" Brenda said she stumped her foot loudly to the ground
"Shhhh!" Jasmine pressed a finger to her lips. "I told you I had a bad feeling today; you shouldn't be this worried."
"Just because you had a bad feeling doesn't mean it's luck. Who's taking over?"
"She hasn't found anyone yet…"
"I know that tactic!" Brenda interrupted, pointing a finger.
"I have to go!"
"I'm sorry, honey. Will you come over tonight?" Brenda asked as she walked toward the kitchen door. "I'll treat you," she added.
"I could use your laptop," Jasmine replied.
"Okay, catch you later!" Brenda disappeared into the kitchen as Jasmine stepped into the café's main hall.
Jasmine walked through the hall, her fitted jeans highlighting jeans that helped highlight her long thick legs, slender waist and voluptuous hips from behind it was an hourglass silhouette to behold, she looked round and saw everywhere looking all sparkling, her modest shapely breast sat well in her white crop shirt that her cleavages couldn't help but just take some fresh air , she looked over at the counter, her spot and above the counter had a gigantic wall clock that reads twelve fifty nine pm . She walked to the entrance and turn the sign over from "Snacks in preparation" to "We Are Ready for Your Orders." Just then, she bumped into a man entering.
"Oh! I'm sorry, you can come in," she said, stepping aside, her customer service instincts kicking in.
The man stood still at the entrance, looking lost. He wore a loose white T-shirt that revealed a toned chest, and his curly hair framed his face.
"Oh! We're just open; someone will take your order," she said cheerfully.
He blinked, his gaze locking onto hers. "I need you…" His voice trailed off, low and urgent.
Jasmine's smile faltered as she searched his face, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.