"Chelsca! Glad you're here!"
As I entered the cafe's back door, Sheenah pulled me to the changing room. She was ranting as I started putting away my things in the locker, glancing in her direction to show that I was listening to her.
"You know what? I thought the boss was going to murder me earlier!"
Sheenah was teary-eyed as she shared what had happened.
"Okay, cheer up now. Go on, you still have class." I told her, patting her back as my way of consoling her.
I heard her family recently immigrated to America, so she is adjusting to the environment.
"Yeah, I need to run to attend my Language class."
Sheenah is telling me this between hiccups. She wiped her eyes and slapped both her cheeks.
"I'm good now!"
Shennah declared, and that made me smile. What a positive attitude.
"Okay. I need to change now and be at the cash register!"
I announced and began undressing to wear my cafe uniform. I didn't know that Sheenah was staring at me.
"Chels..."
I glanced at the girl and noticed her intently staring at my curves.
"Hum? What's the matter?" I didn't put much meaning into her gaze. I used to undress in front of my best friend, and so, I'm not totally shy about it.
"You have a nice body," she complimented me afterward.
"Huh?" I acted innocent, and Sheenah panicked, thinking I would get mad at her.
"Oh, don't get it wrong!" She blushed and explained that she was straight and liked men over girls.
I smiled and beamed at the shy girl whose face was scarlet red now. "I know..."
"Ah, I wondered why most of the time, you only wear t-shirts. A lot of girls are spending a lot of money to get a body like yours. Yet, you never flaunt it."
I laughed at what she told me. Thus, I explained.
"I came here to study, not to act as if I am a fashion model wearing fancy and signature clothes every day or coming to school naked, almost."
Several girls walking around almost in their bikinis, if it weren't for a sheer shawl or lace cardigan.
Sheenah giggled upon hearing my reason, but sadness flashed in her eyes, a feeling detected by the unfairness in life.
She mutters, "Oh well, I can't afford those fancy things. So, I'm just wearing the same clothes each week."
I stared at Sheenah's heart-shaped face. Her skin was actually flawless.
But given my background, I didn't know what to say to her. Therefore, I chose not to comment and walked toward the door.
"I have to go now, Sheen…"
I was about to leave when she remembered something and turned her head to me.
"Oh, I'm sorry! The boss might look for the cashier now. But we need to braid your hair first."
Sheenah helped me do my hair and put on the hairnet before I wore the visor with the cafe's name.
"Thanks! Now, go to your class!" I used her.
"Right! Bye, Chelsca!"
She bid farewell.
Not long after, I took over the counter and accepted orders.
I serve ten customers when a loud group arrives—the Collins.
"So what do you guys wanna order this time?"
I heard Bruce asking his cousins, so I patiently waited for them to make an order. Yup, 'Patience is a Virtue.'
But it took them a long time to decide, and now more customers line up at the back. I want to raise my eyebrow. However, I must maintain my composure and plaster a hospitality smile.
"Hi! May I take your order now?"
I greeted Bruce and inquired. I must do something so that other customers will not be annoyed by our slow service.
Bruce peered at me and smiled handsomely. I heard several girls gasp and squeal from their seats.
I rolled my eyes inwardly, asking myself what makes Bruce great. His visuals are ordinary to me. At least for my eyes, that's the case.
"Hello, Chelsca. Yes, please! I want three milk teas, one Cappuccino, and two Café Lattes."
Bruce paused and glanced at his shoulder. He asked,
"... anyone?"
I heard someone say, "One Affogato and a Long Macchiato."
I quickly punched their order and did not delay further.
"There, 1 Affogato and a Long Macchiato." I mumbled
Bruce returns his gaze to me. The gorgeous smile across his handsome face remains.
"I changed my mind! Another Affogato, Bruce!"
A female voice from behind, I don't need to look up to check on her. Well, customers often change orders.
"Okay, sorry about that. . ."
Bruce apologizes, which he does not need, but I could sense his smile.
"No problem, I got it. Alright… I'll confirm the orders... two Milk Teas, one Cappuccino, two Café Lattes, two Affogatos, and a Long Macchiato."
"Yes."
"Donuts or sandwiches? Cakes or Cookies?" I look up and meet Bruce Collins's gray eyes.
But someone is leaning on the counter next to him, attempting to peek at the computer in front of me.
"One Long Espresso," he ordered.
"Okay, sir! I'll add it up!" I quickly said, calming myself down so as not to punch this guy.
I already scanned the faces of the customers falling in line at the back of the Collins, and this guy wasn't there earlier... But now, he is too arrogant about cutting lines because his cousins are ordering now.
'Well, I cannot argue here.'
I choose to finish punching their orders so they can leave before me as soon as possible.
~
Later that evening…
MOON Café
"Good evening, may I take your order?" I politely greeted my next customer without looking up. I was busy punching the orders online and passing the receipt to our delivery guy.
I looked up and almost burst out when I recognized who the guy standing before me was.
He did not talk, so I got curious. However, my customer is none other than 'his highness' Lewey Collins.
It's a good thing the guy wasn't looking at me but at the menu above my head.
"One Espresso, please."
Finally, he gave me his order. I paused momentarily and remembered how often he had visited the cafe today.
'He sure loves coffee, huh?' I calm myself down, not to make a comment, and do my job correctly.
"Sandwiches?" I asked in a hurried tone. I wanted to finish serving him so that he would disappear before me.
"I don't know."
He lazily replied to me, leaving me feeling bewildered.
"How about some strawberry cake?" I suggested with a smile.
"Ah, sounds too sweet for me."
Lewey was staring at my face when he said this. I lowered my gaze and busied myself in front of the computer, carrying on my job.
"Okay, how about carrot cake? Do you like unsweetened ones then?"
"Ugh, I don't like vegetables." He sounded disgusted.
My mouth was agape. What the heck?
I clenched my jaw so I would not snap at him. Well, I'm the one who baked the carrot cake, and so I was partially hurt when he said that.