Caffeine and Alcohol

3 - Riley

Riley

Waking up in the afternoon has become a routine for me. I eat breakfast food at lunch, which are pancake, bacon, and eggs. I don't know, there's something with eating breakfast during lunch.

So basically, my routine goes from the afternoon 'til sunrise. Morning is when I sleep. I work at my brother's café just so I have extra money. It's a good thing that it's summer so there's no schooling at the moment.

1 PM. I woke up at 1 PM with messages from my brother. Doesn't he know that my shift is later at midnight?

I didn't bother to look at the messages and just called him since it's probably his break time. After a few rings, he picked up.

"The sleeping monster finally woke up," he said on the other line. I rolled my eyes at what he said.

"Whatever, I haven't read your messages yet, what do you need?" I asked, standing up and stretching.

"A boy came earlier, I think his name is Dexter, do you know him?" my brother asked, and I froze at the spot, trying to remember who Dexter is.

That's when I remember the cute, sad boy with lots of problems last night.

"Oh yeah, I met him at the café last night," I walked towards the kitchen while talking to my brother on the phone.

"I told you to be professional at my café, not to flirt around," my brother scolded me. I rolled my eyes at what he said and put him on speakerphone.

"I didn't, I swear! I just accompanied the lonely, drunk fellow," I said, justifying my side. I tried preparing my breakfast but it's hard when your brother is scolding you for something you didn't do.

"Then why did he come back? You didn't give him your number?" my brother asked, as if teasing me.

"And why should I do that? I'm at work, you don't do something like that to customers, if you're professional," I told my brother, with a little bit of teasing.

"Good to know, anyway, he was asking when you'll be back to work here."

"You didn't tell him?" I asked, wondering if he did.

"Nope," he answered quickly.

"And why didn't you? You're the boss there, you know my schedule," I said, as a matter of fact.

"Well, he's not my date so it's none of my business to entertain him," he answered. I swear, this brother of mine is going to be the death of me.

"Whatever, is he still there?" I asked, preparing my coffee for the day.

"Nope, he left a few minutes ago," he answered.

"Okay, shouldn't you go back to work?" I asked, pouring the coffee I prepared on my favorite mug.

"Just as you said, I'm the boss here, I can go back anytime I want," he answered. Ugh, this brother of mine is so full of himself.

"Okay, okay, bye, I'm about to eat, I'll go there when it's time for my shift."

"Do pray that lover boy would come back later, okay? Bye." And with that, he hung up.

I swear this brother of mine loves to tease me.

Why does this seem important to us? You see I don't believe in love that much. My parents were separated when I was young, so I didn't see that much love romantically. But believe me when I say my family loves me dearly so I'm not looking for anything more than that.

I sat down on the counter with the breakfast I prepared. 1:30 PM. I still have lots of time to do what I want (which is nothing) before going to work.

While eating breakfast at lunch, I started to remember the conversation I had with the boy, Dexter, earlier at 3 AM. It saddens me that people would cheat on their partner. It just added to my nonbelief in love.

If you really did love someone, then why would you cheat on them? It just doesn't make sense. You can't say that the love wasn't enough because cheating is a choice.

Sure, my parents separated because they didn't love each other anymore to the point that they were toxic towards each other, but it's a good thing none of the parties involved cheated. I still don't believe in love though, even though they showed it to each other at earlier times. It just wasn't enough for them to stay together.

I sighed at the thought, I no longer want to eat my breakfast, so I put the dishes on the sink. I opened my notebook and wrote down my thoughts.

I feel sad that people who love just don't think their love wasn't enough. Dexter might blame himself for what his ex did to him, but I know it wasn't his fault. It's nobody's fault but the cheater if someone cheated.

I wrote down how my parents' separation made me not believe in love when even I know it's the most beautiful thing that will happen in a person's life. But to me, I just don't know. Somewhere inside me just don't like the idea of love and falling in love.

I rather grow old with plenty of dogs than grow old with someone else. It's so unsure.

After writing my thoughts, I stood up and started preparing, today's going to be a long day.

~*~

"I think he's into you," my best friend, Kelly, commented. I told her the story of my meeting with Dexter last time, and also how he looked for me this morning.

"Oh gosh, Kelly, we just met," I said, looking at her seriously. My best friend is the opposite of me, she's a big believer in love. I mean her parents are still together, so it's a big possibility it's because of that.

"I just think so, I mean why would he look for you if he's not into you," she said, looking back at me while looking at racks of clothes.

"It's because it's nonsense."

"What's nonsense?"

"That kind of feeling," I said, somehow, I was irritated.

"It's just a guess, Ry, you don't have to sound defensive," she said. She showed a dress with white accents, I nodded at it, confirming that she should buy it.

"And all I'm saying is that your guess is nonsense," I said, looking at the time on my phone.

5 PM.

"What are you looking at?"

"The time, I'm going to my mom's place to have dinner," I said, sighing while putting my phone back in my pocket.

"Just think what I said, trying's not going to hurt," she said, she grabbed my hand and we went to the counter to pay for what she bought.

"Fine, but I'm telling you, it's nothing."

"Whatever you say, but I'm pretty sure lover boy will say otherwise."

I didn't get what she meant but I no longer mind it as I have other things in mind. I first need to survive dinner at my mom's place since she's probably going to ask a lot of questions if my brother will tell her about Dexter. You see even though my mom split up with my dad, she's still a firm believer in love.

I just hope I survive tonight.