Carmela Is Back
1078 Words
Carmela’s POV
Two days later, Carmela found herself standing in the bustling streets of Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The cold morning air brushed against her cheeks as she tightened her grip on the strap of her bag. Today was a big day—her first official day at work.
Her heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and nerves.
Even though she had been given two days of paid leave to familiarize herself with the area, the thought of actually stepping into her workplace as an employee felt completely different. She had memorized the bus routes, the subway stops, and even the shortcuts that would get her to work faster.
Yet, despite all that preparation, there was still a small knot of anxiety in her stomach.
This is it. A fresh start in a new country, a new job, and a new life.
Taking a deep breath, she looked ahead. Just three meters away stood the store she was assigned to. The sight of the familiar logo made her smile.
"I hope I'll be okay after my nine-hour shift," she whispered to herself before stepping forward.
As she approached the entrance, she pulled the door open and stepped inside. The warm air inside was a welcome contrast to the chilly breeze outside. She glanced around, taking in the modern yet cozy interior of the restaurant. The smell of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, making her stomach grumble slightly.
Before she could let herself get lost in her surroundings, she approached the security guard stationed near the entrance and politely asked for the restaurant’s general manager.
Within moments, a professional-looking woman stepped out of the office. She had neatly tied hair, a poised demeanor, and an air of authority. Her sharp eyes landed on Carmela before her lips curled into a polite smile.
"Annyeonghaseyo, I am Kim Min Ji, the restaurant general manager of this branch," the woman introduced herself, extending her hand for a handshake.
Carmela immediately returned the gesture.
"Annyeonghashimnikka, I am Carmela Reyes. My Korean name is Kim Shin Bae. Thank you for reminding me, Ma'am," she responded with a small bow of respect.
"Please follow me, and don’t forget to put on your hairnet before going inside," the manager instructed.
Carmela nodded, quickly pulling a hairnet from her bag and securing it over her neatly tied hair. Once she was ready, she followed Ms. Kim deeper into the restaurant.
The general manager spent the next hour giving Carmela a full introduction to the branch. She explained the restaurant’s history, operational procedures, and work expectations. Carmela listened intently, taking mental notes as she was led around the store. Along the way, she was introduced to several employees, most of whom greeted her with friendly smiles.
After the tour, Ms. Kim turned to her with a professional yet encouraging tone.
"Today, Mr. Park Do Young will accompany you, but starting tomorrow, you will begin managing the business alone," she informed her.
Carmela straightened her posture and nodded. "Okay, Ma’am. Thank you for the opportunity. I won’t let you down."
She was then left in the capable hands of Mr. Park, who took his time explaining every little detail of the daily operations. Although she was slightly nervous, she quickly adapted. South Korea’s system isn’t that different from the Philippines, she reminded herself. Her Operations Manager back home had reassured her of this before she even arrived.
By the end of her first shift, she already got the hang of it.
Two Months Later
The restaurant was bustling with activity as Carmela moved swiftly behind the counter, assisting customers and overseeing operations.
Two months had passed since she started working, and she had fully settled into her routine. The once-unfamiliar environment now felt like home, and she had grown accustomed to the fast-paced work culture.
However, as she stood at the counter, swiping through the list of orders on the screen, she found herself checking her phone absentmindedly. Her fingers hovered over the messaging app, but there were no new notifications.
No message from him up until now, huh.
It had been two months since she had met Jay, and despite giving him her number, he had never contacted her.
It's not like I’m waiting for his message… she reasoned with herself, but a small voice in her mind whispered otherwise.
Oh, really?
Yes! I just want to return his hoodie and pay for the dry cleaning of his clothes. That’s it.
You sound defensive.
Oh, shut up.
Before she could get lost in her thoughts any further, a voice came through her headset.
"Ma’am! Swipe, please."
Snapping back to reality, Carmela pressed the button on her headset and responded, "Coming."
She made her way toward the drive-thru station. The moment she reached the window, she put on her best customer service smile and greeted the driver.
"Annyeonghaseyo!" She processed the payment swiftly before handing over the customer’s order.
Sundays were always busy, and today was no exception. The line of cars at the drive-thru seemed never-ending, and the restaurant floor was packed with customers. The constant ringing of the register, the sizzling of grills, and the chatter of customers blended into a symphony of organized chaos.
Carmela checked the time. 5:30 PM. She realized she hadn’t eaten anything since she started her shift.
Her stomach grumbled in protest.
It was impossible to sit down for a proper meal with how hectic the store was, but she couldn’t keep running on empty. Deciding she needed at least a quick bite, she made her way to the kitchen.
She assembled a bulgogi burger with practiced ease before heading to the back area. As she took her first bite, she let out a satisfied sigh.
Finally.
However, just as she was about to take another bite, her phone buzzed. Her heart skipped a beat.
She quickly wiped her hands and grabbed her phone, but her excitement was short-lived.
It wasn’t Jay.
Letting out a sigh, she shook her head. Why am I even expecting anything?
Before she could dwell on it any longer, one of her co-workers called for her again.
“Ma’am! Another card payment needs to be swiped!”
"Coming!" she called back, quickly wrapping up her burger before heading back to work.
The evening rush continued, and soon enough, Carmela was too busy to think about anything else.
But somewhere in the back of her mind, she still wondered—
Will I ever see him again?
- Writer
