Her Sweet Vengeance

Chapter 4.5

Chapter 4.5

I woke up when I noticed that the air in the room was humid already. The sun is risen up high and therefore, I need to face this day with positivity in every cell of my body. I sucked in a deep breath and readied my outfit for today. The jeans and white t-shirt. I need to be there at three p.m. but I still want to roam around the area and familiarize pathways. Yes, I have a sharp memory so I can probably memorize every corner of this place. And that will be an advantage for me.

I hurried to take a bath and fixed myself. Picking up my old school bag, I stuffed a small towel and an extra t-shirt there, and of course, a little amount of money. As I went out, the sun’s rays greeted me and warmed my skin. Some minutes later, I was already at the park and sitting beneath a big tree while watchig families, children, men and women who were around. They look so happy and relaxed. I asked myself out of the blue? Am I happy now? Happy that I got out from that hellhole? Nay. I am not. I’m just assured and okay but I am not happy. I was never happy evenn how many years have already passed. Eversince the day that me, my Mom and my Dad were separated, I’ve never felt that emotion again. I smile, yeah. But that smile was meaningleess; like a façade of something dark that no one wants to embrace rather than me.

I am quite envious now, seeing those children who are happily running around. I never ever have that childhood experience since my parents were gone. I am happy to see them happy but at the same time, I pity myself that I needed to feel lost in the dark. If not for that incident then may be my Mom and Dad will be here again. Do I have a sister or a brother? How are they? Do they know me? Does my parents miss me like how much I miss them? Or did they forgett all about me and started anew.

Tears started to fall from my eyes and it rolled onto my cheeks. They felt warm against my cold skin. I raised my hand to wipe the evidences of my sadness. I exhaled out loud as I calmed myself down. I don’t need to wallow into self pity again. I’m so done with it. I stood up and decided to buy some foods sold at the park. Just some lemon juice and pizza that I ate as my lunch. I need to go to the school tomorrow to check for the results of the examination and take another exam for scholarship.

It was already two thirty iin the afternoon when I got up and started to walk to the café where I need to do my internship. I was ten minutes early when I arrived and with a smile on my face. I saw the lady with the brown hair and of course the manager which I think was really monitoring if I will be late today. He motioned me to follow him and we ended up in the lockers area.

“Here’s your apron. Don’t feel truimphant. Today is just day one and you still need to prove yourself. Anyway, Mariah will show you the things to do here. You need to catch up before a lot of people come and go as it approaches dusk.”

“I will do that Sir. Thank you for this by the way.” I raised the apron and showed it to him. He just nodded and went to his way.

I started to make my hair into a bun and wore the issued apron. I was about to get out but when I turned my back, I was startled when the smiling face of the lady with a brown hair appeared.

“Sorry for always startling you. I’m Mariah by the way. Not Mariah Carey but Mariah Leveste and you are?” she extended her arm for a handshake which I gladly accepted.

“I am Havaianas Miracle Leeven. Nice to meet you Mariah that is not a Carey. By thw way, you joke awesome.”

“Did I ? How come that you did not laugh? I guess my joke was lame.”

“Should I supposed to laugh at all jokes cracked around? I just know that it is a joke based on my previous classes.”

“Oh poor girl. Where have you been all your life?”

“In a dungeon full of darkness and sadness lurks in every corner of it.”

“Does dungeons still exist today?” she asked. Her forehead notted.

“It’s just a metaphor. Don’t take the words as is. Anyway, what do I need to know and what is my role as a server?” I diverted the topic since I know that she might think that I am a lunatic that just ran away from mental assylum with my choice of words right now.

“Well, it’s easy but tiring. There are three rules that you need to keep in mind with this kind of job. First, be polite and always smile. It will attract more customers if the servers are friendly and approachable. Second, be quick but do it without a mess. You know what I mean, when you work, you have to serve the customers and the longest time is ten minutes. You need to serve their orders as soon as possible. Some are not patient to wait. And the last rule, be patient. According to the book I read, patience is a virtue. You will encounter a lot of customers that acts like they are kings or queens since this café is a high end one. Be sure not to burst girl or your career is over. Smile at them and accept their words like it were nothing. Okay? Are we clear about the rules?”

“Well, yes. What should I first do?”

“This is a serving tray. Can you balance it on your hand?” just balancing? I’m an expert at that field even balancing with the use of my head.

“Yes.” She gave me the tray and checked if I am doing it wrong and she was pleased.

“Okay. The next is the proper serving. So, do you know how to do it?”

“Yep. That’s easy. First, lower the serving tray then here, place the orders in the table and slightly bow as curtsy before you leave.” I narrated and demonstrated to her the process.

“Do tell me, are you a butler – I mean, a maid before?” I was a slave, if I could only tell that but that should remain as a disclosed matter.

“Well, sort of. I’m used to this work.” She nodded and then she took out a pen and a paper.

“Here, you need to write their orders before you ask that on the counter. Be sure to double check the orders, alright? This is the menu book and it is the same all year round. Please memorize all of the menu.” I nodded as I received the paper and pen and the menu book. She left me to familiarize everything and in just a matter of minutes, everything written in that menu book were stored in my brain.

“Are you ready to take your first customer?” she asked. Just then, I saw a woman on her late fifties. She was wearing a dress and she looked rich.

“Okay. I’ll try it.” Mariah motiioned me to accommodate the woman and I exhaled as I was slightly nervous.

I walked fast towards her and I readied my smile. I follow rule number 1.

“Hello Ma’am, good afternoon and welcome to HM Café. Here is the menu book. What do you like to have this fine afternoon?”

“You sure have a sweet tongue darling. Anyway, I will order one chamomile tea with a teaspoon of honey.”

“Would that be all?”

“Yes.”

“Just wait for at least ten minutes and your delicious tea will be served.”

I smiled and went to the counter to place the order which was given to me in a short span of time.

“Here is your team Ma’am. Enjoy.” I smiled at her and bowed then left so that he can have her privacy back. I waited until such time she raised her hand and signalled that she’ll pay for the bill. I gave her the bill.

“Here. Keep the change. I hope that when I come back, you’ll still be the one to serve me tea. Its Olivia.”

“The pleasure is mine Ma’am. I’m Havaianas.”

The lady smiled and exited the café. I finished to clea up the table and gave the payment to the counter. And I was happy to receive ten dollar tip on my first customer.

“So how was it?” asked Mariah.

“It was good. The lady was nice to me. I think she will be a patron here. And I got a ten dollar tip already.”

“Seriously? You got a tip that fast? Woah! I’m envious girl. I worked her for quite sometime but I just received for a tip thrice.”

“It’s okay. You’ll still be working anyway so more tips to come.”

Time flew so fast and the people started to crowd inside the café. And I am an expert when it comes to serving fast. I readied two serving trays.

“What will you do with the other serving tray girl? Asked Mariah.

“I will use it in serving. I need to do multitasking.”

“I hope it works.”

I placed all the cakes on the serving tray and balanced it on my head while I place the beverages and the other one and balanced it on my hand. There were six people that I need to serve and this is a time saving technique.

“Hello Ma’am and Sir. Good evening to all of you. Please enjoy your stay here.” I placed the beverages first then I took the tray on my head and served them the cakes. I smiled and bowed at them and left. When it was already the time that they pay for the bill, a man in his sixties handed me the money.

“Wait for your…”

“No need. Just keep the change Miss. It was quite a good trick balancing that tray.”

“Oh that. Thank you.”

And the day ended just like that. I went back to my room around 9 in the evening.

***

I hurriedly fixed myself as I realized the time. I woke up late because I was tired yesterday. I tried to fix myself as I ran like a mad woman on the street. I need to check my score on the entrance exam test. There were a lot of people looking at the bulletin board but I need to get through them as I still need to take another exam. I said my excuses and finally, I was in front of the bulletn board. I looked for my name and because it was arranged alphabetically, I went to the paper that says L. I was praying like my life was at stake and then I smiled like an i***t when I see my name on the list.

“Okay. Way to go Miracle.” I uttered then I ran to the venue to take my scholarship exam. There were just few inside. Well, most students here are from a well to do family and they don’t need petty scholorships but this is my lifeline. The examiner handed me the test questionnaire and the pen.

“Just choose a seat and start answering right away,” she said in a small voice and I nodded. I’m already ten minutes late but I can do this.

When I found the perfect spot beside the window, I started to scan the pages of the test paper and started answering. Some questions were tricky like how we expect on scholarship exams. It took me a while before I answered everything on my sheet. I happily smiled after I was done and when I looked around the room… okay. I was the only one left behind and the examiner. I apologetically smiled at her and gave her all the test papers. I really hope that I can get a full scholarship. Tuition in this school is high and I can’t afford that.

I went outside and started to wander around. It’s just one p.m. and my shift is at three so I have the time to do so. I was looking at the high building when suddenly, I bumped into something hard. I stumbled and I fell on the hard cemented pathway. Oh hell! I can feel my butt hurting.

“Miss, are you okay?”

“Can’t you see I’m dying?” I asked as I was pissed. The man chuckled and when I looked up my heart sang oh lala! This man is one hell of a hottie.

“Hi. I’m Grey. Grey Sheil.” He extended his arm for a hand shake. What should I do?