CHAPTER 8
1515 Words
I still couldn't wrap my head around it.
I mean, seriously. Fired?! Just like that?!
I worked my butt off for MCC. I endured their mockery, their insults, the constant belittling. I scrubbed floors, emptied trash bins, and did things no one else wanted to do—all while keeping my head low.
And just because of one mistake—okay, maybe two—I got kicked out like yesterday’s garbage?
That heartless CEO—Mr. Fishy—ugh, wait. You know what? He doesn’t even look like a fish.
I realized that while I was glaring at him earlier. His face is actually too perfect to resemble a fish. But his attitude? Oh, that definitely reeks of fishiness. Like rotting, stinking, disgusting fish left in the sun for too long.
So from now on, he's Mr. Grumpy.
Because he is the grumpiest person I have ever met in my entire life.
And so, naturally, as we stepped out of the MCC building, I did the most mature thing I could think of.
I screamed.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Tears streamed down my face as I dramatically raised my hands to the sky. I turned back to the building, my heart twisting painfully.
"Goodbye, MCC!" I wailed. "Even though you made me cry every day, I will still miss mopping your stupid floors every morning!"
Daphne, my ever-fabulous, ever-unsympathetic best friend, sighed heavily beside me. "GHAD! You are so overacting, bes! Look at you now—" he gestured at me from head to toe with an exaggerated wince, "—you look terrible!"
I gasped dramatically. "False information!" I wiped my tears aggressively before glaring at him. "I am still fresh and fabulous—just… emotionally damaged!"
"Mmm-hmm." He crossed his arms, unimpressed.
Then I squinted at him. "Wait. Didn’t you say you’d treat me to anything that would make me feel better?"
Daphne blinked. "What?"
I smirked. "You heard me. You promised. And I know exactly what I want."
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Maurice, what are you thinking?"
I grabbed his arm and started pulling him forward. "Come on. I’m starving. And since I am now officially jobless, I might as well have my last decent meal before I descend into poverty."
Daphne tried to resist, but I was stronger. "W-Wait, bes, where are we going?!"
I grinned. "Tasty Land."
And just like that, his soul left his body.
When we finally arrived in front of Tasty Land, the most famous and expensive restaurant in the city, Daphne completely froze.
His mouth opened and closed like a fish—oh wait, he’s the real fish here!
"Maurice…" His voice was shaking. "I—I barely have money for my own food! And you bring me to—THIS?" He pointed at the grand, luxurious entrance as if it were the gates of heaven itself.
I patted his shoulder. "Bestie, listen. Friends support each other, right?"
"Yeah, but not financially! I am also one paycheck away from homelessness!"
"Then this is your chance to prove your loyalty." I gave him my best, most innocent puppy-dog eyes. "Think of it as your gift to me. A farewell party to my employment. A grand send-off to my life as a hard working citizen."
Daphne looked like he wanted to cry. "Maurice, I swear to God, I'm gonna scratch your eyes out of you!"
"Love you too, bes!" I giggled before dragging him inside.
The moment we stepped through the doors, it was like stepping into another world.
The chandeliers sparkled like diamonds. The marble floors were so clean, I could see my reflection–which, by the way, still looked fabulous despite my earlier meltdown. The air smelled like expensive steaks and old money. The waiters moved with a level of grace I could never achieve, their uniforms crisp and spotless.
It was a luxury.
It was perfect.
And it was definitely out of our budget.
Daphne clutched his chest like he was having a heart attack. "Bes… let’s rethink this… maybe we can just go to—like—Jollibee or McDonalds?"
I ignored him and confidently walked up to the host. "Table for two, please!"
The host, a tall man in a black suit, raised an eyebrow at us. He definitely judged our cheap outfits, but I didn't care. I flipped my hair and gave him my most dazzling smile.
"Right this way," he said, leading us inside.
Daphne leaned in and whispered, "This is financial suicide."
"Relax," I whispered back. "It’s your credit card, not mine."
"I hate you."
"You love me."
We sat down, and the moment we opened the menu, Daphne made a sound that was not human. "MAURICE! LOOK AT THESE PRICES!"
I did.
I also pretended not to care. "Hmm… I’ll have the most expensive steak, please."
Daphne slammed his menu shut. "I am never talking to you again."
But despite his complaints, he still placed the order. Because deep down, he knew I needed this.
As I took another bite of the most heavenly steak I’d ever tasted, I let out a deep, satisfied sigh.
"Maybe getting fired wasn’t so bad after all."
Because honestly, if this was what unemployment looked like, then sign me up for joblessness every single day.
Who wouldn’t want to live like this? Eating in a five-star restaurant, indulging in the juiciest, most mouthwatering steak, and having your best friend foot the bill? This was peak luxury.
Wait.
I almost forgot the tiny little problem that I was actually unemployed.
Damn.
But who cares? Right now, all that mattered was this steak. Whoever owned Tasty Land must be some kind of culinary god. If I ever found him, I swear I’d marry him on the spot—just so I could eat this masterpiece of a steak every single day.
Don’t judge me.
Just because I’m jobless doesn’t mean I’m not wife material.
Hello? I’m still gorgeous, still sexy, and still smell ridiculously good. Okay, maybe I’m emotionally damaged—but that’s beside the point.
After what felt like the best meal of my life, Daphne grabbed the check.
And then he froze.
His eyes went wide. His mouth fell open.
And then—
"OH MY GOD!" he shrieked so loudly the entire restaurant turned to look at us. "MAURICEEEE… I’M DOOMED!"
I simply smiled, wiping my lips with the fancy cloth napkin like a true rich lady. "Now I know you’re really my best friend. You proved it to me today, my pretty, gorgeous bestie."
"GHAD! My savings for my boys—GONE! VANISHED! EXTINCT!" he wailed, holding his chest like he was about to have a heart attack. "Damn you! You ruined me!"
I giggled as he dramatically pulled out his credit card, his hands visibly shaking. I almost felt guilty. Almost.
But then—before Daphne could complete his financial suicide—a woman suddenly approached our table.
She was elegant, dressed in a crisp white blouse and a sleek black pencil skirt. The kind of woman who looked like she meant business.
"Good evening," she greeted with a professional smile. "I’m the manager of this establishment. I just wanted to inform you that your bill has already been taken care of."
Daphne and I blinked at her.
"Wait—what?" I asked.
"Yes," she nodded, clasping her hands. "Someone has already paid for your entire meal. And additionally, he has instructed us that you may eat as much as you want—free of charge."
I swear, at that moment, I almost had a heart attack.
"Wait, was that true?!"
The manager smiled. "Yes, ma’am. Enjoy your meal."
And just like that, she walked away, leaving me in absolute shock.
Someone paid for us? Someone covered everything?!
Oh. My. God.
"WHOEVER YOU ARE, I OWE YOU A MILLION KISSES!"
Well, my instincts kicked in.
I immediately waved a waiter over and ordered—well, just a tiny bit more food.
You know, just a little something extra to celebrate this unexpected blessing.
Nothing too crazy.
Just...
Twenty more steaks.
Daphne choked on his drink. "MAURICE!"
"What? It’s free!"
But as much as I wanted to eat all twenty steaks, let’s be real—I was only human.
By the time I finished my third one, my stomach was completely stuffed. I couldn’t take another bite without risking death.
But there was NO WAY I was leaving all that food behind.
Good thing I came prepared.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a slightly crumpled plastic bag.
Daphne stared at me, horrified. "Is that… is that a trash bag?!"
I shrugged. "I don’t know where I got it. Maybe from the MCC trash bin?"
His face dropped in disgust. "OH MY GOD. YOU’RE GOING TO PUT FANCY STEAK IN A GARBAGE BAG?!"
"Food is food, bes. I don’t discriminate."
And with that, I began stealthily stuffing the remaining steaks into the bag.
Daphne buried his face in his hands. "I don’t know you. I have never met you. I am disowning you as my friend."
I grinned. "Love you too, bestie."
- Writer
