Take Me ho(e)me

Purge can be an easy way out. Author's Pov. She will die today, that's for sure. An unmoving body, one can mistake a corpse due to the inhumane position she was currently in. Lying on her bed unmoving as her alarm rang and undoubtedly fell on deaf ears. She began to twitch and shift uncomfortably when she finally found the energy to grudgingly slide out of bed and trudge towards her closet. After picking out decent clothes, she went back to her bedside table, switching off the alarm. Whom in the right mind would change clothes before turning off an obnoxious alarm? She began to do her daily things, eat, shower, and prepare. Today was the day, a day that she dreaded to come. A yearly program would occur, a night of full s*******r. Sure some would say she was exaggerating, but murder was one of the things they allowed in this specific program. This night was called The Purge, March 21st, where any and all crime, including murder, would be legal. Such a shame for her to die on the day she was born. Happy Birthday...to me, I guess. The soon-fallen heroine thought, now grabbing her money and phone, that she had been going out to buy 'materials' for tonight. Today was no exception. Calling an Uber, she got on and went to the nearest grocery store. Although, as I expected, almost everything was sold off, a look of disappointment soon graced our heroine's face. Grumbling in annoyance, she went to look for another. After a while, she found one after walking aimlessly for about one to two hours or so, she sighed in relief and happily skipped towards the small convenience store. . . . . This is bullshit, she thought, barely getting anything. With only one foot in the small building, a crowd of scary women legally ransacked the products. Sighing, she trotted towards the things that were left for her...she was tired, the energy she had earlier was gone. She worked her butt off walking towards who knows where until she finally found a place, but the things she could get were the things that were left for her. Still had some money left, deciding it was time for lunch. Choosing to eat at a secluded cafe in town, she entered the place and sat down at what she liked to call a solo private table, with walls on both sides and curtains in front, with a mini water dispenser and all the utensils she could need. She ordered a tempura bowl and curry, with lemon iced tea. A few minutes later, the usual waiter who served/catered for her for the past 2 years named Haru, who she befriended in that span of time, of course. Gave her the meal, and she gave her thanks and dug in. Opting to have small talk with him as it had been a few years already, but alas, he was soon called off and scolded by his manager for taking too long. She hoped he wouldn't receive another pay cut just for that. Their manager was quite biased. Choosing to favour a good-looking man, it irked her, to say the least, that such a good friend was forced to work for someone so...boneheaded. Yeah, this author will work on her insulting skills. Haru came back to her table, pushing aside the curtain a little bit. He, with the usual smile, would greet her with, "Good noon, Miss Eli." He said in a gentle manner, if only Haru wasn't a waiter but a host she would definitely go for his a*s. "Good noon, Haru. Also, stop calling me Miss. We've been friends for at least a year or so..." She now named Eli, said and smiled at her friend. While also chomping down on a fried tempura, not before dipping it in spicy mayo. He sighed in response. "We both know that won't happen, or else I'll get scolded again. "You are the cause of most of my troubles, you know", Chuckling playfully, now leaning his head on his hand as he looked at her eating. Well, she just shrugged in response, ignoring the small tint in her cheeks that she desperately wished he would not notice. "So...what are you planning tonight, Eli?" He trailed off, sending her curious gaze. She shifted uncomfortably in response. Honestly, she didn't know what she could do, wondering how she even got this far in life being an orphan and everything was shocking to her. "Probably locking myself at the house, with double the security from last year. I also inserted some cameras and big padlocks I bought off Amazon." Happily chirped, and gobbled down a spoonful of curry. He hummed, "You think thick padlocks would work on guns?" He playfully asked, "You never know, Haru. Plus, I can protect myself...a bit?" It came off as a question rather than an answer, she pouted. Now opting to change the subject before he could tease her more. "What's up with the manager? By the way, she seemed so annoying. Especially her high-pitched voice." She says, rolling her eyes in the process. He scoffs, "She's the owner's relative of some sort. The other staff seems to disagree." He leaned in, whispering to her. "Oh? what's the true catch then?" Curious, she leaned in as well. Amused at her antics, bringing a hand to her forehead, he flicked it, earning a surprised yelp. Adjusting to her seat again, she decided it was better to let him talk and not risk another tease. Now silently eating, while looking at him with hopeful eyes, he sighed in defeat, a smile danced on her face when she finally won. "Apparently she's far from a relative, his mistress, they suspect. He was really chummy with her after she got accepted, and, rose up to be a manager in just a month." He shrugged at the last part, sure it was unfair to him, but he didn't care, the owner and his mistress were two peas in a pod. Both were trash. Another reason was probably that he only had the lousy minimum wage to rely on. Apparently, the tips for him and the other waiters were for the owner. He pretended to be blind and deaf to the obscure affections the two trash shared. "Oh, that makes sense, how many times have I offered you a job at the company I work for again?" "51? If you're implying what I think you're implying, then it's 52..." Trailing off, Eli finished her food. "It's a shame, but my boss will need a partner." Eli quietly giggled. She stood up ready to pay. Walking off to the counter she took out her wallet but before she could hand over her money, "Don't pay, It's on me!" Haru called out, cupping his mouth with his hands, he shouted, with her looking back. She was met with an ever-so-graceful smile that radiated so brightly. With widened eyes she sent him a curious stare, watching him mouth the words Happy Birthday, my dear Eli. A small smile settled on her face as she left, too bad she would leave him soon. She could tell.