Do you need me?

Today is a hot day. No matter where or which road you take it feels like the sun was blistering your skin. As pedestrians walk on the shade of trees many stopped by the ice drinks vendors and stalls littered the narrow pathway. Raya strolled around with iced tea on her right hand and a violet laptop case on her left. School had just ended. The history teacher had a wide grin after leaving his forty or so students with 3 passage of essay for homework. Which, annoyingly is due tomorrow. Granted none of the other subject teacher give them homework today so they can focus on just one instead of normally 2 or maybe 3 subjects of homework. But still, looking at her three whole page of essay questions was enough to give her nausea. She could get passable to above average score in other subject without much issue but history is simply one of the bane of her highschool experiences. Nevermind what the teacher always drilled into their heads that 'learning about revolution of culture is important to learn the true value of humanity'. That doesn't mean anyone would be elated when you expect them to understand and memorize more than a hundred different cultures, with their own different views and values. Okay maybe a hundred was a bit of a stretch (considering only some of them were more well known) but still! "Raya!" "...hm?" she snapped of whatever she was thinking to look at her friend that were waving their hand to get her attention. Louisa, a girl slightly taller than Raya and had a braid ponytail. Her school uniform always missing a tie and she had a bulky backpack slung on one shoulder while keeping an iced tea on the other. "Would you like to do homework together now? it's still bright outside, better finish it earlier." she said cheerily. Raya stare ahead at the clear blue sky with some clouds dispersing in between. "Well if it's not going to rain then I guess it's fine." the weather have been getting in what Louisa say, 'moody' these days. it's supposed to be a rainy season, but the air feels hotter each day. "Let's do it outside. I am a little hungry for some snack." she said. "The usual cafe then?" "mhm." she answer with a slurp of an iced tea. There is a small cafe by the intersection ahead of this narrow path. Many students of their highschool go there, mainly because it's near and the menus were affordably priced. It wouldn't put a dent in your pocket money unless you decided to splurge. From the outside customers could be seen enjoying their food by the window. There were some girls on the outside bench, chatting ang giggling with each other. Dim yellowish light lit up the surrounding walls, with slow beat music playing from an old vintage speaker. Furniture made from dark wood was everywhere from the chairs, tables, and the shelf that stored some magazines and light books for customers to read. The whole place gives a homey vintage ambiance to it. "Welcome!" soft ringing of bells sounded as the door closed. A middle aged man dressed in casual blue shirt and dark grey pants stopped wiping the counter to receive customer, only to stop at the sight of the two students. "Ah, it's you two! Shall I bring the usual?" Caddy, who have been an employer of the cafe since it was opened greeted them with a warm smile. "Yes, but make mine iced! And two spicy chicken noodles please." Raya answers. "Got it! Extra spicy for you?" he nodded while asking Louisa this time. "Yup!" The two make it to the secluded corner of the room. Raya took out her laptop and her workbook, sighing. "Well damn teacher Li always gone overboard with homework but it honestly seems a bit worse than usual." Louisa said, grimacing at her own book. "Maybe he'd known the other teachers didn't gave us any work today and decided to double his instead?" Raya shrugged. No matter what the amount it's not like she'll understand all of it. That's what the internet for, to copy paste answers. "Okay... so I'll do the odd numbers you do even. how's that?" Louisa asked. "Fine with me." the scratches of paper combine with the background music was the only sound they can hear. Sometimes bits of murmur of gossip reach their ears but it wasn't loud enough to be annoying. "Did you see the new guy who just start working today?" a couple of girls talking in low voices not far behind them could be heard. "No? there's a new employee? They didn't post any hiring notice if I remember." "They're looking for temporary part-timer. I heard the boss is going on vacation this holiday." "I've seen him. He seems comfortable to be around with." "Psst! you're missing the point! Is he goodlooking?" "...I would say he's fairly goodlooking. But the thing I first notice was his smile." "You sound like some crappy soap opera drama lady." one of them burst in laughter. "Sigh... I didn't mean it like that. You'd know what I mean if you met him. He has that warm smiling person vibe checks out." "Ohhh! like the type my mom would gush over on tv?" "Yeah like that..." "A new guy?" Louisa appears interested, slightly shifted to the side to listen more clearly. Raya brows lifted, a bit surprised. The cafe owner didn't usually hire part timer. Usually it would be Caddy and sometimes the other employees who didn't celebrate holidays were left to tend the shop. If the employees were unavailable then she would either manage the shop herself with her family or just closed it until holiday ends. To hire a part timer at a time like this, Caddy must have been the only one available. Right at that moment, Caddy came with their orders. An iced matcha latte and cold melon squash with two spicy chicken noodles. "Here's your order." Louisa took the hot bowl and immediately took a sip. "Thank you uncle Caddy! by the way I heard you're having a new employee?" she asked while leaning down at her bowl. "Words sure spread fast aren't they? Why yes! He just came like half an hour ago." Caddy huffed, a bit amused. "Ohh we would like to meet him sometime!" "Maybe you will later. He's in the back kitchen with the others." with that he left their table to tend the other customers. More than an hour and half had passed and they're finally done with their homework. Raya stretch her arm along the table feeling her wrist sore. "Agh... time like this make me hate writing." Raya sighed. "Good thing we have a holiday coming up." Louisa answers while packing their book. They both come to the counter to pay. But it wasn't Caddy or the other two workers who came up to them. It was a boy who looked just about their age, the collar of his school uniform peeking out behind his apron. Raya didn't fail to notices that it was apparently their school uniform. The boy had a bright and pleasant smile, easily converse with customers and the other workers to ask for guidance from time to time. The slight tilt of his mouth when he talk and chuckled at one of the aunties teasing. He looked, warm. Like a person anybody could talk to with ease and just relax around their presence. Now she can see that bit of gossip was true. "That'll be two dollars and a half, please." the boy said when it's their turn. "Oh yes wait a minute." Louisa handed her half of total banknote to Raya who paid them while Louisa talks with the new guy. "Are you that new part timer we've heard about? You look to be the same age as us." the boy hums, still smiling. "Yes I am. I happen to be free this holiday so I thought why not. It never hurt to have an extra income. Never know when you'll need it." he laughs a bit at the end. "That, are you from the 2nd central highschool?" Raya asked while stuffing the purse in her pocket. The boy turn to her then pauses, finally getting a good look at their clothes. Then grins. "Ah! You two came from there too?" "m hm." Raya nodded. "Really? What are the odds, it make sense tho it's not that far away from school." Their school has an inbuilt dorm. But the students were not obligated to stay in the dorms. They can choose not to even if most of them stayed because they live far from the central city. Raya and Louisa were one of them along with two other dorm mates. "What grade are you in?" Raya asked. "I'm in second grade class five. How about you two?" They were in the same grade. "We're second grade too! from class two." Louisa answer this time. "Huh so we didn't have to call you senior!" "Senior? hahaha! Do I seem older to you?" he asked, amused. "Well it's usually the seniors who got out to get a part time job. For the experience and college tuition I heard." "Well you're not wrong." he chuckles a bit before leaning back, as another person came to pay their order. "Being called senior in nice and all, but I must refuse the offer. Just call me Jade." He said with a slightly teasing note. "I'm Louisa. nice to meet you." "I'm Raya." she tug Louisa arm to make way as another person come to the counter. "I guess we'll see you around, Jade." "Alright, it's nice meeting you. And come back anytime!" he called back while Raya gave a small wave in his direction. Before going out of the door she thought she saw something dangling out from Jade's pocket. It was, 'A bunny keychain?'