I keep fidgeting nervously with my fingers while staring intensely at the wall clock inside the staff room. The uneasiness I’m feeling keeps growing stronger and stronger every passing minutes.
Bryle’s already waiting for his parents to arrive at the table reserved for them. I walk to the door and take a peek at him behind the door. He looks oriented while sitting on his chair that I can’t pinpoint if he feels a little bit nervous somehow. He’s really good at keeping a straight face.
My eyes widen when I see his parents finally getting inside the restaurant. His dad looks so gloomy and is wearing a stoic face while his mom is smiling awkwardly to all the people they pass by. I see Bryle shifts in his seat when he sees his parents, I even catch him smirks for a second before putting on a stoic face just like his dad.
‘Oh my gosh! Calm down, Alwin. Nothing bad will happen to you out there! And if it does, Bryle is there to protect you. Yes, right. Bryle is there.’
I do a inhale and exhale to calm myself down before going out of the room. I try to keep myself together when Bryle stares at me maliciously. I go straight to their table to get their orders.
“Good afternoon, ma'am, sir. Welcome back to ‘Rose’s Special. May I know your order?” I ask in a friendly tone and force myself to not look at Bryle.
I take a glance at him for a second before turning back my attention to the old couple with a shy smile because he’s really staring at me like I’m some kind of tasty snack and any minute from now, he’ll pounce on me. His mom notices our actions and raises a brow while looking at Bryle then me.
“We would like to have your special here for two people then mocha cake and mint flavored ice cream for dessert. That’s all, thank you,” His dad hands the menu to me before looking at Bryle. “Choose your own order. I don’t know what you want to eat,” he says that makes Bryle snap out from staring at me.
His been staring at me since I arrived on their table that I feel like my knees is starting to buckle. I don’t really have to act that much because what I am supposed to do and feel is really happening to me for real. I know that he’s just staring at me like that because it is part of the plan but I don’t know why I’m getting affected with it.
Bryle turns to look at his father and nods. He covers his face with the menu so that his parents won’t see the smirk he’s wearing on his face. I want to roll my eyes at his mischievous attitude right now but I stop myself from doing so.
“I can’t choose anything here. I admit that the food here are very delicious but I’m craving for something that’s not in the menu.” Then suddenly, he turns to look at me. “Can I order you instead?” He says to me and licks his lips afterwards.
My eyes widen at his remark and blush. Oh my gosh! I didn’t expect that at all.
“Bryle Kraisee!” His dad calls out his full name in a threatening tone just enough for the four of us to hear.
“What?” He laughs heartily. “You tasted so good last night so I want to taste you again,” he says to me.
His mom gasps in shock while his dad widens his eyes. My heart beats so fast that I feel like it’s about to jump out of my chest any time.
“I—Uhhh...” I don’t know what to say.
“What do you mean by that, Bryle?” His dad grits his teeth and clenches his fist in anger.
The wife holds his arm so that he won’t punch his own son. “Calm down, honey.”
“U-Uhm, excuse me, s-sir—” I am about to bow my head to leave when his dad cuts me off.
“No! Stay here! You are not going anywhere until my son clears everything out.”
I flinch at the sound of his voice. Everyone, including the staffs are now looking towards our table with shock and curiosity in their eyes. Sean and Paulo who are standing at a corner, look at me with concern in their eyes.
“You heard my dad, babe. You can sit here beside me,” Bryle adds fuel to the fire.
I’m so nervous. Maybe if his dad gets more angrier than this, he will shout at me and then I’ll be fired from work because of what happened. And also, waiters are not allowed to join our customers except if we bid the manager first.
I turn to look at Bryle. “B-But we are not allowed to sit with the customers...” I trail off.
Bryle grins then raises his hand in the air to call our manager, Paulo. “Manager!” He calls out and Paulo immediately comes up to their table when he hears him.
When Paulo arrives at the table, he looks at me sharply first before turning to Bryle and smiles. “What can I help you, sir?” He asks.
I glance at Bryle’s parents and I see his dad looks like his going to explode in anger any time sooner but he’s stopping himself to not attract anyone else’s attention. Shame is now also noticeable on his face when people starts looking our way because of his loud voice.
This rich people, even though they so badly wanted to punch someone due to anger, they restrain themselves so that they wouldn’t grab the attention of others because they’re scared to be criticized and become the first entry of the newspapers. For them, it can ruin their company and image.
And on the issue of Bryle’s dad, he obviously thinks like that too. He’s obviously born from a family with a silver spoon, competitive, and wouldn’t accept defeat. I can really tell that he can do anything just so that his plans would go his way.
“Can we invite my boyfriend to sit with us here, sir?” Bryle asks kindly to Paulo.
Shock and confusion is evident on Paulo’s face at what Bryle has said. Who wouldn’t get shocked if just last week, we saw Bryle drinking alone inside the mini bar and then I also denied his accusation of me before. I just pray that Paulo may not ask anything until we are alone without Bryle’s parents.
“O-Of course, sir, you can. Alwin, since the customers asked for your presence with them, then you are allowed,” Paulo says professionally before leaving our table.
I slowly sit beside Bryle. I can literally feel the old man’s intense stare on me so I look down on the floor. My knees are trembling, the pounding of my heart intensifies even more, and I feel like I’m going to pee on my own pants in premonition.
I flinch when Bryle suddenly wraps his arm around my waist and wipes my sweat off my forehead with his handkerchief.
“Are you okay? You are sweating a lot...” He sweetly says to me. I look at him straight in the eyes and concern is clearly evident on his face.
If I didn’t know any better, I would probably say that the expression he’s showing me was real.
I force myself to smile at him. “I’m okay, Bryle... Don’t worry.”
My eyes widen when he suddenly kisses my forehead. “Alwin, I’ve known you for so long. I know when you’re feeling okay or not...”
“Bryle!” We hear his dad’s sharp voice.
Bryle turns to look at his dad with an annoyed expression plastered on his face whilst I look down again. “What?” Bryle asks, annoyed.
“Explain yourself right now!”
I see Bryle doing an eye roll. He was gonna answer when a woman suddenly comes up to our table.
“Hi!” The woman greets while waving her hand happily.
We all turn to look at her. She’s so beautiful, sexy, flawless, tall, and literally dresses up elegantly. She looks like a model to be precise. The way she moves around and the way she nailed the clothes she’s wearing. Dark pink croptop paired up with a navy blue jacket just exactly up to her navel area, a dark pink shorts that shows her flawless legs, and a five inches light pink stilettos that made her look more taller than her original height.
“N-Nika, honey! What are you doing here?” Bryle’s mom asks in shock but immediately composed herself and smiles at the woman widely.
I also see how Bryle’s dad’s facial expression softens and gladly smile at her. Whilst Bryle just stares at her without any expression whatsoever on his face. It’s like he’s not happy to see her at all. I want to ask him who the woman is but I stop myself. I’ll just ask him next time.
“I was just passing by when I saw you here so I’ve decided to show myself up and greet you. And also because I saw Bryle with you, I haven’t seen him for the past few days because every time I went to your house, he’s not there,” she pouts and turns to look at Bryle but raises her brow in confusion when she sees me, with Bryle’s arm wrapped around my waist. “Ow, who’s this?” She asks and smiles though I can tell it’s fake.
“My boyfriend,” Bryle answers shortly.
The woman’s eyes widen because of what she heard. “What?!” She gasps.