June's POV
Life wasn't easy.
And, I was beginning to feel its harshness weighing heavily on my shoulders.
But the hands of time was lenient on me.
After losing my previous job, I was fortunate to get a new one.
It was a job that I'd never done before.
I'd seen a poster indicating that they needed extra waitresses to apply. I'd gone into the shop and indicated my interest.
Donald, the manager was quite warm towards me. He kept on assuring me after introducing me to the rest of my colleagues that I was in safe hands. Most of them had cold stares, others seemed nonchalant about my presence. Only one felt ecstatic about my presence. He was Zino.
Then, Donald asked Zino to guide me into knowing the concepts of the shop.
"You are truly a newbie, welcome," Zino said to me. He wore wide-rimmed eye glasses. He was lean, scrawny and had thin eyes.
"Yeah," I replied, nervous as his eyes ran me over.
"I'm surprised, boss barely accepts newbies," his said, guiding me to the counter, "it's either you're well grounded or you're from the top."
I stopped to observe him, "from the top?" It bemused me.
He paused, throwing a colored apron over to me, "You know, from the top," he demonstrated.
I shook my head, confused at his act. He sighed then asked me to join him at the side while he whispered, "The Royale's coffee shop is a branch of the Royale's company, most of us thinks the boss had accepted you because you're from there. Maybe you're hiding your true self," he smirked.
I laughed, noticing his expression. "I'm not all that. I have never worked there, infact I don't know how the company even looks like, and I know not a single soul there," I guffawed lightly.
"You can come clean with me," he sneered.
I was slowly getting irritated by his inquisitive questions, yet I smiled, "I'm being honest."
As he guided me, I watched him intently, avoiding other colleagues who weren't pleased at the sight of me. Next, the shop was getting rather full to its brim. Zino would leave me by the counter while he attended to the rest of the customers.
And as more customers crept in, there was more work to do. I noticed an elegant woman who had strolled into the shop to meet a man. I also caught sight of the way the rest of my colleagues bowed at her while she walked past them.
I'd known in that instant that she must be from the top, like Zino had said to me. Someone dressed like that was definitely from the top. She walked to table 15, where a young man in suit sat, probably waiting for her. The man was well polished, sitting close to the window.
They both looked remarkably neat, and wealthy, I had concluded.
Next, she snapped her fingers.
Nothing happened.
Her head swung around, searching for no one in particular. But once her eyes caught sight of me, I got the message and raced to her table like a kitten.
"Good morning, what will you like, ma'am?" I asked with a smile.
From the corner of my eyes, I noticed the man's eyes strangely fixated on me. It had me swinging my gaze to meet his, but he abruptly moved his gaze to the woman seated before him.
"I don't think I've seen your face here," the lady turned to look at me.
I smiled sweetly, allowing my charm do the magic, "the clear cut for shifts requires new hands," I said.
Again, the dark haired man moves closer, instinctively, I knew he was taking a full glare of me. When I turned to look at him, he picked up his cup of cappuccino drink and started drinking.
"The usual," the brown haired lady answered me.
The usual? I certainly had no idea what her usual order was. But I must be calm, I said to myself. I must be natural. She can't see for herself that I was a newbie.
"Will you like an order for yourself, sir?" I turned swiftly to meet the gaze of the man head-on.
He had dark, calm eyes, his eyes bored into mine like he was trying to seek me out.
Why was he staring at me that way?
Wasn't he taught that staring too long at a stranger was rude?
"Not to bother, I have mine already," he said, picking his cup to meet his lips.
I watched him intently before he shifted his eyes back to his woman.
He must know me to look at me in such a way, I mused before starting my way back to the counter.
I was wrecked with nervousness, I mean, who wouldn't?
It was my first day, and I had only learnt some things based on my observations.
To whine about not knowing some few things to Donald would be like me saying I know nothing about my job.
Next, I tried to reach out to Zino if he could help me. Fortunately, he was back to the counter from an order.
"Please, you have an idea what that lady on table 15 likes?" I rasped quickly.
He was quick with his eyes, "you went over?"
I nodded.
"Caramel latte," he replied, then helped me quickly with it, and enthrusted it into my hands.
"I'm sure you're ready. Our hands are full. I'm sorry, I also have an Order to deliver," Zino said to me.
"I should be ready," a soft laugh escaped me.
"Just be calm as the seas," he advised.
I nodded gleefully, faking a smile while he enthrusted me the cup of caramel latte on a tray. I started down the aisle, familiar with the number of tables based from my first time.
I smiled even as I walked past seats, quite oblivious to my wobbling feet. The tray swayed sideways, and I swore to the heavens to help me till I was done serving the lady.
My wobbling feet were a disaster, each step felt like I was lifting a monstrous rock. And, I wavered and swirled like a leaf dangling in the wind.
The moment I got to table 15, I lost my landing, swung out a wrong foot then watched as disaster enveloped. The tray flew up into the air like I was throwing a handball into the air, the hot latte drink spiralled out from its cup and splashed on the brown haired lady's clothes. Then, the cup landed on her head while returning from his journey to earth.
Her eyes widened in shock. Then, she shut her eyes for a split second before finding her voice. I'd barely gotten enough time to balance my feet while this was happening.
Both of my hands flew up to cover my mouth while I stood rooted in shock.
"Dooonaaalllddd!!!" The lady bellowed.
I believed such a shout from her had vehemently rattled the windows while the grounds shook. She knew my boss! This was it. She was a woman from the top.
My boss, Donald, ran out like a wild hound. His fair hair flailing as he ran. Spectators from other tables watched the scene played before them.
My disaster was a movie to them.
"Ashley, are you alright?" The dark haired man who had been staring at me for a while asked his lady.
"You can see, Miguel that I'm not alright," she gnashed, turned to rake a dirty stare at me while turning to meet Donald.
"I'm sorry that this happened," Donald said, pushing me slightly away while he faced Ashley.
Ashley looked down at herself, exasperated. She brushed some strands of her hair away from her face while she rolled her eyes, "who's this?" She asked, standing up to point a finger at me.
"Em.. she is ...June," Donald introduced.
"I see you hire amateurs," Ashley scoffed.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," I apologised, stepping in.
"Don't," Ashley raised a hand, shutting me out.
"No, we don't hire amateurs," Donald defended.
"Then, what is this?" Ashley asked, raising up her hands to show the smeared stains on her jacket and hair.
"Ashley, you need to calm down," the fine young man stood up to join her. "I'm sure it was a mistake." He pulled out an handkerchief to wipe off the stains off her hairs.
Angered, she slapped it off. "You can't tell me to calm down in this kind of situation. Look at me, and you tell me to calm down?"
That must be embarrassing for the young man, yet he feigned a smile. I pushed myself before her again.
"This was an accident, I swear to the heavens. I'm really sorry," I clasped both of my hands before me.
"Donald, judging from her looks, she doesn't know anything about being a waitress," Ashley said, brushing her hair with her hands.
"That was a mistake, ma'am. I'm sorry, what can I do to rectify it?" I persisted, pleading.
"You say, rectify? You say things like someone who's a nitwit...,"
"Ashley?" the dark haired guy pulled her arm, interrupting her, "people are watching, calm down."
"I don't care, Miguel. Just take a look at me," she gasped, pulling her arm free.
"You say, that you can rectify this?" Ashley swirled round to face me at once.
"Yes, what can I do? I'm truly sorry for all this," I pleaded.
"Donald, please kindly fire her. I want no such amateurish skills in my father's branch," she spat.
The words hit me like a sledgehammer, hammering into the walls of my heart then shattering it into tiny shards. It came like a shock, electrocuting me.
"Fire?" The words numbed me.
Donald, who was far into his late thirties turned to look at me then back at Ashley. "Ma'am, we can....,"
"She leaves or you leave," Ashley interrupted him, "Have her fired at once."
Donald turned to me then said the most dreadful words, "You're fired, June."
I grabbed the lady's arm, begging her to see light in my reason. "Please, don't fire me. This is my last hope, please don't fire me."
"You should have thought of that before doing this," Ashley pushed my arm away.
Air was escaping my lungs, it felt like I was being strangled. I was suddenly burning up, yet I pushed past Donald to plead my cause.
I can not be empty at this time, I need every support that I could get. And this job at this moment is my life saving grace, I said to myself.
"Please, ma'am. I'm so sorry," I cried.
"Donald, please find a way to push her out, I have a date here," Ashley said with furrowed brows.
"You can't possibly be doing this, Ashley," the other guy was saying. He definitely wasn't pleased with the look of things.
"Miguel, I can do as I please. If I don't teach these people, who will?" Ashley said to the young, fine man.
"That doesn't mean you should fire her. She only made a mistake," he insisted.
"Miguel," Ashley paused, "I begin to wonder whose side you are on," Ashley scoffed, looking intently at him.
Miguel's eyes sought out mine. It was as if he was talking to me, like he had tried his best, despite Ashley's rude remarks.
But, who was he to fight for me?
It upsetted me, I find it daunting that he was doing such a thing for a stranger he barely knew.
I turned to find the eyes of my colleagues, some had the triumphant looks on their faces, few had placid looks. I quickly sought for Zino, and I intently knew that we would have been best friends if I were to stay longer at Royale's coffee shop. I started down the aisle towards the counter to gather up my things.
I didn't want pity, I hated the pity stares darting back at me, but what can I do?
"Hold on a second," a voice said behind me.