CHAPTER 7: First Day

First day of work.

I prepared myself early and cooked for both of us. Haria was still in her room, sleeping soundly. She was so happy when I told her I got a job in a restaurant. She told me to wake her up at 5am so she can cook breakfast but it's still 4am so I decided to be the one who will do it. I am just excited about my first day.

I am just wishing to have a peaceful working environment in this kind of job. I don't want to have a bad experience anymore, and I will try my best not to go near people that will just take advantage of me.

"You are awake? Yah, you did not even wake me up!" I heard Haria so I turned my head while preparing the table for the both of us.

I smiled and told her to take a seat first. "Yes, don't worry, it's fine with me. I don't want to disturb your sleep since it's already late when you get one. I cooked breakfast for both of us, I think I am just excited so I woke up early before you."

After hearing me, she looked at the table and found fried rice, hotdogs, eggs and hot chocolate for breakfast so she smiled from ear to ear. This is our favorite so I think she will not refuse it. "Okay, you know I will not miss this opportunity so yeah, I will eat now," she said which made me chuckle. I joined her at the table and we both enjoyed the food being served.

"So what time would you go to work? I could not remember if you mentioned it last night. I am so excited that I did not focus on things," she asked me.

I played the spoon in my hands and then winked at her. "7:30am."

"Oh," she looked at the wall clock after. "Then you should prepare now, don't worry about the dishes. I will take care of it, go, go!" She even gestures like telling me to go away. I smiled widely and ran towards the bathroom to take a bath.

I can feel that my day would be great.

"I will go now! Bye!" I said before going outside, I did not wait for Haria's response since I was running out of time and she was still in the bathroom. I think her time moves from 8am, she never gets late from her work.

I was in the cab when a notification popped up on my phone. It was from the restaurant I am working with right now. A reminder of my schedule, I smiled, I think this is it. My first day.

Once I reached the restaurant, I immediately went to the bathroom to change my clothes. They already sent these uniforms to Haria's condo yesterday night. I thought Haria ordered something but it was the uniform that had been sent. However, it's kinda weird for me that the restaurant will be the one to do that since they can just give it to me once I go there today. I just shook my shoulders while I was staring at myself in the mirror. I think this uniform suits me well. I am just small in size since I am not that tall but everyone's telling me I can be a model because of my features. I smiled and took one last look before going outside. At any moment from now, the restaurant will be open to the public.

"Ariadne!" The waitress who helped me yesterday called me, she's with Nicko. They are preparing.

"Hey!" I greeted back with a smile.

"It suits you well," Nicko told me while looking at my outfit now.

"Thanks! So what am I going to do now?" I asked them.

"Okay, so first wait—you don't know my name yet, I am Chanty, Chandria Escoval," she said and offered her hand to me. I gladly accepted it.

"Ariadne, Carleigh Ariadne Gabriel."

"And I am Nicko, Nicholas Standford." Nicko joined our introduction. "Later you will be knowing the other staff here but first I will let you two work on your own, okay?" Nicko then told us that he will now stand in the door where he is supposed to stay throughout his shift.

While Chanty was telling me the things I needed to do, she was also telling me things about them. Nicko is a college student and he is a working student. He was helping his mother to work for them since his father can't do it anymore since he got a stroke, making him not able to talk nor move anymore. However, she told me that he was already fine and still fighting despite what happened to him. I guess it's a thing that they still need to be grateful for.

I also learned that most of the workers here are working students, to support their studies but Chanty is different, she was living with her aunt, they are on good terms and she already treats her as her real mom since she was the one who took care of her since she was young. She was working not because she needed to, but because she just wanted to help her Aunt for small expenses even though her Aunt has a fine job, a interior designer. Chanty was still in college, a graduating student.

I smiled at the thought that they are working for their studies. I wonder if I can do it now. Now that my father won't have control over me anymore.

My father. I suddenly felt the pain in my chest, I tried to ignore this since I left the house but still it's haunting me. Even though he did such a shameful thing to me, I still care for him. Everyday I wake up, I am thinking if I should go and make things work for us again. I am worrying about how he is right now, if he is eating well, or taking care of himself. He used to see me doing things for him, and now that I am far from him, out of his reach. I wonder what his condition is now. I hope he is fine and safe without me. I know I have a right to be mad at him, however, he is still my father and I can't help but to worry and be concerned about his well being.

"Hey, Ariadne? Are you okay? Do you want to rest for a while? Don't worry, it's Saturday now and we will open this restaurant later at 10am. You can rest for some minutes before we continue." Chanty's voice awakened my flying mind. I looked at her and smiled.

"No, I just remembered something. It's nothing to worry about, let's continue?" I asked, she's not sure but she just agreed with me since she doesn't know what she will do.

"Uh, okay."

After telling me all the instructions, proper ways of doing things she started preparing for herself. "Just tell me if you need something okay? Or if something confuses you," she said.

"Yes, thank you Chanty."

The customers arrive once we are open. I think they know the restaurant's schedule. I tried to posture myself to make me calm. I need to do this right for the first time, there is a pair of eyes that was looking at me. I approached every guest that was coming in, served them what they needed, took orders and even cleaned their table after they left. This restaurant is kinda big, so they really need more waitresses to work here, however, the number of waitresses now I think is still fine. Jess, one of the waitresses smiled at me, I think I am doing my work right. I remained focused on what I am doing until night comes. Many of the workers here already went home since they still have schedules for class. It was 6 o'clock in the evening when I saw a few p**e walking directly to the staff area. I think they were for the night shift. Those who don't have a schedule today remain here like Chanty and Nicko.

After the new shifters arrived, we were called in the kitchen to eat dinner but we only had 15 minutes to do so. Chanty held my hand while we were walking to that area. "Are you tired now? You can still do it right? Do you want some help on something?" She asked me but I shook my head and smiled at her.

"No, I am fine. Thank you for the help," I said before we reached the kitchen. She just smiled and told me to start taking food and eat. All the things in the menu were delicious, I enjoyed the food earlier in the lunch time but like this one, we only have 15 minutes to eat and I think it's already fine. 15 minutes is not that fast, I guess.

"Come on guys! Let's go!" The head chef got my attention when he started cheering, I think he always does that. They were all close with each other here, that is what I can see. "Oh, Ariadne. Do you still wanna eat? You still have 5 minutes, take the chance. Dessert, here take this," he turned to me and gave me a bread with peanut butter which is my favorite.

"Thank you, Sir!" I said before taking a bite.

"Don't call me that way, just call me Edward." I know he is far from our age but he doesn't like being called by other staff that way. He is a humble one, I think all the staff here were taught to do that.

"Okay, Edward."

He smiled. "Much better." And then went back to his work.

Once I was done eating, I started doing my work also until I only had one hour, it's already 8pm. I will be done at 9 o'clock in the evening, which was my last hour of working.

Miss Georgia Martinez, I know she's looking at me with those CCTV cameras. She is the head manager that I talked to yesterday, who also hired me for this job. So in my last hour, I need to do my best.

"Congratulations, you did it well on your first day."

It was already the end of my shift, and she asked me to go to her office through Chanty. I smiled at her, I am happy that she liked my performance. "Thank you, Ma'am Georgia," I said, smiling. I even bowed my head a little.

I heard her chuckling so I raised my head and looked at her. I think her name really suits her well. Georgia because she's gorgeous.

"Why ma'am?" I asked.

"Nothing, you are interesting. I think you deserve a better job than staying here," she told me and that makes me confused. Is she telling me to find another job because they can't accept me? I thought I am doing well with my performance.

"You mean, you will not accept me as waitress here—" I did not continue what I was going to say when she stopped me with her laugh.

"No, it's not like that. I will still give you some days like what I said. You did a great job on your first day and I hope your performance will be consistent." I sighed in relief and smiled at her once again.

"Did you get nervous? Don't. What I am saying is," she leaned on her table and put her both elbows on it, then caught her chin using her hands. She was intently looking at me, which made my heart jump. "I think you deserve something more than this. You are interesting, I could say. That's all. I admire your dedication to make me see you are worth hiring for," she smiled at me after saying that and because of it, I don't think she will fire me this early. I still have a chance to do my job. "So for now, I will let you go home. It's already 9pm, someone is going to take your job now. Take care on your way, Ariadne."

I had goosebumps when she said my name. I don't know but this woman in front of me is becoming more weird, or she was just trying to intimidate me? But she's really beautiful, so I went out of the room and pouted my lips. She really is, she looks like a barbie doll. However, she resembles someone I don't know.

Chanty and Nicko were with me when I felt the restaurant. They will also go home now since their shift has ended. We bid a goodbye to each other when we were already in the parking lot. They both have service while I will walk a little to go to the road to take a cab.

"Hey, Ariadne! Don't you really want me to take you home? It's already night and dark!" Nicko shouted so he got my attention, in his back is Chanty who was driving her car.

"Or just let me!" Chanty shouted too.

I smiled and waved at both of them. "I am fine! Take care on your way!" I said while waving.

"Are you sure?" Nicko asked me.

"Yes, I am!"

"Take care!" Chanty waved back. They did not protest anymore after that and went home.

I sighed. There is no cab yet so I think I really need to wait for more minutes here. There are some vehicles passing by, but it's already dark so it's kinda scary. I am just wishing that no one will ever think of hurting me.

"Hey, miss. Are you alone? Do you want us to join you?"

I closed my eyes. I think my wishes don't come true.

I bit my lips as the nervousness I am trying to hide rises. Two drunk men went near me. They were both holding a bottle of beer.

"Don't come near me!" My hands started shaking, I remembered how I almost got raped that night. I don't want it to happen again. I heard their laughter, they were both enjoying seeing me this scared.

I tried to get away from them but I couldn't even move my feet. When one of them tried to touch me, I just let myself sit on the ground and covered my ears, closing my eyes.

I waited for seconds but no hands touched me. I tried my best to look above and just saw the two men laying down, both unconscious. I don't know what happened or how it happened but what I saw was another man wearing black walking away from us.

Is he the one who helped me? Who is he?