Chapter three

[Christmas]

One year later... 

(Phone ringing)

I was in the middle of my sleep when the phone beside me suddenly ring. I took it under my pillow and answer the call without opening my drowsy eyes.

"Hello. Christmas speaking, how may I help you?" I started.

"Christmas! Don't tell me you are still sleeping?"

As I realized that it was aunt Lorie in the other line, I automatically get off my bed and open the curtain of my window. My mouth formed an 'O', seeing the sun is already set in the sky. "I'm already awake Auntie. Actually, I'm already on my way there." I lied.

"Hmm," she replied in the other line, seems she is not believing me, "You better get hurry Christmas or I'm going to cut off your salary for being always late."

"I'm on my way Auntie!" I yelled and hang off the line.

I throw my cellphone in my bed and immediately fix myself. After ten minutes of fixing, I ride on my bicycle, heading at the Laundry Shop that is only nearly from my apartment. There's no time for me to take a breakfast because I'm very, very late again today. As I arrived, I enter inside together with my bicycle. I just place it at the back and face my aunt who is glaring at me.

"You are on your way, huh?" she said, sounded sarcasm.

"It's traffic in the way, Auntie," I replied, lying for the second time.

"Stop fooling around, Christmas. One more late, I'm going to cut it off in your salary. Entender? (Understand?)"

"Yes, Auntie. Promise, this will be the last time that I'm going here late."

"Stop me with your promises. I already heard that many times." She rolled her eyes. "Anyways, since you are here now, you are going to be in charge here till Friday."

"Eh? Where are you going, Auntie?" I asked in curiosity.

"I was invited in the wedding of my old friend. That's why you are the one who will handle my Laundry Shop for the mean time."

"Okay, Auntie."

"I'm going home now. Here is the key of the shop." She gave me the key. "If there something happened here just call me, okay?"

"Okay, Auntie. Don't worry, your Laundry Shop was in the good hand." I smiled and put the key in my pocket.

"Whatever. I have to go now. Bye." 

I watched her walk out here in the Laundry Shop till she rides on a taxi cab. I start sweeping the floor first before I put the sign, we are open in the glass door. I am only the person here who is helping my aunt in handling her business. She isn't yet married at her age thirty and I don't think if she has a plan to find her Mr. Right. 

Ting!

Speaking of Mr. Right, I suddenly froze where I standing when a tan handsome man enters here at the shop, holding his laundry basket. "Good morning, Sir. Welcome to Lorie's Laundry Shop."

"Good morning too, Lorie," he greeted and place his laundry basket in the long chair. 

"That wasn't my name, Sir. My name is Christmas. Lorie is my aunt's name."

He looks at me seriously straight to my eyes seems it was wrong that I corrected him. "Okay, Christmas." He gave me a little smile and I did the same thing but he didn't saw it because his eyes darted on the cellphone he is holding.

I remain standing here front of the counter, wondering what is he typing on his phone. He maybe texting his girlfriend. Hmm. Mr. Right is the first customer today and this is the first time that I saw him. I had seen a lot of customers who always coming here to clean their laundry but he isn't familiar to me. 

He putted down his phone and catch me looking at him. "Is there a problem?" 

I shook my head. "There is no problem, Sir." I bite my lower lip as I turned my back on him. That was embarrassing!

"Christmas," he called my name that made me face back again on him.

"Yes, Sir?" 

He walks towards me. "Look, I am on a hurry. Can you handle my laundry? I will be back here tonight to get my clean clothes. Don't worry, I will double my pay." He gave me his basket laundry. "Thank you." 

I watched him walk fast at the glass door till he rides at his car, holding the basket he gave. "You're welcome? Mr. Right." I just shook my head and start cleaning his dirty clothes using the washing machine here.

As of now, I am already with some customers who is waiting for their clothes inside the washing machine. I'm just done cleaning Mr. Right's clothes and I'm holding an invitation card that I got in the pocket of his coat. This is exactly a wedding invitation card. His name was Duke Grey because it is written here in the invitation and supposedly his girlfriend was Lysias Anderson. Whoever may be Lysias, she is lucky to had someone like him. The wedding date that set here was probably will be held next month, October 25, 2019. Well, best wishes on their wedding.

"Excuse me, Miss?" 

I came back on my senses when a girl come to me, holding her laundry basket. I guess she is just ten. "Yes, little girl? Do you need some help with your laundry?"

She nodded. "I don't know how I will clean this here."

"Where is your mom? Are you alone?"

"My mom just got in her work and ask me to bring our laundry here. She said a laundry girl will help me in this. Are you the laundry girl?"

"Yes, I am. I will help you cleaning your laundry. Give me that." I took the basket on her and walk in the machine that I used to clean Mr. Right's clothes. It was already folded inside his basket. There are still nine hours before the night set in the sky.