[3] Social media sensation

◔ Maze ◔

As I paid the bills, I was forgiven by my Boss with a warning not to repeat my action again.

 I nodded in agreement. And this wasn't the only reason that I got spared by him. The other cause was that my action brought huge positive reviews for the cafe in a blink of an eye.

Some of our customers posted the whole incident online and since then the whole social media platform was talking about me and the cafe.  

Jesha showed me the photo they upload, where I was looking like a beggar. I saw the comment where some were praising me and the cafe while the maximum was scrutinizing me over my untidy state. I sighed and return her phone. 

With my 21 years of life, I got to understand one thing that good peoples suffer the most. And it was the ultimate truth of life. 

I did some good work but yet I had to return my reward in the name of bills. They understand everything yet they don't want to appreciate the good work like those comments on Instagram.

Yes, I got the title of being the "Social Media Sensation" but it brought no good for me. Rather I was being criticized for my disheveled appearance.

Was my appearance important or what I did ?! I felt like a clown now.

Phew! I should not bother myself over these things. As worrying won't do any good or help me in any way.

The only thing I could do was sigh heavily letting my stress flowing with my breath. 

I have already finished my work. I am just waiting for Ryan to pick me up. 

Jesha took farewell from me and left leaving me alone to wait for my bestie.

I like to be self-dependent but only with Ryan, I am not like this.

With him, I am totally a different person. All my theories go wrong whenever he is there. He slowly entered my world sneaking through the wall that I built cautiously around me. 

He didn't try to break in instead he slowly occupied his place in my mind, and in my life. He is a very sweet guy.

For some unknown reason, he stayed away from his family. But his family loves him a lot. At least by his way of living, I am sure his family keeps him well. 

I really wish to ask him someday and know about his family. And more than this, I was curious to know what he was hiding from me.

The sudden sound of the engine interrupted my thoughts and brought me back to reality.

Ryan has come to pick me up. I closed the shop very carefully and ran outside.

There he was as dashing as always in his dark brown polo and black snickers. He seemed too decorated comparing night time. 

Was he going to attend some party?! 

I ran towards him and give him a tight bear hug.

"Uhh. Leave me Mousey. You are gonna smash me" Ryan said annoyedly trying to get out of my grip. I giggled as I already know that he was teasing me.

I leave him and pinch his cheek, "Yeah yeah Pudding head." He squealed in pain as I really pinched him hard. I left his cheek, "By the way, you are looking great. Going for a date?"

He rubbed his red cheek and creased his forehead, "You wish !! I am not gonna leave you so soon. Say goodbye to peace from your life mousey"

I put my hand on my chest and pretended to say goodbye to peace from my life "Yeah, Maze Hamlyn, Rest in peace hashtag R.I.P"

He chuckled at my remark.

"I saw someone got social media sensation overnight." Ryan chuckled raising his hand in the air trying to form a camera screen, "Who is this kind and cute raw beauty"

I rolled my eyes, "Shut up, Don't lie. I saw what photo of mine they used. I look more like a pauper than beauty"

Creasing my forehead I looked at him, " You know some even commented whether I work in the garbage bin or not" 

"Leave them they are just jealous of you" he patted my shoulder trying to prompt me which obviously made no change in my thinking.

"Leave it, I don't want to ponder over it" I sighed. 

Human beings are social animals. In the world of social media, they always have new topics for their entertainment, today I may be that topic, tomorrow maybe someone else will be in my place. And by thinking about these things, I really didn't want to make my mood worse in any way.

"Okay" he shortly answered.

The atmosphere between us got surprisingly calm and awkward.

I don't know why even I was sad. 

Though I didn't expect anything in return for my act, yet the money I got as a reward was a hope to me that I had to use to pay the bills. And moreover, this criticism made me angrier over people.

"Mousey, You wanna join a party with me?" Ryan asked trying to cheer me up.

His offer got me off guarded.

My lips parted. "Are you even serious?" I asked, startled.

He asked me to join a party. I was surprised as he never appreciated this type of thing. Not that I do. 

He arched his brows stating to me though his expression, how serious he was. I stared at him for a second before answering him with denial.

"Nope, you go. As you already know nobody would like my presence there except for you. After all, you are their prince charming who is stuck with me" I smiled dryly as it was the ultimate truth after all.

He didn't try to convince me more and nodded wisely,"Okay go home. But make sure to inform me. Forget it, let me drop you at home"

His authoritative tone made me laugh.

I got happy as I didn't want to go home alone. Moreover, I like to disturb him more whenever he is busy.

But I parted my lips as something crossed my mind.

"Okay, I will go."

"But a while ago you said you won't go" Ryan was surprised by my sudden decision and tried to detect through my expression.

"Yeah, I'm jealous that you would be partying around and I'll be just sleeping" I pout

He chortled and opened the car door for me.

" At least let me change my dress, first take me home." I said.

He chuckled and motioned me to get in the car.

With that, he drove me back home.

I changed into a blue crop hoodie over a black long sleeve t-shirt and tug my hair in a ponytail.

The skateboarding shoe that was on my foot was giving me a vibe of going to play rather than go to any party. I know my attire was kinda weird and obviously, not suited for the high-class party.

Shoving my unnecessary thoughts aside, within ten minutes, I was ready to join the party with him.

Ryan smiled at me with adoration in his eyes.

His eyes were making me confident about my look. The smile on my face widened into a grin in content.

I moved to the other side of the car and hop in. He lowered his gaze and murmured something before entering the car. Soon the robotic roar of the engine was heard and with that, we set off for our destination.

The whole drive was quiet and awkward. Ryan opened his mouth to evade the tranquility among us, "It's a bonfire party. But you didn't like to be in a crowd"

"It's not like I hate party. I just want to keep myself reserve to some point." I replied to him

He took a glance at me, "Then why are you going with me?"

"Cause I know you won't force me to do something I don't like" I smiled at him.

"You know if it were a boisterous party I myself wouldn't let you come" Ryan gave me a wink with a smile

"I know" I passed him an assured look.

I had set some motto for my life, more like a boundary that I would never cross. It's not that I was bound to be within a limit. It's just that I wanted to keep myself simple and down to earth.

I don't try to do anything that would make me regret it later. 

So I am conscious about myself, my lifestyle, and the people with whom I'll be meeting.

Maybe in time, I seemed boring but I love myself.

In this world, I am not scared of anything. I love to merge with people but if they embrace me in return. 

But unfortunately, I was not welcomed everywhere.

And to me, it's cool if someone preferred to hate me but from afar. But if anyone tried to mess up with me then I am not of those who would let them go easily. I would squeeze the shit out of that nagger.

I am quite friendly with those who don't judge me or don't try to mess up with me. And the annoyed me is very dangerous to be dealt with. 

So instead of making my valuable time waste on being mad, I fancied staying alone.

As the cloud of thought grew thicker in my head, the distance to our destination began to decrease.

Suddenly the sound of brakes interrupted my line of thought, I shuffled my stare surround and realized that we had arrived.