Chapter 1 - Why Should I?

*Mattel Ingrid's POV*

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"Matt, stop washing there and replace that newbie in serving. Quickly!" The voice of our bossy manager boomed inside the kitchen and I hastily took off my apron to replace it with a dry one.

"Coming, Ma'am!" I yelled as I grabbed my booklet and pen from the counter, then, I saw the new girl walked into our quarter with tears in her eyes.

"Whatta loser! Have you seen her face when Robby jeered at her? That was ridiculous!" Nathan Jones let out and his group of friends laughed at his very unfunny statement. Jerks. Of course, they are never absent in an academy.

"Matt, over here!" I heard someone called out and it's from the far end of this diner. Mm, the bitches' reserved space.

"Hi, Girls! What can I do for you?" I greeted the four blonde bimbos who got wide fake smiles plastered on their faces that are covered with makeup. I hate these people.

"Hi, Matt! You did great in our History quiz earlier. Congrats!" The leader of the group, Nadia Zoren Seymour spoke and I just smiled at her after I mouthed her thanks.

Well, she's just the one that is nice to me in this particular pop girl group. Or... it is what I am just thinking. We don't know. Because as what they say that birds with the same feather, flocks together.

After I got the girls' orders and delivered them to the cook, I went to accommodate another group of high school kids who are mostly my schoolmates.

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"Matt, the girls' foods are ready!" Mr. Bennett yelled from the kitchen and I hurriedly went to deliver the bitches' orders.

And, as I am about to place Nadia's iced tea in front of her, someone bumped into me that made the girls shriek when the liquid spilled on the table, then, to the girl's chest and lap.

"Fuck! I'm so sorry, Nadia. Oh my gosh! Just let me... wipe. Geez, I'm really sorry." I let out as I panicked and I started wiping her arms with some napkins.

She inhaled deeply and stood up to stay away from the fluid on the table.

Damn, she's so wet.

"It's the third time now. And, I don't believe that it's still a freaking accident." She spoke calmly and I gulped as I tried to look around me to see that all eyes are on us.

"Umm... well, it really is, Nadia. But, I'm still sorry. Someone... Uh... Nevermind. And, don't worry, you'll still not pay for anything that you all ordered." I stammered and she let out a deep sigh, then, she fixed her dress that shows about two inches of her cleavage.

"I'm not talking to you, Matt. It's not your fault." She uttered and I looked behind me where she is staring at someone sharply. 

Oh, the twin sister. And, yes, the third time it is.

"What? Are you accusing me?" The girl with the same face as the victim asked while she's chewing some French fries in her mouth.

"Who else, Aidan?" Nadia spat and her twin laughed as she sat on the table beside her sister's.

"Blame the waitress. She's the one who's bringing your drink, and the one who's clumsy." The girl countered and I just scoffed. What the fuck did she say?

Well, if there's a customer that I really hate in this diner, it's her. Aidan Zavia Seymour. The happy-go-lucky, half-asshole, half-jerk, obviously and openly gay, and annoying as fuck twin sister of Nadia. And no, we are not in the same class, because her grades are near the redlines since the time I transferred to the Pryce Winsley Academy for my junior and senior years.

"Excuse me? You are always the one who bumps or nudges me whenever I bring your sister's drinks." I defended myself and she smirked like a stroked hyena.

"Oooh, really? Oh, no! So, it's still my fault? I'm so sorry, Ming. I really do. And, don't worry, I'll pay for the damage." She stated sarcastically and smiled her usual annoying smile. I just don't know if it's real or fake or forced.

"You really should, AZ. And, you'll pay for my dress too." Nadia uttered and here showed up the manager with a flaring nose.

Ugh, I'll get another deduction from my wage. Well, I just really need money because it's payment time for my apartment and the first quarter is about to end. And, of course, there will be lots of projects and requirements.

"Mattel Ingrid Lewis, in my office. Right away." Mrs. Norton asserted after she apologized to the girls for the mess that I caused. No, it wasn't my fault. It's Aidan's.

"Mrs. Norton, it's not her fault. It... It's mine... It's my fault. Don't worry, I'll pay for everything... Uh, just, umm... Don't fire her." The brunette culprit stammered and I snapped my head to her. Well, It's a good thing that she admitted it.

"Okay. Did you hear that, Matt? You won't get fired and your salary won't be deducted because of Ms. Seymour. Now, say your thank you to her." The woman asked and told me.

I just chuckled, and then, I looked at the girl intently.

"Why would I thank her, if it's her fault in the first place?" I stated and her jaw dropped, then, I walked away to get some cleaning tools.

I'm not being rude, I'm just being me. Like, who's fault was that? I am doing my job to the best that I can because I don't wanna get fired for the fifth time for the last three years since it's so fucking hard to find a job to support my financial needs. 

Well, damn! This is what I get for kissing my best friend. No, she kissed me, and then, my parents saw it and they kicked me out of the house. Because my bitch ex-best friend made up stories about me being a homosexual. That I dated lots of girls since middle school, which is not true. Fuck! I'm still even loveless since birth. 

I just dunno if what are her motives or what made her do those things to me. And, I have sworn that if ever I will see her again, I'd kill her. No, I'm just kidding. But I would thank her instead. Though I was furious at first since everything was gone from me, my family, pets, friends, gadgets, money, confidence, and all. I lost them all. And, I am miserable until now. But still, I'm thankful because I got the chance to learn and experience things that the other rich kids do not, can not, and will not. I have learned to appreciate small things around me and the importance of being not just hardworking nor smart, but being wise.

After I gathered the tools that I needed, I went back to clean the mess, and I let out a sigh of relief as I noticed that the girls are gone.

---

It's nine-thirty in the evening when I finished my Wednesday shift.

"Bye, Jess! See you on Friday!" I bid the new girl goodbye as she went out of the establishment. Well, thankfully, Mrs. Norton didn't fire her.

"I bet that AZ Seymour has a big crush on you, Matt." Dahlia let out as we walked out the door.

"What? No! And, why would you say that, huh?" I exclaimed and asked my colleague while I am locking the glass door of the diner. It's just that our manager trusts us with closing the diner whenever we end our shifts.

"Well, why are you asking me? Have you not seen yourself in the mirror? You look stunning as fuck! Lots and lots of guys and girls are gawking at you and staring at you in here. And, do you know that it's the reason why Mrs. Norton is keeping you in the kitchen as much as possible?" She rambled and I just chuckled at her words.

"No, I have no idea about that," I replied as I kept the keys in my sling bag.

"What? You really are impossible, Mattel. Why on earth would someone as beautiful as you are is still freaking single until now? Like, why? Just why?" She ranted frustratedly and I laughed as I shook my head lightly.

"Well, it's simple. I am prioritizing my job and my studies. Damn, I don't even know if I could proceed to college next year." I answered and I sighed deeply. I need to save a bigger amount than usual.

"Why don't you just... go home? And... In that way, you don't have to stress yourself about money. You could even buy this damn academy." She stated as she spreads her arms while facing the school on the other side of the road, and I told her to lower down her voice.

"You know that I can't. And, I won't." I uttered and she rubbed my back as our talk gets more serious. 

Dahlia Stevens was my classmate in the elementary way back home, and she was so shocked when she saw me applied for a job in this diner. And, she's the only one who knows my family background in this state.

"Well, just take it easy, Matt. Because life could be so tricky sometimes. We experience hardships, but then, in the end, there will be prosperity. But still, you have to enjoy your teenage years. You only have two years left, and you still didn't experience romance? Damn, you are so broke, Gurl." She advised and we laughed. Yeah, right.

"Whatever, Dahl. Let's just go home. I still need to study for a freaking long quiz tomorrow." I replied and she continued blabbering about some things until we part ways since my apartment building is still seven blocks from our workplace.

---

I hugged my coat to my body as the cold air of the night blows on me while I walked on the sidewalk.

Then, I heard some voices of people that seem like following me. Damn it!

"Hey, Miss! Do you want a ride home? I could offer you one." A man's voice called and I didn't bother to look back or even stop in my tracks. Then, I slowly fished my pocket knife and gripped the thing in my hand.

Well, I always get catcalls every time I pass this alley and it's so freaking creepy out here. Creepy to the point that I almost got harassed twice and I have stabbed three assholes. But fortunately or unfortunately, they didn't die.

"Miss, I bet you need a ride to heaven. We could bring you there." They continued talking bullshits, and I am only two blocks away from my destination, but they seemed like three meters behind me.

"What about I'll give you both a ride to hell, you motherfuckers?" Someone belted and I flinched as I heard a gunshot. And, that made the maniacs run away in a flicker.

Then, the sound of a woman's laughter was heard around.

"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly as she composed herself, and I could barely see her face because the yellowish light from the lamp posts isn't bright enough and she is wearing a hoodie.

I hugged my sling bag to my chest and I am still trembling from the incident. Did she shoot those jerks?

"Did they hurt you?" She asked again and I could smell alcohol from her. Is she drunk?

"Ming, are you deaf?" She continued asking me and I already know if who it is.