Chapter 2. Life is hard

Betty’s POV

I carefully gather the broken pieces of the plate from the floor. My hand accidentally hit it as I was busy moving around, serving customer orders, and doing the washing.

“My God, Betty! How many plates have you broken so far?” Thea’s voice escalated in octaves. She’s a waitress here, just like me.

“Hurry up! There are many dishes that need to be served. We have numerous customers waiting.” She rolls her eyes and walks past me, carrying a lot in her hands.

Too many customers today, and the food chain is short-staffed.

I swiftly sweep the floor and wash my hands before collecting the five orders. I pick them up one by one, careful not to make the same mistake again. 

I go back to the kitchen after delivering the customers' orders. There are many plates that need to be washed before they go into the dishwasher. I wash them quickly.

“Betty, did you drop another plate? I heard about it from Thea.”

Our manager, Miss Irene, is now behind me, watching me closely.

“Yes... I’m sorry, Miss Irene, I didn’t mean it. It was just an accident.” 

She sighs, crossing her arms as she looks at me and the others here.

“Arnold, the fries are burning! Stick to your job! And you, Thelma, grill the burger properly. Keep an eye on them. Don’t burn them!”

“Yes, Ma’am!” The two responded in unison.

I quickly glance at them. Arnold is busy deep-frying the fries, which is his task all day and week. Meanwhile, Thelma is grilling the burger patties. After cooking, she also places them on the shelves, so they’re ready for the next team to assemble.

“Betty, hurry up! There are many tables that need cleaning, and customers are waiting.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I wipe my wet hands on the dry towel, then quickly grab the tray basket. It contains a disinfectant spray and disposable wipes for the table.

I leave the kitchen station and walk toward the dining area. There are many customers, and some of them are waiting for me to clean their tables.

“This part needs cleaning, Miss!”

“This one here too, Miss!”

“And this one here!”

I look at them and quickly nod. I pick up the dirty, empty plates and glasses and place them in the tray basket. Then, I spray the table with disinfectant and wipe it clean with a wipe.

“Are you the only one assigned to the dining area?”

His baritone voice seems familiar. I glance at him. He’s beside me. . . Jason.

“Hi,” he smiles. “Let me help you.” He quickly grabs the wipes and disinfectant spray and begins wiping the table.

“Do the rest of the tables by spraying and wiping. I’ll take this from you because it’s too heavy now. I’ll grab the remaining plates around,” he said, holding the tray basket.

“Uhm...”

I could only nod as I watched him swiftly place the dirty plates into the tray basket. He moved from one table to the next, repeating the same task, then headed to the kitchen door where he waited for me. I quickly sprayed and wiped the tables before rushing back to him.

“Thank you.” I grabbed the tray from him, but he did not let go of it.

“Open the door and let me in. I’m allowed to go into the kitchen, right? Your manager knows me,” he says with a chuckle.

I quickly open the door and follow him as he sets the heavy tray on the sink.

“Thanks again, Jason.” I started cleaning the plates and lining them up in the dishwasher.

“I’ll be outside,” he smiles, and I nod.

After a few minutes, I step out again to clear more empty dishes from the tables, with Jason helping me once more.

“You’re early today. Don’t you have class anymore?”

“No. It’s all done.”

“Jason!”

It’s Maxine, Jason’s girlfriend, who has just entered the premises. Everything about her bounces as she walks—her hair and her chest. I can’t help but glance at her chest. She’s quite well-gifted in that part of her body. 

“I miss you, baby! Sorry, I’m late. Traffic was heavy,” she says, wrapping her arms around Jason and kissing his cheek. Her smile falters as her eyes meet mine.

“Sit down, Max. I’ll be right back. I’ll just put this in the kitchen first, then I’ll order our food.”

Jason quickly heads back to the kitchen with the tray basket. I spray and wipe the table because they’re using this one.

Maxine did not say anything. She just looked at me in disgust. I can tell by the way she stares at me. She treats me nicely when Jason is around, but when he’s not, she doesn’t seem to like me.

“All clean...” I smiled at her, but she did not smile back.

“I don’t understand why Jason keeps coming here for dinner. The food is terrible, and everything else here is just as bad, including you,” she says, glaring at me.

My jaw tightened as we locked eyes.

Jason is my best friend and a childhood companion. Our social statuses are quite different. I am a nobody, while Jason comes from a wealthy, well-known family. His family owns a large farm in the countryside, whereas my parents are among the many workers they employ.

“I hate this food chain.” She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms.

“Then why don’t you tell him you hate coming here? Tell him you hate the food here. He can take you somewhere nice.”

Her eyes widen at my response.

“You!”

“Enjoy your meal and have a great day!” I cut her off and turn my back. I already saw Jason approaching, holding a tray of their orders.

Maxine is Jason’s girlfriend, but she’s fake, dramatic, and a talented actress who pretends to like me to impress Jason. I hate her as much as she hates me. The feeling is mutual. 

I head back to the kitchen and continue my work. The pile of dirty plates is like a mountain range. It never seems to end.

“Betty, Ma’am Irene wants you in her office.” It’s Jane, her shift just started.

I look at the pile of dirty plates in front of me.

“I’ll handle this. Just go ahead. Your shift is over now," she says as she puts on her apron and rubber gloves.

“Thank you, Jane. I will see you before I go.”

I walk straight to Ma’am Irene’s office. I knock on the door before turning the knob open. She smiles the moment our eyes meet.

“Here, Betty, take this.”

She handed me a takeout pack, and I accepted it.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I did not pay for that. It was Jason.”

It’s no longer new. Jason always does this to me every time he visits work. He and Ma’am Irene are distant relatives.

“Sometimes I wonder if you and Jason are a couple. I think you’d be great together. His girlfriend, Maxine, is... never mind. Don’t be late tomorrow. You can leave now.”

I lowered my head slightly and then fled out.

I take off my apron, hat, hairnet, and name tag at my locker. I put Jason’s food in my bag. It smells great, and I’m starving. I can’t wait to eat in the ladies’ dorm.

I wave at Jane, but she’s busy with customers. She waves back. I scan for Jason to thank him, but he’s gone. I bet Maxine dragged him out, as she never liked this place.

My dorm space reminds me of life’s focus. As a full scholarship recipient, I only pay miscellaneous fees but haven’t covered them this term due to a lack of funds. My parents haven't sent money for bills.

I avoid asking them for money and rely on my part-time job. But it’s not enough. While eating, I think about the next steps. I saved a chicken for tomorrow’s lunch.

My phone rings. It's my mother.

“Hi, Mom?”

“Hello, my dear. How are you?”

“I’m good, Mom. How’s Dad?”

Dad is sick and is back in the hospital. His lungs are weak and he needs an operation soon. Since he cannot work at the moment, only my mother is currently working on the farm.

“He is fine and is getting better.”

I can sense the lie in her voice. I hear my father cough, and it sounds bad. My mother panics, and I bet she moves away so that I can’t hear my father coughing.

“Uhm, listen, my dear, about your school payment...”

“Don’t worry about it, Mom. I’ve got it covered,” I interrupted her. “I already paid it. You don’t have to worry now,” I lied.

“Oh, is that so? How did you...”

“It’s alright, Mom. My part-time work covers it. Everything’s fine.”

“That’s good. I’m proud of you, Betty. Sorry we couldn’t send money; hospital bills are piling up. Luckily, Don Fernando agreed to be your father’s guarantor. He’ll be discharged tomorrow.”

 Don Fernando is Jason’s father and the owner of a sugar plantation. I take a brief breath and close my eyes. It’s already late, and I need to study for tomorrow’s final exam.

“I love you, Betty, my dear. Take care of yourself, and we will see you soon.”

“Love you too, Mom, and Dad too.”

 I end the call, looking sad at the four corners of this tiny room.

“What am I going to do now?” I ruffled my hair. “How will I pay for it? I don’t know."