I entered the back side of the restaurant where the entrance of the employees can be seen. We can't enter the main area when we come from outside because we will also interfere with the customers coming in.
I took off my small bag and entered the locker inside the girls' room. There are two rooms here except for the kitchen door. After I put my things away, I went straight to the kitchen to check the on duties for today.
I looked up at the gathering of my workmates as if someone was checking the phone of one of our colleagues. I slowly approached and whispered in their direction, it was only right that they could hear me.
"What is that?" when they heard they were like ants that immediately moved after hearing my voice. They thought maybe it was our manager. I laughed because they immediately returned to their jobs.
"Babe, you surprised us" while holding her chest as if she was going to have a heart attack. It's like I'm possessed by a spirit and I'm laughing at their epic looks.
"You're right, Isabella. Laughter?" Ate Lily was sarcastic to me. Sister Lily was the first one I became close to here, she was also three years apart from me. He trained me on my first day and was also very kind.
But even though she is kind and cheerful, I don't know why the father of her child left her and found someone else. It's men.
I first wiped the tears from my eyes because of my laughter before facing them. "What are you doing? Is there another issue that has spread throughout the country? You're married again, aren't you?"
Janny answered that she is the same student as me but she is studying at a different school. We are also close.
"Because one, there are apps that have gone viral right now, so we were curious and tried to download them. They say there are so many handsome guys out there and the others are instant iPhones!" I'm not interested in that so I just answered my friend out of boredom.
"Is that so? I still thought that was money to earn," I said and went straight to the locker to get my uniform.
"Again? Don't you want to find a boyfriend? Oy, don't focus too much on studying, be happy just be happy in life okay?" I entered the nearby bathroom and put on my uniform. Janny followed me but he was outside.
"Let me borrow your phone," He said outside the door frowning at me. I put on liptint before I go out.
"Why? What nonsense are you going to do again?" I doubted him. He extended his hand in front of me.
"It's up to me, I'm just checking on something. Total, it's my break time. I'll return it later after your shift."
I didn't hesitate and gave him my phone, which he quickly took.
"Are you in a hurry?" I asked here but he didn't even answer me and just turned away suddenly. I just shrugged my shoulders and went straight to the main area.
I smiled at the customers entering the restaurant and greeted them with a warm greeting.
"Good day, Ma'am and Sir. Welcome to 'Noble Palette Brasserie.' This way, please."
I smiled and promised that I think the bride and groom are really rich because of their posture and clothes. The man didn't even look at me and just walked straight to the reservation area.
"Bella, the Manager called you. Sister Lily came home early because her son was rushed to the hospital." I gasped at what I heard but I didn't answer and quickly went to the office. If some of us are absent, I am the one who re-relieves because I can adapt to work faster even though our roles are different.
When I arrived, I heard that the Manager was angry with what he was talking to on the phone, so I waited for a while before knocking on the door of his office.
"Manager, are you calling me?" His forehead was wrinkled when he turned to me, and he hung up the phone.
"You do Salmonte's jobs first and you have to be good because we have a lot of reservations now big people. Don't be a fool." Although nervous, he nodded and bowed slightly.
"Alright, manager.. I'm leaving" his phone rang again so he sent me away with his hand before answering the call.
I'm nervous because sister Lily's role is different, she needs to be especially patient and usually the rich people here don't use the profession and just blurt out words.
My patience is not long yet. I just sighed before making my way to the main area. I didn't realize the time because the reservation was also full and I had work later at the bar. Today is the weekend, so I'm working full time at the restaurant I work at.
I carefully balanced the tray of champagne to deliver it to the group of rich people. I wouldn't have been the one to deliver it because I was serving a customer right now, but my male co-worker was struggling so I couldn't do anything and just did his job.
I cautiously made my way towards a gathering of exquisitely attired women, their refined poise and elegant dresses making me feel acutely aware of every move I made. In the middle of the group was a woman who seemed to exude grace and sophistication, her attire immaculate and her hair neatly tied. As I approached, he held out his hand to accept the glass of champagne from me as I walked away.
Nervously, I lifted the glass, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to match the graceful manner in which the other women sipped their drinks. But even before I could pass the glass to the woman, the softening fingers tried me. The breakable glass suddenly slipped from my hands.
Time seemed to slow down as the glass came down, and I felt the pain of my fingers caressing the woman's hand. The modest stem of the glass clattered to the floor, seeming like a cruel distraction from my simple act.
The sound of breaking glass was an abrupt intrusion, silencing nearby conversations and drawing the attention of the gathered guests.
I could hear the heavy breathing of the people around me and I felt the weight of their eyes in my direction. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I spent trying to find the right words to apologize.
The woman's expression, a delicate mixture of surprise and mild annoyance, was etched into my memory. Her fingers delicately touched her wrist where my touch had grazed her, and her gaze shifted from the broken glass to me. In that moment, I felt like a bumbling intruder in a world of grace and sophistication.
"I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't mean to. I- I'll just get a new one," I stuttered apologizing to the woman while picking up the bruises on the floor.
"Oh dear, it seems they've let anyone serve here these days," she remarked loudly, enough for nearby customers to hear.
The comment hit me like a blow. I had worked hard to secure this job, and the last thing I needed was humiliation from a customer. I continued cleaning up, trying to maintain my professionalism despite the shame burning in my chest.
She continued to taunt. "Perhaps you should stick to something more suited to your skill set. Bussing tables at a fast-food joint, perhaps?" I can't help but look at the people around me.
The other customers exchanged glances, some smirking in agreement with the woman's words. My heart sank, and I bit my lip to hold back tears. I knew that I couldn't let the woman's words get to me, but the humiliation was too much to bear.
I want to run and cry but I don't want to embarrass my friends. My eyes were fixed on the man I was working with but he didn't even help me and went straight into the kitchen area. Fortunately, Janny came to me and apologized to the people present because I had become silent, maybe because I was swallowed by shame.
Later that evening, I was finishing my shift, the owner of the Restaurant Mr. Davis requested my presence in his office. Nervous but hopeful, I entered to find the woman sitting beside him, wearing a triumphant smirk.
"Isabella," Mr. Devis began, his tone grave, "I've received some complaints about your performance tonight. It seems there were concerns about your ability to handle the clientele's needs."
My heart sank when I realized what was happening. The woman mocking had led to formal complaints that were now putting my job in jeopardy.
"I'm sorry," I stammered apologetically.
"I understand if you're disappointed in me."
He sighed, his expression pained. "I appreciate your efforts, Isabella, but in this industry, customer satisfaction is paramount. I'm afraid we'll have to let you go."
Tears welled up in my eyes as the reality of my situation hit me. I had worked so hard to prove myself but the woman's cruel mockery had sealed my fate.
I was just walking down the road and didn't know where to go. Even though I was only in that job for two months, I was happy because I earned enough money to pay for what I needed in school. I didn't realize the tears that were about to fall from my eyes, so I immediately wiped them away.
The only thing I don't understand is why they see the wrong more immediately. Out of the thousands of beautiful things I do, they only noticed one. Maybe this is the nature of the world. I know I'm wrong but it's too much. That woman humiliated me, if I was brave I might have been able to fix it but I'm not that kind of person. I'm afraid to fight because I don't want to ruin my reputation just because of immature people like them.
I stopped the car to go home to my apartment. I still have work later at the bar and besides, my best friends will be visiting because they are going to celebrate the birthday of her cousin's boyfriend. He really wants me not to work first, but it's not possible. We have an exam coming up and I have to pay for the first exam this semester.
I feel like I have no rest for days now. I didn't get tired right away, but with what happened today, I felt like I was carrying heavy cement.
I opened my phone and scrolled through my social media accounts. I also received several messages from my colleagues at the restaurant, especially Ate Lily, who definitely regrets being absent.
I didn't open it and quickly logged out. Nothing will happen if I talk to them now. Yes and I am disappointed but that is also my fault. I just want to not think about anything and rest before leaving to go to the bar later.
I hurried into the bar where I will be working tonight. I was still panting at the entrance. The uniform I was wearing was also tangled. While I was drawing air, I ran my palm over the tangled part of my clothes at the same time to make the tangle less.
I was tired of the alarm clock earlier because I didn't even hear it go off so I slept well. It's also my fault because I slept even though I knew there was still work at night.
Carlo spotted me from behind the bar. He flashed me a warm smile, his familiar face a comforting sight in the midst of my slightly frazzled state. He beckoned me over with a wave of his hand, a silent invitation that I gratefully accepted.
"Isabella, it's alright. Don't worry about being late. Just catch your breath and start your shift when you're ready."
"Thank you. I got stuck in traffic, and then my alarm didn't go off." I said as I caught my breath. As I got closer, I could feel how my heart rate was slowly returning to normal,
"These things happen. Take your time." Carlo said before leaving the bar. Maybe it needs to be done because every time I go to the Bar it leaves and never comes back.
Throughout the evening, I behaved very carefully in the bar that my companions were afraid of. I guess I'm traumatized because I haven't told Carlo what happened earlier. I don't want to share either because it's embarrassing for him.
Later that day, after my shift, I decided to meet up with my best friend, Shane. That has been waiting for my shift to end. When I arrived, I noticed Shane sitting at a table with a group of people I don't recognize. As I approach, my best friend spots me and waves me over.
"Isabella, come join us!" He got up and approached me. Out of curiosity, I began to question her.
"Hey, Shane! Who are all these people?"
"Oh, this is my cousin, Mike and some of his friends. We bumped into each other, and I thought it would be fun to hang out together. Well, it's my cousin's boyfriend's birthday, so why not right?"
I smile and greet everyone, finding myself quickly warming up to Shena's cousin and his friends.
"So, Isabella, what course did you take? Your best friend always mentions you to me. You just need to be tarpaulined so that everyone knows." They laughed at what Shena's cousin said, causing my best friend's cheeks to turn red. I think he is too proud of me.
"Shut up.. I'm just proud of my best friend. I want to adopt him but he doesn't want to." This short answer made me wince.
"So what, Isabella.. so I can shift to your course," said his cousin's friend, whose name as far as I know is Michael, jokingly. It has little earrings in the ears and you can tell it really appeals too.
"I'm taking a degree of Bachelor law and I'm in my third year." I promise. I couldn't help but notice their eyes amazed at what I said.
To Be Continued...