6. New Work Place

Aria pedaled the bicycle excitedly. The fresh air in rural areas is very different compared to the city. Before reaching the busy point of Vanhal city, Aria also passed other residents' houses, but there it was quiet, just like empty houses whose owners had left.

“Woah, no wonder at the night this place so dark, the houses around here are empty," muttered Aria.

Aria continued pedaling, she went some distance along the main road but still didn't find anyone there. Only after a kilometer of travel did she find a house with normal residents.

"It turns out that the area where Anne's house is is quite remote!" Aria muttered.

Houses were lined up close together, lots of people passing by, cars, pedestrians, and shops with lots of buyers in sight, someone was seen selling cakes, vegetables, and also beautiful cut flowers. 

Aria parked her bicycle and started walking in the shopping area, unfortunately, she didn't bring any money so she could go shopping. But she thought again because she didn't have much money now. There was no way she could ask her aunt, she had to start looking for a job and earn money.

Just as she was thinking, luck had already come to her. She stopped at a restaurant that posted job vacancies on the notice board in front of the building. It was pretty clear the place needed a waitress and cook helper, a job she often did when she was in town. Without thinking, Aria immediately went inside.

"Excuse me,"

A thin man wearing glasses met her, looking at her clothes she looked like a shop supervisor.

"Can I help you, Miss?"

“Hi, I am sorry to bother you. I saw there was a job vacancy here, is it still available?" Aria asked.

The man looked at Aria up and down, a beautiful girl with reddish hair who could be said to be good-looking.

"Are you the one who wants to look for work?" asked the man.

"Yes, I am,"

“Okay, you're hired. Let me introduce myself, I am Timothy, the operations manager at this place," answered the man without conducting a work interview.

"Woah, Am I accept?” Aria asked, looking incredulous.

"Yes, you can work starting tomorrow, Miss___what's your name?" asked him.

“Aria, my name is Aria!”

“Wellcome, Aria. So beautiful name same as the person!" praised the man.

"Thank You,"

“This shop opens at 11 am and closes at 9 pm. There are no shifts, we work rather long hours. You can be a waitress as well as a cook helper, the salary is in line with the Vanhall average wage,"

"I'm not from Vanhall, I don't know how much it is,"

“1000 pounds for one month,”

"Deal, I'll come tomorrow," answered Aria, who was quite surprised by the hefty nominal amount.

"Okay, see you tomorrow,"

“Thank you, Timothy. I will work well, once again thank you for accepting me," said Aria with a happy face.

Timothy smiled, waving his hand to Aria who was out of the shop. Meanwhile, a woman walked over and peeked out of the window.

"You're always quick on your feet when it comes to beautiful women!" she said.

"You look at her hair, it's very beautiful!" Timothy answered.

"Oh, Man!"

“Hey, you should care about me! Your boss is still single!”

"You playboys are not single, don't ruin innocent girls!" the woman replied sarcastically.

“Hahaha, don't be jealous. You're beautiful too, Fiona, how about we hang out tonight?”

"Just stop your flirting, it won't work on me!"

"Hahaha, don't be shy!"

“You pervert”

Fiona leaves, while Timothy just laughs. That day Aria was accepted at a traditional restaurant in Vanhall. The salary is quite good, the same as the salary with two part-time jobs at her old job.

"I didn't expect wages in this small town to be quite high," Aria muttered as she pedaled her bicycle.

“The guy earlier seemed quite nice even though he was a bit flirtatious. But it's not a problem, as long as he accepts me to work, I'll try to act professionally," muttered Aria, who quite understood the character of men.

The girl pedaled her bicycle again, she didn't go back south but continued pedaling north. North Vanhall looks quieter than the east area. Similar to the southern area, there are many agricultural areas but much busier because agricultural cars are still passing by.

"This small town is quite nice, but why does Anne live far from the crowds?" Aria muttered in surprise.

Aria went north because she was still thinking about the place written in the letter she found earlier. The moonflower garden north of Vanhall, what kind of place was that but as far as the eye could see Aria still couldn't find a flower garden.

Her legs were starting to get tired from pedaling her bicycle, it was already afternoon but she still hadn't seen the flower garden which was probably called the moonflower garden.

"Should I ask someone?" Aria muttered.

She looked to the right and left and saw a farmer carrying his harvest. Aria approached him and started asking questions.

"Excuse me, Sir! Do you know where the moonflower garden is?” Aria asked.

The man's face changed, he felt surprised that a young girl was looking for that place.

"Why do you want to go there, Miss?" he asked.

“I just want it, I live in another town, I've heard of that place from a friend. I'm just curious!” Aria answered making up.

“Don't go there, your friends just want to prank you! That place is cursed! Many people died coming there!” answered the farmer.

"Dead people? Is the place dangerous?"

"I don't want to tell anything! What is certain is that I give you advice, don't go there! That place is cursed!” he answered.

The man returned to carrying the boxes of fruit and left Aria curious.

“Wow, that guy scared me. He didn't even show me where it was!”

Aria sighed, the man's statement earlier was starting to make her feel anxious. It's just that Aria didn't come back immediately, she just stopped while looking north. This made the farmer shout at her.

"Hey, Miss! Just go home! That place is still far away to the north," pointed out the farmer.

Aria just nodded, she turned her bicycle around and went back home. Maybe it doesn't have to be today, there are still many days to be able to find a place called Moon Flower Garden, that's what Aria thought.

Going out in the morning, Aria arrived at Anne's house in the afternoon. The beautiful woman was waiting for Aria in the living room and looked relieved when she saw her come home.

"I am home,"

“Thank goodness, I thought you were lost. "I should have taken you earlier, I didn't expect you to come home late," said Anne.

"It's still afternoon, Anne,"

"But this place is quiet Aria,"

“Yeah, I also feel like it's very quiet here. It's very different from the East,"

"Yes, that is so,"

"But Anne, starting tomorrow I will be working. I just applied for a job vacancy at a restaurant," explained Aria.

“You working? What for? I can give you money! Oh my God, I forgot, in the bottom drawer of your clothes, there is your money, Aria. That's for your needs," explained Anne.

Aria stared, she didn't know about the money issue but she felt that starting work in a new city was something she should do.

"I don't want to depend on you, Anne, I also want to develop myself," explained Aria.

Anne sighed, then looked at Aria with a gentle gaze.

“Yeah, I forgot you're an adult now. It's just that if you work and come home late, I'm a little worried. Can you drive a car?”

"I've practiced, but not yet fluently,"

“I'll teach you, take my car if you want to go somewhere a little far away! "For the time being, I'll pick you up," answered Anne, who seemed to care about her nephew.

"Wow, it's no problem, Anne, you don't need to worry. "I'm quite brave, I'm used to being alone anywhere," Aria answered.

“No, I would be very worried if you cycled at night. "I'll start picking you up tomorrow," answered Anne.

"Okay, thank you, Anne,"

***

On the first day of work, Aria dressed up quite neatly, her hair tied back in a bun like when she worked part-time in the city. That's because every restaurant has standards, they have to maintain food hygiene to prevent loose hair from getting into the food.

This time, Anne gave her a lift, but with a note that Aria was the one who brought the car.

"Are you sure I'm driving?" Aria asked.

“Yes, you said you could. Just practice it for a while and you'll be able to do it,"

"But, wouldn't it be dangerous?"

“Hahaha, look at this land! This is the safest place to learn to ride. "There's no one passing by and you can even speed," answered Anne.

Aria looked at the front and surroundings, the place was wide and quiet and no vehicles were passing by.

“Come on, I'll teach you to drive fast! If you can, you can take my car to work."

“This car? Then what about you?”

“I'll buy a new one! I'm bored with my old car, now I have a reason to buy a new car! Hahaha," answered Anne.

Aria climbed in, fastening her seat belt.

“We're leaving!”

"Okay!"

Aria stepped on the gas pedal slowly, adjusted the gears and the car moved forward smoothly.

"Hmm, you're not bad!"

“Yes, I trained for two weeks. "But I couldn't afford a car so I didn't take the test to get a driving license,"

“You can make it here, I have an acquaintance who is a sheriff. He will help you," answered Anne.

"Sounds good, thanks Anne,"

"Never mind, you're my niece. I will do anything for you like your mother!” she answered smiling.

The car Aria was driving was moving slowly. She was too embarrassed to speed when riding with her aunt. But the area east of Vanhall is not too far by car. In about 20 minutes, Aria had stopped in the parking lot in front of where she worked.

"At that restaurant?" asked Anne.

"Yup,"

“Woah, they sell traditional food, they are quite busy during the day. I've seen lots of queues. Enjoy your work,"

"Yes, thanks for the ride,"

"I'll pick you up around 9 pm,"

"Okay Anne, have a nice day,"

Anne smiled as she waved. The woman left, apparently she also needed to be around here. Aria entered the restaurant and saw a woman in a waiter's uniform watching her.

"Good morning," said Aria.

“Are you new?” she asked.

"Yes,"

"My name is Fiona, come here, you have to change your clothes," she said.

Aria followed her into the changing room and showed her, her new uniform.

"This is your uniform, um, what's your name?"

“Aria,”

"Oh Aria, this is your uniform and this is your locker, maybe it's a bit dirty, you can clean it if you want to be neater," said Fiona.

"Thank you,"

"Where do you live?"

“In southern Vanhall,” Aria answered.

“South Vanhall? "That place isn't a busy residential area," suspected Fiona.

"Yes, you're right. I live at my aunt's house."

“I once lived in the southern area, I know the residents there more or less. What's your aunt's name?” Fiona asked.

"Her name is Anne Laura,"

“Don't you tell me your aunt is the woman who lives in that castle? The woman with reddish hair?” asked Fiona looking shocked.

“Yes, that's her. Have you seen my hair?” Aria pointed at her hair which was also red.

"Ah, I understand," answered Fiona, not saying much more.

The woman's face turned pale, she did not continue her question. She immediately went to the kitchen, leaving Aria in her new uniform.

“What's wrong with her? Why she looked scared!" Aria muttered in surprise.