Live for myself

Emily's point of view:

Three years ago...

Life is not fair, it never was and it will never be. This is what I think about whenever I wake up, each and every day...

Like every other morning, I woke up this morning when it was still dark. Funny .. isn't it? I mean, I don't remember when was the last time I enjoyed living my life as it should be. All I've been about lately was to work and work, then spend my day off sleeping. And for what? Only to afford to be alive.

I mean, I spent my entire day inside of the coffee shop working as hard as I could since I don't want to lose the only money source I'm having. I'm not smart, nor talented nor even educated. The only good thing about me is my face, which was also a stroke of bad luck for me.

My father abandons me because of my face. He used to say that he can't afford to look at me since I remind him of my mother, which caused him to abandon me at a very young age.

Not wanting to waste more time while cursing my luck, I decided to take a morning shower. I picked a medium-length blue jean dress. Put on some light makeup, fixed my hair into a mixed bun; then went out after faking a smile.

A girl at my age should've been enjoying life, while self-developing into universities, making friendships, enjoying the golden age. Not being sucked in and rooting in a coffee shop for my entire life, where even the least human rights are nonexistent. 

Of course, I wanted to have an educational level, to have friends, to have family, to have life - but humans are not always meant to have anything they want.

That's what life taught me in a hard way, and it all started when I lost my mother. I do remember it all as if it just happened yesterday, even when I try to try to erase that day out of my life - it keeps on haunting me whenever I go.

I still remember how mad my father was, and how broke my mother was. I still remember when...

Before that, the image of that day reformed in my mind and ruined my entire day. I shake my head, throwing it all away while trying to think about something else.

Sick of my luck and life, I was when I reached the 'King Mug Cafe' coffee shop. It was indeed a high-class quality coffee shop that only high-class people could afford. But they never pay their employees as well as they serve clients.

When I reached the coffee shop, I changed into the uniform then joined my co-workers, then I stood on my spot checking on the weekly requests we're still waiting for - while waiting for the first client to come, though I doubt if anyone would come here this early, it never happens.

Yet, it's one of the most important rules to have our shop open three hours before other shops do, which is a bit tiring. I mean, everything here is too tiring, starting from getting a job.

To get a job here, you need to have a vocational education and training (VET) qualification; especially in areas such as hospitality - which are very important here.

Well, I never thought that anyone needs a formal qualification to prepare coffee, neither to clean nor wash dishes. Not until I met Mr. Moretti. 

Anyway... When I first came into New York City, I was a broke girl - not that I'm any better by now. Still, I can afford my food and a small apartment to live in - compared to that time.

At that time, I found out about this coffee shop in the newspaper. Due to the high standards and low salaries, not many applied for the job which was applying to my advantage. 

The lack of employees adds to my pretty innocent face that brought pity into the old Mr. Moretti's heart, and was able to cover for the lack of experience and qualifications I'm having. From a trainer to a barista to a manager's assistant - this was my entire career for the last two years at the 'King Mug Cafe' coffee shop.

He was an old, lovely Italian - but greedy man that used to be my boss. The whole job wasn't totally bad when he was bossing, unlike when his daughter Lucia decided on showing up, then took control after her father. They're both greedy for money, yet the father has manners compared to his daughter. She kind of hates me, and I can't blame her.

My entire story with her started a year before she showed up, exactly the day I started working here. Mr. Moretti introduced me to a guy named James who was known as the manager of the coffee shop. Of course, training newbies was one of his duties.

He was a good-looking guy with a charming personality. Little did I know about how Charmant he was... After spending most of our time around each other, we ended up - I mean; I ended up having feelings for him.

Don't blame and don't hate on me, I never wanted to be played by a guy, nor to be used by him. He was a caring, sweet, handsome, and gentleman - never thought even for a second that it was all an act, and I was dumb to believe his acts. 

His true color showed up after that Lucia came...

She was also caught by his chocolate brown delicious eyes, his tan skin, and that blond hair over his head. Knowing that I was his girlfriend, she made me her favorite target.

Of course, the dump me, expected that James would stand for me, have my back, be my shining armor knight.

I just can't stop laughing at myself whenever I think about how dumb I was thinking that way. 

He did the obvious, not what I expected. He cut each and every contact he had with me, threw me out of his life like I mean nothing, then swift to the winning era - Lucia.

Though my heart still beats for him, my mind has learned the lesson. I have to love myself before loving anyone else, and I'll guarantee a good life to myself no matter what it costs me.

Well, it seems that my time has come, and the man I'm waiting for to change my life has just stepped inside of the shop......