A bad day

Rebecca's POV

Working at the hotel was not easy, but there were other people who worked there, and we got along really well. Especially Bridget, we got along the first day I started working. She had texted me in the morning saying she would not make it since she was sick. I had to cover for her.

That is why I had so many customers today and the boss never hired many waiters since the place was not that big to accommodate many workers. I had to take orders, serve food and bill it. There was no time to rest until the shift was over. I did not even have time to check on Carlos today. We only had a chat in the morning and that was not enough for me. I wanted to talk to him every single time.

“Hey, I did not order this food, you waitress. Why are you bringing me the wrong order?” One customer yelled at me after serving him his food.

“Sorry Sir, Sorry” I apologized, but he continued harassing me.

“I will make you get dismissed from this place, you are not concentrating on your work, you silly girl.” He shouted at me. I felt like my eyes were wet already, and I wanted to cry.

“Sorry sir, it is just a mistake. I will correct it right away, sir.” I managed to say, but he continued yelling.

“What kind of mistake is this. You are just lazy. Oh my gosh!, I have never seen such a lazy worker. You need to be fired right away. This is so embarrassing.” He continued.

All the people at the restaurant stared at us. I could see the manager coming to our side, literally rushing. My heart raced. I counted myself jobless already.

“What is happening here, why are you arguing with the customer?” The manager angrily asked me.

I could see his face burning with anger while he looked at me.

“Sorry sir, what is the problem here.” He asked the man.

“I ordered food, but she brought me another order, you should fire her right away. She is so lazy, girls like these don’t deserve to work here.” He said angrily.

“What are you still doing here, go and correct your mistake and take the correct order.” The manager shouted at me.

But before I could go any step further, the man shouted. “Don’t even bother, you lazy girl. I am full already. I will just go to another restaurant where they have serious waiters. I will never step foot here again.” he then left.

What kind of day is this, I wondered. I just stood there waiting for my punishment. I knew it would be severe from how the manager was looking at me.

“Foolish girl, you made us lose our daily customer, and it’s because of your foolishness. Where were you thinking, huh.” He finally said.

“I am sorry, it will never repeat itself” I pleaded.

I knew he would not listen to what I had to say. So, I excused myself to take more orders. I promised myself to be keen not to make another mistake. I had already done enough damage.

When my shift was about to be over, I collected plates left on the table and took them to the kitchen. The manager followed me, and he literally started shouting at me.

“You are lucky today because the boss said not to terminate your employment. But I will deduct today’s salary from the money that was going to be paid by the man you disappointed today” He said as he gave me my today’s salary.

I was being paid daily, but today I was unlucky. Half of my salary was deducted, and I was the one who did almost all the work here.

People are mean and they continue oppressing the poor. I just took the money without complaining and I left the place. Thank God, they did not deduct all of it. How was I going to survive today without any money.

I got out of the hotel and headed straight home? Usually, I would chat with Bridget, but she was not here today, so it’s better to be home. I don't know if Nica will come today, since it's Friday. I know she will be out, parting with her boyfriend. She thoroughly enjoyed having some fun. She always discussed boys, though I have never met her real boyfriend before. I guess she did not want to talk about him, leave alone meet him.

I decided to cook myself something. I was used to eating free food at the hotel, but after all that happened today, I did not dare to do that. I looked inside my small fridge and there were only snacks, but I needed real food. I must rush out to buy things to cook.

“Hey Rebecca” I hear my name immediately I'm out of the house.

“Hey Mike, what are you doing here?” I asked him.

“I have come here for a walk. Just that” he said, smiling.

“Like seriously just for a walk, I doubt that.” I say to myself.

“Ooh, really, that's really nice.” I told him.

He then offered to walk me where I was going.

“I will take you. Don't say no, please. It is late, so let me guard you. I will be your guardian angel” he winked at me.

How could I even say no to him? I agree, and I lead the way.

“I am looking for something to cook. I am hungry. I have not eaten since that time we were together." I say to Mike. He looks as if he is surprised.

“A pretty girl like you being hungry for all that time?" He then says.

I can't find words to say after he said that. So, we stayed quiet until I reached home.

“Come in, we cook," I offered. I did not want him to feel bad afterward. I cared for him anyway.

Mike's POV

I know I am always studying, and I am on top of my class every time we have our exams. My classmates sometimes fear me saying that I am a genius considering our course which is one of the hardest. But I don’t think that way, that I am a 'genius' I am just a normal human. That is why I like helping them when they had not understood in any part, especially Rebecca. I think she is hardworking despite her hard life. She even had work while she was still studying. I escort her every time our classes are over. I like doing that.

So tonight I decided to go to her house to check on her, but before I reached the house, I got goosebumps when I tried to knock on her door. What will she think of me? Yes, she is my friend, but I have never been to her house before. Our friendship is just academic. I help her when she finds it difficult, and I think that’s it.

“What I am I even doing here?” I ask myself before I decide to leave. But before I reach far, I hear her door open and she comes out. I am delighted. I thought I would not see her tonight.

“Hey Rebecca.” I find myself shouting her name, and immediately she looks at me.

She looks tired. I guess her work was tough today.

“Hey Mike, what are you doing here.” She asks.

I get nervous after hearing her question. I can’t tell her that I badly wanted to see her, I can’t give her a bad impression about me. I lie that I was just taking a walk and I noticed her. “What kind of lie is that” I ask myself.

I decided to take her wherever she was going, and she accepted my offer. I felt so good in her company. I felt free around her and I loved it. She told me she had not eaten and that she was looking for something to fill her stomach with.

“A pretty girl like you being hungry for all that time?” I just find myself saying this.

“Ooh, my mouth, how can you call her pretty.” I said to myself. She just looked at me without saying anything, and we remained silent until we got back to her house.

I bet she was angry at me. I have ruined it all. Our friendship and all that. I wanted to excuse myself, but she offered me inside. I guess my thoughts were wrong after all, and how can I even say no to her.

“Yes, Rebecca.” I said as she closed the door behind us.