Amelia's POV
I asked Tessa about job vacancies because she's loaded with information both important and unimportant. She told me about a job at a coffee shop. The pay is good according to her. It's a mini coffee shop located near the school. I went there yesterday to try my luck for the job. I saw the manager and fortunately, I was hired. The pay is good as Tessa told me. I told him about my classes, that I haven't started classes yet so I don't know my schedule. He agreed to adjust to my classes when lectures start. I resumed this morning at seven and so far, it has been great. It means that I have to skip breakfast at the cafeteria. The staff here are so nice unlike those I worked with at Tequila. Currently, I'm at the cash counter. I'm responsible for cashing in orders from customers. I wasn't the only one at the cash counter. We're three, Daniel, Cindy and me. I knew their names through the brief introduction we had before the Cafe was opened. Toby, Lily and Thomas are in the food section. They're the ones that take the customers' orders to have them served. John's the manager, a chubby young man who tries to crack jokes at every chance.I got to know that the staff here are like one big family. Mikel and Trudy are in the cleaning section. That sums up for the whole team, I guess. John's like the main pillar that holds up the staff family, not that others don't put in the effort but he's more like the main guy. Yunno, that everyone's friend. In a blink of an eye, it was time for the lunch break. We were given free coffee and burgers. I was sitting on my own as I wasn't familiar with things around here when Daniel approached me, "Why are you here all by yourself. Come, we don't bite. As you've got to know, we're one big family. Join the family. Trust me, you won't regret what you did". Then he sat beside me and said, "Yunno, I was just like this when I joined this Cafe, acting distant and being cold to the others. I didn't trust them because I didn't know them before. As time went on, I got to realize what I was missing. Then I started to mend my relationship with them and we remained one big family".
"Thanks a lot Daniel for your words of advice. It's not like I'm antisocial or anything but yunno, it's my first day, I'm new here and I don't know anybody here that's why I let my guard up. I'll try to flow in well with you guys. Though I fear rejection", I told him. He shook his head and said, "No, not at all. They're scared of not approaching you for the fear of being snubbed by you and you on the other hand are scared of being rejected by them. It's a whole lot of confusion. Maybe you should go talk to them now or when we're about to close. Whichever suits you", he advised. "I prefer the closing time because there'd be time to talk well without the interruption of the customers", I told him. "Ok Amel". "Yuck, you shortened my name and that was the best you could think of. Gosh!". "What?, at least I tried being creative, I don't think you could think of that", he said, sounding very frustrated. "Yeah right, I couldn't think of that because it sounds ridiculous. Hey,aren't you busy?. I think lunch break's over. Carry on to your next duty". "Ok boss. I'm going so stop pushing me. I'll get you back for this Amel", he said with a mixture of sarcasm and amusement I guess. This got me laughing real hard cos poor boy is frustrated to the brim. I think I'm loving the vibes of this place. It's nice and warm.
We were done with the day's work and I remembered my word to Daniel that I'd speak to the rest of the team. I dragged my tired self to the kitchen where they are, I waved and said, hey guys, I'm about to leave and I came by to say goodbyes. I have to get to the school's dorm before the gate's closed". Then Cindy, my coworker at the sales department asides Daniel, walked up to me, linked my shoulders with her hand and said, "Why so fast Amy. You didn't even bond with us today before going home. Are you still shy? Daniel told us about you guys' discussion and we totally understand but before you leave, you have to take dinner. The leftover food from the kitchen is shared amongst us as dinner and I think that will solve the stress of you going to your school's cafeteria for dinner. "Oh I didn't know, thanks Cindy. I'm sorry for estranging myself from you guys, I'll do better". "It's nothing, we all understand. No pressure". She gave me my part of the package and it was two croissants, muffins and a cup of iced tea. "Oh my, this is too much. Is it because I'm the newbie that I'm given so much?", I asked in surprise. "No it's not. That's how it has been. I know it seems like a lot but when you dig in, you won't know when it's finished". "Wow, I appreciate you guys a lot. I'm saved the stress of going down to the cafeteria for dinner. Follow me, I want to thank the rest of the team for this kindness they've shown me", I told Cindy. "Are you sure you're ready?No pressure though".
I went to the rest of the team to apologize for my behavior to them during the day and they said we're cool. I ate my dinner at the coffee shop, I said my goodbyes and I went to the dorm before the gate's closed. I got to my room.and crashed on my bed tired and worn out from the activities of the day. I was about to drift off to the dreamland when I felt someone tapping me furiously. I opened my eyes and it turned out to be Tessa, frustrated, I said, "Tessa, what the heck. What did you do that for?. Can't you see that I'm about to sleep after the long day I had?". "I'm sorry Amy, I didn't wish to but Vincent is at the cafeteria and he asked me to bring you with me. He threatened that if you don't come, he will terminate your scholarship". "What!. How could he?What's my offense? I'm being low-key, not causing trouble and still he's not satisfied with that. Ok, let's go", I told Tessa to avoid trouble because what if he follows up with his threat. It means that I'm back to square one. Anyways, the call turned out to be a trap. I was at the entrance of the cafeteria and about to enter when I felt something cold and smelly wash all over me. I don't know what it is but I know it smells so disgusting, that's why he asked Tessa to call me so he could achieve his aim. The cafeteria turned silent that if a pin dropped, you could hear the sound. As if they were on cue, they burst into large fits of laughter. I'm the object of their mockery. I wish the ground could open up to swallow me. It's so humiliating and I know surely that this incident will be the topic of discussion for this week.
As if that wasn't enough, he ordered me to wait in the cafeteria until the students were done with their meals and he told them to use me as their refuse dump for the night. The gloating faces of those snobby students and the icy stares he and his friends were giving me were enough to make me cry but I didn't. I won't give him the satisfaction of watching me break down in front of all the students. They were done eating and making fun of me and I was about to leave when I heard, "Where do you think you're going slut?. Don't you love attention?. Look, you have the whole school's attention to yourself bitch and I think that's enough for you. Unless you are eager for more attention from a specific gender, yunno to solve some of your needs, whore". "Ooooh", the crowd said in unison and that's the straw that broke the camel's back. The anger that I tried to keep in woke up and I didn't know when I walked up to him and gave him a hot deafening slap for his idiotic words.