Days passed by with Noel going out for the investigation early in the morning before I wake up and Hazel locking herself inside her house for most time of the day. Naturally, I got worried about her and tried knocking at her door and calling out her name several times but no sound came from the other side of the door except for what seemed like continuous tapping of her fingers on a keyboard and clinking of cans as it fell on the floor. Those noises were the only evidence that proved her existence inside that apartment which saw no light for more than two weeks. I could have given her space if she was actually working, but as far as I know, she is merely a keeper of the orphanage. She isn't even legally an adult so it won't make sense for her to work on something that requires a keyboard. I wish I could just slam the door open and drag her out of that den to see the light of the day—Obviously it won't kill her to come out once in a while.
But today, I didn't go knock at her apartment door and check on her. I was too occupied with myself that I hardly got a chance to think of anyone else.
I took the thermometer out of my mouth and held it above my face. I squinted and read the temperature on it.
"37.8°C" I sighed and let my arm fall to my side on the bed, "Did I really push myself that hard?"
It was ten minutes past one in the afternoon. Every single muscle in my body was screaming in pain and my whole body was on fire. I worked myself to death these past weeks at the coffee shop. The manager had requested me to take up the work of one of my co-workers who had recently resigned. The shop was short of workers and didn't know anyone better than me to rely on to help them. At first, I was about to deny her request but then—
"See, if you take up Keith's work for the time being, I'll double your pay for this month AND the next! Does that sound like a fair deal to you?"
She'd told those words with such pleading eyes that I couldn't help but agree—actually, that's a lie.
I needed the money. My monthly payment wasn't enough for me to buy myself food and other necessities. I was short of money and they were short of workers. It seemed like a fair idea for her to double the payment for the next month as well, since I was to work double the amount of what I was used to. And not to mention, waitering wasn't what I signed up for. Keith and a few others used to handle the waitering while I and the manager made the coffee that the shop was famous for. So, I've never been familiar with the customers. I've stayed at the kitchen most of my working hours and cleaned up the place after the customers left, so none of the customers have ever seen me. Getting aquainted with the customers and my 'new' colleagues was a bit of a challenge. Being a waiter requires speed, work and great efficiency which I doubted I had at first.
My first day went somewhat like this—
I tied my apron and glanced at my watch. Right about 12, the coffee shop would be bustling with men, women and highschoolers stopping by for a good sip of coffee or having ice creams—the weekends have always been busy and crowded. I took a few deep breaths as the manager kept the cups on the trays and nodded at me with a smile, gesturing me to take them out. I folded my sleeves and carefully slipped the trays onto my hands and hurried out, while making sure not to drop them and cause another great deal of work. I emerged out of the kitchen and searched for the table 6 with my eyes.
The table 6 was occupied by four girls giggling and laughing amongst each other.
I walked up to them with a bright and friendly smile, "Here's your order!"
The girls stopped chatting and stared at me as I gently placed the trays down. I could feel them staring at me top to bottom. As I looked up at them, something bright twinkled in the girls' eyes.
"Is something the matter? Is the coffee not to your liking?" The corner of my lips lowered in concern.
"N-No, it's not that! The coffee is fabulous..and so are you...." There was a tinge of pink on her cheeks as she tugged a lock of her hair behind her ears with a shy smile.
"Is she complimenting me because I made the coffee? That's nice of her, I guess?" I thought to myself and flashed a warm smile at the girl for her genuineness.
"Can I ask your name?" Another girl asked enthusiastically.
"It's Ra—"
Before I could finish, the manager called out to me. "Rai! Come back here! You need to take the next order!"
"Yes. I'm coming!" I excused myself and hurried to take the next order.
Right after I was gone, the girls began whispering among themselves.
"Did you hear that? His name is Rai!"
"I thought he was a model the moment I laid my eyes on him! And that smile! It's to die for!"
"He looks like someone straight out of a movie. So charming!"
And that's how they made it a daily routine to come to the coffee shop to admire my coffee.
That obviously had the manager jumping around in joy and patting me on the back when she came to know that I'd secured a regular customer.
"The face did the magic!" — was what she told me when she got to know about it. I couldn't understand what she meant but I decided not to pry into it any further.
Everyday seemed more tiring than the previous. I had to wear myself out to get my pay check soon. Because I let my needs blind me, I was lying on my bed with a fever. It wasn't that serious but I could barely move a muscle without them paining.
I had to make lunch for myself but I had no idea how I was going to do it. I got up from bed, wincing and struggling, as I put on my jacket. I walked to the nearest convenience store to get some snacks.
"Should I get the instant noodles or the sandwich?" I thought as I looked at the two items in my hands. "I'll go with the instant noodles."
As I turned around and started walking towards the counter, I bumped into someone.
"I am so sorry!" I apologized and glanced at the snacks that had fallen on the ground because of me.
I quickly crouched down and started picking them up.
"Here are your—..." The words stuck in my throat as I stood up and looked at the person.
Her sea green eyes stared back at me through her glasses in shock. Panic surfaced her expression. Even with her loose hoody, she looked dull and tired and skinny. She looked like a whole different person.
"H-Hazel..?" I almost said it as a whisper.
Without a word, she quickly snatched the snacks from my hands, pulled her hood over her head and started running out.
"Hazel, wait!" I called out to her and ran behind her but by the time I reached out, she was already gone.
"Argh!" Suddenly my body ached in pain and I let myself lean against the wall.
"How could she walk!? Was I hallucinating everything because of my fever? I definitely saw her in the store. What in the world is going on with her?"
Tears that streamed down my face got carried away by the water in which I was... sinking."I didn't do it, I didn't do it, I DIDN'T DO IT!!." I kept thinking to myself as I shut my eyes, wanting this horrible nightmare to end and wake up any moment. But that wasn't the case. My body kept slowly drifting down into the bottomless ocean of water. "Even nightmares aren't as horrible as my life."I didn't want myself to end up this way. I had greater aims and dreams. It is said that right before the death of a person, they start recalling their precious moments spent on Earth.The moment I shut my eyes, a short and bitter film of my life started playing in my mind. I guess I really was going to die.....I was just an ordinary boy who dreamt of becoming a science teacher because of my love of stars and constellations. I wasn't a bright kid and was really timid. That was one of the reasons why I was dying wit
Just when I thought I was done sobbing, I turned around with my trembling feet and tried to move but.. I couldn't. My legs went numb almost immediately and I fell on the hard marble floor with a thud. When I felt my skin in contact with a liquid as soon as my legs touched the ground, I realised that I was surrounded by a pool of crimson red blood— My mother and Emily's blood. My eyes stung and tears started welling up again in my eyes when I took a proper look at them.They were covered in blood and deep, sharp wounds were engraved on their bodies. My little sister's eyes were wide open —but dead and empty— with blood flowing out of her mouth and stomach and her features were mauled beyond recognition."What a monster..." I grimaced.My heart tightened when I imagined the moment when my mother was piercing her body into pieces like an animal.When I was busy wrapping my head around everything that had just unfolded in front of me, lo
The moon was hiding behind the night sky and yet it's glowing light still managed to illuminate the darkness of the night....but nothing could ever lighten up my heart which was harboring all the darkness into it with time. The wind picked up it's pace and I hugged myself tightly for warmth in this chilly weather. I did my best to walk on with my shaky legs on the shore of the beach which was about 27 kilometers away from my home.I managed to get away from the cop's dead body without getting noticed but the guilt of murdering someone was killing me inside. It made me feel sick and disgusted of myself. I began questioning why was I even alive at this moment. Was I just hoping for everything to turn out to be a sick joke all along? My body felt heavy and my eyes were dead with no hope of living on."It's already over for me then why am I still living? Just..why?" That's all I could think at that moment. Suddenly, the roaring of the blue sea caught my
I hadn't realised when my eyes started feeling heavy and my head hit the soft pillow. The moment I heard the door creak open, I yawned and parted my eyelids ever so slightly to see who is at the door.It was Hazel, on her wheelchair with a glass of juice in her one hand and a pair of jeans and shirt in the other. She greeted me with her usual signature smile and invited herself in. I tried to shove my sleepy self aside and rubbed my eyes as I let my back lean against the wall.I watched her as she inched closer to the bedside and handed over the glass to me. "Looks like you slept well. Do you feel fine now?""Yeah, I feel better than before. Maybe I was just too exhausted.. what are those for?" I ask, after taking a sip of the refreshing juice. The corner of my lips raised into a satisfying smile as it filled my body with it's coldness and refreshes me inside - out."I'll come to collect you after 15 minutes. Wear these and come ou
"This is your room. You'll be staying here. My room is next to yours so you can call me if you need anything. There's some snacks in the fridge, you can get whatever you want from there. You can tell me when you feel like to meet the others, I'll show you around. " She took out a key from her pocket and unlocked the door of an empty room.I thanked her for showing the way and apologized for the earlier incident.We exchanged phone numbers and bid each other goodbye. I entered the room and shut the door behind me."So tiring....." I walked to the bedroom and jumped straight into the fluffy bed without taking care of my growling stomach. *Riiiinng*I woke up to the ringing of my phone. I searched for my cellphone with my eyes still closed and my head still glued to the pillow. I found my phone beside the pillow and answered the call without checking who it was."Hello..?""Rai, it's me — Hazel. There's something I
*next morning* I fluttered open my eyes when I felt the warm sunlight kiss me good morning. I got out of my bed and finished off the daily routine. I walked to the kitchen and prepared egg toasts for myself— it'd always been my breakfast as far as I could remember, since that was only dish I could cook. My mom, well...she never had time for me so she was never there to cook me breakfast or dinner, I always had to buy takeouts for dinner. I stuffed the egg toast into my mouth and casually sat on the couch ans switched on the T.V. "Not the boring news again.." I thought and was about to switch to the next channel butsomething caught my attention. I began listening carefully to what the reporter had to say: "Two victims of assumed murder in the city of Blueburn reported last night at 9:45 pm. Victims were found in a forest close to an orphanage soaked in blood. The forensic reports said that the victims had their hearts and li
I reached my apartment and was about to take out the key from my pocket, when I remembered that today was the first day of my part time job at 2pm."How could I forget that?!" I gasped in panic and scurried out of the building.Hazel had suggested me a coffee shop nearby a few days ago, so I decided to check it out. Luckily, I got in, but the manager is so atrocious that it's indescribable with words. I hated him the moment I saw him barking at the waiters. But nonetheless, I decided to get a job there since it was quiet close to my apartment.I ran as fast as I could, as if I was being chased by a monster. I managed to reach the coffee shop in the nick of time. I entered the shop breathlessly, sweat dripping from my forehead. I could see the manager near the counter glaring daggers at me.I prepared myself for him to fire me out as he approached me with his hands crossed over his chest."Where were you?" He asked in a cold
Last night was the most horrible and eventful night ever. I'd dressed the wound before going to sleep but I couldn't get even an ounce of sleep because of the stinging pain from the wound. I just kept tossing and turning on the bed restlessly. The very comfortable bed seemed like the most uncomfortable for me.Soon, my eyelids felt heavy and I forced myself to sleep. All the running had left me tired and worn out.*Next morning*I woke up to the familiar chirping of the birds and for once felt blessed to be surrounded by such beauty. I stretched my arms to wipe the grogginess away. The smile I had earlier was replaced by disdain when I felt blood oozing out of the dressing around my wounded arm."Ugh, the wound's open." I winced as I clutched the wound tightly with my other hand and got up from the bed.I was about to go change the dressing, when—