"Tayla! You are late! Go inside the staff room and change! We've got a lot of customers!" The manager of Talk and Chill Bar yelled.
I nodded and did as he said, tying the apron at my back as I entered the jam-packed place.
I sighed and reached for the order papers and was about to go to the left-wing when I saw a hand raised at the beginning of the right-wing and that hand is from the same man with amethyst eyes.
My heart skipped a beat. The same thing that happened the first time I saw him here reminded me that I need to be careful. I don't want to be embarrassed again, so I just shook my head and pretended that
I didn't see him, dragging my legs towards the left-wing when I heard his voice.
"Miss! I will order!"
I can just pretend that I wasn't able to hear him because of the noise from the stage, but Ella is glancing at me from the left-wing, her lips are pointing at the man behind me, making me sigh and turn towards the man.
"What is your order, sir?" I politely asked.
Why am I even avoiding him? Sure it's not about the loan that I got. I just don't want to see his eyes and his whole face.
He smiled at me from ear to ear as he scanned me from head to toe.
His arms were crossed, back leaning against the seat and legs spread apart.
"Hmm..." he put his hand under his chin and glanced up at the ceiling. But before he can even tell me his orders, I put the exact amount of money that I need to pay.
"I believe you are the same person from earlier, thanks for paying for me, but this is my money. Now, can I take your order?"
His eyes immediately darted at the money on top of the table, and then he glanced at me with his amused eyes.
"Woah, I am not asking you for that payment right now. Keep it for now." He laughed and pointed at some things on the menu on top of their table.
This man is a fool. Why did he even glance at the ceiling when he knows there is a written menu on their table?
"I don't accept help from people I don't even know, Sir. Excuse me," I uttered and placed the order slip on the counter and then went back to him with the tray.
"For a waitress, you are rude." He remarked.
I refused to look at him and just focused on putting the plates down.
"I will just remind you that you have a loan from me. You will need to pay me back once I–"
"Sorry, but didn't I give you the money earlier? I don't remember requesting a loan and I believe it would be bothersome." I furrowed my brows, losing my patience for this customer.
"I didn't take your money!" He chuckled and pushed something towards me, and there I saw the fifty peso bill I gave him earlier.
"Why are you so grumpy, Miss? And we met three times, aren't you thinking that it was destiny?"
The look on his face told me that he finds this humorous. But I have no time to laugh with him because I am inside my work.
Destiny my ass.
"Oh? You were the singer the last time we were here, right?" A man from behind spoke.
I slowly turned my head at the side, and the same nerdy-looking boy's warm smile welcomed me. He was again, wearing a loose shirt.
"Auton, why did you order something you know I don't eat?" The nerd sat beside the one with the man bun's hair, whom he pertained as Auton.
"And hey, you ordered the most expensive ones? Too much for a parsimonious person." He chuckled. I excused myself and checked his orders.
I lazily turned the door of our house open. This was the last and the hardest thing that I would do as an ending for my day. I would go inside this house and will have to endure the ugly faces of the people inside here.
I strode the way to the room I am occupying and did my daily routine–adding money to my savings. But as I opened the brown envelope, I found nothing but a bunch of elementary papers.

My eyes turned bloodshot. My breathing became fast as I walked furiously towards the kitchen–anticipating that the witch was there.
I can't endure this mess anymore. I know we have a lot of things to be thankful for her and for my Aunt, but this is too much!
"What the heck did you do this time?!" I yelled and smashed the bunch of elementary papers in her chest, distracting her from cutting the vegetables on the kitchen table.
The papers scattered along with the whole place, the envelope getting wet as it landed on the steel sink.
"Do you freaking know how long did I try to–" I groaned in frustration. This witch is getting smarter with each passing day and is only getting worse!
"What are you saying? And don't you even have respect?! I am older than you!"
I gasped and sarcastically smiled.
"You talk about respect when you already robbed me! Where the hell did you put my money again?" I glared at her, my voice reflecting resentment and bitterness.
"And you even changed my money from real to a bunch of elementary papers? You think I wouldn't–"
"I will give you back the money! I swear!" She turned her feet and faced the sink, opening the faucet as she spoke.
"You sound like I don't have the right to use the money. You are too full of yourself. I just thought of giving myself a gift for my hard work and now you are suddenly getting angry! You are really ungrateful and–"
"Woah," I interrupted. "If you want to give yourself a gift then work your ass out and burn your own money! " I yelled, trying to tell her my points.
"It wasn't my money, yes! But don't you have something to feel grateful towards me? I'm working so hard in this house and I at least need to make myself feel good! Your money is not even enough to buy me a new refrigerator!" She turned and faced me with her offended face.
"Do I have the responsibility to pay for that thing?" I furrowed my brows and shook my head. "No,"
"I worked so hard for that money and you act like you did nothing wrong! Do you even have pity?"
"But why am I even complaining, anyway? I am living with a bitch and–"
My words were cut short when I felt the stinging pain on my cheeks. I touched it with my hand and glanced at her with my teary, resentful eyes.