CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER THREE
It has been a month since Steph and I went to the club and I was finally done with the semester''s
exams. I still have one more week due to my assigned project and I''m done with school. I can finally
graduate and then start my internship as a doctor.
We were already at the beginning of summer, making the weather so hot and working as a per-time
worker as a waitress in one of the most popr restaurants, V°I°P, didn''t make it easy at all. I could
feel the sweat gathering under my white shirt; my forehead needed constant wiping; and I was
pretty sure my makeup was a mess at this point.
" Normani, table six and nine please"
" Coming right up, Mrs. Smith," I said as I smiled at her, which she gracefully returned. She is the
manager and a very good and kind one, which makes both the workers and the customers love her.
I walked into the kitchen to meet her as she gestured to four tes that were lined up on a stainless
steel surface. I managed to bnce all four tes on my hands, and I walked over to the kitchen
doors and walked backward.
I set the tes down on the second table and wiped my clumsy palms on the front of my apron. I
turned to see Selena, the restaurant receptionist, weing and directing a couple in. I smiled
when I saw they were regrs. They were given a seat. I grabbed my notepad from my apron
pocket and walked up to them with a smile on my face. I flipped the notepad to get their orders.
" Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Wee to VIP. What can I get you today?" I asked, still
with a smile on my face.
" Hi Mani, you look good today," Mrs. Williams said, smiling back at me.
" I doubt that, but you, on the other hand, look breath-taking. Any special asion?" I asked
. "It''s our twentieth wedding anniversary," Mr. Williams answered, taking his wife''s hand in his and
cing a soft kiss on the back of her hands as they both smiled at each other lovingly.
" That''s wonderful. Congrattions," I said, admiring their love and wishing for a love like theirs.
" Thank you, I will like the steak and chips with your best red wine," Mr. Williams ordered.
I jotted it down and turned to look at Mrs. Williams for her own order.
" I will have the same as John," she said.
" Okay,ing right up." I went back to the kitchen to ce their orders and took a little bit of a
break before sending one of the male waiters to deliver their wine.
As exhausting as the job might be, I loved working here. I have been working here for four years
and it has helped me through my tuition and feeding.
" Done."... Ashley, one of the kitchen staff, says.
I ced the tes on my hands and carefully walked out.
" Here you go," I say, as Iy the tes down on both sides of the table.
" Thank you," the couple replied simultaneously.
" Don''t hesitate to call if you need anything. Have a wonderful night."
I left the couple to their dinner and walked to the empty table with tes on it as I tidied it up. I
usually tidy up the tables before I go home.
While doing my chores, I looked around the people in the restaurant. Some of them were couples,
businessmen, and families. A family consisting of a father, mother, and daughter appeared in my
sight at the far end of the restaurant, close to the windows. They wereughing happily, ignoring the
hotness of the weather.
It was a happy moment, but at the same time, painful for me. My mind drifted back to my family.
I miss them so much.
After I finished with my chores, I went to the locker room to get my things and change out of my
uniform into my ownfortable clothes, which consist of a sweatshirt and jeans. I know it''s hot,
but I feel morefortable in a sweatshirt and jeans. I took out my phone to check if there were any
messages or missed calls and saw five missed calls and one message all from Steph. I unlocked
my phone and checked the message. Due to the exams, we haven''t hung out properly.
Besties: Heyy Mani, I''m, nning on going to Club Violenta with a couple of friends. Are you
interested.
Me: Not really. I''m tired and would like to get some sleep. Maybe next time
Besties: Okay, I will probably be gone before you get back.
Me: Okay, have fun, but not too much fun.
Besties: can''t make any promise?.
I locked my phone before cing it in my bag, not wanting to forget it.
N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.
I said goodbye to my co-workers and Mrs. Smith before walking out of the restaurant.
It was not unusual for me to go home at this hour and I wasn''t scared. I didn''t bring my car because
it wasn''t far from my apartment and I liked the night walk. It was not that dark as I walked towards
the direction of my apartment, praying not to encounter any perverts.
I was almost close to my apartment when I felt these feelings again. It felt like someone was
watching me and it had been going on for a month. I told myself that I was just being paranoid but I
just couldn''t help it. I looked behind me, but there was no one there. Someone was following me,
but I just couldn''t see the person. He didn''t hurt me, he just watched without doing anything. But
still, I always make sure to quicken my steps .
Safety first, right? Just because he isn''t doing anything doesn''t mean he isn''t dangerous.
I continued walking again, faster than before, and still couldn''t shake out the feeling. I sighed when I
saw my apartment across the street.
Before I could cross over, I felt a presence behind me. I turned around and found myself crashing
into a brick.
No... no. Not a brick, but a man.
" Hello Be, I think I have waited long enough," he says, looking down on me. I don''t get a chance
to reply before I feel the prick of a needle against my skin and just like that, I was out like a light.
His eyes were thest thing I saw.