1 Chapter 1: Retirement

Its Early in the morning, the sun starts to emerge. The warm breeze of air in the dawn, gushes through the open windows. Nicholas Dagro suddenly wakes up from his melodic alarm chime. Grunting as he's getting out of bed.

Now up on his feet, the sunrays meet his eyes. He starts of his day by fixing his bed, followed by having a warm shower.

After bathing, he proceeded to put on his uniform, to get ready for work. He stands in front of the mirror as he close the buttons of his shirt.

By the time he finishes his wife, Bellamy Dagro calls him down to eat. "Honey, its time to eat!", she shouts as she ready's a plate or two. "I'll be there in a sec!", Nicholas replied.

He ran downstairs, put his bag down the other chair, and began to munch off the food his wife prepared for him. Having his meal finished his meal, he kissed his wife goodbye and as well as their child inside Bellamy's womb.

As his lips touched her belly, he felt something, he felt uneasy. He didn't tell his wife about it, it's not because the fact that he didn't want to worry her, he just thought it was a weird and unusual feeling and so he decided to ignored it.

Nicholas walks to the bus station, and takes the bus everyday to work.

Nicholas and Bellamy aren't wealthy, there are days were they can't afford for themselves. They're between the poverty line and the average line when it comes to terms of their wealth.

Nicholas had never graduated college, he works to only support his family. Bellamy's mother works as a private school teacher and she gives them money that is just about enough to help cover their expenses.

Nicholas arrived at "Kells-Cafe" as a Barista and Cashier. The store was already open and he saw his co-worker Lucas Hitson inside because Lucas is an early bird, and he always earlier.

They work for hours each entire day in the coffee shop, yet they only earn a few bucks per hour.

They start preparing the store without they're boss Martin Richmond because his tardiness has become patterned.

They don't blame him, its because Martin is Three cities away from the café, and he manages other branches of this store.

Mr. Martin came 3 hours late after completely opening and greeted Nicholas and Lucas as he enters his office.

A few hours pass, it was around noon in the store, and the sun has met with the horizon. A lady came by and ordered cup of coffee, Lucas prepared it while Nicholas managed the cashier. And when her order came, she complained about her drink saying it had hair in it. Instead of this customer simply wanting to replace the order, she threw it in the ground and stepped on it. Lucas and Nicholas cleaned the mess the lady had made, while their boss Mr. Martin talked to the lady in a table at the café. But she refused to calmly cooperate and just left.

Mr. Martin went over to Lucas and Nicholas and apologized for what just happened with the lady.

At around night-time, Mr. Martin departs the store and leaves the cleaning to Nicholas and Lucas. Mr. Martin said sorry one last time for the incident with the lady.

But Nicholas and Lucas, already understood cause they expirience customers like this all the time. So they just nodded to Mr. Martin and promised that it was all fine before he left.

"Hey, Lucas" said Nicholas as he's mopping the floor. "Yeah what's going on?" Lucas replied. "Don't you ever get tired working at the store most of the time ?, it all feels like a loop doesn't it?" Nicholas said with a tiredly look on his face. Lucas said "Well, it is what it is. We start or we don't." Lucas added "We all need to start somewhere, we need to learn to take small opportunities and make them bigger." Nicholas sarcastically said "That's easy for you to say, you finished school." He added "You're gonna have more opportunities than mine because of that." Lucas thought what he said and rested his hand on the counter, but then he accidentally hit the tip jar, luckily Nicholas was able to catch it before it nearly hit the ground and shattered to pieces.

Nicholas used to be Police Officer and Bodyguard, he trained for years so that explains why he has incredible reflexes.

"We're nearly done cleaning, don't make another mess" Nicholas said as they both nervously chuckled. They wrapped up the cleaning, locked the store, then left.

They walked together at the bus station to go home.

While waiting for the bus, Lucas "About earlier, are you really tired of working in the Café ?"

There was a few seconds of silence because Nicholas was thinking of his answer. "I'm not tired of working in the Café, Me and My wife Bellamy have a child now" he said. Lucas exclaims as his jaw drops "Wait really?!, Congratulations!!" Lucas replied. Lucas asked how far along was Bellamy, Nicholas utters that she's been pregnant for several months now. Lucas became annoyed, due to the fact that why did Nicholas just told him that now. Nicholas jokingly said to Lucas, " But You Never asked". That wasn't exactly the answer Lucas was looking for but he lightened up a bit as they talk about the situation more.

Nicholas went back to the main point of their conversation and thanked him, he told him that he just wanted to apply for a new job that has a higher pay with his current one so he can support his child. Lucas tries to cheer up Nicholas and said that he understands his situation and decision to leave his work. Nicholas gags and sighs in relief as he thanks Lucas for his understanding.

The bus arrives, Nicholas hops on and shouts "See you tomorrow Lucas!". Lucas replied "You as well!" as he waits for the bus going to his part of town.

Its the following day, Nicholas prepares in the morning again as usual, and then immediately heads over to work. While Nicholas and Lucas started to prepare the cafe, the security guard on the café, Mark Santos went over too them and said that he overheard the conversation that Nicholas and Lucas had last night.

"I heard last night you're looking for a new job, is it true?" said Mark. "You're correct, but how'd you found out? " Nicholas replied. "I could hear your conversation last night with Lucas through the window" Mark added. Lucas heard them and joined in their small talk and said "That's weird dude, don't ever do that again." Mark realizes his mistake and apologizes but then continued to tell them that the newly built Shopping Center named "Star Mall" is looking for security guards and he heard from one of Mark's friends that they pay a lot per hour, and was way more than how much a normal security guard usually makes. Nicholas was shocked and asked why do they pay that much amount on security guards, and Mark said he didn't know why.

"Star Mall?, Oh wait that's where there used to be a cemetery, right?!" said Lucas. "Its fine they properly took out all the coffins before they built the whole mall." said Mark. "Of course they'll remove the bodies before they'll build the mall. " added Nicholas.

So later that day he printed out his resume and resignation form. When he submitted his resignation form, Mr. Martin Gave Nicholas a gift. "What's this sir?" said Nicholas. "Just open it" replied Mr. Martin. Nicholas opened the gift, it was a car key. "I-I don't understand sir" said Nicholas. Mr. Martin chuckled and brought him outside.

The keys that Nicholas was holding matched one of the cars in the parking lot, Mr. Martin pointed at that car and said, "Nicholas, that's your car now". Nicholas was at lost for words, "Are you serious, Mr. Martin?!" Nicholas said out loud. "Of course I am, its a farewell gift from me." Mr. Martin said. Nicholas was still speechless and he thanked Mr. Martin for giving him a car so that he wont commute everyday now. "No thank you Nicholas, you've dedicated a lot of time in this store." said Mr. Martin. "Without you, there wouldn't be a Kell's Cafe." Mr. Martin added. Nicholas exclaimed and thanked Mr. Martin again.

After Nicholas has packed all of his items in the store. Lucas went out to talk to him. "Im gonna miss putting dairy-milk in the drinks of lactose intolerant people together." said Lucas. "Me too Bud" exclaimed Nicholas as they hug together. "Ill See you then..." said Nicholas as he closes the door of his car. He backs up his car, then leaves.

It's hard for people to abandon the things in your life that leaves so many memories. But moving on is a part of everyone's life. Nicholas remembers what his father said back when he's young, "You don't have to forget things to move on." Nicholas smiled while a tear runs down his face.

When he arrived home, his wife Bellamy just got the results from the check-up she had. "Is it a boy?" said Nicholas. Bellamy snickered, "Its a secret." she said. Bellamy said that she wanted to host a gender reveal. "We don't have money to do that, babe." said Nicholas. Bellamy was pissed so she raised her voice and said, "Well if you let me work again, we'll have enough money!!"

"You can't work, if you get stressed it affects the baby!" Nicholas proclaimed. The night was cold, there we're stray dogs barking. Nicholas and Bellamy's argument lasted a few minutes but it felt like forever.

When they calmed down, they now went to bed. They faced the opposite ways while trying to fall asleep. "I'm sorry" said Nicholas. Bellamy didn't reply even though her eyes were wide open. They frequently fight like this, but at the end of the day they end up in good terms.

The following week, Nicholas goes to Star Mall to apply as a security guard. He told the security guard at the entrance that he's going to apply, the guard calls the owner's office. He tells another guard to take him to the owner of the mall.

Then the Security guard takes him to the elevator, "Hi, I'm Gustav Reola" said the security guard. Nicholas also introduced himself. Then what followed is them having a little conversation while they're trying to get to there floor. The elevator opened, then they walked over to a private door.

They entered the door, "Boss, he's the applicant." said Gustav. The owner told Gustav to leave him there.