V.I.

"Excuse me, miss."

"Coming!"

In a world filled with androids and humans working together, there was a small coffee shop in a dark alleyway that someone would consider "creepy," yet they always visited. I worked there. There wasn't really any other work I could do since androids were programed to work longer, remember more, and speak a load of languages that one person couldn't speak. All I knew as English and Japanese, but if you took an android into consideration, they spoke almost 50 different languages. But, thanks to my boss actually preferring a warm heart than a piece of metal, I got this job here.

"Thank you, miss." The customer thanked me after I handed them the Americano they ordered. "You are so pretty."

"Thank you." I kept on my professional smile. Work was always like this. Getting complimented by only old women at work, having to keep on the smile as they tried setting me up with their grandsons, and serving coffee was the norm for me.

"What type of men do you like, sweetie?" The older woman asked before pointing at the screen with a new idol group performing. My eyes were glued on the screen as I admired the flashing colors and the cute boys that were dancing on stage. Two twins, a drummer that looks shaggy but hot, and a vocalist who took the cake. They were hot 'n all, but not my type. "Are those young boys what you young girls are into these days?"

Nodding my head, I replied, "Some, but not me. I'd prefer a guy I could talk to rather than admire, if I'm going to be honest."

"See, this is why you're such a sweet girl, Rika." The older woman clenched her heart with her hand before smiling. "Anyway, I have the perfect guy just for you. You know my grandson—"

"Rika! I need you to wash these cups." Boss saved me from another set up.

"Alright!" I called back before looking at the older woman. "Sorry, ma'am. I have to go wash the cups now. Maybe we can talk more next time."

"Alright, sweetie." The older woman nodded her head before drinking her coffee.

I quickly ran to the kitchen where my boss had called me from. He was standing tall, as usual, and his hair was pulled back into a ponytail. His tired eyes explained it all as he took a puff of his cigarette. "That old hag was giving you a hard time back there, huh?"

"Boss!" I hushed him, looking around to make sure the customers couldn't hear us even though we were in a completely separate room from the customers. Sometimes you never know. A girl once came into our kitchen just to ask for a kiss from Boss. He kicked her out, though. And good riddance to that. "You shouldn't call the older woman a 'hag.' That's disrespectful. Show respect to the elders." I sighed, shaking my head before washing the dishes.

"Well, she wanted you to marry her grandson so she can use you to take care of her in the future when she becomes unable to function and craps her pants. It's obvious." Boss took out his cigarette from his mouth, staring at it before taking another puff.

"Well, you aren't wrong..." I looked down at the running water filling up the sink. "It's not like I'm going to marry anyway. Guys aren't into girls who has an alcoholic dad or isn't pretty."

"Then if no guy decides to marry you, I wouldn't mind having you as my wife." Boss smirked.

"Thanks, Boss, but I'm fine. I'll soon find someone some day. Just when my dad dies." I grinned.

"Aight." Boss chuckled before Kenji, the high school boy who Boss and I pretend he isn't so he can keep this job, walks in.

"Boss. I finished sweeping the alley." Kenji used his thumb to point toward the alley.

"Nice work, Junior." Boss grinned, patting Kenji's head before looking back at me. "You can have the night off, Rika. And you too, Kenji. I'm going to close up shop since there aren't many customers tonight." He stretched his arm over his head, using his other hand to pull. "Walk Rika home since it's dangerous at night, Kenji."

"Okay, sir."

Kenji and I both know that we couldn't fight boss since he was more mature than us. He was 30 somethin' years old, but he sure acted like a wise old man.

After I changed into my black hoodie and denim jeans, I walked out of the changing room and placed a ball cap on my head. "Ready to go, Kenji?"

"Un." He grunted as we walked out of the cafe together down the poster filled alley way. I hated this alley, but it was the best we could get. I would rather not see ads for android "friends" on my way home from work, but in this kind of economy, beggars can't be choosers.

"You shouldn't grunt at people older than you, Kenji. It's rude." I frowned at him.

"Un." He grunted again. So much for trying to be the adult here.

After a long walk from the cafe to halfway down the alley, Kenji got a ring from his mom. "Mom? Oh, shoot. I'll be there." He hung up. "Sorry, Rika. I have to go!"

"Wai—" Before I could stop him, he was gone. It was just me, silence, and an alley way filled with bikinis for sale. What a life.

It was fine though. Being in the alley alone wasn't too bad. All I had to do was pretend it wasn't scary. Yeah. Although anyone could mug me any minute, it wasn't like they were going to...hahahahaha...ha

Buzz...buzzz...

"Heeeeeeeee!" I jumped but realized my phone was vibrating. "Oh. It's just my phone." I answered it. "Hello? No dad. I'm not home yet. What? Huh? No. Okay. Night." I hung up.

My heart was still rapidly beating as I was trying my best to cool down. What was I getting so nervous about? It was just dad checking to make sure I was alright. Yeah. Nothing too bad. Yeah...

Shaking off my nerves, I continued slowly walking down the alleyway. It was wet on the floor from all the fluids pouring out of the pipes of the buildings. The purple lights glowed, and that was a sign that I was almost out of this alleyway. Yes! Freedom!

Right as I was about to leave, a sound caught my ear. I turned my head and noticed a dark space in the alley. Who knew alleys could have alleys. Interesting.

"Ngh..." The sound of a grunt caught my attention. It was a different kind of grunt from Kenji's. Yeah, this grunt sounded more like a gasp for air. "Gah!"

I took my phone out of my pocket, pointing toward the alley. My hand was shaking as I turned on the flashlight, and I saw...

A leg. An arm. A neck. A boy. A boy being chocked. Oh my God... OHMYGOD! He mouthed, "Help me."

Without anymore hesitation, I threw my phone at the perpetrator. The hit on his head from my phone caused him to release the boy. The boy fell to the floor and started gasping for air. I then grabbed the boy's hand and quickly ran for it.

I didn't look back. I didn't try getting my phone back. My phone was the last thing I could worry about in this kind of situation.

After running out of the alley into a more crowded area with people walking by, I was able to stop and catch my breath. I looked over at the boy who almost lost his life if I hadn't been there.

"Are...you...alright?" I kept breathing and panting.

The boy then lifted up his head, revealing a handsome face. It felt as if I had seen him before, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Who was he?

"Uh...have I seen you before?" I narrowed my eyes, looking straight at him.

The boy then paled in complexion before running away from me. I lifted my hand, but was too tired after that whole scenario to chase after the boy. I then looked back toward the alleyway, wondering if I should get my phone back. But what if the perpetrator was still in there? I would end up being dead meat. Yeah, I'd rather not.

Now I have to go to the phone store to cancel my service to that phone... What a life...