Chapter 16: “So, how can I help?”

A blurred memory of me, being in someone’s arms yesterday, flashed through me. I couldn’t remember everything properly but it seemed like I was being lifted by strong muscular hands. Weirdly enough I felt warmth at remembering that memory.

It must be of when he helped me by the washroom but his muscles seemed to have been much bigger yesterday than today or maybe my drunken mind fragmented him to be hotter, but that memory made me blush.

Thank god he couldn’t see my face right now!

Calming myself I slowly pulled away from him and gave him a fake smile, “So, how can I help?”

Grinning at me he took my wrist in his hand and pulled me towards the ‘Staff Only’ room.

The small room was filled with various supplies in one corner and the other side had chairs and a table along with a small couch. Picking out a black apron with ‘Sabrosa’ written on it which was hanging from the hooks he passed it to me and said, “You can be a waitress, only if you don’t mind?”

I had never worked as a waitress before so I didn’t know how hard it would be, but I guess giving it a shot won’t hurt much. Blu used to work at a café but I never tried my hand out there. Back in high school my summer jobs usually consisted of babysitting and helping middle schoolers with their homework. I didn’t really like kids much but the jobs paid a lot and needed little effort. Though I’ll admit I stayed away from the very teeny tiny ones. I can’t take their whining.

“Yeah, you can count on me, I can easily manage it,” I boasted while taking the apron and wrapping it around me.

“Great! So, let me tell you what you have to do,” He said as he again took my hand in his and dragged me outside.

What was with him leading me around by my hand today? Looks like he has gotten a little more comfortable around me than before.

His hand around my wrist was an odd feeling I couldn’t explain. It didn’t feel too intimate but it still spread a somewhat comforting sensation over me.

“Where had you been, man? We are already short of hands today!” an Asian looking man shouted while passing us with a tray of dishes in his hand.

He went and serves it to a couple near the windows and quickly came back to us, “What’s up? Did the gang call?”

“No, you know the guys are all busy with their jobs. They got no time for their friends,” Andrew said as he brushed him off.

One of the worst feelings in the world is losing connections with your close friends, it’s like one moment they are there to complete the perfect picture of a happy future and then they are suddenly fading away, leaving behind black, empty, pitiful gaps in their place which are irreplaceable.

My last year of high school wasn’t something that I remembered very fondly but there were few people that I lost contact over time and sometimes remembering them I miss the old days and want to get back to it.

Subconsciously, I rubbed his hand with my free one before I could even stop myself which earned me a squeeze on my already enveloped wrist in his hold.

“What d-,” the Asian guy again started still not noticing me behind Andrew. His brows scrunched up and it looked like he couldn’t understand a word Andrew said as he threw him an incredulous look.

“Ah wait, I want you to meet someone,” Andrew cut him off as he stepped aside to let me introduce myself.

I liked that he knew me enough, to know that I don’t like being spoken for.

“Nice to meet you, I am Scarlet,” I said as I raised my hand for a handshake, “I’ll be helping you around here today.”

He stared at me gob smacked and then at my outstretched hand following his gaze back to Andrew. I didn’t know what caused such a reaction out of him but it was making me feel awkward. He broke out of his trance when Andrew cleared his throat.

“Uh- hey! Nice to meet you too, I am Kio,” he shook my hand while glancing at Andrew questioningly.

“Give us a second,” Andrew excused himself as he followed Kio away from me, out of my ear shot. There they talked in a hushed manner for a few seconds where Andrew seemed to be explaining something to him and then they both returned Kio laughing at something while Andrew seemed to be shushing him.

Coming and standing beside me he smiled down on me.

“Don’t mind him. He is just not used to seeing me introduce a girl to him,” he whispered softly to me making me smile to myself and lightly shake my head.

“Take care of Andrew for me. He is too innocent; he is so good that it is often hard to believe. But finally, he started opening up again, I should thank you for helping him out of his shell,” he laughed while Andrew seemed very embarrassed by Kio’s revelations.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him perfectly,” I said although the thought made me want to gag. He wasn’t a kid that I needed to look after or else it would be the same as when I babysat. Also, for some reason I didn’t feel nice vibes coming from Kio. Why does he make it sound like there was more to it than what meets the eye?

Was Andrew this sensitive of a guy?

“All right then I am trusting my best friend to you,” he said and this time I didn’t reply anything back but just smiled at him while slightly nodding my head in agreement.

My cheeks had been paining with all the fake smiles I had been displaying today I wanted to just get back home and binge on something but I was determined to complete my mission and make him fall for me.

“You should get back to work; I will let her know how it works around here,” Andrew dismissed him and began telling me the things I needed to keep in mind while waitressing.

I just hope I don’t mess things up.

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Illustris❤