Everything was as planned

Denise is standing in front of her mother who was on critical condition in the hospital. The doctors are rushing and everyone was in quick paced just to save her mother. She just stood their in her place, never dared to move. She lost her sense of hearing, she couldn't hear even her nanny wailing beside her, all she could heard was the monitor as it beeps and flatline can be seen in the screen. Her mother left her at a very young age. She could not utter her lips, she couldn't even shout and scream as it it was just a nightmare. Her ears heard the beeps louder and her consciousness came into darkness.

Beep!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Denise unconsciously awaken to her senses as she heard the beep from the customers' device. It was about to serve their orders. She smiled them politely and placed their orders on their tables. It was a fine morning, and the customers rushed in crowd as always. The plaza was crowded quite strange, graduation was commenced that day as the cafe was opposite of the university.

"Denise!" It was Lin who will relieved her from her shifts. The cafe operates 24 hours for it is famous for food and place too. Her shift ended at 7:30. It was still 7:00.

"Why are you early?" she replied passively. Denise is not a talker, she just nod occasionally when asked or answered in metered lines. It might be one of her longest dialogues ever spoke.

"Early? I should be! It is your graduation day! Aren't you supposed to be on leave today?" Lin tossed her bag in the locker and quickly changed. She looked at her as if it was weird that Denise is not excited with her graduation day.

"I told you, I can skip the ceremony and cover your shift."

"Who would be that lunatic to skip her graduation day just to serve coffee? Ah, well that could be you. Go quickly before I change my mind." They were not intimate friends or anything, they were just regular workers that are civil with each other.

Denise grabbed her bag as well as her graduation robe. She had it with her if she could still enter the venue, and it seems she had time to do so. She just casually wore it on top of her shirt and jeans and walk while her bag cling on her shoulder. Hated the crowd, she exited on the kitchen with her sneakers. She didn't even applied make up on her face. With a stoic and passive face, it seems she just complied the ceremony. She was alone. She has no one to attend with her. All the happy faces and congratulatory messages where blocked from her ears. It was melodious for others but it was bothersome to her. She just wanted to grab her diploma as soon as possible.

Among the graduates who were merrily march, there was one who feels opposite. With no parents or guardians walk with her, her stoic expression captures few attendees.

Her name was called and she quickly received her diploma and shook hands with the professors and honorable guest.

After the graduation ceremony she headed quickly to the cafe shop to cover her shift. It was unusual that the cafe was closed for a day as the sign was flipped CLOSED. Upon entering, loud explosion from confetti's and scattered in the air as well as her colleagues and manager blow their paper trumpets to her. It was Lin, held congratulatory cake with her name on it.

"Happy Graduations Denise!" they cheered. Denise, removed the confetti on her face that blocked her vision and smiled politely at them.

"You don't have to do this at all." she replied timidly and received the bouquet from them.

"We should. You were our hardworking crew afterall." It was Manager Wendy who handed her their gift for her.

"You might be quiet about it but we were happy to be part of your journey. I hope you will land with job you were always aiming of."

"Speaking for a job, here," it was Lin who handed her the letter from the company she applied for. Denise opened it and simply scanned it. Unsatisfied with her reaction, it was Shiela who snatched it away from her and read it allowed.

"I am glad to inform you that you are hired as an intern in the Rising Empire company."

They were all apalled when they heard the news.

"I thought you were aiming for Carri's Corporation? I never thought the Rising Empire is hiring as well."

"I was just lucky to be hired I guess." she replied to them.