Another World

✨~1~✨

It was more than 2 months' worth of my salary.

Was I getting fired?

He then began speaking again after a few awkward moments. "I don't want to do this. You're the best waitress I've got but..." He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.

I stood up, I couldn't believe it. It was a large sum of money, which would help for a while, but getting this job was hard enough.

"You can't fire me, you even promised me that I could start helping in the band if I worked as a waitress for a few months!" I argued. It's been almost a year since I worked here, and the reason I even applied at this 4-star restaurant was to be a pianist here, but I've been working as a waitress for all these months.

After high school, I worked at a music school, thanks to my piano skills which I had learned from the caretaker of the orphanage. But the music school had to close so I applied here and got accepted. I knew it was weird when they didn't ask me to play, but the owner said they already had a pianist, but if they needed a backup, I could step up. So, he suggested I work as a waitress instead. I didn't argue much because I needed the money.

But my heart hurt every time I saw the piano because that was the one thing in my life that I felt had gone right. My eyes were even getting watery, I was getting too emotional about this.

Seeing my tears the boss felt even more remorseful. "I'm sorry, Romania. But the client this time was someone who had connections to one of the shareholders of the restaurant." He sighed.

"How about this? I'll give you 3 more months of pay. You'll be fine." He said and I knew he felt guilty. When he said that my tears automatically stopped. Well, he's not wrong. Money was literally why I was here, so of course it'd make me feel better if I got more.

"Okay, then I'll get going. Thank you for everything." I took the envelope and my bag. "I'll be waiting for the extra payment to be sent to my bank account. Goodbye, sir. Thank you for your care." I bowed.

He looked at me with wide eyes, astonished. Hey, I didn't cry to get more money. I was hurt about losing the job this way but... the extra money didn't exactly hurt.

I left the office putting the envelope in my bag with a smile, I wiped my eyes. I went straight back to my locker because now I had to clear all my stuff.

"Hey. I heard the boss wanted to see you, is everything alright?" One of the waiters who helped me earlier asked.

I quickly dropped the corner of my lips. "I just got fired."

We made it to the locker room and I opened my locker. "What? Was it because of that guy earlier?" She asked, with a hand over her mouth.

"Aren't you going to fight back? You were unjustly fired!"

I smiled at her. "Well, I could but who said I was unjustly fired?" I paused and turned to her and wiggled my eyebrows.

"I got well compensated for the injustice." I whispered.

Her eyebrows rose for a mo
moment and she came closer to me.

"How much?"

"3 months." I told her. I then remembered that it was now 5 months but I didn't need to add that.

"Wow! Well, then maybe it's a blessing in disguise." She high-fived me as we both laughed. The world worked in a simple way where money really may not be everything, but it was, in fact, everything.

"Well, I should get going. I'll have to look for a new job tomorrow." I said as I closed my locker, done with packing all my things.

"Why are you in such a rush? Take your time, you also definitely need the rest." She said as she escorted me out. "You always worked the maximum number of shifts. I've never seen you take a break, well except when you're on your phone."