This chapter is dedicated to sundowning for the awesome cover above!
The soft, uplifting sound that reverberated inside my ears was a great company during the lonely night. Reaching for the right side of the phone, I pressed on the lower volume-finally stopping the music. I began removing the earpiece from my ears and glanced out of the window. A beam had formed my lips as I indulged the beauty of the city lights yet, unfamiliar kind of air. I kept memorizing all those structures of building I see from a strange place. I kept memorizing all the roads, name of the stores, and everything that the milieu has to offer. Finally, New York means new life. From this day on, I'm living my life alone. Exactly!
I shifted from my seat as I felt uneasiness on the inside. Somehow, the unfamiliar air I am breathing right at this moment made me a little dizzy. Closing the window of the taxicab, I leaned on the head of the car. Loneliness has invade me for the nth time. I guess I'm going to miss mom, dad, and Daryll. Yet I don't need to pressure myself at the thought. Mom told me they'd call every night. But I should be the one to call them. I should call and ask if they're living their lives properly. I'm worried sick but I have to do this for my sake, too.
I walked through the narrow alleys of New York City. All right, I'm a complete stranger here. I stepped on the slippery road filled with frozen ice. Snows-they might send me to hospital once I stumble on my feet. I adjusted the beanie on my head and zipped my jacket up until it no longer expose my neck. It was way too cold and anytime I could freeze myself to death.
Scary. I crooked my neck over my chest and focused on the path I'm about to walk into. No way people in here would have any idea that I'm new to this area. There are a lot of streetwalkers lighting their cigarettes. There are maniacs looking at some late night workers' legs. Good thing I'm wearing pants. There are lunatics all over the place throwing me lethal glances. There's holdup even in some public area, in which the policemen unseemly notice. How do I live with this kind of place? I now believe New York City is "the city that never sleeps".
"Hey, lady. Wanna join us?"
I walked as fast as my feet could drag me out of here. Some streetwalker taking drugs convinced me to try but I ignored it.
• • •
The past few days have been very hard for me. My knees and feet have never felt as weak as before. Running from different places, bringing important documents required, lining and waiting for feedbacks and getting rejections in small facilities made me want to quit early.
Those extra days of suffering just to find a part-time job was actually worth fighting for. One of the shops where I applied to, accepts applicants as long as the age is above 18. It was a relief finding even the simplest job, as long as it would help me and my family.
I am currently working as a barista on one of the prominent beanery in New York called Kaffe 1668. I usually work very hard and even do overtime to earn larger salary. It's a toilsome task-I mean every job is. You get yourself too worn out by walking to and fro getting all the customers' order. I even have to be scolded by some disrespectful customer and get everyone's attention.
There were times the beanery is on full-house. Sweats would freely trickle down my temples. At the end of my shift, I see stains of coffee and cake icings tattoed in my apron. I never had the chance to sit down for five minutes unless Kyle arrives to take over the next shift. Sometimes, I'd sit at the locker room before actually leaving, staring at my calloused and trembling hand. Sitting at the ground gives me comfort, even if I'm already bathed in my own sweat. Because of a long and busy day, I find myself crying. But it gives me courage and I always end up telling myself, I did a great job for that day.
I've never been a popular person when I was still on high school. But as my days on the beanery extended, I've always felt this weird feeling. There's that feeling where I could say, I'm being watched. I just couldn't tell who among them, of all these people inside the beanery. It's just a feeling leaving me uneasy for days.
Placing my arms on the counter, as I waited for another customers' order. No matter how much I bombard my mind with tons of complain, I have no other option. I chose this-to be away and to forget.
"Espresso." A customer muttered under his breath.
I smiled to him though it was useless because he's not giving me a glance.
"I'll deliver it on your table in a few, sir. Thank you."
He navigated his way to one of the empty seats inside the beanery. He sat near the open window and stared at the road which contained skaters that doesn't even care if they get hit by any vehicle.
Whilst making his coffee, I watched him from time to time. I couldn't stop watching him. My hands were on the machine but his picture keeps blocking my eyes. He was tapping his fingers on the empty table while waiting for me to deliver his coffee.
There was something strange with the way he act-plus the cap he's been pulling all the time to cover up his face. I should think of him as some bandit or any bad guy but I don't really judge people that easy. I'm afraid to say so but it feels like he's been catching glances on me when I'm not watching him.
As I walked the arcadian beanery with the espresso on the tray, I tried to act normal. I shouldn't let him notice me that I was observing him. Placing the espresso on his table, I smiled to him.
"Here's your espresso, sir."
He stopped and ran his fingers on the note glued on the coffee cup. I wrote 'enjoy' there and an emoticon which is a happy face. We usually do that to our customers.
"Thanks." His voice was so low that only the two of us could hear.
I'm glad he let out a word. Espresso was the only word that came out of his mouth earlier and nothing comes next.
"Shouldn't you be going back to the counter right now? There are a lot of customers." He inquired as he noticed me watching him.
"Uh... we're not allowed to leave the customers unless they took their first sip on the coffee. Customers should tell us if the coffee's good or bad and so, we could make an improvement next time."
He raised his hand as if it's okay not to wait for him to drink his coffee.
"I shouldn't have been here going back in here for days if the coffee was awful."
I wowed under my breath. So, he's all over coffee for the past few days. I haven't even seen him before.
"Really? I didn't notice you were here for the past few days."
"The girl who's been serving me the coffee might be absent. So, yeah, that leaves you to meet me."
He kept pulling his cap to his head to cover his face. I wanted to ask him why but I'm afraid he might take that badly.
"I think I should leave you alone with your coffee. Enjoy..."
I started to step my foot backwards and stop to look at him again even without seeing his face.
"... and see you next time, sir."
He just nodded and glance over his shoulder. I walked back to the counter, feeling frustrated that I didn't get a better view of his face.
The door bell chime is a reminder that a customer has arrived. But I've never heard of it ever since I delivered the coffee to the last customer who ordered to me, the guy lurking in his cap. That leaves me observing the customers, including him.
I noticed him stepping away from the beanery without any noise. I saw the cup of coffee on his table and a piece of paper placed at the bottom of the cup. I took it in my hands and I found a note. At least, I know it was for me because I was the one who gave him his coffee.
Coffee's always better but you shouldn't have mixed salt in it.
Nice meeting you.
Nothing comes next after that sentences. I poked my temple and cursed on my mind. That was embarrassing! He was a regular customer but then, I made a huge mistake. I accidentally put salt in his coffee.
It was my fault for watching him while brewing the coffee. A groan escaped my mouth and I was hoping he doesn't feel bad. I was so careless for mixing salt in the coffee.
Just after cursing myself, which was of no help, I skidded to the counter again. I put his note on the pocket of my uniform.
At the end of my shift, I grab the opportunity to searched for available schools online that has an undergoing enrollment. Minutes went hours sending different schools an email. I was too eager so I waited for their response yet none came. Fortunately, I found an adult high school where it only requires what I'm capable of passing. It says that I don't need to complete the whole program-as long as I could finish my needed semesters, I could earn a diploma.
Turning my laptop off, I let out a huge exhale and opened the locker to change my clothes. Hopefully, I could get accepted in this adult high school program and be able to picture myself receiving a diploma. I guess this is it, New York means new life.