Training Body and Mind (1)

Third Person's POV

After the Physics class, nothing worth mentioning happened in the class, the day went by like a normal university with normal students that has a normal schedule of 1 major sub and everything else are boring minors.

A whole day went by and the dismissal is just around the corner…

*Kring* *Kring*

This familiar ring causes everybody to lose their heads and just cheer because the day is finally over, it the same for Atlas and Flint.

Just as they were about to stand up from their chair, a body of 2 petite girls walk passed them, with the bags of the ladies smacking their faces intentionally.

*Pak* *Pak*

"What is happening?" Atlas mouthed to Flint who was smacked hard in the face by Beatrice.

"I don't know!" Flint mouthed back

They stare at the back of the ladies as they were passing through the door, they decided to stay away from them in order not to incur their wrath further.

Contrary to what they were thinking their decision to stay away just made it worse, the sour feeling of Beatrice this morning is still on and she's blaming Flint for causing it. She couldn't help but think just what Shirley and Flint were about to do this coming evening!

While Alia who was unofficially defeated by Atlas this morning in the Physics class is still blaming Atlas for being such a showoff. Her pride couldn't contain it because she thought she was already a genius as said by her private tutor back when she was still a child. She's been unrivaled since kid; never did she imagine that she would meet her rival after arriving here in the University.

Atlas and Flint who decided to stay away from the ladies are now walking back to their dormitories.

After they arrived there they took a shower and immediately went to the cheap-looking restaurant.

5:30 pm

"Good Evening boss!" Flint greeted as he saw their lady boss standing at the cashier seemingly checking their profit.

She just nodded her head because of how awkward it is that the son of her boss is calling her boss!

Atlas who's an introvert decided to just nod at his boss as well in shyness.

The lady boss just chuckled after seeing Atlas' shy expression.

"Go and change your outfits we'll be busy tonight!" She reminded the two of them.

'Atlas request to her that you want to be a waiter!' the old man emerged from his consciousness

'Huh? Why?' Atlas asked

'Just do it! You want to learn how that girl did it right? Then do what I say!' the old man reminded Atlas of his wish earlier.

'Okay okay, I'll do it!' Atlas said

"U-uhm M-Ma'am, I-I would like to work today as a waiter" Atlas said stutteringly

"Are you sure? Aren't you shy?" the lady boss said after hearing him stutteringly asked for a weird request.

"Y-yes I-I'm sure," Atlas said

"Okay do what you want but please control your stuttering okay?" the lady boss accepted his request because maybe it'll help him get rid of that stuttering-hobby of his.

"T-thank a lot!" Atlas said gratefully and immediately walked towards the staff room to change his clothes.

'Old gramps! Now what?!' Atlas called out the old man in his consciousness.

'This will serve as your training to get rid of that stuttering-hobby of yours and train your mental math as well it's hitting two birds with one stone' the old man explained his purpose

'As my successor, you can't afford to be a shy boy, you need to be a man filled with confidence, because only then can you present your invention that will make everyone believe in you.' The old said as he can't imagine his successor presenting his inventions in the future shyly in front of the science community.

'Later when you took orders don't use your pen and notes, use your mind to take notes, this will help you distract yourself from the shame you always feel when talking to strangers and this will help you train your mind to be flexible' the old man instructed

'How can I do that? I don't have a photographic memory!' Atlas said to the old man in complaint

'You created a world inside your head remember? A mere list of orders won't be much, believe in yourself. Now go!' the old man instructed

'Start with the couple over there by the window�� the old man instructed

Atlas has no choice but to do it despite feeling shy about asking for the order.

"W-what w-will y-you order ma'am sir?" Atlas asked stutteringly

The couple stared at him doesn't know whether to laugh or cry after hearing him stutter.

"We'll take this, this, and this" the lady said

Flint memorized the order while pretending to write on the paper.

'Now add up all of its price' the old man said

'What?! I thought it would be just taking orders?'

'Hurry up! And do as I say'

'Okay fine fine'

'A pasta cost 110.75 pesos, that cake cost 149.50 pesos, that drink cost 49.75 pesos a total of 310 pesos! I did it!'

'Stop wasting time this is just the start!'

Atlas wrote the list of orders from his memory for the kitchen staff's sake, they need it of course.

'Now go to that family table over there' The old man pointed at a long table with 10 persons seating around it.

'What?!' Atlas was dumbfounded after seeing a 10-seating table, just imagining the list of foods they'll order he's already getting tired.

'Go!' the old however doesn't care what he feels.

'This time you better not stutter!' the old man reminded him

Atlas has no choice but to follow his instruction.

"M-may I ask what you'll order ma'am?" Atlas stuttered but it's already good compared to his normal stuttering.

"Oh, we'll have this, this, this, … (After 10 orders) …, And lastly this! That's all, did you get it?"

"Uhm y-yes ma'am" Atlas still can't control his stuttering.

'Recite it for her to check' the old man said

"Its roasted duck, chicken soup, stir-fried pork, … (after 9 orders) …, and lastly, a red velvet cake, did I get it all correct ma'am?" Atlas said while trying to think what else did he forgot, he knew he forgot 1 dish.

"You forgot the pizza!" the old lady said clearly annoyed at him because of his mistake.

From the very start, she was already discontent with Atlas after hearing him stutter, she already judged him as a bad egg. So by the Atlas made a mistake in taking order she immediately snorted in annoyance.

"I-I'm s-so-sorry Ma'am!" Atlas' stuttering intensified after being faced with this customer's glare.

"Did you even take notes?" the old lady asked sarcastically.

"Give me that!" the old lady grabbed the note he was holding, upon seeing it empty she was angered furthermore.

"Do you think of yourself as a genius? Why didn't you take notes of our orders?! Call your manager I want to talk to her!" the old lady was angrily said to him

Atlas was about to reply but the lady boss arrived.

"What is happening?" the lady boss asked, from the very beginning she was observing Atlas ever since he raised that strange request to see what he's up to.

"This waiter of yours thinks too highly of himself that he didn't even bother writing our orders thinking he can memorize it all!" The old lady said,

"Atlas, go for now we'll talk later in the office; I'll handle it here" the lady boss dismissed Atlas

"M-ma'am-"

"Go"

Atlas was about to say something, but the lady boss cut him off. He could only leave dejectedly.

"I'm sorry about that ma'am how about I give you 1 of your dishes a 100% discount as an apology?" Atlas could here this statement of the lady boss making him even more guilty.

'Do you know where you made your mistake?' the old man who was silent the whole time asked him

'I didn't memorize all the orders' Atlas said

'NO! Your mistake is because you stutter, from the very first sentence you said that old lady already judged you as a bad egg, she's just waiting for a reason to diss you' the old man said

'You see Atlas in this world where you could meet a stranger everyday first impression is important. There are people out there that will judge you the very first moment they saw you, they'll judge you based on your words, dress, actions, hairstyles, fashion, face, appearance, height, and all the things their belittling eyes can manage to see, and they'll judge you like as if they know your entire life.' The old man lectured Atlas

'This is why you need to be confident about yourself, train yourself not for others but for yourself to be confident enough that no matter how they judge you, you'll never be affected by it. Learn to be confident Atlas because your stuttering makes you a person that has no confidence in himself'

Atlas just stayed silent after hearing the old man's lecture. He couldn't refute him because he knew to himself that what the old man said was right.

He stayed silent until the lady boss arrived.

"So? Are you alright?" The lady boss asked him

"It's fine no need to be guilty about it, we've met several customers like that almost every month, don't think about it too much" the lady boss was worried that Atlas will take this incident to his heart.

"I'm sorry ma'am I'll definitely do a better job next time!" Atlas said while vowing to himself that he'll definitely do his best to rid of this stuttering-hobby of his.

"Okay go home for now, continue your work tomorrow. Okay? Rest for now, go!" the lady boss dismissed him.

Atlas however didn't want to go home yet. He wants to practice his speech, but he doesn't know what to do. The customers probably labeled him as a bad egg already so he can't continue working as a waiter for this night.

He left the office.

He was about to change his clothes when an Idea flashed into his head, he can still practice his speech by helping Flint do his job!

He ran toward the entrance of the restaurant to meet Flint and him how to do his job.

"Hey, Flint! Teach me how to do your work!" Atlas immediately said after seeing Flint at the entrance

"Huh?" Flint ask in confusion he was oblivious to the incident that happened inside the restaurant because he's here busy welcoming and inviting customer. If he knew what happened, he would have talked to that old lady to help Atlas.

"Welcome Ma'am and Sir! Table for two? Let me take you to your seat!" Flint greeted the customer who seems to be a couple and take them to a vacant table by the window.

"The food here is good ma'am with an affordable price, you can tell by my size how good the food here is!" Flint said to the couple that made them laugh after Flint flaunted the restaurant using his body.

Atlas who saw this memorized all the things Flint just said to the customer, and decided to copy what Flint said. Flint who entered the restaurant with the couple has no idea about what Atlas was thinking.

A two couple arrived they will be the first target of Atlas.

'Okay relax Atlas you need to calm down and don't forget to smile like how fatty did! You better not mess this up!' Atlas reminded himself as he approached the couple.

"Welcome Ma'am and Sir! Table for two? Let me take you to your seat!" Atlas said the exact words Flint just did. He didn't stutter because it comes from his memory. The couple looked at him and nodded, he copied Flint's gesture and he invited them in.

Flint who was coming back saw Atlas guiding a couple in.

'Oh, so that's what he wants to do he should have just said so'

When Flint passes by them Atlas didn't notice him because he was trying hard to recall the second statement that Flint said to the couple.

Flint who now behind Atlas group suddenly heard something that causes him to stagger.

"The food here is good ma'am with an affordable price, you can tell by my size how good the food here is!" After Atlas said this the couple looked at his frail body. Atlas couldn't be said to be skinny but he's stature isn't something to be proud of either. Flint who heard everything doesn't know whether to cry or laugh. He immediately ran back and put his hand on top of Atlas' shoulders.

"He's joking ma'am, my friend here likes to joke around haha" Flint saved the day.

"Let me take you to your seats ma'am!" Flint offered, leaving behind Atlas who only realized his mistake after hearing Flint's saving words.

Atlas couldn't help but feel ashamed how dare he advertise their restaurant using his frail body he is looking for a beating.

Flint rushed out immediately after sending the couple to a table afraid that Atlas will use his body to advertise the restaurant again.

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