Training (3)

"It's getting dark so we will continue this starting tomorrow. Get some rest until then."

She shut the door and left me lying down in the garden as I tried to grab one of the stars in the sky.

"Okay effort, huh?"

I laugh as I cover my eyes with my right-arm.

"Well.. let's check the time."

Huh?

18:27??

'Oh crap.'

I had half an hour left till my shift.

「 You have logged out from the account 'Xela' 」

My eyes opened and I look at the ceiling.

My body rushed out of the Pod and I quickly get dressed into my work uniform.

"Shit..!"

I run into the kitchen and grab a snack bar.

Munch—

I chewed on it as I ran out.

"Alex? I thought you had already left for work? Why are you so late?"

My sister asked, surprised as I had never left this late. My usual time would normally be fifteen minutes earlier.

"Sorry, I'll tell you later!"

I ran out the door and dashed.

* * *

I ran towards a fast-food restaurants entrance and walked in.

I checked my watch and it was already six minutes late.

'I better hurry up..'

My feet hurried and I hung up my jacket on the hanger.

"Alex?"

A voice told behind my back.

I spun to look at them.

It was my co-worker, Helen.

"Oh, hello."

"Hello? Alex, I'm just shocked. You're usually never this late, in fact, you arrive before the shift even starts."

She looked concerned.

"No, it's just that I was playing Aeconia Online."

"Oh, so you finally saved up for it? I also play it, so we can play together some other time.."

The black-hair and red eye woman stared to the side while asking me.

"Oh, sure. Just tell me when-"

But before I could reply, I saw my manager being shouted at by a customer.

"How can you possibly allow a bug to be in my meal? I demand a refund!"

A man wearing a cap and leather jacket sat in his chair and pointed at the spider next to his burger.

"We're terribly sorry for our service. We will compensate you with another meal-"

"I don't want another meal! My appetite is gone. I want my money back!"

He spoke incredibly rudely to my manager.

My fists were clenched and I calmly spoke to him.

"Sir, you are disturbing the other customers. I will refund you completely, please leave."

I smiled at him in a respectful manner.

He stared at my eyes for a few seconds before speaking,

"No.."

His lips curled into a grin.

"How about i post this to the internet or.. you give me double the refund?"

"..."

I tossed away my kind way of speaking, and switched to a more stern manner.

"Sir, this is your last chance. Please take the normal refund amount or leave."

The manager's eyes trembled and placed his hand on my shoulder. He accepted defeat.

However.

"No, I will not~, haha-"

[How about I post this to the internet or.. you give me the refund?]

I played a recording of his voice.

His eyes widened at what I just did.

"Blackmailing is an ever worse offense, sir. I wonder if the police will take your side this time-"

"You're also blackmailing me you bastard!-"

"Am I? I don't recall anything that I said doing that.."

I stared into his eyes, with no hint of fear.

"K..hukk.."

He looked to the floor and took the money, leaving the store.

Defeated.