As Kaida made her way back from Yuna's school, their recent encounter lingered in her mind, prompting her to acknowledge the truth in Yuna's words.
"She's right" Kaida admitted to herself, realizing that she had indeed overstepped her boundaries by coming to her school.
With a gentle sigh, she lifted her eyes to behold the sky, a majestic tapestry of blues that mirrored the turmoil of her emotions. The sun's radiant beams danced across her face, enveloping her in a luminous glow that infused her with a sense of serenity.
Just then, her phone rang, breaking the silence. It was Mrs. Pearce, Yuna's mother, on the other end. "Hello?" Kaida answered, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.
"Hi, how's everything going?" Mrs. Pearce asked, her tone warm.
Kaida hesitated, then revealed her concerns. "I think I might have messed up." A sigh escaped her lips as she began to recount the incident to Mrs. Pearce, who listened attentively before offering a reassuring laugh. "Is that all?... Mmm, she must have felt embarrassed. Just give her some time" she advised, her words soothing Kaida's worries.
With a sense of gratitude, Kaida replied, "Okay, Mrs. Pearce." As they wrapped up their conversation, Mrs. Pearce mentioned she had to go, but just wanted to check in.
No sooner had Mrs. Pearce hung up that another call came through. This time, it was an unfamiliar number.
"Hello?" Kaida answered, her curiosity piqued.
A weak, struggling female voice responded, "How have you been?" Kaida's expression turned to one of concern as she listened to the frail voice, her mind racing with questions.
Then, the voice changed, and another female speaker greeted her, "Hello, Sis." After a brief conversation, Kaida's sense of worry deepened. She looked around, her eyes landing on a newly built cafe with a sign that read, "Now Hiring."
Kaida pushed open the door, and the cheerful chime of the doorbell announced her arrival. As she stepped inside, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped her, invigorating her senses. A tall, friendly male staff member approached her with a warm smile. "Hi, and welcome to Arc Arcade and Cafe! What can I get for you?"
Kaida pointed to the "Now Hiring" poster on the window. "I'm here to apply for the job."
The staff member nodded and escorted her to a desk, where a woman in her mid-30s sat with her legs crossed on top of a table. She leaned back on the chair, her body language conveying a sense of listlessness savoring the moment of idle relaxation. She had her eyes closed and her face wore a look of indifference, her features drained from any spark of enthusiasm.
"It's a night shift. Are you up for it?" she asked bluntly.
Kaida took a moment to consider the question before responding, "Yes, I am."
The woman nodded lazily. "Great, you're hired." She called out, "Hey Park!" and the male staff member reappeared, seemingly frustrated. "It's Parker, not Park. You can't be so loud there are—" However, he trailed off when he realized the woman wasn't paying attention to him, instead focusing on cleaning her ears. He hid his frustration and responded, "Yes, ma'am."
The woman instructed, "Give her the uniform. She'll start tonight's shift."
Parker nodded and led Kaida to the employees' backdoor, handing her the uniform.
"Right this way," he said, his tone polite despite the earlier frustration.
*******