-fourteen-

Art & Design Building

"Hello, Alex Senior." Killa walked towards Alex, her senior supporter, and waited for Killa in front of the showroom. 

"Um, you're a bit late," Alex wore a light brown jumpsuit with a white T-shirt inside and a low ponytail.

"Yes," Killa accepted. She wore a tight, muted pink dress above knee length, black heel short boots, and a black leather jacket. Alex said nothing, just looked at her, waiting for something.

"I'm sorry," Killa said,

"It's okay. Mostly, people will explain after they say sorry...or give an excuse." Alex suggested.

"Oh...I was playing with a cat on the way here."

Alex decided to accept the honesty. "Shall we go inside..." Alex ended the conversation and led Killa inside the art show.

All the artworks of the students who applied here and would like to study in the Art and Design major were set up here. The ones who have a unique style and are accepted will be put and hung in the center of the showroom. The arts include every kind of painting: oil, acrylic, watercolor, and drawing.

"Wow," Killa was amazed,

"The paintings that are hanging around the wall weren't accepted." Killa paused her reaction. "The ones were accepted in the middle...which include yours," Alex explained, glanced at Killa, and tried to look at each art piece. "I like this one." Killa listened and looked at the painting. "It's Intense...it's difficult to tell what the painter is trying to say, but…" she paused, "It's intense."

"Is it better for people to know what the painter is trying to show...right after seeing it?" Killa asked,

"...it's not better, it's just the main purpose of the painter, isn't it? To explain what he or she feels through the art...to let the audience know." Killa listened, "But I think letting others try to figure out the meaning of the paintings is the best part...so they can use their brain and imagination...it's more fun that way." Alex explained to her.

"I'm glad you like it," Killa said,

Killa left the confused word to Alex and walked to another way to see other paintings. Alex leaned on that painting, which was full of red and black colors, and noticed the name of the painter.

"Killa Lysander…" Alex said, 'Wow…this girl is something else.' Alex was shocked and admired the painting and the painter.

On the way back to her apartment, the sun had already disappeared from the sky. She stopped by to play with the same cat and feed him before heading to her place, but one thing that evening differed from other evenings. She stood up and looked at the white paper on the glass window at the white café. Suddenly, she smiled, took that paper out, and rushed into the café.

Ding-Ding.

The bell noise warned people inside.

"Welcome..." The employee turned his face to Killa and noticed the paper in her hand. He knew immediately what her purpose for coming here was. 

The owner and that employee then started the interview right away. They were sitting next to each other and crossed to Killa. First, they asked about the basic stuff such as name, age, school, nationality, and so on, but the employee asked most of the time, and the owner just sat and listened. 

"Have you ever worked as a part-timer before?" The employee with blonde hair, who looked like a prince in Killa's eyes, asked her.

"No, but I used to work with...my father's business after school," Killa said,

"What kind of work did you do?" The employee asked,

"Negotiate with customers, clean the mess, assist my father's work..." Killa said the truth but not entirely,

"Negotiate? May I ask what kind of business?" The employee asked,

She tried to keep calm, "...service,"

"Ahh, so you interact with people a lot, so I bet you have communication skills…" The employee said,

Killa was silent because she knew herself in this aspect very well which was not good.

"How many languages can you speak?" The employee asked,

"4..." She lied because it might be exaggerated for them if she told the truth.

"That's so many compared to your age right now." The employee said,

'Good that I lowered the number, ' Killa thought while keeping her cool.

"Have you ever used a coffee maker before?"

"No,"

"So, can you ever make any drink?"

"No,"

"Then cashier?"

"No,"

"That...it's okay." The employee said, "Why do you want to do a part-time job?"

"I want money," Killa said,

The employee seemed to give some thought, while the other guy had a big buff body that looked like a huge bear or wolf. His dark blue hair was long and almost covered his eyes and his shoulders.

"To pay for your intuition?" The employee guessed.

"No, I got a scholarship for 4 years." Killa was being honest.

The employee was confused and curious about Killa, "...then why?"

"To pay my rent," Killa said,

"Ah, I see, but you never worked with this kind of business before. I don't think you will suit this job." The employee refused her,

"Why?" Killa asked calmly,

"Ha?" He was a little bit shocked because of her behavior. "You've never worked with a coffee machine or made any drink before, and cashier stuff, you've never done that too."

"I can learn; I'm a fast learner," Killa said,

The person who interviewed her turned his head to talk to the owner. They used sign language, but Killa didn't know its meaning.

The employee: 'I don't think she can do it.'

The bigger, more masculine person who looks like a bear-wolf seemed to be the owner: 'She can learn. I think she's quite smart.'

The employee: 'If she's evil?'

The owner: '..?'

The employee: 'Look at her; she's too pretty. She speaks bluntly, and I think she has something behind too, too much misery.' he glanced at Killa.

Killa looked at them and showed no emotion.

The owner: 'She just speaks sincerely.' A bear-wolf tried to support Killa's side.

The employee: 'If she's like the other employees who look down on you again?'

The owner: 'I don't think she's that kind of person.'

The employee: 'How do you know?'

The owner: 'Can you ask her why she wants this job?'

The employee: 'She said for money' 

The owner: 'You ask, fine. I'll ask. ' The owner seemed to know that the money wasn't the only reason.

"Can you tell me the real reason why you want this job?" the owner asked verbally, which shocked the employee who sat next to him.

'He can talk and...His voice is so deep,' Killa thought after she wondered and was confused about what they were doing back then.

"I know that you just don't need money that much. Your clothes and your looks are more expensive than this cafe." The employee frankly said to her.

"I want to have a different life," Killa said, her answer making them suspicious and confused. "I live on my own now, and I want to experience the life I've never had."

The employee: 'She speaks...indirect way.' he was even more confused and turned to do a sign to the owner again. 'Is she a serial killer? Just say no. She's kinda weird.

Killa looked at him, "And yes, because of money, too. I need to pay the rent." she said,

"Why don't you ask your family?" The employee asked. He spoke bluntly and seemed not to trust the young woman in front of him.

"We cut off each other," Killa said,

"Have you applied somewhere else?" The owner asked.

"No," then she paused, "sir,"

The dark blue hair stared at her, "Why did you choose this one?" He asked again as if he was interested in her story.

"Because of a cat," Killa said her truth again.

They were both stunned,

"Cat? I told you she's weird." The employee said it out loud.

"I take you." The owner said,

"What???!!!" Killa and that employee were stunned. "Really?" She was very happy, and her smile surprised them. After a long interview, they saw her only behaving like a robot.

"Fine," the employee surrendered. You need to tell me your school's schedule so I can arrange a time for you to be here."

"I study every day," she said,

"Ha?" The employee made a surprised noise.

"Then after school every day?" Killa suggested.

"That's too much. Don't you have to do your homework, and you have to rest too" The employee said. Let the two men watch her sit there adorably, "Just work Monday through Wednesday and Friday and Saturday. Sunday, we're closed."

"Okay," she said,

"For Monday through Wednesday, you come to work from 4 pm until 8pm, " the employee said and shifted his eyes to the owner, who was staring at her. "For Friday, too, and Saturday, you come from 10am until 2pm."

"Okay,"

"But tomorrow, you need to come early; he will teach you how to make coffee." the employee said,

"Okay, "Killa said and glanced at the bigger guy.

"Cashier, too." The employee said,

"Okay,"

"You can clean, right?" he asked,

"Yes," Killa smiled while answering.

The blonde employee breathed his air out.

Killa could go back to her room with a happy feeling. She had gotten a new job near her apartment, a place where her cute little friend was, and the employee there was very pretty, even though he was a little cruel to her.

The following day, it was time for morning class. Killa was about to enter the classroom with her tired eyes since she had been too happy all night thinking about her first day as a part-timer. She ran to class almost every day and bumped into a tall guy with pink hair. It was Daiki; he had shorter hair than he had during school. They had a small and brief conversation about her senior supporter and general stuff. 

The Café

After class, Killa went straight to the Café, whose name was plain and understandable. She then headed to the change room, where she changed her clothes into a uniform that was ready to be used.

"Hi," Killa greeted her boss, who had dark blue hair, a big body, and looked intimidating. He said nothing and stood still in front of the coffee machine. 'Oh...' Killa realized and stood next to him. The owner taught her without a word, only pointing and demonstrating to her how and what to do. 'Pick this one?' Killa said in her head, following the owner's finger. 'Pour this?' and she did as he did. 'Mix?' Killa said in her head after seeing the owner use a little spoon swirl in the cup. 'Why doesn't he just tell me...' Killa thought. 'Am I doing it wrong?' Killa was a bit confused.

After that, the owner showed Killa how to froth milk cream, and she tried to do it exactly the same way he had before. Her hand was so steady and confident, opposite to her mind; right now, she had a war in her brain. 'Am I doing it right? why didn't he say anything?' Killa thought. "Is it good?" She asked the owner after she finished her drink.

'Is it really her first time? She's surely a very fast learner,' The owner thought.

'I guess it's good then, no compliment and no scolding,' Killa thought or comforted herself.

The owner was so surprised that she could do it fast. They didn't even speak to each other after the lessons, and it was time to close the café. She cleaned everything: the dishes, cups, glasses, tables, and floors.

A week passed, and Killa started to get used to the work duties she had to do at the Cafe. But there was one thing she didn't get used to: The owner's personality. When she did something wrong, the employee named Kwan would tell her instead of the owner. Because he couldn't explain it to her or because he didn't want to talk. Killa assumed that her boss didn't like to talk much or at all. The last word that Killa heard clearly was from the interview a week ago.

Also, the look on the owner's face confused Killa, and sometimes, the owner needed to whisper in her ears when trying to explain something important. Those actions made Killa wonder if the owner might hate or dislike her work. He made the statement to her and to call him Boss instead of the owner.

Almost at closing time, Killa and Kwan started cleaning the place.

"Killa, you can go change. I'll do the rest." Kwan said,

"It's okay. I can help." Killa said,

"I said you can change..."

Kwan scarily stared at Killa, but she didn't scare him at all.

"Okay," But she surrendered to him anyway.

The employee walked toward the owner behind the cashier. "You speak with her today for more than a year combined." Kwan talked to the owner.

He said nothing.