Rising Stars

XVII - A Decision

"Letting go is the most painful part of changing."

- Unknown

October 1st, 2020

"Jae, table three needs another order of Pirao Pork, and an extra set of silverware," Jinx said as she walked past him. Her brow was furrowed, her gaze focused, and her bright blue hair kept in a high and tight bun.

I paused. "Wait, another set of silverware? I thought there were only five of them."

Jinx shrugged. "Ask Ori." She tapped her wristwatch. "I'm on break for fifteen."

"Jinx—"

She spun on her heel and waved at him. "Technically not at work right now!" She announced, her blue bun bobbing along with her steps.

I let out a deep sigh. What I would give to have a break right now. I wrote down the extra order of Pirao Pork on a piece of scratch paper, tore it off my notebook, and hung it up in the kitchen. "Pirao Pork to table three," I said to Kayn, adjusting the position of my mask. "How long?"

Kayn managed to hear me perfectly, even through all of the raucous in the kitchen. He glanced up at the clock, then his table, and then at me. "Gonna need another fifteen." He gave an affirmative nod.

Despite the business of working at the Grand Vastaya, it was incredibly fulfilling, even if I was five years into working here. Everything from the environment, to the pay, and especially the people— my coworkers specifically— made it all the more bearable.

The rest of the night went smoothly, the customers at table three all tipped well, something that I'm certain Jinx would be happy about. Everyone gathered in the middle of the floor as we prepared to put up all of the chairs and make sure the restaurant was ready to open for tomorrow.

"So, Jinx," Xayah said while wiping down the table. "You're graduating this year. Any idea what you're gonna do after?"

The blue-haired girl— though, she was a woman now, I supposed— shrugged. It was still strange to not see Jinx with her signature twin-tails and that manic look in her eye. Over the course of the last two months, her personality had been far more tame than the Jinx that I was used to. Of course, she still had her moments of forgetfulness or rebellion, but she seemed more and more professional by the day.

"Not sure," Jinx replied. "I do know that I'm going out of state though."

"That is rather surprising, Jinx," Ori commented.

"Really? Why?"

"You seem comfortable here." Ori smiled. "If it were me, I would like to stay where I am most comfortable and never leave."

"Well, that's just the difference between you and me." Jinx, even through the mask that covered half of her face, noticeably grinned. "I like being a little bit uncomfortable."

Orianna hummed, a finger resting on her chin. "I see."

"It's good that you're broadening your horizons," Rakan added. "But we're gonna miss you over here."

"You won't miss me too much," Jinx said. "Who knows, you might forget about me in a year."

Xayah looked absolutely offended. "We would never!"

Rakan tilted his head in Xayah's direction. "What she said."

Jinx scratched the side of her face with a finger. "Well, it's not like I'm leaving right now. I still have until next June."

Rakan turned to me. "How about you, Jae?"

"Wh-what about me?"

"How's your music stuff going? Make any huge hits lately?"