Corruptions Are Best Exposed In The Autumn!

Chapter 6 - My Coworker Loves Black

I jumped across various puddles around the corner where my café was. It had been raining cats and dogs lately, and my umbrella was already wearing down.

It had been a week since the whole fiasco with Rin and Elias, not to mention the entrance of Lily Meyer, the girl who Elias brought into the shop for a date without realizing Rin was also there.

"I know who you are, Kai Darak. What are you doing here in this coffee shop?! Why don't you rot in a hole instead, just like your father?!"

Just thinking about the tantrum she threw in front of all the customers made my blood boil.

Loud honks filled the wet roads, and flocks of people with umbrellas paced in and out of the park nearby. Some parents were pushing baby strollers that had small umbrellas or roofs attached on top. I sighed just when I finally reached the door to Muller's Blend. It took a whole week of peaceful working for me to regain my reputation with Lora and Julian, and even among the shop's customers who recognized the "Darak" name.

Jingling!

"Hello," I greeted Lora and Julian like usual, who were behind the counter working away. My eyes darted around the shop, noticing the increase in customers occupying the tables. Perhaps it was that "coffee-under-rainy-weather" vibe that attracted more people recently. The house plants and paintings which decorated our interior also played a role. The shop was simply warm, cozy, and welcoming.

"Ah, Kai! We have a new barista with us today," said Lora, who was brewing a new batch of coffee in the pot.

Wait, what? I thought, widening my eyes at the news. I've only been here for less than two months, and they've already hired someone again?

"C'mon out and introduce yourself!" Julian hollered from the front with his gaze directed at the storage room in the back. I gulped, waiting to see who it was.

"Um, hi, nice to meet..." I reached my hand out at the person coming out, and instantly froze in shock. "Wait, it's you!"

My eyes blinked repeatedly, as if confirming the person's presence: it was none other than Lily, who crossed her arms with a wide smirk. Her hair was tied up into a ponytail, but under her apron was a plain black shirt instead of a dress like last time. Her shoes were still black, and so were her tights.

"What?" Lily answered. "What's with that weird look? I'm a new employee here, so please treat me well."

I backed up with my arms hanging out like a tree. Was her heinous act last week just a dream then?

"Wait, Lora, Julian, she's the same one who yelled at me the other day-"

"Kai," Julian interrupted with a glare across his face. His ears were visibly red. "Don't just accuse people of such nonsense. She said she's more than sorry for before and was just shocked. You do have a bad reputation, so it's easy for anyone to react the way she did."

"Also, she has a lot of experience under her belt," Lora chimed in, and I turned toward her with the same desperate expression. "She's worked at Sternbicks before and was also a waiter at a famous hotel restaurant in Febai! You ought to learn from her!"

Are you kidding me?!

"I heard you're also studying to become a doctor, right Lily?" added Julian.

"Yup!"

Lily reached out her hand for a handshake, and I accepted it while staring at her in fear. After the commotion she caused last week, she had darted out of the shop without batting an eye. Now, she was back here acting like nothing ever happened.