Chapter 1

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In a small apartment complex, there's a woman with an undercut hair as black as the night, with her eyes' color like blood, sitting on her couch, eating breakfast.

"Another issue of assassination, huh..."

The news is about leaders getting threats from armed civilians. Threatening them to give funds for the people in the slums.

"People are dying and yet people aren't doing anything..." She carries her dishes into the sink, sulking.

She returned to her seat to watch more news when,

"Arete!"

She choked and hit her chest to breathe. After that, she immediately stood up from her seat and took care of herself. She works as a waitress in a famous restaurant in their area. Her friend waited for 20 minutes outside before speaking again.

"Arete, we will be late for our work!" Her friend shouted at her door.

She didn't answer and continued drying her hair.

"Arete!"

"Come in." She said simply.

Her friend immediately opened the door and entered with bread. She smiled at Arete and waved the bread, "I bought it for us!"

Arete gave her friend an extra key so that if something happened to her, people wouldn't have a hard time helping her.

"Mio, you are making noise." She glared at her.

"It's always quiet here in your house! And stop glaring at me, I'm making a point."

Arete. That's just her name. She requested to remove her family name when she was able to save enough money. She is 22 years old. She grew up in an orphanage. When she was young, some people came to their house. They are called social workers. Arete, who was sitting on the floor, next to her mother who had passed away, asked the people what they needed. The people were so shocked by what they saw, they couldn't answer the child's question. One of the social workers knelt in front of Arete, saying that her mother was gone and someone reported a foul smell coming from their house. They were concerned about the child since there's a rumor surrounding Arete's family. The girl turned to her mother and hugged her tightly because she knew she had to go with the social workers.

Mio became her friend at the orphanage. Her parents also died and that was the way for them to meet and talk. They attended the same school. They both dreamed of working together in the same place. When they grew up, Arete decided to separate from Mio. Her friend respected it, but when they saw each other on their first day at work, they knew it's fate.

"That's the point. There is peace here."

"It's hard to be alone all the time."

"..."

What happens in her work is normal. It is up to the customers to leave a tip for the waiter and waitress. She doesn't even force them to be loyal customers because the place she works is not safe and comfortable. Her bosses are rotten up to the core.

"ARETE, ARE YOU LISTENING?!" Her boss shouted.

She nodded, "I use my hearing to hear you and this is one of my roles as a waitress so I don't look stupid when customers ask me questions."

The restaurant had an emergency meeting after the inspector closed it on suspicion of not being a clean and safe environment for people especially children and women. Arete knew that this day would come because the managers and their bosses always put aside the complaints from the security guards, waiters, and their loyal customers.

Meetings are usually about reducing or adding a dish displayed on their menu. They are also informed of changes in schedules if an employee leaves the job.

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