Vacation

Departing

And so, I wasted no time in getting dressed for what could be my last week for work. I called in to talked to my manager that I'm requesting an entire month off. Of course, it was busy over there so I had to discuss it when I arrive there instead.

"Oh gawd..." I complained. "Why must today be a busy day? It's Wednesday! They're never busy!"

I peeked out my window and just stared at my yard. Thoughts filled my head. Like will my house be alright with my absence? What if someone important comes by and I wasn't there? I shook my head.

"No. Everything will just be fine. If it does, then so be it. I deserve this and I won't let it slip through my hands."

I took the catalog and searched for the inn's number. I want to make sure I get a room there without any problems and get a reservation there. I heard a voice. So cheery. So upbeat. I can practically envision the person smile through the phone like he was eager and very glad to speak to me.

"Thank you for calling Ooshima's Inn! This is Torahiko speaking. How may I help you?"

"Uh, yes, Torahiko. I'm calling to see if I can place a reservation at your inn." I began to smile. It was involuntary. He made me feel so important. The tone is his voice was so...perfect.

"Of course, sir! What days should we be expecting you?"

"I'll be staying for thirty days starting Monday next week, if that's not a problem."

"It definitely won't be a problem, sir. I can guarantee it."

"Thank you so much! I look forward to seeing you in person, Torahiko. "

"And we look forward to seeing you too! Thank you for choosing Ooshima's Inn as your getaway!"

The call ended. Those five minutes was pure heaven. I haven't realized that a phone call could make a person so alive! Well I guess it should if all I ever was doing was just picking up phones to hear angry customers complaining about their food or repeatedly asking them to speak up because I can never hear them. Speaking of which, it's time for me to go to work...

I sighed. "I must get over all this. I've been working there for eight months. Nothing new is going on." I convince myself that today won't be as hectic as I think it would be. It'll be slow once I'm there, after an hour it picks up, and during the last hours I'll stress to clean everything and finally leave. Hopefully they'll let me leave early.

I get in my car and head out to my workplace, which is about ten minutes away from where I live. What a surprise. There are barely any people here. This makes it easy for me. I totally forgot that today is Wednesday, that means it was a buffet day, which explains why it sounded so busy over the phone. I walk in with the biggest grin on my face.

"Hey, does anyone know where Matthew is?" I asked the crew and I should have guessed that he is in the back room like always. First, I clocked in before I do anything else and strolled pass through the dining room. There I saw Matthew, a heavyweight mid aged man. He is balding just a bit but he's wearing his fancy chef uniform. In all honesty, I think that makes him look cute...well I think he's cute in general. The way he's been interacting with me and how he behaves around certain situations put that kind of influence on me. I feel ashamed that I have a little crush on my boss, but I'll get over it. He looked at me with a smile, those eyes are always telling me he is in a great mood. And there he spoke....

"No, you can't go on you're vacation." He exclaimed, trying to have a serious look.

"Wait...what? How did you know already!?" I looked shocked by how fast the news spread.

"I'm the district manager, of course I know these things." Again, he smiled.

"Seriously, who told you? And why can't I go?" I whined slightly, my force of habit to get things what I want jokingly.

"Why do you want to leave? Is this not good enough for you? Shouldn't this place be the vacation when you're home?" He came back at me.

"Matthew! Tell me! Please! I want to go!" I whined more.

He let out chuckle and by the looks in his eyes, he's thinking about how cute I am, but those are just my thoughts. He finally told me that it was the person I spoked to on the phone that told him about it. He also decided that I can call off today and come back on Friday to get my check. After that, I'm free to escapes into Minasato. I was ecstatic. I felt like a kid and held out my arms to him.

"Don't hug me." Matthew said rejecting my offer.

"Come on. It's just a hug. You like hugs." I persuaded him.

"I don't care, don't hug me." He just stood there, planning something.

I went against his orders and embraced the fluffy marshmallow. I don't know why, but I enjoy the living hell out of hugging him. And then I expect one of two things that could happen: he pokes my sides and I instantly release him OR he hugs back, thus cracking my back.

It looks like he was going for the back cracking....or so I thought. He held me close for a while. It was a warm heartfelt hug, something I never thought Matthew would do to me.

"Take care, Kai. I'll miss you..." he spoke softly.

"Aww! Matthew!" I replied to such a sweet thing to say.

"Well we will. You're a great worker." He said, releasing me.

Wait...we? Well WE will? Did my mind play tricks on me and hear that HE will miss me or did he slip up and try to cover it up?

"I can't be that good. I've made some mistakes just like everyone else." I tried to give myself less credibility than I deserve.

"But you call in ahead of time to let us know you'll be late. You ask questions before doing something. You know almost every shift here. You don't cause trouble for anybody. I could say that you're better than almost everyone here." Matthew listed the things he appreciate the things I do.

"Really? I never thought that was important." I refused to take credit for more than what I deserve.

"And that's why you are one of the best workers here. You never complain about anything and you do your job. You deserve a vacation. Why don't you start a bit early? I'll still put you in as full days until Friday."

"!!! Really!? You're kidding!" My eyes widen and focused at his face, waiting for to admit that it's a joke.

"You're still here? I'm sure you would've left by now." He said as if he was planning on changing his mind. So I hugged him tightly and for a split second I thought I could kiss him but I held myself back. I released him and headed out, waving to everyone; saying farewell and vowing I'll come back.