What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Welcome A Young Man

"I like rainy days like these," one of my employees interrupted my thoughts by talking to me. 

We were both sitting by the window with, among other customers, and just drinking tea. I nodded, the cup fully wrapped in my hand, as I stared out the window at the floor. The drops were jumping on it so beautifully. 

"Mena, are you in a relationship?" I ask, turning to her when I see her on her phone, typing away with a happy expression. She stares at her phone, her smile shrinking before she sets it down and turns to me, resting her head on one of her hands, drawing me in. 

She smiled a little wider, but her teeth didn't appear to show; she shook her head with a laugh barely heard. "No." Her eyes tiredly loomed as she rotated her head to the left, still resting on her head but staring at the plant outside being drenched with rain. She sighed, her expression showing there's more to what she said.

"I have a niece at home, she's just about ten, but listens well. I had a long relationship with..." I can't see her eyes, but they seem sad; the entertainment around us not fitting in. 

"I think we loved each other a lot." She turned back to me. 

"I loved him a lot, I still do because," her eyes come off glossy. Is she yielding for a hug? 

"If I had respect for myself, I wouldn't allow myself to be led on like this." She looked down at her phone, notifications just interfering with her day. I think she's been trying to stay calm and collected. I nodded, but she still stared at the back of her phone. I blew the steam from my tea as my eyes roamed the view that the window had access of showing.

Looking to the right, head not moving, just with my eyes. I see a young man trembling in the cold. I looked back at the non-stop notifications. She seems exhausted and tired. I don't think she can hear how loud and annoying it's gotten. I looked back at my cup before setting it down, patting her on the back. She raised her head, following my character as I stood up and got an umbrella. Handing it to her, I pointed out the young man who hadn't moved a step.

"Can you please help bring that young man here?" She looked at her phone, but I let her know I'll keep an eye on it. After a bit of reassuring, she finally went, the cold wind and some spark of water entered the warm café, but it didn't affect us too much. 

When she came back, I directed them both to an extra room I had kept with a bed, clothes, and necessary stuff needed for emergencies and poo-oohs. The poor guy was shivering so badly, his lips had almost gone blue. 

"He's sure to catch a cold." Mena shook her head when she made the comment, checking his temperature. 

She's become a mother, if not a big sister, to her niece, so while there was no one to care for, not even herself, she didn't bother with learning anything until the burden of a child was dropped on her. She looked online and asked around, learning things here and there; knowing that, I let her take care of this young man. Poor guy looked like he struggled and might've put up a fight before coming here; he's very conscious and keeps looking around. 

Standing back at the entrance of the room, I watched as Mena soothed the young man. He looked about 20 or so, maybe even around Mena's age? She let me know that she'll take it from here, and so I went out of the room and closed the door, leaving it open by a crack. We need not traumatize him by being alone with a stranger. 

"Today's nicer than usual, in defiance of the hard rainy season." Chit-chats were coming from the customer's kitchen area; it is indeed lively and not gloomy. 

Before I had the idea to get back to work with my thoughts when I was greeted by some welcoming, happy greetings, motioning for me to join them. And so, I did.

Looking around, I see a young girl learning to bake, and a new friend that she's made here is helping her with decorations; they're laughing and focusing hard. 

The person who called me over wanted me to check on their pastry. It's a beautiful velvet cake, shaped into an outstanding flower. He was just done, everyone tuned in and was awed at him and his partner, who just finished it. Both boys blushed in the flood of compliments. 

A camera was given to them to take photos of the cake from any angle, with the background screen in the back of the room, to edit and put on the wall. 

Since they make their own pastries here, with their consent, whether they wish to set it by the window as a display, have it sold, or if they want to take it home, will be up to them. The cake they make to sell, that sells, will be their money. They can also keep themselves a piece if they want and sell the rest. But, of course, the price is bargained with the owner, me, and the one who made it when they wish to sell it.

"Joell." I looked around until I found the voice that called for me, Mena, motioning for me to come, so I went with her. Back in the guest room, the young man had fallen asleep and seemed to be in much better condition. 

"He took a shower, ate, finally, and seemed to have fallen asleep." Mena pointed at him with her eyes, making me look back at him. When Mena and I end up looking at each other afterwards, we both understand what was said without words. 

So, what do we do with him after he gets better?