started: June 22
Irene Park, a stunningly beautiful girl, transfers to J high with her twin brother, Daniel. As they move, Daniel turns out to have a new body, forcing the twins to adjust to their new life with an unexpected new body. Irene ma...
I walk into work with a big, fat grin stretching across my face, my cheeks aching from the prolonged smile. The restaurant is quieter than usual, with more empty tables than occupied ones. Mika spots me from across the room and waves, her smile warm and inviting. As I make my way to the back, my heart lifts at the sight of Jose behind the bar, wiping down bottles under the glow of neon lights.
"Hello, Irene," he greets me, his voice soft and comforting.
"Hi, how are you?" I ask as he walks over, pressing a folder to the electronic pin pad. I enter my code—BTS's 134340. When Lu asked why I chose that number, I fibbed and said it was random, but in truth, I love that song.
"I'm good. You got home safe last night?" he asks, continuing to wipe the counters with his damp rag.
"Yes, I did," I reply, tapping the screen and logging myself in before tying my waitress band around my waist. With that done, I find myself at a loss, unsure of where Lu is or what to do next. Jose and I make small talk, but I start to grow restless, fearing that Lu will appear and scold me for standing idle.
Leaving Jose, I head to the front of the restaurant, acutely aware of the eyes following me. As I pass by the tables, I catch people swiveling their heads to stare. I can't help but wonder what they think of me, despite knowing it shouldn't matter. I speculate about their judgments and their perceptions. As unhealthy as this mindset is, a part of me has conformed to society's harsh standards of beauty for women, always feeling the weight of those expectations.
"Your name is Irene, right?" Mika asks, her voice low and shy. She seems timid, almost hesitant. I smile and nod, trying to mask my shyness and awkwardness. Being around new people is always hard for me. I never know if they want to chat or what kind of mood they're in.
"And yours was?" I ask, even though I already know.
"Mika," she replies with a slow nod. I nod too but purse my lips in a tight awkwardly. I have nothing to say to continue the conversation. The awkward tension between us is palpable. I notice how different she is from Charlotte. Being quiet isn't a bad thing, but it does make time drag. I'm quite myself, so it wouldn't be fair to expect her to be any different.
