What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

An Old Friend

Serval weeks had passed by and I heard nothing from anyone of the Pasha family. Except Sov tryna get a girl's dinner date with me last week because the other time her son, cutie Pocutie, was a chaotic little puppy with just too much energy for us old people. 

I didn't mind it, to be honest, El being with us but then I thought about it and if a kid would run around like he's in dizzy Disneyland, it'd become trouble.

After changing my mind and deciding to let it be just us girls, us womenz, I let her know, only for her to get mountain-ed in papers due to the vacation she took. Aslan said everything was taken care of, that someone was taking her place so she could take a nice vacation with her family, but apparently, no. 

I don't know what happened, but I heard something about someone passing out in the CEO's office when work was being done. Because no one is usually let in the office, he stayed there until he woke up, leaving only to pass out between the office and outside the door. 

"Joell, someone's asking for you." I heard someone calling me and walked out of the customer's kitchen to the front. "What's up?" The employee was in my line of sight, so I couldn't see the customer. 

"He said only you know how to make his order, here." I was handed a cup before the employee went to finish other businesses. Looking up I make eye contacts with brown eyes, small lashes and a scorn face. 

"Ah, mister Jose. Here for your daily milk?" I give a smile to the angry face looking at me, an old man well in his 60s who's lived about enough, supporting his weight with a cane in a firm hold. I imagine if I were in a cartoon there'll be a droplet just next to my temple showing I'm trying as best to make his day a little better.

"Make it fast, my time has already be wasted." Sigh. 

At least you're not wasted. "Of course, sir." I write down his order on the cup and have him pay first as I sat the cup down. "How's your grandson, I believe today's his birthday." Mister Jose nodded with a proud face that's hard to be seen to the uncommon eyes; he looks rather angerier but somehow still pretty proud. 

"I can hear him talking about his grandpa, my ears are very used to the compliments 'bout you." I went ahead to make his drink, I see from what my eye caught before I turned my back to him; his posture as straight as he could position, face shining in happinesses. I chuckled at the cute behavior. 

Mister Jose isn't much of a talker, his eyes are open but they appear to be squeezed close and he rarely sounds like he enjoys being around anyone but his grandson. It was said he was most miserable ever since the passing of his wife, whose soul he always carried with her. He doesn't like getting to know people nor sticking his nose in other's business, unless it's someone he doesn't mind. Which, also, happens to be me! 

He doesn't entirely dislike me. About his wife, though, his daughter, in hopes to bring a smile back to her fathers' lips she thought to do anything but even that didn't work. Poor woman, she had issues in her marriage because they couldn't make a child happen but by miracle, further in the years, nine months later her father was smiling the largest he's ever shown of a smile! Even if it were the tiniest. 

The family lives in the city and mister Jose comes from the village every once in a while to see his grandson, if they don't drop by instead. He found this spot when looking for their home and come by ever since. I definity didn't hear this story from him. The man barely scolds me enough to even talk to me much about anything. His beautiful daughter, quite the beauty, had explained the situation to me since her dad comes by often. 

"Mister Jose, will you be staying? I have a new cake on display for customers made by customers, if you want to try? Coincidentally it's a date's cake." I turn back to him with the milk in a cup.

He looked up at the ceiling, but not with his head so high, you could get a full view of his neck, thinking to himself before nodding. "Wonderful. You go pick a seat and I'll bring you a plate." And so, he took himself to a window seat, displaying a quiet road. 

I finish with his slice and cup, putting it on a tray before getting it to him. Most customers get their order by their call but if requested to be brought to the table then that'd be so. For mister Jose, since I've known him and done it for him I tend to do what I could. That is, unless he'd rather take care of the dining himself. 

I grab a hold of his plate of the slice of date cake and hot milk with one hand while the other hand supported the tray from under with the palm of my other hand, making sure the objects hit a light thud from the impact of touching the table. 

I was ready to walk away, but his squeezed eyes met mine and his hand waved back and forth to me and him before guiding it to the chair in front of him. With no objections I slid under the table and sat down on the chair, holding the tray by the front and pressing the back to my stomach. "How's it going mister Jose-" I asked with a smile as beaming as ever. I do believe he dislikes seeing that daily. 

"You seem rather upset." He looks at me straight, his hand still holding the cane with a soft grip. My lips tighten in stunned. 

"My apologies, you've seen wrong." I looked down at the tray before looking back at him. He just stares, I just stare back.

The outside environment isn't unusually this quiet but I can't force my head to check around if that's true for today. Although, it would make sense considering mister Jose comes at times when it isn't so busy. 

I put my head down, just looking at the tray, but in my vision I don't even know what I'm looking at. I wonder if my brain just shut my vision off, or I'm unable to bring reality in check.

"I see." That was it, all I heard. I look up and see him no longer looking at me. I get up and went to put away the tray, missing what familiar thing of mine Mister Jose saw out the window.