Fated Escape

Chapter Four

Pon rushed through the door of the cafe, fully aware of how badly he'd messed up by being over an hour late. He barely caught his breath before the owner, arms crossed and scowling, stormed over.

"Pon! This is completely unacceptable!" she snapped, her voice carrying above the usual hum of the cafe. "Do you have any idea how many customers we've had to serve without you?"

Pon swallowed hard, a wave of frustration welling up inside him. If only he could explain what happened, why he'd been delayed, but he knew it would fall on deaf ears. Instead, he just nodded, muttering an apology he knew wouldn't change a thing.

"Tomorrow will be your last day," she continued, her tone unyielding. "You can finish your shift today, but that's it. I need someone reliable."

Pon clenched his fists, feeling a mixture of anger and helplessness. Yes, he was late, but he had a reason. The memory of Silas's small fingers wrapped around his pinky replayed in his mind, and despite the frustration, he couldn't regret staying for the child. But now, he was facing the fallout, and all he could do was lower his head and mutter, "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to put anyone in a bad position."

The owner huffed, clearly unsatisfied, before walking off to handle the crowd. Pon could only swallow his frustration and throw on his apron, silently praying to get through the shift without another incident.

Pon let out a tired sigh, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on him as he packed up his things. Aon leaned against the locker next to him, clearly still fuming.

"If she was fair, she'd understand! You have to be one of the best workers here, and one late day shouldn't mean she fires you," Aon said, crossing his arms with a huff. "Honestly, if I didn't need this paycheck, I'd have quit ages ago."

Pon managed a small smile, appreciating Aon's loyalty. "I know, Nong Aon, but it's still her business, and we do need to respect her decision. I'm the one who messed up today, even if I had my reasons."

Aon rolled his eyes, clearly not swayed. "You're too nice, Phi Pon. I'd at least argue a little. Now you'll have to go job hunting, and you shouldn't have to."

Pon bit his lip, his mind already spinning with worry. Losing this job wasn't just inconvenient—it was a blow. He had bills and his other responsibilities stacked on his shoulders, and this cafe job had been one of the few consistent sources of income.

"I'll figure it out," Pon said quietly, trying to reassure himself as much as Aon. "I'll find something else; I have to."

Just as they were about to leave, Aon turned to him with a serious expression. "Listen, Phi, if you need any help or if there's anything I can do, just let me know. It's not fair that you have to carry so much on your own."

Pon's heart warmed at Aon's words, and he gave him a grateful nod. "Thank you, Nong Aon. I really appreciate it. Just having someone here who gets it... it helps."

As they left the cafe, Pon was still anxious, but a small part of him felt lighter, knowing he didn't have to face it all alone.

Pavel's jaw dropped, his hands pausing mid-tune as he tuned his guitar for their gig. "They fired you? Seriously, that's insane! You're, like, the most reliable person I know!"

Pon laughed softly, trying to brush it off. "It's not that big of a deal. I was an hour late, so I can't blame her. But yeah, the cafe's done. I'm just hoping I can find something else before the end of the month."

Pavel shook his head, still baffled. "It's her loss, that's all I'll say. But yeah, actually, let me think. I know a couple places that are hiring. One's a bit far out, but the pay's decent." He started running through possibilities, still sounding riled up. "What about something with better hours, though? You already have a ton going on with the day care, and I know that keeps you busy."