The Donut Shop

Una - First: Elise

8:04am, Friday

"Good morning Grace, good morning Caren!"

"Good morning to you, Elise." Grace greeted back. What's with Caren? She's sort of having a bad mood today. I wonder if Grace caught her smoking again. Poor lungs.

"Good morning, Caren!" I repeated. Caren just gave me a glare and walks away towards her table. Jeez, this kid has issues.

Grace Chiu, the owner of the donut shop really just named her shop, "The Donut Shop." Get it? LITERALLY SELLS DONUT. No? Okay. Nevermind.

The donuts that Grace makes are actually passed down by her grandmother, then to her mother. That's why it's quite famous in the local city. I asked Grace once if she likes the idea of putting her recipe up there. You know, not just in the local city but also outside. She never considered it. Grace is just happy about how her customers loving the donuts here in Zamboanga. Once she said, "When my husband died that day, Caren was born. I actually felt little pain. Don't get me wrong, I really love my husband. But when I was alone in the hospital bed, holding this beautiful angel on my arms, I felt responsible. It may sound a bit odd, I was actually happy that day despite the death of my husband. Maybe because he was a soldier that I was already preparing myself with such news, but my daughter, Caren, she's everything to me. She's part of me, every being of my soul. She's my light and she gives me hope. Not just to be a better person, but to be a better mother to her. So if you're asking me about reconsidering about The Donut Shop, I guess, I am contented. Specially the regular customers I see everyday who also have different lives, different stories and different experiences, but still managed to come and buy donuts for themselves and for their family. Gosh! Elise! It gives me the warmest feeling."

And from that day onwards, I actually felt what Grace felt, that's why I stayed as a waitress here. She's an inspiration, like a parent I never had.

"Hey, Elise. Uhmmm... I'm sorry... You know, a while ago. I was just in a bad mood." Caren popped out of nowhere. "Omg Caren! Ma hart! You scared me."

"I was just trying to say sorry, bitch! I take it back!"

"Hey hey, don't mind me okay? You know I'm always jumpy."

"Yeah, I know." And Caren suddenly burst into laughter. This kiddo is weird. Nah, I still love her.

And I started to laugh with her too. We were laughing and laughing until suddenly she just stopped and frowned. "Caren, did Grace catch you again?" I asked.

"Heeeey, how d'you know that?! Did mother try to ask for your help again? Huh? Did she asked you to talk to me about quitting smoking?!"

"She didn't. I actually just overheard you the other day, when I was closing the shop during my night shift. Hello? You were shouting at Grace, so I can really hear you loud and clear." I said in a possibly sarcastic way.

"Oh. Oh god, I'm really sorry. I just... Mom just doesn't understand you know? She just keeps telling me that I should not smoke or I'm wasting money or I'm killing myself with it. You know how smoking works, you've been there. Mom keeps comparing me to you. How you've overcome it and all." I can clearly hear the long sighs Caren is letting go. At least that's out from her system.

"You know Caren, let's go out later tonight? After my shift. 7pm? Its that okay with you? Lets bond and just talk and half fun."

"Well, okay. Today's friday, so I don't have class. Thank you, Elise, despite of me being a bitch sometimes." Caren gave a light laugh, lightening the mood.

"Your welcome Caren, you know you're already like a sister to me. And I've been working at your shop for 6 years. I kinda used to it. 7pm okay? Wait for me outside your shop."

"Okay. See you." Then Caren just walked out leaving her donut from her table untouched.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4:43pm, Friday

It's already afternoon and customers come and go. Jeez. I never felt this tired in my entire 6 years of working here. Maybe it's just the afternoon heat that the global warming is bringing. Why am I talking about global warming anyway? Wake up, Elise.

I've been also wondering, why is there a long haired guy, more thin than me, and kinda looks like Japanese, sitting from the very corner of that small lonely table? He's actually a new face. I've never seen him before. He's just sitting there for almost an hour and a half already. Scribbling at his little journal. My gosssh. I'm a very curious person. Let me try something.

I told Lily to take charge of #17's order and I approached the guy.

"Good Afternoon sir, have you already chosen a donut meal?"

"No. I don't want to." He answered dejectedly.

"Sir, I can recommend you our bestseller? Our very own Powdered Cinnamon Donut Cake, paired with a Mocha Latte specialized with ground coffee beans. Also our very own Classic Glazed Cruller, paired with a Regular coffee with or without cream."

"I said, No. Are you deaf?"

Oh... His giving me the "I'm cool but don't talk to me and don't come near me" vibe. "No sir, I'm not." Answering him as nice as possible because I can't be rude to a customer even if they're rude to me, and also because I'm a nice person and I don't want him ruining my niceness. If "niceness" was even a word.

So I left him there. Alone in his own bubble. I saw him ripping something from his journal and shove it from his left jean pocket. I went to table #9. A group of teenagers with their dates, looking at the menu. "Good Afternoon ladies and gentlemen, what are your chosen meals?"

*Clink! Clink! Clink!* The bell from the door abruptly slammed. That Japanese guy from table #23. My my so rude, he didn't even ordered anything and just occupied the space.

"Miss? Miss? Miss!" Shouted the rough voiced boy trying to look tough. "Oh! I'm sorry sir! Have you chosen a meal?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi! Everyone! I hope you'd like the first one. If there are faulty grammars, bear with me okay? The genre of my short story is actually, RomCom/Mystery. I just love mysteries. <3 I hope you'll keep up with my story. Thank you so much! <3