Hear Me Out

4: Am I Worth It

"Ash, someone left this for you," Mary, the girl at customer service, called my attention.

She handed me the iced coffee and the mcchicken.

"From who?" I asked.

"She didn't leave any of her info. She said she just owed you one," she replied.

"Oh, thanks," I smiled and went outside.

I wonder who was it from. I took a picture of it as I waited for my dad to pick me up at the parking lot.

I sent the picture to the group chat, "did any of you leave this?"

Leona replied, "I can't even buy myself food these days."

Taylor said, "same."

Ella was being delusional and said, "another admirer? That's twice in a month."

I was overwhelmed, curious and grateful. At the same time I was hoping that its Mich. But it was impossible that its her. She knows what I would get at McDonalds and she would never put this much effort.

The week after that, my manager called me out to check on the bulletin board. I got a praise from a customer and said that I was doing a good job at work. Mary also grabbed my attention and gave me another meal from McDonalds. I asked her to do me a favour, and even though it wasn't allowed for us to bring our devices at the work floor, she made an exception. I asked her to take a picture of the girl so I could at least pay her back for her efforts and say that I appreciate what she's been doing.

On the way home, I told my dad what was happening at work.

"You touched her heart," he teased.

"I don't even know her and I didn't even have a single conversation to any of the customers this past few weeks. All I do is smile!"

"You do have a great smile. Maybe its love at first sight," he smirked.

"With this face? No way. Impossible," I said.

"Impossible means I'm possible," he joked.

"Tell me more dad," I sighed and continued, "I feel like I owe her now, and I dont like that."

"Well, she did it with her own free will. Owing isn't that bad too."

My phone buzzed, I answered and asked, "Hi, who's this?"

"Its Mary, from work. I got her picture from the security," she calmly said.

"Security?" I was shocked.

"Don't worry. The person who works at the security is my friend. Its kind of risky to take pictures of her so I'm just going to send you this one," she explained.

"That's true. I don't know if we're breaking any rules but thanks. I appreciate it," I said.

"Its nothing. I'll show it to you tomorrow."

I laid in bed, wondering what she looks like and how in the world would I tackle this kind of stuff. It was making me nervous and anxious, how I have no idea of what's happening. I know that I vowed that I would have more self-confidence but still, I have the same friends since elementary. How would I communicate when I have no idea of who she is.

I decided to buy my lunch at McDonalds in Walmart, since I haven't had any coffee too since this morning. I seriously can't miss drinking coffee, its a 3x per day ritual.

My phone buzzed and it was a notification from Everwing. The quest was completed and it would be a waste if I don't do it again. I was on my phone when my peripheral vision commanded me to immediately stop because I was going to bump to someone. I immediately looked up and we both apologized at the same time.

"Its you," I mouthed.

She just smiled at me, the girl from the bus. Then I realized how I never messaged her and this made me anxious.

"Sorry if I haven't messaged you. I kind of forgot," I explained.

"Its okay," she smiled.

"Sorry again but I have to go. Its just my lunch break."

"You don't have to say sorry."

I just smiled at her and immediately walked away. No matter how I've been faking that I enjoy talking to people, I'm still not used to it. It drains me so much.

The back door where I was leaning suddenly opened and pushed me away from it. I had to pull myself together real quick before they notice that I almost choked and tripped.

"Ash... what are you doing here?" Mary asked.

"I was just eating my lunch," I casually replied.

She took out a cigarette and lighted it in front of me. She exhaled the smoke through her nose and asked, "the girl, you know her?"

"Which girl?" I sounded lost.

"The girl you were talking to."

"Oh, not really. I talked to her once," I recalled.

"Well, I was going to show you the picture but that's the girl."

"What girl? Sorry, I'm kind of slow with processing things sometimes," I was confused.

"The mysterious McDick's girl."

"Oh," It took me a minute to process the information and continued, "is it okay if you tell my manager that I have diarrhea and just need an extra 10 minutes in the washroom?"

"Diarrhea. Okay," she laughed and agreed.

As I was about to run like I'm in the zombie apocalypse, my eyes suddenly saw her walking out of the grocery store where I was working. She was still holding the paper bag and iced coffee on her hand.

I walked up to her and joked, "is it for me?"

She looked at me, shocked and speechless.

I pointed the food that she was holding and said, "thank you. Now I owe you more."

"You don't owe me anything," she panicked.