NO ROSE WITHOUT THORN

MR. INTIMIDATING

But he who dares not grasp the thorn , Should never crave the rose.

~Anne Bronte

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"ROSALYN! Get the order from there.", Dustin tells me pointing to a specific direction as I make my way, with a menu card and a notepad.

Saturdays are always crowded here.
And so the day ends up giving us a long lasting fatigue.
As I kept the last dishes on the wash basin, I proceed to Miss. Evangeline.

There she was, in her cabin, at the back corner of our restaurant, looking through some papers.
"Ma'am, I am done with my work for today. Shall I leave!?"
"Yes of course Rosalyn. You worked alot today. I'll want you to sleep well and not study till late night."
I smiled at her, "Well I'll try to. I have my last exam the day after."
"Well dear, I know you're an intelligent girl, you'll manage. By the way, take a leave for tomorrow and study well at home. I'll send your lunch and dinner through Dustin."
I left waving a good bye at her.

Pulling Dustin by his arms, who has just finished his last piece of work, I got out of THE ELK.

Here in Manhattan, THE ELK is one of the most famous restaurant or rather I say, a cafeteria, as that was my section of work.

The streets here were generally busy and as we left the Elk, it was already around ten.
"So you aren't coming tomorrow!", I hear him sigh.
"Yeah! Miss Evangeline is so generous...but I will work overtime after this exam gets over.", I told him.
"You know you don't need to work so tirelessly. I can help you with whatever you want. Even money."
"You are too generous to offer that Dustin, but you know me well. I rarely take favours."
"I know, but I am not doing a favour, I am trying to help you.", He whined.
"I know Dustin. You know I'll definitely ask you when things go beyond my hand. But right now it's fine. The examination fee was large, but I have managed it."
"But you know you don't have to think twice anytime in future."
"I know man!", I hugged him as we were at my door, "Good night! Will meet you tomorrow when you'll officially become my delivery boy!", he laughed at this.
"Great going girl. Best of luck and yeah! Good night.", He left not before giving me a kiss on my cheek.

Dustin, was probably the nearest human being to me, presently.
He is a senior chef at the Elk, which is a very good position while I am his junior. He's rather strict as a mentor, but gentle to the same extent when it comes to friendship. Our three years old friendship.
Everyone in the restaurant thought of us as a couple, but I could never look at him, in a way more than a friend, even after he proposed me, last year.
I refused straight on his face, and the hurt he felt was well evident. Although this complicated situation we once had, we are now best friends. I would appreciate him highly that he never brought that thing he had for me, or probably still has, between our friendship.

When I entered my apartment, or say rented apartment, I wanted to do nothing but to lie on the bed and drift to sleep, straight.
But then, I had to study for a while.
So changing into a comfortable loose shirt and shorts, I went to the small kitchen, to prepare a coffee for myself.