Her Hope

Chapter 18

The sound of the clattering plates around me made me feel as if the last few days didn't happen at all, yet there was a shift in the atmosphere of the restaurant. You could say that it became more friendly now that Mr Smith and I nearly overcame our differences after our chat yesterday.

I'm not going to deny that when my alarm rang this morning, I was feeling really hesitant about whether I should go back to the restaurant or not, but I quickly forced myself to get out of bed and walk over to the restaurant because not returning would affect my future since I don't really have any other source of income. However, when I arrived at the restaurant, I was greeted with Mr Smith and the chef normally instead of things being awkward and tensed which made me adjust back to how things always were. And, when Lana came for her shift, she quickly gave me a hug then we continued on like we always do with me taking the customer's orders and her standing at the cashier gossiping about the clueless innocent customers into my ear each time I come to give her an order.

We just went back to our everyday routine, and I loved every moment of it. I never really noticed how much I enjoyed working at the restaurant until I couldn't anymore. So, that's why I decided that I'll make every second I spend in this restaurant count. Actually, getting fired from this place once taught me that I should enjoy every moment I live, for life is too short, and in the blink of the eye, everything could turn around one eighty degree.

I now know that I've been living miserable days when I should, in fact, be living the best days of my life at this age. Ever since I've been born, I've spent all my life in sorrow being punished for minimal things, and now, there's no one to judge me or control me, so why am I living in a brutal endless circle of misery when I could make everything around me better by simply being happy? Maybe, I've just been living life the wrong way, and maybe, all I truly need is someone who could teach me how to live life differently, to live a carefree jovial life. But, I can't exactly go around in the streets asking people if they'd teach me how to live life happily, so I'll just settle with trying to look at the brighter side instead of the dim side that I've gotten used to.

With me serving people as I always do, and with those thoughts constantly running through my mind, my first day back at work seemed to pass by swiftly which is actually a good thing since I really longed to go home and study my books peacefully in my bed. So, the moment the hands of the clock pointed towards the six, I was out of the door without a second thought after getting my tips, and on my way to the home, I kept recalling all the information I've read yesterday while making a promise to myself that I'd go to the library on my day off to broaden my sources of information.
This, studying, is what I truly enjoy doing which would probably be weird in any other person's point of view, but the thing is that I've been dragged down all my life being told that I'd never succeed at anything, so this is my chance to prove them wrong and prove to myself that I can do anything I want to do.

Reaching the building I live in, I quickly make my way up the stairs before opening the apartment's door and rushing towards my room; however, I quickly backtrack when I see Maya sitting in our living room with countless bags of junk food and half empty boxes of pizza surrounding her. And, for a moment, I wonder how she managed to eat all that food without somehow getting sick. She's really weird, but it's not really important because she's an amazing person, and I certainly didn't forget how she helped me when I got fired from the restaurant.

"What are you doing?" I ask her bluntly.

"Oh, hi Leila. I was planning on having a girls night for when you guys came back, but Iris called me and said that she'll stay with her family for a few days, and you were at your job, so I decided to start the movie night alone. But, now that you're here, you have to join me. We can have a 'bring it on' movie marathon."

"No, I can't tonight, I will try to study for a little bit before going to bed."

"No! You've been burying your head in those books of yours all day yesterday, so let's just have a girls night to get to know each other, please?" She looked at me with wide eyes that reminded me of one of the baby boys' back at the shelter, for they both have the same wide blue eyes that could get anyone to do anything for them.

"Fine. I'll just go take a quick shower and change into my pajamas then I'll join you." I grumbled out.

"Okay but be quick."

After finishing my shower and dressing up in a record time, I made my way to the living room feeling really exhilarated since this would be my first ever movie night or girls night or whatever maya wanted to call it. Walking into the living room, I immediately noticed that all the cushions that we normally placed on the sofa were spread out onto what looked like Maya's navy comforter on the floor.

"Oh, you're done with your shower already? That was fast. Wait, why do you look shocked?" Maya asked me while looking genuinely confused.

"It's just that I've never done anything like that, you know, so I'm not exactly sure what we should do now." I answered feeling a little embarrassed.

"How could have you never had a girls night before? I guess I'll just have to make sure that this is the best girls night you'll ever have in your life."

"I grew up in an orphanage, so I never had the liberty of doing something like that because my foster parents wouldn't let me, and I also wasn't allowed to have sleepovers when I was in middle school so.."

"Okay. Don't worry. This will be a night to remember, I promise you." Maya said while looking determined which honestly made me happy since she made me feel that she truly cares for me, and this a feeling I get only once in a blue moon. Maybe, I did, finally, find the person who would teach me how to live life the right way.

So, we spent the next few hours having a 'bring it on' marathon because Maya kept swearing that they're the best movies she's ever watched, and even though they were good movies, I wouldn't say that that they are my favorites yet, for I'll have to watch more movies before I decide. After watching the movies, we decided to make a chocolate cake which was also something I haven't done before. But, let's just say that it's something I won't be doing anytime soon after seeing that black spongy looking thing that definitely didn't resemble the scrumptious looking dough we put into the oven only half an hour earlier.

However unfortunately, my little bubble of happiness was unexpectedly broken by Maya's spontaneous question.