The Notebook

Chapter 5

Troy was sitting in the farthest corner of the diner, patiently waiting for his orders to come. It was his first time in this diner, although he had already seen Tina get inside the place several times.

The diner was about half the size of his condominium unit, he concluded. It was currently packed with students and workers retiring from a busy day in the office. Red and gold Christmas lanterns were hanging in every corner. Artificial hollies made of plastic lined the railing of the staircase going to the second floor.

Troy followed the movement of the yellow and red Christmas lights, amongst the plastic evergreen leaves, with his eyes as they chase each other’s path in a slow motion. He analysed Tina’s reaction a while ago.

She appeared scared when she had realized that she was being followed. Despite that fear, however, when she had realized that it was him, she allowed him to give her a ride to the diner using his motorcycle. That decision proved that she didn’t consider him as a bad person.

It was a good start. He’d had worse.

Tina appeared from the counter, holding a tray of orders with both hands. A checker-patterned black, white, and red apron was tied around her waist. She was wearing a sour face.

She looked at him sharply before grudgingly placing his orders on the small, rounded table in front of him.

“Your orders, Sir. Beefsteak, java rice, mushroom soup, water,” Tina pronounced each word heavily, not once meeting Troy’s curious eyes.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

Tina didn’t look at him as she answered in a hurried voice thick with sarcasm, “Oh no! None at all.”

She started setting the eating utensils on the table. Troy noticed that her eyes were a little glassy.

“Oh! You can laugh at me all you want, by the way. Everybody does when they find out I’m working my ass off in this diner,” she said bitterly, her voice quivering.

Troy frowned. Was she crying? “I won’t laugh at you. Why would I do that? There’s nothing to laugh at,” he said.

Typical high school bullies and teenage insecurities, he thought. Those people had no idea what real life is actually like.

Tina drew a deep breath and finally looked at him, “Is there anything else, Sir?” she asked, sounding as if reciting a script.

“A lemon. Thank you,” Troy answered.

“Coming right up,” said Tina and she disappeared once again to the kitchen.

So she didn’t want him to laugh at her. That was why she lied to him. Poor girl. She had been through too much pain.

Tina emerged from the kitchen, carrying a sliced lemon in a small plate. She set it in front of him and walked back to the kitchen.

Troy knew that Tina hadn’t had her dinner yet. She didn’t have time. And money.

However, as Troy was careful not to slip her a clue that he already knew practically everything about her, he decided that it would be safe for him not to do anything about that problem just yet. Perhaps next week would be safer. Tina’s increasingly paling complexion and thin frame was eating his conscience.

If only she knew who she really is. Troy mused while watching the big-bellied diner manager give Tina a week’s worth of lecture.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

I dedicate this chapter to raindrops_ as I immediately became a fan after reading Like Sweet Serendipity and FindingCinderella. Love, love, love her stories! Thank you for not deleting the latter from Wattpad even if it has already been published! :)

Another chapter’s up. How is it guys?

Sorry if my story’s kinda slow. I don’t want to rush things up. This is a journey for me, as it is for the characters. :)

Please share your comments. You can also vote and promote if you want.

Have a good day! :)

-SpeckyPrince

11282014