Open Up My Eager Eyes

Chapter 18

I was fully aware that I've managed to bask myself in self-loathing for hours. It was an intense debate in my head, whether to take that job in Vic's bar or to go wherever and look for another one. Then again, I believed that I've already scavenged the entire city and none of the establishments were hiring.

I tried getting in-touch with Sam but she was so persistent in ignoring me. If her main goal was to make me suffer, I could say that she succeeded in that one.

'Think about it.'

That simple sentence has been swimming in and out of my head, constantly haunting my hazy thoughts. I was trying to weigh the pros and cons of taking the only job that was laid down in front of me. If I take it, I would finally have something to do with my life, I would earn money and I would most probably win Sam back and if I don't take it, I would soon be broke and Sam would most probably just ignore me and leave me rotting until I die.

Since the first string of possible events sounded more appealing than the latter, I begrudgingly pulled myself together, took a quick shower and wore a set of decent looking clothes. I glanced up at my clock and saw that it was a couple of minutes pass seven am. How I ended up staying up all night in my current condition, that I wasn't sure of.

I took a cab all the way to Vic's bar. It wasn't a very long trip but the time spent in that crummy little vehicle was enough for me to gather up my thoughts and to somehow muster up a little mental speech. I had to throw away my pride, just for that particular day. I was so desperate, yes. But that doesn't mean that I would let anyone walk over me and treat me like shit. It's time for me to actually stand and do something to save my own self.

"Thanks." I mumbled as I slipped off from the cab. I straightened my maroon button-up shirt and grazed my fingers through my hair, in the attempt of tidying it up a bit as I walked my way to the overly-familiar entrance of the establishment. It was too early for them to be open so I was kind of surprised that the door easily flung open.

"Hey, we're not yet open until-" He stopped speaking mid-sentence as he glanced up to my direction, diverting his gaze away from the papers that were scattering all over the neatly polished counter. "Hey." His serious and douche-y demeanor was soon floating through the air as his eyes met mine. I felt the all-too familiar nervousness building up in my stomach as I noticed the obvious tinge of smug in his voice. The corner of his lips twitched to a playful smirk as he started gathering up the papers, piling them neatly and setting them in one place in front of him.

"What type of odd wind brought you here?" He asked. I was soon intimidated by him but I knew to myself that I shouldn't be. I was there for a sole reason and that is to get the job that he offered me.

"I'm here for that job that you were saying yesterday." I said as I grasped the edge of my shirt and pulled it, in attempt to partly make it less wrinkly and partly make myself look a little less nervous.

"Of course you are." He said, sounding so proud. I hated his guts at that moment but really, I wasn't there to put up a fight. I pushed the thoughts at the back of my head and tried to plaster up a smile, waiting for him to just get over himself and just tell me what the hell I was supposed to do.

"Basically, you're going to be clearing up tables, taking up orders and performing." He paused for a second, looking all contemplative. "Yeah, I'd put you up every Saturday night, if that's alright with you?"

"Y-yeah, of course." I stuttered and nodded vigorously. What the hell was I supposed to perform? Back in my hometown, I was only performing during church days, behind the piano and that's it. Their bar is far different from our church. I bet they expect me to play some indie song or some shit. I would have to work and dwell on that one as soon as I get home.