01: RECOMMEND

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— SATURDAY, JULY 6

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— SATURDAY, JULY 6.

     THE aroma of the grounded coffee beans filled your nose as you stepped inside the small coffee shop you work in, hurriedly going past the counters with a long line of cranky customers and inside the 'employees only' metal door. you were the only one inside the small locker room while your co-workers were busying themselves with taking the orders and making coffees for the customers.

     you grabbed your white apron from your creaking locker, shoving your bag inside with no care as you rushed to tie the ribbons around your waist. the door slammed open, startling you from your concentration. you looked up and caught sight of the hell currently happening outside but it was soon hideen as a fourty-year-old woman stepped in and closed the door behind her, her wavy black hair tied into a high bun. her arms were crossed over her chest upon seeing you rush in a panic, wrinkles present in her face as she glared at you.

     "y/n... you're late." your boss tiredly exclaimed through gritted teeth, "if this happens again, do know that your pay will be cut off. just because it's a weekend doesn't mean you can go and dilly-dally." 

     you wanted to explain yourself but you nodded instead and flashed her an apologetic smile, "i understand, ma'am, it won't happen again!" you promised lamely, bowing your head down as you finished tying the last ribbon of your pure white apron. the black-haired woman only smiled sluggishly before leaving the room and you could finally breathe again without having to feel so little under her gaze.

     you fixed your hair and dusted off the imaginary dirt on your uniform before heading outside, where a long line of customers were waiting for their confusing orders of a single cup of coffee. your female co-worker working on the counter turned around and flashed you a smile, which you returned before hurrying to the coffee machines where a bunch of styrofoam cups were waiting to be given off.

     squaring your shoulders and taking a deep breath, you got to work.

     you found yourself your often falling asleep slowly as you work (which you often think was odd and scary), causing you to spill hot coffee on yourself from time to time once you jolt awake by a small noise. that little 'habit' of yours wasn't new to you, but you always figured that you'd get used to it by now. which wasn't a healthy thing to be proud of or a simple thing to 'let it be'. working day and night just to eat something everyday while having to pay your college, taxes, and rents proved to be exhausting but you never complained about it. juggling school and work was almost like a second nature to you at this point. you always sucked it up and wave it away, ignoring your exhaustion and pain as if it was nothing.

     after your parents abandoned you for choosing a course in college that they didn't like, you were left to do everything yourself. it was a stupid reason, but coming from a family who only wants to be the best and successful, it was bound to happen. especially when you chose journalism over lawyer, doctors, or engineers. they no longer worried themselves about you, and you the same. you stopped trying to reach out for them and ever since then, you never asked them for their help.

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