Lackluster

Chapter II

The bustling hours of the café was just starting when Win burst through the front door, drenched by the rain, and unbearably hungry for sustenance. He had to go to the hospital to visit his brother and make sure that the medications were all taken care of. The medical bill has stacked up once again, but at least Type was getting better. Win couldn't ask for anything else.

"Win! Go to the back and change quickly, I think Fong is coming down with something. We need you to man the cashier alone for the mean time." Win only sighed and walked past Ohm, one of the bakers, to the back and started changing.

Fong had been coughing up a storm since three days ago, no wonder he wasn't feeling well. Win quickly checked his appearance once more, before going to the register and got ready to face the endless orders alone. He stood for a few hours taking order after order before giving up and getting the stool from the far side of the display case. He was uncomfortable and sticky. His work shirt was sticking to his skin, that was still wet from the rain earlier, combined with the cold air from the AC—He was utterly uncomfortable, tired and cold.

He sighed loudly, and stood up after some time to look for Pear. It was already 6:00 P.M.—their closing time for Fridays. He wanted to close the café already and have a cup of hot chocolate and some bread, if he can.

Win walked in long strides to the opening of the kitchen area, ready to open his mouth and call out to Pear when he spotted an unfamiliar figure standing inside the kitchen. A tall, buff man was standing in the middle of the kitchen with his back to Win. Win tried to remember if they had hired security or another employee but came up empty. It wasn't until he heard Pear's voice that everything made sense to him.

"Boss, you know that's not our business to get into. That is his business. I don't want to say anything. What if we're wrong?"

"Pear, honey. We have to tell him. He's one of my best friends. I can't let him get married to that kind of person. This is for his own good." Win thought this Boss person has a point.

"You know how much of a liar that woman is! What if she says that we're lying, and he gets angry at us? I don't want him to be upset at us" Well, she has a point too.

"He's not like that Pear. He'll listen to us."

There was a short moment of silence, which Win concluded was from the two staring at each other, before they moved to hug. He looked away quickly, and realized that he just eavesdropped on a conversation he wasn't supposed to hear, and had witnessed an intimate moment between Pear and the mystery man.

He was about to turn and walk away when Pear spotted him from where she stood with the mystery man.

"Oh, Win!" She hurriedly let go of the man, and her face started to redden as she looked at Win. The man looked over his shoulder, and his eyes widened when he saw Win standing there witnessing their apparent hug fest just now.

Win didn't know what to do as he idly lingered by the kitchen opening. He didn't want to fluster the two of them much more, but Pear and him should definitely talk about sneaking in some love interest in the café. The manager could catch them, and that wouldn't be a pretty sight. Their manager was a bit of a witch—if he says so himself.

"I-uh. I just wanted to remind you that it's already closing time. Uh... I have to go now." He swiftly moved back, without giving them a chance to respond and went back to his post. I guess that hot chocolate and bread can wait.

Win sighed for the hundredth time that day.

It's about 8 o'clock in the evening when Win was finally able to step out of the café. He had finished setting aside the money from the register and tip jar, and cleaned the remaining tables, when had heard several voices from the office right beside the kitchen. He recognized two of the voices which belonged to the man earlier, and Pear. There were two more voices that he heard, but they were unrecognizable to him. Did Pear have visitors over?