My phone vibrated with the sound of my very loud voice saying the same phrase continuously. I made this into my alarm because all the default alarms on my phone really don’t cut it for me when I try to wake up and because it really pisses Miki off.

Hearing my obnoxious voice, I grabbed my phone and put it out of its misery. Nothing gets you more awake than the cringe you feel when listening to your own voice.

Rubbing my head, I reflect on the window of the past I experienced in my dream earlier. It was lucky that I even got away from that without any serious injury or anything of the sort, though I’m sure therapy’s gonna be expensive in the future.

Things wouldn’t have gotten that far if I didn’t stray from the path set for me huh?

Dismissing the useless thoughts in my head, I smeared my hand on my temples.

“UURGH. Dammit I have a hangover”

After struggling with my nightmare and my hangover for a good 10 minutes, I sleepily sat up to a seated indian position. As I continuously opened and closed my eyes to banish away the drowsiness and the pain, my eyes adjusted to BZK’s back room.

Sunlight was leaking through the sliding window on the right, giving some ambiance to the lifeless room. On the left, was the door going to the kitchen, a small counter for the coffee maker and microwave, the cheap water cooler, and a mini-fridge where employees can leave their lunches and meals. Right next to the corner sofa I was sleeping on was a few employee lockers and in front of me, to the far side of the room was a medium-sized, metal foldable table with a few plastic chairs around it.

It’s even a miracle that I can sleep on this couch and experience the sunlight hitting my skin. Each day is like a new opportunity to live and be thankful for what I still have. It’s corny but I feel like an old man bragging about his spiritual life.

I stood up after my eyes had adjusted and started heading towards the lockers. I grabbed the vacuum cleaner from my locker and the mop and cleaned out the kitchen and backroom floors, which I then mopped right after. I’m not really required to clean out the rooms because it’s everyone’s responsibility, but I just want to show that I do appreciate them letting me stay here.

I started up the coffee machine in the backroom and filled it up with the good stuff, cheap coffee grounds and left it to make two cups worth of coffee. To the right of the counter was a staircase that led you directly to the third floor of the building and to the residential quarters for Miki and Mr. Ernesto. I arrived at their hallway and I knocked on Miki’s door.

“Made some coffee, get it while it’s as hot as me”

Giggling to myself, I noticed that their living room was a bit messy, so I found their broom and quickly swept the floors, fixing the furniture right after.

Man I‘m such a good guy...They should give me a raise.

I went back downstairs and poured myself a cup of coffee, patting the old machine with a slight smile on my face. Back home, before I ran away, I remember that we didn’t even have a regular coffee maker, we had those expensive mini-espresso machines similar to the ones they had at cafes. My parents were hardcore workaholics afterall, they’d guzzle down the cups like those high-powered paper-shredders with some fat stacks. I think it’s kind of nice living a bit of a simpler life like this.

Hearing footsteps behind me, I turn around to a slovenly-pajama-ed Miki. Handing her a mug, she barked.

“You fixed the living room again! Didn’t I tell you to mind your own business?”

“Wooow, it’s cuz a young lady like you is too dependent on her father you know? Whenever he leaves for a day or two, the living room is always in shambles. Are you trying to be single forever? Ms. Bachelorette?”

Ignoring my rebuttal, Miki sat across from me and started checking her phone and started dumping three tablespoons worth of sugar into her coffee.

That’s the part about you I can never get used to. Are you trying to get diabetes?

“Speaking of dad, he hasn’t been picking up. Has he contacted you?” Miki was still stirring her abomination of a coffee mixture.

“No, he hasn’t. Wasn’t he supposed to come in today? Maybe he got drunk and was in some woman’s apartment right now, or better yet in a love hotel like that one time! You really let him have it HAHA”

Pounding on the table and cackling like a deranged goblin, I remember the time Mr. Ernesto came home with three hickeys around his neck. We didn’t notice anything wrong until Miki confronted him during work hours. When she saw it, she blew her top and threw a serving tray at the poor barmaster. After apologizing to the customers for the ruckus, I was asked to look after the bar area while she dragged his ass to the backroom for a private scolding. Too bad the walls were so thin and her voice was so loud the whole bar heard Miki throwing shade at her own Pops. Things like “If you’re gonna start being a wannabe pimp, then I’ll gladly kick you out of this family” were flying off the rack that day. It was one of the more amusing days at work.

“Well sorry about that, the thought that dad was goofing off while we were working our ass off that day pissed me off so much. I even used the “what would mom say” card at him and he went as pale as a whiteboard” Miki embarrassingly chuckled while scratching her head.

“That was a night me, the staff, and the regular customers would never forget...”

After teasing her for a bit, we heard the backdoor rustle for a bit, and a familiar face entered. Sporting a buzzcut, a plain white t-shirt and some jeans, was the sous chef of the restaurant, Aiden.

“It’s still this early in the afternoon and you two are already flirting? Is this what they call the cohabitation curse? Where a man and a woman living under the same roof becomes a couple? Dex I’m so jealousssss.”

Aiden was wailing some nonsense while waving his arms in the air.

“Cut that out! I got some goosebumps. Listen! There’s no way I’d date a runaway like him” Miki coldly glared at me while sipping her diabetes coffee concoction.

I make a small pouting-pissed off face as I look at the wench.

This bitch, I’m not just some runaway! I AM THE RUNAWAY! They could make a movie about what I’ve been through. I so DO regret finding her pretty last night.

“Then why don’t you go on a date with me?” Suddenly, Aiden got down on one knee like he was proposing.

“Sorry I don’t date playboy types like you. Last night you went home with a customer that was waiting for you to get off right? Must be your current girlfriend. You’ve got guts asking me out when I literally saw you two walk off last night!”

Miki in addition to the verbal beating she was giving Aiden, poured her not-so-hot coffee onto Aiden’s slippers.

“What a cool and hot display of your rejection, I AM SO IN-LOVE” prancing about the room. Aiden started dancing up and down like one of those inflatable wavy armed men with Miki giving chase.

“YOU IDIOTS STOP IT, I HAVE TO CLEAN THAT SHIT UP” I give chase to the two of them with the wet mop in tow, following the coffee-stained footprints Miki and Aiden trailed behind.

Ah, nothing like a peaceful life...Can I really can this peaceful???

This went on for a good ten minutes until we were abruptly stopped by a man entering the backdoor. Giving chase to the three of us, a fist smacked onto the top of each of our heads, and in anime-fashion we cried out in pain and looked at the perpetrator.

It was the head chef, Mr. Aoi. He looked straight out of an action movie, his muscles bulging out in places I didn’t know muscles could come from. He was like a manlier, more mature Ace if his head didn’t look like a ballsack and instead had a proper haircut. Was still a bit scary-looking though. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt which stuck to his skin and defined his muscles and a pair of jogging pants. By looks alone, he looked like someone who stereotypically beats women, but he really is a nice guy.

“What the hell is all this ruckus! This is why young people are so irritating, it’s one thing after another with you three. Just because you three are the youngest workers in the bar doesn’t mean you can show off your youth!”

“Wait, that was your problem?” I cried out in protest.

The three of us looked at him with mouths agape and thought the same thing.

What a giant BOOMER

We lined up in front of him and we proceeded to say we were sorry. He then sighed it off and dragged Aiden away to help with the prep work. Both Miki and I decided to move as well. We shared the bathroom upstairs, so we had to take turns using it. She went on up to take a bath and while waiting, I started cleaning and prepared the bar for opening (i.e. unstacking the chairs in the bar, refilling the condiments, etc.).

“Switch! Get your ass ready we need to prepare for the delivery!”

Oh shit that’s right there was a delivery today.

Because Mr. Ernesto wasn’t here yet, I had the responsibility of handling the delivery of the alcohol in the bar. To be more precise, given a sheet of paper, I would check if each and every one of the bottles that we ordered were accounted for, and to check as well if there were any defects or tampering on the bottles.

Popping out of the backroom was Miki in her Assistant Manager attire, hair still wet from her shower. It was the standard waitstaff uniform, a plain white long-sleeved shirt and a black vest. What made it a bit different from any of the other waitstaff’s uniforms was the gold pin that asserted that she was the assistant manager.

After refilling the liquid soap in the men’s bathroom, I rushed my way to the backroom. I passed Miki by who was glaring at me to hurry up, and opened up my locker, grabbed my towel and toiletries and zoomed my way to the bathroom upstairs.

“And Dex no slurping up my bathwater.”

“Like hell I will!”

When I got to the bathroom, it was soaked in water as if Poseidon himself stormed in there. Now this was no anime, there were no ladies undergarments in the bathroom, instead the consolation prize was a piece of tupperware that housed Mr. Ernesto’s false teeth (yes, I know kinky). I quickly jumped in the shower, mopped the floor, brushed my teeth, and put on my uniform.

With a ruffled uniform and wet hair, I go back downstairs at the speed of light, akin to a runaway’s spirit. The delivery was poised for any time now. Along the way, I heard loud voices from the backroom, people were arguing.

Damn is the delivery here? Is she pissed because there was a problem?