Chapter 3 PREPARATION

Chapter 3: Preparation

Rica's Point of View

-In the Resto Bar's Break Room-

When two of my colleagues arrived, I was busy arranging things in the break room. They were laughing as they talked. "Oh my God, he's so handsome! Saw those eyes? It was so irresistible!" one of my coworkers uttered.

I just kept working as if I hadn't overheard their conversation. "Oh, Rica, you're here? It's a shame you didn't see the owner's son arrive earlier; you could have witnessed how handsome he was," my coworker proudly said. Liza Perez is her name.

Still, I ignored what she said and went about my business.

"Hmm, Liza, she's not interested in handsome dude anymore; you know she had a boyfriend already, and her boyfriend was also yummy, right, Rica?" Amanda teased as she giggled.

I paused what I was doing and grinned at them. "You got it right, Amanda; my boyfriend is so yummy that I'm not interested in another guy," I sarcastically replied.

"Humph, but not an heir," Liza replied, glaring at me with contempt for my boyfriend.

She belittles my boyfriend, which irritates me. Still, I resisted the urge to pull her hair and smack her face on the floor. I don't want to fight with her. After all, she is my coworker.

I approached her calmly. "But my boyfriend is still so attractive that most women envied me, right?" I tease Liza, grinning.

Liza became irritated when I bragged about my boyfriend.

"Whatever," she said as she walked away from me.

Amanda and I just exchanged glances before laughing.

It's already dark. Customers flocked to the Resto Bar. There are just as many people out at night, particularly adults, to go bar hopping. Preparing the food and drinks for the VIP room made us focused. I was one of those tasked with serving there.

The food and beverages are ready. We went to the V. I. P.S. to bring some food and drinks. Our manager put the four of us in charge of the V. I. P room.

We began our walk to the VIP room, carrying the food and drinks we'd been serving. The tension on my colleagues' faces is palpable, especially if the guests are VIPs. We ensure that there are no mistakes. To avoid upsetting the guest, we analyze every move we make. Even our breathing is under our control. We expect it will be challenging because we know that most of our VIP guests will be very demanding.

Amanda was the first to enter, the rest of the crew, and finally me. It seemed to be a grand entrance as we entered. Except for me, my colleagues walked like ramp models. I only walked in the hallway plainly, trying not to attract the guests' attention. Tonight's VIP guests were all men, and they were all staring at us. Except for one man who was busy looking at his cellphone and didn't seem to know how to appreciate a woman's beauty, everyone was drooling at us.

I couldn't see much of his face because I was standing so far back, and I wasn't interested in seeing his entire face either. I believe he was the person mentioned by our manager earlier. He is a rude man and the son of the bar's owner. I knew who I was going to avoid now.

Amanda set the food on the table, smiling at the male guests, followed by the other crew and me, who barely spoke because of my devotion to my manager.

"You know, bro, this place is paradise!" remarked one guest.

A man who never looked at us smirked at the complimenting guest.

Amanda smiled broadly at the guest, who expressed appreciation for the bar, and said, "Thank you for the appreciation, sir."

The guest returned her smile, but the way he looked at Amanda suggested he had a hidden agenda. I noticed that almost all of them were so focused on Amanda that I took advantage of the opportunity to approach the table unnoticed.

I bent my body slightly when I was already in front of the table. Then I put the drinks I was holding down, trying not to make any noises and even barely breathing not to attract their attention. I barely looked at the guests as they continued to converse. I finally finished putting the drinks I brought. I rushed out of the room while my colleagues were still busy entertaining the guests, particularly Amanda, who had appeared as the night's undisputed star.

"Phew, I'm finally done with my part," I mumbled. I kept walking toward the kitchen. When I heard my name called. "Rica,"

I came to a halt as I heard my manager's voice and turned to face the person who had called me. I was right; it was she! She noticed me! As I looked at her, my eyes widened. "Yes, ma'am," I stumbled.

Her brow furrowed as she stared at me. She appeared perplexed why I was outside when I was supposed to be in the V. I. P lounge. "Shouldn't you be in the VIP room? Why are you here?" she inquired.

My manager's question made me feel guilty, so I pretended to smile at her. To avoid reprimand, I devised a perfect alibi. "Hmm, ma'am, I just finished serving the drinks, and it seems they love Amanda so much, so I thought I'd leave there to avoid making any mistakes," I explained, scratching my chin.

Before she spoke, my manager examined my face. "Is that so?" she wondered.

I quickly responded to her stuttering, nodding my head to her. "Yes, ma'am,"

"Oh, okay, I guess they don't need you anymore if that's the case; just go to the kitchen and help serve the customers here," she said.

"Okay, ma'am, thank you," I replied, bowing my head.

My boss nodded to me. Then she turns and walks away from me.

My assignment had changed, so I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Because of my happiness, I continue walking toward the kitchen while singing my favorite Taylor Swift song, "You Belong with Me." Our chef overheard me singing. "Oh, you seem in a good mood, Rica; what makes you sing?" he chuckled.

I gave him a friendly smile. "Hmm, sir, I'm just inspired," I explained.

"Oh, I see," he says.

Then I responded by smiling. I continued working by serving food to our regular customers. The good news is that everything is going well tonight, and my shift was about to end, so I dashed back to the break room to get my bag to go home.

I opened the locker room as soon as I arrived at the break room. As I was about to pick up my bag, I heard my phone ring inside my bag, so I quickly retrieved it to see who had called.

I smiled with delight when I saw who had called. Aaron, my best boyfriend, had called. I answered the phone quickly and sweetly. "Hello, babe,"

"Hi babe, I'm already outside; are you done with your shift?" he asked softly.

"Yeah, babe, I'm done, and I'm about to come out; wait for me there, okay, I'll go out," I told him excitedly.

"Alright, babe, I'll be here waiting for you. Love you," he said.

I giggled at what he said. "I love you, too, babe," I responded as I hung up the phone. I immediately removed the name tag from my chest and placed it in the bag. Then I removed the clip tied to my hair and let it down. I even fixed my hair, which was already loose, and rushed excitedly to see my boyfriend.