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Mr. Bang was very friendly last week when we got my working hours in order. At times a little too friendly, but I'll take that over a mean, stuck up boss any day.

Today is finally the day I get to put my new training to the test. Although I had worked in the cafe, a park cafe is way different to a classy restaurant. We don't open until 5pm here and close at midnight, different to the park where we worked from 3-8. I guess sleeping is out of the question...

I enter the restaurant wearing a suit similar to the one I wore last week, except this one is grey. I don't know how long I can keep up these outfits. True I'll be getting paid to afford them, but it'll be hard not wearing the same things over and over. Not to mention my head hurts from this tight hairdo. I almost had a heart attack when I saw my pay rate. Just six weeks of working here would've got me out of my shopping debt.

Once I'm in the diner, Mr. Bang approaches me with spread arms and a smile.

"Good afternoon Lilo, I hope you're excited for your first day! I may be observing to see how you get on, but don't pay me any mind, I'm sure you will do just fine."

"Thank you Mr. Bang, I won't let you down."

"Since there's still time before we open and you know the ropes, how about you meet your co-workers? They're right over there." He places a hand on my shoulder and points to a group of four people, two women and two men.

One of the men wears tight fitted clothing and carries a feminine aura, so I'll assume he's gay, the first woman is taller with curly brunette hair, and the second woman has an orange bob. They all look stuck-up and older, possibly mid to late twenties.

Each pair of eyes peer in my direction and scan me from head to toe when Mr. Bang pushes me forward against my will. I feel my body harden into stone by their judgmental glares.

"Everyone, this is Lilo, she'll be working with you from now on. Please treat her well. I'll give you all some time to get to know each other." Mr. Bang pats my shoulder before leaving my side.

I take a deep breath, trying to vacuum the butterflies flocking around my stomach. I can't deny that I miss the girls badly, even though I know two of them don't feel the same about me. Three if you include Chrys. Hopefully I'll have a lot in common with this new crew.

"H-hi, my names Lilo. I'll be your new co-worker. I hope we can all become good friends."

They all exchange muted looks until I catch the girl with orange hair covering her upper lip to conceal her snickers. The smile on my fades a bit and cheeks sting with blood. Did I say something wrong?

"W-what are your names?" I add to fill the silence.

The gay man clears his throat and points down the line, "I'm William, that's Charles, Georgina and Cassie. There are more workers, but they're rather irrelevant."

"Oh... Well it's nice to meet you all." I bow.

Cassie, the girl with orange hair, proceeds to hide her face and snicker at me. I decide to speak up when the action starts getting to me, trying to sound as civilised as possible—

"Is there a problem?"

They all look at me as if I've just insulted their mothers. Cassie's eyes widen at my tone before her head jerks with attitude, "Did I say there was a problem, newbie?"

My teeth clench behind my lips and fists ball up at the sound of her snobby British accent. I can already tell this girl and I aren't going to get along, but with Mulan and Trisha finally out of my life, another enemy is the last thing I need.

"No... no you didn't. I'm sorry." I fake smile.

Not wanting to spend another uncomfortable moment, I walk away and head to the only place I can think of, the staff bathroom. Once inside, I whip out my phone and call Mina, patiently waiting for her to pick up as I lean against the sink.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's me."

"Lilo? Why are you whispering? Shouldn't you be at work?"

"I am but we don't start for another 20 minutes. Mina the people here are so two-faced. I already don't like the atmosphere here."

"You've only been there a couple of minutes Lilo, you can't judge so soon."

"I'm not judging so soon! One of the girls here is literally Trisha 2.0, but a British version. Ugh, why do I keep attracting these sort of girls?"

"You're just used to goofing around with the others back at the cafe, so being in a fancy-dancy place is all new to you. You'll adjust soon, I promise. Give it time."

I take another deep breath and study my reflection, trying to filter my orbs with determination rather than surrender.

"Okay... If you say so. Thanks for the encouragement."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 🌙

I can already feel Mr. Bang and Francis observing me from a distance as I balance three dishes over to a table. It's hard to make my movements flawless with their eyes burning through the back of my skull, but I've done pretty okay so far.

"Here you go sir, one bowl of steamed buttered lobster and to go with your main, grilled octopus with a side fresh salad and caviar."

"Yes thank you I..... What is this? No no this is not what I wanted. I asked for octopus, not squid. Why has my order been messed up? This is highly unprofessional! Should I have to speak for the manager?" His voice raises before I even gave a chance to speak, making the tables around us dart stares.

I take a closer look at his dish and he was right, there was squid on the plate instead of octopus.

The mix up hardly makes any sense... I know I got his order correct.

"N-no no, there's no need for that sir. I'm incredibly sorry. I'll get your correct order right away."

"As you should have done the FIRST time." He scowls and turns his cheek.

I turn around and start heading back to the kitchen, avoiding eye contact with Mr. Bang whose eyes train on me like lasers. That was so humiliating. Now everyone is going to think I don't know how to do my job when if anything, it's the chef's fault. I did so well in training only to screw everything up during the actual thing.

Just before I enter the kitchen, I catch Cassie grin and shoot me a small wink as she delivers an order of buttered lobster and grilled octopus to another table.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 🌙

A deep exhale leaves my mouth as I remove my gloves and comb a hand through my hair. Finally the end of the workday has come and I couldn't be happier. Because I hated most of it.

Even though Mr. Bang is nice, I feel no welcoming from the others. It's clear that Cassie doesn't like me after my clap back this afternoon, and the others are already close to her which leaves me on my own. Not to mention working here can be uncomfortable, it feels like 100 eyes are hawking my every movement.

It was also kind of boring... I miss Jungkook and Jimin bursting in every other day with their shenanigans, Mina barging in with a new boyfriend, Teddy doing tricks for the customers or simply just the group of us chilling out when things were quiet.

Anybody looking in from the outside would smack me for working like this when I have a bag of endless cash at home, but now that I've had a job I can't imagine myself without one. It keeps my mind off of things... At least, it's supposed to.

Snap out of it Lilo. Your new life is here. If you keep comparing things to the cafe how do you expect to move on?

"So Lilo..." Cassie removed her gloves. My face remains blank and uninterested.

"Looks like you're off to a sloppy start. We should've mentioned that the customers here can be very demanding, you might want to get the right order next time."

"Then how about you don't steal and swap our orders next time?"

"You should watch your tone newbie, or I'll be forced to tell Mr. Bang about your attitude. He doesn't take kindly to bullies."

Speak of the devil, our round and cheery boss steps into the room. As soon as Cassie notices she presents me with a pleasant smile. "Lilo did I ever tell you how much I like your outfit?? You fit in so well here!"

My eyebrows crease together, wondering how someone can be so fake.

"I see you ladies are getting on very well," He smiles, "It's good that you're here actually, I need to talk to you both. Lilo first."

"O-okay..." I nod nervously. Here we go...

"Your performance today was great overall. You move very efficiently and have good posture, very fit and healthy."

"Thank you Mr. Bang. A-and I promise, what happened with that gentleman will never happen again."

"Oh don't worry about him, some customers over exaggerate situations. Just make sure to get the correct order next time."

"Yes sir." I bow. Wow, that could have gone a lot worse.

Cassie frowns, as if she was expecting a worse reaction.

"You can go home for tonight. Ms. Cassie, a word please?"

Mr. Bang bids me goodbye before walking away. Cassie follows behind him when her shoulder collides with mine and eyes roll.

With an exhausted sigh, I collect my things and exit the restaurant, stepping into the frosty midnight street and booking an Uber home. While I wait outside, I decide to check my missed texts. Unlike the cafe, we're not allowed our phones on the work premises here.

16 texts from: Teddy 🐒
2 texts from: Mina 💞

My eyebrows raise at the number of texts I have from Teddy, considering what went down the last time we spoke. I open Mina's texts first, getting the shortest out of the way.

Mina💞: hang in there girl! I know you can do it!

Mina💞: everything will work out. I'm so proud of you

I love that girl so much. She's been here for me more than ever since I've grown distant from the girls, at least I know there's someone I can always count on. Now for Teddy's texts...

Teddy🐒: Liloooooooo :((((

Teddy🐒: Lilo I'm soO sorry for being mean to you! I'm not mad at you anymore, please come back! The cafe is soooooo boring now!

Teddy🐒: If you and Taehyung are in love then we as your friends should support you, not take sides! I'm super sorry !!

Teddy🐒: Gretchen feels really bad about everything! She's just too shy to text you herself. I know I should just let you be happy but pweasee

Teddy🐒: please come hooome

Teddy🐒: Chrys misses you too!

Teddy🐒: this is Chrys. No I don't.

Teddy🐒: she's lying! I heard her say she misses you I swear!

The rest kind of go on like that, except the last text, which was sent sometime after the others.

Teddy🐒: We miss you Lilo. I'm sorry if I pushed you away. we hope you're having a good time at your new workplace and new friends, and hope you're building a happier there. Just don't forget about us. Good luck! :)

Teddy🐒: happier life* sorry typo

The final paragraph makes me a bit emotional since I'm still adjusting to the world of work without them. I miss them so much. I feel so guilty about ever keeping secrets from them in the first place, if I hadn't I could still be with them right now.

I'm not having fun here. I want to go back home. But I can't.

I'm not welcome there.

And finally... I open Winters text. I'm extra anxious since she's never texted me. Ever. I wonder what she could have to say...

Winter: come back.

A black car pulls up in front of me with blinking headlights. My Uber. I release another deep sigh and turn off my phone before hopping in. If only it were that easy Winter...

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 🌙

AHH ok so: from January-May of 2018 I had my 1st job as a receptionist in a well-known hair salon and it was the WORST era of my life omfg! That's where I got inspo for this chapter, except my experience was 1000x worse!! My coworkers were all older, but such bad bullies it made me sick, always sabotaging & lying on me. I even once cried at the desk but I had to hide it. And the manager was the cruelest of them all just— ugh!!!! If you know where I'm talking about, because it's really easy to guess, do not work there. They're all two faced bitches. I swear I need to do a storytime one day.