CHAPTER 28. A WEIRD FEELING
HARA
I filled the lined-up shot glasses with a martini, attended to three orders at once, and filled up a bucket with bottles of beer on the rocks but I wasn't ready to take a break. I didn't want to.
Anyone would say I was especially energetic today, seeing how I was all over the place, refusing to take as much as a two-minute worth break.
Deep down, I knew I was getting exhausted. I could feel the tiredness slowly taking over me. I shut it out, forcing myself to exceed my limit.
I had to be busy, so I wouldn't have the time to think. These churning thoughts wouldn't let me be and this was the only way I could keep them in check.
Also, I was working a night shift. And for once, I welcomed its excessive buzz with an open heart. Keep the orders coming. I'd rather sink deep into work than into my misleading thoughts.
“Can I get two bottles of tequila over here?“ A man asked, signaling with his hands.
“Coming!“ I was already taking out the bottles from the cellar.
“Suzy, that isn't your order,“ said Nora, the female bartender next to me.
“I know.“ I sighed, still taking out the bottles. I glanced at Tessa, the bartender who had the order and she had a scowl on her face. I knew I deserved it. She was practically standing in front of the man. I shouldn't have bitch-crossed her the way I did.
I went over to deliver the order and she bumped hard into my shoulder.
“Stay out of my way, bitch,“ She said in disdain.
I just rubbed at my painful shoulder and returned to my spot. It was enough warning to get me to take a break, even for just a second.
I glanced her way again and she still had that bitter look on her face. If only she'd realize that I had no intention of making her look incompetent. I'm just desperate to run away from my thoughts. I'd gladly take all the orders throughout the night, that's how desperate I was.
“A glass of Martini on the rocks, please,“ A male voice said in front of me.
“Sure,“ My hands were already carrying out the order before the voice finally registered in my head.
I looked up and damn right, it was him. Taking in his all-black attire, It was no mystery he was a lover of black.
“Hey,“ I forced a smile, handing him the glass.
“Hey,“ He smiled back, taking a sip of his drink but his eyes never faltered from me.
“What are you doing here?“ I asked. But shook my head as I realized how unreasonable the question was. He did tell me he was a regular here. “Never mind. Don't answer that,“
He chuckled, breathing out a mesmerizing scent of fresh mint, mixed with the drink he just had.
“Are you trying to get a raise?“ He asked, twirling the drink in the glass.
“Huh?“
“Well, you've been taking every order on this counter. So I'm guessing you're trying to show them just how worthy you are of a raise,“
“Have you been stalking me?“ I asked, my tone a rough mixture of mortification and surprise.
“Watching,“ He corrected. “I've been watching you,“
“Is it just me or do you just love watching people without their notice?“ I asked, standing akimbo in a dramatic fury.
He laughed. “Nah, it's just you.“ he pointed at a corner. “I was sitting right there and you were the only one who caught my attention,“
That was a lie. If he did sit there, then he must have been swamped with strippers and slutty waitresses. No way was I the only one who had his attention.
“What a flatterer you are,“ I scoffed, leaning on the counter.
”But I'm serious.“
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. “ I rolled my eyes and he laughed again, a husky one.
“What's going on with you?“
“Me? Nothing –“ I doubt he heard me as our voices were overpowered by two loud drunks, with their phones, deliberating over 'the rumor'.
“I can't believe the Alpha-Prince killed an innocent man,“ the younger of the two men stated.
“Whoever said he was innocent? He must have been a rogue. Our Alpha-Prince would never kill an innocent man,“ The grey-haired man countered.
“Yeah, that's true. Whoever wrote this piece of crap would surely rot in hell,“ The younger one declared in spite.
“I second that, man. It's a good thing his fiancee debunked the claims of him losing his mind. She's gonna make a wonderful Luna,“
“That's right. I'm a huge fan of Miss Ciara,“
I recoiled at their words, lowering my face and embracing the thoughts I'd been fighting to keep away from my mind.
I've had bizarre days, but today was overly bizarre. After my sleepless night, imagining possible scenarios of how they're gonna fire me for the fight yesterday, I woke up with eye bags.
But getting here, I realized it was the total opposite. The manager apologized for the mistreatment and went ahead to declare that they were shutting down the third floor.
They assigned the workers to other floors and that was a relief, by the way. It would have been a tragedy if they were left without a job.
But It was a shocker, and I'd barely recovered from it when I saw the papers. The Alpha Prince had killed the drunk man who'd hit me.
There was no way this was just a coincidence anymore. I'd given it some thought but they all zeroed down to the possibility that just like how Cy. was sacked from his job, this had to do with me too.
Then I went ahead to watch the news from a coworker's phone and I saw a lady claim she was his fiancee and they were madly in love. Even though she'd taken his side in the rumors, hearing how crazy she was about him made my heart shrink in a pain I couldn't explain.
Since then, I've been all workaholic, not wanting to face the weird feeling lingering in my heart.
“Something wrong?“ Jason asked. “You seem…strange,“
This tide of emotions tossing me to the edge of unhappiness and uneasiness wasn't 'strange'.
It was something stronger, like a part of me had been broken. Like I was hurting, but not sure why.
“Can I ask you a question?“ I asked with a sudden gut. He nodded. “Is the Alpha-Prince getting married soon?“