“Jenny! Sorry, I am late!” My friend Kiara cried out coming into the restaurant before she hurriedly got into the apron. Ignoring her I was quick to get the order for table four. The café was the busiest at the weekends but I wouldn't mind because it certainly meant more tips.

I wasn’t short on money. Not when I had already developed the habit of saving and making money. But I was still in the first year of my university. And, was trying my best to not have a lot of student loans by the end of it. Working and designing dresses had been my passion but no matter how hard I try to apply for such internships I never get a response. But I was still in the first semester of fashion design and had such a bright future ahead of me. So, I don’t sweat much on it. Not now at least.

Kiara winked at me passing me and I rolled my eyes. I have been working here for the last five months and my reputation in front of the owner of this café, Jiang, was very strong. While Kiara was my best friend and came here on my referral. It was the third time in the week that she is late. And, to make things worse it was a weekend.

I walked back into the kitchen to get the order for drinks I had ordered for table number six when I get to have a word with Kiara. “I know you don’t need this job. But someone else might need it. Is everything a joke to you?”

“I am sorry…" She groaned, "...you know I love spending time with you. Also, I don't need this job.” Even last night she came late from the illegal ring fight at the back of our college. I wonder if she was getting into bad company because the play was indeed dangerous. I can never get my mind around the fact of how boxing and wrestling were sports.

“Kiara? For you, this job is a way to show your mom you are one less thing to worry about. Don't forget you have to do it. You have promised her." But she only sighed.

“And, who is responsible for that? You! She looks at you and thinks making me a waitress is a way to make me humble around life. I am only nineteen. I have my whole life to experiment.” I shook my head at her. There was no way I was going to plead to Jiang if he decides to fire her now. It’s not like she will starve or something.

I knew Kiara from high school. We were so different even then. But after that unfortunate accident, I get to know Kiara's mother. It was her mother who somehow knew my mother and would give Kiara something to pass it to me. From there we get along a little. At first, I noticed pity in her eyes for me that eventually turned into admiration.

And, this is how everyone responds to me when they get to know me. I don’t know if I was made for big things but the least I could do was make my family proud who were seeing me from up above. I used to have a loving mother, a rich father and a little brother who was only three when I lost them all in an unfortunate accident. They were coming to pick me up from school when it happened and I wasn’t there with them. When they were going through the most excruciating pain. It is not every day that I think about my parents. But when I do I make sure to pay a visit to their graves on the weekend.

I heard an uproar and before I could turn to notice I found Kiara coming to my left and squeezing my arm. “What?” I looked at her.

“Jason is here. You know what! He was amazing last night. The kind of game he gave us last night…” Of course, I knew who Jason was. Everyone on our campus knew him. He had around thirty-five million followers on TikTok. He had created a lot of trends and made videos for Facebook too. His father was a famous producer in the entertainment industry. The family runs the whole of Hollywood in LA.

“Why don’t you go and take his order?” I asked to which she looked at me amazed. Because he was seated at one of the tables I was to entertain.

"I love you!" She squealed before kissing my cheek and running away.

Jason had a few friends with him and Kiara seemed overjoyed. I got on to the table right to it and as I scribbled down the details when a kid ran into me. My pencil and pad slipped. “I am sorry,” I told the couple I was waiting on and got down to pick up the pad but something hit my head.

“Ouch,” I looked up to stare into dark blue eyes and couldn’t help inhaling his scent.

Of course, he was Jason. The hottest boy on the campus for a reason. My body's reaction to him was well explained. But I knew far better than to chase anyone only because they are famous and could make you drool.

“Thanks,” I got the pencil he had picked for me and our fingers touched only for the millionth of a second. And, though I felt sparks flying everywhere I knew he must not be feeling the same. I got my back to him and tried my best to focus on what the girl was telling me but I have to ask her.

“I am sorry…can you repeat that.” I fumbled,

“She said mocha with extra cream.” I heard Jason telling me from my back but didn’t look at my back when the girl nodded, “Yes…oh my God, was he listening to me!” She asked her boyfriend who seemed a little alert all of a sudden. I left for the kitchen and didn’t realize I was holding my breath.

“Stop acting so stupid Jenny.” Kiara was quick to follow me and seemed upset. I didn’t take notice of it until she told me. “He was asking about you. Can you believe it? I was giving him my best but he wanted to know your name. I mean I am Kiara Collins. Who can dare to ignore me?” She was quick to pat gloss on her lips while I crossed my arms over my chest before telling her. “You know to me it doesn’t even matter…”

“Don’t act all high ok?… Not everyone is stupid like you. If it was me in your place I was going to be on his lap tonight. He had broken up with his previous girlfriend like two weeks ago…” She literally came at me and I took a step back but she was quick to hold my arms. “...please tell me I am not overthinking. It can be my chance with him. Isn’t it?” I don’t know why but I was sure Kiara was mistaken.

There was no way he was asking about me. I was never courted by anyone. Since my parents died I never had nice things to wear and never had any time for myself. And, boyfriends meant spending to look good for him. There was no way I could afford that when I am still in the university. I hear people calling me a nerd and it wasn’t without any reason.

I am the kind of person who feels indebted if I am invited to a party. And, mostly it only happens when someone invites the whole class.

“Go for it, Kiara,” I told her.

She was a beautiful blonde and yes she could have a fair chance with Jason. Even his followers knew by now that he has a thing for attracting women who won’t last for more than three weeks. But after seeing Kiara I wonder if something was wrong with Jason. Because she looks like she would work a lot to make it with him. So, that mirrors that there was something wrong with this guy Jason. I mean no one in their right mind would do ring fights anyway, right?

Kiara got busy with the chef and I took the orders out for table number seventeen. This time it was on the other side of Jason’s. “I think you dropped this.” I looked at my back to notice a pink hanky in his hand. That was, of course, not mine.

“It’s not mine,” I told him and his friends on the table hooted. I couldn’t help but smile looking at his handsome face. The guy did give it a shot. Didn’t he?

This time when I got into the kitchen one of our chefs Monica needed a hand to marinate a few things. I too find it a good way to avoid those troublemaker boys. It was already enough of an interaction. I got my table’s work to another waitress. And, when I walked out after forty minutes they were gone.

Kiara didn’t talk to me about it afterwards and though I found it a little suspicious I didn’t press. Kiara and I walked to our dorms at night and she said out of the blue. “I am planning to move out of dorms. I have been working quite hard these days. I am sure it's time mom get me an apartment now.”

And, though I didn’t like how she was dropping the bomb of leaving me alone I asked, “So, where are you planning to move?”

“To Fifth Avenue…she earns for me…if she can buy a tesla. She sure can vacate one of her apartments for me.” And, though it wasn't related. I couldn't help recalling Jason lives in that same area.

“She must be making a lot on the rent in that place…” But cutting me off she was quick to say. “So what? It's not like my mom doesn't have money.”

And, I gasped, “She has already cut all of your credit cards. She wants you to take your life seriously. Maybe she is trying to teach you something,”

“And, you are enjoying this situation a lot, aren’t you? You are loving it when I am too doing nothing but struggling to make a few bucks…”

“Kiara?...” I cried out but leaving me she stomped her way to the dorms. I wonder what had gotten into her.

Looking at an empty bench I walked to it before looking at the sky. I still could recall my dad waking me up for school and us giving our mom hard time when she would try to get ready for her office. Even though my dad was rich she still continued with her law practice. And, this is how they met. She met my dad when she started working for a firm my dad had a contract with,

I remember standing beside my brother’s baby cot only to see him sleeping soundly. It had been years since I have been home. That home wasn’t mine anymore. It was my uncle’s now. He did have my custody but I guess I always knew I wasn’t welcome in his family. And, from my mom, I had a lot of self-esteem to rather ask for help from my uncle.

Soon, I felt a little pouring and had to leave. My phone vibrated in my bag but I only got it out once I get in. The name on the screen got my brows to furrow. I wonder why my uncle was calling me after all these years.