Yejide Moore's POV

"Yes, ma, I'll be at the event next weekend" I respond, not really paying attention.

"And will you bring a date?" She asks cautiously.

I shrug as if she can see me.

"We'll see" I respond.

"Good" she says as if I've told her that I've found the cure to cancer.

"It's about time that you stopped your prodigal daughter act and step up a little, don't you agree?" She asks.

I grit my teeth, my heart starting to hammer in my chest as she continues to speak.

"After all, what would people think?!" She asks incredulously.

"Your brothers have all gotten themselves fine young ladies and my only daughter... single! Tuh! People from the firm were even enquiring if you were gay!" She says as if it's a deadly disease.

Her words burn like a hot slap to my face.

"I've got to go, mom. I'm on a shift" I tell her coldly.

There is a silence on the line.

"You know that you don't have to work at that disgusting greasy place?" She sighs.

"If you'd come back home, even at your age, there is still a chance that we could fix you up with a potentially rich husband, and- -"

"Goodbye mother" I say, hanging up my phone.

Even at my age?

I'm 27!

I sigh and drop my phone into my apron pocket as if I'm scalded by it.

It's late afternoon- early evening and my shift is halfway through.

Thankfully, I don't have an evening shift at the library, so I can go straight home after and at least get in a decent meal.

I roll my eyes blinking back tears and the lump in my throat, when Kasu, one of the servers rushes up to me frantically, panic in her eyes.

"Yeji, I need your help!" She exclaims.

I hide all of the previous emotions on my face ready to help her.

"What's up?" I ask, putting another used ticket in the ticket bin and turn to her.

"My son has thrown up in school and I really need to get to him!" She says, tears welling up in her eyes, as she becomes overwhelmed.

I nod.

"Alright, give me your shift and you can take mine on next Tuesday." I tell her and she nods rapidly, relieved, pointed ears perking up.

"Thank you Yej!" She says, reaching up and giving me a big hug.

"Go outside this time before changing!" I warn her with a chuckle and she reddens with blush.

"It was one time!" She whines, snatching up her coat and handbag.

Kasu is a hybrid Pegasus.

Her father, a Pegasus, fell in love with her mother while he was changed into human form.

Her mother, a human loved him too and didn't care what he was, resulting in the birth of Kasu.

I chuckle again and watch as she goes outside.

She takes her shirt off, gaining her some loud wolf whistles, to which she responds to, by flipping them a bird.

Huge black wings spread from her back and she shakes the stiffness off of them for a couple of seconds, before jumping and soaring at an amazing speed upwards.

The wind underneath her whistles loudly as she streaks through the sky.

I shake off the initial jealousy and awe that I feel every time she does that and I pick up her order book and look at her list.

"Deer Blood(y) Mary and a large fries." I say to myself, walking towards the kitchen.

"Order!" The chef bellows, stacking the portion of chips and the deep red drink.

I pick up the tray and make my way to the designated table.

I make my way there and my heart stops.

Two men sit at the table.

^^ Markus Pryce.

One of them, a lighter skinned man, with a lot of hair, talks animatedly to the other, phone in hand, texting at the same time, while the other has his nose buried into a book.

A library book.

About supernatural Philosophy.

They both look up as I approach, the man from yesterday staring at me as I avoid eye contact.

"Did you guys order the 'deer' Bloody Mary and large portion of fries?" I ask, trying to keep my voice level.

The mixed race man smiles brightly at me.

"Yeah, that's us." he says as I put the orders down.

I glance at the man from yesterday.

"Aye, Ezra. Pay the woman so we can eat" he says.

Ezra barely looks up from his book.

"Here" he says, shoving a couple of hundred dollar notes into my hand.

I count it up and look at him.

"You've given me a little too much" I say, trying to remain polite.

I hold out his ostentatious amount of change and his scowl runs deeper.

"Keep it. You can use the rest as a tip. God knows" Ezra responds.

I let out a breath trying to stay calm.

I'm ready to cuss him out, but I need this job.

His friend gives him an annoyed look but says nothing.

"Will that be all you need?" I ask, brightly.

The less rude of the two, turns to me.

"Yeah, that's all. Thank you darlin" he says, giving me a lazy grin.

I smile back at him and ignore Ezra, turning on my heel and walking off in the direction of the kitchen.

I feel eyes burning into my back, but I refuse to turn back even for a second.

I take up my next order, which is a cup of coffee and an enchanted 'love' muffin.

It makes your vision about the person you love or hate become slightly more optimistic than usual.

I take my order to the table, it is assigned to.

Just as I am about to hand it over, a woman stands up, from her seat and not watching herself and her shoulder crashes straight into the side of the tray!

Instinctively, I reach to grab the coffee before it spills, quickly balancing it back on the tray.

But in the speed of the moment, some of the piping hot liquid sloshes over the top of the cup, hitting my skin painfully.

Some of the coffee also spills onto my clean uniform!

Immediately, tears spring to my eyes as the scalding liquid touches me, but I can't move my hand, or else it will fall.

I blink back the tears quickly.

The woman doesn't even notice, and now she is yelling at the man across from her, who looks bored, giving me a once over and a curt nod, before turning his attention away.

I set the tray down on the table, muttering an excuse.

I dash out of the front parlour and into the kitchen.

As soon as the chef sees me, his eyes turn sympathetic.

"You can go, catch a break" Kian says kindly.

I shake my head, putting my hand under the cold tap, wincing at the sudden coldness.

He rests a huge hand on my shoulder.

"I'm serious Yej. You're on leave for the rest of the evening. Go home and rest" he says.

"But, my shift! I need the money, I can- -" I start, but he cuts me off.

"Don't worry 'bout money. Your health is more important and right now.... you look shattered!" he reminds me.

I nod, conceding.

I grab my jacket and walk out of the back.

As soon as I'm out of earshot.

I slump against the wall, raising a hand to my forehead.

Tears now start to spill down my cheeks and I am thankful that it's dark and nobody can see me.

I hear a rustling sound a I freeze in my tracks.

I vigorously wipe away my tears and my heart starts thumping away loudly in my chest.

I start to see a shadowy figure walking towards me.

Lord, am I hallucinating?

The figure gets closer and I let my head spin around, looking for a potential exit.

The only one is a couple of yards away from me, through the back door.

Never taking my eyes off the figure, I inch towards the door slowly.

Careful not to make any sudden moves.

My hand clamps, around the handle, when they speak.

"Yej, wait!" They say.

I stop.

I know that voice.

Xian.

He steps out of the shadows, advancing towards me.

But something is off.

His walking is unbalanced, his speech is slow and he reeks of alcohol.

Shit.

As if my day can't get any worse...

He's drunk.

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