Being young and earning your own money for the first time is a kind of excitement that's hard to describe. It doesn't matter if you come from a wealthy family or already have savings tucked away. There's something empowering about standing on your own feet. Even if that means starting small, like working part-time at a café.
In West Grimoir, there was a modest yet popular spot called Café Laevateinn. It wasn't open yet that morning, and the place was still quiet—until the front door slammed open.
"OH NO!!"
The shout came from a tall man with mixed European and Asian features. His entrance startled everyone.
"What's going on, Manager?" a barista asked, leaning lazily on the counter.
"I still can't find it! This is bad!"
"What is bad?"
He pulled out a slightly faded blue wallet and squinted at the ID inside. "All I have is this—'Dewi Ijo Village No. 58, East Grimoir.' But when I try to search for it on GPS? Nothing."
"Dewi Ijo Village?" someone echoed.
The staff exchanged puzzled glances. The manager, Robert, looked exasperated. He'd found the wallet on Monday, dropped in the alley beside the shop. The owner never came back to claim it. And now, the address felt like chasing a ghost.
"Have you tried asking people around the area?" one of the waitresses asked.
"I have. It seems like they know nothing. And sometimes when I mention the area... some of them are freaking out."
"Freaking out? Wdym?" ask another.
The manager tapping his head. "I don't know. It's weird. Like they didn't want me talking about that place."
Several people immediately looked at each other in confusion. If they were stuck like this, the only way was to hand it over to the police.
"Good morning..." a cheerful voice rang from the entrance.
Everyone turned. A girl entered, dressed in a black skirt, white t-shirt, and denim crop jacket. Her presence instantly lifted the mood.
"Hohoo, you finally came," said the manager excitedly.
"What's going on here? Why is everyone gathered at the front door?" asked Aidera, confused.
"It's about the wallet I texted you about yesterday."
"Oh? It hasn't been returned yet?"
After a moment, another person entered the Café, following Aidera. It was Clara, her personal maid and the treasurer of their campus organization. Her gaze swept across the room like a quiet storm, giving an especially sharp look to the male staff.
"I give up, he still hasn't come here, and I can't find his address. I have to leave it to you, Because I'm sure this thing belongs to a Grimhour Institute student, just like you," said the owner as he handed over the wallet.
"Huft... fine, Mr Robert. I'll help. But I'm charging double?" Aidera chuckled softly.
"Noooo!"
"Hehehe..."
She chuckled, already reaching for the wallet. It felt damp and faded—as if someone had accidentally put it through a wash. Curious, she flipped it open to check the ID. The student ID. The photo. The name.
Zeyn Tendou Zaine.
Her fingers trembled. The image stared back at her—sharp eyes, familiar features. She had just spoken to him a few days ago.
And then something shifted.
Her vision blurred. The café disappeared. In its place stood a dark, blood-slick corridor inside a mansion. Screams echoed. Corpses sprawled across the floor. A boy stood atop a body, his red eyes boring straight into hers.
The same boy in the photo.
Her breath hitched. Aidera was about to scream because her head was getting more and more dizzy. Suddenly a tap on her shoulder brought her back to reality.
"Milady, what happened?!" Clara asked.
Her body jerked as she returned to the present. Cold sweat clung to her skin. She blinked rapidly, confused.
"What... what happened?" Aidera murmured, confused.
"You zoned out," Clara said. "Didn't respond to anyone."
"Huh… I… I'm fine."
She was still confused, and she found that both of her hands were still trembling, and the wallet was already dropped. She didn't understand what had happened. But whatever it was, she felt like she had made people around her worried.
Maybe this was the effect of fatigue because she hadn't rested since yesterday and had always been busy with organizational matters.
Trying to be sensitive because she felt something was off, Clara suddenly wanted to make a unilateral decision.
"Mr. Robert, it seems that Miss Ai is feeling unwell. Maybe we will -"
"No, I'm okay," Aidera replied lightly.
She took a deep breath and tried to relax. She had arrived at work and couldn't let her personal problems affect her productivity. She calmly took the wallet she had earlier and tried to cheer up, then went into the employee room to change her clothes.
"A waitress shouldn't look sad, right? Isn't that what you taught me, manager?"
"A'aa, are you sure? If there's no problem, then okay, let's prepare because the store will open soon", Robert said.
"Yes, sir," said Aidera firmly.
* * *
Who said working at a cafe was an easy job? Especially when the job demands oneself to be 'fake' because for a waitress, always looking charming and smiling to serve customers is an obligation. It doesn't matter if she is experiencing turmoil or sadness that hits her heart.
Well,
That's what Aidera is currently experiencing today. Since arriving at work, her head has been pounding. She was also thinking about presenting papers for three different courses tomorrow. Customers are also very booming because it is the weekend.
"Maybe you should take a break," Clara whispered, patting her shoulder.
"I am," Aidera deadpanned, sipping from her water bottle.
"Milady, you shouldn't need to work part-time like this. Your burden is already heavy with being the organization's secretary. Why go through the trouble?"
"Why not? Plenty of students work part-time. Think of this as... staying grounded."
"But you're not like them. You could own this café if you wanted. Serving others like this—it's beneath your status."
"Clay... we've talked about this. No titles when we're in public, remember?" Aidera sighed.
"Even if you forbid it, my loyalty doesn't switch off just because we're being low-profile."
"Then try loyalty through trust. Trust that I know what I'm doing. Let me play the normal girl for a while, okay?"
"I... I still don't understand."
They stood quietly for a beat.
"Well, then take this." Aidera handed over the blue wallet that had previously been given by her boss as a request.
"This wallet..."
"Think of this as your side quest for the week. Track him! We will return it to its owner on Monday."
Clara lit up. "A quest! I accept! I'll find this guy even if I have to climb a mountain or cross the sea!"
"Okay, okay, don't be too excited. Now we have to get back to work."
Clara darted back toward the counter, energized. Aidera smiled faintly as she watched her maid go.
Once alone, she fished out her wireless earbuds and scrolled through her phone. Music helped calm her nerves. Maybe some lo-fi, maybe something upbeat. Anything to silence the strange noise still lingering in the back of her mind.
She updated her social media with a bright caption and a carefully angled selfie. Nothing too suspicious. Just another cute café worker on a busy weekend.
But deep inside, the image of that red-eyed boy still flickered.
* * * *