I hate Fridays. The club was always full with different kinds of people and by the end of my shift, I'm akways left extremely exhausted.
Today was no exception.
" Dont they all feel tired? Can't they do normal stuffs like sleep on their bed or cooking nice food in their own house". I groaned, dropping the empty tray on the bar stand.
Ren chuckled, shaking his head. He picked up a bottle of cocktail and passed it between two hands at a really fascinating pace " Its the thrill darling".
My eyebrow quirked " And you enjoy it, dont you?". I knew the answer already. One could tell from a mile away how much he enjoyed mixing different shots and getting attention from the ladies while at it.
He shrugged " I live for the thrill". He finally popped the bottle open on one side, spilling its contents into the lined up cups in front of him. Somehow abd skilfully, every single cup got filled up without making a mess "Orders up".
I sighed, picking the glasses and arranging them into the empty tray.
" Just two hours to go, Gigi. Push through it". Ren chuckled behind me but I paid him no mind and resumed my duties.
"Your order is here". I dropped the tray on the table in front of another group of people. Judging from their number and choice of clothings, they were work colleagues who decided to hit club after clocking off work.
Though I do not understand why.
I was already walking away , ready to attend to the next table when a sweaty hand latched on my arm, pulling me back.
I staggered, finding it instantly difficult to balance myself in these damn heels but before my face could plant to the floor,
Before I could hit the floor, the same man caught me by the waist, pulling me hard against him.
I was about to thank my savior when a face was suddenly uncomfortably close to mine, the smell of alcohol reeking from his whole being "You can't just go like that…you should stay and cater for our needs tonight". The sly look on his cheeky face already suggested what he was implying with his words .
I stepped away from him—or tried to, which his stubby hands still holding to my waist. My lips lined into an awkward smile I forced myself to muster and tried to answer as professional as I could " I am only a server. If you need a service girl the manager will– ahhhh
His hand that was formerly latched on my waist grabbed a fistful of my hair, sending a burning pain through my scalp " Eish. You speak too much for a pretty little thing".
My scalp burned but his words burnt more harshly. If that was possible. My temper flared up at tge thought of being materialzed and my elbow drove back into his ribs before I'd made the conscious decision to move.
He made a sound like a deflating tyre and his grip loosened just enough for me to step out of it. My eyes burned into the his sleazy hunched up figure "Don't," pant. "Touch me again."
His face went through several expressions. Shock first. Then the wounded pride of a drunk man who had not expected resistance from someone in a server's uniform. Then the uglier thing underneath both of those.
He stood up.
He was bigger than I'd clocked from the table. Broader. His colleagues had gone quiet in a way that suggested the said man was a superior in their gathering. None of them looked like tgey were going to try to stop him.
Which pissed me more. Bunch of cowards.
"You little—"
"Is there a problem here?"
Ren suddenly appeared in front of me, a full head taller than the huge man that once towered above me.
The man eyes Ren " Who the fuck are you? The manager? You need to discipline –
"I think you've had enough for tonight," Ren cut him off "I'll get someone to call you a cab."
He tried to protest, which led to the appearance of the security guard to actually move them out. I stood at the edge of the space, my hand subconsciously pressed against my stomach. My breath came out in large puffs as I realise how this could have aggravated quickly.
My scalp still burned where he'd grabbed.
"You okay?" Ren was back beside me, voice lower now.
"Fine."
"Gigi."
"I said I'm fine, Ren." I picked up the next order from the bar and went back to work.
———-
I shouldn't have snapped at Ren.
I regretted it the instant I left there but I was too caught up in my own turmoil to pay attention to that feeling.
I can't continue like this. I need to find a new job that can sustain my baby and protect it. But who would hire me without an id. Or who would hire a pregnant woman for strenuous job. It was only a matter of time before the manager here finds out. He'll definitely stop me from working.
————
I shouldn't have snapped at Ren.
I regretted it the instant I left there but I was too caught up in my own turmoil to sit with that guilt for long.
I can't continue like this.
I need a new job. Something steadier. Something that could sustain me and protect my baby.
But who would hire me without an identity card?
And who would hire a pregnant woman once it began to show?
It was only a matter of time before the manager noticed. Only a matter of time before he stop me from coming.
And then what?
My thoughts followed me as I moved through the crowd with another tray balanced in my hands, weaving between dancing bodies and half-drunk strangers who seemed determined to will their night away.
How convieniet. Wish I could–
The thought barely formed before someone lurched sideways in front of me. I shifted to avoid them, turned too quickly, and collided with what felt like a wall.
The impact stole breath from my lungs.
The tray tilted in my hands as the force of it sent me stumbling backward and for the second time that night, I almosthit the floor.
Nearly.
A hand latched onto my waist, halting the fall. I couldn't see the person's face clearly due to the light in the club but the electricity that coarsed through his mind to my whole body had me freezing on spot.
Completely.
Then the scent came.
Cedarwood.
The scent swept into me so suddenly, so devastatingly familiar, that the noise of the club seemed to drift away at once.