PART TIME WORKER

It’s early summer, and I’m in my living room, lazing on the couch in my air-conditioned room.

As the season changed, I’ve come to a dire realization about my current style of living. I’m spending too much on electricity.

Even though I came from a tropical country with scorching sun most of the year, hot is still hot. The summer heat here can get pretty intense too.

Luckily, the heat here only lasts for one season. But after learning of the price of electricity here, I made up my mind to be as frugal as possible whenever I can. Lest I run out of money in a couple of decades and have to work 9 to 5 again.

With that resolve, off I go into cafe Million.

It might seem counterintuitive spending money on a cafe when I’m trying to be frugal, but I’ve done the maths. By buying a single drink and staying in the cafe for hours, I can make it so I come out with a little profit.

But I really should’ve put into consideration that I had to walk to the cafe in scorching heat for half an hour.

As I walked into the cafe, I noticed Erika already on her usual seat.

When she noticed me, she uncharacteristically waved at me, so I waved back at her, making my way towards her table.

Hana seems to be currently attending another customer, so I just took a seat across from Erika, who is currently on her laptop, maybe doing another assignment.

Once I’m seated, Erika reached for her phone currently on the table, and I fished mine out of my pocket.

“Good afternoon.” She texted me

“Good afternoon. Are you doing an assignment?”

“Yes.”

“Another programming project? Could I help?”

“Yes. But I’m still doing ok. Thankyou for offering.”

“Okay. Good luck on your assignment.”

“Thankyou.”

Without much to do, I took quick glances at Erika doing her assignment.

Maybe because it’s summer, but she seems to be dressing much lighter compared to usual.

Some time later, Hana came over to our table to take my order. I put in an order for my usual drink.

Since it’s a cold sweet beverage, I could enjoy it even more during summer. She also offered Erika a refill, but she declined since she still has a little left.

That said, Hana still brought Erika a new glass of her drink when she brought me mine. After putting our drinks down, Hana sat down beside Erika, as usual.

“Erika, you’re not gonna ask Oliver for help?”

Erika replied to her in sign language, and I couldn’t understand her, but I can piece something together from Hana’s response.

“Hm? Well, if you say so, I guess. But it’s not like this guy has anything to do anyways, so you shouldn’t mind.”

“What makes you think I have nothing to do?”

“Well, you don’t, right?”

“Come to think of it. I forgot that I meant to get a new book.” I took a quick look at the time on my phone. It’s already quite deep into the afternoon. “I wonder if I’ll make it if I go now.”

“The one in the shopping district?” She took a quick look at the cafe’s wall clock. “You’ll probably make it with little time to spare”

“Some other day, then. I’d like to take some time to browse.”

Erika signed something to Hana.

“Oh that’s right. Aren’t you a writer, Oliver?”

“On hiatus, but you could say that.”

“Wouldn’t a writer have lots of books? Why not bring one that you have?”

“I read them already?”

“Or maybe you just got too much money to spare, huh?” She asked smugly.

“You don’t keep watching the same few movies over and over again forever. Even if it’s free.”

“I guess that’s true enough.”

Hana took another look at the clock. Am I interrupting her? She just took a look at the clock earlier when I mentioned going to the bookstore, so she seems as if pressed for time.

Maybe I'm getting in the way of her work. But it’s not like I’m forcing her to sit here.

“Erika. What time will you be going back today?” She asked.

Erika replied in sign language.

“Yeah. It’s almost time, and I thought you’d be doing your assignment while I’m away, but Oliver’s here now.”

“I’ll go if I get in the way here.”

Hana just looked at me exasperatedly, and sighed. “Idiot” She said.

Erika signed something to her again

“Well that’s true, but I didn’t think I’d be leaving you alone this soon.”

Just as usual, I try to piece together what they’re saying to each other, with little luck.

“Well, if you say that you’re okay with it. Oliver, don’t do anything to Erika, you hear me? I will kill you if you lay a hand on her.”

“I won’t do anything.”

“Okay, good. Good luck, Erika!” She said, immediately leaving me and Erika.

It seems like Hana is actually pressed for time as she has something to do.

Then suddenly, my phone rang with a new notification. It’s Erika. “Hana says she has friends coming over in the afternoon.”

“Oh. So she’s leaving to attend to her friends?”

“Yes. They are doing an assignment.”

“I see. But if her friends are coming over, then she’d still be at the restaurant, right? What’d she mean by leaving you alone? Should I leave?” She seems a little flustered by this question.

“She will still be at the restaurant. Please don’t mind what she said. I don’t mind you here.”

“I see. If that’s the case, then I will intrude on you for a while longer.”

I meant to lounge in Cafe Million for a few hours so as to break profit from paying electricity anyways.

Erika replied with a nod, and proceeded to continue working on her assignment.

Come to think of it, I haven’t been alone with Erika since our first meeting.

That time was very awkward, and this time it seems like it will be awkward again. I can’t disturb her while she’s working on her assignment.

With that said, I’ve noticed Erika glancing up at me every once in a while, before turning away when I glance back.

It’s hard to notice with her bangs covering her eyes while she’s looking down at her laptop, but I notice her head tilting up towards me when she’s taking a glance.

She said earlier that she didn’t mind me here, but it’s obvious that she does. And I know that I mind being here alone with her.

I should’ve just gone to get books.

A little later, a group walked into the restaurant, and the owner called for Hana. They must be Hana’s friends.

Hana came out of the back soon, and towards her friends. Glaring at me on the way to them. She could’ve just told me to go if she doesn’t like me here.

“Erika, I think I’ll go now. I just remembered something I needed to do back home.”

She looked at me, surprised. Then she gave me a light nod, and looked back down at her laptop again.

She has been looking down at her laptop most of the time, but it seems a little different this time. She seems somewhat more gloom.

I might just be reading too much into it, but her reaction put me at somewhat of a loss.

I let out a sigh, and sat back down. “Actually, I think it can wait. Could I help with your assignment?”

Erika looked up at me again, and her gloom from earlier seems to have faded away.

So she was actually disappointed earlier when I was about to leave.

I thought it might be because she wanted my help with her assignment, but she shook her head when I asked.

Afterwards, silence fell over us again.

With the awkwardness fast approaching, I thought again to leave her alone.

But the fact that she seemed disappointed earlier anchored me to my seat instead.

So, I opted for small talk. “Erika, do you come here often? I think I see you everytime I’m here.”

She nodded.

“Are you usually in to meet with Hana? You two seem very close.”

She stopped for a bit, thinking, and she nodded again.

“Have you two been friends for a long time?”

She nodded again.

“No wonder you two seem so close.”

She reached for her phone, and started typing something.

“Oh. sorry.”

She shook her head quickly. I don’t want to be too much of a bother, so I should stick to a yes or no question that she can answer easily.

When my phone rang with a new notification, I promptly checked it.

“We’ve been friends since very little.”

“Childhood friends?”

She nodded. “Our parents know each other.” She then added through text.

“No wonder the two of you are so close.”

She nodded again.

Sensing that the conversation had ended, she put her phone back down, and went back to her assignment.

I’m not very used to making small talks, so the conversation ended rather quickly. I think I even said the same thing twice.

With the awkwardness back, I turned to take a look at Hana, and saw her glaring back at me.

She’s supposed to be focusing on her assignment with her group, but I wouldn’t mind a little help here.

Now that I think about it, the conversation really flew when Hana was here with us. It’s not just because she’s close to Erika, because I was still part of the conversation. Actually, she made me a part of the conversation.

But Erika wasn’t doing an assignment when we’re having a three way talk, and when she did, the talk was about her assignment. So that might not be a fair comparison to make.

Maybe it’s because Hana knew sign language.

I ended up not talking to Erika again.

I would just outright be disturbing her assignment if I do so. And I imagine it feels a little like when I have to take my earphones off and put it back on over and over again because someone keeps talking to me when I have them on. I don’t want to intrude on her like that.

I’m hoping that Erika will get my attention if she needs anything, but I just can’t think of anything to talk about with her.

In the first place, we’re not even that close. I can’t possibly keep up a good conversation when I’m alone with her.

About an hour later, Hana was done with her assignment, and sent her friend off. Once she did, she immediately glared at me again. This time, she quickly made way to me.

“Erika, did this guy do anything to you?”

I wish I did, then maybe it wouldn’t have been so unbearably awkward.

Erika shook her head quickly.

“I see. Sorry for leaving you. I’m done with my assignment.” Hana said as she took her seat beside Erika. “Are you still doing yours?”

Erika nodded.

“Why didn’t you ask Oliver for help? He has nothing to do anyway.”

Erika signed something to her.

“Is that so? Well, I guess you should do it yourself first to understand it.”

With Hana back, fortunately the conversation grew warmer, and we had a proper three way conversation.

Erika would just nod and shake her head to answer, but she would stop her work to sign something to Erika every now and then.

Like I thought before, it seems Hana really is great at driving our conversation.

As the conversation moved smoothly with Hana around, another hour went by quickly.

Since it’s getting late, Erika decided to wrap up her work for the day, and go home.

After paying my bill, I did the same and excused myself.

Hana followed us outside to send us off.

Erika texted me to thank me for the day, and to exchange goodbyes. She then turned to leave, and I did the same when I felt a tug on the back of my shirt.

“Oliver.” Hana called out to me quietly. “I’m sorry for leaving you alone with Erika. I also said some rude things before.”

I haven’t known her for long, but this feels very uncharacteristic for her to say. Not in a meek voice like she’s doing now, atleast.

“I’ve been looking at you every once in a while when you’re with Erika, and I know it must’ve been so awkward. But if you don’t mind, could I ask you to keep coming back here?” She continued. “This might be a bit of a pain for you, but I think this would really help Erika.”

Faced with this sudden request, I find myself at a bit of a loss. I didn’t think Erika would be one to struggle with her university.

The last time I helped her, she seemed to be doing well with her assignment.

“Well. I don’t have much to do anyway. I also enjoy programming every once in a while. If I can help her with her grades, I don’t mind doing so.”

Hana giggled a little. “Help with her grades?” She paused for a while. “You really are an idiot aren’t you?”

Well, that came out of nowhere.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it in a bad way.” She continued. “I really appreciate you doing this. Thank you, Oliver.”

The way she thanked me while smiling brightly had caught me by surprise. I couldn’t help but think that she’s really cute when she did that, and I had to turn away to hide the blush on my face. “I, uh-. You’re welcome, I guess.”

The following month, I kept coming back to Cafe Million.

Every now and then, I would help Erika with her assignment. But most of the time, I just chatted with Hana and Erika. The three way conversation was always very easy going with Hana around. It’s not without its hiccups, as I’m not very close to them, and I don’t want to overstep my boundaries, but Hana is just really good at keeping conversations going.

As I kept coming back to Cafe Million, I also got the chance to get to know most of the full time staff. I get to try out some of the menus that I haven’t touched yet, and the owner would even ask me to taste test some new seasonal products as summer really rolled in.

It’s now the hottest time of the year, the middle of summer. And as the heat starts to really get to people, summer break starts.

More and more people started coming to the cafe as they now had more free time. Which means the cafe will start to get short on hands.

Thus, when I was walking towards Cafe Million on a hot day, I saw Hana outside putting up a recruitment poster for summer part time. She doesn’t seem to be struggling, but taping a poster in place with one hand having to hold it up is pretty troublesome.

I walked over to her side, and held it up for her.

“Oh, Oliver. Welcome.”

“Thanks. I’ll hold this for you, so just tape it.”

“Hmm… I guess you can be considerate when you feel like it, huh? But depending on how people see it, this could be seen as sexual harassment.” she said with a teasing smile

“Just tape it already.”

“Haha. I’m just messing with you. Thank you.”

After she taped the poster, we walked into the Cafe. I noticed Erika at her usual seat, and I called out to her, waving my hand. Erika waved back as I walked over to her table.

“Oliver, you’re talking less stiffly, aren’t you?”

“You think so? I can’t really tell.”

“Yeah! You used to sound like a kid imitating an adult.”

“Wha-? Is it weird?”

“A little, but we’ve gotten used to hearing you talk like that. Right, Erika?”

Erika nodded

“I’m getting used to the language, but I guess I still need to study some more.”

For the rest of the day, we talked just like usual until before dinner rush, when Erika usually went home.

After paying for my bills, I walked out with Erika, and Hana sent us off. Once outside, a girl seemingly in her teens walked up to us.

“Excuse me.”

“Hm? What’s up?” Hana replied to her.

The girl pointed to the poster Hana had just put up earlier today.

“That. Are you still looking?”

“Ah. The part-time. We are. Are you interested?”

The girl nodded.

“Okay. Oliver, Erika, I have to deal with this, so I’ll see you guys again, okay?”

“Okay. See you.”

Erika gave us a nod and waved.

Another day, another scorching sun to melt people on the sidewalk.

I came from a tropical country that can get way hotter than the peak temperature here, but one thing I’ve realised is that for some reason the heat here is more excruciating.

The temperature towards the end of spring when I just moved in here was so perfect that I can’t help hoping for the temperature to drop once fall rolls in. The thought just makes the temperature more unbearable, though. Hope really is the worst thing to have.

With the heat hitting its peak, I find myself going to Cafe Million more and more.

But with the restaurant getting more and more packed everyday, I might be just getting in the way of their business. I always only order one or two drinks, and stay for hours on end after all.

Well, so long as they don’t kick me out, I guess it’s fine.

When I walked into cafe Million, I found Erika on her usual seat, and walked towards her table.

Once I’m by her table, she noticed me and looked up, giving me a wave. I waved back at her.

Hana isn’t with her today. She usually slacks on her work and sits here around this time, but she seems to be doing her work today.

Looking around, I found her attending a table with another waitress.

I also noticed Erika intensely watching Hana. I wonder what’s gotten her to stare so intently, so I ended up watching Hana too.

She seems to be just doing her work as usual, nothing new.

Well, it can be a little surprising at first to see Hana at work considering how much she usually just slacks. But, she can be a different person while seriously working.

Then, I shifted my focus towards the waitress with Hana. It seems she’s just following Hana instead of helping.

She’s just there not doing much while Hana takes the customer’s orders.

After I’ve taken a better look, I started thinking that the waitress following Hana seems familiar somehow. I’m familiar with most of the staff here, but it’s a little different with this one.

“Oh. Is that the girl that came in the other day for the part-time position?”

Erika looked at me and gave me a quick nod. Then she proceeds to continue watching Hana and the new part-timer.

She’s watching them really intensely.

I wonder if she’s feeling jealous, like maybe she thinks Hana is being taken away from her. The thought, along with how she seems a little cute staring at them so intently made me let out a small chuckle.

Once she’s done taking the customer’s Order, Hana turns around and notices me sitting across from Erika who’s still watching her. She gave me a silent wave, and talked to the part-time girl while making her way to the counter.

Once they’re closer, I can hear Hana giving the girl following her some pointers, telling her about what to watch for when interacting with customers.

After placing the order she got with the owner, Hana made her way to our table. “Hey, Oliver. The usual?”

“Yeah.”
She turned around to place the order with the owner, but seemed to stop before putting it in.

“Actually, Oliver. Can you help with this girl’s training?” Hana asked me, grabbing the shoulder of the girl that’s been following her.

“Training?”

“Yeah. She just started today. I've just shown her how to take a customer's order, but she hasn’t done it yet. Figured she could try it out with you.”

“Alright, I don’t mind.”

“Thanks! You should give him a menu first, Reina.” She said to the part-timer.

So her name is Reina.

“Oh. Okay, got it.” She rushed over to the far side of the counter to get a menu while Hana took a seat on her usual spot.

Once she came back, she handed me the menu, and I took it from her.

“Um.. Do you already know what you’d like to order?”

“Reina, you’re supposed to ask that before handing him the menu.”

“OH! um, sorry.”

“Haha, it’s fine. We’re doing this with Oliver exactly for this reason after all. He’s a regular here, so it’s fine to mess up.”

“Oh. In that case, I’m counting on you, mister.” she bowed towards me.

“Sure. But, do you mind if I look at the menu first? I think I’d like to get something different today.”
“Oh, um. Please do.”

“Reina, you’re saying ‘oh’ and ‘um’ too much.” Hana pointed out.

“Oh! Eh- um.”

“Hahaha, relax a little.”
“Right. Sorry.” she meekly said.

I flipped over the menu for a while, still fully intending to order the same drink as usual. But since I was asked to help with her training, I might as well.

The feeling of superiority because I know that I’m helping train someone with their job feels somewhat nice. I know that I’m just getting over my head, though.

I pointed to the name of my usual drink. “Can I get one of these, please?”

“One shake. Got it.” She said as she jotted down my order on her notepad. “I’ll be right back.” She said as she made way towards the owner to put my order down.

“Eh? That’s it?” I asked, confused.

I looked at Hana who giggled at me.

Even from the perspective of a customer, I could tell she’s missed some things. For one, I haven’t even said that I’ve finished ordering before she left me. Hana seems to get what I’m getting at.

“I’ll tell her when she comes back.”

That said, after putting my order down, Reina is staying by the counter, presumably waiting for my order to be done. After a while, she came back to the table with my order and set it down.

“Here is your shake, mister. Please enjoy.”

“Right. Thank you.”

“Reina, there’s a couple things I need to mention.” Hana said, beckoning Reina to come closer to her. “We usually ask customers if they have anything else they’d like to order. To confirm that the customer has ordered everything they want, otherwise you might leave them before they ordered everything. And don’t forget to ask the customer for the menu back, otherwise we’d run out of menu.”

“Oh. um, sorry. I’ll do my best!”

“Sure! You can learn as you go, now just go around and attend to tables.”
“Right! Thankyou Hana, mister.” she said as she went off to other tables.

I actually wanted to order a dessert along with my drink, but it seems that it’s not meant to be.

We spend the rest of the day eye-ing Reina from our table. Hana would point out mistakes that Reina made whenever she walk past our table while not in a rush.

Me and Erika would help Hana out by pointing out things that seem a little odd to us, but most of the things I find odd were actually normal for waitresses to do, or it’s just not part of their job to watch for it.

By listening to Hana give out pointers, and by watching how Reina does her job, I realised just how little I actually understand about this hospitality job.

Part-time it may be for Reina, there’s actually a lot of things to look out for.

I had thought that being a waitress, you just need to go to the table and ask them for their order, and bring their order to their table when it’s ready. But it’s actually not that simple. Waitresses even have a route in a section of the cafe to go from table to table. I thought they would just go to any table that needs attention.

We watched over Reina for the whole afternoon. She seems to be properly listening to all of the pointers Hana had given her, and is visibly improving as the day gets darker.

And this whole time, Hana is sitting here with me and Erika.

I can’t help but think that they wouldn’t have needed to get any part-time help if Hana had worked properly. She might be worse for business than I am.

Once the sky had taken an orange-ish colour, Erika went to head home. I followed suit as usual, leaving when she did.

After paying, I went outside with Erika. Hana didn’t see us off today as she went to Reina to talk to her.

Outside, Erika thanked me for the day through text, and exchanged goodbyes as usual.

Some other day, as I had just finished playing some games with my friends back in my home country, I checked my phone and noticed there’s a new notification.

It’s from Erika about an hour ago. She asked me if I can go to Cafe Million today, it seems like she needs help with an assignment.

“Sorry, I wasn’t on my phone. Do you still need me?” I texted her back.

The app says she’s typing something, but it goes on for a while. It looks as if she’s deleting and typing something back and forth as the notice of her typing keeps going away and coming back up. After a little time, her response finally came.

“Thank you. But I won’t disturb you if you’re busy.”

“I’m not currently doing any-” I was still typing my message when another message came from her.

“Come.”

That was a fast change of heart. Also, why does it feel like she’s acting ruder than before?

I deleted my message, and typed another response. “Okay. I’m not doing anything anyway, so I’m on my way.” But before I could send it, another message came.

“Hurry up.”

This must be Hana.

I deleted my previous message again, and typed in “Okay” to reply, and sent it.

Arriving at the cafe, I saw Hana talking to a customer seated by the window. It didn’t seem like she had noticed me, though. I went inside the cafe, and was greeted by Reina.

“Welcome! Table for one?” She seems more confident than before.

She was somewhat meek last time I came here. Considering how that looks like it was her first day working at the job, she seems to be fitting into the job well.

“Ah, no. I’ll be joining her.” I pointed towards Erika, seated at her usual table.

“Hm? Oh! You are the mister from before.” Seems like she still remembers me. “Please have a seat.” She said, beckoning me to go over to Erika’s table.

Once I’m by Erika’s table, she finally notices me, and looks up at me slightly, giving me a slight bow.

“Hello, Erika.” I took a seat at the usual spot, across from her.

“Do you already know what you’d like to order, mister?”

“You can tell the owner to get ‘Oliver’s usual’, Reina.” Hana said as she popped up from behind Reina. “Hey, Oliver!” She then took her usual seat beside Erika.

“Hello. And, yes please if you could get my usual.”

“Okay. please wait a moment.” Reina replied as she went over to the master to put my order in.

“So, what did you need help with, Erika?”

She grabbed her phone, and I also fished mine out of my pocket.

“Sorry for disturbing you.”

“It’s fine. I was just playing video games. Sorry I was late to get your message.”

“See, Erika? I told you he’s doing nothing anyway. It’s not like he has anything to keep him busy. He’s unemployed.”

“The last part is unnecessary, but yes. You don’t need to worry too much about disturbing me. I’ll tell you if I can’t make it.”

“Thank you.” Erika texted me.

“So, what did you need help with?”

Erika showed me her laptop screen, with an error message displayed there. I helped her out for a little before Reina came back to our table with my drink.

“Excuse me, Hana. Could you get back to work, please? There’s quite a lot of people here right now.” She said with a very disappointed look on her face.

“Hm? I’m not on shift right now, Reina.”

“You aren’t? But you’re still in uniform aren’t you? Besides, you were still working until this guy came in. Are you trying to get him? I know he looks a little good and all, but Isn’t he here for your friend? What are you disturbing them for? Are you actually trying to steal your friend’s boyfriend? Are you cheating on your friend? Also, you’re usually slacking off during this time to sit with your friend, too. Are you actually waiting for her boyfriend to come in? You were also the one that kept pestering your friend to call him here, right?”

She talks really fast. I don’t think I even got half of what she just said.

“Wha- Wait. First of all, this guy is absolutely not Erika’s boyfriend.”

“Also, I’m still in my uniform so I don’t have to keep going to the back to change. I’m actually not on shift as I usually hang out with Erika around this time, that’s why I sit here. But I keep my uniform on so I can help out around the cafe if Erika is busy.”

“Really? I had always thought you were just slacking around whenever you’re here.” I slipped into the conversation as this is a topic that piqued my interest.

“What? No! Have you thought of me as some sort of slacker all this time?”

“Well, yes.”

“Idiot!” She said while kicking me on the shin under the table.

“Ow!”

“Hahaha. Erika isn’t actually an employee here. She just helps out as my daughter. That’s why she has a more flexible schedule.” The owner added as he came from behind the counter.

So it seems like Erika is actually helping the cafe to earn money. I had misjudged her.

“Sorry, Erika. Seems like I had a wrong impression of you.”

“Hehe. I’m amazing, aren’t I?”

“Yeah.. likely not.”

“Hey! What’d you say?” Erika complained as I stood up to make a run for it towards the toilet.

Once out of my seat, I almost bumped into a waiter walking by, and I moved back a little. The gap between Erika’s table and the counter is actually pretty tight, so it’s not rare for me to almost bump into someone else walking by.

“Well then, I’ll also head back to work. Please help out if you can, Hana.” Reina said, as she made her way back to work. But as she turned around to leave, she bumped into the waiter that almost bumped into me.

Before she fell, I quickly grabbed her hand, and pulled her in. Grabbing her by her shoulders to stop her fall. It happened so fast, my body had just moved on its own.

Once my senses caught up to what my body was doing, I quickly stood her upright. “Sorry, Reina.” I let go of her, and placed both my hands behind me.

“Don’t be, mister. Thank you.” she said while bowing her head.

“Wheeew.” Erika sounded in the background.

The waiter that had bumped into Reina promptly apologized. As he did so, I quickly made my way towards the toilet.