Back To Work

It’s a new Monday morning, as if on cue, Ren wakes up as 6.30 am reads on the clock, sitting up in bed. She gently yawns and stretches, preparing for a new start to the week. Work, real work.

Again, as if scripted, Ren looks over to see Vivia is gently sound asleep appearing to be dreaming in paradise, so she quietly gets dressed before heading into the kitchen to make breakfast for the new day ahead. She leaves home as 8 am dings, closing the door carefully to not wake up Vivia, and heads out of the apartment to the bus stop so she can start her main reason for moving in. To work at the bakery, ‘Sweetsarie’.

Arriving by bus, walking casually to the bakery as the time tells 8.45 am, where the manager was waiting, with his apron, for the new inductees in the main front of the shop to come on time to be trained for the jobs available.

After she arrives, with the few applicants waiting for the training to begin, the manager escorts the group to the back to put on the business labelled uniform and a casual run-down explanation of the work process.

“So, ladies and gentlemen,” says the manager, looking at all the inductees waiting for instruction, “I’ll take you through to the changing rooms for you guys to get into the prepared uniforms that we have arranged, and then once dressed, meet me at the front before opening time and several of our co-workers will split you up and hopefully, get you into your custom roles for serving the customers. Was that clear for you guys?”

All reply, “Yes!”

The manager claps and smiles before waving to follow, instructing, “Okay, so. This way, and then when you’re all ready. We’ll begin.”

The inductees all follow him down the corridor, passing the kitchen on the right and a chill-out area on the left, before making it to the back right room. The manager then guides them in in single file, stating that they have around 15 to 20 minutes to dress so that they can then start as soon as possible.

Ren gets changed into the uniform, checking if it fits in the mirror, as an excited smile gleams over her face. It’s finally the day she has been dreaming of experiencing.

After leaving the changing room, she meets the manager at the front who then guides the group to tour the building to familiarise the locations of the load out and in points, emergency exits and then afterwards, the basic routine of the store.

“Okay, right. Stacey will be with you, and then…” the manager explains, putting all inductees with their specified co-worker before letting the group split, so that eventually the inductees would naturally settle into the work flow of the day. It’s work time.

As 9.15 am rolls around, Ren begins to work at the front glass display, dealing with customer orders as she hands the purchases to the cashier at the till. The first few customer encounters left a lovely and heart-warming impression, each responding with ‘thankyous’ which resulted in her beaming with happiness.

The day continues, with a relaxed smile of comfort, replacing the empty shelves with fresh products from the load-in truck, serving seated customers with their orders and started to attract some friendly interactions with the inductees around the shop.

The first week concludes on a Friday evening, as Ren has enjoyed the abundance of customer interactions, though Vivia notices that she has been going out for a while and coming back tired, yet happily satisfied with whatever she has been doing out and about.

‘Hmm… Ren has been coming home latish a lot. I wonder. If she has found herself a boyfriend. Na, don’t see that. Not with her temperament,’ Vivia thinks in a prejudging manner of thought, looking over, as she makes a cup of tea to Ren on the sofa laid back into the soft cushions with a chill, happy face.

Ren watches some TV as she smiles in a state of relaxation, flooding Vivia with all kinds of curious thoughts as to what Ren has been up to this week to have such an expression, nevertheless the demeanour of someone who has had a fulfilling day of some sort.

‘Well, whatever she has been up to. I guess I can just find out by asking later, since she’s rather funny looking like that. Laid back and smiling which is totally out of character for her,’ Vivia thinks with an entertained attitude, concocting a plan as she sips her tea, smiling over how cute Ren looks.

Vivia returns to her gaming room, like usual, streaming a short several hour session before the topic of Ren’s constant days out distracts her from the game a few times that interrupt her line of thought.

So, to ensure that no one else is involved in this topic, Vivia talks to Estie, after their stream had ended, as to what Ren could have been up to this week, being away from the home each day until late evening.

“Hey, Estie,” Vivia says, in a serious tone indicating to Estie that something important is on her mind.

“What’s up? Something to share?” Estie asks, curious about what could have Vivia serious for real.

“Erm, I just want to ask, to see if you know anything, but… Ren has been coming home late and, I wonder if you know anything. I mean, she doesn’t say anything about what she does, and I didn’t want to pry, but it has been all week that she comes home around half 8,” Vivia explains casually, showing not much worry but plenty of curiosity as to Ren’s mysterious outings. “So, do you have any idea as to what she could be doing?”

“Hmm, well, she hasn’t said anything to me but, guess you could find out as you live with her…,” Estie teasingly prods, indicating for Vivia to be upfront and confront Ren to find out the answer directly.

“Well, I don’t actually care about what she does privately, but she does come very late which is not usual, and just has me wondering… does she have a boyfriend?” chucklingly asks Vivia, knowing that it’s not the case, Estie looking disappointed before replying, “What a dumb question… I mean, where could she go to meet someone like that anyway. Especially since she hasn’t been here that long, right?”

“True,” Vivia says, thinking of other ideas to get to the heart of the mystery that has left her slightly irritated.

“Well, the only places she has been is with us on that day out last Saturday,” Estie reminisces, thinking of what could have Ren stay out so late before returning home.

“Did she find something…,” Vivia thinks hard, closing her eyes shut to focus as then, as if on queue, a flashback smashes her uncertainty as she says, eyes widening “Oh, I think I might know,” grinning mischievously.

Estie side tilts her head, questioning blankly, “Hmm? Do you know for sure?”

“Hehe, I totally know,” Vivia confidently states, clasping her hands, sipping her new cup of tea before answering clearly. “Well, don’t you remember the bakery we visited with her?”

Estie lights up with absolute certainty, “Ah! That’s it! That makes sense. Sweetsarie!”

Clicking her fingers with agreement, she replies conclusively, “Yes, that’s definitely the case. Afterall, I saw her face light up when she read the sign and looked into the store. It’s totally where she’s been going.”

Estie nods before ending the conversation so she that she can sleep for the night, “Right, well, you can go next week to find out if it’s actually true and then that’s sorted,” yawning and stretching in her gaming chair.

“Totally, I’ll see when I have time. Any case, have a great night. Bye-bye,” Vivia cheekily says, Estie replying in kind, “Pfft. Yeah, you too Mrs Melons.”

Budum.

The call ends.

‘Ha, Mrs Melons. Well,’ Vivia thinks as she giggles to herself, stretching also, ‘I’ll find out next week. The cats are calling for me tomorrow so, I’ll see next week whenever I feel like scouting Ren’s situation.’

She shuts the computer down before heading to bed, noticing that Renalia is already fast asleep, peering at the clock which read 11.38pm.

The first week of work has come to a satisfying ending for Ren, as then the next Monday rolls around.

On queue, Ren awakes at 6.30am, seeing Vivia asleep in drooling happiness as she quietly gets ready, with a full breakfast in her belly, leaving the apartment at 8.10am with music in ear, tune-humming her songs as she makes her way to a fresh new week of bakery work.

Ren begins her shift with a cheerful stride, as the hours pass by of dealing with customers with their plentiful praises and colleagues enjoying short moments of banter as they serve for the day.

One moment was a ball of laughter, which was a child being comically pulled back from trying to escape her mother, to run around the store in a childishly mischievous behaviour, several times in hilariously timed attempts. The face the kid pulled each time grew more and more desperate and annoyed, as the staff, including Ren, chuckled to then laughed aloud as if a funny cartoon scene had just played out in front of them.

Unbeknownst to Ren, on a Wednesday afternoon, a familiar face was sneakily peering through the shop window, out of her sight, as she helped a few costumers with an order.

‘Oh, so I was right. Ren, you have been found, you adorable thicky-cheeks,’ Vivia chuckles to herself, judging Ren’s uniform from what she can see from her perspective, as a few people walk by suspiciously curious as to what this weird woman was doing looking into this bakery.

She composes herself, leaving Ren to continue unaware of her presence, as she plots a way to tease Ren for a great laugh and make a great story for her viewers when she streams afterwards. ‘What to do…,’ imagines Vivia, thinking of how to get Ren to do something that’s not inappropriate for the business but is still embarrassing.

“So, you two want this and this,” Ren asks for confirmation on the customers’ orders, which both replied with a ‘Yes’, walking away with her little writing pad to complete the order.

She looks outside, thinking she saw familiar hair flow away from the right window, but the new customers entering in distract her from unimportant thoughts as she returns to professional-work Ren-mode.

After Ren returns home that Friday, Vivia asks her, “So, Rensie, wanna hang out tomorrow at the cat café?”

“Um, no thankyou,” Ren bluntly replies.

“Oh, I see,” Vivia says, in a deflated tone, then perks up immediately afterwards when she then responds, “Well, guess I can hang out with Estie as you um… chill on that chunky ass of yours.”

Ren rolls her eyes with a disappointed reaction, “Oh, you.”

“Hehe, well. I mean if you aint gonna hang out like last time, then I guess old company will be my only solace for the day. And Estie-vee will also miss you,” Vivia cheekily says, hand on hip before pointing at her waist, “and those too.”

Ren shakes her head at Vivia’s teasing grin, before walking past for the comforting press of the sofa’s pillows.

“Oh, want a tea?” Vivia asks, moving on from that interaction.

Ren says, looking over the sofa with total interest, “absolutely!”

Reacting with a thumbs up, Vivia makes a fresh batch of tea before handing Ren’s cup and taking hers to her gaming room, as she begins another late-night stream of chilling out as they play ‘Falling Flap’, a party-based game and then chatting afterwards.

Once again, Vivia asks Estie to stay behind, after Ammie leaves the server call room, to verify their suspicions on Ren.

“Right,” Vivia begins, “we were right, Estie. She does work at the bakery, for real.”

“Right, looks like we have a place to hang out, a-k-a, a new social spot to spend time with Ren, though, we’ll be the ones chilling,” Estie says, chuckling at the idea of seeing an embarrassed Ren as they poke harmless fun and jokes.

“Well, now that we know Ren’s reason for returning home late, any idea for what I could do to tease her?” Vivia asks cheekily, as teasing scenarios flood her mind.

“Hmm… what could work? How about we have her bend over?” Estie ponders, thinking of seeing Ren’s panties flash for the customers. Vivia rejects that proposal, stating, “Na, that won’t work. That’ll be too obvious as to what I would be intending to do.”

“You’re right, she is a clever girl,” Estie responds, Vivia immediately plays a Velociraptor sound effect as both girls giggle at the unexpected movie reference.

Estie then goes, “Oh, how about have her spin around? That’s harmless and is gonna embarrass our girl to the core.”

“Ah, perfect! That’ll be funny as hell, especially imagining her facial expression afterwards,” Vivia giggles, as Ren’s flustered facial reactions fill her mind.

“Haha. Please do tell me about it afterwards,” Estie comments, leaning back on the chair chuckling, “would love to hear what Ren said, cause I know it’s gonna be funny.”

Vivia agrees, “Yep, I’ll try and find a day to tease her,” chuckling to the hilarious idea. They finish their conversation as they both end the night with banter on the game they played for the late-night stream and goodnights.

As Saturday afternoon rolls round, Vivia heads to the pickup point for Estie as Renalia watches her leave the apartment, waving ‘see ya later’ before she disappears out of sight.

After several minutes pass, Ren just simply relaxes on the sofa, tired from this week’s work, but excited for the next one to begin after the recent memories fill her mind with sweet bliss.

Kuchin, goes the television, as the programme begins with her tea on the table.

Meanwhile, the two buddies get busy cuddling some cats after a little hangout in town, as they discuss the teasing Ren will inevitably experience.

“Cutie, oh you cutie,” Vivia giggles childishly, the cat in her hands above her head meowing as it purrs to the affection, though she is interrupted by Estie, who is curious over Vivia’s decision which distracts her from the cat on her lap. “Erm, I see you’re enjoying yourself there, but, got anything planned for our girl at your apartment?”

“Oh, erm, I have one main idea, but it’s all about timing,” Vivia comments briefly, trying to return focus on to the enjoyment in her hands. Estie continues, “Well, I have something that could be great,” letting the cat off her lap as she crouches down by Vivia.

“Oh,” looking at Estie, finally allowing for a clear-concentrated conversation, “please do tell. That was like a wizard’s line when the apprentice has something interesting to say,” jokes Vivia, Estie briefly chuckling before grabbing her attention for real.

“How about this? Just...” Estie then whispers into her ear something about a sitcom scene that would be the best for the joke.

“Ah! I love it, much better than what I had in mind,” Vivia compliments, a smug smile sweeps over both Estie and Vivia before comically getting jumped by several cats, to their accepting affection-seeking attention.

Ren, who was at home making herself dinner, makes herself a dinner, thinking about what she will be enjoying in the coming week. Work worth waiting for. Well, in her mind at least, unaware of the incoming storm.

The new week starts, Ren’s heart pumped to the max as she gets up, on queue, preparing for the week ahead. She heads to the bakery, mind fully focused on doing her best.

The first day almost is over, but unknown to her knowledge, someone had been watching for a little while. It was Vivia, deciding if it would be best to do the joke today.

‘Nope,’ Vivia thinks, disappointed at the customer crowd being too full, ‘I’ll try sometime this week.’

Another few days go by, and as Vivia tries a Wednesday afternoon, the lack of customers and opportunity bores her, calling this day a failure. ‘I’ll try again… maybe tomorrow,’ Vivia suggests to herself, going back home to stream for the day without mentioning anything to Ren after she returns home.

However, on a Thursday, as the morning rises, again on cue, Ren wakes up as 6.30 am reads on the clock, sitting up in bed. She passionately gets out of bed, preparing for another day at the bakery.

Again, as if scripted, Ren looks over to see Vivia is gently sound asleep appearing to be in paradise, so she quietly gets dressed before heading into the kitchen to make breakfast for another day ahead. She enjoys the meal, quickly tidying up her place and making herself a packed lunch, so she can hurry to the bakery to begin. She closes the door, as the sounds of enthusiastically quick-paced footsteps fade from the apartment.

After a short while, Vivia groggily gets out of bed, hobbling her way to he bathroom to waken herself up. After a usual morning routine of breakfast with a cup of tea, chilling casually with nothing planned for the day, she remembers briefly that Ren is working at the bakery. ‘Maybe, today is the day,’ she says to herself, casually enjoying a day with nothing to do, finally dressing for the occasion from her lazily picked out house wear, after lunchtime rolls around.

Thursday afternoon arrives, 12.45 pm, and Ren is waiting for new customers since the traffic of customers subsided by lunch time. As she waited around watching the store entrance, the staff dealing with their other duties, a familiar face walks in with a big grin on her face. It was Vivia.

Ren, by herself, watches Vivia approach the till with a smile of mischief which alarmingly captures her attention, chills run up her spine as she realised that she has deal with her by herself.

‘Oh no… what is she here for?’ Ren thought, suspiciously. “Hello, what can I get you, madam?” Ren asks politely, with a mask of annoyance.

“Hmm…” ponders Vivia, vexatiously, looking at the array of products, “I would like a Chocolate Triple slice, a Fango and some salted pretzels please.”

“Okay, are you eating in or out?” Ren questions, trying to maintain a professional attitude as her pending fear of something not right tries to come out. She naturally locates the chosen items, showing her new found skill to work the till.

Vivia smugly grins widely as she answers, “Eating in, please.”

“Sure, one moment,” Ren insists as she directs Vivia to her seat and table as she prepares the purchased items on a tray to serve. The growing suspicion that Vivia has something planned distracts her for a moment. ‘I feel… like Vivia is gonna do something that is going to embarrass me to hell,’ fearfully thinks Ren, refocusing her mind to serving the customer as to not lose track of her performance.

“Erm… enjoy,” anxiously says Ren, trying to maintain a professional posture and attitude. She tries to walk away, when Vivia springs her trap.

“Well, well, well. Looking real nice with that uniform,” grins Vivia.

“Oh, erm. Thank you,” blushes Ren in response.

‘Please, let me get back to work. Let me get back to work. This is giving me anxiety to what she is going to do now…’ Wishes Ren, afraid of the fear of teasing that Vivia has seemingly in store.

Vivia looks up to Ren, with a smug grin enveloping her face, “Just for me, give me a twirl?”

The sudden question answers all of Ren’s fears and suspicions as the words leaped from her lips.

‘AH!!!!!!!! This is what I was afraid of! She is going to embarrass me in-front of the customers. But I was told by the manager,’ Ren blushingly thinks, remembering the slogan, ‘The fundamental baseline for our job is to please the customer.’

Ren intensely blushes, before begrudgingly answering “Um… Do I have to?”

Vivia prods her by pressuring, “it’s probably in your job description,” to which Ren replies, after a huge gulp, “Sure.”

Ren embarrassingly twirls around, the skirt emphasizing the curviness of her waist and hips, to suddenly hearing the beep of a phone recording sound.

“Mmm… Now, that’s a nice shot!” Thumbs up Vivia, teasingly.

“Eh! Did you just take a video?” Ren reacts profusely, embarrassingly clenches her fists by her sides.

Vivia winks, “Content is content. I mean with an ass that protruding, you gotta take advantage of it at every turn. Hehe,” giggles Vivia, saving the video file to her favourites.

“Hmm! Well, not when I’m working!” Stoically affirms Ren, trying to turn around to get back to work.

Interrupting, Vivia cheekily teases, “No, of-course you do. I mean I take advantage of my babies,” bouncing her breasts with a proud, smug expression, “mainly during work hours to which I get greatly rewarded for it.”

Ren asserts with a dumbfounded expression, “That can be taken way out of context, especially here in a bakery!”

Laughing for a few seconds, Vivia continues, “Well, not really… since if you have it, why hide it? If it attracts wanted attention, just flaunt it. It’s great for business,” as she starts to enjoy her cake slice and drink.

Disappointingly staring at Vivia’s comments, Ren asserts, “flaunting my ass isn’t going to draw in customers, you know…” blushing at the constant conversational focus of her behind.

Vivia interjects, “Sure it will. Especially,” pointing at her butt, “given how the sweets here are just right to soften those cheeks further,” eating another bite of her cake.

Noticing the direction of Vivia’s pointing, Ren tries to get away from the topic, stating, “Are you making fun of me?”

Although, Vivia winks as she responds, “Oh, what gave you that impressions?” Ren dead stares, “You know, you sure are inappropriate in the middle of a staff member’s shift…” she prods, annoyingly.

To upset Ren further, Vivia intentionally responds with reasserting cheekiness, “How are compliments rude when it’s true? Y’know the saying,” wagging her finger, “Savoury for hardening muscles, Sweets for softening them cheeks,” she states as she enjoys her cake, “You didn’t know?”

“I’ve never heard of such a stupid saying before…” Ren suspiciously questions, offended by the stupidity of this so-called motto. Vivia smirks, giggling about Ren’s almost face-valued gullibleness, “Well, I did…” drinking the last of her Fango, “just make it up. Hehe.”

“Oi!” Renalia responds, offended at the silly game Vivia is playing during work time.

Finishing the last pretzel piece, cleaning up her place before leaving, Vivia laughs before saying, “This has been a trip that was totally worth it.”

Ren deflects, “More like this day has been ruined,” to which Vivia laughs aloud to the comical timing of Ren’s response, putting her purse away heading towards the door. She turns around to say, “You’ll remember this for days to come,” grinning shamelessly.

Responding with absolute certainty, Ren annoyingly states, “I wish to never remember this day, whatsoever!”

Vivia walks back home giggling to herself about what she did today, to a shouting chorus of Ren complaining when she comes home after her shift, as the end of the day drifts by for the next morning to arise.

That Saturday morning, Ren wakes up as 8.30 am reads on the clock, sitting up in bed, yawning and stretching as the morning sunlight seeps through the curtains.

Ren looks over to see Vivia is gently sound asleep appearing to be in paradise, so she quietly gets dressed casually before heading into the kitchen to make breakfast for a lazy day ahead. She felt tired yet fulfilled as the work had been mainly successful and enjoyable.

Ren is enjoying a fresh cup of tea, the heat of the kettle still steaming, as Vivia comes out of the bedroom with the last Friday stream still fresh in her mind.

“Good morning,” Ren greets.

Vivia giggles, “oh, good morning my healthy bum-mate,” poking her waist teasingly with her fingers.

Ren reacts, blushingly, “Erm Oi! I’m not a bum-mate!” Laughing cheekily, “You’re fun to tease,” Vivia says, Ren staring disappointingly as she watches Vivia prepares her tea.

Out of the blue, Vivia banters, “Well, my chat last night loved the bakery fun I told them last Thursday.”

The sudden direction of topic explodes Ren’s discomfort and self-consciousness as she abruptly raises her voice to the unwanted exposing of a private situation to strangers. “Eh! WAIT! You told them about that!?!?”

Vivia puts her hand over her mouth with a smirk, replying, “Oh-oh… but it was hilarious. Especially when you spun around with that skirt on and then blushed afterwards. Your face though… Pfft!”

Blushing self-consciously, Ren says, “Still, you told them something I didn’t want anyone to know! Especially how embarrassing that was…” placing both her hands at her crotch.

Reassuring her with some comforting news, “Hey, no-one knows what you look like,” Vivia comments, “Though, they do know…”

Looking stunned, Ren asks, “Know what…?”

“That you have one, big thick ass,” grins Vivia.

Angrily blushing, Ren blurts out, “MMM!!! What the fuck!?!?!”

Vivia bursts out laughing at the timing of her roommate’s priceless reaction. Moaning aloud, Ren continues on, “You really just did that? Your whole chat knows that I have a big butt…” clenching fists, “I’d hate to wonder what kind of image they have of me!”

Laughing at Ren’s defensive stance, “Calm down, Cheeky-Drum, they don’t know what you actually look like. It’s totally fine,“ Vivia assures as she giggles to herself, bouncing her chest with cheeky intent.

Vivia laughs away with tea in hand to her work room, as Ren angrily sulks for a while, blushing, putting on some music to calm herself down.

To brighten up Ren’s day, Vivia had text Estie to come round and hang out with her and Renalia to let Ren forget about the embarrassing moment that just occurred. So, that late afternoon, a knock at the door grabs Ren’s attention as Vivia answers.

It’s Estie.

“Yo, Vivia, Ren you cutie,” Estie happily introduces as she comes into the house, winking at Vivia to tell her all about that day since the stream was a solo one that Vivia did.

Ren’s face lightens up, “Oh, hey Estie.”

Vivia indicates the event for the day, “Heyya Estie, we hangin’ out today?” Ren catches onto the conversational direction, wondering where they’ll be going today.

“Hmm-hmm, sure, let’s,” Estie pauses, “go bowling!”

Ren smiles as those words echoed through the room, happily grabbing her shoes as Vivia slips hers on without questioning. “Sounds good, y’know. Smashing balls is a fun pastime of mine,” jokes Vivia.

Ren blankly stares with disappointed expectation at the bad pun Vivia just said, “Erm,” she monotones, “might need to rephrase that one.”

The three girls laugh together before they enjoy a few games of bowling to end the evening.

The last hours before home, they have a nice lunch at a restaurant, the food being quite the delicacy, before finishing off at a snack shop.

They all return home for the evening, saying goodbye to Estie as she heads off, before Vivia and Ren chill and reminisce about the recent time spent that day before clocking off to bed.

Good night, cheeky drums.

End of Chapter