Chapter 21

(That evening)

(Morena returns home)

Morena: Good evening uncle.

Uncle Roberto: Welcome back Morena, How was work today?

Morena: It was alright.

Uncle Roberto: Go and freshen up then you can have dinner. Prawns and cocktail.

Morena: Uncle, I'm really allergic to prawns.

Uncle Roberto: Ohhh, Well then, Your aunt is making lasagna, You can go have some later.

Morena: Alright sir.

(Meanwhile, In the kitchen, Aunt Maria eavesdrop on their conversation)

Aunt Maria: So that girl is allergic to prawns? Perfect!

(She takes some prawns, grinds it very well then pours it in the lasagna)

(That night)

Uncle Roberto: So Morena, I wanted to ask you something about the restaurant you work in?

Morena: Go ahead uncle.

Uncle Roberto: How is the restaurant? Is it productive?

Morena: Yes sir, it is. We get numerous clients daily.

Uncle Roberto: How about your colleagues? You do relate with them very well, Right?

Morena: Hmm...All except one.

Uncle Roberto: Who?

Morena: Cecilia. She's a thorn in the flesh. Ever since I got a job at the restaurant, She never liked me.

Uncle Roberto: Well, I'll advise you to ignore her and focus on your work. Everywhere you go, You must surely meet both good and bad people. It's impossible for everyone to like you.

Morena: Yes Uncle, I'm aware.

(Aunt Maria enters the dining room)

Aunt Maria: Dinner's ready.

Uncle Roberto: Yay!

Aunt Maria: (shouts) Juan! Juanita! Come down for dinner!!!

(Juan & Juanita enter the dining room and Aunt Maria serves them the lasagna)

Morena: (takes a bite) Aunt, It's so delicious.

Aunt Maria: (fakes smiles) Hmmm...

Morena: So Uncle, As I was saying.... (coughs)

Uncle Roberto: Are you okay?

Morena: Yeah, I think so

Uncle Roberto: Sorry. Maybe we'll continue with our conversation later, You shouldn't talk while eating.

Morena: Ok sir (she coughs harder)

Uncle Roberto: Morena, What's wrong?

(She begins to cough uncontrollably)

Uncle Roberto: Juan, Bring her a glass of water!

(Juan does as instructed and gives her a glass of water and she gulps it down)

Morena: Thanks. (She looks at her hand and notices rashes) Oh my God...

(Aunt Maria smiles in satisfaction)

Juan: (shocked) What's happening?

Juanita: As you can see, It's rashes.

Morena: It's itchy!!! (screams) AHHHH!!!!

Uncle Roberto: Sorry!!!

(Morena starts scratching her hand uncontrollably)

Uncle Roberto: (To Aunt Maria) Call Dr Hector, Now!

Aunt Maria: Ok darling (fakes sadness) Ohhh, Poor Morena...

(Later that night)

Uncle Roberto: So Doctor, How is she?

Dr Hector: It's alright sir, It's just a minor problem. She ate a food that she was allergic to that's why she was coughing but she'll be fine.

Uncle Roberto: Thank you very much Doctor.

Dr Hector: (smiles) I'm just doing my job.

Uncle: We really appreciate.

Dr Hector: I should be on my way now, Sir. Goodnight.

(He leaves the house)

Uncle Roberto: Sorry Morena. Maybe you're allergic to one of the ingredients in the lasagna.

Morena: Probably.

Juan: (hugs her) I'm glad you're okay.

Aunt Maria: Me too. I was so scared.

Uncle Roberto: Get well soon...

Morena: Thanks.

Uncle Roberto: (to the others) We should leave her to rest. (To Morena) Goodnight.

Morena: Goodnight uncle.

************************

(Next Morning)

Morena: Good morning uncle.

Uncle Roberto: Morning Morena, How're you feeling now?

Morena: I feel a lot better. Thanks.

Uncle Roberto: Just be careful of what you eat from now on.

Morena: Yes sir.

Uncle Roberto: Take this for transport... (He gives her $100)

Morena: (suprised) $100? (She hugs him) I'm really grateful sir.

(Later that day)

(At Chuks restaurant)

(Mr Rodriguez enters the kitchen)

Mr Rodriguez: Andrew, Where's everyone?

Andrew: They're not here sir.

Mr Rodriguez: I can see that they're not here! I meant where did they go?!!!

Andrew: Morena & Nina went out for deliveries, Daniel, Cecilia & Alicia went to get more food items and today's Rafael's day off.

Mr Rodriguez: Alright then, I'm really hungry. Make me French fries and toast... I don't want them soft, When you're done, Bring it to my office.

Andrew: Okay sir.

(Andrew makes the food and goes to give Mr Rodriguez)

Andrew: Here's your food sir.

Mr Rodriguez: I hope it's not soft?

Andrew: No Sir. I made them hard.

Mr Rodriguez: Good.

(Andrew leaves his office and returns to the kitchen)

Andrew: Morena, Nina. You're back already?

Nina: Yup.

Morena: You made food for a client?

Andrew: No. For Mr Rodriguez.

Morena: Andrew, You need to learn to arrange what you use to cook. Everywhere's a mess.

Andrew: (sighs) I'm on it...

(Just then, Mr Rodriguez angrily enters the kitchen)

Mr Rodriguez: Andrew! What's this?!!! (shows him the food)

Andrew: I don't understand sir.

Mr Rodriguez: The French fries and toast are so hard, I almost lost a tooth while eating them, You need to improve on your cooking!!!

(He looks around the kitchen and sees Morena)

Mr Rodriguez: Morena, Since you're back, I want you to make me French fries and toast. Make them hard but not too hard.

Morena: Okay sir.

(Cecilia goes to meet him)

Cecilia: But sir, I can make it for you....

Mr Rodriguez: No, Don't stress yourself. I want Morena to make it.

(Cecilia angrily goes back to sit down then puts her earphones in her ear)

Mr Rodriguez: Morena, Hurry up and make it.

Morena: Yes sir.

(He leaves the kitchen)

Andrew: What's wrong with this man? He said he didn't want the French fries and toast soft and I made them hard and he's still complaining.

Nina: (sighs) Some people are never satisfied.

Morena: Yeah, Mr Rodriguez complains a lot, He expects everything to be so perfect.

Nima: Well, Life isn't a fantasy world. He should get used to imperfections!

Morena: Exactly. No one is perfect, Even Mr Rodriguez isn't.

Andrew: Shhh...Cecilia's here

Nina: Its alright, She can't hear us. She has earphones in her ear.

(Unknown to them, Cecilia has been listening to their conversation and she records everything they say)

************************

(That evening)

(At the dish washing area)

Nina: I'm so tired.

Morena: Yeah me too.

Nina: What's worse is that I'm working a night shift with Andrew today.

Morena: Oohhh, I sense something romantic's gonna happen.

Nina: (sighs) Andrew and I are just friends.

Morena: (smiles) Hmm...That's what's they always say.

Nina: Well its true in my case.

(Pascaline enters the dish washing area)

Pascaline: Morena, You have a client.

Morena: Alright. (To Nina) We'll talk later.

(Morena goes to meet her client)

Morena: Good afternoon ma, May I take your order?

Woman: I'd like a medium sized burrito.

Morena: Okay. Your order will be with you in 5 minutes.

(Morena enters the kitchen and sees Cecilia searching through her handbag and removing her money and mobile phone)

Morena: (shocked) Cecilia! What're you doing with my bag? (confused) What the...Why're stealing my money and phone?

Cecilia: I'm not stealing it, I'm taking it!

Morena: You're taking it?

Cecilia: Yes! And I'm gonna sell the phone!

Morena: (angrily) If you don't hand me back my money and phone right now, I'm gonna...

Cecilia: You're gonna what?! If try anything funny, I'm gonna report you to Mr Rodriguez and tell him that you and your cohorts insulted him and called him unprintable names!

Morena: What?

Cecilia: Yeah that's right. And I have evidence!

(Cecilia plays the video recording of Morena, Nina and Andrew talking about Mr Rodriguez)

Morena: But Cecilia, You don't have to do this. That money is all I have and the phone is the only way I can communicate with my family and friends.

Cecilia: Do you think I give a fuck? (She puts Morena's phone in her pocket) Listen, If you tell anyone about this then you can say goodbye to your job.

Morena: But I went through hell to get this job...

(Cecilia ignores her continues searching through the bag and she removes all the money in it)

Cecilia: Okay good. That's all the money.

Morena: Cecilia please....

Cecilia: (hisses) Get out!

(Cecilia pushes Morena aside and leaves the kitchen)