The Rabbit Hole Called Life

I look around. I'm surrounded by my classmates wearing their large gowns and weird hats while taking pictures and receiving gifts from their friends and family. Everyone chattered about which college they were going to and all of their plans and dreams they want to fulfill in life. Some of them were crying while hugging each other and some even started talking gibberish. Ah yes, graduation day. The worst day of my life. A whole day wasted on inspirational speeches and crying parents. A day where we throw our hats in the air for some reason I still cannot fathom. The precious day where we're basically being told, "Congrats on getting through the easier part of life, now good luck on your way to hell. (college, I mean)" Basically, it's a day where we're all reminded that 2-3 years from now you're going to be a full-fledged adult.

How boring.

I yawn and grab my phone. It's been a few weeks since the graduation ceremony and I'm still not quite sure what I'm supposed to be doing.

"If I don't choose a good college and some boring major I'll be looked down again..." I thought as I checked my phone for the time.

"8:30 am...my shift starts at 10:00 am, so I should probably get ready..." I muttered while slowly getting up from my bed.

And so, I started getting ready for my part-time job as a barista at a cafe. Though I dislike working, the barista position at the cafe I worked at is an exception since I don't have to work in some boring cubicle facing the computer screen for 8 hours straight. Neither do I have to deal with smoking high school students in a convenience store, so getting this job was a win-win situation (for me at least).

I finish my breakfast and get dressed in front of my standing mirror. I'm wearing a white blouse and some denim jeans. I don't want to dress too fancy, but not too casual either. Satisfied with my look, I grab my hair tie and tied up my long black hair into a ponytail. I get my stuff, put on some sneakers, head out of my apartment, and started riding my bike towards the cafe.

This is the order of events every single day. Wake up. Go to work. Go home. And sleep. Thus, the cycle repeats. Though it may sound boring to others, I love the repetition of my routine. I know what I should do next and it makes me feel in control of something in my life. I take a deep breath and admire the scenery I see every day. "If only it was like this all the time..."

I snap out of my thoughts as I got closer to my workplace. Finally, I arrived. It's currently 9:10 am. I'm about an hour early, but that's nothing new.

As soon as I enter the cafe, I'm greeted by a familiar face.

"Good morning Alice!" she greeted cheerfully.

"Good morning Ms. Ange," I said calmly

"Oh please, I told you it's fine to call me Ange," she pouted. "It's not like we're strangers or anything."

I looked at her with the same dull expression. "As my boss, it's only proper that I call you Ms. Ange," I reasoned.

She sighed and shook her head. "You're always so serious about this stuff aren't you? Besides, it's not like I'm that much older than you."

Well, that much is true. Although she IS my boss, we're practically the same age. The only reason she was able to open such a nice café at this age was because of her parent's money and support. I've got to admit I've always been a bit jealous of that. With her long and silky blonde hair, perfect face, body, and she's got the money to top it all off, who wouldn't want to be her?

Either way, I paid no heed to her reasoning. She knew that very well and changed the topic.

"Anyway..." she started.

"Anyway?" I asked.

"We've got a new employee today-" she said fidgeting with her fingers.

"No." I abruptly said.

"Oh, come on. He's new here so someone has to show him the ropes," she said.

"Exactly, and that someone is not going to be me," I replied.

"You have to do it," she said whilst turning her back on me.

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm your boss."

...

"Well sh-"

"Alright! That's that! You'll teach him a thing or two on his first day. If he has any questions, he'll approach you. Okay? Okay." she said, cutting me off.

"Damn it. What did I get myself into," I thought.

A few hours have passed since our conversation and it is currently 11:30 am. Where's the guy I'm supposed to train? Not here. Do I care. Not one bit. Then at that moment I heard someone entering the cafe.

"Welcome to...uh...huh."

I looked at the person who entered. He was a young man whose rather feminine face looked so flushed from running. His white hair was ruffled and the glasses that covered his bright blue eyes looked like they were about to fall off any minute now.

The newbie comes in an hour and 30 minutes later. I wonder why Ms. Ange even hired this guy. But unfortunately, he is now my problem.