บท 2: Normal day

As the hand touched my face, I could feel my head ringing. I looked at the person who is under fire. Why is she so mad? I mean what did I do wrong? I sighed, rubbed my face started to sting and burn and throb. That was a hell of a slap she gave me. She started to yell again and I sighed. Does she think I would hear what she said?

I look at her full of patience while pretending to listen to her. And one more slap landed on my right cheek. Adding more spices to the pain.

She yelled again, pointing her finger at me. She probably cursed me too. I looked at the man behind her. Doing nothing but eyeing me from head to toe. I smirked. Ah, so it's because of him.

And another slap touched my skin along with a grip on my hair. Ouch. It's hurt. I looked directly toward her and was finally able to catch a word from her.

"...slut!" Only that word. And she started yelling again and I couldn't hear anything else. But it's quite funny though.

"Lady, why are you so mad at me?" I asked her with a small laugh escaping from my mouth. She was about to give me another slap, but I was pulled behind by my manager as he tried to solve the problem. I rubbed my face with a laugh. This feels like shit.

"Apologise!" I looked up, and bow down my head and said,

"I'm sorry for doing...uhh what my mistakes again?" I stole a glance at her. Wow, she looked like she was going to have high blood pressure soon.

"You mother fucking slut! Do you dare to ask after flirting with my fiancé?! In front of me?!"

Huh? I stood straight as I think. Did I? I glanced at the man, who look like a pit bull dog and started to laugh. The whole restaurant was filled with silence and laughter.

"Me? Seducing this? Oh my, I see, I'm..pft...apologise for..pft...being pretty and seducing your dog."

I could hear a faints laugh somewhere but I couldn't even turn around as I think that I just fucked up. I looked at my manager, who are in red and shaking due to anger.

"You're fired," he said, slamming his face and bowing to the lady repeatedly.

Hah!

I took off the apron, and throw it to the lady, along with the tray that I'm holding through all of these jokes.

"Sure, have fun!"

She started to yell again but I could care less, walking out from the dining area to the staff room, and gathering my stuff.

Why are they so mad? If anyone is to blame, they should blame that dog. It's not like I was the one who grope his dick. He was the one who grope my arse, in front of his fiancé?

Now that I think, it is so absurd. I guess the fact hit me slowly.

You know what, now that I got fired, why not just do this.

I walked myself again back to the dining room, where the problem start. I could see the problem hasn't been solved yet, as the lady pushed the manager and approached me instead.

"Stupid bitch, I'm not done yet!" She started to slap me again.

"Me either..."

"What?!"

I sighed as I point my fingers to the corner of the ceiling. "One...two...three..uhh I'm sure there's more..." I spoke lazily, lock my eyes to hers, "There are some more surveillance cameras, and we also can check them now if you want to. And I think your table just now...it's pretty much shown up in the camera. If you want to, we can go watch them now. Should we call cop too?"

"Maddie, just apologise would you?" My manager said as he interrupted me.

"And just let the harasser be? He gropes my arse just now, but I am unable to defend myself at all because of this woman. Isn't that a little unfair?"

"What the fuck are you saying?" The man, who was muted for so long finally open his mouth.

"Should we solve this with the police? If I were right, then you need to pay me, compensation money for all the slaps you give me, and for of course, due the harassment too. Therefore, let's go to the surveillance room now, let's watch it together. To see the proof that..."

I walked closer to her, leaving one inch apart, and whispered "...I'm innocent."

I stood back again and give her a smile. "Of course, you need to pay me too, manager."

"Hu-huh?"

"Cause you're not even asking for the situation and just jump into it like it really is my fault. Like even if you think logically...why would I, seducing..." I looked into the man from head to toe and laugh, "...that?"

I heard another chuckle. Am I too loud? Or is the restaurant too quiet?

"Let's calm down..."

"I am though. I didn't raise my voice, nor raised my hands toward anyone..." I smirked.

"Yeah! Call the police now! Let's see who's right and who's wrong. And you..."

"Yeah yeah yeah, call them, Mr Pattison, we don't want to waste any time, right."

The manager fidgeted before going to the reception desk to call the police. As the man suddenly touched his fiancé's shoulder and said " Maybe we should calm down, baby..hm? Let's talk properly, hm?"

Heh! Funny...

After a few hours, everything was solved pretty well, I got a little money from three people. From the lady, from the man, and from the manager of the restaurant.

"You sure you don't want to file the case, Miss Iyves?" I shook my head and smile at the officer. I got my money already!

"I already talk to them and we already solved them properly. Thanks."

"Alright then, be careful. Don't wear something too revealing next time."

I smile as my eyes send them away.

I could hear the lady yelling toward the man. I mean, why bother to argue with me when you already saw it? What's the point of blaming someone else for someone else mistake

And...

I looked down at myself. Revealing? I laughed.

Which part of it?

I only wore a plain white shirt and blue denim jeans. Revealing? Where?

I moved my legs, slowly, thinking about what happened today...it was normal I guess. Being hit is nothing, being groped is normal...but it's the first time someone said that I wore something revealing. I'm lucky that I didn't get a panicked attack since we were in public. If that ever happened in a small copped room, I'm dead...but it's the first time someone said that I wore something revealing.

Interesting. So, if someone got r*pe, then it's their fault? Because they wore something too revealing? Not the rapist? If someone got killed, it's their fault, not the murderer? What kind of logic is that?

Fucking sexist!

"Fucking shit..." My hands moved backwards, as I gathered my hair and tied it up, " Well...at least I got some money..." I put my cap on and tucked it down to hide my face.

Finding a new job going to be rough.

I glanced at the family who just come out of their car.

The giggles...they sound happy.

But I couldn't help but felt envy. I wish your happiness turns ugly and broken, Ameen.

As the walk took about 45 minutes, I finally home, the smallest that I afford with my current finances. That sounds a bit wrong. Maybe I should say, the house that suits me the most. I glanced at the desk beside my bed.

The envelope that my dad left behind. I couldn't even bear to read it, so I left it hanging, like how he was.

The room is so quiet.

No.

The world...it's so quiet that I barely hear anything.

Or maybe I should say, that, I'm so broken that I am unable to hear anything. Or focusing on the sounds anymore. I can't even see any colours...I see them, but I don't want to acknowledge them.

I plop myself on the bed, took out my phone and started the job hunting.

"...housekeeper?" It's quite good. I can clean, I can cook, I can do chores and...the pay is quite good too.

"Hmm...around £580 per week, 6 days working day...Isn't that quite high for a housekeeper?" but it's kinda tempting too.

It won't hurt for a try, it's not like they would hire me up. Judging from my luck, the percentage would be rather 0.01%.

I change my seat at my study table and grab my red book.

I jotted down the paid-for calculation.

"Umm...If I worked for a month, then minus 4 days off, then it would 26 days, averagely..." Probably will get around £ 15 080 per month, minus the rent, "...uh, I forgot to pay this month's rent." I leaned forward to my handbag and took out the money that I got from the douchebags I met today.

Then I divide them according to my expenses and rent and savings. I will pay the rent tomorrow and saves some more.

I sighed.

"Where are we again...? Oh, yeah..then what would I get? Uh... minus £ 760 and expenses..."

It's still have balance?

I stared at my scribbles. It's a joke, right?

Of course, it is, but it's not like I would get the job. Whatever, I'm just going to apply for this one anyway.

After an hour of surveying and applying for a new job, I went to take a quick shower and fall flat on the bed. I rubbed my face, hoping it won't be swollen.

I wish I don't get a nightmare today...