Second Hand Waitress

Tesah pulled his car into the driveway, a bottle of vintage wine nestled in a carrier bag on the passenger seat. He’d been meaning to catch up with Ramon for weeks, but work had been relentless. He’d tried his old downtown apartment a few times, only to find it empty. Ramon had mentioned something about moving, but hadn’t given him the new address. It had been frustrating; Tesah valued Ramon’s friendship, a grounding connection to a world far removed from his own. Ramon was one of the few people who saw him, not Tesah Clover, the CEO, but just Tes.

He grabbed the wine and stepped out of the car, a smile playing on his lips. He could hear the laughter and chatter from inside, a welcome sound after a long day. He rang the doorbell, and a few seconds later, Ramon opened the door, his face lighting up.

“Tes! You made it!” he exclaimed, pulling Tesah into a warm embrace.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Tesah replied, handing him the wine. “Sorry I haven’t been around. Things have been crazy at work.”

“Tell me about it,” Ramon chuckled. “Becky and I have been meaning to call you too. We have some big news.”

“Oh yeah?” Tesah raised an eyebrow. “What’s the occasion?”@@novelbin@@

Ramon grinned. “You’ll see. Come on in.”

He led Tesah into the living room, where Becky was waiting. She greeted him with a warm smile and a hug. “Tes! It’s so good to finally meet you!”

“Likewise, Becky,” Tesah said. “Ramon’s told me a lot about you.”

“All good things, I hope,” she teased.

“Only the best,” Tesah assured her. He noticed the sparkle in her eyes and the diamond ring on her finger. “Congratulations!” he exclaimed. “I take it this is the big news?”

“We’re engaged!” Becky announced, beaming.

Tesah raised his glass. “To the happy couple! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.”

They clinked glasses and took a sip of the wine, the conversation flowing easily. Tesah was genuinely happy for Ramon and Becky. He’d seen how happy they made each other, and he knew that Ramon had found someone truly special.

“So,” Tesah asked, turning to Ramon. “Where have you been hiding? I went by your old place a couple of times, but it was empty.”

“Yeah, we moved,” Ramon replied. “We found a bigger place. It’s great. More room for Becky’s… uh… expanding wardrobe,” he added with a wink.

Becky playfully swatted his arm. “Hey! My wardrobe is perfectly reasonable.”

Tesah laughed. “So, this is the new headquarters?” he asked, gesturing around the comfortable living room.

“Yep,” Ramon said. “What do you think?”

“It’s great,” Tesah replied. “Really nice.”

As they chatted, Tesah couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Ramon seemed a little…distracted. He kept glancing towards the hallway, as if he was expecting someone.

“Is there someone else joining us?” Tesah asked.

Ramon hesitated for a moment. “Uh, yeah, actually,” he said. “There’s a friend of mine, my roommate. She… she stepped out for a bit. She’ll be back soon.”

“Oh, okay,” Tesah said. He didn’t press the issue. He figured he’d meet Ramon’s roommate eventually.

The conversation continued, but Tesah’s mind was elsewhere. He was curious about this roommate of Ramon’s. He’d never heard him mention her before. He wondered what she was like.

Meanwhile, Kira was walking aimlessly through the quiet streets, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She felt exhausted, both physically and emotionally. She couldn't understand why she was so tired. She’d worked double shifts as a waitress, running back and forth between tables, carrying heavy trays, and she’d never felt this drained. It wasn’t just physical; it was a deep, bone-weary exhaustion that seemed to seep into her soul.

She replayed the scene at Ramon’s apartment in her mind, the sudden realization that Tesah was coming, the wave of panic that had washed over her, her hasty escape. She felt a pang of guilt for leaving so abruptly, for making up such a lame excuse. She knew Ramon and Becky would be disappointed. But she couldn’t face him. Not yet.

She wondered what they were doing now. Was Tesah there yet? Had Ramon mentioned her? What would they say when they realized she wasn’t coming back?

Kira sighed. She was making a mess of things. She was acting like a coward, running away from her problems instead of facing them. But she couldn’t help it. The thought of seeing Tesah, of having to pretend that everything was fine, was too much to bear.

She wondered what he thought of her. Did he even think about her at all? Or was she just a fleeting memory, a one-night stand that he’d already forgotten?

She wished she could just erase the whole thing from her mind, pretend it never happened. But she knew she couldn’t. It was a part of her now, a secret that she would carry with her, a reminder of her own vulnerability.

As she walked, she thought about her life, her dreams, her aspirations. She’d always been a strong, independent woman. She’d overcome so many challenges, worked hard to get where she was. But lately, she’d been feeling… lost. Unsure of herself. The encounter with Tesah had shaken her confidence, made her question her own judgment.

She knew she needed to pull herself together. She couldn’t let this one incident define her. She was stronger than this. She was Kira, a survivor. She would face this, just like she’d faced everything else. But not tonight. Tonight, she just needed to be alone, to process everything that had happened, to gather her strength.

She finally reached her apartment building. She went inside, took the elevator up to her floor, and let herself into her small but cozy apartment. She kicked off her shoes, changed into her pajamas, and collapsed onto her bed. She closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind, but the image of Tesah kept flashing before her eyes.

She wondered what he was like in real life, outside of the boardroom. Ramon had said he was a good guy, but she’d only seen the CEO persona, the powerful, intimidating man who commanded respect and attention. She wondered if there was another side to him, a more vulnerable side. She doubted it. He seemed so controlled, so self-assured. She couldn’t imagine him letting his guard down.

She thought about Ramon. He was such a good friend, so kind and supportive. She felt guilty for keeping this secret from him. She knew she should tell him, but she was afraid of his reaction. She didn’t want to cause any trouble between him and Tesah.

She drifted off to sleep, her mind still racing, her heart still heavy. She knew she couldn’t avoid him forever. Sooner or later, they would have to face each other. And when that time came, she would be ready. She would be strong. She would be Kira.