His coffee came quickly and rose once he had heard his name, putting his phone in his pocket for the first time since he walked into the café. I wasn’t sure why I kept looking at him out of the corner of my eye, but I continued to stare. I stared long enough to see his face fall into an expression of annoyance, his brows doing that little furrowing thing, glancing up at one of my co-workers.
“This is a small,” I heard him say, his voice now low with irritation.
“Didn’t you order a small?”
“No, I ordered a large.”
“Well, the girl at the front counter told me you said a small.”
Sh¹t. I felt something jump in my chest as he stalked over, my posture stiffening when he set down his coffee rather hard. This was the only time I now didn’t want to look at him, avoiding his eyes, knowing that if he even caught me once, I’d be done. He cleared his throat and I bit my lip, my gaze now casted on the floor.
“Miss,” he said calmly, “you didn’t get my order right.”
I remained silent and practically sprang back when he leaned over the counter, his hands gripping either sides, now having no choice but to look into his eyes.
“I ordered one simple thing, and yet you managed to get it wrong? Really, really… please, tell me how that can be?”
It was one thing to be angry with me, but it was another to just full-on yell at me. Even as a kid, I talked back to my parents whenever they raised their voice. Sure I got a hell of a punishment each time, but there was just something about being shouted and yelled at that triggered a switch in my mind. I narrowed my gaze and found his eyes yet again, taking slow steps towards the counter. I did just as he did—I grabbed either side of the counter, teetering forward until we were leveled.
“You know, just because you wear a suit doesn’t mean you’re special.”
He pulled back slightly, studying my features.
“In fact, you could be the most important man in the world, but that doesn’t change that you’re an ¤sshole. No one screams in my face for no reason, and if a petty little thing like coffee is your reason, well, that’s just f×cking sad.”
I could feel the entire café staring at me. I turned to my co-worker, her mouth agape. To be honest, I couldn’t believe I just did that either.
“I guess I’m a really depressed person then, huh?” He scoffed quietly, turning away. He lifted his drink to his lips, watching me from behind his cup, before disappearing out the door.
I heard the sound of an impatient foot tapping and turned towards my co-worker again, who was now accompanied by my manager. He didn’t look too happy, not one bit.
“I’d like a word with you after your shift is over.”
I pulled my visor hat off and smoothed the crown of my hair with a hand before sighing, “Okay.”
ribcaged