As I walked further down the street, my eyes caught a signboard tucked near the corner of an alley.
"Looking for a part-time server at a café."
Without thinking too much, I stepped inside.
A small bell chimed as the door opened.
The place was warm-quiet, with only a few occupied tables.
"Welcome,"
A man, probably in his fifties, greeted me with a gentle smile from behind the counter.
I hesitated for a second before speaking.
"Uh... are you, by any chance, looking for a part-time worker?"
He studied me briefly-then nodded
The conversation didn't last long.
"Sure. You can start tomorrow."
Just like that.
The pay, however...
Wasn't exactly great.
But-
It was something.
So I agreed.
At least for now.
As I walked back, the cold evening air brushing lightly against my face, I pulled out my phone out of habit.
A small smile crept in before I could stop it.
I was giggling softly at a message Mark had sent. We had shared contacts earlier in the cafeteriafroze mid-step.Just then-
something caught my eye.
A small listing as I scrolled.
"Tutor for 8th grade student."
I almost ignored it-until I noticed the salary.
"WHAT THE-?!" I blurted out before quickly lowering my voice, glancing around.
"300$ per month.....That's a lot."
My eyes stayed glued to the screen, a bright, disbelieving smile forming without permission.
"Wait... seriously?"
For a moment, excitement bubbled up so easily it felt strange.
A job near campus, flexible hours, and that kind of pay?
Then-
just as quickly-
my expression dropped.I had already agreed to the café job.
And honestly...
This felt a little too good to trust right away.There was no address.
Just a phone number.
I pressed my lips together, my thumb hovering over the screen before locking it.
"Yeah... this feels suspicious.""I'll check it later," I murmured, locking my phone.
I slipped it back into my pocket and continued walking.
"But... if it is true... maybe I could give it a try," I muttered to myself, half-thinking, half-hoping.
My steps slowed slightly.
Back at home, I used to volunteer on weekends at the orphanage-
the same place I had once been raised in, before Mom adopted me.
A small, distant smile formed on my lips.
Teaching, helping with homework, playing with the younger kids...
Even while managing my own schoolwork, I never really minded it.
If anything-I had liked it.
"Good old days..." I whispered softly.
Before everything changed..after that.....accident.
The thought lingered longer than I wanted it to.
My gaze slowly dropped-
to my legs.
Still steady.
Still normal.
For a moment, I just stood there.
"...Right."
I exhaled quietly, forcing my thoughts to settle.