Deja Vu [ Lilian Ashley ]
44. Jealous

MORNING was greeted with two cellphone notifications which were sent by Zack for two million rupiah. Ah, two million, the equivalent of my college monthly payment. These eyes could not yet glare in shock because life had not yet accumulated after waking up.

Inbox || Zack: I get a tip after work and maybe I'd better give it to you.

Tipping money that much, while my job tip is no more than four zero rupiahs. Perhaps, the more difficult the job, the more income earned.

I flicked my hair before I got out of bed and started preparing myself to go to college. As soon as I could, I arranged the basic supplies last night and as a result there was no time for breakfast. I hope Mama River sends me a bento like a child of her own. When I remember, when I was amnesiac, my life as an adopted child was very similar to what it is today. Until at any time, fate will still stick in whichever world is treaded.

When it was over, I opened the exit. Surprisingly, Zack greeted me with his haughty face. Supposedly, the guest is waiting in the main lobby and the security guard should not allow him to come here without contacting me first. I haven't listed Zack as a special guest list.

"It." A box of pizza was thrown at me. "I'll leave it for you."

As expected, a breakfast will come to me. I hesitated without a word. Kai always gives me anything directly, not a tip like this. After all, the lobby guard I gave Kai and River special permission to visit without having to wait for my review.

"Have you had breakfast?" ask me and get a nod from her. "Then I keep this in the fridge. Maybe we can eat together tonight."

After doing what I said, we both set off for the campus on foot.

"Zack," called me and she cleared her throat slowly to respond. "Every time you finish your job, how much money do you get?"

At our little lemon teahouse, Zack bought one for him. "Eitherway. I never ask for money after I'm done."

His right hand was small as he offered me tea. I think drinking acid on an empty stomach is very unhealthy for the stomach.

"Lantas, yesterday's money?" After asking while his mouth was still open, Zack stuffed a small piece of pastry out of the shop master's basket.

"I know, you haven't had breakfast." Apparently, he understood my condition from refusing the tea earlier. "Don't be too sensitive about money. If you want, I can make you retire with all the money I give you."

On the sidelines of the misbehavior in hearing the speech, I forgot to chew this choco chip-studded pastry. Zack grabbed my chin and clenched the mouth that was starting to touch this cake.

The journey continued until we arrived at our destination. Instead of saying goodbye, the man actually entered the campus and photographed many facilities using a camera hidden in a hoodie pocket.

"Why photograph this place?" I was standing right in front of the camera pointing to the big clock on campus.

THE CHUCK!

"What a beautiful facility this place," he praised as he looked at the results of my face shot. "The rector here asked me to document his campus, because my portfolio is pretty good for him."

"Portfolio? And since when did you meet my rector?"

"Since the first time I've been here." Zack looked at me with his eyes. "Look at my social media, I'll give you the address."

Let's say I give and say goodbye. I went to class and went straight to Kai on the front bench who was fiddling with a cell phone while eating toast.

"So, you give me pizza through Zack?" ask me and wait for a long answer due to his full mouth.

"Gue isn't nitip," Kai replied after slightly choking. "Gue came to your apartment, brought pizza, let us and River eat together."

It was our habit, eating together.

Kai took out a fizzy drink from his bag, then continued, "But, I intercepted Zack in the lobby. He said, let him love you. I don't want to check, the haw is not good to continue. And I finally called River not to go to your apartment."

"Oh." I nodded and went to the back bench.

The class began, and in the middle of the lecturer's explanation, a flash of light flashed my gaze. Apparently, at the very end of the window was Zack who was waving a little after taking pictures of my class.

When the break time, I did not see the whereabouts of the guy in the vicinity. So, I went to the cafeteria just with my girl friends.

"Hi, sister," said a guy in checkered motifs who might be a freshman. "Sorry, I was sitting here and my HP was gone."

After hearing that, I immediately got up. However, this guy forbade me and said, "If it is sought like this, it will be difficult. So, can you please just call my number?"

My friends become glanced due to julid and understand that there is a smell of mode that they end from this guy. Since I didn't want to be looked upon as evil or a bad level brother, I decided to accept his request.

"How many numbers?"

A white-skinned hand was placed on my cafeteria table to support the body of the master with the sound of a small buzz. Another hand was thrusting a cell phone at the guy to offer help. Apparently, Zack was back by my side.

"No," said the man and immediately left the cafeteria.

I sat back down and pulled Zack slowly to come sit with me. In the end, we had lunch together and I had to introduce him to my friends. We were all chatting and apparently, Zack was in the rector's office to take care of the documentation.

Next, the general class and the period of entering the art club returned. I'm quite active in following the club, I don't know what my true purpose is. When I was about to do my latest work progress, suddenly the art mentor came by bringing a guest. Yeah, again Zack. Somehow he could stand around me unexpectedly.

Smeua became a member of the club sitting in a row and Zack was introduced as a great painter and traveling photographer. Surprised, only a guest, yet welcomed like this. But, good, I'm pretty proud.

"This Mr. Zack, he's just a palette knife user and has never held a brush in painting his works. Later you can see in the campus forum, how the exhibition of his paintings is very amazing," said the mentor proudly.

Many artists only draw with special media. I think it is too much for the mentor to welcome the guest. Geez, my thoughts are too negative in thinking about my own lover.

"Hey, Ashley." The sound of hiss coded calling came from the guy behind me. "I see, you brought a hack in your tote bag. Can I borrow it for a minute? I want to see the forum now."

I agreed and took the charger out of the bag. Just now that my body was spinning, my clubmate was smiling stiffly in showing the charger that was in his hand.

"If you need anything, just say it."

My head looked up and realized that Zack was standing next to my friend. Then, she stepped away before smiling and touching my hair softly. My feelings became tense, like there was horror all around. Zack's entire lecture hours accompanied me non-stop. A little happy, because I know that she's showing her good faith as a lover. Maybe, during the day he has no job so fill time for me.

When I get home and want to go to work. Zack is like a magnet to me.

"Overnight, you work and you don't sleep?" I asked when we were on our way to the cafe.

"Not really," replied Zack. "I slept in a park chair a few minutes before picking you up this morning."

My head tilted for a moment. "Multiple minutes? Really?"

"Maybe an hour or so, you don't need to think. I'm fine."

"Have your eye bags so dark" I said, smiling. "Maybe, you can take a day off to sleep."

"Sleeping outside is very uncomfortable, Ashley. Therefore I prefer to keep busy myself," Zack replied after helping in clearing the shoots of my head from the dry fallen leaves. Not only did I open my mouth to ask, he said, "I'm not interested in finding a place to live here. No other reason."

Confused, unable to say anything more. I can't understand this guy's mind.

"It seems you don't understand what I mean." My head was softly glued by him when we reached the cafe.

No, I have to understand what other than her strangeness in deciding to become homeless? That's what I thought about all the time, putting on the uniform and positioning myself behind the front door. My eyes did not find the whereabouts of Zack who had entered the cafe earlier than me.

My body turned and found that OJ or my manager had greeted Zack with his side. I know they know each other and look familiar, but isn't OJ in a plot with the cate organization? Stranger thing, Zack was wearing an employee uniform and I started to remember how I first found out his name in another parallel world.

"Hello, Manager," I said back.

"I'm sorry, Ashley. Your position as a customer greeter will be transferred to a temporary barista" said OJ.

"So, am I with Vin?" I asked and made Zack's gaze become unworn for me.

From the barista place, Vin gave a piece of sign coolly towards me and went to the kitchen. No wonder the girls idolize him with such a face.

"He'll be with Kurt in the kitchen" the manager continued.

Without speaking again, I went through the orders and stood behind the barista table while watching Zack take my starting position. How could he get this job in such a short period of time?

It's not the first time for me to be a barista in this cafe. Sometimes, Vin has to help other colleagues and I take his place for a while. After all, it is not too difficult to provide a small menu or serve payments at the cashier. I think I'm encouraging myself.

"Why did you become a barista? Up the story?" Megan asked as I handed her the espresso for the customer's order.

My head shook. "Try asking our manager."

"Lo if asked even so, Ashley base," Megan said with a frown and went straight to the customer section.

For a while, I watched Zack who had been given direction in welcoming immigrants by the Manager, now become independent. His body was slightly bent and the right palm was attached to the heart area. His greeting was very much like a prince to a king. I remember in another parallel world where he replaced me as a guest greeter.

"Ashaley!"

I automatically turned my head and saw Vin's head emerging from behind the recess of the wall on the road to the kitchen.

"Say River was sick. The waiter is reduced, so mending lo are taking customer orders and the barista guard cave. In the kitchen, it doesn't take much of a cave," Vin said.

It was only fitting that River was invisible from earlier. Maybe I can see him later.

Simultaneously, Vin stood in my position, while I took a notebook and a tray and walked over to the customer who had just sat in an empty chair. I just realized that today the visitors are very crowded, as is not usual. This kind of crowd only occurs at night, usually filled by tipsy people from clubs near here. Serving customers like this, is definitely more tiring.

"Excuse me."

Just as I was about to go to Vin to ask for an order, a customer sitting with his friend had raised his hand and called out to me. I approached and offered to help politely.

"Is this really vanille tea?" ask the customer.

"Lo did it anyway, that's it. It won't work" whispered the man in front of the customer.

To my knowledge, each drink will be given a different glass. Vanille tea is like that. So, there's no way I or Vin could have provided this drink wrongly.

"Forget it," the customer continued, while the friend in front of him chuckled. "I just want to ask ..."

Seen his hand that reached into pocket clothes.

"That's true vanille tea." Suddenly, Zack appeared next to me. "What are you asking for? Could it be for me?"

The atmosphere became awkward and the two customers started whispering while throwing obscure codes.

"Oh real vanille tea. And I didn't ask for anything from this mother" she pointed at me politely.

"If you can tell, what are you asking for? Can I get it," Zack asked.

The customer shakes. "Ah no. I just want to know this mbak social media. Sorry ...."

Zack and I lowered their heads in a sign of respect, then my feet stepped onto the barista table to pick up the order I had just written. Just stepped a few times, a small groan was heard but managed to make me turn to the origin of the voice.

The customer I just left has spilled hot vanille tea on his shirt. The small glass fell on the spot, as if it had been knocked away. I saw Zack's back still running near the customer. It seems, he was the culprit.

"Will that person protest?" whispered Vin behind me.

"I don't think so," I replied as I handed her the order paper. A few minutes later, Vin gave the cheese cake and soda joy. "Don't tell the manager in the room, yeah."

Vin raised both eyebrows, and I turned around.

The exhausting day became short and over. Zack always met me in front of the alley, now we are together out of the employee door. Does he never feel exhausted if he works day and night like this? Moreover, his main job was extremely dangerous.

"So, you're the one who nudged the customer's tea, huh?" ask me when we've crossed at the zebra cross.

He looked towards me. "I'm just a little jealous."

Hearing his words, I turned my head. Quickly also the growth of his feelings for me. I know that he's the guy who worries me the most, like he was trying to save my life. My hope of his joy returning to the way it used to be, has now begun to be seen and I did not expect it at all.

But, in the midst of this happiness, there was something stuck in my mind. I don't know what it is, I find it hard to know. I felt like there was one thing I had forgotten. My amnesia is gone, so what have I forgotten?

"It's okay, I apologized to him. Don't think too much" said Zack, holding my hand.

Both corners of my lips lifted as a result of feeling a little relieved. "By the way, how could you be so quickly accepted to work in a cafe?"

A cell phone is released and on the screen there is a CV. "I applied over the internet and it was confirmed immediately."

Not like me who applied for a job by way of interview first and the process took days.

"Aren't you tired if you work day and night?" I asked after Zack put his phone in his pocket.

"No. After all, my dark job is only done at the request of superiors who are rarely given," Zack said.

"So, you didn't take your life ..."

My words were cut off as he stopped stepping and brought his face closer to me until our noses almost touched. His lips grinned, as if they were threatening.

"We're in a public place, Ashley," he said.

"Sorry." I was in a hurry to change the subject. "By the way, we'll have dinner in my apartment, how about it?"

"The pizza you promised me this morning?" Zack is back in his normal position.

"Yes, would you?"

"certain."

...- ♧ -...