Sorry for the wait! Good news is that I've finished this story, there's roughly 16 chapters and I'm thinking of adding an epilogue. Update will be fast when reviews are fast hahahas, same rules apply ^^

Anyways, thanks to willblossom33, runo and diamond heart 82 for the great reviews love you guys so much! And thanks to dan kuso for the reminder to update hahahas. In the meantime, hope you'll all enjoy this chapter! (:


"... I told you that I don't want to hear anything about Dan Kuso."

Julie, Alice, Mira and Fabia all exchanged worried glances as I placed my cutlery, losing my appetite at the mention of Dan Kuso. I gingerly wiped my mouth with my napkin, and was just about to get up when Julie held me back.

"Runo, he was trying to help you-"

"Julie! Enough!" I was almost at my limit.

I saw Mira frown and shoot me a disdainful look. "That's enough from you, Runo. We're all trying to help you. You ignoring Dan won't help the situation either."

"Besides, Dan was helping you. He kept those horrible messages away from you just so you wouldn't see them and be hurt," Fabia added, placing her hand on mine.

"I'm in this mess because of him," I muttered unhappily.

"The girls are right, Runo, you can't just leave matters hanging there and expect them to just be solved," Alice looked at me worriedly.

I knew these girls were right, but I didn't want to give in no matter what. I was adamant about my decision.

Not wanting to pursue the issue further, I grasp my opportunity to leave.

"I appreciate all of your help, girls, honestly. But wow, look at the time now, I need to dash, right now," Without waiting for anyone of them to give me an answer, I grabbed my bag and got up. "See you in school in two days!"

I quickly dashed all the way to the restaurant. I wasn't sure I was looking forward to the day, not when I had so much to bother about. Besides, it was bound to be a busy day, and to make things worse, who knows who I might even encounter? But then again, I highly doubt that I have such bad luck.

I caught sight of the long queue outside the restaurant when I was a few shophouses away. The queue stretched as long as three shophouses. I smiled as I made my way to the back door of the restaurant - Aunt Rikka and my parents were bound to be pleased.

I grabbed my uniform from the staff lockers and slid between the other workers who were busy preparing the last few pieces of cutlery. I slammed the door of the changing room and hung the uniform there, staring at it for a while and taking a deep breath.

"Relax, Runo, it's just for a few hours. It won't kill you," I assured myself by smiling sweetly to thin air. I rolled my eyes and huffed, letting my fringe fly up before muttering. "Well, a few hours for a few years everyday."

At the speed of light, I changed into my waitress uniform, slipping into matching sandals before darting out of the cubicle and dropping my foundation box before the mirror. I had to put on foundation, Aunt Rikka had specifically ordered, much to my dismay. Unhappily dapping the make-up, I then pulled my long blue hair effortlessly into two high pigtails. Looking at my own reflection, I was slightly disgusted by the cutesy image, but decided that I had to bear with it no matter what. I scanned the area, only to realise I was alone in the changing room, then hurriedly left.

I made my way to the entrance where Aunt Rikka let out a huge sigh of relief upon finally seeing me.

"Thank goodness, Runo. I was almost afraid you weren't coming! We need all the help we can get. And you're right on time too - we're just about to open the doors!" Aunt Rikka beamed brightly and pulled open the doors, and immediately people came flooding in through the entire restaurant, while I continuously bowed and greeted them.

Although it wasn't the first time I was working in a restaurant, I couldn't still help but feel jittery. Sure I had no problem taking orders and serving the dishes, but there was no guarantee nothing would go wrong. I could only bite my lip nervously and try to maintain my smile.

A while later, the queue had yet to shorten. Aunt Rikka had me go upstairs to assist the other waiters, and I did as she were told. Boy, it sure was a busy day as I darted about and tried to juggle between taking orders and serving the food. The customers weren't exactly helping much by eating slowly. Not that it was a crime, I understood that they wanted to savour the food... but what about the other customers?

I couldn't wait to catch my breath. But then again, on the bright side, being busy like this was helping me to not think about Dan. Oops, did I just think about him? I rolled my eyes and patted my cheeks, earning weird looks from a couple of colleagues.

I only laughed back nervously before rushing over to the corner of the restaurant where there were two ladies waving their hands in the air and trying to get some attention. I paused when I was just a few feet away from them, and to my horror, it was Jenny and Jewels.

"My," Jenny smiled slyly, slowly putting down her hand as soon as she caught sight of me. Butterflies burst into a flurry in my stomach as I feared just what the duo might do to me. I took a deep breath, before smiling back sweetly.

"Jenny, the food here can't be clean if she is serving it," Jewels raised an eyebrow before flipping her shoulder-length green hair arrogantly.

I clenched my fist and continued to force a smile. As my parents always thought me, customers are always right.

"Good afternoon, ladies, what may I get you?"

Both Jenny and Jewels gasped, blinking and not forgeting to show off their long eyelashes while they were at it.

"Jewels, is she talking to us?"

"Can't be! I never thought she would still have the nerve to talk to us after what she did!" Jewels exclaimed back.

I resisted the urge to give the two girls a slap and throw them out of the window beside them. I grabbed the sleeve of a random waiter who walked past me hurriedly.

"Help me with these customers, is it alright?" I asked.

The male blinked at me, before slowly nodding. Jenny let out a snort, flipping her hair while she was at it.

"What bad attitude! Shirking your responsibility. Are you not afraid that I'll report it to your boss?" Jenny wagged her finger at me.

The other waiter gave me a helpless look, while I shook my head and told him to leave the two ladies to me instead.

"Alright then," I took a deep breath and smiled in the most angelic way I could. "What may I get you two today?"

From the corner of my eye, I saw the two girls exchanging sly glances. Jenny began to tap her chin thoughtfully.

"I'll have a beef ramen. Oh wait, no! Maybe the chicken one."

"Jenny, you're on a diet, aren't you?" Jewels pretended to gasp.

"Oh yes! No meat, no meat," the maroon-haired girl flipped the menu furiously. "How about a cup of green tea?"

"We queued so long and you want just a green tea? You could have grabbed that at any random shop down the street!" Jewels protested.

"Oh, forget the diet! How about a salmon set?"

"Are you kidding me? Look at how great the portion is! You would put on more weight eating that than the beef ramen!"

It was amazing, the chemistry the two shared. I almost wanted to roll my eyes.

"Ladies, how about you two decide what you would like while I attend to the other customers? I'll get back to you shortly," I quickly brainstormed and thought of an idea to avoid that.

"Wait, wait! I know just what I want to have right now. I'll have a beef ramen and matcha ice cream!" Jenny said quickly.

"And I'll have the chicken curry rice and a cup of green tea," Jewels added, closing the menu and handing it to me.

I scribbled their order on my memo pad and was just about to leave when Jewels grabbed me by the arm.

"Don't forget to get us some napkins," the green-haired female smiled sweetly.

"And I want a fat-free matcha ice-cream! Do you think you could get me that?" Jenny continued, grinning widely.

"Oh yes, and I would like a straw too! Do you have a cup of cold green tea?"

I was really tempted to throw them out of the window.

"I'll do whatever I can," I simply answered, turning away. However, Jewels stuck out her foot, causing me to trip and collide with another waitress who was holding a bowl of ramen. The entire bowl toppled right on top of my head. I could've sworn the two girls were snickering.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" The other waitress apologised frantically as she helped me up.

"It's alright, it wasn't your fault," I glared at Jenny and Jewels. I handed my memo to the other waitress. "Could I trouble you to get these orders done while I go clean up?"

"Sure!"

I made my way towards the changing rooms. It was a terrible day of work, and I wasn't sure how much worse it could get. It was probably a good thing Jewels tripped me though- it gave me the chance to avoid them for a while.

After ten to fifteen minutes, I was clean again, and hurried out. The other waiters wouldn't have it easy if they were short of one staff. I felt guilty for having to let the other waitress handle Jenny and Jewels too. Sure they might not bully her, but she had been busy with other customers too.

I almost dragged myself over to Jenny and Jewels' table, only to be surprised. The two were no longer there. But there was some change on the table, which was just the right amount for what they had ordered.

I quickly looked for the waitress who had supposedly served them, asking her what had happened. I doubt that the two girls would have let me off that easily.

"A handsome guy turned up and was talking to them, and when he was done he left shortly. I guess they left after him," the waitress said dreamily.

A handsome guy, huh?

"Excuse me, could you take our order?" A man waved from another table.

"Coming!"

Whoever this guy was, he definitely was my hero.


Hmmm just who could this mysterious shining knight in armor of Runo's be? Could there be a new love rival for Dan? Or maybe it could be Dan himself? Stay tuned to find out!