She ran through the corridors while tears started to flow in her cheeks. That jerk Arthur! He has no right to order me to lie! And he doesn't need to yell! I can hear perfectly fine! Maria ran without even looking where she was going until she bumped into someone. She bowed down apologizing many times and when she finally looked up.
"Scary!" she gasped so loud. The man was tall, had blonde hair and blue eyes, although, he looks like he was going to kill someone.
"What?" the man said
"Eep, why did you say that, I have been trying not say that to him and you just spit it out like it was nothing, now you made him angry" a trembling man came forward. He too had blonde hair but has violet eyes and his face wasn't scary, unlike his companion.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry!" she bowed her head again.
"It's alright. My name is Berwald and this is my wife, Tino" he presented the man that was with him.
"Don't be silly, why would you say something like that" he said in a terrifying manner.
"Oh my name is Maria, I represent the Philippines" as she extended her hand to Tino.
"Oh yeah, the new girl, I'm Tino or Finland"
"Finland? Santa's home?"
"The one and only"
"Cool!" She turned to talk with Berwald but she was still scared of him, but thinking of how she was rude a moment ago, she decided to gather up her courage and talk to him, even if it was in a frightened manner. "So Berwald, which country are you?"
"I am Sweden"
"Oh" she was still scared of starting up a conversation until Finland put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, he may look scary and intimidating, but he is actually a nice guy" Tino whispered in her ear.
"Hey you Maria, why are you crying" Berwald noticed that there was still tears in her eyes.
Maria couldn't say that she and the Student Council President made her cry because of her stupidity in spilling everything on Elizabeta, that would stir up questions. "Uhm, I bumped into a wall really hard and fell on my butt"
The statement made Tino laugh, but not too much. "That must really hurt".
The three of them were at the school's garden, where there were benches, and beautiful flowers surrounding the campus. There was also a fountain in the middle of the huge garden. They sat down in one of the bench and Berwald hands Maria some hot cocoa. "Here, this will make you feel better"
"Thank you Berwald" Tino is right, he is very nice. I guess you really shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.
"You shouldn't be running around the hallways at this hour, creepy Mr. Russia might get you" commented Tino.
"Ivan is actually a really nice guy, like Berwald here" she chuckled earning a shock from Tino.
"What?" asked Berwald. Wow, good thing he couldn't hear very well or I might as well be dead.
"Really? Mr. Russia is nice?"
"Yeah once, you get to know him better"
"But he's still scary"
"I know" and with that both of them laughed their hearts out.
When Maria was walking home, she tried her hardest to forget Arthur, and tried to think about her newfound friends. When she reached her door, she looked at Elizabeta's room. If she was there she would want to confirm that Elizabeta would spill nothing about what she had said earlier. Unfortunately, the lights were out. It's still early, And I know she's not asleep, so she must be out. Then Arthur's face rang into her mind when he was shocked learning that Elizabeta is Maria's neighbour, but when he was in Maria's room, he perfectly said that he knew all the student's rooms. He's likes you said her conscience. No way she said. Really, now? Then why would he want to learn about your address? Whilst he did not know others? Why would he bring you to your room when you fainted? It will take him a great deal of time to look for your address after you fainted and you were in need of medical help. He could have just brought you to his room and looked after you until you woke up. "Shut up, brain"
"Talking to yourself is bad for your health, Maria" Elizabeta said as she was leaning on the balustrade, judging from her baggage she went shopping and it hit Maria. Oh god, I forgot to shop! But first, I have to confirm that Elizabeta hasn't told anyone yet.
"Uhm, Elizabeta?"
"Yes, Maria"
"Have you told anyone about what I said yesterday?, you know the omen stuff?" Elizabeta shook her head. "Thank God"
"Why do you ask?"
"I just don't want to trash the Magic Club's reputation, even if it has put my life in danger"
"Oh, well then don't worry, I won't tell a single soul"
"Thank you .. Oh I better get going I still need to go to the grocery" and quickly heads to the grocery store.
"Hurry! It's closing time already!"
"Will do!"
"Oh bollocks" she said as she was standing in front of the grocery store. Fuck! I'm starting to sound like Arthur, God, I don't have any food left in the refrigerator, how am I going to eat? There are no stores left open. She just sighed and decided to go back to her dorm. While making her way back, some thugs approached her.
"Hey there little girl, wanna have some fun?" a man with a spiky hairdo came to her. Maria backed up a little bit, but she bumped into something or someone. A big man, very muscular and pretty much has a weird face grabbed her shoulders before Maria could even run.
"Come on now, little lady, we could show you a piece of heaven if you come with us" said another guy, who was uglier than the first one.
"You're not from around here, are you? Judging from your looks" Spiky said while grabbing some of Maria's hair.
"Get your filthy hands off of me, if you don't want to die yet"
"Is that a threat? Besides, what's a little girl like you going to do with the three of us, face it your outnumbered by two" as Spiky held Maria's chin up to face him, before he could try to defile her, he was sent flying to the wall. "What the fuck?!" he said while he wiped blood from his mouth. The man who sent him flying emerged from the shadows.
"Romano!" Maria cried
"Shut up Maria!" Romano hissed at her and Maria shut upped, he rarely calls her by her name and when he does call her by her name, it means his fucking serious. He approached the spiky haired man and grabbed his collar. "What do you think you are doing to my stupid little sister?" Maria tried her hardest not to react since Romano was wearing his scary face, the face of the Italian mafia, the face that wanted to kill.
The two other thugs went for Romano, but he dodged their attacks and punched them in the stomachs. The first thug almost pissed his pants after what he saw, and ran for his life, the two followed once they regained their consciousness.
"Romano!" she cried and ran to him. "Are you alright?"
"You are so stupid! Walking by yourself on the streets in the middle of the night!" he hissed at her. Maria, of course wanted to slap her Italian brother, but he did save her life, and she was thankful for that, instead of slapping him, she hugged him very tightly and thanked him. She then remembered the times when they were young. Maria lived in Spain when she was a wee lass, and eventhough she and Romano fought countless times, he was always there for her, especially the times when they would play with other children. Maria often got bullied because she was different be since she lived in Spain at that time, and Romano disliked the fact that the other children would hurt her just because of she was not of their kind.
Romano's face can't help but turn bright red. She was still hugging him and Romano was enjoying it until curiosity crossed his mind. "Hey mango bitch, I almost forgot, what the fuck were you doing walking in the streets in the middle of the night all by yourself?!" he said madly.
"Well, I don't have any food left at my dorm, so I went to the grocery but they were already closed when I got there" she said while Romano heard the unpleasant sound of Maria's stomach.
"Come on, I still have a lot food in my room" he offered.
"Pasta?"
"No, I am not addicted to pasta, unlike my stupid little brother, I enjoy other delicacies you know"
"Thanks, Fratello" she said as she caught a glimpse of Romano's face turning red. He missed the days when Maria called him fratello.
"Shut up mango bitch!" he said and Maria just laughed as they headed back to campus.
The next day, Maria went to the café that was one the flyer Elizabeta gave to her. She went inside and the bell rang "Welcome Miss, what can I get you for this fine day?" A young man came up to her. Green eyes and short choppy blonde hair, he was wearing a usual waiter suit, but he looks kind of tough, which made Maria shiver.
"Uhm, I'm actually looking for a job" hesitating to ask him.
"Oh, then you have to speak with the manager, he's right over there" as he pointed to the man who was on the counter, He had red hair and unusually thick eyebrows and was smoking a cigarette. He noticed Maria was coming up to him. "What can I get you lass?" he said with his husk but sexy voice.
"I'm looking for a job, Sir, and I was hoping you can offer me one here"
"A job eh?, We already have Vash over there and Katyusha there" as he pointed at the woman who has short light blonde hair that she keeps with a headband and some clips, However, her most notable feature was her breast, it was very BIG. "I don't know if I can get you a job here, our café isn't that popular as you can see" There were a few customers, and most of them didn't even order something.
"Oh please, Sir. I really need a job" almost begging with her gleaming puppy dog eyes.
"Well, since you asked nicely, maybe you could work here as a waitress"
"Really, thank you very much" as her eyes was sparkling with happiness.
"When do you want to start?"
"I can start tomorrow"
"What's your name, by the way?"
"Oh, Maria sir"
"Would you stop calling me sir, you make me feel like my little brother, a bitter old man"
"Hehe, then what should I call you?"
"Just call me Scott"
"Great then I'll see you tomorrow, Scott" she waved at him goodbye and was now trying to find Vash. "Hey Vash!"
"How do you know my name?" the man was quite startled by Maria's eccentricness.
"Oh, Scott told me, plus Elizabeta"
"You know Elizabeta?"
"She's my neighbour"
"Oh, I guess by the look on your face, you got hired right?"
"Yeah, I really need this job and Elizabeta told me that you work here … You know, from her stories about you, you are quite the responsible one and I admire you for that"
"Wow thanks, … Uhm? I haven't got your name yet"
"Sorry, It's Maria"
"Well then, Maria welcome to the crew" as he held out his hand and Maria gladly shook it.
In the corner of her eye, Katyusha was heading towards her, and Vash , after talking to Scott, and whilst she was moving, her breast started to make sounds. Am I imagining that or I am hearing boobie bounce?. "Maria, welcome" and hugs her tightly making Maria's face come in contact with Katyusha's large breast.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Katyusha or Ukraine" Maria mumbled while she was still engulfed in Katyusha's breast. "Uhm, Katyusha, I can't breathe" and with that she released Maria.
"Oh, I'm sorry, you just reminds me so much of my little sister, Natalya"
"Natalya's your sister?"
"Do you know her?"
"Yeah, she's my friend?"
When the words sunk in Katyusha's mind, she hugged Maria again causing her face to hit Katyusha's breast again. "Oh! I am so happy Natalya has found a friend" and let go of her at once. "She doesn't have many friends, you see"
"I kind of noticed that in our first meeting" Maria said in a very awkward manner.
"I don't want to be rude or anything, but are you in the same situation as I am? Being poor and trying to pay off some debts?" she asked.
"Yeah, Good thing Scott was good enough to take me in, I almost have no money left"
It was her first day working as a waitress in Teas and Haggis.
"Before you start, Payday is every Friday. You have six working days and a day off. Vash has Mondays off, leaving you and Katyusha on duty that day. Katyusha has Wednesdays. All employees are to be present during the weekends which include Friday. That leaves you with Tuesdays or Thursdays. So which one would you choose?"
Hmm, Tuesdays may be good
Scott gave her a uniform that was the same as Katyusha, black slacks, a white polo shirt and a black vest. Compared to Vash's uniform, her uniform has a feminine touch to it, since it was body hugging, so it showed off her figure.
There were only a few customers in the shop, much to Scott's dismay, he was trying to figure out how his shop would bring more customers. The door opened
Maria greeted the customer. "Good Afternoon, Welcome to Teas and Haggis"
"Maria-san?"
"Kiku!"
"You work here?"
"Yeah"
"Hey, Japee!, Come here!" Scott waved his hand indicating to the Japanese man to come where he was. "I'll leave you for now, Maria san"
"Okay"
Japan walked towards Scott. "You two know each other?"
"Yes, we are neighbours after all" showing him the world map and pointing to where he is and where Maria is.
"I see, so how have you been doing Japee?"
"I'm alright, Scott san, business is booming because of otakus, and you?" Kiku sells anything related to anime, most of his loyal customers are Asian nations including Maria.
"I wish I could say the same for me, As you can see, there are only a few customers" and gave out a sigh
"You know, I could help you with your problem?"
"You would do that for me?"
"Of course. Scott san, now here is what you need to do"
Sunday is a big day for business since it was a time for relaxing, shopping and resting. The three employees decided to meet up before they head to the café. When they reached the place, they could feel that something was wrong. The sign was changed from having an old and boring sign into something eye catching and there was a tint of colour pink.
"What is going on here?" questioned Vash.
"I have a bad feeling about this" commented Maria.
As the trio entered the back door, Scott quickly greeted them. "Yo guys, Japee and I made some few changes around the shop" he said as all of them were walking to the dining area, and Maria's fear did come true. There were frills everywhere, the colour pink and red as well, the whole café turned into something feminine, even the menu, whereas before they served normal teas and haggis, and sometimes coffee, and now, there were cakes, frappes and assorted biscuits. In short, Teas and Haggis was now a maid café.
"So what do you think?" Scott asked. "Japan helped me out, well, since business was not booming at all. He said that one of the most popular attractions today is a maid café, so I figured, why not give it a try" he continued.
Vash twitched for a second, he was now thinking of what will the uniform will look like. I mean, it was Kiku who suggested it, and he remembered what Kiku thinks about him back then, and yeah, he looks good on women's clothing. Just the same as Vash, Maria thought about the uniform. Great, just great. I am already dubbed as a maid country and now I will really represent a maid country, Hmm, but still I have to earn money. Katyusha on the other hand was happy about the new concept of the café and high fived Scott.
"Alright, all of you come to the back, I'll hand you your new uniform". When they were in the employee's room, Scott handed the three their uniforms inside a plastic bag. They all took a peek and Maria almost squealed at what she saw. Her worst fears came true, it was not only a maid uniform but it had a French touch to it, basically it was forty percent cute and sixty percent sexiness.
Flashback:
"A maid café eh?"
"Yes, Scott san, it's a big hit in my country"
"Hmm, but the whole concept of this cafe wouldn't fit in a maid café, no offense, it is more of an Eastern thing"
"I know, but what if you would do it in a European style"
"You mean, make my employees dress like old fashioned snooty maids and butlers that my idiot brother had back then?"
"No, no. You're missing the whole point, Scott san, it has got to have a modern twist"
"Modern twist? You mean making them dress like Francis' maids?"
"Precisely" A smirk came up at the Japanese man's face. "And with beautiful ladies such as Katyusha and Maria working for you, you are sure to attract many customers" and winked at Scott.
End of Flashback
"You're not serious in making the girls wear this? Do you Scott?" as Vash grabbed the girls' new and improved uniforms from their hands. It was short and frilly, from the torso up, it looked like It was a corset and they have to wear heels and fishnet stockings.
"Oh, I am serious Vash" Scott said in a very serious tone and then turned to the girls. "And if you don't like it" he stared at the three of them. "then you are free to leave" Leave? But I just started yesterday. But this uniform, I feel like I am one of Francis' French maids. "I'm just kidding, I won't let you leave, I need you for the grand re opening of this café, plus I worked hard all night just to upgrade all of this" as he gestured his hand at the whole café. "Better change now, opening starts in an hour" and left the room.
"I'll help Scott" Vash said and left.
"Guess we have no choice, eh Katyusha?" as Maria held up her uniform and stared at it with a gloomy face.
"But we have to admit it, it is kind of cute" Katyusha replied as the both of them went to the locker rooms to change.
"Ugghh, this really isn't my thing, and it's really short" as Maria looked at herself in the mirror, already changed with her new uniform. "
"Awww! But you look so cute" while Katyusha put her hands on Maria's shoulders. "Hey, don't worry about it, everything's going to be just fine" and gave Maria an encouraging smile.
Maria nodded in response. Vash entered the room, telling them that it's time for re-opening and Scott wants all of them outside. When they reached outside, they were surprised that there were a lot of people waiting for the grand re-opening, including some nations as well. Of course there was the Gourmet Food Club eager to taste the café's cuisine.
"Finally, a crowd of customers!" Scott said with an eager face as the staff was standing alongside the front door for the ribbon cutting. "I hereby declare that Teas and Haggis is now officially re-open for business" and cuts the ribbon. The crowd cheers as the three waiters ushers them inside the café and into their tables. While Maria was waiting for the customer's orders, another customer called her.
"You, what are you doing here Netherlands?!" she said with an irritated look on her face.
"Is that the way you treat your customers?" he said sarcastically.
"No, just you" bluntly said by Maria.
"I'll have you know, I did the landscaping for the café"
"Oh, so that's why there are a lot of tulips planted outside"
"Yes, now will you take my order"
"Fine"
"I'll have a slice of the double chocolate fudge cake and a coffee, that's all. You better go, other customers are waiting to place their order" he said trying to annoy Maria.
Other customers are waiting to place their orders she murmured in her mind. That man really gets into my nerves. Maria took the other customers orders and headed for the kitchen, when she realized that she still haven't met the chef.