"Order up," Mika rang the bell on the counter then placed a plate that occupied a burger and some fires.
Mika yawned and rubbed her eyes while turning around to go to the back room. Since she wasn't paying attention she ended up clashing with her co-worker who was carrying a tray of food and drinks. Mika immediately apologized to him and started helping him pick things up but it was no use the floor was a mess and she'd definitely be scolded bout this later. He told her it was okay and that he'd clean it up if she'd go back and get a new order.
Mika's uniform was ruined so she grabbed some tissues by the side to rub off the mess as she much as could while explaining to the chef what happened. She heard him mumbled under his breath about how she made his job harder than it already was and how he liked it better before she was here.
Mika frowned in defeat, he wasn't wrong. Ever since she started working here she's been having more and more of these accidents. She worked at a slower pace than them and Mika wasn't used to not being the best in the room. Mika naturally excelled at everything but it was hard to give it her one hundred percent when her one thousand percent was used on being a mom 24/7.
However, she's been an extra clutz this week because one of Mika's constant fears caught up to her last night. A clogged milk duct. The lump in her breast was swelling by the hour and the pain was becoming unbearable. She had trouble sleeping last night even after the home remedies she tried online. Mika deemed it her own fault, she had been so busy with work, and managing Isadora's feeding schedule she would often miss her pump sessions. It also didn't help that Isadora was feeding more often, once her fever went away she gained a massive appetite.
Mika wished she could say that was the only thing wrong with her but she's been experiencing some major migraines and stomach issues that would start off small but then escalate in the middle of the night. Just that morning she found herself throwing up in the bathroom of the diner, at least this time she didn't spot any blood mixed in there. Mika was feeling really sick lately but she didn't have time to go to the doctor and get checked out. She also most definitely couldn't afford to take a day off.
Mika told herself to suck it up and reached for a new notepad, giving up on cleaning her uniform. Another thing she'd have to make time for.
)
Mika went home that night the most worn out she's ever been. She tried to ignore all her pain but it was really taking a toll on her. Mika needed to take a bath and so did Isadora so she killed two birds with one stone and ran them both a warm bath. Unfortunately, she couldn't enjoy a relaxing bath with Isadora before she started to feel like throwing up again.
After their short bath, Mika laid Adora down in her crib and stood in front of her mirror with her towel wrapped around her. Mika couldn't help but take notice that her efforts to lose weight didn't seem to be working. Her efforts were skipping meals because she didn't have enough availability to exercise the right way and watch what she was eating. However it was working, and she lost twenty pounds in just that month.
After Isadora was born she didn't lose weight like the doctor said she would and Mika hated that. Mika lifted the towel to look at her side, her stretch marks were starting to fade but Mika knew they'd still leave marks.
Mika sighed disappointed and told herself she just had to try harder until she was happy with herself again. She pushed the thoughts aside and got ready for bed.
))
Two days later, Bose beamed as Mark gave him the keys and congratulated him. Bose had officially closed the deal on the condo and it was now under his name. "It's all yours, son," Mark patted his back and Bose thanked him again."By the way, will you ask Willard if we're still on for mini golf next Tuesday?" Mark asked, "Of course, it's the least I can do," Bose saluted as Mark walked over to his car. They bid each other final farewells and Bose got into his car.
He let out another fit of hollering in excitement gripping his steering wheel. He couldn't believe he had actually done it. "Great job Bose," Bose told himself. He couldn't wait to break the news to Mika. She had an early class this morning so she was already back home.
Bose drove over to the Macklin household excited to see Mika and Isadora. While he did, he observed how nice the neighborhood was. He remembered how Mika commented on how beautiful she thought the scenery was, perfect for picnics. He looked at all the daycares and playgrounds. Bose smiled as he imagined a future here.
)
Once Bose got to the Macklin house, he parked on their driveway and took the time to practice how he was going to tell Mika. "I could pretend to drop the keys and be like "Oh sorry, my new keys to my new condo are a little slippery," Bose chuckled, "Or maybe I should go back to that bakery I passed, buy a cake, and hide the key inside, then do a fun reveal,".
In the end, he decided he was just gonna go with the accidental drop. Bose stepped out of his blue jeep and made his way to the front door. Bose knocked and waited for someone to come open it.
The door opened and but Bose didn't see a single Macklin, except for Adora who kicked her feet and reached her arms out for Bose happily. She was being held by a young brunette that Bose had never seen before. "Hey, how can I help you?" She politely greeted. Bose was beyond lost, "Um, yeah, I just came by to see Mika, I'm Isadoara's dad," Bose cleared his throat, "I'm sorry, who are you?" Bose was anxious to have Adora in his arms and away from the stranger. "Oh Hi, I'm Mayling I'm Isadora's babysitter for the day," She handed Adora to Bose who protectively held her, looking suspicious of the girl.
Adora didn't have a babysitter, he would know if she did and where was Mika. "Her babysitter? Where's Mika, is anyone else here?" Bose questioned.
"No, it's just me and Isadora, Mika went to work, she's gonna be gone all day so she called me in," Mayling explained.
"Work? Don't you mean school? She said she had an early class she should be off by now," Bose claimed.
Mayling went back to cleaning Isadora's toys off the floor. Bose was stumped, but he also knew something was up and this was confirmation.
What really ticked him off was that Isadora was here alone with some stranger and Mika hadn't told him anything about it. Mika flipped out when Bose left Adora alone with his own mother but hired some rando to look after their baby.
"Do you know where exactly Mika is?" Bose asked Mayling, the babysitter apparently. Mayling got up, picked up a piece of paper from the kitchen counter, and handed it to Bose, "Yeah, she left all her information here,".
Bose looked at the paper and took out his phone out to take a picture. He was going to get to the bottom of whatever was going on, "Okay, so here's the deal, I'm gonna head out Mayling. Since you're already being paid to watch her I'm gonna leave her here, she seems pretty happy,".
Bose handed Adora Mayling and gave her a kiss on the forehead prior to leaving. But before he closed the door, he made sure to give Mayling a message, "And she better be taken care of, my family is pretty powerful and I will sue you to the ground if anything happens to my daughter,".
"Noted," Mayling fearfully nodded.
Bose started to close the door but Mayling called out to him, "Wait".
"Yeah?" Bose asked.
Mayling grinned, "You're so hot if you and Mika are like not together do you by any chance, I don't know, wanna go to the movies with me or maybe grab lunch-"
"Bye Mayling," Bose shut the door unphased.
Bose walked to his car in haste, mentally preparing for the shit show that was bound to happen when he got to the county diner.
))
Mika took a deep breath and then started wiping down the table in front of her. Her head was pounding and she didn't eat breakfast so she was feeling frail. So far she'd called Mayling three times in the last house to ensure everything was okay with Isadora. Mika was hesitant about getting Adora as a babysitter so she could pick up an extra shift. But she didn't have another choice, she got into a petty argument with her mom about how much water she'd been using.
Mika called her a bitch and Angela raised the rent. Simple as that.
The due date was fastly approaching and Mika would hate to ask for an extension and see that crude look on her mom's face. It's not like they would kick her out but the smug look on her face would haunt her. It was obvious at this point Mika's pride would be the death of her.
"Rotate," Romana rang.
Mika yawned, tossing her towel in a nearby bucket, and moved to the counter to assort the condiments and the drinks in the mini-fridge.
Mika heard a ding behind her, "Be with you in a second," Mika said, her back turned as she put the last Coke in the fridge. "What can I get you?" Mika turned around dusting off her uniform and looked up to see the customer with a menu covering their face.
They bought the menu down to reveal themself and Mika's blood ran cold. "What do you recommend?" Bose sarcastically asked. Mika opened her mouth to speak but the words didn't come, suddenly she couldn't form any vowels, "B-Bose, what?". She shut her eyes tight, she thought maybe she was feeling so unwell that she started hallucinating.
"Care to explain to me what all of this is?" Bose leaned in across the counter and Mika huffed.
"What are you doing here?" She whispered to him.
"I came to enjoy my lunch," he sarcastically said again, " But what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be home with Isadora after you got off from your so-called 'class',".
Mika's headache suddenly escalated and she flinched, Bose's snide expression shifted to worry, "Hey, are you okay?". No, she wasn't, she hadn't prepared for what she would do if he found out and she was in no mood or the right headspace to be dealing with him right now. Mika was about to lie when she looked past Bose and saw Owen and his crew stepping out of his Bentley, as rowdy as usual.
Mika's anxiety went through the roof and she quickly fixed her posture and looked at Bose in all seriousness, "Bose, you need to leave, like right now,". "No, not until you give me a proper reason as to why you're in this diner, as a waiter apparently, and as to why you didn't tell me that you were gonna leave Isadora with a babysitter," Bose demanded.
Mika sighed defeated, Bose looked determined to get the truth out of her but she really didn't want Bose and Owen to collide.
Owen walked in and he gave Mika a witty smile that any other girl would have swooned over but to Mika it looked like an evil grin taunting her. Owen came over to the counter, and Mika tried to redirect her attention elsewhere. She hoped Owen would spare her today and Bose noticed. Bose looked to where her line of sight was and saw Owen.
Bose knew of Owen Flynn. His Dad was the head DA and Owen often showed up to fundraiser galas, campaigns, and other formal events that rich politicians held, along with Bose. Bose didn't talk to Owen, although he does remember at their last gala Owen tried to befriend him. Owen was pretty popular and friends with most of the kids in that circle, he thought if he got in good with the vice mayor's kid, he'd be set, unfortunately for him Bose wasn't interested.
Watching Owen from afar on the times Bose would see him, Bose observed that he was just another classist womanizer prick and Bose didn't want to associate with that type of person.
"Hey babe, table for six. Take your time, I love you watching that ass walk away from me," Owen winked, completely missing Bose, and Bose's body strained at his comment. "Excuse me who the actual fuck do you think you're tal-" Bose was going to retaliate but Mika spoke over him, "Fine, there's an empty table right there," Mika pointed to afar.
However, that's when Owen noticed Bose, "Oh, what up O'Brien". Bose glared at Ownen and then looked at Mika, waiting for her to defend herself the proper way. But instead, she was looking at Bose with eyes begging him not to say anything, but Bose thought, screw that.
He wasn't just going to let Owen speak to her with such disrespect. Bose always thought he wasn't one for confrontation but when it came to Mika he found himself becoming strictly protective of her.
"What up is you don't talk to her that way," Bose stood up from his seat, leveling up to Owen, "or any women for that matter,".
"Bose, stop," Mika desperately gritted her teeth. If Bose got into it with Owen, who had the manager wrapped around his finger, she would surely be fired.
Owen chuckled, crossing his arms, "Dude, it's really not serious,".
Bose felt his bones fire up at the complacent look on Owen's face, "It is, now apologizes,".
Owen licked his bottom lip and smirked, stepping closer to Bose then hushly said, "And if I don't".
He tried to look threatening but he was clearly smaller than Bose, so it just made him look like he was asking for a fight that he would lose.
In a swift motion, Bose had Owen by the collar pinned down to the counter and Mika recoiled. The diner started to mummer and her co-workers stopped what they were doing to watch. Violence was never Bose's first instinct, but this was Mika, his Mika, the mother of his child, that Owen was so blatantly harassing, he was sure now that this wasn't the first time he'd done this to her. So Bose was itching for physical contact with Owen's stupid face.
"Bose, it's not a big deal, Owen go sit down, I'll take your order when I'm ready," Mika's voice rasped.
Bose couldn't hear her, his thoughts jumbled. "Apologize," Bose demanded in a growl, he wasn't going to let Owen get away with this.
One of Owen's minons who was still standing spoke up, "Shit Owen, just apologize,". Then another one that Mika recognized as James went over to Owen who was still pinned down and whispered in his ear, "Dude, your dad will kill you if you got into a fight with the vice mayor's son, especially since he's trying to get his endorsement,".
Owen huffed, he hated showing weakness, but James was right, so he caved. Owen tilted his head to look at Mika who swallowed a lump in his throat, "I'm sorry,". Then Owen turned to Bose, shoved him away, and stepped behind him.
Mika stopped holding her breath, went over to Bose, and grabbed Bose by the arm angrily ready to pull him outside and yell her head off for causing a scene. But just as they were about to exit, Owen spoke up "Oh I get it now, she's your bitch,".
Owen was completely unaware that what he said was offensive. It all happened so fast, Mika blinked and Bose was out of her grasp.
Owen was lying on the floor, groaning in pain, holding his nose that dripped an absurd amount and blood, and Bose's knuckles were covered in it. Bose couldn't help the smile that crept on his face, he was satisfied. There was a collective gasp and Owen's group surrounded him. Mika started to panic, "What the hell Bose?!" Mika exclaimed pushing him hard and going to Owens's side. Mika didn't care about Owen's well-being of course, she was trying to save her job.
"He's a dick, he deserves it," Bose sustained.
Just then the manager came from the back, walking over to the scene, "Is that Owen? What's going on out here?". "That waiter's boyfriend attacked Owen," one of Owen's friends said. "Mika? So this was your fault?" the manager scolded. Mika got up from the floor, "It wasn't like that-" Mika tried to explain tucking strands of curly hair behind her ear anxiously. "He was harassing her," Bose came to her defense but Mika fiercely turned to him, "Shut up. You've done enough just leave,". Mika was close to tears and her headache had gotten worse if possible.
Mika wanted the world to stop, just five seconds of peace so she could get her thoughts together.
Bose tried to comfort her and she pushed him away again in a frenzy, "I said go, just leave me alone Bose,". Small tears ran down her face and Bose didn't know what to do with everyone staring at him now, like he was in the wrong.
Bose shook his head and left. Angry at Mika for her reaction, for seeming to care about Owen, and for her lying to him.