"So, did you really call the cops?" I ask Mr. Vale once the café settles back into its normal rhythm.
He reveals a small, knowing smile. "No. I didn't have the time to. It seems the threat alone was adequate."
I can't help but laugh. "So it was all just a bluff. That's incredible." I shake my head in admiration. "The way you handled that whole situation was amazing."
"You flatter me, Adam." Mr. Vale waves off the compliment with characteristic grace. "I simply did what the moment required." His hand settles on my shoulder, warm and reassuring. "But tell me, will you be alright to continue working? If you need to end your shift early, I would certainly understand."
"What? No, I'm totally fine, Mr. Vale. Honestly. I already knew they were going to be difficult, so I was kind of prepared for whatever they threw at me." I shrug. "And really, they were way tamer than I expected."
Plus, it helps that I'm not doing this alone. Mr. Vale has my back. Karen and Chris have my back. My family loves me regardless of whether some middle-aged couple thinks I'm incompetent. That kind of security makes it way easier to deal with people trying to scam you out of, what, forty dollars worth of sandwiches?
He studies my face for a moment, then he nods, satisfied. "Very well." He gives my arm a gentle tap. "Please, carry on then."
The rest of my shift is honestly one of the best I've ever had. It's like the universe decided to apologize for the tomato incident by sending me the nicest people in the city. Every single guest I check on has something genuinely nice to say.
I approach another middle-aged couple seated near the windows, water pitcher in hand. "How's everything tasting? And I apologize for the disruption earlier."
"Oh, don't you worry about that, sweetheart." The woman, who has kind eyes and gray hair pulled into a neat bun, lights up. "Everything has been absolutely wonderful. You've given us excellent service."
Her husband, a stocky guy with a stern face, grunts. "The nerve of those two, trying to steal a meal like that." He shakes his head in disgust. "Some folks have no damn shame."
"Well, I'm just glad most people aren't like that," I say, keeping my tone light as I top off their glasses. "Makes this job a lot more enjoyable."
As I walk away, I hear them continue their conversation behind me.
"Now there's a kid who's got his head on straight," the man says. "Still got a smile on his face after dealing with those two jackasses."
"Such a polite young man," the woman agrees warmly.
I smile to myself as I head to another table.
"Hey, kid." An older gentleman with weathered hands and a kind face flags me down. "Don't let assholes like that get to you. You're doing great work here."
"Thank you, sir. I appreciate that."
"I mean it." He leans forward slightly. "And don't quit just because someone gives you a hard time. That's when it matters most to stick with it."
"Oh, I'm not going anywhere," I assure him with a grin. "If anything, spite will keep me here."
He barks out a laugh. "That's the spirit!"
I'm clearing plates from a recently vacated table when a young woman sitting nearby catches my attention. She's maybe in her early twenties, with long brown hair and a shy smile.
"Um, excuse me?" she says softly.
I turn to her. "Yes? Can I get you anything?"
"No, I just..." She's blushing, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "I just... I can't believe you had to deal with that. You've been so nice every time I've come here."
Oh. Is she… Interested in me? The hair twirling. The blush. The compliment. These are signs, right? Or is she just being nice?
"I really appreciate you saying that," I tell her warmly, keeping things professional. "Though I have to say, I never knew people felt so strongly about tomatoes."
She lets out a laugh, soft and genuine.
I give her a polite smile and move on to my next task. Even if she is interested, I've got other things, other people, on my mind. Like a certain purple-haired girl who can barely look me in the eye without blushing. And two sisters who I've been crushing on for forever.
Moments later, I head into the kitchen to place an order. Karen immediately sets down her knife and turns her full attention on me.
"Adam, are you doing okay? That looked stressful."
"I'm totally fine," I assure her. "Really glad Mr. Vale showed up when he did though. Getting drenched would've made for a pretty miserable rest of the shift."
Chris glances at me. "See, this is exactly why I stay back here." He flips something with practiced ease. "That was my nightmare scenario. You're out there getting water thrown at you, meanwhile I'm back here, at my grill, living the dream." He looks back at me. "Seriously though, props for keeping your cool. I would've lost it."
"Yeah, you really did so well keeping your composure," Karen agrees warmly, "Most people would've gotten flustered or upset, but you handled it beautifully."
My chest grows warm again. Having people in your corner feels really good, especially when they're as genuine as these two. "Thanks guys, that really means a lot."
An hour later, I'm finishing up my last few tables. The café has quieted down significantly, most of our dinner rush has cleared out, and there's just a handful of people scattered around, lingering over desserts or final cups of coffee.
I'm cleaning a table near the back, wiping down the surface efficiently, when I notice Mr. Vale approaching.
"Adam, might I have a word?" He asks gently.
"Of course, Mr. Vale."
"I wanted to tell you that you handled yourself admirably today." He pauses, his expression thoughtful. "You should be proud of how you conducted yourself."
"Thank you, sir. And thanks for stepping in when you did." I hesitate, then add, "Though I keep wondering if there's something I could've done better. Some way I could've handled it on my own, you know?"
Mr. Vale doesn't answer immediately. He takes his time, like he's carefully selecting each word for maximum impact. "As you navigate through life, you'll come to understand that some people are simply... unreasonable. Everyone possesses a degree of selfishness, this is natural, even necessary for survival. But those two?" He shakes his head slowly. "They had taken it to an extreme."
I think about that. I'm selfish too, in my own way. If I had to choose between saving my sisters or saving a thousand strangers, I'd pick my sisters every single time without hesitation. Does that make me a terrible person? Maybe. But I'd rather be terrible and have them alive than be noble and have them dead.
"Every social interaction," Mr. Vale continues, "involves an exchange of some kind. People seek things, sometimes simple pleasures like good conversation or a moment of respite. Other times, they're searching for information, for advantage, for validation of their beliefs." He meets my eyes. "If you can discern what someone truly wants from an interaction, you gain the ability to respond with intention rather than reaction. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah," I say slowly, processing. "So like... if I'd recognized earlier what those people were actually after, I could've dealt with it differently?"
"Perhaps. Or perhaps you simply would have been better prepared, which is often half the battle." He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"Thanks, Mr. Vale. Really. I'll think about what you said."
He smiles, and for a moment he looks less like an employer and more like someone's kind grandfather. "That's all I can ask."
Minutes later, I'm saying my goodbyes. Karen sends me a friendly wave and tells me to rest well. Chris gives me a casual "See ya". Mr. Vale offers me a dignified nod.
Outside, the evening air is cool and crisp. I start jogging home, falling into an easy rhythm, and pull up my quest menu.
Find a Part-Time Job
Quest Progress:
Days Worked: 24/30
Memorable Individuals Met: 3/10
Meaningful Lessons Learned: 5/10
Tips Received: 26/100
Quest Rewards:
10 Evolution Points
??? - Additional rewards determined upon quest completion
Hmm. Ten Evolution Points for a month of work? That seems... low. The mystery reward better be something incredible.
But wait. The quest isn't that specific, is it? I could work anywhere for this to count. Maybe if I made it more targeted, more challenging…
I focus on the quest, letting my intention shape it.
I want to finish this quest within the month at the Midnight Café specifically. And I want to actually internalize these lessons, not just hear them and forget them.
The quest shimmers and updates.
Quest Updated: Find a Part-Time Job → Excel at the Midnight Café
Objectives:
Continue working at the Midnight Café
Meet 10 memorable individuals
Learn 10 meaningful lessons from people you encounter → Learn and truly internalize 10 meaningful lessons from people you encounter
Receive 100 tips from satisfied customers
Rewards:
10 Evolution Points → 250 Evolution Points??? (Additional rewards determined upon quest completion)
Time Remaining: 23 days
Holy shit.
From 10 Evolution Points to 250. Suddenly this job feels a lot more important.
I close the menu, a satisfied grin spreading across my face as I continue jogging.
And then I feel it.
The sensation hits me like a physical blow: a deep, visceral sense of wrongness that makes my skin crawl and my stomach drop. Every instinct I have starts screaming that something is fundamentally not right.
I look up at the sky, searching for... something. Anything that might explain this feeling.
That's when I see it.
Something dark streaks across the sky, moving fast. It wasn't a plane or a meteor, this is different. Wrong. It's like watching a tear in reality itself, a blot of absence against the evening sky that my eyes don't quite want to focus on.
I follow it with my gaze until it disappears beyond the horizon, but the feeling doesn't fade. If anything, it gets stronger. It's not fear, exactly. It's more like... like my soul just recognized something that shouldn't exist. Like my entire body is rejecting the existence of whatever that thing was.
I stand there frozen, staring at the empty sky where the thing vanished, my heart hammering against my ribs.
What the hell was that?