I feel light on my face, and minutes later, my alarm goes off. I get up, shower, get ready, and tidy up my things. I get dressed, have breakfast, and walk to work since it’s very close by. I arrive, say hello to Cloe, head to my locker, greet my bosses, and go set up the tables. Then I head to the kitchen to help Dani with the dishes.
"Hey, let me tell you—this morning, a rather strange, suspicious guy came in," Dani tells me.
"Why?" I ask.
"He always comes in the morning to pick up breakfast for himself and a friend; Mrs. Marta usually hands it to him."
"And what’s wrong with that?" I ask.
"It’s really weird, don't you think?" Just then, Cloe walks in:
"Oh, stop the gossip; that’s not how it is. He’s just serious and distant. The thing is, you’re a guy, so you look for the worst in him."
"Oh, forget it—there’s no talking to you," he says to Cloe, and walks away.
I ask her:
"Is that the guy you told me about the other day?"
She replies:
"Yes, that's him"—but just then, the boss calls her away.
The hours passed; business was good, and customers came and went. I was intrigued to know who he was; based on how Dani described him, he sounded like someone I needed to be very careful around. During my break, I was having lunch with Dani and Cloe, but I was lost in thought and didn't pay much attention to what they were saying.
*Does he work nearby, or live close by? I’d love to know what he’s like! Why doesn't he show up when I’m here? It’s driving me crazy—I don't even know him.*
I was lost in thought until Cloe asked:
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
And I replied:
"Nothing—just life stuff."
I finished eating and went over to help Mrs. Marta in the kitchen. I was organizing the ingredients when a tall boy arrived and asked Mrs. Marta if the food was ready:
"Yes, here it is."
"Thanks. Could I get two juices, too?"
"Here you go. And why didn't Ale come?"
"He's sick."
"Well, I'll make him some soup tomorrow so he can recover."
"Okay, Mrs. Marta."
After the boy left, I asked Marta who he was, and she told me:
"He's a friend of Ale's—the one who always comes here to pick up breakfast. Haven't you met him? He was here this morning."
"No," I replied, and went to gather my things, since I was leaving early that day.
I said goodbye to my coworkers and left... so his name is Alex.