Chapter 89: An Unexpected Visit for Noah and Luna.
Noah’s third day on the job was turning out quieter than the previous ones, or at least that’s what he thought.
He could already take orders without forgetting to ask for the size of the drinks, and he had stopped constantly looking at the tray while he walked and managed to use the register without asking for help every five minutes.
What hadn’t changed was the fact that Luna kept correcting him.
"You’re taking too long."
Noah finished arranging a few cups.
"It’s five seconds."
"Five seconds repeated several times add up to several minutes lost."
"Thanks for the explanation."
"You’re welcome."
Noah looked at her, but Luna kept her serious expression, since she hadn’t caught the sarcasm in Noah’s reply.
The entrance bell rang, so Noah set the cloth he’d been using on the counter and walked over.
"Welcome."
The new customer was wearing a dark cap, large sunglasses, and a light jacket with the collar turned up, so Noah could barely see part of her face.
The girl looked around the place before choosing a table near a wall.
Noah took his notepad and approached.
"Good afternoon."
The girl raised the menu without answering, so Noah waited a moment.
"Do you need a few minutes?"
The girl slowly shook her head.
"I’ve already decided."
Her voice sounded familiar, so Noah frowned slightly.
"What would you like?"
"An iced coffee."
"Size?"
"Medium."
"With sugar?"
"No."
"Anything to eat?"
The girl lifted her face a little.
"Noah."
He froze when he heard that.
The customer lowered her sunglasses slightly and a pair of familiar eyes appeared behind them.
Noah’s eyes widened.
"Iris?!"
She put the sunglasses back on properly.
"Keep your voice down."
Noah looked around.
"Why are you dressed like that?"
"I’m not dressed weird."
"You’re wearing a cap and dark glasses inside a café."
"It’s normal."
"No, seriously, it’s not normal."
Iris crossed her arms.
"It is for me."
Noah understood right away.
"You don’t want people to recognize you?"
Iris nodded.
"Some people know my face."
Noah remembered her activity in video games.
Iris didn’t just play well; she had a certain amount of recognition among competitive players and followers of some communities.
"I see, that’s why you came in disguise."
"It’s not a disguise."
"Sure."
Noah finished writing.
"One medium iced coffee, no sugar."
Iris nodded.
"And..."
She paused briefly.
"Can you sit for a moment?"
Noah looked toward the counter and saw that Luna was handling the register.
"I’m working."
"Just a moment."
Noah hesitated, but then saw there were no pending orders.
"One minute."
He sat across from Iris and she lowered her voice a little.
"How’s the job going?"
"I’m surviving."
"That’s not the answer I expected."
"Really? Then I’ll say it’s going fine."
Iris looked at his uniform.
"It looks good on you."
Noah smiled.
"Yume said the same thing."
Iris stayed quiet for a moment before murmuring something.
"I didn’t need to know that."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Noah rested an arm on the table.
"Did you come just to watch me work?"
Iris looked away.
"No."
"Then why did you come?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"You could’ve texted me."
"It’s not the same."
Noah was a little surprised by the answer, since Iris normally seemed to avoid in-person conversations whenever she could.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"About the computer."
Noah got interested right away.
"Did you think of something?"
Iris nodded.
"Several things."
Before she could continue, a shadow appeared beside the table, and Noah didn’t need to look to know who it was.
Luna set the iced coffee in front of Iris.
"Your order."
Iris looked up and her voice came out with a cold tone.
"Thanks."
Luna looked at Noah.
"You’re on the clock."
Noah stood up immediately.
"You’re right."
Iris looked at Luna, who returned the look, and neither said anything for a few seconds, but Noah knew that kind of silence all too well.
"Better if we keep talking later."
He said quickly, and Iris nodded.
"All right."
"I’ll text you when I get off."
"No need."
Noah frowned.
"Why?"
"Just work."
Luna picked up the notepad Noah had left on the table and handed it to him.
"There’s a table waiting."
"O-Okay, I’m going."
Noah walked away, but before reaching the next table, he looked back.
Iris was calmly drinking her coffee and Luna stayed near the counter, but the two of them looked at each other again.
Noah decided it was better to focus on work, and for the rest of the shift Iris stayed there.
She even ordered another drink, a small slice of cake, and then used her phone for almost an hour.
Noah thought maybe she was waiting to talk to him after he got off, but when he finished his break and looked again, the table was empty.
Iris had left.
’I guess she changed her mind.’
Noah kept working, and several hours later the manager closed the main register.
"We’re done."
Noah let out a sigh of relief.
Each shift was starting to feel less exhausting, and even though he still made mistakes, he no longer needed Luna supervising him every minute.
He changed, put away the uniform, and went out through the staff door.
Luna was already waiting outside, so Noah asked her.
"Are you heading to the station?"
"Yes."
They walked together.
At that hour the streets still had quite a bit of traffic.
Noah told her about what had happened with some customers during the shift, while Luna listened carefully.
"So one of them tried to give you her number again."
"But I didn’t take it."
"I know."
"Then there’s no problem."
"There is a problem."
"What?"
"She tried."
Noah sighed.
"I can’t stop that."
"We can ban her."
"I don’t think we can kick out every customer who wants to make a move on me."
Luna stayed silent, so Noah looked at her.
"Luna."
"I’m calculating if it would be possible."
"Don’t."
They kept walking until they reached an intersection, since from there they had to take different paths.
Noah pointed to the right.
"I’m going this way."
"I know."
"See you tomorrow."
Noah took a step, but Luna gently held his wrist, so he turned and she moved closer.
Noah barely had time to react before Luna kissed him with a brief kiss, but when she pulled away she kept holding his wrist.
Noah looked around.
"You shouldn’t do that here."
"No one’s paying attention."
"That doesn’t mean we should."
Luna watched him for a few seconds.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"To my place."
Noah took a moment to understand.
"Now?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
Luna kept her gaze fixed on him.
"I want to spend the night with you."
Noah is facing a dilemma.