A New Dawn

Chapter 9 - Idris

Briar is interesting.

That's not the right word. I don't know if there's just one word that can describe her. But whatever the right words are, I just know I want to get to know her more. I thought for sure she wouldn't want to talk to me anymore after interacting with Roman, but he didn't scare her away. In fact, I think she wants to stick around even more. Wants to make sure I'm okay.

It's all I can think about whenever we hang out. And we pretty much hang out all the time now. She's not even scheduled to work today, but she hangs around the counter with me and Marlowe while her mom plays the piano in the corner of the room. Everett doesn't tell her to go away since we're all pretty conscientious of any customers who need anything. So he gives us amused looks every time he walks in and out of the back room.

Briar stops talking mid-rant about how she thinks Lanh definitely could've stepped in more whenever Hien's parents were berating her when the bell above the door goes off. She steps off to the side, so whoever it is can step up to the counter, but she pauses when she sees my and Marlowe's expressions. She furrows her eyebrows, following our gazes to my parents.

Nanay and Tatay work at different offices, but sometimes they like to have lunch at the same time. Usually, if they want to drop by during my shift, they'd send me a text or something. And sure enough, it looks like Nanay sent me a text about an hour ago saying they'd be here. I guess I was too caught up in Briar to notice.

My eyes dart to her. She's studying my parents, her expression unreadable. Maybe Roman's weird demeanor didn't scare her away, but what if my parents' demeanors do? The possibility of it shuts down my brain, and I don't say anything even when my parents are right in front of me. They have expectant looks on their faces, waiting for me to greet them first.

I don't because my mouth dries up with all my thoughts. But I function enough to know I should be grateful when Marlowe steps in.

She clears her throat, a polite smile on her face. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Laxamana. How are you? I don't think we've talked since Roman tutored me a few years ago."

Nanay nods, returning the polite smile. "Marlowe, right?" Marlowe nods. "We're fine. Thanks for asking. We just thought we'd stop by to say hi to Idris during our lunch breaks." Both my parents turn to me expectantly again. I manage to offer them a smile, but I still can't get myself to talk. Not when I feel Briar's eyes on me. Nanay barely stops herself from frowning. She inhales, doubling down on her smile as she turns to Marlowe. "How are you doing, Marlowe?"

Marlowe chatters about her college experience so far and how she's set on going into graphic design after she graduates. In between her rambling, she gets my parents' orders, and I busy myself making them their coffee and sandwiches. After I slide over their orders and they pay, I expect them to sit at a table or—better yet—be on their way. Instead, they turn to me.

"Why don't you take a break, too, Idris?" Tatay asks, nodding towards an empty table.

I blink. My rising heart rate jolts my mind back into working, but now it's in overdrive. "Oh. Well... I don't know if I should just randomly take a break—"

"Have you taken one yet?" Nanay interrupts. I hesitate, deciding it's better not to lie, so I shake my head. "Then, take one now."

Well, I guess I can't say no. I turn to Marlowe. "You don't mind...?"

She glances between me and my parents, her jaw tense. A part of me hopes Marlowe will say that she does mind, but I think we both know she can't. My parents will talk about how awful she is—and I know she'll insist she doesn't care and mean it, too—but they'll eventually get around to how I probably did something to make her say that, so I wouldn't have to sit with them. Which is true, but they don't have to know that.