Chapter 2

Stay

It took everything in me to drag myself back to my rented room—I was practically crawling by the time I got there. The first thing I did was grab my inhaler to take a whiff and clear my head before I passed out. Mom had bought it during a trip to Thailand when we visited Grandma together ages ago. She got me a massive stash, knowing how much she relies on these inhalers herself. Mom had a habit of carrying one around all the time, as she loved taking quick sniffs. I had to admit—it was incredibly refreshing. I felt a bit more alive already.

"I'm hungry... but I’ll nap first," I pulled out my mattress, pillow, and blanket. I laid them out in the middle of the room, switched on the fan, and fell asleep as soon as I wrapped myself in the blanket.

I slept the entire day and only woke up when the sun had already set. Rubbing my head vigorously, I glanced outside the window. I'd slept like the dead. Even back when I worked part-time jobs and had to wake up early for school, I’d never been this out of it before.

"I'm starving." Crawling from the mattress to the fridge, I opened it to check if there was anything edible inside. All I found was a bottle of water and a cucumber. I grabbed the cucumber, about to bite into it, when an idea struck me.

"I’ve got some money now. Why not splurge on something nice? I deserve a treat." Resolving to clean myself up first, I headed for the bathroom to wash my face. But as I stood up, a wave of dizziness hit me so hard I had to grab onto the fridge to keep from collapsing.

"Am I really that dizzy from hunger?" It made sense—I hadn’t eaten a single thing since I came home late this morning and slept through the entire day. If I wasn’t starving, I didn’t know what was wrong. I stayed still until the dizziness passed, then went to wash up and change before heading out.

I walked straight to the convenience store at the end of the alley. It was the closest place to my home. I thought about treating myself to something nice—like a steak at a restaurant—but I felt too drained to go anywhere fancy. It’d be easier to grab some microwavable meals and eat them in the comfort of my room. I could rest right after.

Slide!

"Welcome." I bowed slightly to greet the convenience store clerk before grabbing a basket to pick out my groceries. Normally, I’d stock up so I wouldn’t have to make frequent trips, but this time I only bought enough for tonight. After all, I planned to head back to Thailand soon. If I felt better tomorrow, I’d go ahead and book my flight.

"Better grab some medicine too," I noticed how feverish I felt and slightly unwell. I added cold medicine and a cooling gel pack to my basket, along with ready-made meals, bread, and milk for the next morning.

"Haven’t seen you around in a while. Found a job yet?" I smiled back Brother Ivan, the convenience store clerk. I’d come by often enough to get acquainted with almost everyone here, even though Brother Ivan didn’t work full-time either. In many ways, he was struggling as much as I was—if not more.

"Not yet. I’m planning to head back to Thailand, visit my grandma and aunt." Ivan raised an eyebrow as he scanned my items.

“So I won’t see you around anymore, huh, Ram?” I laughed a little, chatting with Brother Ivan until other customers entered the store, giving me an excuse to head home.

On my way back, I stopped by a nearby park to eat the bread and drink the milk I’d just bought. Watching the birds and enjoying the quiet kept me there until 8 PM. Then I walked back to my apartment, which wasn’t too far away.

Later, while lying on my mattress, I decided to book my flight online to finalize my plans. But just as I was scrolling through options, my phone rang. The caller ID showed a number I didn’t recognize. Frowning, I answered.

"Hello?"

/Hello, is this Ram? I’m calling about the job application you submitted at Margaret's./ My eyebrows shot up as the memory came back. Right—I had applied for a position at this nightclub. I hadn’t expected them to call me now of all times.

"Ah-Yes, that’s me," I answered quickly, sitting up straight. My heart raced just like it had when I’d applied for my very first part-time job.

/Are you still interested in working with us? We’re currently looking for additional waiter./

"I am, of course. When can I start?" As someone who’d been unemployed for a while, just hearing someone offer me a job made me more than ready to jump in.

/Great. Could you start tomorrow? Your shift will be from 5 PM to 3 AM, with two hours of mandatory overtime. Is that okay with you?/ Right now, I didn’t care about waking up late or early—I was ready to take anything they offered me.

"That works for me. I’ll be there tomorrow."

/Tomorrow is your first day, so please arrive 30 minutes early. I’ll have someone show you the ropes./ How did I get so lucky? Well, aside from that night I ended up with that mafia boss—that was a disaster. So painful.

"Alright, I’ll be there for sure." I discussed a few more details with him before ending the call, then jumped up to take a shower and get ready for bed.

"This is incredible. Should I call Grandma and tell her the good news?" Excited, I quickly dialed her number to share the update. Honestly, I missed home, but there were so many issues keeping me from going back just yet.

/Ram, how’s it going, my dear?/ Just hearing Grandma’s voice made all my exhaustion melt away. It was as if even the faint sickness I’d been feeling disappeared instantly. Now that I’d graduated, I was ready to become the family’s pillar of support. I couldn’t allow myself to be weak anymore.

"Grandma, I found a job. I’m sorry, but it looks like I won’t be coming back to Thailand just yet." Grandma had always wanted me to return home after my mom passed away. But at the time, I was still in high school, and transferring schools and countries would’ve been far too complicated. I’d chosen to stay here alone.

The life insurance Mom had left me covered my tuition and living expenses for the past three years. I’d also worked part-time at a vegetable shop for some pocket money. Now, only a little of that insurance money was left. I couldn’t rely on it forever.

/Don’t you want to come back and see me, Ram? I miss you so much./ Hearing her say that made my eyes sting with unshed tears. After losing Mom, I had no one left except Grandma and my aunt. If I could, I would’ve gone back to Thailand right away.

"I do want to see you, Grandma. But I also want to make sure you and Auntie can live comfortably. That’s why I’ve decided to work here and send money back home. You won’t have to work so hard anymore—no more climbing hills to forage in the forest under the scorching sun."

/Don’t worry about me, dear. I’m old already. What’s the point of living much longer? Right now, all I want is to see you again. You’ve been alone for so many years; you must be lonely./ I poked at the rice in my meal box as we talked. Grandma was right about everything. I was lonely. Being alone in this small apartment made it feel even bigger and emptier.

"But I want you to stay with us for a long time, Grandma. Even though it’s rare for me to get pregnant, if I ever have kids, I’d want you to help raise them." My grandmother was battling stage-two lung cancer. Her chances of recovery were good, but I needed the money to pay for her treatment.

If I returned to Thailand, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find a high-paying job to cover Grandma’s medical expenses. But if I still work here, at least the exchange rate will be higher than in Thailand.

/ My grandson, you don’t have to do everything on your own. You’re only eighteen. You should be enjoying your life like other teenagers, not bearing the burden of the family. I just want you to be happy./ Tears streamed down my cheeks as I wiped them away, laughing softly to put Grandma at ease.

"Don’t worry about me, Grandma. My happiness is seeing you stay with me for a long time—long enough to help me raise my kids someday. I promise I’ll come back to you." All I have left are Grandma and Aunt Tum. If Grandma were to leave too, I’d feel like I had no one left. I’ll do whatever it takes to help her recover from cancer.

/ I’ll try my best to stay strong and recover quickly so you can come back to me sooner./ I smiled through my tears. Grandma didn’t know that she was the sole reason I kept fighting. Knowing she was there kept me going, even though it was exhausting to face everything on my own.

"Yes, Grandma. Please stay strong. When you’re strong, I’ll be happy too." After talking with Grandma a little longer, I asked to speak with Aunt Tum. She was my mom’s younger sister, unmarried and childless, and she loved me as if I were her own. Now, she was the one taking care of Grandma.

"I’ve sent some money over already—the first amount I’ve managed to earn. Once I start my new job, I’ll send more every month to cover Grandma’s treatment and living expenses. Auntie, you shouldn’t overwork yourself. I’d rather you focus on taking care of Grandma. If both of you get sick, it’ll be even harder. I’ll figure out the money on my own."

/ Don’t push yourself too hard, Ram. If Grandma found out you were unwell, she’d worry so much. I’ll look for some extra work I can do from home so I can keep taking care of her too. / I smiled faintly. I hadn’t sent all the money I’d earned from the mafia at once. If I had, Aunt Tum might have asked too many questions about where it came from.

"Understood, Auntie. Don’t worry about me—I’m managing just fine. Please tell Grandma to stay happy. They say cancer doesn’t like happy people. Make sure she smiles and laughs a lot, okay? I’m counting on you to take good care of her. I’ll visit as soon as I can."

/ “Alright, take care of yourself too, Ram. I’ve heard there are a lot of mafia gangs in your area. Please don’t get involved with them. I worry about your safety."/

"I need to get ready for bed now, Auntie. I’ll call you again soon." I hung up from Aunt Tum without making any promises about what she asked. How could I, when I’d already gotten tangled up with mafias, just as she feared?

"I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, but I had no other choice." At least they paid well. Shoving those thoughts aside, I focused on getting ready for bed. Tomorrow was the first day of my new job.

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Waking up early had become second nature to me. After tidying up my bedding, I sat down for a quiet breakfast, scrolling through my phone for news. My rented room was tiny, with no TV, but the low rent made it manageable for someone living alone. I’d moved in here after my parents’ divorce, when my dad kicked both me and my mom out of the house.

I spent the morning idly scrolling until the afternoon, then began preparing for work. It was my first day, and I was determined to give it my all. With good service, I might even get some tips. It wouldn’t be as much as I’d earned during that fateful night with the mafia, but it was still better than being jobless. I’d save up bit by bit. One day, I’d have enough to make a real difference.

"Good evening. I’m a new employee starting my first day today. My name’s Ram," I said as I walked into the back of the restaurant, following the instructions I’d been given the day before. The other staff turned to look at me and nodded in acknowledgment.

"There you are. I’ve been waiting for you. I’m Jeffy—you can call me Jeff. Nice to meet you. Come on, let’s get you changed." I reached out to shake Jeffy’s hand before he led me into the staff lounge to change.

"This is your locker—it’s where you can keep your belongings and a spare change of clothes. The job here isn’t too complicated. You’ll be serving drinks, food, and handling minor customer requests. Let me tell you, the customers here tip generously. If you do a good job, you might rake in some decent tips," I smiled slightly at Jeffy. He was chattier than I’d expected.

"Were you the one who called me yesterday, Jeff?" Jeff shook his head slightly before handing me a waiter’s uniform and a small apron. I took them and stood in the staff lounge to change clothes.

"Nope, that was the master of the house. He’ll probably be here around 5 PM. He asked me to show you the ropes in the meantime. Want to check out the main dining area?" I followed Jeffy out into the restaurant. It was much more stunning than it looked from the outside, with a beautiful design and great ambiance.

"The restaurant officially opens at 7 PM, but staff come in at 5 PM to prep the space. The place really gets packed after 9 PM. The first floor is for regular seating, the second floor is the VIP area reserved for regulars and customers with reservations, and the third floor functions like a hotel."

"A hotel?" I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. The venue wasn’t massive, so his explanation caught me off guard.

"You know how it is—when people get drunk, their mood tends to escalate. Well, let’s just say those moments. Anyway, your job isn’t complicated. Just take customer orders, bring them to the bartenders or kitchen, and serve them. The restaurant does offer companions for customers, but that’s not your responsibility. So, no slacking off, got it?" Jeffy pointed a finger at me playfully before taking me to the kitchen for a quick tour.

"Do you have any questions?" I glanced around and noticed the other staff starting to prepare the space for the evening rush, so I didn't ask Jeffy anything else.

"Don’t worry too much. You’re new, so they won’t pile too much on you. Each waiter is assigned tables to manage. Yours are in the left corner—the ones with blue tablecloths. If you’re overwhelmed, just let me know. I’ll help you out. Don’t worry." It sounded like the place got packed. I was starting to feel nervous.

"I’ll do my best." Jeffy chuckled, patting my shoulder encouragingly before calling the other staff over to introduce me. After that, we began preparing the restaurant for the evening.

From the moment the doors opened, I hadn’t had a chance to sit down. Jeffy had reassured me that, as a new hire, they wouldn’t pile on too much work. But even so, my first shift was absolutely exhausting. I barely had a moment to catch my breath. Jeffy, who was supposed to be mentoring me, was caught up attending to VIP customers on the second floor and couldn’t come down to help. Fortunately, I had some experience with this kind of work, so I managed.

"Ram, can you take the trash out to the back and bring in the drinks?" I glanced over at Mel and nodded before grabbing the kitchen trash to dispose of it in the back as requested.

"Phew… what a first day. So, this is what it feels like to be an adult," I muttered as I leaned against the wall outside, exhaling softly. The older I got, the harder and more tiring life seemed to become. It made me miss being a kid.

"Well, no time to dwell on that. Let’s just get through today." I grabbed the drinks from the back and brought them to Mel at the bar. Then I went back to delivering orders, clearing empty tables, and making sure no fights broke out in the restaurant. By the end of the night, I was completely drained.

"Please come again," I escorted the last customer out of the restaurant. Then, I headed back inside to help clean up—clearing tables, stacking chairs, and taking out more trash.

"We’ve got spaghetti tonight. It’s packed and ready for you to take home." I glanced over at my coworkers, who were all smiling with excitement as they each went to grab their box of food from the kitchen each. I think this place is really great. They take leftover ingredients from what wasn’t sold to customers and make meals for the staff to take home. It’s a good way to save money on a meal.

"Rough first day, huh, Ram? I forgot to mention that weekends are especially busy. But you did an excellent job," Jeffy approached me while I was changing into my regular clothes by the lockers.

"I’ve worked before, so I’m used to it. It wasn’t this intense, but I’ve got some experience. Don’t worry." Even though I was only eighteen, I’d had jobs before. Something like this was manageable, even if it meant working through the night with no breaks.

"How are you getting home? Want me to give you a ride? I might pass your place on the way." I shook my head slightly, grabbing my bag from the locker and shutting it.

"No, it’s fine. My place isn’t far from here. I’ll walk. See you tomorrow, Jeff." Waving goodbye, I slung my bag over my shoulder, grabbed my box of spaghetti, and headed home alone.

"Come to think of it, it seemed like there were mafia types at the restaurant today… but that’s probably just a coincidence," I shrugged slightly after coming to a conclusion with myself. It couldn’t be that much of a coincidence for us to meet again, right? Besides, I didn’t want to cross paths with them ever again.