Chapter 2 One

• The barista nodded, quickly writing them down. "Got it! Anything else? "
• For a brief moment, Ylena thought about ordering something for herself—a small treat, just this once. But the idea vanished just as quickly. She couldn't justify it.
• "No, that's all. Thanks," she said, forcing a smile.
• "Alright! That'll be $22. 50," the barista said, ringing up the total.
• Ylena counted out the cash she had gathered from her coworkers, a wave of relief sweeping over her as she handed over the exact amount. "Here you go! "
• "Perfect! Your drinks will be ready shortly," the barista said with a cheerful smile before turning to prepare the orders.
• As Ylena stood at the counter, the rush from her sprint began to fade, leaving her feeling slightly dizzy. The café thrummed with life—machines buzzing, milk frothing, voices melding into a soothing background noise. She looked around, observing groups of friends laughing over their drinks, engrossed in their own little worlds.
• A world she had never been a part of.
• For a moment, jealousy surged within her. She longed to be part of that world—able to converse and share laughter over coffee, instead of being the one who served them. Yet, that thought was short-lived. After several minutes, her order was at last prepared.
• "Ma'am? "
• The barista's voice brought her back to the present, and she turned to see the girl pushing a tray of beverages toward her. "Here you go! One oat latte, one caramel macchiato, one black coffee, and one vanilla chai. Enjoy! "
• "Thank you! " Ylena replied, a little too energetically. She picked up the carton tray, balancing it cautiously, and made her way out of the café.
• The sun shone down on her again as she returned to the office, the drinks warm and soothing in her hands. She navigated the busy street, weaving through pedestrians while her thoughts raced with ideas of what she would do upon arriving home.
• Once she got back to the office, she experienced a slight pang of letdown as the reality of her environment struck her. The noise and bustle of the design studio seemed amplified now, and she prepared herself for the inevitable grievances about the beverages.
• "About time, Garcia! " someone yelled as she walked in. "Did you take a leisurely walk? "
• Ylena forced a smile and set the tray down on the table. "Here are your drinks," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "Enjoy. "
• As the others took their drinks, Ylena hardly had a moment to breathe before Isha let out an exaggerated sigh. She raised her oat latte with an expression of pure irritation.
• "You really need to learn how to get the orders correct. This isn't even the right size. "
• Heat flooded Ylena's cheeks. She tightened her hold on her notebook, battling the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I—I'll remember for next time. "
• "Whatever. " Isha scoffed, already turning her back as if Ylena wasn't worth another moment of her attention.
• Ylena inhaled deeply, attempting to calm the sinking sensation in her chest. She had become accustomed to the snide remarks by now, but they still hurt. They still chipped away at her.
• But it was temporary. All of it.
• Soon, she would be home—where no one disregarded her, where no one spoke down to her. Just her and her books, immersed in a world where she truly mattered.
• As the day dragged on, she struggled to concentrate on her responsibilities, but her mind kept wandering back to the solace of her room, to her books and the characters who understood her far better than her colleagues ever could. All she had to do was endure until the day concluded.
• At last, the clock ticked closer to quitting time, and Ylena felt a surge of anticipation. Just a few more minutes, and she could escape the office and plunge back into her cherished story.