One Day in California

Los Angeles

A city of wide avenues and small places to sit and eat, and relax. There are sky towers in the centre, what was once thousands of homes now took up less ground space than an old shopping mall. The fierce footsteps, the clinking of polished shoes against the pavements, when I look up to the skyscrapers reflect the angle glow of the afternoon sun.

The smell of the city were alien to me, I walk through the pavements as I arrive by the bus stop. My backpack on my back, a camera sling around my neck, together with myself pulling the big red luggage. I stop and gazed at the old, brown painted apartment, I pick my phone out from my jacket, turn it on using my face –id and I was right, the map leads me here. This is the place Lily recommends me.

3 months ago Lily helped me to find a cheaper apartment, so far this apartment called "Bonny Apartment" suits me well, located in a very centre of the city where I can easier find a job.

My phone beep, an email from Lily popped up.

"Hey, arrive safely yet? I feel empty huhuhu but today Stan comes to save me luckily" I giggled and tap my screen to reply her, a smile drawn across my face.

"yep, outside the Bonny. Gonna see you soon Lily. I miss you already!" I type swiftly.

I drag my luggage to the Bonny, I push the old brown wooden arched doorway and bring myself in. The lobby is wide but quite old fashioned, there were pictures of Elvis Presley, James Brown, Bob Marley and Prince hanging on the walls with the names printed above the rusty golden colored frame, there's also some vases with artificial plants near the lift and the counter and a big brown sofa made of leather across the counter. The whole building and decorations seem old, but they aren't dusty or dark. I can accept them.

An old woman, her hair is grey and bun tied, she is wearing a tosca button shirt and a thick rounded glasses, her hands busy typing her laptop. There's a golden name tag "call me MS. POTTS" printed in black ink.

"May I help you?" she straightened her glasses to see me clearly as she realized I was standing in the middle of the lobby.

"I want to rent an apartment room. The regular one" I pull out my passport from my big backpack.

She grabs my green covered passport with Lambang Burung Garuda in golden outlines and flip the cover, her right hand holding her glasses, she was trying to read, then she type and read repeatedly.

After 30 minutes of registering myself in. I walk through the hallway of 5th floor, looking for my room number 55 as it written on the keys, she gave me 2 keys anyway. 1 for daily use, and 1 for me to keep as spare.

I throw myself to the mushy bed, cracked my neck and the bones popping.

I'm so tired. I've been holding all of these stuffs for almost 4 hours. Will find some part time jobs to keep my living. My phone beep, it must be Lily.

"Yep. Me too Steff ! Goodluck for you there~ give me good news. XOXO" she replied.

Ah, well... New life, again....

I observed the room, the surroundings, the room is very clean and tidy, just a bit old-fashioned, but I think it is quite antique, and I love it. The room is in pale brown and wooden brown. The bed is on the right, made of wood, a white cushion without bedcovers, and 2 pillows. Ms. Potts told me they just clean the whole room for me including the cushion, pillows, towels and curtains. The dresser is beside the bed, and a small table in the other side of the bed. The bathroom is on the right near the door, the left door brings me to the mini kitchen and there seen a mini fridge beside the single stove. The wallpaper is in pale brown and flower printed all over the room in old designs but still new, not even a side is torn. I walk straight to the window. I can see the tall buildings in front of me, the glassy skyscrapers, and the sounds of car honking from here.

I take off and hang my jacket on the coat-rack, dropped my knees and slide the zipper of my luggage, ready to loads. I'm gonna work all day for this.

***

2 days later, I am accepted in a coffee shop name Vier Café but not as a cook or barista, I'm the one in charge as the cashier, greeting customers when they jingle the bell.

Today is my first day.

I put the end of my black t-shirt inside my black jeans tidily, then the apron tied. The boss told me to be patient, I shall wait until my name tag arrived, he is customing another name tag for me.

I lock my door and drop the key inside my jean's pocket, walking through the hall and pony tailed my short hair. My hair had grown longer last time but I cut them until my shoulder, Lily insisted to let me keep it on my shoulder when I told her I want to cut it bob.

I only need 1.5 km walk far from my apartment to the place I work. I drowned in the crowds. The crowd has a life of its own, there are chatters, and shoes clinking on the pavements. I pull myself walking on the left, so people will stop bumping on me.

The Vier Café,

The bell jingles as I push the light wooden door with glass in the middle of the door, with white Times New Roman font tinted "Coffee, Anyone?" and an open sign board hanging on the glass.

"Welcome"

2 women dressed up like me paused a while and greeted me "Good Morning !"

"hey ! new girl ?" a woman with name tag Cara greeted me. Her golden eyes glancing on me, walking towards and then hold my hand.

"I'm Cara"  she has a pair of golden eyes and sexy lips smiling to me.

"Steffi" I shake her hand.

The other woman with long red hair approaching me. She grabs my hand and says "I'm Jane. Nice to meet you"

"Steffi" I replied.

And a tall man, Swedish kind of look appeared from the counter.

"Hi. I'm Steffi" I wave my hand at him.

"I'm James" he narrowed his eyes and thinking for a little while. Cara nudged his arm, then James lifts his hand to shake mine. We are shaking our hands.

"Nice to meet you Steffi" he smiles.

***

It's been a week since I applied at Vier Café. Today is the 2nd week working at the coffee –shop.

The bell jingles and a man come in.

I stare at him once and greet "Welcome to Vier Café" giving him a warm and friendly smile, my hands are busy dividing the coins.

This man is tall, he is wearing a yellow hoodie covering his curly brown hair but I can still see his messy curly hair popped out from the side of his hoodie, his dark eyebrows are tidy and thick, he is about 185 cm tall, has a strong and wide shoulder, and a pair of beautiful hazel eyes. Type of a guy that will give every girls a heartthrob. He quick-stares at me without reading the menu up above behind me, he's about to order.

"An Americano please" he ordered as he rub his jeans pocket looking for his wallet. He pulls out a member card and I grab it soon to scan it. He take away the Americano after I returned back the card. He left.

I heard small leaking voices from my back, Jane and Cara were squeezing hands, seems really excited with that hazel eyes man.

"OH MY GOD HE IS D*MN HANDSOME !" said Cara

"I would like to marry him after I graduated from college" Jane puts her hand on her forehead and making such a ridiculous sly face, like a princess about to faint.

"Impossible !" Cara moaned as her hand is pushing Jane's forehead.

Jane rubs her forehead looking at Cara furiously, but then giggling.

"there's nothing wrong to be creative" Jane mumbled

They're cute, I want to laugh but I hold it. James is busy shaking the bottle of coffee and says

"Ah girls" shrugged at me.

I guess they are just being fussy because a handsome customer just came over. Another customer jingles the bell, 4 of us simultaneously greet "Welcome to Vier Café". Cara and Jane both stop talking right away, things go back to normal.

It's 5 P.M. and the shop is close. James is waiting for me outside the café looking at his phone, he is the one in charge of checking the café before he went home.

"sorry to make you wait" I apologize, busy taking off my apron.

"just take you time, nevermind" he holds the key and lock the door when I move aside.

"So where are you going ?" James walks me home.

"just go home and relax" I replied without asking him back.

Silence expanded for few seconds,

"where do you live ?" asked James.

"there" I pointed to the straight, that time I wish James would just leave me alone, but he follows me until we arrived in front of the apartment building. I just feel kind of awkward.

"thanks for walking me home" I thank him, giving him a short smile.

James smiles back at me, his green eyes glancing on me. I walk awkwardly to the main entrance, tilt my head for checking him, but he hasn't leave, then I wave my hand at him, he waves back at me and return to his way home as I walk inside to the lobby.

I close the door and throw myself to the bed, it has been covered with cute penguin bed covers I bought few days ago, and they are so comfortable. I shall go the market and buy some snacks and soju later.

Los Angeles City, I remember I printed out lots of picture of Los Angeles when I was still in High School, when I watch The Walking Dead with my mom, and she told me most celebrities live in L.A.

Mom, I can't believe I'm here.

Although my mom isn't responsible with her children, I can't blame her too, she gave me good memories before she left. I lift my chin up to see the navy sky, covered half by the buildings, the voice of laughter and crowds talking, and the shoes clinking fiercely on the pavements. Some shops are still open, and I can see some couples at the diner holding hands looking at each other. I rush myself to the supermarket, pushing the cold steel handle with my palms, my hands are warm, I can feel my palm –prints are printed on the steel.

The supermarket is busy, the cashier beeping the scanner over and over again. There are some chit –chatter around too, and sometimes giggles. I keep on thinking of my mom since I arrived in L.A. I miss her so much, I always wanted to see her, even surely she won't.

I daydreamt too much until I accidentally bumped into a tall figure in front of me, a tall man with black hoodie startling and about to turn his body,

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm Sorry!" I bursted before he got mad at me, I won't make a trouble. I just arrived few weeks ago !

The man who came to the café earlier with different hoodie. He is just fine, and go away when I apology. That man must be mad, but I don't care as long as I don't owe him apologies anymore.

A long queue made me kind of sleepy, I covered my yawns with my hand. The cashier start counting my groceries. I pay her the amount, and walk to the front door, making the same palm –prints on the steel handle.

I've spent about more than an hour inside the groceries, nowadays I feel really tired, intense to be so dreamy. I need to get more sleep tomorrow, my finally day off !

Then I bumped into something again, a tall man with black hoodie, the same guy earlier from the supermarket. My heart pumping faster, I made another trouble again with the same person. He moaned madly as he is really sick of people keep on disturbing him, he turns his body, his pair of hazel eyes glaring at me. His hoodie doesn't cover his head as I can see his dark brown curly hair exposed and blown by the soft wind, I wonder how soft his hair is, looks like he goes to hair therapy every week and never missed a day.

"you again?" he raised his eyebrow, he seems pissed off.

I was speechless, I only shrugged my shoulder, feeling blank, my brain stop working at this moment. I keep bumping on him, it way my fault by the way, I am too dreamy.

"well" he puts his hands inside the hoodie

"lady, are you stalking me huh?" he exasperated

My eyes widened soon as I heard the word STALKER from his mouth.

"EXCUSE ME" I raise my voice a little bit

"I don't even know you, sir" I continued

"oh well, you don't know me...hummm. Okay" shrugging his shoulder, being sarcastic. The handsome face, the beautiful eyes are all wasted by his attitude. I feel like want to slap him, but I undo that intention. He will send me to jail if I do that.

"I'm sorry sir" I rolled my eyes, then I walk past him. How I wish I will never see him anymore.

Morning at 10 A.M.

The crowds in the café make me busier. I need to concentrate since the customers are lining up, then more and more customer coming in. The murmurs and the glass clinking are melodies since we open the café this morning, at some point there's a sound of the toaster ting-ing and the frying pan czz-ing.

Then another bell jingles, I take a short look.

"Welcome to Vier Café" the guy from the supermarket appeared ! the incident yesterday, the word "STALKER" echoing inside my head. My heart beats faster when I see him, I wish to disappear right now.

Cara and Jane staring at each other and smile when that man came in and join the queue.

The line is finally shortened, the hoodie man is now standing in front of the counter, he is wearing a dark purple hoodie today.

"Americano please"

I'm trying to avoid his eye contact, slashed of yesterday's incident appeared in my mind and the words STALKER echoing from the start. I wish to disappear.

"Thanks" he added, grabs his Americano and left. I feel thousands time relief, this is even better than the semester exam's result. I rub my face with my hands. Yes, thousands time relief.

By the way, he looks like a loyal customer at Vier, the reason why he comes over almost everyday. But there are a lot of good looking women and men coming over to Vier, and if I don't misheard, severals are celebrities.