5 Chapter 5 - Los Angeles (1/2)

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.