The day flew by fast. Like a blur, it seemed to have just raced past. And for the first time…
"Here's your order of curint soup." Rushina placed the food on the table before immediately darting away.
"Hot Blaze sticks for you." She placed another order before zooming off.
Moving like a blurred haze, she darted from table to table, attending to every customer, moving so fast that she left afterimages that only faded away mere seconds after she had left.
No taunts or insults. And nobody dared to call her…
"Slugha, you still aren't done with those bloody dishes yet," she heard the cook yell out from the back of the kitchen.
Stepping in, she found a familiar Zoomie standing quietly while the cook continued to yell at her.
"You slow pathetic little…" Before he could complete his sentence Rushina stepped in.
"Order at table seven. That wants a nice steamy bowl of runikan beats with a side of syrup sauce," said Rushina.
The cook, upon hearing Rushina's voice, turned to her. His voice opened as though about to say something before his eyes darted down to the number flashing on her limiter.
He then let out a single low grunt.
"Make sure those dishes are clean by the time I'm done slugha," he spoke with his back to Zoomie as he left.
Rushina just watched him go, a bit taken aback with just how easy it was to get him to leave.
"Thank you."
She looked down and saw Zoomie with her head hung low, looking so small and frail as though she was on the verge of breaking.
"Zooms are you…" Rushina slowly raised a hand to her shoulder, but Zoomie flinched away.
"I… I need to get back to work," she spoke as she turned to the sink and began attending to the dishes.
Rushina watched her go before looking down at the limiter resting on her wrist. A tired sigh left her lips before she turned away and left.
Everything seemed to move a lot faster that day.
Zoomie, soaked in the soapy waters while scrubbing the plates, looked down at her wrist, seeing the number flashing on it, and let out a silent sigh.
Everything apart from that still silent moment.
Eventually closing time came, and Zoomie found herself holding a mop while everyone had left. Cleaning the entire restaurant alone, only to raise her head up and find Rushina waiting right outside for her.
A slight smile cut across her lips upon seeing it, but then her eyes caught sight of her limiter. Then the glint in her eyes faded.
She finished cleaning and then made her way out the door and locked up.
"Hey Zooms," Rushina with a smile on her face.
"Hey Rushie," Zoomie greeted with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Wanna go for a run?"
Zoomie's eyes lit up upon hearing those. Rushina met her shocked gaze with a warm smile etched across her face.