"Hey, KY." KY springs because KY has heard a voice at the back of KY. It is LYDIA's. The KASH MANCHESTER is now fuller than anticipated. "You didn't tell me that your boyfriend's mom was having a private gathering here today."
"Didn't I?" KY whispers softly. KY checks the time on KY's watch and darts back behind the bar and clocks in, hoping KY does not look as rattled as KY is feeling. This is not how KY'd planned KY's shift to go.
Later, KY's heart sinks when KY sees TENZ JER'SEY's ma approach the bar to order a second glass of champagne.
"I'll serve her," LYDIA murmurs, and KY flashes her a grateful smile.
Even though KY's hands are clean, KY goes to the small basin at the rear of the bar and washes. It's no secret that his ma doesn't like KY. Emotions swirl within KY as everything she said earlier reruns through KY's mind. KY washes KY's hands again and again, trying to let the ritual soothe KY. The polish on KY's thumb starts to come off at the edges, and shaking head, KY tells KY'sself that KY'll just wash them one more time, and then KY must stop. Because KY doesn't want people to notice and think KY'm weird.
KY certainly don't want to have to deal with TENZ JER'SEY's ma at this party. KY'm just going to have to stay out of her way so that KY can avoid her sharp tongue and biting comments.
KY observes ISAAC sitting on the opposite end of the bar. Oh jeez, why is KY stuck with him again today? But fortunately, KY is summoned by someone else ordering a round of drinks, so KY has the perfect excuse to avoid him.
Things quickly get wild at the bar with additional party people coming in. KY can't account for how many cocktails KY prepare, KY's attention split between KY's own duties and looking for TENZ JER'SEY.
KY's only caught his eye with a passing glance, and he even smiled at KY for a moment, but KY'd be lying if KY says that it doesn't sting him a little bit that he hasn't even bothered to come over and talk to KY since the party started. He always tells KY that he doesn't care what his ma or anyone else thinks, but sometimes KY isn't certain if he's lying to KY.
Oh, God, what are you doing here?" A piercingly nasal, grating voice interrupts KY's train of thought. KY doesn't even have to turn around to know that it is CAT M'NOO. Just great. It's as if all KY's worst of the world have conspired this night just to make sure that KY gets the hell shift. "I didn't think I would find you here," she spits. "Aren't you too poor to attend such parties?
And I don't want people to think that I socialize with someone from the slum…" KY grits KY's teeth before turning to face her. "I'm working, obviously. Do you want a drink? " KY knows that KY has to be nice to her because KY cannot afford to have one of the managers overhear KY being rude to a customer. KY actually wishes KY might say something to CAT M'NOO to get out and not mess with KY anymore. But when KY attacked her at school once, she got her mom to come in and report KY for verbally abusing her. It was KY's testimony against CAT M'NOO's, and KY was warned then that KY could lose KY's scholarship job if KY did anything else wrong. Money speaks, and CAT M'NOO's family is rich and KY's family does not have much.
And now, here at the workplace, it's the same thing—KY can't do anything wrong because KY so desperately needs this job.
KY simply needs to close KY's mouth and keep KY's come-backs to herself, while KY's mind boggles with everything KY'd love to say to CAT M'NOO.
She tosses her golden tresses over her shoulder and commands a martini.
KY straightens KY's dress that's creeping up a bit too high, probably due to the few extra pounds KY've put on recently.
She looks KY up and down, a glint in her eye. "Hmph, your uniform is too tight. Clearly you've gained more weight. You need to drop some pounds if you want to keep a man." She laughs as she looks at KY. Her friends have snuck up behind her and join in the laughter.
KY winces as KY hears the cruel words. She is a size zero, and it's something she constantly boasts about, like her weight is something that makes her totally superior to KY.
And noticing KY's embarrassment, she zeros in on KY's discomfort. "You've obviously been at the cupcakes again, KYOLINE DIEGO," she sneers as she cackles another laugh at KY's expense.
KY can't stop the flush of crimson that comes surging up KY's cheeks. KY stands up straight and glares. "Yeah, and they were delicious—all three of them." Her jaw relaxes. KY's not sure she even recalls what sugar tastes like, with her obsession over being size zero. KY receives a little rush at her appearance. Because KY'm not letting that catty woman fat-shame KY. So if KY've hit sugary foods a mite too hard lately? It's not really new considering everything KY'm dealing with these days. Refilling her cup as fast as KY can, KY'm a welcome relief when she struts off with her friends, happy she has other affairs to keep her busy tonight instead of loitering around to pester KY. KY tries to let KY's work keep KY occupied, reminding KY'self that KY'm here to work and earn some money. CAT M'NOO looks over and gives KY a smirk. Why is she still throwing the cat who's got the cream look at KY? It's creepinging KY out.
KY shakes the head of KY.
She's only attempting to gloat about having fun while KY must work.
An hour or so after that, KY'm is kept busy with all the drink orders that still keep coming in. KY'm struggling to tune out CAT M'NOO, which is not easy to do when she still shoots KY a smug look as if she's just received an exclusive ticket to Chanel's catwalk show.
KY winces as a piercing, shrieking noise is heard in the KASH MANCHESTER. Someone is juggling a microphone, and conversation floats away as people turn to face the small stage.
TENZ JER'SEY's mother is on stage, smiling like the assertive mafia housewife she is. Sure enough someone is about to give some boring speech. KY considers whether anyone will even miss KY if KY makes a quick exit.
"I want to thank everyone for coming here today to help me celebrate my birthday," she begins, her eyes moving around the room. TENZ JER'SEY and his father step up beside her, standing off to the side as she goes on. "This is such a special day for my family." She glances over at someone in the crowd and beckons them over. "Come join us…" KY looks over, but KY can't see who she's inviting over.
"And I can think of no better time or place to make this public announcement." She lingers for effect. "To cement the love between our families, I am absolutely thrilled to make public announcement of my handsome TENZ JER'SEY's engagement to the lovely CAT M'NOO!"
The room erupts into shrieks and deafening applause.
KY watches TENZ JER'SEY and CAT M'NOO step on stage.
But KY can't hear anything going on about KY.
It's like time is moving slowly. Everything is too quiet, as in waves lulling before the storm that will break everything.
KY's lungs won't breathe while KY watches the awful girl kiss TENZ JER'SEY—KY's boyfriend—to celebrate her engagement. KY's boyfriend is engaged to another woman.
It blindsides KY as a bullet to the back. Nausea roils in KY's stomach. Pain and anger consume KY. KY don't know whether it's worse—him marrying another woman or him marrying CAT M'NOO of all people.
And a knife slices KY's heart as she smirks across the room at KY while TENZ JER'SEY wraps an arm around her waist with a tiny smile.
And when he looks at KY, his eyes burn with what KY knows is an apology, though one that KY can hardly bear the sight of. How long has he known? And what was he discussing with his mother moments before? Was he going to keep KY around as his mistress while marrying CAT M'NOO? Why did he want his mother to make friends with KY? KY can't even remember ever feeling so betrayed by someone. It's sad to love someone so much only to find out they never were yours to begin with. KY came to work in a relationship, but now KY've been dumped in front of everyone at the KASH MANCHESTER. Lots of folks are staring at KY with curious expressions. Everyone knows that TENZ JER'SEY and KY've been together for years.