Abigail's POV
I woke up earlier than usual today to prepare for class and get things ready for work. Since I'd be coming home late, I decided to cook dinner in advance. I made jollof rice, my favorite dish. It's a popular African meal, especially in Nigeria and Ghana, though Nigerians undoubtedly make the best version. Not to brag, but I make some pretty amazing jollof rice myself.
After cooking, I took a shower and put on my favorite pair of jeans and the white shirt my best friend gifted me for my birthday. She'd even had my name embroidered on it. I loved that shirt, especially since white is my favorite color. Once dressed, I checked myself in the mirror and felt satisfied with my appearance.
Grabbing my school bag, I double-checked to ensure I had all the books I needed before heading out. The hostel wasn't far from school, so I decided to walk.
When I arrived at the lecture hall, it was nearly empty, with only a few people scattered around. "Looks like I got here early today," I murmured to myself. It took another 20 minutes for the hall to fill up.
As I waited for the lecture to start, I kept an eye out for Ryan and Aria. They usually arrived before me, but today seemed to be an exception. I couldn't wait to see their surprised faces when they realized I'd beaten them to class.
Every day, I vow to be in the lecture hall at least 20 minutes early, but like most resolutions, it never sticks. Not that I'm late, I usually make it just in time, sometimes by running. I really need to work on my sleeping schedule if I ever want to achieve this goal.
As the lecture began, I noticed Aria and her brother still hadn't arrived. Could something have happened? Aria didn't seem okay yesterday. I decided to send her a quick message.
"GM Aria, where are you guys? The lecture just started."
I waited but didn't get a response. She wasn't online either. I messaged Ryan next, but it was the same result, no reply, no sign of them being active.
Something felt off. Maybe it was a family issue they didn't want to talk about. That would be understandable. Still, I decided I'd ask Aria one more time. If she insisted nothing was wrong, I'd let it go.
I tried focusing on the lecture, but my mind wandered back to yesterday's incident with Ethan. Thankfully, he wasn't taking this course. I wasn't ready to face him again.
Two hours later, the lecture ended. I decided to call my mom since we hadn't spoken yet today. She'd started calling less often, maybe once or twice a day, and sometimes not until the evening. I think she's adjusting to my being away, which honestly helps since I haven't told her about my part-time job.
"Hello, Mum. Good afternoon," I greeted.
"Good afternoon, my daughter. How are you doing?" Her voice was calm yet firm.
"I'm fine, Ma. How's everyone?"
"We're all doing well. Hope your classes are going fine?"
"Yes, Mummy. Today's lecture just ended."
"Good. Have you eaten?"
"Yes, Ma."
My mom is always worried about my meals.
We chatted a bit more before ending the call. It was already 12 PM, and I had work at 12:40. Before leaving, I tried calling Aria again. She didn't pick up, even after three attempts, which was unusual. Aria always answered her phone, even if she was busy. My worry grew.
At 12:30, I headed to the bus stop. Three minutes later, a bus arrived. Thankfully, there was no traffic, and the ride was quick.
Thirty minutes later, I arrived at the restaurant. After greeting my colleagues and our supervisor, I went to the dressing room to change into my uniform. All staff wore the same attire—black trousers and a black shirt. The material looked expensive, which didn't surprise me. Everything about this restaurant screamed luxury, from the décor to the clientele.
Most of the customers were wealthy, often holding business meetings over meals. I'd also noticed something strange about many of the staff and even the manager. There was an odd vibe about them, but I didn't let it bother me. As long as I got paid, they could keep their weirdness to themselves.
After changing, the supervisor assigned me to take an order from the VVVIP section. It was my first time serving this area; usually, only long-term staff handled these customers. I wondered why the supervisor chose me. Could this mean a promotion was in the works?
Feeling both excited and nervous, I walked toward the VVVIP section.
From a distance, I saw three men in sharp black suits. For reasons I couldn't explain, unease settled over me.
"Calm down, Abi," I whispered to myself. "This is your chance—don't blow it."
As I got closer, the uneasy feeling intensified. But I ignored it and kept moving.
When I reached their table, I opened my mouth to greet them, but my gaze locked onto one of the men. His eyes were completely black—no whites, just darkness.
I wanted to scream, to run, but somehow, I stayed calm.
"Good day, sir. I'll be taking your orders," I said, my voice steady despite my racing heart.
They didn't respond immediately. Instead, they stared at me like I was an alien.
"Good day, sir. May I take your orders?" I repeated.
This time, the youngest of the three replied, "Okay."
The man with the black eyes said nothing, but his gaze never left mine.
I quickly bowed and left, my heart pounding in my chest.