"Yosh! Looks perfect!" I say to myself, smiling at the neat ribbon tie around my collar. Standing in front of a mirror, I quietly admire my transformed appearance.
A ruffled white blouse, a black ribbon tie with a red glass gem in the middle, glossy black pants, and a pair of newly-polished black leather shoes.
'I've said it before, but the uniform for the front desk staff in this hotel is way different from the ones I've seen on the internet. It's very elegant and fancy.'
While admiring my reflection in the mirror, the sound of knocking echoed from somewhere behind me. I turn around and see a man staring at me with a proud smile on his face. His black hair slicked-back with just enough hair gel. His features suggest he's my age, but the vibe and the way he carries himself makes me think he's at least 6 years older. And he's wearing the same uniform as I.
"Watanabe-san!" I call out with a smile of my own. Approaching him with light steps. Watanabe-san is my senior and temporary instructor working the front desk at the same shift as I.
"You look absolutely dashing, Tsukishiro-kun." Watanabe-san says. Gazing at me like a proud father.
'Watanabe-san is definitely older me than me.' I thought.
Watanabe-san then turns around and looks over his shoulder back at me. "Come on. It's almost time for our shift." he says, his tone gentle and soothing.
'Right. This is my first day on the job. I need to focus and avoid making mistakes or rash judgements. At this moment forward, I need to think before I act. I'm an employee, not an outsider.'
.
.
"And that's how you operate the PMS system. Is there anything you didn't understand?"
"No, Watanabe-san! I understood everything perfectly!" I say, my voice a pitch louder than intended.
"Hm..." Watanabe-san reaches out and pats me on the shoulder. "No need to be so stiff, Tsukishiro-kun. Relax. The guests might think you're being held at gunpoint with how tense you are." he jokingly says with a smile on his face, hoping to reassure me.
I involuntarily flinch at the realization. "Hahah... Sorry, Watanabe-san. I'm just worried I'll make a mistake on my first day." I confess.
"It's natural to be nervous on your first day, Tsukishiro-kun. And don't worry about making a mistake. I'm here as your instructor, and it's my responsibility to get you accustomed to the job."
At Watanabe-san's words, I take a deep breath, and release. The tension leaving my body as I do. "You're right. Thank you, Watanabe-san." I say, reciprocating a smile.
"Attaboy!" Watanabe-san said with a wide smile, patting my shoulder one more time.
And almost as if on cue, the phone started ringing. I glance at Watanabe-san instinctively, but he simply stares back at me with a look that says. "Go on. Answer it."
Rushing to the phone, I pick it up right before the 4th ring. "Ah- Good morning. This is the front desk of Yoko Hotel. How may I help you?" I say, trying my best to tame my beating heart.
"Good morning..." A groggy, feminine voice echoed out. Her tone suggests she just woke up. "This is Morita in room 703... Haaa~ I'd like to request a 4 hour extension..."
"Understood. Please give me one moment..." I shift to the nearest computer and began running the details given to me; the name "Morita" and room number 703.
Scanning the room info on the screen, I quickly formulate my response. "It says in our system that your current checkout time is 8 AM. Pushing it back to 12 PM will incur a fee. Is that alright with you, Morita-sama?" I ask, keeping my voice low and my pace slower than usual to accommodate the groggy guest on the other end.
"Yes..."
"Understood. I'll do as you requested. Please enjoy your extended stay, Morita-sama." I say, bowing my head even though she can't see me.
"Thanks..." she says before hanging the call.
With a faint thunk, I put the phone back in its place.
"Phew..." a breath I didn't know I was holding onto blew past my lips.
Behind me, I could hear the sound of clapping. Turning around, I see Watanabe-san clapping his hands and smiling at me. "You handled that perfectly, Tsukishiro-kun. You don't need to worry about the job, because you have the skill and the temperament to do well." he says. Genuinely praising me.
"... Okay." I say, meeting Watanabe-san's gaze. "Please teach me well, Watanabe-san!"
"That's the spirit!"
Just like that, my first day working as a front office staff for Yoko Hotel started on a good note.
Though it was tough getting used to so many things, thanks to my time as a rental boyfriend, I didn't have to worry about shying away from communicating with all sorts of people. And with Watanabe-san kindly watching over and instructing me, I managed to avoid making any big mistake.
Before I knew it, my shift has almost reached its end.
"Good work today, Tsukishiro-kun." Watanabe-san says, standing next to me in front of his assigned computer.
"Huh?" I perked up, glancing at the time I saw that it's 2:56 PM. 4 minutes before my shift ends.
"Time flew by so fast..." I muttered. Shocked that time had passed this quickly despite it being work.
"It just means you did well. Ah, but our shift isn't over until we finish the handoff."
"Got it!" I say with a wide smile on my face.
Soon after that interaction between us, the people handling the next shift arrived. Watanabe-san went over the handoff process while I was delegated to handle any last oncoming guests or calls.
"Alright. The handoff is finished. Our shift is officially over, Tsukishiro-kun." Watanabe-san says, guiding me out of the booth.
"Good work today, Watanabe-san! I learned so much thanks to you!" I say, bowing deeply to the man before me.
"Hahah~ No need to bow so deeply, Tsukishiro-kun. I hardly had to step in after explaining the PMS system to you." Watanabe-san says, waving his hands in front of his chest.
"Heheh. It's because I know a reliable senior has my back." I say with a wide smile on my face. Overjoyed that I did well on my first day.
"Okay. Enough chatting you two. Continue that in the break room if need be." one of the men behind the front desk called out.
"Sorry~" I say with a cheeky smile, my usual self starting to come out now that I'm off duty. "Good luck with your shift, everyone!" I say, waving at them as I follow after Watanabe-san.
But before I could make it far, a certain accent, or rather a familiar language caught my attention.
"Wow! Ma! Pa! Ang sobrang ganda nang lugar na to!"1"Wow! Mom! Dad! This place is so pretty!" A childish voice echoed through the space. I turn around and spot a little boy roughly 7 or 8 years old with black hair and eyes running all over the lobby. His innocent eyes filled with wonder as he looks around.
'I can't be mistaken... That boy is Filipino.' I look behind him and spot a couple, likely the boy's parents. They two had black hair and eyes. The shade of their skin just a little bit darker than his.
"Anak! Wag ka padalos dalos!"2"Son! Don't be hasty!" The little boy's father called out, walking faster to catch his son.
The little boy swiftly evaded his father's grasp and approached the front desk. His little hands grip the edge as he stands on his tippy toes. "Kuya, may samurai kayo dito?"3"Brother, do you have samurai here?" he asked with an innocent smile on his face.
The staff stationed behind the front desk, however, were a little flustered. The look on their faces are practically hoping the boy's parents will do something already.
"Hm? Tsukishiro-kun, are you not coming?" Watanabe-san called out behind me.
I spare a glance over my shoulder, curling my lips into a small smile. "I'll be right back." I say before walking back to the front desk with just a little pep to my steps.
"Matthew, halika! This kuya doesn't know Filipino-"4"Matthew, come here! This brother doesn't know Filipino-"
"Wala pong samurai dito, ginoo."5"There are no samurai here, my lord. I speak up as I approach.
The little boy turns to me. His expression shifting to one of disappointment. "Eh diba Japan to? Bakit wala ako makitang samurai? Pati rin ninja wala!"6Eh isn't this Japan? Why don't I see any samurai? Not even ninjas!" The little boy said, pouting his cheeks at me.
I crouch down in front of him and beam a smile at the small child, "Wala kaming samurai o ninja dito, pero meron kaming malaaaawak na swimming pool! Pwede na ba yon sayo, ginoo?"7"We don't have any samurai or ninja here, but we do have a biiiigg swimming pool! Is that good enough for you, my lord?
"! Swimming pool?! Yay!" The little boy immediately brightened up at the mention of a swimming pool. Jumping up and down, he flails his hands around.
Watching him, I couldn't help but smile even wider. 'When I have a kid one day, I hope they're as energetic as this one.' I thought. A fatherly desire welling up inside me.
The little boy then stopped and turned back to face me. "Salamat po, gwapong kuya!"8"Thank you, handsome brother!" he said with a wide, innocent smile on his face. The compliment hitting me in a way it never has before. It feels nice and warm in my chest.
In response, I return his smile with one of my own. "You're welcome. Enjoy your stay." I say.
Rising to my feet, I briefly make eye-contact with the boy's parents. Their expressions one of pleasant surprise.
Without uttering a word, I smile and bow to them before walking back.
"Tsukishiro-kun, you know three languages??" Watanabe-san asked, genuine surprise on his face.
"Mhm. Japanese, English, and Filipino." I reply with a small smile.
"Incredible! Many struggle with English, but here you are with three languages under your belt!" Watanabe-san says, his arms spread out. "Ah, but why Filipino? That's not one you encounter often."
At his question, I shoot back with an answer I prepared long ago in advance. "I met a Filipino online once, and we became friends since then. I learned her language just to mess with her really."
"Ehh? You really are something, Tsukishiro-kun. Learning a third language just to mess with someone."
"Hahah~ Yeah. I'm a bit strange, aren't I?"
,
,
Meanwhile, in the suite reserved for the General Manager of Yoko Hotel.
"Kugh!" Yokoyama had suddenly clutched her stomach out of nowhere. On the screen of her computer is the live footage of the lobby.
"Yokoyama-sama, is your not-so-dried-up uterus acting up?" Tanaka-san asked, standing right next to Yokoyama's desk.
The blonde General Manager looks up and turns to her subordinate with a small frown. "I really should fire you for talking rudely to me..."
Tanaka-san calmly adjusted her non-existent glasses. "I have enough saved up to retire comfortably, so please feel free to do so."
"Ugh... You really are something..."
Yokoyama turns back to the screen, and rewinds the footage.
"You're welcome. Enjoy your stay." Andy's voice echoed from the speakers while the footage of him smiling at the child plays.
"Gahhhh! He's so cute and handsome!" Yokoyama whisper-screamed, kicking her feet. Gone is the cool General Manager image she displays to her subordinates.
"......" Tanaka-san quietly observes from the outside. Not uttering a word.
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