Chapter 7: The Troublemakers
It was past eight in the morning and Lilia continued wiping down tables at the family coffee shop. The lingering scents of fresh coffee and baked bread wafted through the air as the last customers filed out, the bell above the door jangling in their wake. While Miguel and Rosa chatted quietly in the kitchen, Lilia manned the empty front, taking a moment to breathe in the calm before the morning rush. But her senses prickled as voices carried down the street - a rough gang of men laughing raucously.
Dread sank in her stomach at their approach. "Here come the troublemakers," she muttered, wrinkling her nose at their loud voices and unkempt appearances.
One of the bald man's friends swaggered up, reeking of stale sweat and cigarette smoke. He scratched his stubbled jaw, leering as he barked his order. "Five mochas, girl. And bread."
As Lilia hurried to assemble their order, the clinking of mugs and steaming coffees masking their crass jokes, another slithered close. "Smile, pretty miss," he leered, hot breath washing over her neck.
Their companions hooted and hollered, the scrape of chair legs and thuds of boots on wooden floors grating on Lilia's nerves. She wanted nothing more than to escape their stifling presence and return the shop to its usual soothing ambience.
"Miss Pretty has no interest in you," the bald man growled as he rose from his chair, his meaty hands braced on the table.
The smell of stale sweat and beer wafted off his worn clothes as he swaggered toward the counter.
"I guess it's your turn to try your luck then," his friend snorted, sending the others into guffaws that rattled Lilia's nerves.
The first man slunk back to his pack while the bald one slipped into his place, crowding Lilia's space behind the cramped counter.
"Ah Miss Beautiful, might I inquire your name?" he rasped, scruffy face splitting into a leer as he gazed down at her, the stench of tobacco on his breath.
"Here is your order, sirs," Lilia replied stiffly, placing the tray loaded with coffee mugs and bread onto the worn wood surface to put distance between them.
"Shouldn't you be the one to deliver it to our table?" the bald man sneered, jabbing a calloused finger in her direction. His beady eyes raked over her, making Lilia's stomach churn.
She longed to escape the cloying scents and stifling presence of the men blocking her in. But defiance would only spur further harassment, so Lilia held her tongue. Lilia took a deep breath, steeling her nerves as the acrid scent of stale cigarette smoke hanging in the air. Gripping the tray tightly, she carried it over to the table and carefully placed each order down, wanting nothing more than to escape the men's leering gazes.
"Here is everything. Anything else I can get for you?" she asked politely, already edging back toward the relative safety of the counter.
"Miss, you're truly beautiful. What's your name?" one of them growled, sending a waft of sour breath her way.
Lilia remained silent, dreading a prolonged interaction. As she turned to leave, the bald man shot out a meaty hand, wrapping thick fingers firmly around her thin wrist. His touch made her skin crawl.
"Please let me go, I have other things to attend to..." Lilia pleaded, meeting his beady-eyed stare with discomfort.
"I just want to know your name, is that so wrong?" he sneered.
To satisfy the man and rid herself of his unwanted attention, Lilia stated her name briefly before hurrying off, rubbing the imprint his grasp left behind.
"Lilia. Lilia Cruz. I'm leaving now-" Lilia stated, already backing away.
"Wait just a moment. I'm Victor Ramos, a welder," the bald man said with a smile, his piercing eyes never leaving her face.
His friends hooted and jeered. "A bald welder!" Their mocking laughter filled the stuffy air.
Lilia shook her head in exasperation as she slipped behind the counter once more, glad for the barrier between herself and Victor's roaming gaze. His lingering scent of sweat and grease lingered even from a distance. Victor remained in his seat, but his eyes continued to follow Lilia's every move attentively. She went about her work, beautiful yet humble, intelligent though unable to fully acknowledge her own merits due to believing others surpassed her. When Victor rose again to approach, that's when Lilia's mother arrived from the market, interrupting his plan. The familiar scents of fruit and vegetables accompanied her entrance, comforting Lilia.
"I bought what you need for laundry, dear. Bleach, fabric softener, everything," Mrs. Cruz said, handing over the soaps.
"Thank you, mother. I can wash our linens now, even the old towels and sheets," Lilia replied with a smile, glad for the distraction.
"And Miguel and Rosa?" her mother asked.
"We're here, Auntie Sofia!" called out Rosa and Miguel emerging from the fragrant kitchen.
"There you are. Have you finished your coffee?" Mrs. Cruz asked.
"Yes, we're done," Rosa replied.
"Alright, I'll man the shop. You go home and take care of your chores, dear. Be sure to finish since we have guests next week," Mrs. Cruz said to Lilia.
"Yes, mother." Lilia nodded and exited, the scent of roasting coffee clinging to her clothes.
Rosa and Miguel asked who would be visiting. Mrs. Cruz explained, "My sister Analiza and her family will be here to stay for a few days. A relaxing break for them."
"That will be nice company for you," Miguel commented politely.
Meanwhile, Victor stealthily tailed Lilia as she left, curious about her daily routines. But sharp eyed Lilia noticed his lurking and quickly ducked around a corner out of sight. Victor blinked in confusion, the girl he'd been tracking suddenly vanished.
"Where did she go?" he muttered, spinning to search up and down the street, catching only fading traces of Lilia's floral perfume on the breeze.
Once Lilia confirmed Victor had wandered off, she emerged from her hiding place among fragrant flowering bushes near a power pole. Bystanders shot her curious glances, wondering why she'd crouched there.
Lilia briskly walked home, her damp skin prickling as uneasy thoughts crowded her mind. What did the bald man want from her? She suspected his interest was less than honorable.
"That lecherous man," she muttered under her breath, hugging herself against the warm morning breeze.
Too lost in worries, Lilia failed to notice traffic and nearly stepped into the street. A blaring horn startled her back to reality.
"Watch it miss! Want to get yourself killed?" yelled the furious driver screeching past.
Heart pounding, Lilia realized how careless she'd become. He doesn't want to have a relationship like Victor's behavior. What she wants is a noble person who will love her truly.
"Are you alright, miss?" asked a concerned woman, gentle hand touching Lilia's arm.
"Yes, thank you," Lilia breathed, calming her frazzled nerves before safely crossing the road among others.
But uneasy thoughts of the bald man still lingered long into that morning.