Colin noticed and handed her a drink, “Here, drink this. It’ll make you feel better.”
Miranda couldn’t say no. As the alcohol kicked in, she forgot about all her worries, enjoying the music and dancing, feeling really free.
The next morning, Miranda woke up in a strange place, her clothes all over the floor. She was scared to find herself undressed, around other girls and boys, also barely dressed, just sleeping around. As she remembered bits and pieces of the night with Colin, a chill ran down her spine.
She quickly called a taxi to go back to her college dorm, worried about what others would think if they found her like that. Back at college, everyone was whispering and looking at her. Miranda had no idea why.
She was feeling upset and lonely and really wanted to talk to Leslie, but Leslie wasn’t there. Neither Leslie nor Colin answered her calls. Then, the college dean called her, upset about some embarrassing videos and photos, and mentioned that she would be expelled.
Miranda was devastated and went to find Colin for help. But when she found him, he was with Leslie, and they were both laughing meanly. “Look who’s here,” Colin sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
“Came running back to me, Miranda? Thought I could fix your little problem?”
Leslie’s grin was just as mocking. “Oh, Miranda, did you really think Colin was interested in you?
It was all a bet,” she revealed. “Two weeks. That’s all it took for him to get you to play the fool.
And now, look at you, practically begging for his help.”
Miranda felt so hurt and alone as she listened to them laugh at her. She knew they had tricked her and she had lost so much, but she also felt a spark of determination to overcome this. After sharing the details of her past that brought her to this restaurant as a waitress, Miranda decided she wanted revenge on Colin and Leslie.
“Robert, can you help me? Make their food super spicy, just once?” she asked. Robert was unsure, worrying about the restaurant’s image, but Miranda was firm.
“I really need this,” she said. “Please, do this for once?”
Robert didn’t want to do that, but somewhere, he, too, felt people like Leslie and Colin deserved a taste of their medicine. “Alright, Miranda.
But let’s keep it low-key,” he suggested. Miranda mixed up a spicy sauce, not thinking about what might happen to her if her plan was exposed. She was just focused on getting even.
“Use this,” she said, giving Robert a sauce-soaked napkin. When Colin and Leslie got their food, Leslie mocked her again. “This is spicy?
This is what you called a SPICY Mexican stew?” she sneered. Right then, Colin wiped his mouth with the napkin and was hit by the strong spice. His skin flared a deep red as if he’d been slapped by the very essence of the spice, and his breaths became shallow, desperate gasps.
“Colin, breathe, just try to breathe,” Leslie urged, patting his back. However, when people at the restaurant began to stare and laugh, Leslie’s cheeks flushed red with shame. She realized she had been mean to Leslie, and now, others found amusement in her and Colin’s predicament.
Unable to handle the embarrassment, she blurted out, “This is unbearable! We’re finished!” and quickly left. Miranda observed the scene quietly, a hint of a smile on her face.
She remembered how they had deceived her, thinking they would be happy together. It seemed fate had other ideas. Though in pain, Colin loudly yelled that Miranda should lose her job, claiming Miranda ‘messed with his dish,’ and it was then that Michael stepped in with a cool head.
He tried the stew and didn’t see any problems. “This dish is perfectly fine, sir. There’s nothing wrong with it,” he declared, spotting the spicy-saturated napkin but discreetly concealing it.
“Also, Miranda’s been with us for a long time. She wouldn’t mess up a meal on purpose,” he said, taking Miranda’s side. At that point, Miranda exchanged a silent look of understanding with her boss, grateful for his help.
Colin looked around for someone to agree with him but found no one. Leslie was gone, and the other customers just watched. Then, Michael gave Colin some friendly advice.
“You know, Colin, sometimes the heat comes not from the food but from how we act towards others. Maybe think about that, okay?”
Colin was speechless, and Miranda felt a wave of satisfaction. She had found a smart and strong way to stand up for herself and witnessed how empathy and understanding united people.
Michael’s choice to stand up for her and teach Colin about being humble and respectful showed her that even in tough times, there are friends all around. Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
