Trapped in the Loop of Cruelty

The constant back-and-forth to the kitchen was draining, each trip feeling heavier than the last. With every return to their table, their sneers grew sharper, their comments more cutting. I’d faced my share of rude customers, but this duo was different—calculated, deliberate, and almost enjoying their cruelty.

As I cleared another barely touched plate, I noticed something odd: the woman scribbling furiously in a notebook. Her gaze flicked up, locking with mine, a smirk curling on her lips as if she’d just uncovered some secret. This wasn’t just about bad service or a bad mood. They were testing me for reasons I couldn’t yet understand.