"Mmm?"

My eyes opened.

Before me layed the celling, with a single lightbulb driven into the middle of it.

Sitting up, I looked around the living room where I slept. It was both my living room and my bedroom.

The usual morning routine began, from the packing of my matress to the changing of my clothes. What can I say? Another day in the unchanging world I guess.

I wrapped the scarf around my neck as I headed out in the cold winter morning.

18 and studying for the entrance exams next year. Today, I'm going to begin my part-time job at a convenience store.

"If you are going to live alone in the city, you have to work for what you eat!" I recall the angry words of my grandfather as I made the decision to live the countryside.

Heh.

For some reason, it brought a smile to my face.

Arriving at the convenience store, I brushed off the snow that had piled onto my body, and entered via the backdoor.

The boss, or more acurately, the manager was already waiting for me. His the only other person that I'll be working with in the store as of now.

A rather particular man in his 30s. But he had a nice pleasent aura going on about him. He handed me a fresh set of clothing with my name tag.

"The name tag goes above the left breast pocket" he gave a gentle reminder.

"Yes" I nodded in response.

"Hurry on to the counter later, I'll be showing you the ropes!" he declared.

"Yes, sir" I acknowledged.

Without a second to waste, I met the manager at the counter.

"And so , the last thing you need to remember is to always smile" he added on after finishing with all the buttons and their functions.

"Also, I heard you're trying to get into a university... you're not a blessed one right?" he asked.

"No,sir" I replied with a wry smile. The blessed ones huh?

The automated door slid open, a few working adults headed on to grab the breakfast in the store.

Rule Number One.

Always welcome the customers.

"Welcome!" I greeted with a smile.

The first customer filled up his basket as he walked towards the counter. The packaged meal and drink floats into the basket as if it was natural.

As fast as I could, I began to key in the accounts into the cashier, allowing him to tap his card on the automated payment system.

It really wasn't hard. All i had to do was to scan the goods and press the 'end' button to end the transaction.

I watched as more and more customers came into the store in the morning hustle.

Rule Number Two.

Be prepared.

"Thank you!" I thanked the customer as he hurriedly left.

It soon became more and more repeated, so much so that I found myself automatically repeating the actions.

As the clock struck 10, the crowded store was replaced with a desolated landscape. Free of any humans other than me and the manager.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Good work" the manager smiled.

"Thanks" I replied.

Standing at the counter, I stared outside the transparent glass windows.

Groups of teenagers were wondering around to the nearby shops, enjoying their winter break. I notice a certain group of students consisting of 3 guys and 2 girls, they are wearing a black jacket with the logo of the university sewed onto it.

"Time's university huh? Judging from how they look, they're probably in the pre-university. Blessed ones." the manager speculated right next to me.

The logo of an hourglass went past me, as the students walked across the street.

And then, the door slid open once more. A girl, around the same age as mine, crept stealthily into the store. She had flowing brown hair, and half the face hidden under her scarf.

It was really interesting to watch, as she took a basket and attempted to levitate snacks into it. Little by little, I watched as the small pile of sweets grew into a tiny mountain.

"Yes!"she let loose a small jump for joy, as her scarf loosely drops onto the floor. It revealed a pretty ordinary , and yet somehow, charming face. Her small sharp nose, natural double eye-lids that highlighted her eyes. A pleasently straight row of teeth, and also her embarassed and shocked reaction as she noticed me staring at her revealed face.

Embarassed, she hurriedly left the store.

Rule Number Three. Always say your farewells.

"Please come back again" I said.

A few minutes later, I saw the strange girl returned once again. She was wearing a different colored scarf this time. A different colored scarf doesn't exactly hide your identity you know...

Picking up some sweets, she headed to the counter.

"Welcome!" I greeted.

"!"

She seemed nervous, or more likely, she was simply shy in nature. There are so many people that are so afraid of speaking to strangers that it someow puzzles me in general. And before me stood another prime example.

"That'll be 5 dollars and 12 cents" I smiled.

"Please, come again" the door shut once more, as I saw the strange girl run to wherever she came from.

"That's one cute girl right lad?"the manager spoke.

"Yea..."

I stopped.

I just realised that I had misspoken.

"Oho, now really, don't you hope she comes back again?"the manager teased.

"Its not like that!" I attempted to rebutt.

With that, came a small lunch break.

A small stream of customers came every now and then, before the night attacked with a dozen more at once. Buying water, snacks or packaged food for overtime workers, the store, once again became a battle ground.

Little by little, I got through it.

For a strange reason, I was reminded by the sweets piling up slowly this morning.

"Alright, I'm going to restock, you can go home already boy" the manager chased me out of the store.

It was 10 p.m. So much for a part-time job huh? It was practically full-time until someone else joins the store.

Little by little, I know that things are changing. I headed back home, towards the one room apartments. Small flats rented or bought by students and single adults. Cheap and sufficient.

For the first time, I notice that there was light in the neighbour's room.

Maybe someone finally moved in?

With that in mind, I pushed open my door, and entered the apartment. Keys were already a thing of the past. Automated fingerprint scanners are present on the door knobs, a step for laziness in mankind. The same as how money was the replacement for trade. And finally online financial transactions replacing money.

I wonder how things will change in the future. Little by little huh?

With that, I closed the door behind me. Layed out my matress, took a bath and slept.

The same old celling looked down from above.

And then, when I opened my eyes, sunlight was comming in from the windows.

"Tok, tok,tok" I heard a knock on my door.

"Comming" I announced.

Opening the door, I see an older women probably in her 30s, and a familiar girl who was looking down on the floor. Still, a scarf was covered around her face.

"Hi there, my name is Diane, and this is my daughter Elly, we are pleased to make your aquaintence" she spoke in a pleasent tone.

"Actually, my daughter would be the one staying here, so I hope you can look out for her as well" she presented me with a small gift. A wrapped up homemade sandwich. I guess that's breakfast.

I looked towards her daughter Elly, who was being fidgety. Our eyes met, and she scampered behind her mother.

I should prepare a house warming gift.

To have her mother help introduce her to the neighbours. Just how shy can a person get? I'd be lying if I said that it didn't pique my interest.

"Of course, and you seem awfully young to be her mother" I complimented.

"You're a real sweet one boy, so, I guess I might be seeing you around sometime" Diane said as she left to visit the other neighbours.

Time for work I guess.

Heading to the store, I stood at the counter, mentally and physically preparing myself for the incomming attack.

"Get ready" the manager chuckled.

"Go"

A flood of people entered and left, as I struggled to scan all the items quickly. Let's not give up shall we?

And then, came the stale and peaceful 10.

"Good work and... today we are getting a new worker, it might suprise you, you know?" the manager smiled.

"She's the daughter of my friend, so I'm taking care of her under the pretense of work, please treat her nicely, she has been through quite a bit" he gave a gentle smile.

"Okay" I nodded.

"Come here" the manager beckoned.

My eyes widened, as once again the familiar brown hair filled my vision.

"G-gg-good Morning, I- I-m..." the shacking , strange girl who suddenly became my neighbour. I thought internally.

"Hello Elly" I smiled, causing her to look up in suprise.

I was suprised as well, she was still wearing a scarf with her work clothes.

"Ah!"she exclaimed lightly.

My heart trembled. For some reason, I felt happy.

A happy coincidence I guess?