My parents cried when I left Okinawa to go to Tokyo to study. At the time, it was strange seeing them cry because the whole thing was in all actuality their idea, but of course I didn't say it out loud. I wanted to tell them that I never wanted to go to Tokyo and that I had already made a bunch of friends at Okinawa, but seeing their crying faces, I kept those words in my mouth. Instead I promised them that I would make them proud and that I would focus all of my energy into the university entrance exams. They had smiled at me, albeit sadly, and nodded their heads in response. That was the day I learnt the harsh reality that life doesn’t go as well as you plan.
"That will be $3 please."
The middle aged looking cashier stared at me with hollow eyes, seemingly permanent dark circles imprinted underneath them. On the counter in front of him, a microwave dinner sat next to a cash register reading '2:13AM'.
"No problem." I smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
He didn't smile back.
I reached into my pocket and grabbed my wallet, looking into the notes area. I discovered nothing resembling cash, but instead a stash of dirty receipts kept for the the unlikely event that I ever needed a refund, or was accused of shoplifting. A pit formed in my stomach upon seeing no notes and I hesitantly flicked open the coin holder, pouring the contents into my palm. Please let there be something there. I'm so hungry, I just want something to eat.
Several coins of various shapes fell into my palm and the panic in me subsided momentarily.
"Sorry about this." I laughed awkwardly to the cashier and glanced behind to make sure no one else was in line. The small convenience store was completely empty besides the two of us. The streets outside, dark and vacant.
I turned back to count the coins hastily, the cashier staring at me without a word as I did so. As luck would have it, the measly coins I held in my hand amounted to little more than two dollars and fourty cents. God damnit. I groaned audibly but the cashier didn't react.
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"I-I only have $2.40." I announced, glancing up slowly. Please let something turn out right tonight.
The cashier's barren eyes met my stare unnervingly, and for some strange reason it felt as though he was peering deep into the depths of my soul, judging the pitifulness that was my life. I shifted uncomfortably at his gaze and waited.
An eternity passed until finally, he reached his judgement.
"It's fine." He sighed, then popped open the register and swooped the coins off my hand, all in one swift motion. He dropped the coins into the register, one by one, a weary expression on his face.
"Listen kid, you shouldn't buy things if you don't have the money for it." The cashier said in a fatigued voice, half mumbling. "You'll owe it back someday one way or another, you know? What goes around, comes around."
"I-I got it." I laughed, surprised by the sudden morality lesson. I rubbed the back of my head, feeling sheepish but thankful. "Thanks so much, dude. You're a complete life saver."
He turned around, ignoring my gratitude and headed grudgingly to a backroom behind the counter, slamming the door shut behind him.
With that, I grabbed the microwave dinner off the counter and headed out, entering the cold lonesome night. I shivered immediately upon stepping out, pulling my school jacket closer to my body. Why the hell was it so cold tonight? I thought to myself. What happened to all that talk about global warming?
I trudged home, hugging myself for warmth. My thoughts moving over to the video game I had paused prior to my mundane journey.