An intense headache assaulted me the moment I woke up.
“Urgh…”
I wasn’t one to get sick often, much less experience headaches. What’s more, such a powerful one. I tried to sit down, but the pain only became worse, leaving me trembling and sweating. With no better options, I lay down again, waiting for it to pass.
Unfortunately, the agony was only increasing, not decreasing. At least today was Sunday, and it was my day off. Not that this thought comforted me much.
Eventually, the ache reached a point where it felt like it was piercing my brain. After a few more seconds of pain, everything became black.
I woke up again, disoriented. I braced myself, remembering the previous ache, but it was all gone now, as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t a dream, though. My body was sticky with sweat, which felt gross and uncomfortable. On top of that, my phone clearly indicated we were now in the afternoon. I liked sleeping as much as anyone else, but not that much.
Feeling like I wasted half a day, I sighed while getting out of my bed. I took a quick shower in the very limited space offered by the bathroom of my one-room studio apartment.
Feeling better after that, I put on some clothes and opened the window to ventilate the small area. Befitting the middle of spring, the weather was nice, neither too hot nor too cold. Looking around, my room was in a mess, with clothes, electronics, and random junk all over the space. This is what happens when the bed takes over more than half the available space. Or so I justified myself.
When the room stopped smelling of my sweat, I closed the window again, feeling my stomach gurgle. I put on some shoes and left the room, going to hunt for food.
Not that I had to go far. Since my kitchen area was so small that I could barely cook anything, I often ate outside. It might sound fancy, but that wasn’t the case. I always went for the cheapest stuff at the convenience store next door, which was also the one I was working at. My world was very limited indeed.
With random thoughts such as spending my hard-earned, limited amount of money back at the store that was paying me in the first place, I went down the stairs and was on the streets in no time. Living on the second floor was the best. It wasn’t the first floor, where anything could happen since it was so close to the streets, but it still wasn’t too high, making it perfect to reach using the stairs. Not that there was any elevator. It wasn’t this sort of fancy apartment building.
The convenience store was literally across the street. When I entered, it was almost empty, with only one other person checking the snack options in a corner.
As for me, I didn’t even need to look around. I was the very person who restocked the shelves five days a week. I made a beeline for the sandwich section and chose my usual mayonnaise chicken option.
‘Mayonnaise chicken. You’re the only one for me.’
It was also cheap. $4.70 for two. It wasn’t possible to buy only one since they came in a plastic wrapping of two. Of course, the quantity wasn’t that much, and it would also be cheaper to buy something similar in a larger supermarket, but I liked that specific sandwich, which was only available here. I knew why. What I was doing was precisely the reason this convenience store brand had developed the product in the first place.
I made my way to the register, which was manned by a girl in her early twenties. She had long blonde hair, an easy smile, and green eyes. The store uniform fit her well, enhancing her medium forms and sleek profile.
“Hey, Diana.”
“Hi, Oliver.”
We knew each other well. While I was working full-time during the week, she was working part-time during the weekend, and sometimes taking a late shift during the week. Those times, on top of the current meeting, were when we could exchange a few words and get to know basic stuff about one another.
“Always the same sandwich, huh?”
“It’s the best. I wouldn’t mind getting paid with it.”
She chuckled lightly before looking a bit more serious.
“Don’t just eat that stuff, it’s not good for your health.”
I let her words go in one ear and out of the other. This was something I heard too many times to care about anymore.
“I know.”
Our situations seemed similar, but we were worlds apart in reality. This job was what paid the rent and bills for me. I couldn’t do without, unless I wanted to get thrown on the streets. For her, however, it was just something to get pocket money out of and get used to society.
Contrary to my orphan self, she was born in an upper-middle-class family, and, despite our ages being close, she was going to a big university, while I had no prospects in life. I was kicked out of the orphanage the moment I reached my majority and had to fend for myself from then on. Higher education was but a dream for me. Having found a relatively stable job so close to home was already an incredible stroke of good luck. Or maybe it was just because I was searching for opportunities in the neighborhood.
Diana scanned my sole item in a practiced manner.
“$4.70. Will you pay by cash, card, or sex?”
Even though she asked, I always paid with my card, and today would be no different.
“Card… Wait, what?”
I finally realized what she said and looked at her weirdly. First time I heard such a joke in my life.
“What what?”
“What did you just say?”
“Oh, come on, Oliver. Don’t waste my time. Someone’s waiting behind you.”
I glanced behind me, and the other sole client was indeed waiting for his turn.
“No, but sex...? That’s a bit weird for a joke.”
“What, you want to pay with sex? That’s rare of you. Let’s see… which act do you want to go with?”
“…What?”
“Hurry up already. Ah, you’re so slow! A kiss is fine, right?”
I was so lost that I didn’t even know what to say. She didn’t wait for me and tapped on her left shoulder. She then came closer and tapped mine, too. I felt something weird in that specific spot.
‘There’s something inside my shoulder!’
She then took my head in her hands and kissed me on the spot!