章 10: A Cover
RING RING RING
The loud beeping of the alarm woke him from his sleep on. He opened his eyes to soft light spilling from the ceiling.
CLICK!
He turned off the alarm.
'I should start getting ready.'
As he got up, the floor creaked under his feet. Still a bit groggy, he shuffled to the bathroom.
Turning on the faucet, he heard the rusty flow of water and splashed his face, the lukewarm liquid helping him wake up.
After brushing his teeth, a minty scent lingered in the air.
He walked to his closet, eyeing his small collection of worn clothes.
After a moment, he picked out an outfit that showed its age but still served him well. Wearing it, he felt the familiar fabric that had accompanied him through many years.
After he was done, he locked the door, creating an echo in the concrete hallway.
Outside, he was welcomed by the dark sky.
He had woken up around 9:30 PM for his part-time job at a convenience store, his routine of working from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM firmly in place.
The convenience store was not far from his apartment, but just to be safe, he always arrived early out of consideration.
He could afford to be late for school, but not for his part-time job, as he really needed the money.
If anyone of his classmates could see him now, they would be shocked to discover that the person most regarded as cool and intimidating was actually a hardworking and self-disciplined individual.
It was one of those moments that proved you couldn't judge a book by its cover.
Not everyone who looks bad is truly bad, just as not everyone who appears good is a saint.
***
***
***
HISS
The glass door of the small convenience store slid opened.
"Asher, you're here," the store owner greeted him with a warm smile.
He appreciated Asher, knowing the young man had never been late without a good reason. Even when he had missed a shift, it was always due to a genuine emergency.
"Good evening , boss," he replied, nodding as he slipped on his green blazer with the store logo. He had been doing this job for years and knew the routine well.
His boss counted the money in the cash register and left some change for him before heading out.
As usual, the night was slow. Few customers came in, mostly men looking for alcohol and cigarettes. The pay was decent, so he couldn't complain.
'I should organize the items on the racks,' he thought, not wanting to get paid for just sitting around.
But, just as he was about to step out from the counter, the glass door slid open.
A girl of average height walked in. Her sleek black hair fell to her shoulders, framing her eyes which as dark as the night.
She wore a black outfit that resembled a school uniform, complete with a checkered black and white skirt and shoes that matched.
A bright red ribbon added a vibrant splash of color to her top. And long socks hugged her knees, revealing her fair and soft skin beneath.
Seeing a uniform like hers for the first time, he assumed she must be from another area since it looked expensive. Most schools around here were public, so her outfit stood out.
Still, that was the only thought he had , despite how attractive she was.
While other guys might have drooled over her, he just found her presence her unexpected.
She walked past the counter without glancing at him, and he allowed her to browse the aisles like any other customer. Being quite attractive himself, he knew how to carry himself around women.
After about five minutes, she approached him with a basket full of essentials—food, drinks, and various items.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
The beeping of the barcode scanner echoed as he rang up her items.
"That's 1,525 credits,"
She paid silently, and he packed her things into a plastic bag, handing it to her.
As she walked away, his eyes followed her, thinking it was safe to look now.
But he didn't expect her to turn and smile at him before leaving.
'What a weird girl, '
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