Third Person's POV
As Astra heard the word 'friends,' a wave of sadness washed over her, robbing her of her appetite. Though she couldn't quite grasp the reason behind this sudden unease, she reluctantly took a bite of her food, not wanting to waste Aunt Morph's efforts.
"He's not my friend," she replied coldly, her eyes devoid of interest or emotion. With each bite, she seemed to retreat further into herself, closing off from the world around her.
"Is that so? Well, don't you think it's time for you to make friends again?" Aunt Morph asked, her gaze filled with concern as she observed Astra's distant demeanor.
Setting down her fork, Astra met Aunt Morph's gaze with a steely resolve.
"I'm too old for that, besides, I don't need them meddling in my life," she stated bluntly, unapologetic for her harsh words. Though she knew they weren't kind, she believed them to be true and felt compelled to speak her mind. Resuming her meal, she pushed aside any lingering doubts about her decision.
Aunt Morph's expression shifted to one of sadness and concern.
"Maybe you are right, but remember, no matter what, treat others kindly, as they may be able to help you in the future, ok?" she advised gently, her words tinged with a hint of sorrow at Astra's isolation.
Astra simply nodded and continued eating, her mind drifting elsewhere as she mechanically went through the motions of the meal.
After she finished eating, Astra insisted on washing the dishes before retreating to her room to tackle her homework. Afterward, she busied herself with preparations for work, ensuring everything was in order before heading out.
Arriving at the convenience store earlier than anticipated, Astra was greeted by the afternoon shift workers, though she merely returned their greetings with a blank expression before making her way to the locker room. She was aware of their disdain for her aloof demeanor, but she saw no obligation to engage with them.
Inside the locker room, Astra shed her black softshell jacket, revealing her blue and white patterned uniform beneath. She stowed her belongings in her locker, adhering to the store's policy of not wearing uniforms outside the premises. As she changed, she heard three distinct knocks on her locker door, signaling an unexpected interruption.
"Found you!" Manager Min announced, approaching Astra with the inventory list in hand. Handing over the papers, he instructed her to start inventory with Bryan around midnight when the store was devoid of customers. Astra accepted the task without hesitation, nodding in acknowledgment as Manager Min bid her farewell.
Shortly after, Bryan entered the room, bowing his head slightly upon seeing Astra. She returned his gesture with her usual expression, focusing on preparing for their night shift. Leaving Bryan to acclimate to his new role, Astra made her way to the time and attendance biometric recorders, scanning her fingerprint to clock in.
As the night progressed, Astra managed her duties efficiently, maintaining her composure and professionalism throughout. When interacting with customers, she courteously thanked them, ensuring their experience at the store was satisfactory.
"Thank you. Please come again" she said to the costumer.
*clang clang*
As the bell rang, signaling the departure of the last customer, the ambient music in the store ceased. Astra took the opportunity to reach for her phone, selecting the new song in the playlist. With a tap, she initiated Until I Found You by Stephen Sanchez, allowing the music to fill the quiet space of the convenience store.
~
Astra works at the small convenience store that stood on the left of the train station while her house sat on the right, adjacent to the gasoline station.
During the day shift, the manager and at least two staff members manned the store, but come nightfall, only one staff member was typically assigned, except on busier days like Saturdays and Sundays.
Tonight was an exception; two workers were designated for inventory and cleaning.
With the departure of the last customer, Astra turned her attention to tidying the counter area, her domain during the shift. Meanwhile, Bryan focused on cleaning the floors, their tasks divided to ensure efficiency. Despite the brief respite from the rush, Astra remained vigilant, cleaning her station bit by bit to maintain order.
After the peak hours subsided, Astra finally relinquished her post at the POS, allowing Bryan to attend to the empty shelves while she conducted a count of the remaining products. The store boasted five shelves vertically aligned, facing the counter, which housed a compartment for beverages and hot drinks nearby.
*(Note: POS or Point of Sale is a computer machine or in other words, a cash register. It is the machine located at the counter where you can make purchases/pay.)*
In the midst of the shelves and counter, a sizable compartment housed various hot products, including vending machines, microwaves, hot water dispensers, and steamed buns. Below, the lower shelf showcased an array of noodle products, while the adjacent five shelves catered to different categories.
On one side, the first shelf boasted an assortment of junk food, followed by biscuits, chocolates, and sweets. Conversely, the second shelf featured canned goods, with personal care products occupying the third front shelf and cleaning supplies on the third back and fourth front shelves.
The remaining shelves housed miscellaneous grocery items, while the rear section accommodated non-refrigerated beverages. Adjacent to the final shelf, a large compartment stored chilled products, arranged from water bottles to beers.
After completing the cleaning tasks, Bryan volunteered to restock the empty shelves, a task Astra had just finished counting. She simply nodded in acknowledgment before resuming her duties.
During the lull, with no customers in sight, Astra found a moment to sit at the counter, pen and paper in hand, to finalize the inventory report.
After a moment, immersed in her task, she was startled by a loud yawn, prompting her to glance up.
To her right stood Bryan, near the ice cream freezer, his exhaustion evident from the weariness in his expression.
*yawn*
He met her gaze, his reddened eyes glistening with tears from exhaustion as he yawned.
"Sorry. I'm not used to this kind of work where you stay up all night," he explained, his voice tinged with fatigue.
Astra offered reassurance, "It's okay. I felt the same way when I started. You'll get used to it soon." As the words left her mouth, she realized the rarity of her candid response, her eyes widening in surprise.
"It's my first time hearing you say anything other than 'Welcome' and 'Thank you, please come again,'" Bryan remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Astra remained silent and shifted her focus back to the inventory report. It wasn't that she was unresponsive; rather, her replies were often restrained. With no friends to engage with, she had grown accustomed to silence and found herself unsure of how to interact with others. Morph was her sole confidante, the one person she regularly conversed with, and no one else.
From the corner of her eye, she observed Bryan's movement as he settled into the chair beside her.
Curious, she glanced up, silently offering assistance. However, he remained silent, prompting her to resume her task.
His energy was palpable, evident in the ease with which he formed connections with others. Astra found herself intrigued by his sociable nature, silently offering assistance with a glance before returning to her task at hand.
After a few minutes of diligent work, Astra completed the report. She turned around, only to find Bryan resting his head on his arms, his body slumped over the counter, next to her. Sleeping on the job was not uncommon for night shift workers, especially during quiet periods with no customers around.
He turned his head slightly towards her, his gaze meeting hers. With a newly awakened expression, he inquired, "Are you done?" Astra simply nodded in response, taken aback by his sudden actions.
Without hesitation, he rose from his seat and gently guided Astra to stand up, positioning her in the chair he had just vacated. Moving her chair closer to his, he rearranged the papers on the lower shelves to create a makeshift pillow. With a contented sigh, he settled into the improvised bed, using the papers as his cushion.
Astra was stunned by his audacity, frozen in place as she processed the situation. As he began to snore softly, she couldn't help but feel amaze at his boldness. "How much courage do you have to do that?" she whispered to herself, amusement flickering in her eyes.
With no customers to attend to, Astra felt a sense of relief. "I'm done with my work. Maybe I can use this time to relax and read a book," she mused silently. Retrieving a book from the drawer beneath the table, she settled into her chair, ready to unwind.
Minutes passed, and Astra's attention was drawn to a man approaching the counter area. Dressed in a black overcoat and an Amish hat, he walked with purpose, though Astra couldn't recall hearing the doorbell announce his arrival.
The man stopped in front of the counter, his gaze fixed on a spot where Bryan lay sleeping. Astra felt a twinge of unease as a headache began to form. Unsure of the man's intentions, she stood up, ready to assist him.
"Good evening, sir. Can I assist you with anything?" Astra asked politely, but the man seemed perplexed, casting a confused glance around the store. Astra gestured towards him, repeating her question. "Sir?"
The man, taken aback, pointed to himself, prompting Astra to confirm, "Yes, sir."
"Can... can you see me?" His inquiry was met with surprise, as if he couldn't believe she was addressing him.
"Yes, sir?" Astra responded, growing increasingly uneasy with his behavior.
His disbelief only heightened when she acknowledged him, leaving Astra feeling unsettled. As her headache intensified, she glanced at Bryan, who was still asleep beneath the counter, murmuring incomprehensibly.
*hdfbgb* Bryan murmured in his sleep.
Returning her attention to the customer, she realized he had vanished without a trace, just as he had appeared earlier without the customary ring of the doorbell.
"What exactly happened?" Astra wondered aloud, her confusion deepening.
~ To be Continued ~