'Should I call this living? Or am I just surviving?'
Thoughts that always circled around my mind, while my body is aimlessly wandering through a world perfect in someone's eagle eye view, forever flawed in a pauper's vision.
'Dear Gods, I hope my world changes overnight, favor me as much as effort I've built throughout these years.'
Prayers filled my everyday life, hoping to change, hoping even for an ounce of progress.
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"And that should be the last one..."
I mumbled to myself as I leave the package on Apt. 118's doorstep. A box that has a black stamp on its' top. I always questioned myself, what do these boxes contain since there are no markings, no sender, and no recipient stated. As it always piqued my interest, I tried to lower myself to grab the box, but then I remembered that by doing so will result in an expulsion from the company.
"Company rules, breach of contract will lead to expulsion and loss of everything important like severance pay, monthly pay, etc.
- Never open the package.
- Never remove the stamp on the package.
- Never forget to ring the doorbell or knock the door.
- Never show yourself to someone who receives it.
- Always suppress your curiosity as it may lead to...-"
*Ding-dong*
As I rang the doorbell and ran, I waited at the door that leads to the staircase. I forgot the last part but I need to satisfy my curiosity first so... a little won't hurt.
~
Thirty seconds later.
*Ka-chack*
I moved my head to catch a glimpse due to my curiosity.
An ordinary looking girl looked sideways then looked at the package, proceeded to mumble. "What the-"
"I think you left it at the wrong apartment!" She shouted.
After some deliberation in her mind, she proceeded to pick up the box and say "I know you're there!", she thought it might have been her boyfriend that sent it.
She then proceeded to go inside.
*Ka-chack* as the door closes.
*Sigh*
'What a letdown, I was expecting some secret society thingy or something.'
I went on my way, my head stuck down. While I was drowned with the sound of my shoes echoing against the wall, my shadow suddenly wavered for a minute.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
I feared for my life as I fell due to missing a step. "Ugh, damn I hate this day." I shouted again as I continued cleaning my clothes on one hand while massaging my back with the other. Maybe Fortuna, the Goddess of luck despises me.
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'Well that was quite an underwhelming sight' I thought.
Since that was the first time that I tried to check what kind of people receives those kind of packages, I felt like it was a bit underwhelming since it's my 3rd month now at Hermes Express.
'I'll stop on working at this company since I've already saved up some money for mother's hospital fees.'
I looked at the stalls near me. "Should I buy some *Tteokbokki and *Jiao Zi for mom?" as I smiled.
My monologue didn't stop as I walked to the stall. What a nice smell...
"Auntie, one set of Tteokbokki and Jiao Zi, for to go please! And some vodka hehe." I said lovingly.
"Fall in line first!" She shouted. "Kids these days..." Don't get her wrong, I've known her for ages. She might come off as a rude person but trust me, the food she makes far outweighs the behavior that she has.
"Will do-" you guessed it, lovingly.
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The smell of food and alcohol harmoniously enters my nose.
"Hah, this is life, thank the Gods for merging the culture of earth."
I am just your average guy, trying to do a living off of menial jobs that I found. I rummaged through my pocket and got 300 *denarii off the bat, exactly how much my meal cost.
"Maybe Fortuna didn't hate me at all! Hahaha"
"Hey!" a young man in his 20's suddenly sat across the table.
"Dude, quite early for someone who always arrives 30 minutes late..." I begrudgingly said as my eyes began to roll.
"Well, people change and I vow never to be late again." As the person smirks.
"You're still 27 minutes late..."
"Asshole, don't nitpick my progress. Anyway how was your gig? Can you recommend me to your company? You know, backdoor-" He says while I was eager to interrupt.
"I am not the son of the CEO or whatnot so stop babbling, in fact I am going to leave the company since I already got enough money to pay for things."
"Ohhhhh, so can you treat me?" The guy shamelessly asked.
"Things that are far more important than treating you!" as I smirk.
"Right! I forgot, I need to go since I need to buy a cake for my sister. Treat me sometime, okay?"
"Nah, I am going back to my hometown, we need to hold that treat off. Also send my regards to your sister."
"Here goes the stingy ass motherfu-..." He mumbled as he slammed the table.
"Wha- hey, anyway you're not wrong. Off you go!"
The guy went out as he waved his right hand. I still don't get it why that stingy person still works since his family is well-off, enough to just splurge the rest of their lives.
*Bzzzt-bzzzzzt*
My phone made quite an embarrassing sound since it's old, anyway I still picked it up. Dang I need to buy a new one...
"Hello, is this Mrs. Konstantin's guardian?"
"Speaking."
"Your mother is currently having cardiac arrest, please head-" *beep beep beep*
My mind went blank for a second, my body stood up without any thoughts, but my emotions surged after as I was running mindlessly across the street.
"You're running away again?!" Auntie shouted but it never reached my mind as much as it reached my ears.
I called a cab as I came back to my senses. A yellow cab stopped in front of me and I hurriedly opened the door. "To Kazan Hospital please..."
Three minutes later, we are stuck at a traffic.
"Sir, are there any shortcuts that we can take right now?" as I ask the driver on the verge of crying. I am anxiously waiting for the cars to ran, as if they were entranced by the traffic lights as not one of them moved.
Suddenly a large lightning stroke through the car in front. The crashing sound shocked my body leaving me in a daze.
~
*Bzzzt-bzzzzzt* I heard my phone ringing as I my senses was slowly coming back.
"Ye-"
"Sir, we just lost her-"
"The number is temporarily out of service. The number is tempo-"
"Hello? Hey- why did this motherfucker suddenly dropped fu-"
*ding*
[System: Contract breach, always suppress your curiosity as it may lead to you breaching the contract. As such, it will lead to expulsion and loss of everything important like severance pay, monthly pay, etc. (Severity of punishment depends on the employee's negligence.)]
"Everything important... etc..."
A video of me being seen by the recipient while I was walking away from the building was playing in front of my eyes.
"Everything important..." I repeat as I clench my phone on my hands.
A maniacal smile crept out of my face that soon turned into a laugh.
~
As flames unfold in front of my eyes in a matter of seconds, mixed with the sound coming off my phone and my laugh slowly dying away. Cars clashing to one another. Electric posts falling. People crying, begging for help. Bodies engulf in flames, still struggling to move both of their hands to make a prayer, to beg for salvation.
~
*ding*
[System: The Gods are descending, to below.]
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*denarii: Ancient currency
*Tteokbokki: Korean rice cake with spicy sauce.
*Jiao Zi: Chinese dumplings.