Ellie opened her eyes slowly. As usual, she would look at the alarm o'clock beside her for a few moments. She sighed because she knew that she had to go to work this morning.
She glanced again at the small round aquarium next to the alarm o'clock. The fish seemed to glance at her.
"Oh no, I haven't fed the fish" said Ellie quietly. She lowered her legs slowly, as if she really didn't want to get out of bed this morning.
Ellie took yesterday's birthday cake. Then she picked up the crumbs and put them in the aquarium.
Anyone who saw it would have thought that Ellie wanted to kill the fish.
"Eat a lot, because you came very late, so I haven't had time to buy fish food for you," said Ellie.
Her eyes narrowed, she saw the fish did not immediately eat the food she gave them.
"I know you don't like the food, but at least eat it so you don't die."
The fish swam nimbly, as if to say that he was fine at the moment.
"Today I will go home quickly. I promise to give you food after work."
With steps like not wanting to live, Ellie came out of the room. She made coffee in the kitchen, then opened the fridge.
She looked at the contents of her refrigerator. Making sure that what she saw wasn't wrong.
"Did I eat a lot last night?" muttered Ellie. "Why are the contents in my refrigerator empty?" thought Ellie deeply.
Ellie closed the refrigerator, crossed her arms and tried to remember what she had done last night.
"Maybe I ate unconsciously," said Ellie.
She took a sip of her coffee. Sitting at the dining table holding her phone in her hoodie pocket. She read last night's message from the bank. It turned out to contain a bill that came out last night.
"Seven hundred dollars," muttered Ellie. She smiled wryly. Then she held her head, which seemed heavy.
"That usually costs a few months," she chuckled bitterly.
"Okay, Ellie. It doesn't matter. It's only once a year. Next year maybe I'll run away before my birthday comes." Ellie tried to cheer herself up.
She put her used coffee cup into the sink. However, she was surprised when she saw that the sink was clean and there were barely any dirty plates or glasses.
Yesterday, before going to work, Ellie obviously hadn't done the dishes. Also, when she came home from work, she was too tired to wash the dishes. Then why is the current sink clean?
"Did I do it unconsciously?" muttered Ellie.
"Yeah, I must have done it unknowingly from drinking beer last night." she believed in herself everything he did.
Ellie went into the living room where last night's shitty party was being held. And--she didn't know what to say, when she saw that the room was also clean.
Ellie squeezed her head. She doubted if she was the one who cleaned it. She wasn't that diligent about cleaning up the messy living room last night.
The long, colorful papers were gone. Even with that confetti, where did it go?
Ellie ran to the trash can, and she saw all the trash already in there. Even the house that looked like a slum looked a bit better than before.
"Did my friends do it? But how could it be?" she thought.
Instead of arguing with her own mind. So Ellie decided to get ready for work now.
**
Three hours ago…
When the finned creature had filled its stomach with food, Cereous also felt sleepy.
However, when he was about to go back to Ellie's room, he felt as if something was wrong.
He saw Ellie's room a mess. Dirty and unsightly.
So Cereous kindly cleaned Ellie's house. Wash the dishes then clean up the trash in the living room.
Sometimes he drinks the last night's leftover drink that doesn't run out.
"At least I paid for the food I ate by cleaning this house," muttered Cereous.
After a few hours, the house was clean and Cereous returned to Ellie's room. The fins began to grow little by little.
The light that was white when he turned into a merman, now turned green when he became an adorable little fish.
Cereous was already in the tank when the green light started to fade.
With his tail wagging, indicating that he was full and happy.
**
Ellie locked her door before she finally went to work.
Her phone vibrated as she walked down the street to the bus stop.
"Hmm, Nora, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Ellie… are you okay?" asked Nora.
"Hmm yeah, never this good," replied Ellie, who was obviously lying.
"Did something strange happen last night?" Nora asked in a cautious tone, but Ellie didn't notice.
Ellie was silent. She was thinking.
"Yes," he replied.
"What?"
"I have a large bill on my credit card. And that's strange," answered Ellie.
Nora gave an awkward laugh. "Oh, I see? Nothing else?"
"I don't think there is one. Why do you ask like that?"
"It's okay, I'm just asking," replied Nora.
"Where are you now?"
"Me? I am now at my aunt's house. Maybe in a while I'll be there."
"Yeah, you must love being able to go around while working. Because your job doesn't require you to be in the office all the time."
Nora laughed awkwardly. "Then good luck," said Nora.
"Yeah, thank you," said Ellie. She hung up her phone then tucked it into her thick coat.
She rubbed her hands together. Because last night it rained and this morning it was cold.
Wet asphalt road. Ellie was delighted to see them. Rather than heat, Ellie prefers rain that wets the streets.
"Oh yes, I have to buy some fish food," said Ellie as she passed a shop that sold pet food.
"I hope the fish won't die because I gave him the breadcrumbs," said Ellie, slightly regretting her words.
She glanced at her watch. Actually, there is still plenty of time for her to go to the office. So, after that, she sat at the bus stop for a few minutes. Ellie stood up and half ran towards the house.
She had previously bought fish food at the shop earlier and brought it home.
Ellie opened her door hastily. She picked up the aquarium where the water immediately turned cloudy so fast.
She immediately changed the water and then gave the fish food in the aquarium.
"I'm not late, right?" she asked.