"No! I... I have to stand!! I have to keep on fighting!! I can't fall unconscious!! No! No! No!".
Were the words spoken by me as my body jolted off the bed, abruptly.
My upper body was fully awake while my lower body rested. I forced it up, springing my whole body off the bed.
Immediately, I surveyed my surroundings with my body in combat mode.
I was shocked to see myself back in my room, and when I observed my body's condition, I was even more shocked to find out that it was alright.
Not a single mark except for the ones I had growing up. No claw marks, bleeding spots or anything of the sort.
"What is this!!". I retorted, confused and worried.
Then, the alarm by my bedside warned off with a painfully loud tone.
I need to do something about it.
Nonetheless, it was time to get to work, and I did.
While I prepared, I thought of every scene that befell me in the forest.
Everything. Was it all just a dream? That can't be it. The experience! Touch! Smell! Sight! Everything has this sense of realism projected to it, and I find it difficult that it was all just a dream.
Still! There was no way I could prove that to be true.
If it is indeed a dream like I claim it to be, then why am I still alive?...
Last I remembered, I was on the brink of death at the claws of what I called absurdity!
I doubt a beast as ferocious as it would do me the favour of sparing my life out of its non-existent compassion, and even going as far as to bring me to my house and put me to sleep on my bed.
I was so deep in thought that I unconsciously did everything there was to do at home.
When I came to, I found myself already outdoors with my usual clothes worn, and on my way to the store.
That was how much I had to think about.
The thoughts were distracting so I saved them all for later; meaning when I had any free time while standing at the counter with no customers to attend to.
Those are the only times I consider myself free.
When I close from the store work is not an option because I have to let my body get the rest it so desperately needs.
To begin with, the only reason I had such a terrifying dream was that I had overworked myself, or so I believe it to be.
Well, not anymore. From now on, once I close and get back home, it is straight to bed until it's time to once again get up.
The difference here from my normal routine is that I won't have my brain in constant working mode. I will also steal some rest time in the store.
Unlike before when there were no customers around, I take the liberty of assessing the arranged commodities to see if everything is underlined on the shelves as it should be.
It started out as mandatory, but when I checked it every time and came to see that there has not once been an anomaly since I am also the one who is also in charge of arranging the goods on their various shelves.
After that, it became more of a hobby that I carry out constantly when I am free, mostly as a way to pass the time by.
Well, not anymore.
Rather than do that, I will sit obediently at the counter and doze off like Mister Ripper often does.
Having made the self-promise, I arrived at the store and went in to assume my post.
Mister Ripper as usual went out once I came in, leaving the store to me alone.
He had the intention to recruit another worker to assist me in the job, but I was against it. Accepting another worker means having to share my wages, and I don't like the sound of that.
I got to the counter and wore my attire, ready and in great condition to attend to the customers.
Not long, the first customer of the day walked in. A lady in her early twenties putting on a slutty outfit and chewing gum in a very annoying way.
Pretty, but not overly. Her tinted purple hair colour and moist tanned skin set her apart. She also has two huge pairs of seductive boobs with a protruding ass.
She is a face I had never seen before. The store does often have visits from unknown customers. Located at the roadside, about thirty percent of the customers are those who make a one-time visit.
She walked past the door and made her way through the shelves arranged in rows and columns.
I did what I always did whenever a customer walked in, ignore them while watching their every action displayed on the screen behind the counter, located within the lower part of the table which no customer sight has access to.
The screen is connected to every surveillance camera present in the store, and there are about a total of seven in and out of the store.
Five of those cameras are inside the store, fixed in places with no blindspot for the customers to take advantage of.
She picked what she wanted and came to the counter to make payments.
I rang it for her, three cigarette packs with eight canned beers placed in the basket.
Yikes!! It's still so early in the morning yet this is what she decides to take in?!
Who am I to complain? It's none of my business what the customer does or buys. I know that, but what other ways would I be able to have fun in times like this?...
Criticizing the customer's choice is also one of the highly recommended ways of passing time when working in a place without company.
Besides, it is not as though I had any plan of telling her what I was thinking. Doing that is when I start to deviate to the wrong side and neglect my duties.