I was sleeping when I suddenly heard dinosaurs roaring outside my room. Groaning, I tried to cover my ears with my pillow. I got home at 9 A.M since the morning crew arrived late in swapping shifts with us. I was slowly getting my sleep when this time, a high pitched voice interrupted me again.
"CICI! YOU DIDN'T TAKE OUT THE TRASH AGAIN!"
My door swung open as Lesley barged in, she's one of my housemate and was the most vocal when it came to chores, and her knack for keeping the house running smoothly made her the unofficial "mom" of the place.
"Oh right... I forgot. I'll do it later, just give me some time to sleep more," I mumbled slowly dozing off to sleep.
"Later? You said that yesterday!" Lesley huffed, her hands on her hips, glaring at me with that signature look of hers.
I groaned and buried my face into the pillow, trying to shut out the world. "Just five more minutes," I mumbled, my voice muffled.
Lesley, of course, wasn't having it. She yanked the pillow from under my head. "Nope, you're getting up now or I'll dump all the trash on your bed."
With a frustrated sigh, I finally sat up, squinting at her through bleary eyes. "Fine, fine. I'm up."
When I stepped out of my room, Miya, one of my more energetic housemates, cheerfully greeted me, "Morning, Cici!" Her enthusiasm was contagious, even though I was still half-asleep.
"Morning guys," I grabbed the trash bag and headed outside after that I went back in.
I was about to go back to sleep again when my stomach grumbled. 'Right, I haven't had breakfast nor lunch yet.'
"I made brunch, it's on the table over there," Nasha said, her tone as cool and composed as ever. She gestured toward a plate filled with something delicious. Despite her distant personality, she always made sure we were taken care of in small ways like this.
Living in a share house with three other housemates meant there was always some level of noise, chaos, and shared responsibilities but despite the occasional tension, we managed to get along fine most of the time.
The house was spacious enough for all of us to have our own rooms and some privacy, but it also had common areas where we crossed paths and had to deal with the ups and downs of living together.
"Thanks, Nasha!" I said, my mood brightening. The smell of whatever she cooked was enough to make me forget about Lesley's scolding from earlier. I made my way to the table and sat down, looking at the beautifully arranged plate of eggs, toast, and what looked like perfectly crisped bacon.
We each had our own different lives in the share house.
Nasha was a famous gaming streamer, often engrossed in her online world while managing a loyal fan base. Miya, the freelancer, juggled multiple projects and often worked late into the night, her creativity fueling her success. Lesley, the glamorous model, had a busy schedule filled with photo shoots and runway shows, always managing to look effortlessly stunning.
As the youngest of the group, I felt a bit out of place at times, especially with my part-time job at the convenience store.
While my housemates were building their careers and chasing their dreams, I was still figuring things out. But living with them had its perks; their energy and experiences inspired me to keep pushing forward.
"So how's work?" Miya asked as I took a seat at the table, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Nothing much, considering that I work at night until morning," I replied, trying to sound casual about it.
"Right, you haven't talked much about what job you took," she noted, tilting her head slightly.
"Oh, I work at a convenience store," I said, stirring my fork in the plate.
Lesley walked in, her hair still a bit tousled but her presence commanding. "A convenience store? Late at night? Where?"
"Do you know 888 Convenience Store?" I replied, taking another bite of my brunch.
I continued to eat but stopped when I noticed they were silent. I looked up and almost spat the food when I noticed them staring at me, wide-eyed and tense.
"What?" I asked, bewildered by their sudden change in demeanor.
Lesley leaned forward, her voice lowered to a whisper. "You're working at that store?"
"Uh, yeah? What's wrong with it?" I said, my brow furrowing in confusion.
Nasha exchanged glances with Miya, her cold demeanor melting into something more serious. "You really don't know?" she asked, concern evident in her tone.
"Know what?" I pressed, putting my fork down.
Nasha, without missing a beat, clicked something on her phone and showed it to me. "A friend of mine has the ability to see and talk to ghosts. That place you're working at? It's haunted."
I can't help but blurt out a laugh. "Don't tell me you believe in ghosts?" I continued laughing but when I noticed that neither of them made a sound, I stopped. "You really believe in ghosts?"
Miya nodded vigorously, her eyes wide with concern. "Cici, leave that place now. I'll help you find another job, just not there."
I sighed, pushing my plate away. "I can't just quit. Besides, that job was the only one who accepted me and offered a high salary," I explained trying to convince them.
Lesley frowned, crossing her arms as she leaned against the door frame. "No job is worth dealing with that stuff. Money's important, but not more than your health."
"I mean, nothing really weird has happened to me yet," I shrugged, trying to sound casual despite the growing tension. "And it's not like I believe in ghosts anyway."
Nasha narrowed her eyes. "That's what everyone says before they end up with some kind of paranormal trauma."
Miya bit her lip and leaned forward. "Just… be careful, okay? If things start to get worse, promise you'll leave."
I hesitated but eventually nodded. "Okay, I promise. But for now, I'm staying. The job's easy, and the money is good. If anything gets too weird, I'll reconsider."
They didn't seem to be satisfied with my answer, but the conversation shifted after that.