The early morning light filtered through the dusty window of Kaden's room. He stirred awake, groaning slightly as he stretched his stiff limbs. Rubbing his eyes, he chuckled dryly, his lips curling into a faint smile. "I can't believe I haven't bathed since last year," he muttered to himself, shaking his head at his own joke.
With that thought, Kaden grabbed his towel and headed to the bathroom. The cold water jolted him awake fully, washing away the grime of the previous day. Feeling refreshed, he dried himself quickly and dressed in his usual normal clothes. He made his way downstairs to the restaurant.
The restaurant was a chaotic mess. Empty mugs and overturned chairs littered the room, remnants of the raucous New Year's Eve celebration the night before. Drunk patrons were sprawled across tables and the floor, snoring loudly. Behind the counter, Mia's mother sat with a deep scowl, muttering to herself as she punched numbers into a calculator.
