Outside, the melodious sounds of birds filled the air as sunlight streamed through the curtains.
The incessant beeping of your phone alarm finally ceased. With a groan, you struggled to reach for your phone, battling heavy eyelids. Glancing at the time, 6:30 am, only widened your eyes further.
"Darn it! I must have hit snooze multiple times!"
You mentally exclaimed, exerting all your energy to shake off sleepiness and throw off the blankets. Hastily, you bolted out of your room to commence your morning routine. After a whirlwind of activity around the apartment, you finally paused, taking a deep breath before hastily packing your belongings into your bag. Glancing at the time once more, you winced upon seeing 7:09, realizing you were already behind schedule for your 7:10 shift and faced a ten-minute drive to work. Anxiety gnawed at you, knowing this marked your third instance of tardiness this week. Hastily closing your bag, you snatched your keys and flung open the front door, only to be greeted by a cheery, high-pitched voice.
"Hey there, (Name)! Looks like you had another late start," remarked Miss Kim, her gentle smile radiating warmth as she waved. Miss Kim, the elderly lady who resides next door, always treats everyone with such kindness.
"Good morning, Miss Kim. Just had a restless night, didn't want to be jolted awake by my alarm again," you replied, chuckling softly while locking the door with your keys. Understanding your predicament, Miss Kim nodded as she approached.
"I've got a tea that might help you sleep more soundly. It's been a lifesaver for me in balancing my own sleep," she offered.
"That's really thoughtful of you, Miss Kim, but I'm not sure if-"
"Oh, dear, I insist. It's worth a try; your current sleep routine seems quite unhealthy," she gently insisted.
With a resigned sigh, you nodded in agreement with the old lady.
"Alright... I'll give it a shot."
"Great. I'll have the teas ready for you when you return from work, alright?"
You nodded and flashed her a smile, reciprocated by her own. However, a sudden rush of urgency hit you as you glanced at the time once more. 7:11.
"Oh, darn! Um... thanks for the offer, Miss Kim, but I really need to dash now. Bye!"
You waved hastily and dashed towards the stairs, not daring to look back.
After a ten-minute drive, you remained seated in your car, glancing at the time once more-7:21. Inhaling deeply, you prayed your manager wouldn't unleash their full rage on you. Unlocking the car door, you stepped out, steeling yourself as you made your way to the restaurant entrance. Through the windows, you could already discern a few early costumers inside, with tantalizing scents wafting through the air. Hastening your steps, you entered the "employees only" area, swinging open the door to come face to face with the name tag "Kershiel Schmitt" beneath the title "Manager." Your heart sank as you met your manager's disappointed gaze.
"You're late."
Standing tall, you brought your hands together, your gaze falling to the ground in a display of regret.
"I'm really sorry ma'am... I was genuinely exhausted yesterday, and I struggled to sleep last night-"
"(Name), we're all facing similar challenges here, and I understand that. However, being late four times this week with the same excuses is becoming a recurring issue."
You pinched the bridge of your nose, feeling the weight of embarrassment settle upon you. It dawned on you that you'd been leaning on the same excuse repeatedly. With a heavy sigh, you met your manager's stern gaze, their arms now crossed.
"I... promise, it won't happen again tomorrow. I'll take steps to address the issue."
Then, a thought of Miss Kim's tea crossed your mind, a potential solution to your sleep troubles.
"I'll hold you to that. Otherwise, there'll be a deduction in your salary this month."
Your manager's words were accompanied by a smile, but the seriousness was all over her. Nervously, you chuckled and gestured towards her, sensing the weight of the situation.
"Haha, very funny."
"It may seem like a joke, but I assure you, I'm quite serious."
You dropped your hand and let out an awkward laugh, swiftly making your way to your locker. Hastily stashing your belongings inside, you changed into your uniform and affixed your name tag to the upper right of your chest. Moving swiftly to the counter area, you took a moment to assess your surroundings before a voice caught your attention from the left.
"Four times in a row?"
You glanced over your shoulder to find Vin, your coworker, sporting a smile as he balanced a tray of food.
"Hey..." you greeted weakly, managing a smile.
"Let me guess, another rough night's sleep?" he quipped, prompting an annoyed sigh from you as you motioned for him to carry on with his task.
"Yeah, yeah, just get that food delivered already."
Vin chuckled and proceeded to serve the customer. Moments later, another voice chimed in, this time from your right.
"Surprised the manager haven't scolded you yet."
You turned to see Claire, another coworker, offering a sympathetic smile. Returning her smile weakly, you let out a sigh.
"Oh, looks like Vin's getting on your nerves too."
She chuckled and decided to leave you be for a while, giving you a friendly wave before stepping away, to which you responded with a wave of your own.
As the day progressed, you and your coworkers carried out your tasks, engaging in occasional small talk when opportunities arose. Hours flew by, and when you checked the time, it was already 6:49 pm. Glancing around the restaurant, you noticed only two costumers remaining at one table, engaged in conversation with empty plates before them. Claire approached and lightly tapped your shoulder.
"Hey, would it be alright if I got a ride after our shift? My boyfriend's not feeling well and can't drive."
You smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Of course, no problem."
Your response elicited a grateful smile from Claire.
"Thank you so much. I'll help you close up the restaurant."
Returning her smile, you nodded once more and shifted your attention to the lingering costumers.
"Alright, let's inform those two that we'll be closing soon and then we can start cleaning up."
Claire nodded in understanding before heading over to inform the remaining customers.
As you and your coworkers continued cleaning, Claire turned to Vin with a curious expression.
"Do you know why Andrei left early?" she inquired.
"Family emergency," Vin replied, focused on mopping the floor.
"Why? What happened?"
Vin shrugged. "Dunno," he muttered, his gaze lingering on the mop as he worked.
"Hmm... I wonder what's going on..." Claire mused, her brow furrowing in concern.
Just then, Kershiel, your manager, interrupted the conversation as she prepared to leave for the day.
"Hey, I'm heading out now. The keys are on the counter. Make sure everything's locked up securely," she instructed.
"Got it, boss," you replied, waving to her. However, she singled you out with a pointed remark.
"And make sure you're not late again. You'd better keep an eye on your salary."
You chuckled in response, waving her off.
"Don't worry, I've got it under control."
She studied you for a moment before nodding and departing, disappearing down the street. Suddenly, you heard chuckles behind you, prompting you to turn and see the two coworkers grinning mischievously.
"Quit it, you two," you chided them with a serious look.
They laughed and continued cleaning, still teasing you lightly. Eventually, you all finished packing up and headed outside. While Vin headed home, you and Claire remained behind to lock up the restaurant.
"Well, Miss Kim mentioned some tea that might help me sleep earlier. She offered it to me this morning when she saw how tired I was," you explained as Claire finished securing the padlock and stowed the keys in her bag.
"Wow, that sounds promising. Maybe that tea will save you from another salary deduction," Claire remarked with a playful grin.
You rolled your eyes in jest as you both made your way to the car. Once inside, you turned on the radio and started playing some music.
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask, why have you been so tired this week? You seemed fine last week," Claire inquired, her tone tinged with concern. You chuckled lightly as you started the engine.
"Just having some nightmares, nothing to worry about," you replied dismissively.
"What kind of nightmares?" Claire pressed, her concern evident.
"Not sure, it's all a bit hazy. I think I was being chased or something... hard to make out," you explained as the car pulled onto the road, your unease evident.
"That sounds rough. When did it start?" Claire asked sympathetically, breaking the silence that followed.
"Monday night," you responded shortly, your focus primarily on the road.
Claire nodded understandingly, and there was a brief silence before she spoke up again.
"Could you hear anything in your dream?" she asked softly.
You glanced at her briefly before returning your attention to the road ahead.
"It was all blurry, couldn't really make out any sounds," you replied.
"Hmm, I see," Claire murmured.
The conversation changed, and soon you found yourselves chatting non-stop until you reached Claire's home.
"Thanks a bunch, (Name). I'll pay you back whenever I can. See ya!" Claire exclaimed as she exited the car.
As you drove off after dropping Claire at her house, flashes of your nightmare began to haunt your thoughts once more. You shook your head in frustration and sighed deeply.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?!" you inwardly yelled, but quickly composed yourself and focused on the road ahead.
Returning to your apartment building, you rode the elevator up to your floor and stepped out onto the third floor, where Miss Kim awaited patiently. Seeing her reminded you of the tea she had offered.
"Hey, Miss Kim," you greeted with a smile.
She turned to you, returning the smile. "Oh, hey (Name). I'm glad you're back early tonight. Would you like to get your tea now?"
You nodded eagerly as she disappeared into her apartment to retrieve it. Waiting patiently, you pondered the potential effects of the tea. When she returned with a box in hand, she handed it to you with a warm smile.
"Here you go. Just pour some boiling water over it and let it steep for about two minutes. It's really effective for helping your brain unwind and fall asleep," she explained.
"Thank you, Miss Kim. I'll let you know how it goes," you replied gratefully, accepting the box.
She nodded in understanding. "Alright then, go ahead and get some rest now, dear. Goodnight."
You exchanged waves before heading to your respective apartments. After turning on the lights and locking your door, you kicked off your shoes and placed the box of tea on the table. With a tired sigh, you made your way to the bathroom to freshen up after the long day.
After a relaxing bath, you changed into fresh clothes and set the kettle to boil some water. While waiting, you grabbed your laptop and decided to browse the internet for a bit, until a video call interrupted your screen. It was your dad, and without hesitation, you pressed the green button to join the call. His face appeared, with the familiar backdrop of the cabin house from your childhood.
"Hey, dad," you greeted with a smile.
"Hey there, how's it going? Still struggling with sleep?" he inquired with a concerned smile.
"Well, hopefully not anymore. I'm about to try the tea that Miss Kim gave me. She swears by it to maintain a healthy sleep routine," you explained.
He nodded approvingly, relief evident in his expression. "That's good. Let me know if it works."
"Yeah, I will. Anyway, I've got to go check on the kettle. Talk to you tomorrow. Bye, dad!"
"Take care," he bid farewell with a smile and wave before you closed the laptop.
Heading to the kitchen, you turned off the kettle once it started whistling, filling your cup with hot water and adding the tea bag then waited for two minutes. Settling into your living room, you sipped the tea while immersing yourself in a good book.
Feeling relaxed, you eventually made your way to bed, as you closed your eyelids, surrendering to the embrace of sleep. "Bye bye, haunting nightmares," you whispered softly before drifting off into a peaceful slumber.
Note:
Nothing much special about this chapter, just an introduction about (Name)'s current life in the city. By the way I hope you enjoy! You can go ahead and check the next chapter!( ╹▽╹ )