Employees Of The Unnamed Convenience Store

Submerged...

Everything is dark.

I feel like I’m drowning… But drowning in what?

After what felt like an eternity in a dark void, I woke up from bed.

I slowly opened my eyes and realized that my right arm was reaching outward towards the ceiling. As I recoiled my right arm back down, I clutched my head with both of my hands…

That was terrifying… I just went through the weirdest and scariest moment of my life.

But wait…

My memories are a bit blurry, was it all just a dream? And why am I in bed? Wasn’t I working at the convenience store yesterday..?

All that I remember was that Wally came in during my shift… And a bunch of strange things happened…

Then, I was suddenly in a room full of mirrors…

After escaping from that endless room of mirrors, I was just dragged into a hole by a tall man with a mask…

I fell and then I…

…

Weird...

Why can’t I remember at all?

…

Ah… It’s all fading away.

That was seriously a strange dream… The sequence of events that came after Wally arrived just felt… Unreal.

Sigh… Time to get out of bed, I guess.

My eyes darted from the white ceiling, over to the cute table with stickers. I squinted my eyes to focus on the alarm clock on the table.

‘7:54 AM’

Oh right, I’m still on suspension. So I don’t have to worry about waking up late.

As I transitioned myself up, I moved over to the right and sat on the side of my pink bed. Then I took a glance at the windowed display cabinet that contained figurines of Magical Girls from various series.

Then for some reason… I smiled.

I don’t know why, but the sense of loneliness that came whenever I woke up didn’t occur. Usually, I’d wake up momentarily depressed before starting the day.

Looking over at the calendar on the wall… Yep, it’s a work day. Right now, I should get ready for my morning shift at 10.

With a sense of unusual confidence, I started my morning with a smile.

…

…

…

Whew… This guy’s kinda hot.

Right now, I was sitting on a chair at the back of the counter with my phone. About 30 minutes ago, I clocked in on the attendance app and was on my shift.

I stopped scrolling for a second to eat up the shirtless hottie with my eyes.

Hehehehe… This doesn’t get old.

Ding~!

Ah… The entrance jingle, a customer must’ve entered. I looked over and saw… A familiar face entering the convenience store.

What are you doing here… Wally?

Wait…

For some reason, I was experiencing a sense of Déjà vu. Instinctively, my body tensed up and my hand started to tremble. Gradually, I could feel goosebumps forming around my body.

This sense of anxiety was foreign but familiar to me… Just what was this feeling..?

Though, as soon as Wally and I made direct eye contact… Contrary to what my body was expecting, Wally turned his head to the side and frowned.

Ah… For some reason, I was feeling relieved.

Well, what was I expecting? Of course something weird wouldn’t happen.

Well… I’m assuming you’re here to apologize about the false rumors your friends spread about me. If that’s the case, then I’m glad we’re still on good terms after our break up. To be honest, I never intended to hurt his feelings. But I had to tell him straight up that I couldn’t see him as a romantic interest.

With his head still down, Wally grabbed something off the shelf near me. Then he headed over to the counter.

Step. Step. Step.

Drop-

…

Ah… A condom pack.

On his face was a melancholic expression, it seems like he’s not over our break up yet. Finally, he spoke to me with a quiet voice,

“And can you get a pack of cigarettes from the back..?”

… Seriously..?

“…”

The atmosphere was… Awkward.

I know he isn't hitting on me. But he's acting as if nothing happened between us. For some reason, I was irritated; as if he only went out with me on a fling. When I knew that wasn’t the case at all.

Tch… Well if that’s how you want it; I guess it's better this way. Sorry Wally, but there’s plenty of fish out in the sea for you anyway.

I stuffed my phone in my shorts. Then I got up from my chair and headed over to the back to grab a box pack of 20 cigarettes. Afterwards, I lightly threw them on the counter with the condoms.

Since it wasn’t my first time buying these for him, I knew how much it cost,

”15 dollars and 30 cents.”

I didn’t even feel like putting up a fake smile at this point.

“H-Here ya go…“, he lightly placed a 20 dollar bill on the counter.

As soon as I took the bill, Wally grabbed the bill and quickly sprinted towards the door.

Not even going to get your change? Well, I guess I’ll take it as a tip then. Hope the manager won't mind.

But…

Ding~!

Step- Crash!

Huh, what happened? The collision caught my attention, and I saw Wally on the floor. Oh, it seems like he collided into a person who was entering the store.

Hmmmm… An average boy who wore the same uniform as Wally was standing over him.

He had brown curly hair, deep brown eyes, and a decent face. There weren’t any unique features I could point out… Wow, he looked painfully ordinary. Seems like he neither won or lost the genetic lottery.

Mr. Ordinary stuck out his hand in an attempt to assist Wally up, ”Sorry, are you okay?”

“Seriously man, watch where you’re going.”, Wally responded as he shrugged his hand away and stood up on his own.

That’s a side of Wally I never saw during our time together. I guess he had more than one side to him.

Wait… Now that I think about it, why did he buy cigarettes and condom packs? He genuinely seemed like a good person. There weren’t any signs of him smoking while we were together.

Hmmmm… I do recall that Wally had an older brother. But Wally would always divert into a different topic whenever I brought up his family. Along with that, he forbade me from coming over to his house.

So he’s got some serious family issues… Perhaps he’s running errands for his brother..?

Well, I feel bad for the unlucky gal who’ll find out about that.

Mr. Average walked past me and opened up the freezer basket next to the counter. Recklessly, he scrambled through the freezer items in search of something.

Since he goes to the same school as Wally, he’s probably a high school student. Why is he so picky about ice cream? It seems like he’s still a kid at heart.

I went back over to my chair and sat down. From my shorts I pulled out my phone and immediately accessed SnapTalk.

Ah… This is the life~.

If I hadn’t changed during middle school, would I have gotten a chance to hook up with a six-packed athlete? Seems like I’m regretting my decision a little… Just a little...

After awhile, my free-time was interrupted by a shadow looming over me. Quickly, I hid my phone into my shorts…

Who was it?

My eyes shifted back to the counter, and saw Mr. Bland trying to sneak a glance to see what I was doing. Fuck… Did he see what I was looking at? Well, he doesn’t seem like the type to spread rumors. Maybe he’s the quiet kid at school that everyone stays away from.

I put up a fake smile and headed over to the counter, “Are you ready to order sir?”

“Ah- Yeah, sorry. Here’s what I’m buying.”, he responded as he placed multiple items on the counter.

Just as I was about to grab the drumsticks… I caught the little fucker staring at my chest.

...

… Don’t tell me…

“Hey… What the hell are you staring at my chest for..?”

Damnit, did the rumors spread to losers like him too?

Mr. Ordinary flinched and responded back, “Wait, you misunderstood. I was just looking at your employee badge-”

I’m done with the bullshit.

“I know I’m cute, but at least have some human decency.”

He widened his eyes. Why are you so surprised? You should’ve expected this to happen the moment you laid eyes on me.

“You men are all the same. Let me guess, you’re now gonna ask for my number like the guy from earlier.”

I was now considering Wally to be better than the trash that went to this store just to flirt with me.

“Sorry, but I’m already on a future reservation for a gentleman that actually deserves me.”

I chuckled.

Let me see what you’re buying… Drumsticks..?

He was buying more than one too... Are you seriously trying to buy one for me as well? 

Dang, I know you’re desperate but this is just sad. At least others tried showing off by buying large-sized condom packs.

“Drumsticks? Really? Sorry, but children are not my type.”

Mr. Ordinary was glaring at me. I noticed that his fist was curled and trembling. Did I poke too much at your pride..? Heh, good.

Despite holding his rage in like a humiliated child, I heard him mutter something under his breath.

“Noh Mask…”

… What..?

I responded back, “... What..?”

“I… Nevermind.”, he finally unballed his fist.

Pfftt..! Were you trying to make a comeback with an insult? Just like your appearance, that was just pathetic. Now, I was smiling from ear to ear.

Wow, that felt refreshing. I would’ve never uttered those words. But today my body is brimming with confidence!

I scanned the pitiful drumsticks and told Mr. Average, “That’ll be 5 dollars and 25 cents.”

As if nothing happened, he resigned 10 dollars on the counter. After calculating the change, I dropped them on the counter.

I sincerely hope you have a terrible day, “Word of advice, hit on someone that’s actually in your league.”

:)

With his head still down, Mr. Ordinary took the drumsticks and headed over to the sliding doors.

‘Noh Mask…’

… Did I hear him correctly..?

“What’s a Noh Mask..?”

…

But just before I was able to search it up on Goggles, I was attacked by a loud voice that echoed at the back of my mind-

…

“Candidate identified... Yohlan Dainen… Proceed to testing.”

… What..?

Then in the next moment-

...

I no longer had control of my body.