Traved In The Void

Katia

"Ahhhh, why is it so hard to sleep!"

I mumbled then looked at the clock on my cellphone, and the time showed 03:23.

Actually my body is tired from yesterday because I've been working, but because of overthingking... sleeping is really hard for me.

Running away from home, changing places of residence and also changing places of work, I did all of that to protect myself. The world is cruel, especially for a woman. If I easily trust someone, then I will easily break and fall too. Therefore, until now I don't trust anyone.

The only one I believe in is myself.

I kept trying and trying to close my eyes hoping to fall asleep, but my mind didn't let me sleep that easily. Until without realizing it, it was already 05:38.

"Oh my... why? I just want to sleep and rest!"

I woke up and tried to calm my mind, but my mind couldn't be calm without sleeping. I thought ... the only way to calm my mind was to smoke, but I'm out of cigarettes.

"Hah! Looks like I have to buy it at the convenience store and then work," I muttered.

People might call it 'drop two birds with one stone' which means 'solve two problems with one action', but with my current condition... maybe the bird has turned into a 'malabar flying frog' which is hard to take down.

"What the hell is that, 'flying frog?' Ha ha ha!"

I laughed at what I was thinking, really… my mind is now a mess, I can't focus and concentrate anymore.

Without lingering, I immediately put on my employee clothes and hat and then went to work.

The place is about 90 meters from the rented place where I live. Since I've only lived here for three days, I always walk to work, and observe various places because I want to memorize the surroundings.

After walking for 10 minutes, I arrived at the mini market. I saw someone had arrived first, it was my senior named Misa.

From my 'interaction' with her, she's just an ordinary good friendly girl. When I started working here, she seemed to be trying to familiarize himself with me. She helps me and guides what to do, even though I already have experience in this field.

But I just kept quiet, listened to it, and just obeyed out of respect.

Honestly... even though she's friendly in front of me, but for some reason, my instincts think she's like a "monster."

"Ah ... morning Katia! Hey ... are you okay?" Misa started the conversation.

"Morning Sis Misa, yes ... I'm fine!"

"But your condition…."

"Don't worry! I'm just not getting enough sleep."

"Yeah fine... but don't push yourself. By the way, don't be formal with me, we're only two years apart in age, just call me Misa!"

"Emm ... well, Misa ... please help for today!"

So she's 22 years old, well... I'm not surprised anyways she does look young and pretty.

"Sure, then I want to ask you something!"

"Something? What is it?" I asked.

"Did you work in a shop before? The past few days I see you seem to be used to working in this field!"

"Ah right, I've worked in three different shops before-"

Before I could finish my sentence, Misa cut me off, "uh... t-three different shops? Why are you moving around?"

I lowered my head then replied, "About that, it's hard to tell...."

"Does it have anything to do with men?"

I was surprised to hear that sentence. Really, my instincts weren't wrong, she was indeed "something". Now, if I tell her about myself will she use that as my weakness and do something? I don't know.

It's natural for me to be wary, because "I won't trust anyone." Yes, I lived until now holding that word in my head.

Now, maybe I will answer Misa's question as necessary.

"Erm yes, you could say that! At first it was just seniority, but in the end many people misused that seniority and then a lot of things went wrong. Then, because I was not strong enough with all that stuff, I ventured to be transferred."

"Ah... I see, and just so you know! I wouldn't be that way to my juniors, especially you Katia. Also, now that I think about it since you've changed places a lot, it looks like you're already a senior."

"Not really, don't think about it too much."

I think this is enough, I'll tell you the common things that people know when they first enter the workforce. About the stalkers tailing me and other things I don't think there's any need to talk about.

In my past, at first I thought seniority was a foreign thing and I didn't expect it to be so severe. But, one time there was someone following me when I came home from work, at that time I felt very scared and my body was always shaking when I arrived at the rented house I lived in. Seniority at work is not worth my fear at that time.

I wonder "who is he? Why is he following me? Does he have any particular business or purpose?" Until now, I don't know.

"Speaking of seniority and men, I want you to be wary of this store manager Katia!" said Misa with a serious tone.

"Hah!"

I was surprised not because I knew the manager was dangerous, but I was surprised because she just seemed to show her true self.

Her tone was cold, her face serious, as if to say "listen to this if you want to survive."

When I was transferred here, I looked at the manager's face and from one glance, I could sense that he was indeed a dangerous person.

I thought only I could feel it. I never thought there would be someone else with sharp instincts like me.

Now I realize ... her attitude to the manager and people, including myself, was just a mask.

Misa continued, "Last year... when there was an incident in this shop, the manager of this shop resigned. Then, the shop owner recruited a new manager, and you can guess who was recruited..."

"The current manager, Mr. Kevin, right?" I said.

"Yeah right, at that time ... on the first day he worked I was suspicious of his movements because he kept looking at my co-workers. Then do you know what he was doing?!"

"What?"

"It was before the shift ended, when my coworker was taking out the trash ... I saw Mr. Kevin following her. Because I was suspicious, I followed him from behind, and sure enough ... I caught him pushing my friend against the wall and harassing her .... "

"It's scary!"

"Yes indeed ... luckily I was on time, too ... I immediately took my cellphone and recorded it. While recording, I stopped what he was doing by saying "what are you doing" and in an instant I could see his shocked face."

"Then what did you do to him?" I asked.

"I threatened him "will report this incident", then he immediately bowed to me and my friend to apologize, but my friend just kept quiet and immediately pulled my hand to go home."

"I think, your friend must be grateful to have been saved!"

"Yeah... on the way home he thanked me with shaking and crying body, but after that she told me that she wanted to move. I understand that she was traumatized, I accepted it and encouraged her to get excited again, she replied with a smile and to the next day ... I did not see my friend again."

"I don't know why I'm a little sad!"

"Hey come on, I'm telling you this just as a warning. I want you to be careful with that manager."

"Yeah thanks, I'll take care of him!"

I'm happy because now I have found a good person like Misa, she is different from the people I met before. She cares about people, and seems to be on the side of justice.

But even so, I'm still wary of her. She's good, but she keeps a side. I will now try to adapt to her and I hope in the future she and I can be more open.

After my morning chat with mass, the manager arrived on his motorbike.

Misa quickly put on a smile and said, "good morning, sir kevin!" To the manager.

"G-good morning Misa and ... Katia!" replied the manager with a smile too.

From what I saw, the two of them in front of me were smiling. However, in the hearts of the two of them, there must be two demons ready to fight.

Mr. Kelvin immediately took the key from his bag and opened the shop. Without further ado, Misa and I went in to get ready.

The manager is seen walking into his room, and now ... my first goal is to buy cigarettes. I took a pack of cigarettes then paid for it with my own money.

Seeing that, Misa beside me just smiled wordlessly.

Then, I was surprised to see her smiling face turned into a shocked face.

"H-he!", she said.

"Hmm?"

'Why Misa?'

"Katia, I'm going to check the inventory in the warehouse. Please take care of the cashier for a moment!"

"Ah yes, fine!"

Misa then went towards the warehouse with hasty steps.

Seen the shop entrance is open, 'it seems there is a customer'. From her clothes she is a high school student and....

"Eh!"

I was surprised when I looked at the student's face, also my heart suddenly beat loud and fast.

'What's wrong with my body?'

"One pack of 'M' filter black cigarettes!" said the student.

A gloomy face, an attitude that doesn't care about the object in front of him, and keeps his distance. From his face I can feel the emptiness in his heart, he is the embodiment of "one who does not expect anything from others." Then strangely, why is my mouth suddenly smiling? I don't know why, but I quickly tried to wipe the smile off my lips.

I took a pack of cigarettes and handed it over, he gave me the exact money and then left.

"Ah ... who is he?" I muttered.

Then also from Misa's attitude, it seems she knows something about the young man.

I was lost in thought suddenly heard a voice beside me, "katia... I'm done! All supplies are safe."

"Yes thank you!"

"By the way... I'll replace you for a bit, please if you want to smoke for a while beside this shop~"

"Okay... I really want to smoke, I'm going to throw this trash out as well!"

"Oh yes, please!"

I quickly took the trash, and then went to the side door. I saw a pile of garbage in front of me and then I threw this garbage there.

Now, I think finishing one stick is enough. I took a cigarette in my pocket and then burned and smoked it, then I realized that there was someone beside me.

I immediately looked aside and I was completely shocked.

'Wasn't he the one just now?'

For some reason the young man looked astonished, but I also felt something strange, 'Why is my heart beating fast again?' I don't know, but the reason is definitely because of this young man.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Emmmm... no, it's just that I lost my match", he replied with a sour face.

'Ah... I don't understand anymore'

When I saw his expression, my body subconsciously started to approach him. Then when in front of him my hand pulled his head and shared a cigarette fire. Really, the effects of smoking and the loss of my clear mind have made this reckless act.

"Take it," I said.

In my life I have never felt like this, I have seen many expressions and faces of men when I visited my father's police station. The face of crime, the face of regret, the face of greed and others I know that. But, out of all the men I met, only this young man who had this dark aura captivated me.

'What is this feeling?'

The answer...buried in my memory. My mother used to say something about feeling this way, but... I forgot about it.

< to be continued >