1 1

The loud sound of raindrops hitting the top of my umbrella silences the voices of the two girls chatting away next to me as we all waited for the bus to arrive. The weight of my bag on my shoulders made them sore, and my drenched socks felt like sweat as they stuck to my skin uncomfortably.

I felt as though the entire world seemed to move forward, whilst I'm stuck in an endless time loop that I relived every single day of my life. The world's fast pace makes it seem like a blur in my eyes. The envy I felt when I saw people smile was unexplainable.

At the corner of my eye, I saw the bus approaching the bus and hailed it over to the stop with my right hand, as the rain sprinkled onto my fingertips. Through the grey weather, the yellow signal of the bus gleamed clearly despite the white smoke made by the rain.

Soon, the bus came to a halt in front of me with a small screech and the puddle in the gutter splattered a little on the tips of my shoes once the tire rolled over it. I closed my umbrella and quickly stepped into the bus, briefly nodding to the bus driver before scanning my card and taking a seat next to a window. I placed my backpack on the seat next to me, then leaned on the window admiring the ash sky while the vibrations from the glass rumbled on my temple.

Every drop sliding down the glass seemed to represent a tear from the times I've cried. The roads glistened and reflected the light. Rivers ran down the gutters and created waterfalls as the water fell into the sewers. Puddles that resembled oceans were seen covering the path as if engulfing the Earth slowly, drowning the ants that failed to get back to the anthill. A stray cat could be seen cowering amongst littered boxes in an alleyway that the bus passed. Everything I saw in that grey painting in the window, resembled me.

From my pocket, I took out my earphones and placed one in each ear. I plugged it into my phone causing the screen to illuminate showing me a message sent from the woman that lives in the apartment next to mine.

Could you please babysit my son tomorrow at 4 pm? - Mrs Trainer

I lived alone, so my neighbours don't hesitate to ask for my assistance when they need it, but I could rarely ask them for help since they're so busy. I couldn't decline, so I simply replied with a small 'sure'.

Afterwards, I went to the music app on my phone and looked at the songs on my playlist. I clicked my favourite one and shoved my phone back in my pocket as the song continued. Its melody filled me with comfort as if someone was hugging me closely. Every time I had a saddening thought cross my mind, there would always be a feeling of someone hugging me comfortingly. It's weird but nice.

Moments later, I'm walking towards Nefelibata, the coffee shop I work part-time at. The mall was buzzing with people and lights beamed everywhere you looked. The colour, though not, seemed unfamiliar. I clasped the door handle and pushed the door open, then walked into the coffee shop to be greeted by my co-worker, Hana.

"Yunice, you're 15 minutes early!"

I gave her a small smile and blatantly said that I just had nothing else to do, then went to the locker room to change into my work uniform.

Once I got in to change, I stored my belongings into my assigned storage locker and started to undress in a cubicle, until the sound of other voices echoed in the walls. It was Hana.

"That girl… is so weird. She's been acting differently. Yunice has been like this ever since that day."

The more they mention that day, the more down I felt. I continued to quietly change as I tried to block out their voices. I waited for Hana and the other to leave before I unlock the cubicle and place my clothes into my locker, then headed out to the coffee shop.

I greeted another customer with a believable warm smile. I did the same customer service routine – ask for their order, ask if they want anything else, and then ask for their name. It was the same every workday, but I needed something to preoccupy my mind.

"Sir, would you like some of our freshly baked caramel bars with your coffee?"

I offer with a relaxed grin as my hand gestured to the tray of caramel bars.

"Is that you, Yunice?"

My eyebrows knitted in confusion. I hardly recognise the person in front of the counter. He had brown hair swept back, a white long-sleeved polo shirt and navy-blue slacks. I tried to wrack my brain, but I just couldn't remember who this person is.

"May I ask how you know me?"

"I guess it's been a few years… It's me, Ian, from high school."

It was him. The guy who dated me to get closer to my friend – the girl he liked. He told me the truth after, but an apology could not suffice. Instead, I chose to simply forget that day. I hate it.

"Oh, I remember you. It's been a while… Anyway, was that all you wanted?"

With that out of the way, I spent the next 4 hours attending to customers and cleaning various tables, but there is one customer that hasn't left in these few hours – Ian. I could feel his eyes staring at me from time to time.

Life has a way of digging up the past to haunt those who were hurt long ago. Ian probably showed back up to taunt me. I walked back to the locker room as the next co-worker checked in. I hadn't noticed, but the rain hadn't ceased its downpour. There were still a few customers coming in and out the door, I guess the coffee shop is very popular today due to the weather.

"I'll get going now."

The moment I stepped out of the coffee shop, I saw that many stores had already shut their doors and turned out their lights. The mall was a little emptier than before. I continued to make my way to the exit of the mall, there's a daunting feeling of someone following me, but I chose to shrug the feeling off. The faster I went the more prominent the feeling in my gut became and it scared me.