In the middle of the night, the convenience store doors slid open with a mechanical hiss as a young woman stepped inside. Her clothes were shabby and well-worn, hanging loosely off her frame, but her presence held a quiet elegance that turned heads, especially the cashier’s.
He had seen her before. Always alone, always buying the same things: ramen, cigarettes, and a few cans of beer. There was something about her that stirred something soft in him. Maybe it was her emerald eyes or her golden hair.
“That’ll be 3,000 yen,” he said, offering a polite nod.
She paused, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Can I also have a pack of cigarettes, please?”
“Sorry, ma’am. We’re out of stock. We’ll have more by the end of the week.”
“Oh… I see.” Her voice faltered, and her shoulders drooped just slightly. Reaching into her pocket, trying to get, some spare change. Her expression shifted as she realized she didn’t have enough.
“Well… I guess there won’t be any beer tonight,” she mumbled, returning the cans to the counter.
Before she could, a voice behind her interrupted.
“It’s on me. Don’t worry.”
A young man in a tailored suit stepped forward placing the cash on the counter. He was strikingly polished, charismatic, and yet, something about him was unsettling.
“Oh… thanks,” the woman said, startled.
The cashier eyed the man warily. On the surface, he looked like a gentleman, but there was something strange. Still, he said nothing as the two left the store and the woman turned to him.
“Thank you for paying for my ramen.”
“I said, it’s on me. You seemed like you needed it.”
“That’s very kind of you, sir. I won't forget this gratitude of yours.
“You don’t have to, really.”
They laughed, the tension between them softening. She smiled genuinely and the man in the suit returned it with a warmth that seemed almost rehearsed.
“Would you like to join me, Camelia?” he asked suddenly.
She blinked. “Uhmm… to where, exactly?”
“I had a dinner reservation. My date was cancelled. There’s still time if you’d like to come.”
“You’re asking me out?” she said, shaking even.
“I am.”
She hesitated. “I don’t know, you’re in a suit, and I look like this. I can’t walk into a fancy restaurant at this moment.”
“Then where do you want to eat?” he asked.
She pointed toward the convenience store.
“Here. I was going to eat my dinner here anyway.”
“Here? Ramen for dinner?”
“YES!” she replied, with a spark on her face.
The man chuckled and walked back into the store to buy another set of items she might wanna eat. Meanwhile, Camelia sat at the metal table outside, her gaze following him. She felt strangely drawn to him. He was different. Bold. But then a thought passed through her mind.
Wait… how did he know my name?
A while back.....
Present day:
“Have you ever considered how the world works? How does it exist within the universe? How does it revolve around the sun, the nature of other planets, and so on? Most of these questions have scientific answers. But one question lingers: Why is there life and matter here in the first place?”
I stared at the ceiling as the alarm blared beside me. The voice in my head kept going.
“Why are we here? What’s our purpose? To evolve? To serve God? And what happens once we stop living?”
The alarm had been ringing for thirty minutes before I finally moved. I got up, went to the kitchen, and prepared my usual breakfast a single sunny-side-up egg.
I live on the third floor of an old building from 1969. It used to be a hotel with a renowned restaurant below. The owner died in 1974 from a stroke, and the place was turned into apartments. The old restaurant is now a bakery café, where I always meet my uncle for coffee before school.
After picking up my drink and saying goodbye to my uncle, I walked to school, already bracing myself for being late, again. It’s routine by now. As I walked into the building, I caught snippets of gossip.
“…you remember the girl from last month?"
“Yeah who knew something tragic would happen to her”
I knew who they meant. Camelia.
It was the month of June, 10:00 a.m., during class. She was sitting right in front of me. Quiet. Pretty. Pale skin. Always alone. People admired her but kept their distance.
Until there was one time she asked to go to the restroom and never returned. The teacher sent me to find her because we didn't know where she had been.
“Aw… why does it have to be me?” I grumbled. I searched the halls, the library, and outside the cafeteria, no sign of her. And then it clicked me to check the rooftop, and there she was.
“Hey…”No response.
“HEY!”
She turned, slowly. Her eyes… they were hollow.
“Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be alive?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I exist… but I’ve never truly lived.”
I stepped closer.
“I wake up, go through the motions. Forced to do things I don't even want to. When I tried to resist, he just beat me out of frustration.”
“What? Why would he”
"My mom died giving birth to me. I think it broke him. And somehow, he’s always looked at me in disgust, like I’m the one who took her away. I get it, maybe I did. Maybe he’s punishing me for being born."
"Don’t say that!" I cut in. My heart ached to hear her say those things.
I had no idea she was carrying so much pain. All I could do now was be there, really be there for her.
"You’re kind," she whispered, her eyes softening. Did the teacher send you?”
“That doesn’t matter now,” I said.
She stared, stunned. Then she laughed hysterically.
I'm sorry, it must have been a shock for you to hear that wasn't it. To be honest with you I don't even know how to get along with people. She said
"Well, I can be your friend, you can always count on me too."
"Oh, then you're willing to be by my side?"
"Yes, and I'll show you all the things that make me happy so that you won't feel like this ever again". As I shut my eyes, and the moment I opened them once again, she was closer to me, smiling genuinely. And there, our journey begins.
To be continued
Comment on what will happen next as the plot will start to take an interesting turn. What is this story about? Is the man in a suit a good character or has a hidden agenda? Why is Roze asking a philosophical question that even I, myself don't even know. Maybe you will be able to find out ;)
(Check the novel for upcoming chapters)
