Just Another Normal Day

The clock ticked.

"Tick…tick….tick."

It was 7:10 in the morning. Alex has just woken up. Brushed his teeth, washed face, and tidied his bed up. The birds were chirping in the morning as usual while some people in the neighborhood walked out with their pets. It was near the end of Autumn. The leaves and grounds were wet. Alex walked downstairs to make breakfast and his aunt was already up.

"Good morning, Kim."

"Morning." Alex replied.

"I already made breakfast for you just in case, I have work later."

"Hmmm….thanks."

He fed the kitten before he ate breakfast.

"You are still the same as ever." His aunt said quietly.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, just make sure to finish all of it."

"I will."

He opened the curtain and sighed.

"What a quiet day," he said.

A doorbell rang suddenly,

"Coming." Said Alex.

As he opened the door, a cheerful smile with slight cute tone.

Lily.

"Good morning, Alex."

"You too."

"Oh, was it Lily? Come on in." The aunt said from afar."

"Thank you, aunt!" She replied with a smile.

"Have a breakfast with Alex, he hasn't eaten yet."

"No, I am alright," with gratitude.

"You are as polite as ever." The aunt replied.

"You are flattering me. haha." Lily laughed awkwardly.

"You always come by every weekend." The aunt said.

"Yeah." She replied,

As they chat with modesty, Alex finished and went back to his room to change himself. A casual clothes with fitted trousers and fixed his air cleanly. As he came down and Lily had just gone.

"Part time job?" His aunt asked.

"Yeah."

"Are you still hurt by what she said?"

A memory surged back again…..

("Kim, you are nothing like your brother." Said the woman. "Mom, don't bother with him, it's shameful to call him a brother in front of my peers." The guy said.)

Suddenly—

Came back to sense.

"Kim, are you okay?" The aunt asked with a worried face.

"It's nothing." As he tied his shoes up.

"See you later."

The aunt sighed….

"That boy…..sister, if only you weren't aggressive towards him back then, do you regret it now?" While talking to herself.

Alex came across the neighborhood. Some children were crying, some were asking for candies to their parents, some were playing with their peers.

Alex looked at them.

He paused.

"....Must be nice."

And he kept walking. The roads were becoming busy and crowded with many people walking and cars were moving.

Alex finally arrived at his destination.

"Hi! good morning, Alex." The owner greeted him.

"Good morning," he replied with polite tone.

"You're as nice as ever."

"You flattered me, it is just my habit."

"Go on, get ready cuz it's a gonna be a long day today."

Alex nodded and moved behind the counter. He put apron on, sleeves slightly rolled with everything neatly.

The routine finally started.

"Yes."

"Right away."

"Thank you."

He was calm, never got nervous.

"You are such a polite child. Wish my son was you.." The owner jokingly sighed.

"Thank you." He replied.

Behind the counter, everything was clean and no mistakes.

Perfect.

Just around afternoon—

The doorbell rang as it opened.

A familiar voice.

"Ah, what a coincidence!"

Alex looked up, it was Lily.

She smiled and said "I come here sometimes."

However the owner went along with it. "Oh yeah, she usually pass by." While winked at her with thumb up.

Lily laughed awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?" Alex asked.

She looked at the menu. Then suddenly at him.

"What would you recommend me?"

"Anything is fine."

"I don't like bitter."

"Then, apple juice."

"Sounds good."

"You are quiet different here." She said.

"I am just doing my job."

"Oh... sure?"

He didn't reply.

The drink was placed in front of her.

"Here, have a nice drink."

"...." she got slightly blushed.

"Okay, thanks."

Suddenly— another doorbell rang again.

But this time...

"Welco—"

Toby walked in.

"Wow, so nice here."

After looking around and met Alex.

"No way, Bro." With unbelievable face.

"Ya working here?"

"...Yea, what about it?"

"This is amazing, I never knew you would be here."

"How did you even find this place?"

"I was just fooling around and then saw Lily and just followed her."

"That's creepy."

"No, in otaku world, this is called observation."

"It's called stalking."

Lily laughed quietly. ("The first time he talked so much and defended for me.") In her inner thought.

Toby leaned on the counter.

"One drink."

"Pay first." Alex said.

"Y-You've chnaged... You never talked this much." While crying.

"I haven't."

"I understand what you mean, I don't blame you." While petting Alex's shoulder and crying hardly to the point his glasses were covered with moistures.

A quiet step.

Erica.

She paused slightly after seeing Alex and their eyes met. She suddenly adjusted her tone, then walked in.

"Just water," she said while looking away with arm crossing.

"We don't just sell water."

"Then, anything." She didn't even look at him.

However she looked at him secretly as he was preparing her drinks. The way he moved, the way he poured the drinks, the way he spoke to other worker. Everything was captured in her minds clearly.

As he was done, she quickly looked away again.

"Here." Alex placed down her drinks.

"Have a nice drink."

"Thanks." She muttered quietly.

Fingers lightly brushing against the glass, then pull back immediately.

"Humph... you are like this everywhere really," she muttered very quietly.

"What did you say?" Alex didn't catch it and asked.

"Nothing."

She slightly turned away.

Toby was talking something 2D and Lily was laughing at his jokes. Erica standing nearby.

And Alex—

For the first time, the shop was filled with sweet atmosphere.