The sound of the alarm jolted me from my sleep. I groaned not opening my eyes. As the alarm kept on ringing, I tried to search my mind wishing that today was a weekend. But wishes are things we hope for when we don’t want to face truth. And the reality I dreaded was that today was Monday.

Work.

I reached for the alarm to switch it off and made breathing exercises to stabilize my blood circulation. Then, after opening my eyes, I got up and search for my towel in the small closet knowing that there is no escaping the day no matter how much I want to just lay in bed and sleep. I went to the bathroom and made my morning rituals before I went downstairs to the common kitchen which I shared with my friend, Ricky.

He was already seated in one of the chair and eating a sandwich.

“Good morning, Niel- hyung!” Ricky greeted me with a smile, still munching on the sandwich. “Still sleepy?”

“You know how I hate having to wake up early.” I replied while grabbing a sandwich for myself and seated in the chair facing Ricky.

“Not like we have a choice. Our company has a strict policy on tardiness. A minute late and you have to pay a fine.”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “I wonder why I even decided to work there knowing that policy and knowing that I’m a night person.”

Ricky chuckled as he tossed the last bite of sandwich into his mouth. “Well, I seem to remember it was because of a sign.”

I shook my head in amusement. “Yes, that sign which did not even make sense and is still not making any. Me and my penchant for mystery”