𝒯ℯ𝓁𝓁 ℳℯ... (CoryxKenshin Fiction)

1🗡️

Coryxkenshin is Cory Williams
Lyric is Sza
Tahjay is JT
Berlin is Dean
Mark is Mark Phillips
Des is Desmond

The alarm clock buzzed insistently, but I had already been awake for hours. With my controller still clutched in my hand, I felt like a zombie, barely functioning despite the enthusiasm that had fueled my all-night editing session. I stared at the disheveled scenes I'd crafted, the pixels blurring into each other like my thoughts as I remembered I had a 7 to 3:30 shift looming ahead. Groaning, I sat up, rubbing the heavy sleep from my eyes. Three hours of sleep wasn't going to cut it today.

"Freak..." I muttered to myself as I rolled off the bed, the dull ache in my muscles a reminder of my poor sleep choices. Today was going to be a hectic whirlwind of early Christmas shoppers and mundane tasks. I yanked on a faded hoodie and slid into a pair of well-worn jeans.

I glanced over at Samson, my spirited mutt, who snoozed on the floor, completely oblivious to my struggles. I had gotten him to celebrate hitting 5k subscribers on YouTube—a milestone that seemed so trivial now but felt monumental back then. He stirred as I moved around, tail thumping softly against the wooden floor, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Alright, big guy," I said, bending down to scratch behind his ears. "Let's go do your thing before I'm late."

After a brisk walk in the crisp morning air—just long enough for Samson to take care of his business—I waved goodbye. "I'll be back soon, okay?" I promised. He barked lazily in reply, settling onto the porch as I hopped into my black Ford and cranked up the radio.

As I drove, the familiar tune of "Tell Me If You Still Care" by the S.O.S Band enveloped the car, curating a soundtrack that reminded me of the fun breaks I shared with Lyric at work. She was the bright spark in my otherwise monotonous pharmacy job, all smiles and teasing glances. I parked and prepared myself for the grind ahead.

"Wassup, man," Des greeted me with a lazy smile as I entered, looking just as tired as I felt.

"Just tired, that's all," I replied, wishing I could crawl back into bed.

He chuckled, "What you been doing?"

"Up all night editing," I groaned. "Running on three hours of sleep right now."

"Imma pray for you," he said lightly, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Today is gonna be a long day for real," I said, rolling my eyes as I clocked in, catching a glimpse of the work schedule.

"Cory!" Lyric's voice rang across the break room, softening my mood as I looked up. She hugged me tightly, her warmth chasing away the drowsiness for a second.

"Good morning," I replied, swallowing down my fatigue.

"You look so dead right now," she quipped playfully.

"I was up all night editing," I confessed. "Three hours of sleep."

She shook her head in mock disappointment. "You need to manage your time better, dude. What video you have now?"

"You'll have to wait and see," I teased, relishing the mystery.

"Ugh! I'm supposed to get the exclusive shit!" she pouted.

"Well, not this time. It's over an hour long, and I'm still not done."

"Of course! You know, if you need help, I can help you," she offered, her voice casual.

"Thanks, but I'm okay," I replied with a smile, feeling grateful for her support.

"Let's do something after work! You've been working hard, let's get a break," she suggested.

"What do you wanna do?" I sighed, already wistful for my editing chair.

"Let's go to our spot and swing on the ropes! Please?" she begged, her big brown eyes shining.

With those eyes boring into me, I felt my resolve crumble. "Okay, fine. But I'm not staying for long though."

"Ah! I knew you'd say yes. You're the absolute best," she chirped, her smile illuminating the dreary work environment.

Sometimes, I wondered how I got so lucky to have a friend like Lyric—someone who could brighten any day with her mere presence. "Alright, it's time for me to go to work. Catch you later, okay?"

"Yeah," she said softly, winking as she headed off, leaving behind the tantalizing scent of her floral perfume.

"You might as well date her at this point," Monty chimed as he clocked in.

"Me and Lyric are just friends," I insisted, but Monty had a point. There was a connection there, an unspoken chemistry that thrummed between us. Just friends, I reminded myself stubbornly.

Once I got to my station, I switched into work mode, restocking shelves and trying to avoid the chaos of the front. I preferred the quiet backend, far from the customers with their frantic complaints. With every passing minute, my thoughts drifted back to YouTube, to my dream. I imagined the moment when I'd hit that coveted milestone—10k subscribers—and finally have the time to create freely. Krogers would be a distant memory, a vague background to something greater.

Just as my shift dragged on, the clock inched closer to freedom. I lost myself in thoughts of future videos and my aspirations, counting minutes until my promised swing with Lyric.

Finally, the end of my shift came. I clocked out, the exhaustion echoing in every fiber of my body as I left the building, eyes brightening at the sight of the late afternoon sun.

"Ready?" I called to her, a smile breaking through the weariness.

"Always!" Lyric grinned back, her eyes sparkling. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe today was just the start of something better.