The shrill of Haiya's alarm pierced the silence of her tiny studio apartment, echoing off the stark white walls. She groaned, rolling over to silence the persistent noise. As she blinked sleep from her eyes, the reality of another day sank in, and she reached for her phone to check the time. The digital numbers glared back at her: 6:45 AM. Too early for her liking.
With a sigh, she pushed back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet finding the cool linoleum floor. The scent of last night's takeout still lingered in the air, a blend of garlic and grease that did little to inspire appetite. Yet, the growling of her stomach suggested otherwise. Haiya shuffled over to the kitchen, the floor cold against her soles, and opened the fridge. The light flickered on, illuminating the half-empty shelves. A carton of eggs, a shriveling bell pepper, and a sad-looking onion stared back at her. Then she spotted it: a forgotten bag of shredded mozzarella and a lonely pack of pepperoni. The wheels in her brain began to turn, and she reached for the freezer door.
Her hand hovered over the frozen pizza, contemplating. A sudden stroke of genius hit her. Why not make a breakfast pizza? The idea was absurd yet tantalizing. She grabbed the cardboard box and set it on the counter, the image of a cheesy, saucy delight teasing her taste buds. With a flourish, she removed the plastic wrap and placed the crust on a baking sheet. The cold metal sent a shiver up her spine, jolting her awake.
Haiya cracked eggs onto the pizza, their yolkish centers breaking and spreading like miniature suns over the dough. She sprinkled the shredded mozzarella and chopped pepperoni around the egg orbs, the cheese whispering sweet nothings of warmth and comfort. The lonely onion and bell pepper slices joined the party, their vibrant colors contrasting against the pale cheese and dough. A pinch of salt, a dash of pepper, and she slid the creation into the preheated oven. The scent of baking bread and sizzling meat began to fill the room, pushing back the remnants of sleep.
The oven timer ticked down the minutes with an eerie rhythm, each second growing the anticipation in her stomach. She poured herself a glass of orange juice, the tangy scent cutting through the air. As the timer hit zero, she pulled the baking sheet out with a flourish, the cheese bubbly and golden. But the crust... it was a deep shade of brown that suggested it was more than just perfectly crisped. She frowned, poking at the crust with a spatula. It was definitely burned. Haiya felt a pang of disappointment, but she'd come too far to turn back now.
With a resigned sigh, she sliced into the breakfast pizza, the cheese stretching like melted rubber. The eggs had set into a jiggly dance floor for the pepperoni and peppers. It didn't look half bad, she admitted to herself. But the smell... it had shifted from tantalizing to something slightly off. Like a burnt hair in the microwave. She picked up a slice and took a tentative bite, the cheese scalding the roof of her mouth. The eggs were overcooked and the pepperoni had a bitter edge to it. But it was food, and she was hungry.
