useless; vmin

grey skies°

The sound of my alarm rang just like how any other typical school day should start. Except, for the first days.

Unconscious, I mumbled something I still do not remember and slapped my phone trying to mute the annoying sounds it made.

After a billion attempts, it finally shut up. A pursed lip, furrowed eyed monster reflected back to me through the mirror located in front of my bed. Reminding myself of how much of a duck I looked like whenever I woke up.

After a moment of just sitting in bed, I finally gathered the strength and knowledge to peel my blanket off of me. Without making my bed, I slipped my feet into my slippers and shuffled to the bathroom where I would be able to clean myself up.

Shower, check, brush teeth, check, wash face, check. I mentally kept note of while going through the list. Once done with the list, I dragged my feet across my room to my closet where I would pull out anything to wear.

I quickly picked out the casual plain tee and jeans look and was in the middle of stripping off my shirt when I heard a knock. I let go of my shirt letting it fall back into place and unlocked the door, peeking out to check who it was.

It was obviously mom, who was the only other person who lived in our apartment.

Still tired, I grumbled, "Good morning omma!" With plenty of voice cracks. "What would lead you here to this fine kingdom of mine!" I waved my hand in front of me like a princess introducing her cherished home. Except that princess was slightly still half asleep. You could mistake me for being hung over.

"I was just gonna say annyeong to my baby!" She chimed with a bright smile that cleared my mind and immediately woke me up with the surprising encounter.

"Wow! daebak!" I gasped dramatically. "Omma's smiling! What's the occasion?" I sarcastically joked.

She giggled and put her hand on my cheek. "It's a special day."

"Um... Are you calling the first day of school a special day?" I shook my head in disappointment. "Omma, how could you believe such horror."

She chuckled and looked deeply into both my eyes. "How could you forget your own birthday."

Her words sent me in a trance. I thought about it, and thought about it even more. It's August 17. Surely my birthday.

"Omo."

"Yup, and I called off from work so I can spend it with you." She chimed with a ear to ear smile.

"But I have work after sch-."

"I called them too." She quickly added.

"Why omma! We need the money, we can't just call it off for me!" I protested.

"Well, you have to enjoy life while your young." She spoke shamelessly.

"You know we can't do that with our condition." I pointed out trying to stop her nonsense-able speech. I eyed the room surrounding. Cracked paint, dirty dusty traps, and the tiny hallway.

Living in a small apartment barely having enough money to pay for our bills. A family with a abandoned father, a mother who worked as a full time maid, and a daughter who had multiple jobs to sustain the lives of a herself and the mother.