She Is, Was, Will Be [girlxgirl]

3

Lisana

I woke up from the beam of light that was peeking from the window, gently caressing my face with warmth. The light made me cringe when it invaded my pupils when I tried to give a slit for my eyes to see.

Damn it, why do I have to wake up like this? This had almost always gave me a headache more than a hanging nail does, and the next thing I needed was to wake up stressed out. Sleeping was supposed to calm your nerves, not to cause more uneasiness and anxiety to start your day when you wake up.

Morning, obviously, wasn’t my thing. So did the uncomforted feeling it brings whenever you enter the transition from sleeping to being awaken, and then to being fully awake with your consciousness present. Sometimes, I’d rather not sleep the whole night, just so that I wouldn’t feel shit in the morning.

I rolled on the bed, away from the direction of the light, then brought the fluffy pillow down to my face to act as an eye mask and prevent the ambient light that was seriously disturbing me.  I was straining myself, unconsciously concentrating my mind to go back to its dormant state, which I know was stupid, when a knock sent me groaning from being disturbed.

“Who is it?” I shouted, irascibly, pressing the pillow to my eyes harder.

A girl’s voice from the door replied, “Aliah.” The door then produced a low creak, as the girl opened the door without my permission, cutting my chance to continue my dreamless sleep. Aliah?

Removing the pillow from my face to check the intruder, I voiced out my confusion, “Aliah who?” I tried to regain my focus to the slim figure by the door, and it was then I recognized the blonde girl as my cousin. I felt slightly embarrassed that she had to face my morning-bitch mode, and also confused that she was the one who came here to wake me up, as she was the most anxious meeting me yesterday. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Callum.

“Oh, right. Aliah,” I sat up, being civilized enough to talk to her in a sitting position, and let myself see her more clearly.

She didn’t seem upset by my initial unrecognition. Instead, she gave me a warm morning smile. “I’m really sorry to interrupt your sleep, but it’s already half past ten, so you’ve already missed breakfast,” she explained. She fiddled nervously with the hem of her shirt for no obvious reason and said, “We are going to the coffee shop your dad owns, and I came here to ask if you would like to come.”

The mention of my dad brought me back to reality and the main reason why I was sent here. I guess this would be it. I could start first by learning how things work, then the rest would be a major social experiment for me. Even though this wasn’t the first time that I would be visiting a store my family owned, this would be the first time I’d be working alongside the staff. I was actually nervous about their reaction of me being there, and maybe—just maybe—Aliah was nervous for me too. When did I become this assuming?

“Sure, I’d just clean myself up,” I shrugged and smiled, trying to hide nervousness.

She looked down at my clothes, and we both realized that I still haven’t changed yes. More to myself, I brought my top to my nose, and defensively said, “It doesn’t smell gross at all.”

Aliah laughed at my declaration of the state of my clothes and said, “Just go to the living room whenever you’re ready.” I nodded my response and she went out, closing the door lightly. I hope she won’t broadcast my unhygienic-ness to the whole world and let them be grossed out by me.

Deciding that I should really clean myself, I stood up and went to the bathroom connected to the room. As expected, the toiletries were fresh and ready to be used, but to satisfy myself, I still checked if it was complete, and that I wouldn’t be running around needing some toothpaste or whatever. I wondered, how many other people have used this room and bathroom before me. Unruly thoughts of drunk people crashing here due to severe drunkenness, and couples having the time of their lives came to my mind.