A Ritual In the House?

1

Heejin hates this.

Heejin hates taking inventory. She hates counting oranges.

Because yes, she's counting the stock of oranges. And she absolutely hates it.

She doesn't know why her mum decided that getting a grocery job is a good idea. But then again, it's basically what she wanted, to work and get paid, so she took it. It's not like she has a lot of choices either —In fact, after all her poor experiences, she only had one, work in a grocery store that her mother practically paid for her to have.

She never wanted to get a job like this. She promised herself that she'll take full control of her life since going into her Junior year. But with just a tiny sign of desperation, her parents were already in full swing.

(It started with her having an oh so normal chat with her mother.

AdultJeon: How's work going, hun?

- Complicated

- But I'm getting there, been finding around for a few weeks now

- It's just proven to be harder than expected

AdultJeon: Oh dear, we're here for you, we'll help you with all you can

The help came the next day when her mother texted her about the grocery job she already got.)

Thirty-eight.

Thirty-Nine.

Forty.

*Beep*

Heejin glances up at the crowd that passed by, silently hoping that her manager isn't one of the people in it who could have heard the phone she miraculously managed to sneak on the job.

She has a silent inner brawl with herself, her thoughts trying to control her body, don't answer the phone Heejin, don't you even dare.

Okay, where were we?

Forty-One.

Forty-Two.

*Beep*

Just shut up.

Forty-Three.

Forty-Four.

*Beep*

Forty-Seven... Or was it forty four -Dang it. I lost count.

Giving in to the temptation of her social media addiction, she fishes her phone out from her back pocket. Don't get her wrong, she knows it's wrong, but after staying up the whole night writing her essay and drawing the draft for her art project, her brain is slowly blurring the line of how much cares she should be giving at the moment. Her fears of getting caught with the device out in the open slowly dissipate as she strolls through her notifications.

^

Justastranger: Heejin

Justastranger: Hey puppy

Justastranger: anyoneeeeeeeee?

Justastranger: Hello?

- What do you want, Hyun?

Justastranger: Boredom is infesting my brain.

Justastranger: I think I'm going to die.

- A miracle.

Justastranger: Come back home already.

Justastranger: Or actually, I'll just come over.

- No.