jjkᅳ

i went to the nearest cyber shop. haro town may be a dead city, but at least it's got lots of computer shops. i think the reason why you barely see anyone walking around in the streets, aside from those who truly have to go to work, is that people are all inside, busy looking at useless shit on the internet.

and just like my theory, there are looking like two hundred people in one room at this cyber shop. that would seem like an exaggeration at first, but unfortunately, it isn't that much of a stretch.

"hey. uh...how much for a night here?"

"just to use the computer or you wanna stay in one of our little rooms?"

"obviously the latter."

why do people ask such obvious questions?

i fought the urge to roll my eyes at her.

"please don't speak to me that way. and it's 40 bucks each night. if you want food service, that's an added 40. you get 10% discount on food everyday if you stay for a week and more. we're only allowed to let you stay in for 2 months, not any longer."

"why, pray tell, can i not stay for longer?"

"it's not an apartment, kind sir. it's a cyber shop. if we let everyone live here, others won't get the chance to experience overnight stays in our cyber café."

"makes sense. right. sign me up."

"will do right away. now what's your name?" she starts asking me for my information and tells me to wait for a few minutes while she calls someone for the key to the public bathroom. i didn't even ask to take a shower, even though i was going to, i hadn't yet. but she went out of her way to make sure i don't make the entire place smell like shit and vomit. how nice.

❀

pjmᅳ

i found a cyber shop nearby and decided to check it out. i'm sure they've got food. besides, i'm kind of in the mood to play some league, if i'm being honest. i wish i had a laptop with me but i decided to leave it since my parents may use it to track me. they wouldn't know how to do that by themselves, of course. but if they talked to the cops, they might.

"right. okay. so, i'm done taking a shower. will you show me where i'm going to sleep for the night then?" a man who seems a bit familiar asked the lady at the desk, interrupting me before i could even talk to her. he didn't even glance at me. it's as if he's so devoid of his own surroundings.

"well, there is still the matter of payment, sir," answered the woman.

"right. yeah. why didn't you ask for that before you let me shower for free?"

"i was just being nice." he scoffed to this.

"right." he takes out his wallet from the pants he's wearing. i couldn't help but notice the id picture inside. it doesn't look like him at all. seems like an old man's id. must be his dad?

"thanks for the clothes you let me borrow, by the way."

"no problem. did you throw your clothes away like you said you would?"

"of course."

"right. they deserved to be thrown out." the lady muttered the last words under her breath, but i'm pretty sure both of us heard it anyway.

the man glared at her for a few seconds and went back to counting the cash in his wallet.

"i know you're terribly disappointed you don't get to see me walking 'round here naked."

"that's absolutely untrue," denies the lady, but the redness on her face says otherwise.

"here you go. keep the change."

"thanks. here's your key."

"right. thanks. later." he walks away.