Another Job

THE SAME DAY

"Shin!"

"Yes?"

While working, I came across Ms. Alice.

"After your shift, come to the boss room."

"Why?"

"Just go later, and boss will tell you."

She left after saying that.

"What was that?"

I don't know what they're going to tell me. Is it important? The only way I can find out is by going there.

And so I continue working until my shift is over. Then I went straight there.

I enter the room.

"Sup."

When I entered, Kylo was there.

"Did they call you too?" I asked Kylo.

"Actually…"

"Shin, I called you here 'cause there's a job for you."

Kylo was about to explain but boss spoke.

"Job…? Is there another job besides the job I'm doing?"

"Rather than a job, it's a commission."

"Commission?"

"Yeah. I'm giving you a task."

"A task? Sorry, I'm a bit confused."

"Then I'm going to explain it to you. We're giving commission to our workers here by picking who are suitable for the task. Since you're new, I will give you a task already so that you can be familiar with it. Do you understand?"

I can more or less understand.

"Yes."

"Good."

"Then boss, about what is the task for?"

"I called Kylo here to be your partner for today. He will explain it to you in full detail."

"You can ask me anything." Kylo said.

"Then you guys can go now." The boss said after Kylo spoke.

I have a lot of questions, but I guess I'm going to ask Kylo instead.

So both Kylo and I left the room.

While in the middle of the walk going to the elevator, he's explaining the task.

"So, this is our task today. We're going to catch someone."

"Catch someone? Why would we do that?"

"Boss orders it."

[TING!]

We rode the elevator.

"No, I mean… why would we catch someone, as in abducting?"

"No, no, not abducting. I mean recruiting."

Why does it sound far-fetched?

"Recruit to what?"

"To work here at this hotel."

"We're recruiting normal people here?"

"No, not a single normal person is here. We're recruiting users."

Oh. recruiting some ability users.

Wait…

"Like me?"

"Ha? Like you?"

"Didn't you recruit me back then?"

I'm assuming he knows something, that's why he recruited me.

"Ah. No, no, I just coincidentally met you in that alley."

Coincidence? What's with this coincidence?

"Hey, what's with that doubtful face?"

"No, it's just… I have too many coincidences."

"Already fed up with that?"

"I guess?"

"Then it's fate, you, to be here."

Fate… ha…?

"You think so?..."

"Yea, why not? You're already here. Means you are fated to be her."

My fate? So I ended here…

"So, any question?"

"None."

[TING!]

We exited the elevator.

"Oh. Right, our commission starts at 9pm. So you can go take some rest before we leave. And I have something to do, let's just meet at the 2nd entrance later."

Then he walks away.

He left me, saying that we leave at 9pm. I followed him here because I thought we were leaving already.

"I guess I will go up and watch TV."

I'm going to spend the time watching until it's already time to leave.

So I rode the elevator again and went to the staff living area.

⍐⍐⍐

After reaching the floor, I went straight to the living room.

As I got closer, I heard some noise there. When I entered the room, Clara, Claire, and a lady that I seem familiar with were there watching TV.

"You just got finished?" Clara asked me.

"Yeah."

I sit on the couch.

"Claire."

"Yes?"

"Are you already fine?"

"Yeah I'm fine."

"That's good."

I asked Claire if she's already okay, but It looks like she's already moved on from her best friend's death.

"Ehem!"

" " … " "

"You two know that I'm in the middle of you guys, right?"

" " We're sorry… " "

The lady between us suddenly scolded us.

"James, you're really unlucky to have a rough first day."

"..."

What did she call me? Did she call me by my real name?

I was shocked that she said my name. Thinking it how she knows. I don't even know her.

"James?" Claire question.

"H-how did you know my name?" I asked the lady.

"Oh. Right, sorry. It's your real name, right?" she answered.

"Yea, it's my name. But… um… did I meet you before…?"

"You forgot?"

Forgot what? Yea, she's a bit familiar, but I don't remember meeting her.

"Sorry, I don't know who you are."

"You forgot? Didn't Kylo introduce me to you back then?"

"Back then…? Um… sorry… when?..."

"You really forgot? It was when Kylo recruited you."

Oh… that… she's the lady that day. But…

"Um… I remember meeting you. But…"

"But?"

"I forgot your name…"

"..."

Well, sorry, it's just one time I met her since the past few days.

"It's Martha. That's my name."

"Right, sorry. Now I remember."

"Now, you. What's your new name now?"

"Shin."

"Then, nice to meet you, Shin."

"Same. Nice to meet you, too."

I guess the two of us introduced ourselves again?

"I guess it's time to work."

Martha said as she stood up.

"I'm a night shift. So I'm going now."

Then she left.

"So… your real name is James ha?..."

After Martha left, Clara spoke.

"Yea…"

"Don't worry, your real name, it doesn't matter now."

"Hey, that's rude to say that!" Claire scolded Clara.

"It's true though… since we're using fake names nowadays."

"Even so. We can't just forget our real name just like that."

"I didn't say forget it, I just said it doesn't matter now. Hah, enough of this topic. Let's just watch."

"..."

It seems they stop arguing and just watch TV.

Claire looks at me, "Shin, sorry about that. Don't mind what Clara said."

"No, it's fine, it's fine."

"Oh… then, do you remember the promise?"

Oh, her request that day.

"Yeah. How can I forget it?"

"I don't know about that… just a while ago…"

"Ah… that's…"

"Just don't forget it."

"Yeah, yeah."

She's really weird, requesting that, even though we've just met. I don't even know if I can do that. I just accepted it without knowing why.

"Hey, what's that promise you guys are talking about?" Clara asked us.

"It's nothing." Claire answered.

"What are you guys hiding from me?"

"Nothing."

"Tell me."

"I said nothing."

"Shin, tell me."

Clara looks at me.

"Sorry, I can't."

"Why are you guys keeping a secret from me!? Is it a date?"

"No, it's not! I said it's nothing." Claire said.

"Fine, if you guys are not going to tell me. I'm really going to know it for sure."

"It's really nothing."

"Yea… right…"

Clara looks at me again, "You."

"Yes?"

"Don't make her cry, ha?..."

How overwhelming I felt when she looked at me.

"It's not like that!" Claire said.

I sighed.

I'm just not going to mind them arguing and just watch TV.

📺📺📺

"Oh, it's already time." I said when I saw the clock far top of the TV.

I stood up.

"Going to sleep now?" Clara said.

"No, I have something to do."

"Ok then."

Then I leave.

I went and rode the elevator, then headed to the back entrance that I entered when I first recruited here.

🏃⍗🏃

I arrived at the destination. And Kylo was already there.

I went to him.

When I got closer, "Why are you wearing your uniform?" he suddenly asked me.

"Wait, aren't we supposed to wear our uniform?"

"No. When in commission, just wear some casual clothes."

"Is that so?..."

How can I know, you didn't even tell me.

"Go back and change first."

"Ok."

And so I went back to my room.

🏃⍐🏃

When I entered my room, my roommates were there.

"Shin, you just finished today?" William asked.

"No, I'm doing something. Right, Lucas, do you have black clothes?"

I don't have any clothes. Luckily, Lucas gave me to use his clothes for the time being.

Since it's a commission, I might as well wear black.

"Shirt or short." He asked.

"All."

He lent it.

"Um, do you have a jacket and a mask as well?"

"Here."

"Thanks."

After giving it to me, I wear them in the bathroom.

"Where are you going to wear something like that?" William asked.

"I will tell you guys later. I will go for now."

Then I left and headed back to Kylo.

🏃⍗🏃

But when I arrive,

"Why are you wearing something like that?!"

"A disguise."

"It's too suspicious. Wear simpler clothes."

So I headed back to my room again.

🏃⍐🏃

"You have returned already?" William asked.

"Nah… I need some simpler clothes."

"Where are you even going?" Lucas asked.

"It's a commission."

"Oh. So it's already time you take that." William said.

"Yea… And Kylo said, my clothes are too suspicious."

"Yeah, it really does. Then wear this." Lucas handed me some clothes.

And so I go to the bathroom and wear it.

It was a white shirt, blue jacket, and black pants paired with shoes.

"You didn't need a mask." He said.

"What about my face?"

"Don't mind it."

"Then I'm going now."

"Then good luck."

Then I went back to Kylo again.

🏃⍗🏃

I hope this time we can go now. I've been going back and forth, it's tiring me up.

I arrived.

"Ok let's go." Kylo said.

Finally, we can go now.

And so we left already.