Chapter 13: The First Shift
Time: 06:00 AM
The mechanical ticking of the alarm clock on the bedside table felt like a hammer against Ren's skull. He snapped his eyes open—or rather, his eye. His left side was a void of darkness and throbbing pain. He reached out, his fingers fumbling until he slammed the button down to silence the noise.
He sat up slowly, the bandages on his face feeling tight and itchy. Every movement of his jaw sent a sharp, electric sting through his cheek. He stumbled into the small bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. He grabbed his toothbrush, intending to clean his teeth, but as soon as the bristles touched his gums, a white-hot flash of agony shot through his shattered jaw.
"Damn it," he hissed, spitting into the sink and putting the brush away. He couldn't even brush his teeth without feeling like his face was breaking apart again.
He pulled on his best shirt—the one Go had helped him get—and stepped out into the living room. Hana was just emerging from her room, stretching her arms and yawning. She stopped mid-stretch when she saw him.
"Ren? Where are you going so early?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"To work, Hana. It's my first day," Ren replied, adjusting his collar to hide the edge of the bandages.
"To work? Look at your face, Ren! You can barely speak!" Hana rushed to him, grabbing his arm. "Stay home. Rest. Go will understand."
Ren shook his head, his expression firm. "No. Go did his part. Now I have to do mine. We need those potions, and I need to earn the gold. Just... wish me luck, okay?"
Hana sighed, seeing the stubborn glint in his one good eye. "Fine. Go. But if it hurts too much, come back immediately."
Ren nodded and stepped out into the crisp morning air of the Tier 2 sector. He walked for nearly thirty minutes, his body feeling heavy, until he reached the grand restaurant.
The owner was sitting behind the mahogany counter, puffing on a cigar. He looked up as Ren entered. "You're Ren, right? Go's friend? What the hell happened to your face, kid?"
"I... I fell down the stairs, sir," Ren lied, his voice muffled by the dressing.
The owner raised an eyebrow. "Stairs did that to you? Looks more like you fought a Feral and lost. Can you actually work, or are you just going to scare my customers away?"
"I'm ready to work, sir. I won't let you down," Ren said, bowing slightly.
The day was a blur of exhaustion. Ren spent fourteen hours on his feet, carrying heavy trays and dodging the crowded tables. His depth perception was off because of his missing eye, making every corner a challenge. To make matters worse, a group of senior waiters spent the afternoon whispering and snickering at him.
"Look at the new guy," one whispered loud enough for Ren to hear. "Looks like a half-finished statue. Who hired a pirate to serve soup?"
Ren ignored them, keeping his head down and his focus sharp. By the time 10:00 PM rolled around, his legs felt like lead and his jaw was screaming for mercy.
He finally reached home and fumbled with the keys. Hana opened the door before he could even turn the lock.
"You're so late!" she cried out, pulling him inside.
"It's the shift timing, Hana... let it be," Ren groaned, collapsing onto a chair. "I'm starving. Please tell me you made something good. I still have to do your treatment tonight."
Hana smiled, walking toward the kitchen. "I made your favorite—well, it's healthy at least. Mix vegetables!"
Ren froze, his one eye widening in horror. "What? No! Anything but that!"