"Aquí tienes."
"Thanks."
The server slid her tray across the counter, then ducked beneath it to grab a small basket of packaged condiments. After setting it to the side and giving her a polite nod, they moved on to the next customer.
Sienna picked through the packets, tossing a few onto her tray before carrying everything back to her spot and dropping into the cushioned seat.
Next, she opened the purse hanging from her shoulder, took out her earbuds, and slipped them in. An opaque screen manifested off to the side. A video started up while the audio fed straight into her ears.
After that, she unwrapped her burger, peeling back the wheat-colored bun that puffed back into shape the second she let go.
rip—split!
With the condiment packet ripped open, she spread it across the bun, giving it an even coating before putting the burger back together.
chff—munch…munch.
The video kept playing. Minute by minute, the burger lost bite-sized pieces, the fries dipped into sauce before being chased down with her drink.
And then again.
And again.
By then, she had already become one with the burger joint, just another person sitting among all the others beneath its light atmosphere.
Outside the wide glass panes, the city kept moving. Buses stopped at the station. A cyclist slipped past a row of idling cars. People crossed the street in waves—office clothes, uniforms, and everything in between.
Not long after, Sienna finished her meal. She leaned back into the seat and let the food settle in her stomach for a moment, absently watching the screen.
With a small shake of her head, she yawned and pushed the lingering food coma aside.
She's free today…right?
She lifted her wrist and scrolled through her contacts until one icon caught her eye—a person sitting beneath a tree.
tap. tap.
brrt—brrt—brrt!
「Hellor.」
The screen faded the second she lowered her hand.
"Uh...you free today, by any chance?"
「Wow. Not even a hello? No 'how are you, my dear, brightest joy?' You really know how to make a girl feel unloved.」
"Bite me."
「I would, but then poor Chiyade would get all jealous~」
"Shut up, only I get to call her that."
That earned a delighted little laugh through her earbuds.
「Hehe—okay, okay. We're on break right now. What's wrong? You need something?」
Sienna watched a pair of students hurry past the windows, one of them nearly losing balance.
"Not really." She paused, resting her cheek against her fist. "I got back from a work trip and had some time, so...I thought, maybe we could hang out later, if you're free."
「Yeah, I'm free later. What brought this on?」
"Nothing. I just didn't feel like going home and being by myself."
「So you were feeling all wonewy without me? Heh. Fine, see you soon~ And bring me food while you're out, okay? I'm starving.」
"What a glutton."
「Excuse yo—Call Disconnected.」
Sienna stared at the dead screen for a second, then let out a quiet breath through her nose.
That was one way to end it.
She stayed seated a little longer, elbows resting against the table while her eyes drifted past the wide glass pane.
For a moment, she just watched.
Then she slid out of the booth and lifted her empty tray.
She walked to the trash bin at an easy pace, dropped the wrappers and cup through the opening, then set the tray on top of the stack before heading outside.
Heat struck her at once.
step after step, she crossed the lot toward her car, one hand lifting to shield her eyes from the hard sunlight while the other dug for her keys.
Click!
Sienna opened the door and slid into the seat, leaning back for half a second before pulling it shut with a solid thump.
She stared out through the windshield for a moment, sliding the key in and turning on the air conditioning.
Then she set one foot on the clutch and the other on the brake, slipped the shifter into neutral, and gave it a quick shake.
chk—rrr—vrmm!
The engine cranked to life, the vibration running through her body just enough to feel. She eased off the clutch as it settled into a steady idle.
Her earbuds cut out, replaced by the car speakers booming back to life.
Sienna pulled them from her ears, tucked them into their case, and dropped the case into her purse. A moment later, she let the car roll backward, caught it with the brake, then slipped it into first.
She eased out of the lot, took a right onto the street, and merged with traffic.
When she rolled the window down, the breeze slipped in and brushed against her skin.
Then, all at once, three teens darted into the street. One of them stopped right in front of her and raised a bottle, squeezing it until soapy liquid splattered across her windshield.
Sienna closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh.
By the time she opened them again, the boy had already dropped his bucket and was dragging a squeegee across the glass.
She rummaged through the center console, dug into the slot beneath the radio, and pulled out a bill.
"Toma. Here."
His face lit up like a festival. He snatched it from her hand and bounced away.
"Thank you."
The light turned green almost immediately after. The trio scattered out of the street while she slipped it into first and rolled forward.
Before long, the road became an on-ramp and then a highway stretching toward the rising horizon.
Bump after bump, the highway widened a little more before splitting into its separate lanes. Concrete walls drawing closer the nearer she got to her destination.
A tunnel of a kind, one of many carved through every moving plot of land.
Traffic slowed near the entrance, caution lights blinking ahead in steady, amber breaths. Just before the opening, a heavier bump jolted the car, dropping it slightly when it crossed the threshold.
Inside, a low hum swallowed her.
The fans overhead droned beneath the tunnel's warm light. Engines murmured in uneven layers, their sounds folding into one another until everything became a dull, constant vibration.
The glow at the far end waited ahead, distant and pale. Close enough to see, yet far enough to stretch the space between.
The drive only took five minutes.
It felt much longer.
Eventually, the tunnel opened up into a road, one that led her into a quiet neighborhood far from the heart of the city.
Sienna eased off the throttle.
House by house, neatly trimmed lawns passed beside her.
Vrrrm…mmm…
She shut the car off the moment she reached a modest home.
After grabbing the bag from the passenger seat, she stepped out and tugged the door once to make sure it was locked.
Then she circled around, headed up the driveway, and gave the place a quick look.
Without wasting any more time, she rang the bell, knocked on the door, then threw a peace sign at the camera beside it.
tchk!
The door cracked open.
A head of tied-up red hair peeked out from the side. Stubby, fluffy ears twitched the moment their owner locked eyes with her.
"Yikes~ you look exhausted. When was the last time you slept? You've got lines under your eyes."
Amber eyes curved into crescents.
"Hmhp, I'm doing just fine thank you."
Sienna pushed in without a thought, bumping their shoulders lightly. The woman closed the door with a thunk before the two locked eyes.
"Is that right? So—when you said hang out, did you mean hang out, or did you mean free physiotherapy?"
"...can it not be both?"
"Ah. So this was a scam."
thmp.
"Well, I wouldn't be here if they didn't hurt all the time."
They passed through the overly furnished living room and into a small studio, where four mats were lined up beside one another, facing the backyard.
The two faced each other.
"Alright, abuelita. Go change, okay?"
Sienna knelt and unzipped her bag, pulling out a set of loose-fitting clothes and draping them over her arm. Her hand brushed the flap once more before grabbing her sneakers.
She turned and headed for the bathroom, closing the door behind her once she found it.
Briskly, she changed into blue sweatpants and a loose long-sleeved tee—a castle printed across it, a lone tower piercing through a cloud of flying beasts—before tucking her necklace inside.
A few steps later, she crossed the studio and took the mat farthest away. She uncapped her water bottle and took a long refreshing drink that washed through her.
Then she rolled out her limbs and threw a glance toward her friend.
"Ya?"
Sienna said nothing, settling onto the mat and stretching her legs out. She leaned forward, fingers hovering just shy of her toes. The room stayed quiet except for the soft rustle of fabric and the sound of their breathing.
"So. Nothing exciting happen lately?"
The feline nudged her, pressing down until Sienna finally brushed her toes.
"L...ike what? I've been gone for a week."
"So no."
"Don't push so damn hard!"
The woman let go at once and Sienna let out a long sigh of relief, folding forward with her forehead nearly touching her knee.
The woman let go, and Sienna let out a sigh of relief.
"You're awfully stiff today."
Sienna exhaled, flashing a cheeky grin. "Heh, I'm always stiff."
"Alright, that's enough."
They moved through a few more stretches in rhythm—raising their arms overhead, twisting their bodies into pretzels, then standing for a few more. Light sweat began to gather on them, slowly trailing down their bodies.
"So—" She said casually, adjusting Sienna's stance a little. "Did you ever fix that leaky sink, or is it still winning?"
"I've accepted defeat so Ike called someone to fix it."
"Woww~ look at little ol' you, pushing your pride aside for the greater good~"
Sienna pushed her head back and knocked on the felines nose.
They moved through another set of stretches, their conversation moving the way it always did—nothing of note, just weekly gossip.
"Oh. Did you hear about Rachie?"
Sienna paused mid breath, arching her spine over the foam roller, looking to her right, where her partner was doing the same.
"Mae…whut?"
"She got engaged. Like—a day ago. Ring."
"Rachie? Why wasn't I invited...."
"No comment."
Sienna said nothing at first. She only adjusted herself and moved again once the break ended.
"Congrats to her, I guess."
"What about you—do you ever see yourself getting married?"
Mae's face planted itself in her view, showing a soft smile, riffled with sweat sticking to the skin.
"Mhmm…nah. I think I'd rather keep moving—like when I was younger, y'know?"
A small smile tugged at her lips, a glow returning to her beady eyes.
"Heh, I used to jump five feet easy!...didn't worry about anything back then. I'd rather travel. Do stuff."
"And what's stopping you now?"
Mae stood up, and Sienna's expression dimmed just a touch. She waited a moment before answering, lifting both her gaze and her hands together, her sleeve sliding back just a nudge.
"uhh...my bones?"
Her hand, wrapped in white and tan band aids.
Sienna pushed herself up.
The two of them worked through a few more stretches until an alarm chimed softly in the background. They switched positions, mirroring each other, then finished with a long forward fold.
When Mae finally stepped back, Sienna straightened with a low groan, rolling her neck from side to side.
"…much better."
"Right?" Mae said, already reaching for a towel. "Go shower, I'll clean up a bit."
Sienna nodded and grabbed her things, padding down the short hall to the bathroom.
After closing the door, she turned on the shower to her preferred temperature. Steam began to fill the bathroom moments later, the rush of running water drowning out the whirling fan while she stripped out of her damp clothes.
Like a strip of static film, the moment skipped forward and back, repeating until fifteen minutes slipped by.
"Hwah, I feel so light."
She rummaged through her bag, pulling out her regular clothes and setting them on the counter. After drying her hair a little more, she slipped them on unhurriedly.
When she returned to the small studio, Mae was drinking bottled water.
"Thanks for the shower. I feel way better."
Mae paused, glancing her over.
"What is it?"
"I'll be heading out soon. We're going on a trip, so we won't see each other for some time."
Sienna said, leaning on the wall.
"Where ya going?"
"My homeland."
"Gasp! You have one? You never really talked about it."
She rolled her eyes, coughing into her hand.
"'Cause I don't remember much."
She looked away and raised her hand a little, like she meant to wave the topic off but didn't have enough strength to finish the motion.
They lingered a while after that, gossiping a healthy amount. Nothing much, really—just loose thoughts passed back and forth until the quiet between them felt normal again.
"Anyway. Thanks again."
At the door, they said their goodbyes.
Sienna snapped her fingers at Mae, her account losing an insignificant amount.
Mae glanced at her and snorted.
"You didn't have to."
"I know."
Sienna took a step back, and by the time she turned to leave, she was already walking toward her own front door.
The drive home blurred into repetition, streets folding over themselves until the whole thing felt like a single drop.
With her bag in hand, she pulled out her keys and unlocked the door, swapping her shoes for a pair of fluffy slippers.
She passed through the entryway and was greeted by the short stone wall. The greenery clinging to it pleased her eyes. She took a right, cut through the pantry, and passed the living room.
By the time she reached her room, the weight of the bag had already become annoying.
She dropped it onto the bed and unzipped it, pulling out the clothes she had worn earlier before gathering them into her arms. Then she left the room again, crossing back through the house and into the laundry room.
Sienna stuffed the clothes inside, tossed in detergent, and started the cycle.
The machine whirred to life a second later.
Satisfied, she left the laundry room and turned right, heading straight into the small lounge before throwing herself into the beanbag and sinking deep into it.
Once comfortable, Sienna glanced toward the shelves to her left, skimming the rows of books until she found one she liked. She flicked her fingers in a lazy wave.
The book slipped free and sailed into her grasp.
Flipping through the first few pages, she began to read. The words passed easily enough, though the plot barely mattered—her mind kept wandering outside those walls, searching for answers.
She casted a glance toward the small speaker perched on the desk.
beep.
The speaker played music before switching to something else entirely, a soothing melody replacing the dull astrosphere.
Repeat the day, for the most part.
Until the day of departure.