Dark. Everything looks dark, silent, but strangely; it feels vast.
Slowly, a lot of pictures appear; circling around Ray consciousness.
The pictures are blurry, yet making sound louder than they should be; making Ray grunted in his sleep.
It gets more vivid and heavy until— Ray snaps his eyes open, panting. His panicked expression quickly faded away to a neutral face, realizing he was in a nightmare a moment ago; he let out a soft sigh "huft…again…"
His room was dark— isolated, every single side of his room was painted in white without a single window or decorative object. All his furniture was made from dark wood; there are only tables, its chair, wardrobe, and his beloved bed.
The room is quite narrow but still habitable.
Getting up from his bed, turning on the ceiling gas lamp; picks up his towel and toiletries from under his bed frame. Walk to a dark wood door and open it; revealing a hallway, with a couple of similar room doors like his.
Using his sandals, Ray walks half-awake to the public bathroom.
Taking his time to do his business, Ray washing his body with cold morning water. His body is a bit skinny with a height of 175cm, with some muscle build up on specific areas as his both arms are veiny too…like a magnet to girls— making them wonder what his hands are capable to do?
Ray stared at his right hand, his palm looking a bit red. Many parts of its surface skin are flaking off, and have yellowish dead skin.
He smirked, proud of his own hands "heh…cool."
After cleaning himself, Ray walks out from the public bathroom and goes to his own room again; get ready for work.
Opening his wardrobe, there are not many choices of clothes; most of them are just for daily use and work. Ray picks formal long black pants, and dark brown t-shirt. Wear it and glance at his looks on the mirror of the wardrobe door.
His dark hair curved gently across his forehead in a single clean arc, the tip angling downward just above his brow. The rest of it fell back in a casual sweep— simply there, they've always been like that.
As his face looks fine too, making whoever looks at him would recognize "this guy is handsome." The eye looks sharp— like judging every single thing that moves.
Done with his changing, Ray stepped outside his room once again, wearing his socks and shoes before walking out from the building.
"Working again? Shit…"
***
His day starts with a morning sunlight greeting his face warmly.
The buildings are tall, most of them are made from limestone and dark brick; masterfully built with Victorian gothic architecture, softly wrapped in morning fog.
People are walking, minding their own business.
Wagon carriage are passing by, with its iconic horse clacking sound in a street made of cobblestone. The street gas lamps are available for every corner of the street, some of them have iron benches for public service.
Ray took a glance at the nearest iron benches, smiled at how he remembered the vibes at night in the city with its iron bench and street gas lamp; giving a strange feeling of peace, especially in snowy or rainy weather.
"Meow…" Ray ears twitched, before noticing a street tabby cat walking its way towards him.
"Ah…it's you…good morning tabby~"
The cat is excitedly circling around Ray feet, constantly leaving his fur smell on Ray.
Kneeling down to reach the cats level, Ray patting its head softly; the tabby cat neck start vibrating by the pleasure of physical contact Ray gave, purring "mmmrrpp…meow"
"Meow~ how cute~"
Pleased by the short encounter, Ray patted the street tabby cat head once again; before getting up and walking to the street.
Krunk...
He hasn't eaten anything since he woke up, making his stomach crumble in hunger…
`Ugh. I'm hungry!` He frowned, but not showing much discomfort.
Ray takes his walking pace faster, passing by a small bridge with its river underneath; into a building passage.
At the other side of the passage, there is Foxglove city square on sight; this area looks different from the alley he came from— it's more…extravagant.
Benches, street gas lamps, fences— everything looks more grand with curvy decorations. The square is mostly covered in grass and trees, with its fountain as the center.
The squares are surrounded by stores and buildings like hotels, boutiques, restaurants, etc.
The city street looks crowded, with many foreigners walking around.
Ray walking on the side of the main street, observing the rich people's carriage that passed by with awe and a tiny bit of insecurities `i wonder with the same amount of money that carriage price, what would I buy with it instead? Maybe…I'll prefer to opening street food business…`
Then, his attention drew to the tall— gigantic clock tower on his right side; approximately its height are around 80 meters. Looking up, he could see the clock showing its short needle in six and the long needle in three.
`It's…safe right? Ugh— it feel like…the needle could be fall anytime and pierce someone underneath…it giving me chills.` Ray quickly forces himself to walk at a faster pace again, certainly that he wont to be one of those unlucky people in his imagination is he?
After 15 minutes of walking, Ray finally made his way to his work place; Anna's Bakery.
It was a bakery store that served many types of bread, known for its quality from middle-class to upper-class folk.
This building has two floors and is almost completely surrounded by multiple species of decorative plants with its only open surface gap is the window and front door.
In the terrace of the store, there are five iron made round tables; each has three iron chairs, for the customer enjoying their meals with Foxglove city scenery.
Ray made his way to the front door of Anna's Bakery, for a moment noticing its sign on wood door saying "Closed"
Cling...
The front door bell ringing, echoed through the inside of the building.
The front area is just the same as ever. There are giant wood showcases for bread, and a small showcase in the cashier; the floor and ceilings are made from wood plates. Of course there was a menu chalkboard too, hanging up in the cashier area.
Ray walked straight to the kitchen room, a place where he spent five to seven hours from Monday to Friday.
Doing a little exercise and warming up before working "m-my back…agh…"
Picking up the pre-made dough from yesterday, making sure that its fermentation meets his quality; and proceeding it on the table before the dough goes into the stove.
…after one and half hours later; the empty front room showcases are slowly filled with warm bread. Its mesmerizing smell of soft warm butter, blending with the fresh aroma of the plants that surround Anna's Bakery front side; makes this store have its own aesthetic vibes that draw the attention of new foreigners or locals.
Cling...
The front door bell rang.
a male with brown hair, and a girl with long black hair entered the store; both were wearing white formal shirts.
They're Ray coworkers, the female works as cashier; and the male works as a clerk. Ray, watching them from the kitchen, opened the door, glancing at the clock.
`They're late for a half hour…` Ray signed, this is not the first time those two are late like this. Not even greeting Ray in the kitchen, minding their own business with chit-chating.
With his tormented dry throat, Ray takes a cup glass of water and drinks; vaguely hears those two gossipping about him from a distance.
"He's always like that…don't mind him Babe." Says the male, followed by the female "pfft…so what? Does he think if he always comes early to work, miss Anna would promote him or something? Look at him. He has a disgustingly well fine face feature— maybe he tried to seduce the mistress? Like some scandals…"
Hearing that, Ray didn't even flinch. It was as if this is a normal thing to him, knowing that someone else hates him for a ridiculous reason! He didn't even vividly remember their face and name. A memory from the past drifted, he was once almost pulled into a street fight just because he passed by a couple street guys.
His lips start forming a grin "handsome face is a blessing they said…well…yea kind of?" says Ray, murmuring himself sarcastically.
clack-clack-clack-clack
Sounds of the footsteps of someone who went down from the stairs between the cashier and kitchen door.
"...!" The male and female workers were surprised.
A woman stepping her feet inside the kitchen, the warm buttery bread scent softly greeting her attractive face. A playful smile formed in her lips, passively saying that she was in the good mood.
Her long aristocratic blond hair swept away from her back— giving contrast with its surroundings beautifully, with golden-brownish pupils that smeared confident expression.
"Good morning, my darling~"