Chaotic confluence of consciousness in the same place

13:44, 13:45, 13:46…

The minutes passed one after another with an unnerving calm. Surprisingly, Mirena was behaving well. She looked at Ken doing his job from a distance, without interfering with any of the employees.

She was too busy thinking. The team work she was witnessing was amazing, everyone perfectly coordinated to fulfill their duties successfully. At that moment, she felt that this world wasn’t so different to hers.

Yet, there was a big distinction: in her world, almost all the people lived doing what they loved. That wasn’t the case for those employees. Working there wasn’t their dreams at all, rather they worked to reach their dreams. Still, they were putting the best face and doing their jobs with harmony. That was even more impressing.

14:02, 14:03, 14:04…

—Congrats, Ken! —said Zack raising his eyebrows over and over.

Ken was moving some boxes when he came. Confused, he left the box he was carrying on the ground and wiped away the sweat on his forehead.

—What are you talking about?

—You don’t need to hide it from me. I’m talking about your cute girlfriend!

Ken’s soul almost broke in millions of pieces, but he managed to maintain the poker face.

—Huh?

—I’m talking about María, don’t play dumb.

—She’s not my girlfriend. How did you come to that conclusion?

—I asked her “How do you know him?” and she hesitated before delivering the answer. The obvious conclusion is that she is your girlfriend, but is too shy to say it out loud.

—Did you really think Mirena is too shy?

—Mirena?

—María, I said María. Clean your ears. However, no, she is not my girlfriend. She was born in Argentina, then came here and left again, so English is her first language but she hadn’t use it in a long time. Probably she just forgot how to say “cousin”.

—It’s that so? Awww man, that’s so disappointing.

—I’m sorry for ruining your entertainment. Since you don’t seem to be doing anything, would you mind covering me for a second?

14:27, 14:28, 14:29…

Ken wasn’t scared of heights, so whenever it was necessary to climb a ladder in order to do a job, he was the one in charge. The only products left to arrange were the paper towels. He had a full box in one arm, while arranging them with the other.

—G-g-g-good job Ken! —yelled Chloe from below, a co-worker whose acrophobia was so strong that even watching someone up on a ladder was frightening for her, even when it wasn’t that high actually.

“After this I’m going to the box and end my day there” thought while yawning. “Maybe my fears were stupid. It was a chill day after all.”

At that precise moment, he peeked to the monitor showing the cameras. There was no particular reason to do it, he just did it. And then he saw her, and all his fears struck back. It was… his mom.

“What the hell is she doing here?! This mart is so far away from her home, and dad can’t drive with his sight problems. Also, she never learned how to drive or how to use the public transport, then how did she came here?!!!”

But she was there, in the entrance, walking slowly with her cane and her hunched back, that was for sure.

Ken began to hyperventilate. All the possible troubles merged together in the same day.

His character towards Mirena and towards his co-workers weren’t so different, so it was possible for them to co-exist. But his character towards his mom was the absolute opposite.

“I need to avoid her somehow…”

—Hey Ken, your mom came! —said Zack out loud.

“Son a bitch! How many troubles do you want to give me today, are you fucking kidding me?!”

—Your mom? —asked Mirena excitedly. The quiet and distant Mirena was over. She was really curious about Ken’s mom, and wasn’t going to accept a no as answer.

—I’ll tell her you are here —said Chloe, and immediately left to receive Ken’s mother.

“Now that I think about it, how the hell does Zack know she is my mother?! Whatever, that information is futile right now, I need a plan!”

He was shaking, and so was the ladder. He was sweating as much as the day in the gym. All his muscular pains reappeared because of the stress. The air was struggling to come out from his lungs.

“This is the end. There is no way I can manage this… No! I can’t give up! I’m the master of lies, I can do it! I just need to keep doing my job. If I show my nervousness, it’s over.”

Easy to say, but his hands were shaking too much. He put the paper towel in the shelve, and it also began to shake with him.

—Hello honey! —said the unmistakable voice of his mother.

“There is no way out…”

At the moment he thought that, he ended losing the balance and fell from the ladder. Afterwards, the shelve full of paper towels and toilet paper fell on top of him. Somehow, he managed to find a way out. A very painful one though.

The doctor pointed the flashlight right into his eyes, while keeping open his lids with his fingers. It was really annoying, but it was fast.

—He’s fine —said the doctor—. It was just a little bump.

“Yeah, just a little” thought Ken with sarcasm.

After the accident he was sent to the gerent office. In that small room with a big desk in the middle he was checked by the med, who left after finishing his job, letting Ken and the gerent alone.

—Are you feeling well?

—Yes, I’m fine. It slightly hurts, but it’s nothing to worry about.

—We’ve checked the ladder, and it didn’t have any imperfection. So, how could that happen? Is there something worrying you?

—No, of course not. It was just an accident.

—Is just that you tend to be one of the most efficient workers, but today you are a bit off. Before this incident, you put the sings of “wet floor” in the wrong hallways, and a costumer slipped because of that.

—Oh… —said Ken, actually laughing on the inside.

—I know I’m your boss, but you can talk to me.

—Well, yesterday I overworked myself in the gym, so maybe that’s why I fell… Also, last days have been stressful, I have to admit.

—Why don’t you take your vacations then? Or are you reserving them for another occasion? Maybe you have plans for the summer?

—Plans? No, not really. Yeah, maybe I’ll use my vacations now. Thanks.

—Oh, don’t thank me. It’s just one of your rights as a worker. Let’s begin the paperwork, so you can start your vacations this Monday.

Ken was feeling more relieved after the conversation. He was lucky of having such a comprehensive boss. Also, he thought that all this situation was going to kill him if he wasn’t more relaxed about it.

—In that case, I see you next week’s Monday —said Ken after finishing the paperwork. He said goodbye and left the room.

“From now, I’m going to take it easy.”

—Are you okay?

—Are you okay?

Both his mother and Mirena talked at the same time. Then they looked to each other, surprised.

—Oh, you’re his mom?! —exclaimed Mirena. They both waited together without knowing they were there for the same reason.

“I can’t handle this!!!” he yelled in his mind, ignoring the whole taking it easy thing. “Maybe I should give up and tell the truth? No! That would be so awkward. I don’t want my mom to worry about my anti-social behaviors. But I can’t let Mirena see my cringe side, that would be too awkward as well.”

He tilted his head back. He was feeling like if he was about to fade out again. It was a checkmate… or not?

—Hewwooo mum, zhe iz Mai, shou don’t remember her? Da girl fom the high school.

—What the hell is wrong with you? —asked Mirena, visibly confused.

—Ah, I’m sowwy, the med used some athes… anes… asphes… anesthesia, that’s it. I’m feeling a little bit weird, ya’ know?

—Why would they use anesthesia in the mouth after a hit in the head? —asked her mom. Ken shrugged his shoulders.

—I don’t know, ask the doc.

—So you say she is Mai? —His mom inspected Mirena, from the foot to the top of the head. She was a bit nervous. Then, slyly, Ken winked to her, and she understood the message.

—Zhe dyed her hair, but yeah! It’s zhe.

She continued watching her with narrowed eyes.

—Oh! I see! Hello Mai, how have you been!

—Ah, hello ma’am! Very well, thanks for asking.

—What were you doing here?

—It was just a coinzidenze, zhe was buying zomething when I fell.

—Y-yeah, and I didn’t want to leave before knowing if he was fine or not.

—And what are you doing here, mum? In zuch a faaar away place like thiz?

—Oh, a friend of mine bought a new car and she took me for a ride along the city. We were near here, so I told her to stop so I could buy some things and say hi.

—Ohhhh that makes zenze. However, I have to leave. I need to rest. Bye bye…

—Oh yes, I also must leave in a minute —said Mirena—. Nice to meet you… I mean, nice to see you again, ma’am.

And just like that they left, leaving Ken’s mom alone and confused.

In the way back home, during the travel in subway, Ken faked to be asleep. He “woke up” some minutes later, with the “effects” of “anesthesia” gone. The subway was still on the road, and the wagon was really quiet. It seemed that all the passengers had a long day and just wanted to rest.

—Even with anesthesia and a bump on the head, you still were able to find a lie in that situation —said Mirena, kind of recriminating him.

—It’s my specialty.

—Even to your own mother…

—I mean, I would tell her the truth if I could.

—I know. Is just that I can’t help but wonder if you’re lying to me too.

—…

—Is okay, you don’t need to answer. Actually, I wanted to say sorry. Again.

—Sorry? For what?

—After seeing you and your comrades work together, I realized that money is something hard to obtain. I shouldn’t have judged you for not helping that man.

—Oh, you meant that… It’s fine, we don’t need to think about it.

There was a silence between them. The wheels of the subway produced the only sound in the wagon. It was like that for some seconds, until Mirena said:

—If I stay in this world, will I also have to look for a job?

—Yes.

—And what if I hate it?

—Unfortunately, a lot of people hate their jobs. Luck, talent, effort, I don’t know what it takes, but just a few people can work at what they love.

—I’m scared…

Ken knew how she felt. It was a classic fear in the adolescence: the uncertainty about the future. She was experiencing all the insecurities from the youth in just a few days.

—With your strength and charisma, you’re going to find something that makes you happy, for sure. Anyway, that’s just in case you can’t go back, but I’m sure you will. You’re going to meet again with Mask.

Mirena smiled to him.

—Thanks. That’s… comforting.

At that moment, the subway arrived to its destination.