Okay, so I just tell myself it is quaint and cosy to make myself feel better.

It’s really a shoebox. And it’s dark and dingy.

The light bulb is of insufficient wattage. And the ceilings looked like they had never been cleaned. I did the most I could scrubbing the floors and walls and every other surface I could reach.

The landlady was this nice Serpentarian who lent me the cleaning tools when she showed me the way up to my room. Well, in all good hospitality she should have made it spick and span for my arrival but really, with her gleaming sharp teeth and hefty size that could crush me with a body slam, there was no way I could demand for more.

Speaking of her, she was well muscled and very powerfully formed just like every other Serpentarian. Her fats were mainly gathered at the front of her belly, hanging low, nearly dragging on the ground. She ought to tip over, but she has a huge tail extending from her back hips to balance out her center of gravity. So she moves around quite well.

In fact, she runs quite fast on her deceptively heavy looking, stout body. I know because in the last week since I’ve been here, I think three people tried to skip out on the rent and jump out the window. Yet somehow, she always manages to thump down the stairs – setting off a miniature earthquake at the same time – and catch them in time before they even made it to the next block.

Thank god I will have no such problem, given that my parents had put me up here. They must have settled rent fees already.

So I really shouldn’t complain much. At least I’m in here rather than outside along with the garbage. Like my dad used to nag all the time how I was a lucky son of a bitch for having a roof over my head and a warm bed to sleep in. I feel like after twenty seven years of his mental drumming, I’m finally able to take his teachings into stride.

Before this, the only thing I picked up was how you should never call a boy ‘son of a bitch’ when their moms were around. I remember, finding dad sleeping on the couch on days when he called me that, and he ended up clawing miserably outside their bedroom door like an abandoned puppy.

And besides these two important necessities for basic living, the third, and the most important one, was the shower room.

Oh holy astronomical miracles.

I gingerly peeled my shirt off, arms faintly trembling, in part from muscle fatigue and in part from the excitement of washing down. My shirt wasn’t so bad, since I only changed back into them after my shift, but my pants – oh cosmic fucking hell.

I wrinkled my nose as I unzipped and used my feet to step out of it. It stank like it swam inside fish oil and later dried under the sun like a preserved carcass.

I could endure muscle burn. But a stinky Beanie? Uh, no.

Before enjoying my bath, I decided to cancel my work for the rest of the week so that I can quickly move past this nightmare. Never ever, ever again.

I clicked a few buttons on my trusty, multi-purpose communication wrist-watch, bringing up a holographic screen panel with a bunch of floating menus. With a few clicks on empty air, I cancelled my shift application that was already approved.

Good riddance.

With regards to getting my future food money, I convinced myself I would find work tomorrow. Besides, I could draw today’s money after midnight. That should last me a good week at least if I skimp on the calories.

Then I hummed to myself as I checked for alerts whilst I pulled down my undies with my free hand. There wasn’t much by way of messages even though I was so busy earlier, I hadn’t checked it all day. Which meant my Besties were probably too busy to slide in a line too.

Oh and by the way, you want to ask what is this ‘watch’ I mentioned?

Well, probably not much different from the ancient past where the tech was in-built into a box-like rectangular thing. Everything functions pretty much the same way, except it has now transferred to the watch – if I’m not wrong about Tech Communication History.

The multi-functional watch is just one of the most basic devices owned by everyone. Because the device is so affordable. Even the poor ones sleeping on the streets had it, granted they likely got it from ransacking bins, braving the stench and filth and bacterial to get it.

Because basically, no one can function without it. It is an extension of our forms, in-built into generations of chemical behaviour that passed down from mother to child, or Watashi* to Watashi in asexual semi-intelligent beings. Until it becomes ingrained into us that it is an organ equal to our heart and our brain.

Besides, since it is linked to our vital stats 24/7, if we ever get into a heart attack or stroke, the watch will release an appropriate electric pulse to jolt us, and keep our nervous system or organ under damage control until the space paramedics get to us.

So yes, it is indeed most important. Especially since about 30.8% of the population get either one of the above because they pop a vein during work. Now that I’ve officially done a proper job as what 98% of the adults do, I can say with steadfast surety, that working life is so stressful.

Besides this, the other groovy function the watch has, is its water-proof feature.

Which allows me to pop into the tiny square space – that I could reach out and touch one wall with my back flat on the opposite – and turn on the shower without any worries of electrocuting myself.

Dramatic you say? Well, I heard it had happened before with the ancient (and now extinct) types that was the rectangular slim device. Or was it that it exploded into flames because of a sucky battery? Can’t really remember what I had read…. Hmmm…..

An incoming call spoils my zen time of ponderings and body cleansing.

I rolled my eyes seeing it was the bookie. I already guessed that he would call.

I could reject it, but I thought it’d be best for me to give a proper explanation why I cancelled the rest of my shifts.

“Uh, that’s too bad, sorry to hear that,” he spoke in his raspy voice again, which sounded more strained now, like he was in a pickle, “But uh, won’t you just give it another try?”

I gave him my answer by cutting the line.