"Aquí tienes."
"Thanks."
The server slid her tray across the counter, then ducked beneath it to retrieve a small basket of packaged condiments. After placing it to the side and nodding politely, they moved on to the next customer.
Sienna picked through the packets, tossing a few onto her tray before carrying it back to her spot and dropping into the cushioned seat.
Next, she opened the purse hanging from her shoulder, grabbed her earbuds, and slipped them in. An opaque screen manifested off to the side. A video started up while its audio fed straight into her ears.
Afterward, she unwrapped her burger, peeling off the wheat-colored bun that bounced back into shape the moment 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 played on. 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.
Repeat the scene a handful of times, folding her into the rhythm of the place along with everyone else inside it.
Not long after, Sienna finished her meal. She leaned back in 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 an icon caught her eye—a person sitting under a tree.
tap. tap.
brrt—brrt—brrt!
「Hellor.」
The screen faded away when she lowered her hand.
「Whats up?」
"Are you free today? At all?"
「Yeah, in an hour. We're on break right now—what's up?」
"I just got back, so I've got some time today."
Turning her gaze, the patrons around her moved in fast forward, their conversations blurring together.
Babbling. Lounging, sight seeing. Babbling. Lounging, sight seeing.
Repeat it until the cycle is broken.
"Mhmm, mhm. Yup, I brought my clothes with me."
"See you soon then."
Just like that, the call ended.
Sienna stayed seated for a moment before sliding out and lifting her empty tray.
She walked over to the trash bin at an easy pace, pushing the wrappers and cup through the opening before setting the tray on top of the stack.
Frame after frame, she drew closer to her car, moving through the lot until she reached the front door. She lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the blazing sun while unlocking it.
Click!
Sienna slid into the seat and leaned over, pulling the door shut with a thump.
With one foot on the clutch and the other on the brake, she slipped it into neutral and gave the shifter a quick shake.
chk—rrr—vrmm!
The car cranked to life, the vibration running through her body just enough to notice. She eased her foot off the clutch as it settled into a steady idle.
Her earbuds cut out, replaced by the car speakers booming to life.
She pulled them from her ears, tucked them back into their case, and dropped the case into her purse. A moment later, she let the car roll backward before slowing it down and slipping it into first gear.
She cruised forward, took a right onto the street, and merged with traffic.
Rolling the window down, she let the breeze brush against her skin.
The sidewalks, a way of life.
Stopping at a light, she sank deeper into the seat.
Then, suddenly, a trio of teens darted into the street. One stopped in front of her and lifted a bottle, squeezing it until a soapy substance splattered across her windshield.
She closed her eyes and sighed softly.
When she opened them again, the boy had already grabbed a towel from a bucket on the ground and was dragging a squeegee across the glass.
Sienna rummaged through the center console, digging into the slot beneath the radio and pulling out a bill.
"Toma chamaco. Cinco dólares."
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, and the trio scattered out of the street while she quickly slipped it into first.
The road soon 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 individual lanes, concrete walls slowly closing in the nearer she got to the structure ahead.
A tunnel of a kind, one of many carved through every moving plot of land.
Sleeper lines.
Then again.
And once more.
Traffic slowed as she approached, caution lights ahead breathing through blinking hazards. Just before the entrance, a heavier bump jolted the car, dropping it slightly as it crossed the threshold.
Inside, a hum took over. The fans overhead droned out everything else beneath the warm light blanketing them. The glow at the far end felt distant.
A journey that took five minutes, but felt like forever.
And eventually, it led her into a quiet neighborhood far from the heart of the city. Sienna eased off the throttle as she entered it.
House by house, their lawns sat neatly trimmed.
Vrrrm…mmm…
With the car shut off, she grabbed the bag from the passenger seat and stepped out, tugging at the door to make sure it was locked.
Circling around, she headed up the driveway and took in the modest home. Then, without wasting time, she rang the bell before knocking on the door, throwing a peace sign at the camera beside it.
tchk!
The door cracked open and a head of red hair peeked out from the side, tied up. 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, curving into crescents.
"Hmhp, I'm doing just fine thank you."
Sienna pushed in without a though, bumping their shoulders lightly. The woman closed the door with a thunk.
"Is that right, so—how's it?"
"How's what?"
They passed through the overly furnished living room and into a small studio, four mats were lined up next to one another—facing the backyard.
"Tus huesitos duh."
thmp.
"I wouldn't be here if they didn't hurt all the time."
The two faced another.
"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 as soon as 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 drink, a swing of freshness washing through her.
Then she took a moment to roll out her limbs, throwing a glance toward her friend.
"Ya?"
Sienna said nothing, settling onto the mat and stretching her legs out. Leaning forward, her fingers hovered 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."
The woman let go and she let out a sigh of relief.
"You're 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—actually. Ring, crying, the whole thing."
"Rachie?"
"Mmhm."
She said nothing. Just adjusting herself, moving once the break was over.
"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?" Sienna smiled, a glow in her beany 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.
"...my bones?"
Her hand, wrapped in white and tan band aids.
Sienna pushed herself up.
They didn't stop there.
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.
Closing the door, she turned on the shower to her preferred temperature while steam began to fill the bathroom moments later, the rush of running water drowned out the whirling fan before stripping herself of the 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 un unhurriedly.
Inside 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, not even my own parents." Looking away, she raised her hand a little.
They lingered a while after, gossiping a healthy amount. Nothing much really—just loose thoughts passed back and forth.
"Anyway. Thanks again."
At the door, they said their goodbyes. Sienna snapped her fingers at Mae, her account losing an insignificant amount.
She 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, being 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 and 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 she threw herself into the beanbag and sank 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 cast 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.