↳ ও

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It’s another painfully slow day at the store you work at. Not a single customer has walked through the doors since you and Rasmus fixed the air conditioning. Unfortunately, you don’t have the privilege to leave early. As the minutes tick by, your mind drifts off into a daydream, a fleeting escape from the mundane reality of your current job. You imagine a life beyond this monotonous job, a career that brings fulfillment and energizes you instead of draining you of your spark. It's a bittersweet fantasy, a glimpse of what could be. But like all good things, your daydreaming comes to an end.

A customer appears in front of you, visibly startling you. How did you not see or hear him enter? You really were lost in thought.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—“

The customer smiles nervously, his voice wavering. It's been so long since anyone has apologized to you in this way.

"I usually shop at a different store, but I only found out today that they had to shut down. That's why I came here instead. I'm sorry for any inconvenience I'm causing you now."

He avoids your gaze, clearly feeling out of place at this time. You close in just a few minutes, after all. Since he’s a new customer, you should make a good impression. You need a raise anyway.