Chapter Text
It was nearing dawn, and everything was still. There was no disturbance of peace that breaks the serene silence of the atmosphere. At that moment, the world was alright, nothing happened and nothing usually happens. But even with the everlasting peace, things got really mundane enough that it became repetitive for some people, and one of those people was a freshly graduated photographer.
The morning dust gingerly settled onto the auburn-haired photographer which lead to him outright sat up and sneezed away the itchiness that had befallen onto his nose. Jay snorted in frustration, he had a good sleep and the sun has yet to rise. If only he could continue his slumber, but alas once he was awake, there was no going back.
Already disappointed for the day, he grudgingly got out of bed and slid on his rose-tinted bedroom slippers. Jay dragged himself to the washroom and stared tiredly at his reflection in the mirror.
“Well, another day, another chance for an interesting client,” he picked up his toothbrush. “Maybe this time I get to venture out of the country for once. Though actually, anything’s better than the prior.”
Once he was all freshen up, he stood back into his room and gazed at his surroundings. He sighed, “Something has to be more than this.”
The photographer hummed sweetly to himself while he strolled down the street, wishing passersby well and returning the favour to those who initiated the same with him. Once in a while he would stop abruptly in the middle just to snap an image that caught his eye. It was always the usual pigeons, people, scene and sky. Things were pretty much constant and stale.
The bustling street downtown did aid a bit in spicing up Jay’s tiring routine, but oh how he wished he was somewhere else doing some other thing that wasn’t photographing the same usual environment every day.
Jay once had a friend who told him that every day was a new surprise, even if it was in the same place or time. He believed in that for a while, as his optimistic side would latch onto anything that would make him feel content with the world. Although that feeling gradually faded, bit by bit until all Jay had to look forward to everyday was just being able to receive new clients to work with.
It was nightfall when Jay had finally made the decision to return back to his flat after the long day that seemed somewhat endless to him. He was walking down a familiar road when he sniffed in a luring aroma of coffee that instantly made him did a U-turn back to a café down a few blocks. Jay was a victim to coffee, he had to at least have a cup daily if not his mood would just turn sour on the spot. He even tried to urge himself once not to continue this unhealthy practice but that did not end well as always.
He backtracked all the way to the café and headed straight in. It was rather quiet as the place was only occupied by a handful of people who were mostly browsing the web on their laptops in silence.
Jay signaled to the cashier as he went to his favourite seat. “Hey, Lav! The usual, please?”
“Really, Jay? At this time of the night?” she raised her brows at him. “Do you have another client who is after your hide again because of what? You put off everything till the last minute?”
Jay scoffed. “Hey! No need to be judgy here, I just haven’t had my morning coffee yet.”
“Have you ever tried to look at the sky once in a while? Tell me, how does that look like morning.” Lavender leaned against the counter.
“I just need a cup of coffee okay? I’ll tip if you stop criticizing me.” Jay raised his hands in defeat while Lavender snorted in response.
“Fine, I’ll get you your coffee, be right back.” She said before heading inside the kitchen.
Jay drummed lightly on the table, in sync with the beat of a tune he hummed from the back of his head. He was looking around the café when his eyes landed upon the noticeboard.
The noticeboard of the café was filled with compilation of flyers that advertised in-store offers, others promoting their business, event invitations and miscellaneous papers that held no meaning than to just hold up space on the board. Each flyer was in various colours and sizes that looked bursting in chaos. To Jay, it seemed somewhat calming to him every time he came here. It was as if the messiness of the noticeboard comforted him that even in such a humdrum life, something spontaneous will happen and it will eventually happen in such a remarkable way that will leave people wanting more.
“Hey, nerd! Your coffee’s done, come pick it up, eh?” Lavender reappeared back to the counter and held the coffee in her hand.
Jay rushed towards the counter and hastily grabbed the cup alongside a few pieces of napkins and packets of creamer and sugar. “Oh, thank you! You’re the best Lav. Anyway, here’s the tip I promised.”
He searched his pocket for his funds before handing them over to Lavender. “You’re welcome and thanks, it’s rare for customers to tip nowadays, stinginess runs the kingdom I guess.”
“You haven’t met the right people I suppose, I mean I usually get tipped from my clients. But just for your concern, I usually tip so you can always look forward for mine.” Jay winked.
Lavender rolled her eyes. “Sure, whatever you say loser.”
Jay proceeded to the noticeboard while ignoring Lavender’s last comment about him. He scanned the board for interesting flyers that might help him seek out potential clients or just anything that can pique his interest and entertain him. He singled out a flyer in crimson red, and he brushed away the other papers that concealed the one he wanted. He plucked out the flyer and held it in his hand.
The flyer was professionally designed and it was quite interesting to look at, unlike the other flyers which are mostly boring and uninspiring, barely decorated with just the message bare looking, so much for straightforward. Regardless, the flyer read, ‘THE THIEF OF MY EYE, starring THE WONDROUS DRAGONS’. Apparently the flyer was to advertise a theatrical show, and below that stated the time of the shows that were premiering which one of them was today.
Jay cried out to Lavender. “Hey, Lav? Do you know anything about the Wondrous Dragons?”
“Oh, you mean that group? Yeah I’ve seen them. Their theatre is just right around the corner. They consist of a duo, siblings I think. They act pretty well, if you’re interested in watching I think you should, worth every penny you spend on them.” Lavender replied.
“They have a show in about ten minutes, should I go or..?”
“Yes, and you should go now!” Lavender personally went out of the counter and shoved Jay to the door. “Leave now and I think you might actually make it, just turn left around the corner, it’ll be down that lane.”
“Alright, alright! I’ll go,” Jay huffed. “Thanks by the way.”
“Thank me later once you’re done watching, now go!”
And with that, he dashed down the street.
Jay panted as he sprinted across the eerie street, paying no mind to the noises that creeped up behind him. If he wasn’t in a hurry at the moment, he would absolutely be terrified to stroll at such a time. Every shadow seemed like a monster, every sound seemed like a whimper, and every unidentified figure to Jay screamed ‘This is it! I’m gonna get eaten by ghosts!’.
Right at the front of the ticket counter, Jay skidded to a stop before slamming his hand down onto the counter’s desk. “Am I too late for tonight’s show? Please tell me I’m not.” Jay heaved heavily.
“No, sir. There’s a few minutes left. Though the remaining seats are all odd ones, I don’t think you’d fancy any of them.” The employee, obviously tired from managing the counter for the entire day, looked dead into Jay’s eyes as he spoke.
Smirking, Jay lifted his wallet in front of the employee. “Heh, try me. Besides, I owe this show for a friend.”
The employee sighed and made the transaction.
Jay stepped inside of the theatre and gasped. He had not been in an actual theatre before, but only seen them in pictures online. The theatre was humongous, the ceiling seemed infinitely wide and the walls were splashed with glittering gold, plus the chilly temperature made the final touch of topping the entire room’s captivating aesthetic. The entire place radiated a sensation of melancholy but also excitement and suspense, which Jay guessed was the magic of theatre.
He took his seat by the stairs. As already warned by the employee outside, it was technically a pretty odd seat, but regardless Jay felt content in it as he could see the stage well enough from his angle.
Just a few moments later, the lights started to dim and everything went silent. The stage upfront begun to withdraw its curtains, revealing the set on stage. It was a city street during nightfall, with garbage cans and old apartment flats accompanying several Victorian-esque street lamps. The backdrop contained of silhouettes of other buildings with stars that hung loose in the sky, dangling and twinkling as if they were laughing and guarding the street below.
Jay was evidently starstruck.
“Foul thief! Come back here at once with the stolen goods!” the policeman cried.
“Me? Surrendering to you? Hah! Have your wits match mine and I’ll consider this suggestion of yours, but for now, ta-ta!” the thief snickered and ran off the stage.
Jay watching in awe muttered a soft “Wow” under his breath. Was it the lights that he admired? Or was it the beauty of the set? Maybe it was the story he loved? Well, it was all of them actually, but the one that stood most significant to Jay was the acting itself performed by both the policeman and the thief, oh especially the thief.
The way the thief moved was organic and daring in a way, she ran up and hopped across the stage multiple times due to the fact the play had her being chased a few rounds. Regardless, it was breathtaking to watch from afar, because her character was free in her world, and chaotic as it seemed, it was wonderful, it was also what Jay had always dreamed of. To live a life where every day was a new beginning of something fresh in stored, with the thrill of excitement every now and then.
While Jay was watching the thief go on and about, he was reminded of the tranquil waves that stretched the beach floor, flowing and swirling as the current whistled the direction, and the calming sound of the tide brushing against the rocks that lived by the sea.
“This is my moment, this is my glory! I will never cease to fade away from this day!” The thief sang passionately in her spotlight till the lights disappeared, and all was dark.
It was a few weeks later since Jay had last seen the show he attended to. That specific play had closed and now the cast and crew were preparing for a new show, which rumours speculated that it will be related to civil wars.
Jay was mindlessly strolling down the same lane he had probably memorized by now when he heard an unfamiliar voice ahead. Even though it was unfamiliar, he did recognize the voice, it’s the voice of a seagull’s cry. He did not know why a seagull would reside so close to foreign land but Jay decided to follow it.
He hustled down the street, making tight twists and turns, careful enough to not lose the seagull’s voice. Eventually, he made it to a junction where he turned right, which was a narrow and gloomy road in contrast to the opposite left road that was bursting with people, the usual road Jay takes to head into the nearby market.
Jay felt incredibly uncomfortable when he had to go through the dark lane, but light finally revealed itself and he ended up by the shores of the sea. Jay had completely forgotten about this place as he had only seen it a few times when he first moved in to his flat.
It was magnificent. The ocean waves were generic and unpredictable enough for Jay to feel free here, a feeling he had never felt in a very long time in fact. He often longed for this place in his dreams, though he usually had forgotten it by the time he woke up. Nevertheless, he was at bliss here and he never wanted to leave.
The photographer stepped forward onto the sandy surface and walked straight to one of the rocks that were located at the side of a pier. He sat on it and folded his legs up. Jay breathed in the breezy ocean morning air and sighed, with his hair wildly flowing in several directions as the gust of wind was intense.
Casually, Jay lifted up his camera and caught an image of the overview of the sea. He stared at the picture for a while, wondering what to do with it and subsequently got an idea. He rummaged his bag for his instant camera which he had gotten for his birthday by his friends who did not know he was not very fond of them (For several reasons actually, but it was mostly Jay just being nitpicky).
Jay had finally found it and hoisted his camera in the air, taking a few different shots of the ocean from various angles. He looked back at them when he was done, and was notably quite content with the results. “Huh, the quality of this camera isn’t too bad,” he said while being pleasantly surprised.
The camera then printed out the several pictures the photographer took; one by one Jay placed them inside his bag right before he kept the cameras as well.
Jay stood up and proceeded to head back to the street, with a face of urgency. He went back inside the narrow and dark lane again to come back out to the same junction as before. This time, he went south and took a few more turns to gradually end up in front of a post office. He pushed open the front door.
“Well, to live is to die.” He stepped in.