Chapter Text
Today, was a horrible day.
Or… that was just the opinion of a very grumpy hare that was not even remotely close to being finished with the day. After all, it was merely 6:34am; working at a boutique at unholy hours while getting screamed at by an angry customer that kept complaining about the design of their skirt.
“You useless- do you even know how to do your job?! I specifically told you to make golden ruffles for this godet skirt and sew flower patterned embroidery near the sides!”
The hare stood still behind the wooden counter, a mask covered most of his face but one could still see the exhaustion leaking through, tired eyes drifting to the notepad in his hands as he picked up a pen and started writing:
“Ma’am, you came here at 6:34am in the morning, it’s Wednesday, and your skirt is supposed to be done by Friday afternoon around 4:45pm.”
The woman stopped for a second, a look of indignation crossed her features while she still, though reluctantly, read what was on the paper. Her eyes darted across the lines rapidly, her face growing red the more she stared at it as though the facts would change.
“I- that’s impossible! You still should have it done by now, you had plenty of time! Maybe you could’ve finished if you weren’t lazying around- you people don’t take your job seriously nowadays.”
The woman, a cheetah, complained as her tail thrashed behind her in irritation, or maybe embarrassment, who knows. She had her arms crossed as she looked down at the hare behind the counter, who was scribbling something swiftly before putting the notebook up for her to see:
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience miss, but your skirt was ordered yesterday morning at 8:23am. with specifications of handmade embroidery and specific fabric instructions, in which do take time; I also have other orders to work on for today and tomorrow, I’m very occupied and unfortunately can’t have your skirt done for this time being.”
The woman read the lines sharply before turning around, huffing. Her heals scrapped the ground as she dragged herself out of the store, clearly embarrassed.
“I-I will be back! And if that skirt is not done by Friday at the promised hour, I will not pay you a single cent!”
She screamed, already at the doorstep, the bell ringing as she got out of the boutique, smacking the door in the process. Muffled sounds of complaints could still be heard from outside, slowly becoming quieter and quieter until there was only silence inside the store, the calm hum of a kettle and the familiar click of the sewing machine where the only noise filling the shop.
The hare at the counter sighed softly in relief, his hands putting the notebook down on the wooden surface before working his way through the shelves in search of a bag of tea to keep him warm; that interaction was exhausting for only being so early. Seemed like someone had woken up on the wrong foot today; he really couldn’t help the headache that was certainly forming already, tea could only do so much, and this was going to be a long day.
———
“Well, sir. Your order should be ready by tomorrow afternoon, if any other questions arise please call me. If that’s all, please have a good rest of your day.”
The hare wrote on the notebook before showing it to his client, the man nodding contently, grabbing his things and heading out of the boutique before making a quick wave the the other animal on the store. A frequent client, always polite and patient with him, a very much more pleasant person rather than the rowdy customers who barge in with complaints and concerns that only make him question how had animals become this… dumb, to put it bluntly, thought misguided would be a better definition for them if he comes to think about it.
At least he was the last one, no more customers for the day; it was 8:54pm, 6 minute before he can close up. He should organize the store for tomorrow, clean the counter, shelves and floors while he waits for those 6 minutes to pass. Looking over his shoulder to the broom on the other side of the room and to the supply closet, he decided, “Might as well get this done with.”
8:59pm.
The guy was already finishing up swiping the floors by now, it didn’t take long, the boutique wasn’t that big anyways; the counter and shelves had been reorganized and cleaned up already as he put the broom on the closet for cleaning supplies and started preparing to close. The hare grabbed what was left of his things and made his way to the door, double checking for anything before putting the closing sign on and shutting off the light, leaving the store.
He trotted down the streets in a hurry, his boots making a tapping sound against the concrete as he walked. It was lonely, barely anyone outside, just the occasional animal getting out of work or getting something late at the convenience store, the usual.
The moon shined brightly above him, the gentle light making his fur glow under the sky; it was nice. The cold freezing air, did it make him shiver, was fresh and… pure, not like the city air at all; that is pure lung cancer material right there. He walked for a couple more minutes, his eyes darting towards the bus station, there it was!
The bus arrived just in time.
He rushed pass the station, hopping onto the bus with eagerness, he made it to his usual sit, next to the window at the back. The bus wasn’t empty, only 3 other animals: a girl sitting near the front row, her eyes glued to her phone, an old lady sitting next to the exit, reading, and lastly, a boy sitting in the middle row, drawing on a sketch book. Somehow, the sight was warm, the kind that filled you with peace, knowing calmness was a constant pleasure in the small space.
He looked outside the window, his eyes laying on the moving road for a moment before hastily looking away; he stirred on his sit and moved to his bag, fishing up his phone to check his messages when a notification showed up.
”Remember to go to the pharmacy, dear. I don’t want you dragging yourself sick to work… “ 9:06pm.
It was his neighbor, an old lady that was to kind for her own good, she was a dark grey Maine coon cat, and looked at him with those big black eyes that made him smile under the mask like no other. She worries about him like family… it’s flattering in a way, but he feels… undeserved; she had seen him struggle a lot, from moving into the apartment to trying to maintain himself alive with the little money he made from the boutique, and even though, decided to help.
It was nothing but coincidence, to be in the same place at the same time when things were hard for him, and with no reason other than fates hand, they became close. Now she often visits his apartment, leaving meals on his kitchen when he can’t buy food, giving him extra clothes she had saying that he would give them better use, a little big but very comfy! She also liked to tell him stories about her children and her grandson while helping him organize the disaster on his room from when his matting season kicked in; actually that was a little embarrassing, but very kind of her.
At some point he remembered asking why if she had family members wanting her to live with them and offering her a better living environment, stayed in what could only be described as an excuse of an apartment complex; all in the little notebook as he held it hight for her to see. He remembers she seemed a little surprised when he asked, but then smiled gently and patted his head between his long ears and exclaimed.
“I actually thought about it when they mentioned it! It’s sweet they care for me that much, but then when would I get my own space? I’m pretty much happy with being alone, I don’t mind much the apartment like I once did.”
She confessed, she looked sheepish for a second before her face softened.
“And then, as if anything better could happen, you came to my life! Like a spark of joy in the mundane routine I had here, I saw you struggle… and for a moment, it made me realize that I saw myself in you. So I helped you like I once wished someone would had, and I don’t regret a thing, you’re far the kindest soul I have ever met in my life, I’m happy being able to help you, dear. You are family now.”
She had said, with the brightest smile on her face, her hands petting his hair softly before she pulled away to make her way into the kitchen, at the moment, he had just stood there, dumbfounded in place; he felt honored? Flattered? He didn’t know, he still doesn’t, but for the first time in a very long while, he felt loved… someone hadn’t judged him for how he looked, but for who he was, and still choose to care.
It would be a lie if he said he wasn’t crying when she finished saying that. He was so happy…
The bus came to a stop at the station, 9:18pm. 30 minutes from his home.
He sighed, once in the apartment complex, he’ll pay her a visit just in case, asure her about the medicine and tomorrow he’ll make sure to go to the pharmacy. Sounds like a good plan to him, once he’s all right up, he’ll go back to the same boring routine all over again, maybe next week they’ll be something new.
—— 5:46am.
*knock* knock* *knock*
The hare heard the knocking from the front entrance keep going, he couldn’t exactly say he was coming until he opened the door and saw them personally; he sometimes wishes he could, but his not selectively mute for nothing. He moved from the bathroom, still in his black pijama that his neighbor had gifted him, opening the door with the most dead eyes one could muster and covering his mouth with his hand in a fickle attempt to not scare away whoever was at the door.
It was his landlord.
The hares heart dropped to his stomach when he saw him, ears pinned back on his head in fear. His landlord was dressed in his normal formal attire with pristine shoes, holding a small envelope with a grin on his face that could only mean tragedy.
“Ahh… so you are here, well, I just want to inform you of the news. I’m raising the rent payment for next month. The rest of the details are here.”
He said bluntly, putting the envelope on the hare’s paw before leaving to another apartment with no room for argument. The boy could only stare down at the paper, looking at it as if it has destroyed everything he had, and in a way, it did.
He retreated back to his apartment, looking more miserable that he could ever imagine; money was already tight on him, this was to much, his job barley made enough wasn’t it for the costs of maintaining a business, clients had become lesser with the recent anomaly attacks and people becoming more edgy on going out. The decline on sales was noticeable, god, there were even days he only survived on his neighbors cooking because he couldn’t buy food for weeks.
And now, what was he going to do?
Sure, he could find another job, but that would mean sacrificing either the boutique’s working hours, or his sleeping schedule; neither sounded plausible. Maybe seek help from his neighbor? No, he already knows that it would only make things worse for her, she probably received the same news about raising the rent, he doesn’t want to stress her out more.
Goodness… he should start applying for a job; sleep was good while it lasted.
He stared moving from the door, now both paws clutching the envelope as he sat on the kitchen table of his one bedroom apartment. It wasn’t big enough, just for one person, he payed $4,500 for rent, but now… it was a different story. The hare, with the tip of his claw, broke the paper as he got out the letter:
RENT INCREASE NOTICE
(17/07/#### ) - (07/17/#### )
Tenants name: ######
Tenants address: Main Street *****
We appreciate your tenancy and having you as a resident, but do to consistently rising costs, we deem necessary the increase of rent payment. This letter serves as a formal notice, effective in Main Street ***** apartment complex.
The rent for the property you currently occupy on will be increased to $6,100. The rent due date and all terms arranged in the rental agreement and addendum will remain unchanged and in effect.
Thank you for your understanding, we want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly, as anomaly attacks had occurred and damage property had been found; decisions had been made for the benefit of all tenants on this apartment complex.
We thank your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Landlord: -Anthony-
The hare just stared at the paper in despair, if he could barely pay rent with just weeks of delay, how would he be able to pay for next month? The amount was already absurd, and that’s excluding taxes, bills, and basic needs like food and clothes. Looking for a job had never been possible before, not only people is most likely to throw his resume to the denied pile because of his looks (which some described as uncanny) but he had always had his family business, the boutique.
Well, he did take medicine as a career, but never truly worked on the field, his family business was priority no matter what. But now? Maybe….he could, maybe getting a job at a hospital like he always wanted could help, it didn’t hurt to try.
Just….for the money.
He’ll do it tonight, after going to the pharmacy, reassuring his neighbor, and finishing his work at the boutique, he will look for a job.
God, his headaches are only going to get worse with this, pain killers are not enough and sacrificing more money to cover better medicine doesn’t really solve anything.
He hopes he can get hired at least.