No Time

When I followed after Shui Yu and entered the base, I was surprised.

I knew that it should look good, but after having seen the bases nearby and their destitute states, it was a wonder to see electricity everywhere, lighting up the streets.

There weren't many people around at this late time, but the ones who were out all were going home or having drinks and a meal.

It just seemed so normal that I seemed to have gone back in time, to when everything was alright.

Nevermind, not really.

This area was way too technologically advanced.

I couldn't even see these sights when I was a kid.

This fluorescent city in the darkness of the night seemed like something out of an old sci-fi drama from the 21st century.

It wasn't a culture shock, but it was a... no word could describe it.

It was a shock nevertheless.

A happy shock. To think that I could live in better conditions without being shackled down-well, to my mom that is- was a godsend.

Of course, I wasn't as happy as the author who had her comment read out loud and agreed with by Stray Kid's member Changbin for his birthday live voice-only VLIVE event, but I was still grateful that I would get to live here.

At least I wasn't hyperventilating and screaming in joy, or almost crying tears of happiness.

...The author's weird.

Anyways, I would spend one night at a designated apartment watched by guards. And then the next day, I would head to my job.

I expect it to be a hard job, but I can do anything and will do everything just to see Shui Jing's face again.

Yes, I was determined to do this, I would persuade Shui Yu with my hard work and win him over to thinking me as fine to meet with Shui Jing!

Oh yeah, I still didn't know what I would be doing starting from tomorrow.

"Shui Yu, what's the job that I'll be doing?"

"Nursery Care, not many people are up for it, so we were in need of some helpers. Don't worry, you'll be paid."

"Oh, ok."

Childcare. Hm, it shouldn't be a hard job.

Sure, babies were a handful; you had to change diapers, play with them, feed them, all kinds of stuff.

But, it wasn't a bad job.

Heck, I was even looking forward to it!

---------

[The Next Day]

I woke up early.

I'd gotten maybe 6 or fewer hours of sleep, but I was ready for my first day of work.

Since I was a morning person, I hummed a tune while cooking up an omelet.

The ingredients in the fridge were so fresh, it was really nice having vegetables that weren't dried for once.

After breakfast, I got to shower in warm water, dress up in soft, clean, new clothes, and packed a notebook to write down memos in.

I was totally ready.

'Gonna kick butt today!'

The guards escorting me didn't say a word and only brought me to the front of the school's entrance.

From then on, a security guard escorted me to the principal's office.

The principal was some friendly dude and told me I'd be paid handsomely.

He realized that I didn't know the currency here, so he explained it to me nicely.

I then realized I needed one of those newfangled core device wrist watch thingy.

I guess I'll ask Shui Yu for one later.

"Now, you're in luck. All three nursery teachers are here today! They are still recovering though, so you might have to help them out with trivial stuff."

Ok, I could do that.

"Oh, and the kids in the nursery are 2 to 5 years old. There are 8 of them here today. Some are out because their parents work outside of the school for now."

8 kids, that's not too many human beings. I could do this!

"Here we are! Your shift ends at 1 PM, and directly after, you'll be taken to Chief's office for a report. Good luck!"

The principal left with a bright smile and hurried away after bidding me good luck.

Alright, I could do this!

For the sake of a better life!

For the sake of Shui Jing!

With immense anticipation, I knocked on the sliding door of the nursery.

I couldn't hear anything until the door slid open.

There stood a tired-looking man with a cast on his arm.

"You must be the 'volunteer'. Welcome, do come in."

He sounded more tired than he looked. Yeesh.

With his able arm, the man dragged me in and shut the door.

When I finally was able to see what the nursery looked like, many pairs of eyes stared at me.

8 pairs of energetic and adorable eyes and 2 pairs of tired but excited eyes.

Of course, the 8 adorable ones were the children and the 2 tired and strangely excited eyes were from the other two nursery staff.

I didn't fail to notice that one of them had two black eyes and the other had crutches and casts on both legs.

What was with this group? How could the principal let injured people take care of kids?

The two nursery teachers approached me carefully as if they were afraid I would be scared away.

But before they could even get out a word, the 8 adorable children rushed at me.

Speaking in multiple languages and clawing at me with a strength that I couldn't win against, I was confused and scared I'd drown in children and also get broken limbs.

I only knew how to speak English, Greek, and Chinese.

These kids spoke all kinds since they were of different ethnicities.

The three teachers (saviors) pried them off of me and held them back.

One teacher even made seats that buckled the children in with her earth ability.

I sighed in relief and got up with shaking legs.

"T-thank you," I said in gratitude.

"You might need to get an auto translator... Ask the Chief for one later," the earth ability lady said.

"Yeah, you really should. Anyways, welcome. What're your abilities?" asked the man with black eyes.

"Lightning and space storage."

The three all sighed in disappointment.

The tired-looking man answered my inquisitive look.

"We were hoping for a mental ability user. Then maybe they could put the kids to sleep or calm them down easily. Your abilities are strong... but they're useless here."

And as he said that, the chair of one of the kids lit up on fire and crumbled into broken pieces of pottery.

"Grahh!" cried out the little monster.

The other kids followed in suit and used their abilities to break, melt, and destroy the chairs in one way or another.

"Especially since these babies have much more powerful abilities than some adults."

...

...

...

...Grahh!

I never should have believed in Shui Yu!