Ryu's POV
My eyes fluttered open as the alarm on my clock rang. It was already 6:00AM, which meant it was time for me to get up. Lifting my hand up, I slammed the snooze button on the top, only for the clock to smash into pieces. I groaned in anger as I clenched my hand in ire.
That was the third clock this week. If I didn't have my strength under control, then I'll be losing money fast. I scolded myself mentally with a wanly expression.
Moving my sheets away from me, I got up and walked out of my room, albeit groggily and uncoordinated. I was the first one up and thanks to that, I was always the first one to use the bathroom. After taking a shower and getting dressed in my red Flash shirt and sweatpants, I made coffee and poured myself a bowl of cereal before plopping on the couch in front of the TV.
This was usually the time Doctor Who came on at BBC America and once I turned the television on, I sat back and enjoyed the show as I ate my breakfast. I heard one of the doors opening and walking out was Jessica in her black t-shirt and violet pajama with tiny skulls all over.
"By Danu, you really get up early, don't you?" she stated rhetorically, yawning while stretching her arms. The sight of it her top moving up a bit was hard not to ignore as my face turned a little red.
I glanced at her strolling over to the fridge as she opened it and took out a blood pack, sticking a straw in the top and taking a sip. She sauntered over and sat right next to me with her feet on the coffee table.
"So, what are we watching today?" she inquired placidly, taking another sip before letting out a relaxing sigh.
I answered without turning away from the screen, "I'm watching Doctor Who, episode 82 and featuring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor." My face was placid throughout the entire sentence.
"Again? Don't you ever get tired of this show?"
"Never!"
"Well, can I watch something, instead? VH1 Classic is playing a Classic Rock music video marathon and I want to catch up on my classic rock stars before heading to work."
I wanted to protest against it, as I didn't want to relinquish the remote. However, since Jessica was a vampire and I didn't want to face the consequences of having my blood drained, I quickly complied and watched the screen change to another station, and we spent the next four minutes listening to White Wedding by Billy Idol.
Then the second door opened and out came Cristina whose yes were still shut as she sluggishly stammered across the living room.
"Morning guys," she greeted in a slur.
She fell onto the couch with her face against my crotch while her thighs landed on Jessica's lap. If my face wasn't redder, then it just gotten to that point. Jessica and I were taken aback by this action with our hands away. We tried to wake her up by rocking her back and forth, but that was just fruitless and all it did was made her toss and turn. Leaning back up, he reached over and took my mug before drinking what iota of coffee remained.
When she finally came to, she quickly got up with her face flustered and sat properly in the middle of the couch.
"Glad to see you're fully awake," Jessica mused with a grin.
"Can we, like, please pretend that never happened?" the tone of her voice was meek and abashed with her face downcast at her knees.
"So, are we, like, watching Doctor Who again because that show is totes confusing," she questioned with a glazed look in her eyes.
I shook my head and answered, "No. We're watching VH1 Classics today."
Cristina shrugged her shoulders and idly watched the screen. As guess, to her, anything was better than watching morning Sci-Fi shows.
Turning her attention, she noticed something on the floor. Getting up from the couch, Cristina moseyed over and squatted down in front of it.
"Hey guys. Did you know there is a deep footprint on the floor?" She pointed out. My face immediately turned white as I shook nervously.
Somehow, I knew stomping my foot hard on the ground in anger would come back to haunt me. Then I saw Jessica standing up and walking over as she looked down with her eyebrows raised.
"Hey, you're right. Ryu, did you make this print?" Jessica accused as she turned attention back to me with a scowl.
It was too late to say "I didn't" and I didn't have time to make an excuse. So, I just confessed as I took a deep breath and sighed, "Yes, I did. You caught me red handed." I raised my hands and mused with a weak grin.
Jessica and Cristina appeared baffled as they stared at me, but brushed it off as they returned to their respected seats.
"Sometimes, Ryu, you really surprise me with that strength of yours," Jessica remarked as she chuckled.
Ever since I moved in, I had tried my best to control my strength, so to not cause further damage. Unfortunately, my roommates had already discovered my strength on the first day we' all moved in and I had to make the excuse that I was just "born with it". However, if they learned the truth, they probably wouldn't understand, even if they were liminals, or monsters.
Just then, I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost 8:00AM. My face contorted in shock, sprinting up out of the couch and sprinting back into my room. I shouted in angst, "Holy shit! Look at the time! I'm almost late for work!"
I wasn't the only one. Jessica saw the time, as well, and retreated into her room also to get ready. The only person not going back into their rooms was Cristina, as her classes didn't start until twelve in the afternoon. Honestly, with her body, I assumed she was a pornstar. I never thought she was a college student before she told us.
I came out after changing my sweatpants to my blue jeans and headed straight out the door.
30-minutes-later, after taking the bus, I managed to get to work as fast as possible. I had recently got a job at the local bookstore and tried my best to work hard and make enough money to survive. The speakers around me were playing the hits of the 1960s when I came in, starting from the Beatles to the Beach Boys, while noticing the color of salmon that covered the walls.
I was tasked with restocking the Erotic fiction section in the west wing, placing book after book on each shelf in alphabetical order by author's last names. Then I stopped and stared at the covers, becoming surprised as the women morphed into my roommates. I believed this was a product of sexual frustration in response to living with two women, especially when they prance around half-naked.
"Hey, man, are you okay?" I snapped out of my fantasy as I turned around. Standing in front of me was my co-worker Carlos Fernandez with his yellow polo shirt and khakis.
I rubbed my eyes and groaned. I replied, "Yeah, sorry. I'm just...tired." Maybe, I should've phrased that better.
He smiled slyly and teased, "having fun with those roommates of yours, huh?" I could tell that he was thinking something dirty from the look on his face.
"No. It is nothing like that and I would never do something like that to them," I deadpanned.
Readjusting his glasses, he glared at me annoyingly before he complained, "Oh, come on! Why not! You have two scolding hot roommates and you never thought of jumping at them?! I know you've been living with them for a short time, but you could at least tell that they want to jump at you, too!"
"Carlos, the concept of an intimate relationship formed by roommates of the opposite sex is the premise of half of every sitcom from the 70s to the 90s. If I wanted to fulfill that clichΓ©, I would have solidate it from day three, but I didn't, and I don't want to violate the roommate agreement," I explained in a monotonous tone while retaining a stoic expression. I continued, "Besides, I live with a vampire girl and a werewolf girl. If I did jump at them and have my way, then they would tear me limb from limb."
Crushing the bridge between his eyes, Carlos shook his head and grimaced. He stated in a loud voice, "There you go being all analytical, again. Seriously, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You should seize the day and I think your roommates are feeling the same about you."
"You're delusional."
"I know I am, but have I ever been wrong before?"
Yes, he has, but maybe this time he might be right. However, I couldn't confirm to it until I have all of the facts straighten, as a theory cannot be formed without any facts or figures.
"Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Bushi. May I have a word with you?" standing before us, we saw a short pudgy man with a bald spot and a small mustache who had both hands behind his back.
Arching a brow, I inquired, "What is it, boss?"
Brushing his mustache with his finger, the boss furrowed his brow and turned his attention back to us. He answered in a soft, professional tone, "As you are aware, the Apollo Bookstore has become shorthanded in staff lately with you two and Lucy being the only ones available today. So, I was able to hire us a new addition to the team." the boss waved an inviting hand behind him and wait for someone to comply.
My face contorted in consternation when a young woman walked out from behind the bookshelves. The boss addressed, "Boys, this is Elizabeth Crenshaw and from today onward, she will be a new addition to this family. Make sure you show her the ropes and if there are any problems, come talk to me."