Day 1

I feel groggy. After I woke up earlier this morning, I decided to take a nap since it’s my rest day. I sit up with my eyes half-opened. I want to sleep more, but my stomach keeps growling. I’m hungry. 

I slowly crawl out of bed and check the clock on my bedside table. I blink twice or three times to remove the blurry vision from my eyes. 

3:30…3:30?! PM??

Seeing the time is like splashing water on my face. It wakes up my entire being. I hastily look for my phone just to double check if my clock is not broken. And yes, it’s not broken.

I can’t believe I wasted that much time sleeping! This can’t be. I need to at least read a book from the ones I bought yesterday. I hurriedly jumped off my bed. I go straight to the kitchen and get some food from the fridge before directly putting it in the microwave oven. I took that time to really wash my face and brush my teeth as well. After that, I just gobbled down the food. I took a quick shower after.

And finally! After all those ups and downs, I’m now in front of my mini shrine! Which one should I touch first? Figures? Acrylic stands? Maybe…some book! I said that I want to read or at least start one book today! 

Since I can’t really choose which one to read first, I just grab whatever is on the shelf. I sit on the bean bag next to my bookshelf. This is where I usually enjoy my free time. I also have a small, low table beside the bean bag. It’s where my snack jar, some bottles of water, tissue, and wet wipes are. Just in case I get hungry while reading.

When I feel comfortable in my seat, I open the book that I picked and start reading it. Oh! This is one of those transmigration stories that’s been popular these days. 

I continued reading the book, eating some snacks, and drinking some water until my eyes started hurting. I put down the book, opened it on the page where I’m currently at, and put it on my lap. I circled my head to stretch my neck. I also close my eyes and lightly massage my eyes. 

When I open my eyes, I look at the direction where my digital clock is. It’s already 7:30? Time flies really fast when I’m reading. Strangely enough, I’m not hungry yet. Probably because of all the snacks I had.

Still, I should prepare a light dinner. I don’t feel like eating any rice tonight. To be more precise, I don’t feel like cooking at all. Maybe I should have some noodles instead? 

I stood up from my beanbag. I froze on the spot for a few seconds since my legs felt numb. I tried hitting my legs with my free hand. My other hand holds the book. It’s semi-close, I just put my index finger on the page I’m currently on so I won’t lose it. 

When I feel like I can move already, I go straight to my work table. I open the drawer and grab one of the bookmarks there. I quickly inserted it into the book. I place the book on the table, then I go to the kitchen to cook the instant noodles that I have. 

The preparation, eating, and cleaning didn’t take that long. It took me around fifteen to twenty minutes, and then I’m done. I just went back to my room after and decided to rest there. As I was about to grab the book that I left, I noticed the eco bag that I used yesterday on the floor, near the table. 

Did I forget to tidy this one? 

I bend over to grab it. I was about to fold it when I felt something hard inside. I slightly frown, then quickly open it. There’s still one book inside? I thought I put all of them on the bookshelves yesterday. I forgot one.

I take it out and then put the eco-bag on top of the table. I sit on the ergonomic chair beside me. I cross my legs while checking the book. I don’t remember buying this one.

I flip it front and back. The cover is plain, hard cover type. It has cream paper pages. It’s quite thin. On the outside, it looks like one of those planner notebooks. But I’m certain I didn’t buy any notebooks yesterday. So, what’s this?

“Ah!” I blurted when I remembered that someone gave me a book for free yesterday. Was it this one? For some reason, I can’t clearly remember the book that I received or the person who gave it. 

“I’m sure he said something about this book. What was it?” I open the cover, then run my thumb on the pages as if it’s a flip book.

I stopped and opened it properly this time. I opened it on the first page. I don’t know if my eyes are tired or my eyesight is starting to get really bad. The letters on the pages here look really blurry. I flip through other pages. It’s still the same.

I blink a few times, hoping to clear my vision. I look back again on the pages. It’s  still blurry. The only part I can read on this page is the big, bolded part that says DAY 1.

Is this how the book names the chapters? I encountered different namings of chapters before, like parts, roman numerals, letters, etc. But this is the first time I've seen something like this. This makes it look like a planner to me more than a book. 

Anyway, I closed the book. I can’t read the text. But when I look around, everything seems clear to me. There’s probably something wrong with my vision. I should file for paid leave for tomorrow. I must go to the doctor for a check up. 

I placed the book on top of the book that I was reading earlier. I’ll try to send a message tonight that I can’t go to work tomorrow. 

Thankfully, I was able to type and send emails without problem. I was worried that I might have a hard time typing an email and might end up making a phone call because of blurry vision. But I was able to see every letter properly through the screen. Was it because it’s bright and I adjusted the font size a bit? I’ll find out everything tomorrow.

After I received an approval email for my leave, I just rested for a few more minutes. I didn’t try reading anything anymore. I should just rest my eyes today. I readied myself to go to bed early. 

~~~

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! F*CKING WAKE UP! 

I toss myself onto the other side of the bed. I know it’s my own voice and alarm, but it’s so annoying to hear it in the morning. I should really change it now.

WAKE UP! WAKE UP! F*CKING WAKE UP! 

Argh! I annoyingly kicked the blanket off me. I reach out for my phone. Where did I put that again? I wriggle both my arms. I tried looking for my phone without lifting my back from my bed. Just where is it? 

I tried to read the side of my bed, and there I felt a rectangular hard shape thing. I grab it, and my phone screen with 7:00 AM on it welcomes me.

I instantly dismissed the alarm. I forgot to turn it off last night. I don’t have to wake up early today since I don’t have work. And the doctor’s clinic will only open later in the afternoon. 

I close my eyes and put down my phone on my side. I want to sleep more. As I was about to doze off, a loud bang on the door fully woke me up. 

“Amika!” 

I annoyingly kick my feet in the air. So early in the morning! I get off my bed and heavily stomp my feet as I walk towards my apartment’s door.

“What?!” I said angrily as I opened it. Who wouldn’t get pissed when someone interrupted your sleep? “There’s a doorbell for a reason! I’ll get complaints because of you again!” 

I turned my back on her and went straight to the living area. I’m sure she welcomed herself in and followed me inside since the door I left open was closed.

I lay my back on the sofa’s backrest. “Why are you here? Don’t you have work?” 

She frowned at me as she sat beside me, “What are you saying?” 

I raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”

She slightly tilted her head and said, “Today’s our company’s secondary gender test.” She put emphasis on those last three words.

But…what?

“What? What secondary gender test?” I asked, confused.

Her frown returns. “Are you still asleep? Or are you not feeling well?” She put the back of her right hand on my forehead.

I remove her hand from me. “I was half asleep earlier, but I’m completely awake now. What test are you talking about?”

She gaped at me. And that triggers me. I don’t know what’s with her or if she’s playing pranks on me, but I literally woke up just for this.

“Don’t give me that stupid face. If you won’t bother explaining things to me, then just go home. I filed a leave today.” I stand up. But I was stopped on track by her.

“Wait! Wait!” I look at her when she grabs me on my left wrist.

“What now?”

“You really don’t know? Or probably you just forgot about it since you don’t really care?” 

“The hell?” I’m getting more and more annoyed as she opens her mouth.

“Okay! Okay!” She said, letting go of my wrist and putting both her hands up. “I know you’re grumpy when someone accidentally wakes you up, but I never expect you’ll also forget things.” 

I was about to say something not so nice, but she immediately stopped me. “I said, OKAY! I’ll explain things. Okay?”

“Go on,” I even cross my arms on my chest. 

“Today’s secondary gender test is to confirm whether we are an Alpha, Omega, or Beta.”

Ha?

“We had our test before but they required a new test these days for adults to make sure that there are no false negative cases. The last case of false negatives turned into a big scandal afterall. Then—”

I put my right hand up to stop her.  “Alpha? Omega? Beta?” I repeated, confused.

She nodded,”Yes?”

This time, it’s me who gaped at her, with my head slightly tilted. “Are you trying to write a fiction story here? An Omegaverse? When did you get interested in that? I know I tried shoving some stories to you before but I can’t believe you’ll be this addicted to it. And on Omegaverse at that.” 

“Omegaverse?”

“Yeah. Alpha, Omega, Beta, recessive, dominant, heat, runt, pheromones. So on and so forth.” I waive my right hand as if I’m shooing a fly away.

“Are you really okay?” She stands up from her seat. “I’m not sure what you mean by Omegaverse but the way you talk, it’s as if you're not living in the same world as we are.”

“And what kind of world is this? If not Omegaverse?” 

“Earth?” she said mockingly. “Look. Maybe it’s best if you wash your face and brush your teeth first. Or at best, just take a shower. Just freshen up!” 

“You still think I’m half-asleep after all those things that you say? I’m wide awake!” 

“Amika.” She looks straight into my eyes. “Just take a shower.” 

I rolled my eyes but didn’t bother to argue. I went back to my room, picked up some clothes and a towel, and then went straight to my room's bathroom.

I check the temperature of the water with my hand. Then, I stand under the shower. My face welcomes the cold water. It runs down every part of my body. 

It’s soothing. And with this, I’m very much sure that I'm awake. I’m neither sleepy nor dreaming. Then, if that’s the case, why is my cousin pushing the Alpha-Omega-Beta agenda?

“Finally! You’re done. Is that what you’re wearing?” Gabby said as soon as I stepped out of my room. 

“This is what I’m wearing for my eye checkup.” I said while putting my phone inside my small bag.

“Can’t that wait? We only have until 5pm for the secondary gender test. And there’s a lot of employees in our company. Our co-department members are done with theirs.” 

I took a deep breath. “You’re still pushing that?”

“You’re still denying this? This is the world we’re living in! We live in a world mix of Alphas, Omegas, and Betas!”

We’re going nowhere. She’s really not dropping the act. Then, might as well I just act along. I don’t know; maybe this is a hidden camera prank or whatever.

“Fine! Then, before we go, will you be kind enough to tell me more about this? It seems I forgot everything about this world.” I said, full of sarcasm.

I expected a rebuttal, but I was surprised when she suddenly grabbed the TV remote on the sofa behind her.

“I have an inkling that you might say something like that. So, to help you refresh your memories, I searched the video the government uploaded on Y**Tube.” 

“What?” I turn my back on her and face the TV. There, a Y**Tube video uploaded from the government’s official channel is playing.

“I skipped the introduction part and went straight to the important part.” I heard Gabby mumbling.

“When did you prepare this?” I asked without looking back.

“I didn’t prepare that. Look.” She paused the video, which made the information pop from the bottom of the video. “See, it was posted last month. They uploaded it when they introduced the secondary gender test for adults.” 

I curse in my mind. What the heck is going on?!