CHAPTER 3 - THE FIRST MORNING
1032 Words
Ethan woke up because someone was shouting.
At first, he thought he was dreaming.
Then came another shout.
Followed by loud footsteps.
Then a dog started barking.
Ethan slowly opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
The room was cold.
Very cold.
He sat up and rubbed his face.
The heater beside the bed was completely dead.
"So this thing doesn't work at all."
In his penthouse, the temperature was always perfect.
Breakfast would already be prepared.
Fresh coffee would be waiting.
His schedule would be neatly arranged.
Now?
He had slept under two blankets and still felt like he had spent the night inside a refrigerator.
A knock came from the door.
"Are you alive in there?" Mrs. Greene shouted.
Ethan laughed softly.
"Yes."
"Good. I was worried you froze to death."
Five minutes later, he stepped outside.
Mrs. Greene handed him a cup.
"Coffee."
Ethan looked surprised.
"You didn't have to."
"You looked like a lost puppy yesterday."
He smiled.
"Thank you."
She waved her hand.
"You'll miss your first day if you keep standing there."
The words made Ethan straighten immediately.
First day.
Kingsley Global.
His first day as an intern.
The thought still sounded ridiculous.
---
Thirty minutes later, Ethan stood inside a subway station.
And immediately regretted every decision he had ever made.
The place was packed.
People moved like waves in a storm.
Everyone looked busy.
Everyone looked angry.
Someone bumped into him.
Another person stepped on his shoe.
A man nearly spilled coffee on him.
"Sorry!"
"It's okay."
No, it was not okay.
How did people survive this every morning?
A train arrived.
People rushed forward.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"They're fighting for seats?"
The doors opened.
The crowd swallowed him whole.
For the next ten minutes, Ethan was squeezed between a man reading a newspaper and another man who smelled like he had not seen soap in years.
He could barely breathe.
He suddenly missed his private driver.
Very much.
When the train finally stopped, Ethan almost ran outside.
He took a deep breath.
"Fresh air."
"First subway ride?"
Ethan turned.
A young woman was laughing.
"...Is it that obvious?"
"You looked like you were going to faint."
She walked away still smiling.
Ethan sighed.
This ordinary life was trying to kill him.
A few minutes later, he entered a coffee shop.
At least buying coffee should be easy.
The cashier smiled.
"What can I get for you?"
Ethan stared at the menu.
There were too many choices.
Why were there so many types of coffee?
"I'll have..."
The line behind him grew longer.
The cashier waited.
"So...?"
"Coffee."
She blinked.
"...What kind?"
There were kinds?
The man behind him sighed loudly.
Ethan finally pointed randomly.
"That one."
The cashier smiled.
"Large caramel macchiato."
"Perfect."
Five minutes later, Ethan took one sip.
His face changed.
Why was it sweet?
Coffee was not supposed to taste like dessert.
---
After leaving the coffee shop, Ethan remembered he needed groceries.
Mrs. Greene had insisted.
"You cannot survive on burnt noodles."
So he entered a supermarket.
Twenty minutes later, he walked out carrying three bags.
His arms already hurt.
People did this every week?
As he tried to cross the street, someone suddenly bumped into him.
Hard.
The man quickly apologized.
"Sorry."
Then disappeared into the crowd.
Ethan adjusted the bags and continued walking.
A minute later, he stopped.
His pocket felt lighter.
His wallet was gone.
"What?"
He checked again.
Nothing.
His heart dropped.
"No. No, no, no."
He looked around frantically.
The man was gone.
The crowd kept moving.
Nobody noticed him.
Nobody cared.
For the first time, Ethan felt truly helpless.
"Did someone steal your wallet?"
Ethan turned.
A man with messy brown hair stood nearby, holding a sandwich.
He looked about Ethan's age.
His expression was almost amused.
"...Yes."
The man nodded.
"Welcome to New York."
Ethan stared at him.
"That's it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know."
The man laughed.
"You look like someone just informed you the world is ending."
"My cards were inside."
"Then yes, maybe the world is ending."
Despite himself, Ethan almost smiled.
The stranger held out his hand.
"I'm Noah."
Ethan hesitated before shaking it.
"Ethan."
"New in the city?"
"Is it obvious?"
"You have the expression of someone who has never been robbed before."
"...I haven't."
Noah burst into laughter.
Real laughter.
Not fake.
Not forced.
It reminded Ethan of Mrs. Greene.
Noah pointed at the grocery bags.
"Need help?"
"You don't have to."
"I know."
Yet he still took one of the bags.
They began walking together.
Noah talked almost the entire way.
About his terrible landlord.
About his annoying coworkers.
About how he once tried to cook chicken and nearly burned his apartment.
By the time they reached the subway station again, Ethan realized something.
He was actually enjoying himself.
Noah suddenly stopped.
"So, what do you do?"
"I'm starting a new job today."
"Nice. Where?"
Ethan looked at him.
"Kingsley Global."
Noah's eyes widened.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"That's where I work."
Ethan blinked.
"What?"
Noah grinned.
"Looks like we're coworkers."
For the first time that morning, Ethan genuinely smiled.
Maybe this day would not be so bad after all.
---
An hour later, they stood in front of Kingsley Global.
The massive glass tower rose into the sky.
The building looked exactly as Ethan remembered.
Elegant.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
For years, employees had bowed when he entered.
Security guards greeted him immediately.
Executives rushed to open doors.
He had never once entered through the main employee entrance.
Noah smiled.
"You ready?"
Ethan looked at the building.
His father's words echoed inside his mind.
*You do not know who you are without your name.*
Slowly, they walked inside.
Employees moved everywhere.
Phones rang.
People talked.
Shoes clicked against the polished floor.
Ethan waited.
Surely someone would recognize him.
Surely someone would react.
But nothing happened.
A woman walked past him.
Another employee accidentally bumped his shoulder.
A security guard did not even look up.
No greetings.
No smiles.
No bows.
No special treatment.
No one knew him.
No one cared.
For the first time in his life...
Ethan Kingsley had become invisible.
- Writer
