A bit of setup

Has it been an awful day? Maybe a couple of weeks ago you could have called it that. Now it felt like it was the standard, as days were.

You have barely survived a shift at DaPaolo, first messing up the wine order of a couple of tables, then dropping a plate full of garlic oysters all over the kitchen. Why you haven't been fired after this fourth reprimand and subsequent scold in a month you still didn't know.

You arrive at your crappy apartment at one in the morning to find a cardboard box tossed on the mat at the entrance. You quickly make your way inside eith the package, curious to see what it contains, as you definitely haven't ordered anything. It was probably something of Jeremy, as he just moved away four days ago.

As you tear the box open you find a smaller white box, like the ones used to contain smartphones, only the box was clear of any logo. Maybe some cheap knockoff? You text your ex roommate about it and fall on the couch, turn on the tv, and quickly pass out.

You are woken up the next morning by your phone alarm.

Another day to survive. At least this night you didn't have a shift at the restaurant.

While you are still fully waking up you start mindlessly scrolling your phone, as the tv is still yapping about, showing a yoga instructor with a bubbly personality showing off a routine.

It seems Jeremy responded:
-no dude, dunno what is.
-open it?
-maybe i forgot

You go to open the box, inside there is a pretty chunky smartwatch, very plastic looking, the screen lits up as soon as you pick it up, showing the time on the top and two lines under it. As you fiddle with it there is no way of making it connect to your phone, as there are no instructions and there is no cable attachment. You have no idea how the hell would it charge. There is a phisical button on one side, but pressing it does nothing. The rest is controlled by the touch screen, and you can navigate two empty menus or zoom in on the time and date.

You write back.
-a cheap watch
-dunno, never ordered it

Because you took time to understand it, there was no reasons not to use it, at least for today. You go and take a quick shower before dressing yourself back with yesterday's clothes. You put on the watch and step out of your apartment.

As you exit on the corridor you immediately bump into your neighbor Claire. She has been crouching, tying her running shoes. You manage to catch yourself and not fall over by grabbing on her shoulder. She is wearing comfortable jogging pants and a tight neon green sleeveless shirt, showing off her toned abdomen. Usually when you go out she is already in the streets, doing her morning exercise. You have found yourself staring at her ass from your window or around town from time to time. As you excuse and compose yourself she gets up, moves a rogue strand of black hair in her bun and smiles at you saying "No worries, shouldn't have been tying my shoes in the middle of the corridor". She then gestures a bye with her hand and starts running down the stairs.

For what you can say you just mutter a salute yourself while rubbing your wrists in an almost shy move. As you call the elevator you see that the screen on the watch has lit up. You look down to see the word ATHLETE written on the screen, right under the time.

What was that? had you unintentionally touched something? and why that word? just as you were thinking of Claire and her morning routine... is this fucking watch reading your mind? It could have just been a coincidence. Athlete wasn't even in the words you had in your mind. Probably a coincidence. Is it? You should probably go back and put the thing were you found it. It shouldn't even be in your hands. Then again, you are really curious. And this is the first thing in weeks that had picked your interest. Better to understand what had happened then to panic for nothing, you say to yourself.

As you walk down the street you fiddle with the watch. Nothing seems to be changed but the word on the screen. you try rubbing the thing like you did before, but nothing similar happens, the screen stays unlit and no more words are appearing. You press the button and feel a vibration on the watch, then the screen LEDs turn red for a second. Whatever it is, it means you are doing something wrong.

You arrive at LePetit later than usual, you have no time to sit down. The coffee shop is brimming with people, most of them as anonymous to you as can be. Working in customer service jobs you have learned to filter uninteresting faces. Zaylee, the barista, is brimming with joy. Beats you how can the black girl keep the energy up. She gives you a big smile. "Good morning, Samuel! The usual?" Her hair is dyed electric blue with a couple of purple strands, the look is coupled with nose studs and a tongue barbell that is almost visible when she talks.

You order your latte cup to go and as you wait you keep experimenting with your watch. While still trying to figure out what had actually happened before you hear a familiar voice.

"Hazelnut Latte for Samuel" Comes the deadpan delivery of Nora, the senior manager at the cafè that's helping Zaylee and the other employee in this busy hour. You wouldn't say she is a bad person, but you wouldn't imagine having her as a boss. You heard Zaylee's complaint about her bossy and demanding attitude. She is very tall, and is currently sporting a pixie cut of sandy blonde hair that isn't helping with her Karen notoriety. As you get your cup you brush against her hand, and you see bright as day the moment the light on the watch flashes on. You thank and make your way to your job, but as you take a sip you look at the screen you can see clear as day the word BOSSY just under the last one.

You have a feeling you shouldn't mess with this thing more than you already have.