BAD MORNING?

Liu Yang draws out a long breath. She did not want to go deep into that memory. But how? Her brain won't stop thinking about it. Feels like it's embedded deep within her skin that when you try to peel it, it will drain the life out of her. Her heart is now searing from the pain and she felt really miserable. The hole deep within her heart and soul is making her dead and empty inside. She clutched her chest and cried in silence.

The forefinger on the cold railings started twitching. There it goes again. Maybe she should have an emergency pack of cigarettes at home, just in case. She scoffed. Is she even ready to hear an earful from her best friends?

"Ah, shit! This is taking a toll on me!" Liu Yang's anxiety levels rose.

Sniffing hard, she felt a burning sensation in her nose and it is starting to get clogged. It hurts but the pain in her heart hurts more. Just then she saw the light starting to emerge from the horizon. So, she had been standing there for a long time. No wonder her legs felt numb.

Liu Yang stretches out her already stressed body, trying to relax her already tired muscles. Drying out her eyes, she goes back inside her room, opening the lights, she searches through her bedside drawers only to find an empty medicine bottle. She clicks her tongue, looking down at the hollow container. When did she empty it?

Throwing it back inside the drawer, her eyes caught sight of the bed that tempted her to lay and go back to sleep. Glancing at the clock, Liu Yang could only close her eyes in contempt. It's Monday, that means she has to go to work. Thinking about work, Liu Yang's body already went limp. Good thing she loves her job so much or else...

She pondered for a moment and gave in to temptation. Whatever, it's just a nap, she told herself as she slumps her body on the bed.

Her mind started drifting off when her eyes glanced at the clock on the bedside table. Liu Yang jumped out of the bed and almost fall on her face as she scurried towards the bathroom.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" she cursed herself.

It's already six in the morning!!!

Her work normally starts at 8 am but today is an exception because their Chief Editor called for an emergency meeting at 7:30.

Liu Yang seldom goes to the office late but today of all days, forgot to take her medicine, and that nightmare, and…shit!

"Aish! WHATEVER!!!"

She yelled through clenched teeth.

While grabbing the comb, her phone started ringing. Without a glance, she answered it while sandwiching it between her ear and shoulder. "Hello!" she answered with an angry tone.

"Girl, where the hell are you?! It's nearly 7!! Oh my god!"

"I'm almost there." She looked herself in the mirror – contemplating if she would put some lipstick or blush on. But as she glances at the clock and decided not to. Beads of sweat starts to form on her forehead. Hell! She just showered!

"Stop the pretense, I know you're still at your house. Let me guess, you're still in front of your mirror. I know you well and I hate to think you're my friend right now. Hurry up!!" the person on the other end told her with urgency.

"Oh, really? Ha-ha-ha! Are you a fortune teller? How did you know that?" she said, distracted while putting heels on.

Without answering her question, he said, "You better hurry up right now. Oh, and I already arranged your files for the meeting so head straight right to the meeting room when you get here. Thank your secretary for that."

"Yeah, yeah! That was thoughtful of you. I love you so much, Sis!" she lovingly said through the phone and gave him a smooch.

"Ewww, girl. That's gross! Stop it. You're not even beautiful. If you really are thankful, treat me to lunch later," his voice sounded serious as he ended the call.

Putting her phone inside her bag, she took one last look of herself in front of the mirror, licking and puckering her lips to make it look red.

----

Liu Yang arrived at YinYang Publishing at exactly 7 am. She entered the elevator and pressed the floor number to where their meeting is held. For the first time in her life, this must be the most excruciating elevator ride. Ever! It feels like an eternity waiting for it to reach the designated floor. Luckily, she is the only one in it right now.

The moment she arrived to where the meeting room is, Liu Yang took several deep breaths while holding the door handle. With her heart beating loudly, paired with the hallway being eerily quiet, Liu Yang's heart felt like it will jump out at any moment. Right now, her heartbeat is the only thing she could hear.

'Why? Why of all days does it have to be this day??'

"F—! Screw it let's just do it!" she mutters to herself. Her grip on the handle tightens as she tries to hear for some noise inside. It's really quiet and she does not like it. Her heart's already in her throat as off the moment.

Liu Yang takes a really deep breath and puts a small crack on the door. She peaks through and saw that her boss, Min Chu, their Editor-in-Chief, is looking at everyone like she is going to eat them alive. Liu Yang stopped breathing when she saw her boss clearly got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.