Complex urban life could also be lived in a very simple way.
At seven o'clock in the morning the alarm clock went off.
Just work, eat, drink and sleep, nothing else.
He got up, got a glass of milk with a piece of toast spread with jam for breakfast and took a simple shower.
After the hectic period of adaptation when he arrived in the city, the following days became a paralyzing repetition.
Then she quickly changed clothes again and went out.
I didn't even need to look for it in the closet, because he always left it ready the night before so he wouldn't be rushed before leaving for work.
She had developed a muscle memory and didn't even need to think to do it.
.
This morning is filled with torrential rain, lightning penetrating the cloud masses, followed by the loud sound of thunder.
- Due to a power line failure, service between Zootopia stations has been interrupted until further notice. -
Listen on the loudspeakers.
But there are always moments that can make a difference.
He mumbles, now he has to tell his boss that he will be a little late and apologize for something that is not his fault.
He can't afford a cab to the office, it would cost him an arm and a leg.
With no other options he decides to slip through the rain to the old bus station.
He's sure he'll be late anyway.
The road will be slippery so the drivers will drive very carefully.
.
The bus station was noisier this morning.
Commuting time is always the busiest time.
It was only when he stood ''on his feet'' at the bus stop that he noticed the person next to him.
Snake raised his head slightly, his originally furrowed eyebrows slowly unfurled.
A wolf.
He was very young and looked to be not even thirty years old.
He had a charming aura, broad shoulders with a narrow waist and a tall build, and handsome features.
He wore a well-fitting white suit of good quality that emphasized his slim figure to the fullest.
With small beads of sweat sliding down the back of his thick collar into the cool cotton of his button-down shirt.
His leather shoes were polished and not a strand was out of place in his neatly combed hair.
The snake had seen a lot of attractive people in his life, a frequent occurrence really, a closer look around the station and he's sure to find more handsome animals.
But this wolf made him forget his cry of how great the single life is and to freedom.
What's different then?
He'd like to say it's Love at First Sight.
But he long ago understood that the so-called Love at First Sight in the adult world is a euphemism for desire, and the inability to resist a person who fills all his superficial standards.
Now he has no choice but to admit it; He is urged by the appearance of that wolf.
He forces his eyes back to the front and tries to control his anxiety to keep looking at him.
When the bus stopped he wasted no time in the wave of passengers and took the first seat he found free.
When the same wolf sat in the continuous seat, with a sports bag on his lap at his leisure.
Suddenly he feels like he's trapped in those clichéd romance movies he loves to watch.
The thought of having a conversation crossed his mind, as well as finding a way to exchange contact details.
But instead he kept his eyes fixed on the window.
Too young.
His love at first sight would probably die.
At that moment, he didn't see the wolf's gaze.
It went from neutral to bursting with amusement at the sight of his guilty conscience, then shifted to a barely perceptible sort of sneer.
- I'm surprised the weather guy didn't warn there would be a typhoon. -
The snake startled and turned to look at him.
- I had the bad luck that my car broke down, you want to know something funny? -
He thought his voice was pleasant, flirtatious and direct, but without sounding aggressive, with the right tone and speed.
- What?
It's been a long time since I felt what it's like to be nervous when you're with a person.
- I'm a mechanic. -
The snake smiled at that plot twis.
- What's life without jokes, right? -
His smile made him look more handsome.
- Heh, must be like doctors who can't diagnose themselves. -
- Hey yeah! I hadn't thought of that. -
He showed a kind of smile where the corners of his mouth turned up making his eyes appear to be smiling, which made Snake feel helpless.
They continued talking and laughing with irrelevant commentary.
- And that's why Bar Bread is so much better than Braided Bread. -
They went on like that until the bus stopped with a jolt.
They were not surprised when they got off at the same stop.
There were more vehicles and fewer pedestrians at this point.
The two proceeded along the opposite side of the road, the heavy drizzle entangling them and the wind sweeping around them.
This time they were puzzled when they seemed to be going in the same direction.
Which made them feel they had to keep a safe distance between them.
- My work remains this way. -
The wolf tried to justify himself after they both turned the same corner for the third time.
- Mine too. -
This situation would be perfect for a romantic movie, but in real life it was becoming more like a horror story.
Sanke felt his Love at First Sight dying with every second.
- . . . I'll take the long way. -
Warns the gray furred one with a smile he doesn't know if it's real before taking off down the opposite path at a rather fast pace.
Life will always be full of regrets, and in this one, they were both left as a possible stalker/murderer/thief to each other.
.
After the meeting, Snake had a cup of double chocolate cappuccino.
In that beautifully decorated new little coffee shop, rounding the corner before he got to work.
If he's going to be reprimanded for being late let it be for something worthwhile.
.
- My son brought his girlfriend for dinner. -
- And how did it go? -
- I don't like her, she's too extravagant, she's got a face full of makeup and looks like a clown, her. . . . -
Snake sat at his desk and lost himself in the numbers.
He wrote emails to customers, took phone calls, got stock details, talked to his boss about accounts receivable, etc.
It took him until lunchtime to complete everything.
He headed to the cafeteria after going to the restroom and met his friends in the hallway.
- You must know about the power line breakdown by now. -Spoke the spider on top of the shark's head.
- The boss scolded me for being late because of that fault. -
- They're almost as old as this town, and now that more than half of the inhabitants are being connected to the subway network, it's the moment the Sales Department was waiting for. -
Fish rubbed his hands together with excitement.
- No more maintenance or repairs, this was a massive failure, surely the Mayor will decide to complete the restructuring. -
They take their seats with their plates of food.
- If we get a partnership, we won't need to take on any new projects for years to come. -
- And what happens if they don't? -
Snake asks, feeling it was too good to be true.
- If the deal doesn't go through, then this project would fall into the hands of competitors and we would be repressed for a long time. -
He points to his face.
- Look at my face full of life, because for the next few months I will be a work zombie. -
- We will pray for your health. -
.
.
When Snake came out of the office building, it wasn't as stormy as it was this morning.
He zipped his jacket up and held it in his mouth to protect his neck from the winds that threatened to freeze him.
He spit out his phone and looked at it.
The night was still bright and there was still time left because he went out earlier to do some shopping.
There was no food left at home, she crept through the streets illuminated by the neon tones of streetlights and stores.
.
.
He pushes a shopping cart struggling to move through the crowd.
He silently glances at the people in front of the vegetable stand.
He advances in their direction.
The joints of his tail clinging to the cart began to stiffen and he almost wanted to turn around immediately.
However, the supermarket was too crowded, so, she simply couldn't turn around just like that.
- Hello again! -
Greets the wolf he met this morning.
- I'll save you the trouble; I'll bite. -
- Me too. -
- I think I know how this will end. -
They both laugh.
-Let's avoid disaster, the supermarket is close to my work, and you look smart, you must already know where it is. -
- There's only one mechanic shop in the whole area. -
- I'll tell you a secret. -
He tilts his head to close the gap between the two shopping carts that separate them.
- Most of our customers prefer to leave their cars with us rather than pay for parking. -
The snake's corners curved slightly upward in a thin smile.
- With results like that I'm glad I never had a car. -
- You never had a car! -
- The expense for food is enough. -
- I don't need any more explanations. -
Said the wolf with his shopping cart full of instant food.
- I wanted to see the vegetable prices, but I'll stick with this until I get my car repaired. -
- You buy your vegetables on the south side of town? -
- Do you know it? I always go to the one across from a river. -
- I know it! -
It's a road where many farmers sold their vegetables.
They were unsightly but cheap enough.
- I haven't been there for years. -
- Why? -
- Some guy kept following me and I had to jump in the river to get him to leave me alone. -
The road along the river has always been crowded.
Plus it's on the outskirts of town, and transportation was frustratingly scarce.
Remember that the bus was also their main mode of transportation at the time, as there were no trains nearby.
Which made it a chaotic place.
The police were half indifferent and half used to it.
- Actually organic food is becoming popular, I just hope they don't raise the prices. -
- I'm fine with the bronze medal in speed burning money, I don't need to go to the Olympics. Right? -
- Exactly! -
says the canine after a laugh.
- Excuse the intrusion but are you feeling bad? -
- I'm fine, why the question? -
- Too many nutritious drinks. -
Point to the snake's grocery cart.
- They're not for me, a friend of mine has a slave boss and he's going to have a rough few days. -
- Why doesn't he quit? -
- Easier said than done. -
They move along the shelves in a vibrant and friendly scene that made them smile unconsciously.
- It's true, since I started my job I'm still waiting for the day when I'll decide to quit. -
- Like everyone else. Is the job going badly? -
- It's pretty simple, I actually just do maintenance every day on cars I saw the day before. -
- They should be as good as new. -
- If they would lower the parking meter fines then they would earn more than they already do. -
- Don't let your boss hear you. -
The wolf just smiles at him with his finger on his lips to keep it a secret between them.
- Well, this is my stop. -
The snake settles at the end of the cashier's line.
- As far as a possible lunatic goes you're one of the best. -
- I'm thinking the same thing. -
- I hope to see you on the bus. . . . Mmm.
- Snake. -
- Haha Then you can call me Wolf. -
He says goodbye to continue with his shopping.
Snake just keeps smiling, he was quite nice until that moment.
.
Not long after I left the supermarket, the wind began to whip hard and every clap of thunder sounded like an explosion.
The headlights of passing cars reflected brightly on the wet asphalt, the roads heading to the nightlife districts of Zootopia are completely crowded but the roads leading out were thankfully less congested.
Already resigned to the fact that it would take forever to get anywhere with these bags hampering his movement, he had overbought for his friend, and the umbrella.
No matter how hard he looked he couldn't see an empty cab anywhere to get him closer to the bus station even if it would mean making two transfers.
His head sinks from exhaustion.
Better to take a cab in the next neighborhood, so as not to continue to be a spectacle to others.
He hears the splash of footsteps and the increasing patter of raindrops hitting an umbrella.
- Snake! -
I look back to see the same wolf.
- I thought you had already left, and, do you want me to help you? -
He offered his right hand.
Snake had his own suspicions for someone he just met.
Maybe he was planning to take his purchases with him when he had the chance.
Suddenly a car sped up and hurtled through a large puddle, Wolf took a step to be in front of Snake.
His legs were splattered.
- Why? -
- I'd be splashed anyway, and if I could keep you from getting dirty, it would at least be worth it. -
After a moment's deliberation, he accepted the canine's goodwill and handed him one of his bags.
- Thank you. -
- It's all right. -
He gave her a smile, the snake blushed shyly and covered herself with the collar of her coat.
Wolf's kindness was strangely comforting.
Surely he must have rows of girl waiting for an opportunity. Snake thought about things that were really none of his business.
Their walk took a natural turn toward the bus station, and they gradually talked less and less.
They passed through the station ticket offices and down to the platform.
The moment they touched the bus seats, the fatigue of a day's work fell like a leaden weight on their shoulders.
Their eyes met and a smile escaped them.
They unexpectedly reached a moment of warmth that only two corporate slaves would have.
.
They got off the bus after an hour and a half ride, and made their way to the nearest cab stand.
They went to the end of the cab line, when the snake spoke again.
- You can drop me off here. -
- I like to finish what I start, I hope you don't mind. -
- Not at all, I appreciate it. -
- So. . . . I could use one of those nutritional drinks, I could use more energy to go home. -
- Ah. . . . I'm sorry, it's impossible. -
He quickly looked away.
- Why? -
- These belong to my friend, I can't give them to you. -
- You paid for it with his money? -
- No, I didn't.
- . . . It's okay. -
Wolf stares at him, making him self-conscious.
- I can give you a lettuce in exchange. -
- Better your cell phone number. -
.
When it was his turn, the wolf made Snake get into the cab and handed him his bags.
The door closed.
The car started up.
Snake looked out the window at the figure of the wolf growing smaller and smaller in the distance.
Wolf waved his hand in great swinging motions.
Snake waved back with a small wave.
.
.
It was a peculiar day, not to call it strange.
Snake moved swiftly through the pouring rain.
It was like being stripped of his planetary status.
He approaches the entrance to the apartment complex.
And being pulled into the orbit of another planet.
He turns the door handle.
Relegated to the status of a satellite.
Entering the apartment he was greeted with a stream of warm, steamy air thanks to his heater.
He just hoped it wouldn't cause a collision.
The rain that had been pouring down just moments ago had finally slowed to a drizzle.