Chapter 44: Coming Home After Working as a Security Guard
Even though there are times when the thought crosses my mind that this place could one day be attacked by aliens, mutants, or other strange things—which, honestly, sounds like a nightmare—it still can’t be denied that working here is one of the best opportunities I’ve ever had in my life so far.
Because of that, I’m truly grateful to Happy, more than I could ever express directly.
That feeling isn’t just polite words or empty courtesy, but something I genuinely feel every time I remember how I managed to reach this point in my life.
Time kept moving without me noticing, like fine grains of sand falling silently, impossible to stop or speed up.
Outside, the sky gradually grew darker, the orange hue of the evening that had briefly decorated the horizon now fading, replaced by a deepening shade of dark blue with each passing minute.
City lights began turning on one by one, forming a lively, shimmering view beyond the glass of tall buildings, like a sea of light that never truly sleeps.
By now, the clock had reached seven in the evening. The atmosphere around the building felt a bit calmer compared to the daytime, though activity hadn’t completely stopped.
There were still a few people passing by with quick steps, vehicles going in and out of the parking area, and the occasional faint sound of engines blending with the ever-present hum of the city.
I continued carrying out my duties as usual, standing at the post while carefully observing the parking area.
Every now and then, I glanced at the neatly arranged CCTV screens in front of me, making sure nothing suspicious was happening.
The light from the screens reflected in my eyes, casting a faint glow that kept me alert and focused, even as my body began to feel tired after working nonstop all day.
In just a few more hours, my shift would be over, and that thought became the only thing keeping me going.
Finally, the time I had been waiting for arrived. The clock’s hands slowly moved toward nine at night, as if deliberately making me wait longer than necessary, each second feeling longer than usual.
Until at last, the moment truly came—exactly nine o’clock—signaling that my duty for the day had officially ended.
It was time to go home. However, seeing how late it already was, I didn’t have much time to relax or take a slow walk. The thought of the bus immediately crossed my mind, making me feel slightly tense without realizing it.
If I was even a little late, I could miss the bus and be forced to wait quite a while for the next one, and that was clearly not a pleasant option—especially after such a long, exhausting day when my body only wanted to rest as soon as possible.
Without wasting any time, I quickly left the Stark Industries building. The automatic doors slid open with a soft sound, and the night air immediately greeted me with a slightly cooler temperature.
A light breeze brushed against my face, bringing a refreshing sensation that made my steps quicken instinctively, as if my body understood that I was in a hurry.
I jogged toward the nearest bus stop, my shoes striking the pavement in a fast, steady rhythm, creating a repetitive sound with each step.
My breathing started to grow heavier, my chest rising and falling more quickly, but I didn’t slow down even a little.
Luckily, when I arrived at the bus stop, the bus hadn’t left yet. A wave of relief instantly washed over me, as if the weight that had been pressing on my shoulders disappeared in an instant.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before stepping onto the bus.
Quickly, I got on and paid using the card I had prepared earlier. A short beep sounded—simple, yet relieving—signaling that the transaction went through without any issues.
After that, I walked along the narrow aisle inside the bus, my eyes moving slowly as I searched for an empty seat among the passengers who were already there.
The lights inside the bus were bright enough, revealing several other passengers who looked worn out from their own activities—some staring blankly ahead, some leaning back with their eyes closed, and others busy with their phones in their hands.
I eventually found an empty seat and immediately sat down without hesitation, my body feeling slightly lighter as I leaned back, as if the burden I had been carrying since earlier was slowly being released.
The tension in my muscles began to ease, and the fatigue that had been held back since morning gradually rose to the surface.
I rested my body for a moment while letting out a long breath, allowing myself to sink into a brief silence amidst the sound of the bus engine starting to move. My first day as a security guard… it wasn’t too bad.
There was no chaos, no strange incidents, just a simple routine that felt quite calming, and for now, that was more than enough for me—more than I had dared to hope for from the very beginning.
At that moment, I thought everything would go simply, that I could go home peacefully, sit back and relax inside the bus as it slowly moved through the night, letting this exhausting day come to an end just like that.
There was no need to think about anything else, no need to act—just enjoying the remaining energy in silence, letting my mind be empty for a moment from all the chaos that usually followed me.
However, as usual, that simple hope never truly went smoothly. For some reason, there was always something that appeared at the worst possible time, as if my life was never allowed to be truly calm, even for just a few minutes. And sure enough, something unexpected happened.
The bus I was on suddenly slowed down. At first, it only felt like a normal reduction in speed, but a few seconds later, its movement started to feel unstable, swaying slightly with an odd rhythm.
Until finally, with a faint but unpleasant scraping sound, the bus came to a complete stop right in the middle of the bridge connecting Manhattan and Queens.
The vibration of the engine that had previously been faint beneath my feet slowly disappeared, replaced by a strange silence—too quiet for a place like this.
There was no longer the constant hum of the engine, only the occasional sound of the night wind slipping through the gaps in the windows.
Some of the passengers began glancing at each other, expressions of confusion and impatience clearly appearing on their faces.
Someone let out a quiet sigh, others began whispering, while small complaints could be heard here and there, mixed with restrained annoyance.
Damn it… one of the tires had gone flat. The bus driver quickly got off, his footsteps sounding hurried as he walked toward the back of the vehicle.
From the window, I could see him bending near the wheel, checking the condition of the tire with quick but tense movements.
Under the dim, yellowish streetlights, his shadow stretched across the asphalt, swaying slightly in the night wind.
He began trying to fix the wheel, his hands moving skillfully, even though it was clear this wasn’t a situation that could be resolved in a short time.
I could only sit there, leaning back weakly, staring out the window as a sense of irritation slowly rose to the surface. My fingers tapped lightly against the side of the seat, a sign of impatience that was becoming harder to hide.
The reflection of the city lights in the distance looked as beautiful as ever—the glittering lights of tall buildings, the streams of vehicle lights flowing endlessly—but somehow, none of it was able to improve my mood at this moment.
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