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 Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:22 am
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Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:24 am
Mu Ying was tired.
Tired, tired.
Vacant eyes stared into nothingness as he turned the tea cup in his hand, taking in some of the warmth from the drink of hot Oolong tea.
It wasn't even midday yet.
I shouldn't have taken last night's shift, he concluded, rubbing his temples in an attempt to keep himself awake. He should have known – readjusting his hours wasn't going to be easy on him.
Especially not since today was going to be his first day at the academy. Between dawn and the late morning, the young man had only managed to catch about an hour of sleep. And it certainly wasn't going to last him through the day. Lifting the ceramic tea cup to his lips, Mu Ying drained it to the last drop, leaving nothing but the flecks of blackened tea leaves at the base of the cup. He raised his hand to attract the attendants, gesturing to the emptied teapot that sat on the table as one of them approached.
“谢谢.”
The attendant gave him a disapproving look for his apparent lack of manners, tsk-tsking under her breath before breaking into a wry smile as she left. Mu Ying offered a weak, but sincere smile in return. The tea shop would soon have a new regular customer.
Mu Ying stifled a yawn with his sleeve, glancing out at the Main Street. If it was any consolation, the morning crowd had been extremely charming. The Main Street was bustling with noise and laughter, hearty hawkers shouting out to the crowd to take a look at their wares. A distinct difference from the city at night. There was actually happiness in the air.
The tea stall's door flap was lifted and in came in a small crew of laborers, taking their morning tea break before resuming work after a chat or two. The attendant had returned with a refill, the two of them acknowledged each other before she brushed her sleeve aside to pour him a cup of tea. “谢谢您，小姐” She smiled and gave him a playfully dismissive wave for his mostly-innocent flattery before leaving him again. Mu Ying hid a small smile as he looked down at the cup of tea he was turning around the table again.
The young man watched the steam rise from the tea cup for awhile before drinking it down. Mu Ying placed the tea cup back on the table and allowed himself to hang his head to take a short doze. Just a short doze he cautioned himself.
Unfortunately for him, when Mu Ying finally roused it was because of the prodding the by tea shop owner. There was no need for an exchange of words, the grumpy old man's face basically read: Don't go hogging the space here dozing off! And don't you have to attend the academy? It took a few seconds of staring blankly into the old man's face before it finally set it, sending Mu Ying jolting up and nearly toppling the tea cup on the table.
He was late.
A string of profuse apologies followed and Mu Ying hurried himself to the counter where the attendant who had served him was waiting with a cheeky grin. He nodded his head apologetically, paid up and dashed out of the stall onto the Main Street. Boy was he going to have to run.
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