"Howdy," Ryan wishes the shopkeeper.

"The regular?" The shopkeeper asks Ryan

"Yup, Thank you" He thanks the shopkeeper and takes a seat. He looks outside the window.

The year is 3020 on planet Expance-4300. Filled to the brim with tall skyscrapers to tiny nanobots. Fly cars rule the sky, Floating mopeds rule the land it's like nothing you've ever seen before. You could fulfil your basic necessities with a press of a button, The world is doing great. It's like heaven on earth or should I say Expance-4300, But it's not for everyone.

"Here's your order Mr Trahan" The shopkeeper calls out to Ryan.

"Thank you, Jim" Ryan thanked him as he collected his order.

"My pleasure. You should get one of those Robots that would do things for you, Ryan. It would save you the hassle" Jim said.

"Why? Don't you like seeing me every day, Jim" He asked Jim with a smile.

"It's not like that, I like having your company sometimes," Jim confesses. "It could save your time" he continued

"Thank you for the advice mate," Ryan said as he sat down. "So, How's your day been?" Ryan asked Jim.

"Just the usual" Jim said.

"I know right? It's just so...Boring" Ryan bursts out. "Like every day I wake up, come down here pick up my iced coffee, go to work, eat, work, sleep then repeat," Ryan continued as he sipped his coffee.

"Well, It's not that bad. I got my shop, my children. What more can I ask for?" Jim countered back.

"I'm glad that you're happy," Ryan said as he sipped his coffee. "Maybe it's just me,"

"I'm pretty sure you'll find something" Jim commented.

"Gotta dash!" Ryan said as he checked the time. "See ya later, Jim"

"Good day"

"You too," Ryan said as he rushed out.

Ryan stood at the bus stand waiting for the bus. He tapped his feet frustratedly.

"Why is the bus late?" He asked the supervisor station at the bus stand.

"There's been a break down" he answered not looking away from his phone.

"How long will it take?" Ryan asked frustratedly

" 'bout..." The Supervisor said as he got distracted on his phone.

"About?" Ryan waited for an answer. He sighs. "Mister?" He forces the supervisor to put his phone down. "Now you put that phone down and tell me where the good damned bus is" Ryan bursts out.

"It'll take an hour! Okay?" The supervisor said as he retrieved his phone back.

"Screw this" Ryan said Frustrated."TAXII!" He yelled trying to flag down one. But they flew by ignoring him. He couldn't get their attention cause he was short. After a few failed attempts he decided to make a run for it.

Right after he finished running for a good few minutes he saw the bus coming from afar.

"Hey!" He waves trying to stop the bus. "Stop! I have to get on!" He shouted. They didn't stop cause it was not a bus stop. The rules are followed very seriously in Expance.

"OH C'MON" He yelled and resumed running.

The city was beautiful. Surrounded by skyscrapers everywhere with plants hanging down from them. Ryan bursts open the doors of a skyscraper. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside. The floor was marble with beautiful designs, the roof was lit with chandeliers.

"Good morning Mr Trahan" greeted the lady at the large round table.

"Morning," He said as he rushes to the lift.

"No, no, no" Ryan groaned as the lift takes off without him.

He rushes up the stairs which seemed to go on and on forever.

"I'm here!" He said panting as he pushed open a big door.

"Mr Trahan, Finally" A lady seated around the meeting table said.

"You are 15 minutes late, Ryan!" Exclaimed the man in a business suit.

"I'm sorry, Mark. I missed the bus well, the bus missed me and I had to run all the way over here.

Mark sighs. "Take a seat," He said as he motions Ryan to an empty seat. Ryan follows him.

"The productivity has gone down 20% in the last two months" Mark began and the boss doesn't like it that way" Mark began showing off a PowerPoint presentation showing a graph of the productivity dipping "The boss likes it this way" Mark continued as he flipped the profit board upside down. "I don't know what you'll do or how you'll do it but I want this to go up," he said pointing to the graph.

Ryan gets a ping on his phone.

Mom: we are coming to visit you today! Are you home?

Ryan slouches in his seat as he texts.

Ryan: Not right now. But I'll be home but 7.

Mom: Are you at work?

Ryan: Yup. Don't worry I'll be home. The key is under Joe

Mom: who's Joe?

Ryan: Joe- My plant. It's near the door.

"Ryan," Mark called out. "Are you even listening!?"

"Yea- I just got a text. I'm sorry, I'm all yours now" Ryan apologised

"I want that paperwork ASAP in my office Joanne" Mark ordered Joanne.

"Alright," She said.

"Dismissed!" Mark dismissed them.

Ryan walked out and goes to his cabin.

"Ryan!" Roger greeted.

"Roger" Ryan greeted back taking his seat.

"Hell of a meeting huh?" Roger asked.

"Mhm," Ryan answered sinking his head into his hands.

"Bad day huh?" Roger asked patting Ryan in the back.

"Yea"

"Well, tell you what. Wanna get some burritos for lunch? My treat." Roger said excitedly.

"It's okay, you don't have to" Ryan refused.

"So, 1 o'clock at chaptale?" Roger asked

"It's ok-"

"Chaptale it is. See ya at one" He patted Ryans back at leaves

"Roger!" Ryan called out

"Hey, Maddie!" Roger greeted someone as he walked away.

Ryan got back to work. He wondered from time to time why or for what they were assessing profits and losses for. He didn't know what he was working for.

*le time skip*

Roger practically had to drag Ryan to the burrito shop.

"What is that we are doing exactly at-?" Ryan questioned.

"Eating a burrito," Roger asked.

"Not here, her. At work"

"Assessing profits and losses" Roger answered.

"Of what?"

"I dunno"

"You dont know what or why you're working for?" Ryan questioned him.

"For the money," he said as he gulps some water down.

"We don't even know for what we're assessing profits for"

"We're just new" Roger shrugged.

"It's been a month, Roger" Ryan said. "Aren't you curious?"

"We---just do what they tell us to do," he said taking a bite of his burrito. "We are getting paid, What more do you want?"

"It's just...I wanna know what I'm working for" Ryan answers

"I bet even Mark doesn't know" Roger answers.

Do you like this job?" Ryan asked Roger.

"Not really. But you gotta do what you gotta do"

They finished lunch and we went right back to work.

*time skip*

Ryan returned home. He saw the lights in his home turned on which meant his mom and dad are home.

"Hey!" Ryan greeted them.

"Look who's home!" Ryan's mother hugged him and kissed his forehead.

"It is, I"

"Heyy" Ryan's dad pulled him in a big hug.

"I made dinner!!" His mother squealed.

"That's awesome. I'll go refresh myself up" Ryan said as he goes inside his room.

After 10 minutes Ryan joins them for dinner.

"So how's your day been?" Ryan's dad asked him

"Hm...The bus broke down so I had to run all the way to the office, The elevator did not stop so I had to take the stairs through 12 floors and our productivity dipped 20%. Apart from that Good." He said biting down some food.

"Aww," His mother pulled him in for a hug.

"So, How have u guys been?" Ryan asked.

"Good." His dad said.

"Great,"

*le time skip*

"Everything is just so boring mom," Ryan said lying on his mother's lap.

"You don't feel like you belong here?" His mother asked

"No...It's just I do the same thing over and over again" Ryan said. "I don't even know what I'm working for" he continued.

"You want some adventure?" His mother asked brushing his hair.

"That would be nice. L-like hiking would be nice, Anything for a change. I'm just so bored." Ryan suggested.

"Can I tell you a story, Ryan?" His mother asked.

"I- well sure,"

"This story was told to my grandmother by her mother's Grandfather." She began.

"That old huh?" Ryan interrupted.

"Ryan..."

"Okay, I won't interrupt, continue" Ryan apologised

"There is this old man at Croat. 20 miles away from our village. Legend says that he fulfils people's wishes If they gave him a penny." She continued.

"That's the shortest and the dumbest story I've ever heard mom." Ryan laughed. "Let me-let me get this straight, There's this old wizard who collects pennies and somehow magically fulfils wishes! Wow, I would've believed it if I were a 7-year-old." Ryan continued.

"You did"

"Well I'm not a 7-year old"

"He fulfilled my wish"

"What was your wish?" Ryan asked curiously.

"I wanted a beautiful baby boy. And I got one" she said brushing his hair.

"Alright...?, Wouldn't he, be like dead? Since he is like very old?" Ryan said.

"He's eternal. Why don't you give it a try? Huh?" Ryan's mother asked him.

"Yea, I guess. Sure?" Ryan agreed.

"We're leaving tomorrow. Wanna come with us?" His mother asked.

"I-I have work to do," Ryan said.

"It's a holiday."

"It-It is? Well in that case, Sure" Ryan agreed.

"Yay!" Ryan's mother cheered.

"Yay," Ryan cheered quietly.

Authors note:-

This chapter was a bit boring but I promise the next chapter I going to be a banger. I think. I don't know.