Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Thanks so much for covering for me today! I love you so much!” Hunnie throws herself at me right as I enter the little Seven-Eleven that is sitting snugly at the corner of the street, a few blocks away from the university I attend. Her bulky orange suitcase standing proudly behind her.

“Better get me some souvenirs then,” I reply, laughing as I struggle to remove her limbs that are wrapped around me like octopus’s tentacles. It doesn’t work. Hunnie is always consistently energetic, and being a thin 5 foot 1, she’s surprisingly strong for her size. I lower my hand in surrender. Let her attach her tentacles to me, I don’t care anymore.

“You just thought that I’m surprisingly strong for being this small didn’t you?” She chirps, putting on a smile that is as bright as it is mischievous.

“No. I was thinking about how much of an octopus you are being right now.” How the heck does she always manage to do that?

She quirks her eyebrow. “How did I manage to do that though you’ve perfected your poker face? Maybe I’m a psychic,” she shrugs. I put up a nonchalant face. “Cute,” she says, rustling my hair. I don’t get her. I never do, but that’s fine. Maybe she really is a psychic. Honestly, I’d rather not know.

Suddenly, a familiar tune starts to play. “La, lalalalala la la la la! Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah—”

“Shit shit shit shit,” she mutters under her breath. Hunnie frantically shoves her hand in her pocket to fish for her phone. It’s an alarm. She turns it off. “I gotta go now or I’m gonna be late, and dead, cause my sis WILL hunt me down and kill me.”

“Tell your sister I wish her for the best with her husband to be. Now go! Run! I’ll take care of it.”

She stays for a moment, looking at me all puppy-eyed, then wiping fakes tears away with her fingers. “ThankyousomuchIloveyou,” she said while blowing hundreds of air kisses to my face then stuffing her phone back into her tiny pocket. “Y/n, I’ll for sure get you something, maybe a guy.”

I sigh. She’s being cheeky again.

“Then maybe a girl?”

“Hunnie no. I told you, I’m not interested in dating anyone.”

“Try dating first, then maybe you’ll change your mind.” She opens the door, and turns away. “Maybe I should bring Y/n someone.”

“Don’t you dare!” She runs out with her stuff laughing. It sounds ridiculous to show such a big reaction to what sounded like a joke. But this is Hunnie. She could actually do it.

“Better get to work.” I walk into the staff room to go get changed and settle down.

***

In the evening, there’s a sudden surge of people entering the store and all of the sudden, the peacefully quiet place that was only buzzing with the sound of the coolers turns rather noisy when a group of girls in uniform, who probably just came back from their academy, goes in together in a herd.

“Did you watch their performance today?” I hear one of them say near the instant noodles rack.

“I totally did! Thank goodness for my seat, the witch and goblin didn’t catch me today.”

“You actually watched it live? I was sitting in front and goblin was staring at me all scary as if he could peer into my soul and see that I wanna ditch his class and burn the school or something.”

“Y’all are crazy. Imma watch it at home. Don’t let my parents know you guys are talking like this or they won’t let me hang out with you anymore,” a girl with a ponytail says.

“This is still nothing,” says the one that was looking at the noodles. “At least we’re not saesangs.”

“Yea right, I saw this girl yesterday zooming on jungkook’s abs on her phone screen, staring at it without blinking for a minute straight.”

“Like you don’t do that to jimin’s booty. I know you have a folder with only his ass in skinny jeans,” she smirks.

“How—”

“Oh please, I sit behind you in class. I didn’t even need to peek. How could I not see it when you zoom on it so much that I could see the pixels on your screen.”

“See? I’m the most innocent one here.”

“Girlie, don’t pretend like you don’t zoom on joonie’s thighs cause I know you do.”

“You make it sound like I’m a pervert or something. I was just admiring his healthy figure.”

“Suuuuure,” the one with the ponytail cackles. The other girl rolls her eyes.

“Oh, right, before I forget, what’s in the test again?”

“Are you serious? The demon repeated it like five times!” For a while, they continue to chatter about school stuff while walking, disappearing behind a shelf.

When they’re finally out of sight, I slouch and rest against the wall behind me. My neck and shoulders feels oddly tense just when I thought I’m finally used to standing for long hours behind a counter. I crack it left and right and stretch my shoulders in a circular movement. The digital clock on the wall turns 18:07. I stare at the small numbers at the corner counting along the seconds in my head. When the clock turns 18:08, the door opens again, and I greet the new customer. “Welcome.”

Standing in front of me is a familiar figure. He comes once in a while, usually just to get water and snacks. He nods politely and went straight to the desert and beverage cooler. Which will he grab today? Pudding? Banana milk? Both? He reaches out his hand. And both it is. He goes to the instant noodle rack as the girls from before reach the register and fill the counter with what is mostly choco-sticks.

“Would you like to pay together or separate?”

“Separate, please,” said one girl. From her voice, I’m guessing that she was the one who couldn’t watch the video because she sat in front of the class.

I scan the items quickly though there are barely anyone around. Just a habit maybe. Everyone who has paid waits for their friend and doesn’t leave the store, which is fine, I guess. There’s no rush. When I scan the last girl’s chocolate milk, the guy comes up to pay with two dozens of banana milk and five bags of chocolate biscuits.

“Good evening,” he says putting his basket on top of the table.

One of the girls turns around and screams. Fangirls are on a whole different level. “Oh gosh it’s him!!!!! OPPA WE LOVE YOU!!” The others turn and when they see who is standing behind them, they all scream the same basic stuff in varying orders and volume.

“Thank you,” he smiles and nods politely towards the whole group. Most of them are still screaming.

“Oppa oppa! Can we take a selfie together?”

“Can I have an autograph?”

“Can I hug you?”

Flustered by the streaks of questions, he scratches his ears that are slowly turning red. The group persistently inches closer and closer until the man starts to walk backwards. High schools students are scary.

He looks way too uncomfortable. I need to meddle. “Excuse—“

“I can’t do many things but I can give you my autograph. Sounds good?” He finally says in a surprisingly composed and cheerful voice. They all violently nod and he waits for them to grab their pens and paper.

While some of them are opening their bags, the girl who was leaning at the ramen rack pulls out her phone, takes it out of its casing and hands it to him. “Oppa, can you sign my phone please?”

“Oh sure.”

“Oh shit, I don’t have a marker,” she mutters as she rummages through her bag. “Does any of you girls got a marker?” They shake their heads and she stands with her jaw hanging open, devastated. He looks around and walks away.

The girls are dejected until shortly after, he returns with a permanent marker in hand. “I’ll be buying this too,” he says to me. “Can I open it now?”

“Sure,” I nods. He smiles, quickly opening the marker and signs the girl’s phone. In two minutes, he signs everyone’s phone, books, headphones, everything. But the girls won’t leave. He also seems to be running out of ideas on how to be escape the situation.

It must be tough to be that famous. I clear my throat. “Excuse me, dear customers but could you perhaps wait outside if you are done. We have to clear the line,” I speak politely to the girls. A few of them nod their heads apologetically while one or two of them scoffs at me as though I just killed their entire family tree. Not my first time. It is what it is. I continue scanning his items. “Do you need any plastic bag?”

“Oh, no. I’m good. I have my own bag,” he said, tapping his eco-bag hanging limply on his wide shoulder.

“Should I pack them for you?”

“Thank you,” he hands me the empty tote bag. I put them all in and read the totals.

“Would you like to pay with cash or with card?”

“Cash, please.” He pulls out some bills from his thin wallet then rummages all his pockets for some change and takes out everything he could find. He counts them real fast before handing all of them to me. It sums up perfectly. Almost a miracle.

“Oh! A miracle?” He laughs and his shoulders go up and down.

“It’s quite an amazing coincidence,” I hand him his bag. “Would you like the receipt?”

“Sure.” He takes both the bag and the receipt. “Thank you, for trying to help earlier.”

“No problem. It’s the company’s policy, I’m just doing what’s right.”

“Is that so?” he smiles amusedly but it’s more kind than teasing. “Still, thank you. Is there anything I could do? as thanks.”

I shake my head but then pause. Hunnie. She’ll die of a heart attack if I get her this favour, and it might not be such a bad idea, revenge, all this time she gave me heart attack by reading my mind and appearing behind my back. I sigh. “Actually,” I look up to establish eye contact only to see that he’s looking closely at his watch. “I’m sorry, you’re probably busy, never mind me.”

“Oh no, please, we’re currently in our resting period. The maknae asked me to play games with him, that kid could wait a minute or two.” He laughs airily. “So?”

“Ah, I wonder if I could get an autograph.”

“Sure! Where should I write it?”

“Hmm,” I look around for anything but I got none. He must’ve seen the small panic in my eyes cause he then laughs and takes out the receipt he folded and shoved in his pocket.

“Will this do?” He smiles again.

“Sure,” I laugh.

In the middle of signing, he bursts into laughter. “Don’t post it on sns please. It’s—“ he cuts himself off by laughing even more. “It’s ridiculous that I just spent that much in one purchase for banana milk.” He tries to calm himself down but the laughter still won’t stop coming out of him. It’s infectious too. I find myself laughing along the entire time. I guess I understand what Hunnie meant when she said windshield wiper laugh. When he settles down, he wipes a stray tear and asks “so, you like our music?”

“Yes, I enjoy them. But the sign is not for me. It’s for my friend, she’s a dedicated army.”

“I see,” he hums. “I hope you’ll tell her not to post it on sns.” The laughter is about to come again but from his red face and sudden deep breathing, I can see that he tries to push it down as far as he can and it’s working. He hands me the receipt, but keeps his marker uncapped. “Do you want one for yourself?”

“Thanks, but I’m okay. I get to converse with you and I’m pretty sure many of your fans would kill for that.”

“Photo?”

“No thanks. I’ll look like an ogre next to you. In fact, I should stay a bit further away.” He laughs again.

“Alright then. See you again when it’s time to buy snacks,” he waves.

“Thank you for stopping by as always,” I reply. He waves again and leaves the store.

Outside the glass, he looks at his watch again and starts running in a panic. I feel bad for taking his time.

Maybe I should let him use my employee discount next time.

Chapter Text

“One hot latte and an ice tea please.”

“Oh, and can I get one of the almond cookies,” says the shorter one of the two tall tourists in English.

“Eat in or take away?”

“Here, thank you.”

“And pay all together with card, please.” The man who ordered the cookie said. He then points to his friend while smiling mischievously. “He’s my walking atm.” The taller one sighs and takes out his wallet to pay for both of them.

“You’re an idiot.”

“And you’re my walking atm,” he replies nonchalantly. The taller one gives up with an exasperated expression and the other did a little victory fist in the air. I suppress a laugh. I wonder what Hunnie might be doing that moment. Did she arrive safely? Is she happy right now or did she got into a fight with her brothers again?

I input the sum into the wireless card reader and set it in front of him. “Whenever you’re ready.” The machine beeps as the payment goes through. “Please wait for your orders on your left.” They nod and thanked me.

The man behind them doesn’t notice that they’ve left and stays scanning the dessert display, completely out of it. “Next,” I announce. He jumps slightly when I call. His eyebrows shot up for a second before he comes forward, all smiles.

“Can I get four AA, and—“ once again, he gets deeply immersed in the cake display, and my mind wonders to the conversation between the two customers from before that just started.

“Hey, what’s AA?” The shorter one asks.

“Iced americano.”

“What??!” That doesn’t make sense!”

“Wait, why?”

“It’s supposed to be ‘IA’, Josh, ‘IA’! It’s wrong spelling!”

“Well, phonetically, it is AA.”

“What language is iced americano?” With that, the taller one sighs again.

“Ollie, you’re an idiot.”

I check on the customer who is now unawarely glaring the display. His pupils go left and right rapidly as if concerned about keeping the line behind him from moving, but he still can’t decide.

“Do you prefer sweeter cakes or the more sour and zesty ones?” I said with a smile to reassure him that it was okay.

“The zesty ones, I think,” he says,  rubbing his hands together, a little embarrassed.

“Then I strongly recommend the orange tart here. It’s a new special and so far, it’s been popular.”

“Great!” his chirps enthusiastically and his nervousness seems to melt away from his face. His cheekbones protrude as he smiles brightly, a smile too cute and bright for my eyes to handle. “Then I’ll get one.”

“Eat here or take away?”

“Take away please,” he chirps.

“And how would you like to pay?”

“Oh, card.”

I nod and speedily set up the machine again. He takes out his card and scans it swiftly. “Please wait for your orders on your left,” I say it routinely. He smiles again and for a second I thought I saw his face radiating light.

“Thanks!” He strides bouncily to the right.

His order arrives quickly and soon he’s out of the coffee shop. The moment the door closes behind him, a few customers who are still waiting in line begin to whisper. Someone yelps happily and starts rambling about how it would feel to have such a handsome man to be their boyfriend while someone else is talking about how polite he was despite his fame.

“Next,” I said, but no one’s listening. They’re so engrossed in their excitement.

“Omo! That was really him wasn’t it???” A girl with a ponytail tied with a pink scrunchy said excitedly.

“I think so.” The boyfriend who’s wearing the same pink-tee-white-pants couple-look shrugs. “I guess we must’ve gone to the right place for coffee if even bangtan goes here.”

“I should’ve asked for an autograph!! I can’t believe I missed the chance!” The girl pouts.

The boyfriend hugs her from behind. “I could give you my autograph.”

“No thanks. Don’t need it.”

“Geez, is he more important to you than me?” he pouts as the girl laughs and hugs him back. The few people waiting in line behind them are starting to get annoyed. I smell love and the piercing odour of jealousy of single souls in the air.

“Next please,” I say once again. This time, they hear me and step forward to order.

When the line is finally over that early evening, I let myself go and lean against the wall while sitting on a small stool hidden behind the counter, sighing as I thought about the hectic shift. The funny duo arguing about how Iced americano is supposed to be called, the confused customer who was all smiles, and the lovey-dovey couple.

I wonder what Hunnie is doing right now?

At that moment, the phone vibrates. There’s no one in line and everyone seems satisfied, so I sneak out my phone resting inside my pocket under the black apron tied around my waist. Three notifications, all from Hunnie. I unlock it and read the messages.

Hunnie: I might need to go see therapy when I come back because of the idiot trio I’m stuck with.

She sent me a few pictures. I click on pictures, starting from the first one. It's a picture taken at the beach with Hunnie flailing in the air while her three big brothers throw her into the sea. In the second picture, Hunnie is sitting on the shallow water, looking positively furious with hands fisted.  Her mascara is smeared everywhere and her purple maid-of-honor dress is completely drenched. I wince, feeling her pain. The laundry’s gonna hurt.

In the third picture, she’s holding one of her brothers in an arm lock while one is holding their shin in pain on the sandy ground and the last of the three is in the background, running away. Right. This is why she’s so strong.

In the midst of typing “you go girl”, another picture arrive. It’s a selfie this time, of her posing her hand in a v, v for victory, and her sister patting her head with so much pride for beating the shit out of the guys. I smile at that. I never thought about it before but it might be nice to have a sibling. Maybe not the ones like her brothers though.

I send the “you go girl” and she replies with a “hehe XD”. Adorable.

Y/n: What are you up to now?

Hunnie: Just ate lunch, so I guess we’re gonna escort the happy couple to the airport. You know, the usual stuff, honeymoon. *wink wink*

Y/n: you nasty, wash your mind with soap.

Hunnie: shut up, my eyes were just twitching. And shut up, don’t talk about my sister like that, it’s gross.

Y/n: WHAT?? BUT YOU’RE

Hunnie: shhhh

Y/n: THE ONE WHO

Hunnie: it’s okay

Y/n: STARTED ALL THAT

Hunnie: calm down. It’s no big deal. I forgive you

Y/n: 🤯

Hunnie: 😇

Y/n: …

Hunnie: Don’t leave me. You know I love you rite?

Y/n: yeah yeah 😒

Hunnie: btw

Another picture pops up. It’s Hunnie and a guy around our age wearing a hoodie while she’s in her now semi-dry dress.

Hunnie: what about this one?

Y/n: for what?

Hunnie: boyfriend candidate for you, what else?

Hunnie: Oh, what about her? 

It's Hunnie and a girl around our age this time, wearing the same hoodie as the guy.

Y/n: what the, I told you noooo, I'm not interested in dating anyone.

Y/n: And besides

Y/n: Did you just randomly snatched someone who just happened to be passing by????

Y/n: and also

Y/n: are they dating? or are they siblings???

Hunnie: Oh well, look at the time! I gotta go

Y/n: I’m not done!

Hunnie: I showed him your picture and got his number for you. I’ll send it later. Make sure to call him.

Y/n: Hunnieeeeeee

Hunnie: Okay byeee

Y/n: nooooooo

She didn’t read the last one. As I put my phone back in my pocket it suddenly vibrates again. I unlock the screen. It’s a phone number. I shove the phone down my pocket hurriedly. A relative is weird enough but people who were just strolling down the beach? She never ceases to surprise me.

I let my body loose and slouch, slightly tired. I guess that’s life as a broke college student. Working as a barista when I don’t have my morning lesson, working behind the convenient store counter when I don’t have evening lectures and both in most of my free days. It could be tiring at times, but honestly, it’s not that bad, it’s not bad at all. Especially because of the sheer variety of people I get to see.

I look around. The couple from earlier is holding hands while spoon-feeding each other whipped-cream from the milkshake they ordered.

They’re adorable but as a 21-years-old who never fell in love in their entire life,

Can’t relate.

Chapter Text

Today as I walk to work, my mind returns to last night.

Hunnie came back home last night, still wearing that purple dress that she wore when they dipped her into the ocean. I scolded her for not changing and keeping herself warm, but called me a grandpa and laughed it off saying it dried along the way and it looked good on her. I couldn't deny it. It did look really good on her. I checked up on her again this morning before she left for 'colour-theory' class, complaining as she grabbed her bag and took her notebooks out as a protest for being forced to pay for something she already mastered when she was fourteen. She was completely fine, no cold, no nothing. I guess her immune system is as strong as her grip and her personality. I didn't have anything to worry about after all.

Tomorrow is her birthday and despite being friends for God knows how long, regretfully, I really have no idea what to get her. Maybe it's because I know her too well. The only few things she could ever want are beauty school equipment. Let's see. Scissors are out of my budget and all her scissors and razors are still in great conditions — she brags about how great she is at maintaining her blades fresh and sharp. Hair dyes could be an option, but they're complicated. I don't know which colour and undertone she wants and what brand. Another option could be wigs. Long, black, textured hair wigs, but, better not. If we buy one more wig, our house might explode – they've already taken over our floor.

I mull over it, stopping on my track, waiting for the pedestrian light to turn green to cross the road. What did I give her last year? Did she like it? The light turns green and I cross the road. That's right. I remember. I gave her a returnable shirt, which she refunded. She then used the money to help her pay for a new black virgin-hair wig. I didn't mind, it's better that she got something she'll thank me for, and I made sure to buy something refundable for that specific purpose. Should I do the same thing again this year?

I spot the café as I turn the corner from the main road. There is barely anyone on the mini pedestrian-only street. When I arrive, the door is already unlocked and the manager is already there, wiping the tables. I really have to give her props for always being so diligent.

I head straight to the staff room to stuff my bag in the locker and change into the uniform. Maybe I should just tell Hunnie and ask her directly. Last time she had to go all the way to the store to trade it in. It'll be easier for everyone to just give her the money or whatever it is she wants directly rather than going back and forth for formality. Yeah. I should just do that instead.

***

About an hour in and I'm completely alone in an empty café fiddling with a pen. I spin it skilfully on my fingers, like one does when that's all they do in high school. Suddenly, my phone starts ringing. Shit! I thought I've put it on vibrate! I look around. Still Alone. I look back at the phone and pick it up, it's Hunnie.

"Hey."

"Hey! It's only been an hour and I can already feel my soul slipping away. Is this how it feels when they say bored to death?"

"No ide—" the bells ring and I abruptly snap my head towards the door. It was just the wind. "No idea."

"Anyway. I'm ditching the second hour and now that I've decided to ditch it since it's my only class today, I'm free for the rest of today. When'll you finish your shift?"

"At two. Then I'll also be done for the day."

"I thought you have another shift? the convenient store?"

"Not today. I handled Jun's shift last week so he'll do my shift today."

"Great! Let's go to the mall then! It's been a while. Oh, then chimaek by the river at night!" she yells happily. I listen while constantly keeping a watch on the door. I can't be seen handling personal calls during work hours. "Also, since we're going to the mall, if you haven't bought me anything yet..." I can see her winking through the phone call. I sigh.

I told her the truth. Hunnie said I don't need to worry or feel bad. All I need to do for her birthday is to go on a bestie date with her as planned.

"It'll be great!" she said. "Free evening of just walking around with my bestie at the mall, some chicken and beer by the river afterward. What a perfect day."

"If you're okay with just that."

"I am!"

And so that's what we're gonna be doing today after I finished my shift and I went back to work with happy thoughts.

***

At around 1 pm, the same customer who had trouble choosing his cake yesterday comes again. He sees me behind the counter and this time, instead of staring at the display, he immediately walks up to me.

"Hi again," he smiles like he did yesterday. "Can I get a recommendation for a few types of cakes this time?"

"Of course," I smile politely. "Did you enjoy the cake?"

He scratches his head, seemingly embarrassed. "I wouldn't know. It disappeared from the fridge before I got to eat it. But I see no trace of it so I guess one of my brothers really liked it.

"Glad to hear it," this time a genuine smile surfaced by itself. "So, how much cake are you looking to buy this time and what's the flavour profile that you're looking for," I speak gently while sporting a straight back, trying to look as professional as I can. His eyes sparkle and without him saying anything, I can hear his waves of thought saying 'cool, so cool.' I'm flattered. I give him a thumbs up. His smile grows brighter.

"Hmm..." he rests his chin between his index finger and thumb. "I guess maybe two that are a bit bitter and not very sweet? No. Three. Then two that are kind of tangy and fruity, and two that are more creamy and sweet."

"Okay, let's see." I look at all the cakes that we have today and list seven different ones that seem to match the description best. "Sounds good?"

"Sounds great!" he gives me a thumbs up. I reciprocate it.

I take the slices, wrap them neatly in the box, then hands it to him. "Anything else?"

"Ah, and a Vanilla latte please."

"Coming right up."

He took his order with a 'yay cakes! I love cakes!' that he might have uttered unknowingly. It suits him though.

***

After he left, people began slowly pouring in, tourists, students, people having a mini business discussion and rendezvous, and soon the seats are all filled. It was very close to two when everyone got their orders and I thought I should start heading back to change and end my shift. But that was not the case.

One of our regular customers enters through the door wearing a cap and mask, causing the bells hanging on its handle to ring.

"Good afternoon, sir, how may I help you?" I greet him.

He nods. "Good afternoon," he answers back in a quiet voice. "Iced Americano with extra shot please."

"That would be four thousand—" Before I even finished reading it all out, he already has the perfect amount in hand. As expected from a regular.

"Coming right up."

I operate the machine as fast as I could and in no time at all, he takes his order and leaves. Most of the time, he comes with bags under his eyes as if begging for caffeine. I don't have the heart to make him wait for long. Whenever I see those tired eyes, all I could do is give him a silent 'fighting' and hope that next time, he would look more well-rested. So far, that hasn't happened.

I look at my watch. It's a minute over two. Baram unnie, the senior barista, appears from the staff room and smiles when she sees me looking at her. We low-five as we pass by each other, sort of like passing the baton. I change into my own clothes, clock out, and head over to the park near Hunnie's beauty school which is also directly on the path towards the mall.

***

When I reach the park, Hunnie was feeding the adamant birds with the white of her left-over bread right under the 'no bird-feeding' sign while she chews on the crusts from the same slice of bread. I call her and point at the sign. She looks around and mutters a small 'oopsie' though her smile is not apologetic at all.

"Come on," I wave.

"Wait wait." She dusts her shirt while she stands. causing tons of little crumbs to fall to the ground. The birds swarm around the leftovers which automatically means around her. "Aww, you want to say goodbye to me birdies? You're gonna miss me?" She got ignored. When all the crumbs disappeared, the birds all left her cold-bloodedly, not looking back or anything. She pouts before scurrying towards me.

I pat her on the head.

"They were just using me! They didn't even care I was leaving."

"There there," I pat her head again. "Let's go."

"Okay."

***

We went all over the mall. One minute we were at a stationery store, the next we were at the kids' store, then clothing store, toy store, makeup, music, basically everything. It was fun and all, but I did get a little suspicious especially since she won't show me anything that she bought. But let's not forget. This is Hunnie. She might do that just to provoke my curiosity and nothing else. I decided to let it go.

At around six, I found myself resting lazily on a couch in a Starbucks while Hunnie drinks a sickly sweet cup of Vanilla Frappuccino.

While I stare blankly at the ceiling, slowly drifting to sleep, Hunnie puts down her drink and looks at me all innocently. She's definitely up to something.

"Y/n, can you do me a favour?"

"Hm?" I look at her blankly, lids still slightly heavy. "Sure. What is it?"

"If you'll do this for me, I won't ask for anything else for my birthday this year. This can be my present!"

"Great! Sure." I sit up. "I really don't know what to get you."

"Are you sure? Are you really sure? Cause no takebacks!"

"Yeah, sure."

"Promise me." She extends her pinky and I intertwine it.

"Promise."

She does a little celebratory yay.

"What is it anyway?"

"Lemme colour your hair."

"Wait what?"

"You promised."

"Wait, why? I thought you have plenty of wigs for experimentation purposes?"

"Oh no, it's legit this time. I need a hair model for this term's exam. It's also a competition of sorts, with famous hairstylists from all the best salons in Seoul watching the process and looking out to scout new talents. Even that guy with the golden mohawk."

"That guy in the big billboard in Gangnam?"

"Yeah. Even that guy. I really need a model and you're the only I can ask," she looks at me all nervous. She looks endearing as always. "Please?"

"I mean, as long as it won't make people stare at me like I'm crazy, then I guess it's fine," I say, giving up to her big sparkly eyes.

"Thankssss, love you so much!" she hugs me. Gosh, she's good at this.

"It's not gonna get me fired, right?"

She pretends she didn't hear me. What's done is done.

***

On the way home, in accordance with our plan, we stop by Han river to sit at the grass for chimaek and an additional cup of ramyeon. It's eleven p.m. and no one our age in their right mind would even glance at ramyeon this late at night especially after a whole round of chimaek, no one who cares about their figure anyway. But Hunnie has the metabolism of a horse and I— just simply don't care. So here we are stuffing our face by the river.

Hunnie points her camera at me. "Smile~" the shutter clicks and she checks the picture. "Can you smile a bit? Your poker face is really pretty but I wanna see you smile."

"But I was smiling."

"Smile a bit wider?"

I smile and she takes another picture. I look exactly the same. "I guess I really do have some kind of weird automatic camera-stone-face."

"Maybe you really do. Like some sort of have camera anxiety. I don't get it," she squints at the picture. "You can smile just fine without the camera."

"I call it the Chandler Bing syndrome." I laugh and she glares at me.

"But I want my followers to see how pretty my best friend is when they smile."

"I don't mind, I don't know them anyway."

"I guess we can work on it slowly."

"How?"

"I dunno," she shrugs. "Maybe I can get one of Haneul Unnie's model friend to teach you how to smile or something."

"Do I have to pay tuition fee for the lesson?"

"Probably not."

"Good." I give her a thumbs up. "I'm broke."

"And I'm even more. My wallet practically lets out butterflies at this time of the month." Hunnie sighs before taking more pictures of everything, our picnic mat, the river, the sky. I look at the sad half-cup of ramyeon cooling rapidly with the night wind.

"Here, lemme take the pictures, your ramyeon's probably cold by now," I gesture at her phone. She doesn't hand me her phone and grabs the cup of ramyeon instead, placing it in between her knees while her thighs are pressed to her chest. She eats it while simultaneously taking more pictures. Hubbie definitely deserves a medal in multitasking, heck, she probably has it already buried under all those wigs in the house.

I lay back with my arms propping my body behind me and, with nothing to do, stare at Hunnie's phone screen, looking at everything she's seeing. The silhouette of a tree, a little puppy running after a little kid, the bridge. Then, it stops at a man wearing all black from his cap to his shoes, hunching greatly near a bench, looking at the ground. The strong yellow streetlight above him creates a harsh shadow under his feet and illuminates his curly hair. There is a black backpack sitting on the bench and judging from the fact that there's no one near him, I assume that it is his.

Hunnie clicks the camera button, capturing that scene in her phone.

"Why?"

"Dunno, just thought that it's kind of aesthetic," she says calmly. "What d'you think he's doing?" she finally lowers her phone.

"I think he's looking for something. Maybe his wallet? phone?"

"Should we help?" she puts her empty cup down. "Phew, I'm full."

"I'm done too." I look at the man again who is still searching for whatever it is on the ground. Honestly, he looks a bit suspicious, with the all-black and cap low enough to almost cover his eyes. Is it safe to help? I look behind and there are still quite a few people that might be able to help us if we shout just loud enough if we ever need it. If. I take a deep breath and firm my resolve. "Let's help then go home?"

"Yea, my butt's starting to hurt after sitting that long anyway."

***

I fold the little mat we brought while Hunnie looks for a trashcan with her hands full of all our empty food boxes. After throwing it all away, she comes back for our stuff and I end up carrying the mat — Hunnie is already carrying bags-full of things she bought at the mall.

We head towards the suspicious man but the closer we get, the more harmless he seems. In fact, two meters radius away from him and heck! We look more dangerous than him! His bewildered eyes resemble that of a missing child.

"Need help with anything?" Hunnie asks politely while smiling kindly. As expected from the queen of human interaction.

"Oh, sorry, I just can't find my phone," he laughs awkwardly.

"What does it look like?" I ask.

"It's a white iPhone X with the phone case filled with little carrots."

"Sounds cute," Hunnie chirps. The man gruffs and nods but the gruff is too cute to be intimidating. "Let's start searching then!"

We all look for it together, on the pedestrian path nearby, on the grass, and he searches his backpack thoroughly again (I was right, the backpack's his) to make sure we're not searching for nothing. After a brief five minutes of looking at the ground, I see a little carrot drawing in the corner of something, deep inside the bush behind the bench. It must be the phone he's looking for. I try putting my hand in the bush but it's a little further than the reach of my hand. I call the others and show them where it's stuck in. He lets out an air of relief and grabs the phone easily.

"Oh! thank you so much!!! I don't know what I would do if I lose it!" he yells excitedly, grinning so wide that I'm worried it might split his face in half. I smile back. I guess his excitement is infectious.

"It's nothing, if you want to thank someone, thank her," I nod my head sideway towards Hunnie. "She's the one who insists that we help you." My smile grows wider thinking of what a wonderful person my best friend is.

"See! You can smile normally without a camera on you!" I flinch and the phone owner flinches with me, most probably cause I flinched out of nowhere.

"Shh! Later." I whisper. She laughs.

"Anyway, we should get going. Have a good night."

"You too, he says, bowing deeply to both of us before he lifts and adjusts his cap that is slipping down covering more and more of his face. We bow back and I turn around but Hunnie grabs my arm mid-turn.

"Wait." She freezes in place, jaw half hanging. "You are—"

The guy tilts his head.

"Jeon Jungkook!" she exclaims in whispers.

"Ah, nice to meet you."

"I'm an army! I can't believe I get to see you like this."

"Ami!" He brightens. "It's always great to meet army. How are you?"

"I'm great now that I've met you" she chirps. With the impossible height that her pitch reaches, I can picture her slowly turning into a puddle in my head. "I love your music!" She looks as if she wants to say something but she decides not to. He seems to notice it too.

"Hm, do you..."

"Yes?"

"Want an autograph?"

"Yes! I mean, if it's okay for you." She looks down shyly. He smiles at her then grabs a marker from his backpack.

Hunnie quickly fishes for her phone in her pocket and takes the casing off.

"Who should I address it to?"

"Me."

"What's your name, ami?"

"I'm Hunnie."

"Nice to meet you and thanks again," he says kindly.

"It's her birthday tomorrow," I whisper loudly from the side-line.

"I see," he quirks one eyebrow while signing her phone. He waits a little while for the marker to dry before putting the case back on and handing it back to her. "Happy early birthday!"

She bows a thousand times until he has to stop her out of concern. We then say our goodbyes again and go our separate ways.

***

When we reach our apartment, she drops all her stuff on the floor and impatiently opens her phone case. There is a little message above the sign. It says 'to Hunnie who so very kindly help me find my phone in the park along the Han river. Thank you for loving our music and have a wonderfully happy birthday! '

Hunnie nearly fainted.

That night, she goes to sleep with her phone squished under her cheeks.

Chapter Text

It's Sunday, God's day. Or more importantly (according to Hunnie) Hunnie's birthday.  When I woke up this morning, her eyes were half open and half of her blanket has spilt off the bed, yet she was still peacefully asleep. By the time she was finally awake, still smiling and giggling from the leftover surrealness of what happened yesterday, I've showered and downed my second cup of coffee.

"I can't believe I met Jungkook yesterday! Jeon freaking Jungkook!" she beams.

"Yes, yes you did, and I don't need to ask how it went to see how you're feeling."

"And I'm so relieved he's as nice and kind in real life! Imagine if I meet him and he's a jackass, I would—" she interrupts herself.

"You would, hm? Knock him out?" She shakes her head. "A little elbow to the nose action? A German Supplex?"

"Well, probably just kick the shit out of kook junior or something, depends on how many jackass point he scores from the douche meter," she says matter-of-factly and nods along the entire time, agreeing completely with herself.

"I can picture it."

After some time, my phone rings, and multiple notifications banners pop up furiously, all from Instagram, telling me that Hunnie has posted her pics.

"The ones you took yesterday?" I say, opening Instagram.

"Yeap, it turned out pretty great right?"

I nod, scrolling through the pictures. "I still can't believe you took all these while you ate without looking at your ramyeon."

"I'm a pro at multitasking. If there's an Olympic on multitasking, I've probably won it. Maybe my shadow already did it while I was doing something else."

"Now that I think about it, in the store, you also set up card payments while packing don't you? You don't even look when you're packing."

"The only time I'm not multitasking is when I'm sleeping." She leans on the wall smugly then winches in pain. She lifts the back of her pyjama shirt. "But considering how many bruises I wake up with every day, I probably multitask then too." She rubs her back gently, trying to soothe the pain away.

"I'm pretty sure you do. I heard something last night but I was too tired to check. When I woke up at five today to pee, I saw a half-eaten egg sandwich on the kitchen counter."

"I sleep-eat again?!"

"I think so."

At the end of that sentence, Hunnie's stomach grumbles. She sighs. "Confirmed."

I grab the half left of the egg sandwich from the fridge and hand it to her. She downs it in less than a minute.

Today, per request from the birthday girl, we'll be attending the annual 'Great Shout-Out',  a special event – a role-playing game made and organised by university students across five universities in Seoul in which participants take turns into playing the customer and the retail workers. The catch is, they can be as rude as they want and not hold back. It serves as stress-reliever for students before exams while also being a bit of a radical public awareness campaign for verbal mistreatments that retail or service workers are often subjected to while they're expected to be nice all the time just because they're paid to do it. I heard from some people who participated as one of the planners that the goal is to hopefully encourage those who don't work in the industry to treat the worker with more respect and speak to them nicer by letting them experience it for themselves, which as someone who is a part of the industry, is more than I could ever ask for. There're tons of great and polite people but then again, there're also tons of assholes who think that employees are like some kind of errand-kid they get to bully.

It's a game with a great cause, but none of that matters today, because the real reason we are going to attend this year, just like any other year, is that one specific phrase I mentioned earlier. They can be as rude as they want and not hold back.

Hunnie sits on her bed shivering with excitement, clearly thinking about how she will be able to destress in her favourite way: talking back. Just the other day, she told me that she considers this event falling right on her birthday as one of the greatest coincidence and birthday gift ever, especially because last week during one of the rare days where we get to be shift buddies, a grandmother mocked her parents and called her the trash of humanity for not helping her with her bag, though at that time, we were both super busy trying to clear the long queue asap and Hunnie was scanning items at the rate of three bags of chips per second.

"I can't wait to lash out my pent-up anger and hatred towards that rude old lady to someone else," Hunnie says. As expected, those kinds of words could only come out Hunnie.

"Are you showering this morning? " I ask, scrunching up my semi-dry hair with my limp towel. "How long do I have before I should start getting ready?"

"Yeah, I'll shower now. You can probably relax for around fifteen minutes before I'll start getting ready too." She picks up a new towel from the shared drawer and heads towards the bathroom.

"Okay cool."

"Oh, and—" she stops in her track. "I heard they've increased the scale for this year's Shout-Out so it's not just the game again like last year. It's gonna be a whole festival with stalls and shit."

"So we'll eat there?"

"Yeap, I'll try every food they have." Hunnie stares lovingly at the wall, most probably seeing food on it. Imagination is a powerful projector.

"Think about your bank account."

Her loving gaze shatters.

"... damn it."

***

Like every year, this year's 'The Great Shout Out' is also gonna be in Seoul Town park, a huge open place conveniently located within the same approximate distance from all five participating universities. It should take us twenty minutes to walk all the way there, or ten minutes by train, but with how crowded the event usually is, the train is gonna be full with the surge of people heading there. So we are walking to avoid the traffic and to 'burn some fat before pigging out' quoted directly from Hunnie, word by word. Surprisingly, what is supposed to be a twenty-minute walk takes only fifteen minutes, and soon, we are welcomed by an endless row of food and accessories stall leading to a huge connected network of tents, which together combined into what looked like one big structure that is almost as big as a one-story house.

We quickly stride towards the main venue and stop in our track upon seeing the grand structure. It's a little confusing and unbelievable that they've put that much effort into a single event – granted that the event is always epic anyway and worth the wait every year. This year, there are not just one, but multiple scenarios to choose, all with their own set. There is a café, a makeup store, and a supermarket to name a few. Though all are very tempting, we decide to do the supermarket first because one, Hunnie said she needed her cathartic moment asap, and second, it's better to destress first so that we can just enjoy the roleplay and the food for the rest of the day.

Because we are relatively early, the queue is short and we manage to join the round right after the one currently ongoing. When we see the supermarket set from the queue, Hunnie starts jumping like a little girl and my hands move on their own to clap. The organiser paid great attention to detail. They have real snacks and water as props. They also managed to get real trolleys, baskets, and the apron uniform for the supermarket employee role-player.

While waiting for the previous round to end, a staff member who seems to be part of the event organiser team distributes a piece of paper and a pen each, and make us sign a no-hard-feeling pact, which basically says that we won't take any insult or harsh word to heart 'cause it's just a game.

"Remember everyone," the organiser announces. "Remember the basic rules. No violence, no racism, no mention of dead family members, no insult regarding looks, gender, and  sexuality. If you break any of that, the other person is officially allowed to take it to heart and beat the crap out of you, oh, and you'll be a certified douchebag. Got it!"

"Got it!" almost everyone shouts simultaneously and excitedly. From the look in everyone's faces, they've been waiting for this, in other words, they're the people who've had horrible experiences with customers. Or they just have a temper, either one works.

We sign the paper. The team is always chosen at random and for the first round, both Hunnie and I draw the paper together and get the worker roles. Everyone then receives the little uniform and badge they provided if they are an employee, or get a shopping basket if they are a customer. The participants of the previous round trickle out of the venue and when the last of them exit, we all enter the set. Then, the countdown starts.

"Ten! Nine! Eight!" everyone spreads around the set to find a comfortable position for themselves.

"Three! Two! One! Start!"

The bell rings. Hunnie and I separate from each other and head on opposite directions. Most people I see are running aggressively as though we're in 'The Purge'. I guess that's just how stressed they are. Oddly, however, not a lot of people are running towards my side of the set. I stand waiting but there isn't a single person coming towards me for a long time. Do I just repel people? Is it my RBF? Most probably.

I was really excited when some people finally came my way, but for a de-stressing event, they were all surprisingly nice. They, all of them, were the type of people who don't cuss and replace profanities with the word brownie instead, in short, adorable people. I wonder if Hunnie shares my luck.

After one girl screams 'fudger!' at my face before leaving abruptly, I look at the time on my phone. Approximately two minutes before the end of the first half. I search for Hunnie and when I finally find her in front of the very realistic 'dairy section', she has on a poker face and is mildly trembling in front of a tiny man who smelled very strongly of cologne. I look at her hands and they're in such tight fists that they're almost white. I know what that means. He probably insulted Hunnie very badly.

I also know that it's not gonna end well for him.

Just when she's about to make her move, the bell rings and we enter a three-minute break that is designed so that we can readjust ourselves and maybe move around. The man who swore at Hunnie leaves, and in that instant, Hunnie tries to lunge at him. I manage to catch her arm in time but I'm struggling. That's how strong she is. I'm barely able to hold her back.

"I'm gonna punch him!"

"NO HUNNIE DON'T! IT'S AGAINST THE RULES AND THEY'LL KICK YOU OUT RIGHT AWAY!"

"Are you SURE I can't punch him in the face?"

"Yes."

"What if I just break his nose a little?"

I sigh.

"Just a little, pleaseeee," she whines.

"When it's your turn, you can go all out. WITH WORDS."

"Okay fine."

***

In the second half of the round, it's the worker's turn to be rude and the customer can't retaliate, which elevates Hunnie's stare to another degree of evil. The moment the bell rings, she switches to hunting mode, sniffing around one aisle to the next, trying to find something. I don't need to ask to know what that something is.

"Hohoho, there it is," she rubs her hand together like some criminals in kids movies. "The revolting scent of Axe. He's near."

As she turns the corner, he appears, the guys who rudely insulted her. She spots the deodorant man and goes straight towards him, not caring about whoever might come her way.

"Excuse me," a 'customer' asks nicely midway from the deodorant man "where's the restro—"

"We shit outside like bears."

She doesn't even look their way and keep walking until she's three meters away from the guy she wants to punch. Her prey.

He sweats a little when he spots her, knowing full well that it's not going to go down well for him. However, he cannot avoid her and therefore, he pulls off his nicest smile to hopefully make up for the first half. Hunnie obviously doesn't buy any of it.

"Excuse me, miss, do you—"

"Hi douche~" the corners of her lips are raised but her eyes are not smiling. He gulps. Shit's about to happen.

"On second thought, I don't need any assistance at the moment."

"Don't try to get away from me, dumb fuck, cause guess what? After this game, there would be no more physical restriction and I can finally see you walking around roaming free, and that's when I can kick you in the balls, pretend that I was just slipping and get away with it. But then again, I could get away with letting you bleed to die and dicing you into little pieces 'cause I'm just that good."

He shivers.

"I know you know very well that though I could, I won't be doing any of those things cause this is just a game, so you could just go away." Hunnie lets out a deep sigh of relief and stretches her arms. He looks at her intently. She then laughs softly, as kind as a saint.

He stays in place, frozen.

"You can go now," Hunnie brightly says, visibly happier now that she's had her revenge.

He's still unmoving.

"Go already, your cologne is giving me a headache."

He stares at her blankly with an empty smile.

"Scram!" she shouts at him like miss Hannigan screaming at poor Annie, yet, the deodorant man is still standing there with that blank stare and a strange smile. Poor guy. Hunnie is definitely the villain in this case.

"I think you might have overdone it," I nudge her side.

"Look, he's smiling. He's totally fine."

"He's smiling like he just got caught shitting his pants."

The bell rings and with that, the first game is over.

***

Outside the tent, there are way more people than when we arrived, at least three-folds the initial number of visitors. The park is packed. More stalls have opened and a stage has been set up near the main tent. A group of people, all wearing a uniform t-shirt which says 'Groove', is performing on stage, doing a whole set dedicated to BTS' songs.

Hunnie shrieks when she hears the chorus of 'Fire' blasting through the huge speakers and holds herself back from running towards where the stage is. I pat her back.

"You know we can watch for a while if you want before we have to eat."

"Really?" her puppy face glows brightly.

"Yeah. Let's go."

We walk to where an empty space near the crowd and watch in amazement. They're pretty great. As I was jamming to the music, Hunnie suddenly points at the sparse crowd who is watching from the right side of the stage.

"Hey, y/n, doesn't that person remind you of someone?" I look at the target of her pointed finger. It's a tall figure figure wearing a cap who is also jamming with the rest of the crowd, completely immersed in the music. I can't see the face very clearly, but the figure seems to be an energetic old man, and from his trot-like moves, I can be a little confident in my guess.

"That harabeoji?"

"Yeah."

The song is reaching its climax when suddenly, the music stops during a Jin solo-part in 'Fire' and the dancer that is in charge of Jin's role goes forward model-walking while wearing a Jin paper-print-out mask and the other dancers stop and exclaim all-together 'Mr. World Wide Handsome!'

Suddenly, the harabeoji is thrown on the ground laughing in a high pitched voice.

"That's it!" Hunnie repeatedly smacks me in the arm. "He reminds me of Jin! Bangtan's Jin!"

I laugh. It does sound pretty close to when Jin was laughing at the store.

"What if it's actually him? Like undercover," Hunnie whispers.

"Then what would you do?"

"Obviously, best birthday ever!" she chirps.

"What are you gonna do? Go there and thank him for the signature?"

"I have it right here in my wallet," she says tapping her purse."

"You didn't... show it to anyone...right? He did make me promise."

"Never. I could never reveal it to anyone else. It's a secret I get to keep," she says, putting her hands above her heart. "It was way too cute."

"No, you're cute."

***

At the end of 'Blood, Sweat and Tears', I told Hunnie that I'm going to look around for a restroom and that she could just stay and enjoy the next song in the BTS medley.

"Come back soon," she says, squeezing my arm before letting me go.

"Be right back."

The portable restroom takes forever to find. They moved it from its usual location due to the stalls this year and so it ends up on the opposite side of the park and it requires me asking at least a dozen of people before I manage to picture just where it might be.

After a quick piss, I have to use the side path on the way back as the place is now too crowded. There aren't that many people using the side pavement 'cause the stalls are facing the other way, and therefore, waste bags belonging to the row of stalls are lining up on the side of the pavements.

Even from far away, the music permeates the air and I see that everybody is moving their bodies, from just tapping their feet to outright dancing. One person, however, is sitting on a bench that is located at the opposite side of the pavement from the stalls, just before the road, wearing his own earphone while scratching his head in irritation. His pencil is stuck tightly in his hand and his notepad lay sprawled on his lap.

If Hunnie was already that excited at the thought of that old man possibly being BTS's Jin in disguise, she would definitely freak out if she sees him.

"Ah, Namjoon, this won't do," he mutters to himself. He scribbles furiously on his notepad and mouths them. He then scowls and scratches all that he wrote. This happens again and again as his back hunches more and more.

After a little more scribbling and scolding himself, the man sighs deeply and folds his notes, stuffing it into his pocket, and leaves.

I walk past the bench blankly, my mind still processing what I just saw.  

What brought me out of my head and back to the real world was seeing Hunnie still standing excitedly among the crowds. I thought about telling her that I saw one of her seven favourite people on earth but I guess there's no point in telling her. It's too late. He won't be there even if we run to where he was. Maybe next time.

I tap her shoulder.

"I'm back."

"What took you so long? What happened?"

"A bit lost. The toilet is at the opposite side of the park," I casually answer. She nods. "Where's the Jin look-alike?" I look towards where he was standing but the strange harabeoji is no longer there.

"He left a bit ago."

"I see."

"Yeah," Hunnie looks around. "Ready for food?"

"Yeah. I'm starving."

Chapter Text

The sign on the door has just been flipped to 'welcome' a few minutes ago. The fragrance of freshly ground coffee beans diffuses in the air, and despite that there are already a few customers patiently waiting for their morning dose of caffeine, the café still smells of warmth, privacy, and fresh morning air, which, being located in Seoul and still within fine dust season, make it sounds like an outright lie.

The bells hanging on the handle jingle and the pristine glass door of the café swings open, revealing a man in a baggy grey jacket with a cap that is seated almost as low as his eyebrows. He's one of our regulars — who I personally refer to as the iced americano extra shot 'hwaiting' man cause I would always wish for him to get more rest. Sadly, that didn't happen today judging from his eye bags that are extra dark. He walks in groggily and joins the short line of early opening hours.

"Ah, it's that customer again. Oh heck no, he looks tired today, really tired," Baram unnie gasps with the look of horror in her eyes.

"Why? What's wrong?" I ask, not understanding where the panic came from.

"You've never served him before?!"

"I have and he's pretty normal?"

"And you've been working here for how long?"

"Two and a half years?"

"And still nothing? You sure he's ordered from you before."

"Yeap."

"Ah, you're one of the lucky ones. How's that like?" She looks at the cash register contemplatively.

"Seriously, what happened?" I whisper-yell as he moves up in line. She steals a glance at him.

"He's brutal. A true caffeine junkie."

"What do you mean?" I laugh and look her in the eyes. She's not laughing.

"He once ordered a latte-cup-full of espresso shots to go. We thought, you know, he's one of those people who would put it in their fridge and make their own latte at home or something. When we gave it to him, he drank it all in one go before he was even halfway out the door."

"Isn't that kind of dangerous?" My brows shoot up on their own.

"IT IS!" she groans. "Especially if you're so tired that you feel like dying! I had a family acquaintance who literally died from caffeine shock!"

"What did you do then?"

"I freaked out and reported it to manager Unnie."

"What did she say?"

"That there's no store policy to stop him from doing what he's doing but we have to try to change his mind from doing that again," she sighs. "But there's just no changing his mind."

"Is he that bad?"

"Just watch." At precisely that moment, the man walks forward and reaches the counter. I try not to glance at him too much cause it'll look suspicious, so I return to what I was doing, making orders that are lining up while trying my best to multitask like Hunnie and listen.

"What's the strongest coffee here?" he asks politely but his voice is a little gruff and unsteady. He must be really tired.

"Our strongest is the double espresso shot," Baram unnie answers nervously.

"Then, can I get a takeaway-cup full of it? Put as much as it can fit and I'll pay per shot."

"Are you sure? That's a lot of caffeine. It might be a little dangerous."

"How many shots will fit in a cup?"

"I'm not sure, but maybe around ten? Twelve?"

"Then I'll get a couple of shots less."

"Great," she says. I can hear the relief in her voice. "Four shots of espresso coming right up." That's still quite a lot but I guess it's a victory compared to twelve.

"Eight."

"I'm sorry? Eight?"

"Give me eight shots in a cup and I'll be ready to go." I finally look their way, unable to bear it. He's looking at her innocently as though he has no idea why she's freaking out, while she's looking at him in pure dread and agony as if he just stabbed her from the back. I need to help her.

"Unnie," I keep my voice as neutral as possible, feigning ignorance. "We're out of the regular takeaway cups. The delivery that was supposed to be this morning got delayed and so we won't have the cups for another couple of hours. Only the small ones are left."

"The small?" she asks.

"Yeah."

"How much shot do you think will fit in a small cup?"

"Maybe six?" I answer before continuing what I was doing, pretending I have no idea what was going on.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid the maximum we can get you is six shots," she says politely but I can see her smirk in my head.

"Then I'll get six shots of espresso."

I stare at the door blankly whilst sitting on the little stool behind the cashier counter. It has been a very slow evening at the convenience store. Since my shift, there has only been one other person aside from me who came through that door and they left without buying anything. I stand up, and slowly circle the store, checking if there's anything that's out of place or needs more stock so that I can maybe fix it or grab some more of from the back, I need to be the best employee I can be! Of course, that's a lie, though not a complete lie. I just need something to do but there's absolutely nothing to do, all the items are perfectly in place. Spotless. I walk back to the chair and sit once again. All I could do right now is wait, either for the store to close or for a customer to come and buy something or at least someone to talk to me, whichever of the three would come first. Please, dear Lord, save me from this boredom.

Suddenly, the door swings open. I quickly stand in excitement and greet whoever enters with my brightest smile, my prayer has been answered.

"Welcome!"

"Hi," he waves at me smiling while grabbing a basket with his other hand. A white canvas eco-bag hangs from his shoulder as always.

"Oh, Jin-ssi, welcome back."

"I'm back. Nice to see you again," he said while heading straight to the ramyeon rack. He disappears and all I can hear is the rustling of plastic packaging. When he reappears, he silently focuses on the display. What could he be looking for? Should I ask? Maybe I—

"Excuse me, Y/n-ssi, I can't find the Jjapaghetti. Where is it?" He finally speaks up.

"Ah, Jjapaghetti. They should be on the second row from the top and on the very right," I answer.

He walks deeper into the store and disappears again. A few seconds later, I hear a little 'ah, there you are' and more rustling. When he appears again, he heads straight to the counter, ready to pay.

He puts his basket on the counter, it's half-filled and the items in it are all ramyeon.

"Jjapaghetti and Neoguri. Jin-ssi, did you watch Parasite recently?"

"Yaaaa... As expected, this chinggu." He claps. "That's right. Tonight's dinner is Jjapaguri."

"No milk this time?"

"Not yet. We still have like a dozen left," he chuckles.

"In case you change your mind," I quirk an eyebrow and point at the little standing banner on the counter table. 'Today Sale: All milk is 20% off.'

He stares at the tiny stand in disbelief, unmoving. Then suddenly he turns around and walks straight to the dairy refrigerator.

"Should I start scanning?" I ask in a louder voice, making sure that he hears me.

"Yes!"

When he returns for the second time, the white canvas bag he is carrying has bumps poking from the inside. He slowly turns it upside down to empty out the inside and from it a dozen of chocolate milk and banana milk each come pouring out.

"Will your bag be able to fit all of these in?"

"It has to, the milk's on sale," he says matter-of-factly. I laugh. I can't argue with that. I hum happily while scanning the last of the ramyeon before moving onto the milk.

"You look really relaxed and happy today. Anything good happened?"

"Ah," I smile, "yesterday, I went  with Hunnie, the owner of your receipt autograph, to 'The Great Shout Out' have you heard of it?"

"Oh, I have!" His eyes light up. "You went yesterday?"

"Yeah, and now that I've de-stressed, I'm ready to face my exams next week."

"Next week? Ouch," he winces then slowly tightened his hands into fists. "Goodluck. Hwaiting!"

"Thanks, Mr. Worldwide Handsome."

"Suddenly?" He laughs. The tips of his ears slowly redden.

"I think that's how people remember you now. Yesterday, there was a group performing only BTS' songs and while they were dancing to fire, they suddenly stopped at your part and this one guy appeared, wearing a paper-printed mask of your face, and all the dancer shouted 'Mr World -wide Handsome!' And, uhm."

"Hm?"

"Ah, nothing, Mr Worldwide Handsome." I probably shouldn't tell him that Hunnie and I thought that an old man reminded us of him.

"Stop it~" He blushes and turns his head away, trying to conceal it, but his ears betray him as they are now entirely bright red.

"It's a big title, Jin-ssi. I think you're allowed to show it off more, don't you think?"

"Isn't it embarrassing? Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve to be hyped all that much, especially when I'm not as talented as all the other members." He scratches a spot behind his left ear.

"Jin-ssi." I try to say it as soothingly as possible. "The other day my friend cried while listening to 'Epiphany'. She told me that your voice is her favourite out of every musician she listens to."

"I'm lucky to have such amazing people in my life. My brothers, friends, and colleagues, my fans."

"Don't they say luck and being good-looking are also talents?" I tilt my head. "Then you already have two right out the bat."

"Is that so?" He gently smiles while looking down. I notice the dark slightly purple under-eye circles that puff up slightly whenever he smiles.

"Oh, you're going to use your bag for these, right?"

"Ah, right!" he gives me the bag he's been unconsciously holding in his hand. I set it on the counter and starts arranging all the items like playing a game of Tetris, but milk first cause they're heavy. When I'm done with the milk, I look up and see Jin blinking a lot, a whole lot, and yawns every so often.

"You don't look entirely well today. Is everything alright?"

"Just a bit tired. We're in the middle of finalizing our next concept."

"Come to think of it, I saw RM-ssi yesterday at the park and he seemed to be really stressed too. Is that why..."

"He was there too?"

"Yeah, I think he was writing on his notes but it seemed like it didn't go too well."

"I see... Thanks for telling me. I'll grab something on the way to cheer him up then." He gives me a thumbs up.

I smile at him. They have such a great bond together, no wonder they are where they are.

I pack the last of the ramyeon and read out the total.

"Will you be paying with cash or card?"

"Card, please." He takes out his wallet from his back pocket whilst I insert the amount onto the card reader.

"Here you go," I place the machine in front of him and he carefully inserts his card and his pin. The receipt paper rolls out smoothly from the machine.

"Would you like the receipt?"

"Yes, please" I hand it to him and he takes it quickly. "I'll have to show the maknae that I spend tons on food for him whenever he calls me a cheapskate." We laugh. He takes his bag from the counter while looking at the receipt before suddenly stopping in his track. His eyes widen tremendously.

"Chinggu, this— you—"

"Employee discount for being a good conversationalist and as thank you for making my friend's day with your receipt autograph." I give him two thumbs up.

"Ya... This! Yaaaa! I'll definitely remember this. Thank you!"

"You're welcome," I smile again while waving and he walks out the door happily. I can see him skipping slightly outside through the glass.

No, thank  you , for saving me from this boredom.

I yawn and go back to staring at the wall, waiting for the end of my shift that seems to never come.

Chapter Text

I look at the round clock on the wall. Nine thirty. I sit on the little stool behind the counter reading page after page from a little notebook I have in my hand until I stop on an empty page with only a title written on top: 'Introduction to Behavioural Psychology exam syllabus'. I sigh. I take a big sniff. The smell of coffee that permeates in the air calms me down.

It's Monday again, a whole week and a day since Hunnie's birthday, seven days since the milk sale that made Jin buy two dozens of little bottle of milk, and two days until exams. The days go by like a blur and it would be even more of a blur for the next two days because of one thing. I will be studying like a maniac for the upcoming exams.

Unlike what people tend to feel about studying, I don't actually hate it all that much. In fact, I quite enjoy reading interesting new theories. The only thing that I'm not looking forward to is being rendered unable to study as well as I could only because most of my professors are incompetent. Also, aside from my English literature lecturer, none of them will be announcing the exam structures and topics until this week, which is utter nonsense.

This week is when the exams are starting. Therefore, my only solution is to tend the café counter whilst having my nose buried deep in my little notebook for the entire shift – reciting the theories as I froth the milk, imagining how Mr Rogers would explain Socrates' philosophies to his neighbours as I wipe the table. While other kids were watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S to learn english, I was watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Normally, this might work, as typically, we play only instrumentals in the café and they work wonders when you're studying.

However, today is that once in a few weeks day when we would play the idol radio or click one of manager unnie's random playlists. She's a big fan of Panic! At the disco, Epik High, and Bigbang, and so I've been tapping my foot and swaying my head ever-so-slightly to 'Home is so far away' while trying to absorb as much information as I can into my brain but not succeeding because my concentration isn't all that strong and all the songs that are being played today are way too catchy for me to ignore.

At ten, the regular that Baram unnie calls the caffein junkie shows up again after disappearing for a whole week. This is not surprising. He would often get coffee to go almost every morning, then not show up for a few weeks or months before one day he nonchalantly shows up again and continues where the routine was left. Though Unnie knows him as her biggest nightmare, to me, he's just a normal customer, who, though sometimes orders surprising things, orders normal things most of the time, and is perfectly tolerable. Maybe it's just my luck.

Occasionally, and very rarely, he would show up quite early in the morning during the quietest hour and drinks his coffee in, sitting in the corner with a yellow A4 notepad and a pen in hand. Even during those rare times, he never stayed for longer than an hour. Today is even rarer than those rare days. The clock shows twelve ten. He has been sitting for a little longer than two hours.

When GD's 'Crayon' starts playing I softly exhale and cut my focus from all the notes I was reading. I need a break. I look up from my tiny notebook to check if anyone needs me and if everything's alright. The regular scratches his head and presses his palm to the back of his neck in silent frustration. He scribbles furiously on his notepad then proceeds to what I could only assume to be crossing over them and reaches for his cup only to returns them to where it was. Apparently, he already finished his second cup of coffee.

He stands up abruptly, leaving his possessions on his table, and walks towards the counter for the third time. I hastily set my book down on the countertop and stand straight, fixing my apron in the process.

"How may I help you?" I ask. He scans at the menu board without saying anything. I don't mind when that happens, the café does have a relatively big menu. I wait patiently before finally speaking up. "Are you looking for anything with or without coffee?"

"Without."

"Then, caffeine or no caffeine?"

"Caffeine." He says. I nod understandingly.

"We have a new addition to the menu, the green tea and sweet orange fusion. It's quite sweet and refreshing," I explain, showing the new temporary tabletop banner. "If you would like a hot drink, then perhaps the Vanilla Chai. It remains soft even when it's strong, it's calming and it's got a great fragrance."

He stares at the picture intently before suddenly the instrument stops and GD says 'why so serious'.

"Cause I'm so serious," I say under my breath, looking at my notebook. I heard another whisper aside from my own but I ignored it. It was too muddled. When I look back up, I see that he's staring at me in shock.

"Did you just say—"

That's when I realised that we said the same thing at the same time. He chuckles slightly, so 'slightly' that I almost missed it.

"I guess, I'm not the only one a little frustrated today," I say.

"No," he smiles, pointing at his messy work station with stationaries here and there and a few crumpled up tissue and paper. "What about you?"

I raise my little notebook that is filled with my chicken feet, knotted yarn scribbles that goes both horizontal and vertical depending on where the empty spaces are.

"Exams?" he asks. His voice is soft and low. I nod. He looks at the notes carefully before speaking up again. "You study philosophy? That's cool."

"You can read my messy hand-writing?" My eyes widen. He finally lets out an audible laugh.

"Yeah, I can." His laugh slowly settles down and turns into a gummy smile. It's a really sweet smile. "My hand-writing is also pretty messy."

"Well, you know what they say about messy hand-writing. The messier it is, the faster your brain is, cause it means your hands can't catch up with the speed of your thoughts," I nonchalantly remark.

"To whoever said that, I'm on board. I don't even care whether or not it's scientifically supported."

"Me too. I'm just desperate," I chuckle. I stand there without saying anything, completely lost in thoughts while trying to convince myself that I'm smart based on my hand-writing. Then a reminder appears in my head and I realised that I haven't done my job properly. "Oh right! You were going to order? Sorry, I get side-tracked really fast these days."

"Don't worry."

"Do you know what you want to drink?"

"Yeap. One hot Vanilla Chai, please."

"Coming right up."

I ring up his order, he quickly pays, and in no time, he's back sitting on his table, doing exactly what he was doing only this time, with a relaxed manner and with a hot cup of Vanilla Chai in hand.

At three-thirty, I had a surprising 'Introduction to Behavioural Psychology' class which was only surprising because for once, the professor actually taught things that are expected in the syllabus rather than start at Pavlov before drifting somewhere about a past argument he had with his ex-wife. It was clear to everyone that he's not over her but refused to go and apologize.

Most students who take psychology in high school or university starts thinking that if they become a psychologist, they'll have the healthiest mentality ever cause they'll know how to diagnose themselves and therefore can fix their own problem. That's not the case at all. Like me, after a while, they realised that most psychology students, not to mention professional psychologist and therapists are the ones who are most incapable of diagnosing themselves, as if, in terms of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' stages of grief, they're perpetually stuck in the phase of denial.

Professor Ha is the same. All his students know that he's the one who needs counselling. Too bad. I think he and his wife still love each other.

At six, I arrive home with groceries. After taking off my shoes and entering the main part of the apartment, I'm welcomed by the sight of Hunnie sprawled on the floor in front of a long light brown wig pinned on a head mannequin, scribbling on her little note furiously, and by that, I mean absolutely furiously.

"What are you doing?" I ask, carrying the foodstuffs to the kitchen table.

"Slowly rotting my life away."

"And why is that?"

"I have to design one or more new and innovative haircuts and submit the sketches tomorrow." She rolls onto her stomach and slams her note onto the floor. "Which is pretty stupid for a class where everyone except for me has the same hairdo with the same popular light brown highlights." She glares at the wig in pure hatred. "And it doesn't even look good for some of them, it's the wrong shade of brown for their skin tone. What are they even doing in a beauty school?"

I shrug while taking the groceries out of the bag and categorize them on the table.

"And that wig is for?"

"Inspiration. But it's more like anti-inspiration now. A style so 'non-innovative' that it drains all my potential innovation out. Even the so-called beauty teacher has the same hair. I'm the only one with dyed hair. THE ONLY ONE," she flails both her arms wildly in the air.

"Then I guess if you can make brown hair slightly exciting you might get a hundred," I laugh. I took the ramyeon and crisps and throw them into the cupboard under the sink. That's where we keep all the sinful goodness, the food for the soul.

"That's the thing. Is it even supposed to be exciting?" she sighs.

"Well, you definitely can't compare to how exciting your hair is."

I finish separating everything in groups and am now slowly stuffing the fridge with everything that is supposed to go there, the drinks, the meat, the vegetables, leaving all but two lunch-sized boxes of apple juice.

"Thanks." She sits herself up and rests with her arms on the floor supporting her leaning torso.

"Maybe for them, light-brown hair is exciting enough."

"I know that for a fact. The other day, someone who had a level seven brown hair showed up to class with a level eight brown hair and all her friends in that class was raving about how new and revolutionary it was. At this point, I don't think a brown highlight counts as fashion anymore. She went from a 'non-fashion' to another 'non-fashion'!" Hunnies takes a deep breath to try and calm herself. "If that's the future of the hair industry, our children might not live to see and appreciate it, cause there won't be anything left to appreciate," she sighs dramatically and I laugh.

I wave the little juice box in front of her face and she grabs it with her overly-enthusiastic grabby hands.

"Thanks for the sugar. I need it." She stabs the straw into the box and quickly drains the content. When she's done, she takes a deep breath and exhales in bliss before flapping her hands, calling for my attention.

"What?"

"Lookie here," she points at some pieces of paper laid on the floor in front of her, they are all different sketches of hairstyles. "Out of these five," Hunnie grabs five out of like what seemed around twenty and collects them in a cluster. "Which do you personally think looks the best, which is most creative, and which is most wearable?"

"So the answer to which one of the three questions?"

"Pick one for each question. You can choose the same haircut design for more than one answer too."

"Okay, let's see." I look at the sketches closely while sipping my apple juice. A few of them were definitely innovative, but those ones might not be wearable unless in a fashion show or in a music or concept video. There's one, in particular, that's almost like an undercut, except the shave is in the top half of the back of the head. The style is divided into three levels. The first half is left how it is and tied in a bun, then the second level in which the hair is shaved with a design resembles a cartoon mouth, and from then to the rest under it, the hair is coloured in a rainbow from left to right. I absolutely love it. It's like when they censor vomit with a rainbow. Funny and political all in one. I just know that this would be popular online or abroad where people are braver with their hairstyles. I point at the design. "This one, for the most creative."

I look around more and found something I really like. "This one too." It's a pixie haircut with bangs but the bangs are separated into different sections before they are cut straight so it ends up having a few asymmetrical straight lines that together doesn't create a straight line. "I think this would look great for an editorial photo shoot."

"And the most wearable?" She quirks her brow.

"I think both somehow answer all three questions. They're pretty unique and strange but surprisingly wearable. What colour is that pixie one supposed to be?"

"Platinum white with pink highlights."

"Damn, that sounds amazing."

"I know right," she smirks. "Do you think you would ever get your hair styled like that?"

"Probably not, I'm not brave enough. But if I see someone with that hair, I would probably come up to them and tell them that I love their hairstyle." I shake my apple juice box and there's no sound. It's completely empty. I look at Hunnie's empty box laying on the floor. Give it here." I flap my hand and she hand me the empty box.

"Then that's good enough." Hunnie extends her arms in a manse. "I'm done!" she exclaims. "THANK YOU! Just when I thought that I still got a lot to do, turns out I'm done! Thank goodness, I almost withered and died." She fake cries.

"Good for you. I gotta suffer first till next week." I step on the kitchen's rubbish bin pedal and throw the boxes in. "I have an exam that will surely cramp my hand and three that I can't do anything about cause I don't know the materials. Heck! I don't even know if the exams are actually happening for those."

"And mine is still a few weeks away, and I get to play with your hair! Ah! There are perks to being a beauty school student!"

Ah. Right. That's happening.

"Don't have too much fun," I sigh, leaning on the kitchen table.

"But it's my birthday present, remember?" Hunnie smiles innocently. That's what I want to say but I know that she's smirking inside. I sigh again. I did this. I can't back out now.

"Just don't get me fired."

She doesn't say anything.

I feel like crying.

Chapter Text

I slowly exit the door, slide across the corridor, and pass through quiet but busy classrooms while trying to walk as normally and calmly as I could. It is only when I leave the main building that I allow my face to finally break into a smile.

Today finally arrives, the day where I can go back to learning random things because I want to and not because my future rests on my ability to memorize said random things. Exams are over. Although I'm not really sure how well I've done, there's nothing to do. Everything's over, and all the papers are out of my hands. Thank God.

I punch at the air around me and jump around. There are people around, watching as I skip across the campus ground and for the first time, I just don't care all that much that people might think I'm crazy. Maybe I finally am. Maybe that impromptu-like philosophy exam has finally managed to snap my brain in half. Or maybe, like Rousseau said in 'The Social Contract', "Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains." Maybe inside, I've always been like this, and the social chains that have been repressing my instinct have finally been torn open.

I skip along the concrete pathway along the little park on campus towards a small open place with a pretty bench that is quite popular as a prop to take photos. Usually, that is. The exam season seems to have managed to kill the picture take soul of even the most eager selca taker out there. I'm going to sit there, for the first time since I enter university.

***

As soon as I arrive, I collapse gently on the bench and sigh in satisfaction. What a pretty bench, the prettiest in the entire university. My bag flops limply when I set it aside, mirroring my back that leans completely onto the warm smooth wood that has received plenty of sunlight since the morning. I close my eyes, thinking of what to do now that I'm free. I wonder what Hunnie's doing. I pull my phone out of my back pocket and hold the number one dial. It automatically connects to Hunnie. The phone beeps a few times before it dies. I look at the time on the top right of my phone screen. It's eleven fifty-one.

Suddenly the phone vibrates and the notification banner comes up. A message from Hunnie. I click it open.

Hunnie: Whassup

Y/n: Hey, where are you?

Hunnie: Class. Just waiting for the bell to ring cause it's not even my turn. I was done like ten minutes ago.

Y/n: Done with...?

And nothing. She stops replying. I wait for a few moments but still, nothing. I put my phone on my lap, intertwine my fingers and stretch my arms together. As I yawn, finally the notification pops up again.

Hunnie: Sorry, bathroom break.

Hunnie: Oh, remember the interesting hair cut they told the class to design?

Hunnie: I got my feedback.

Y/n: And???

Hunnie: I could proceed with it to the next round

Y/n: YEAYYYYYYYY 👏🙌 YOU DID IT!

Hunnie: I DID!!! I FREAKING DID IT!! SUCK IT ASSIGNMENT! I ANNHILIATED YOU!

Y/n: 👏👏👏👏👏

Hunnie: I'm really happy

Hunnie: Like REALLY REALLY REALLY HAPPY. But there's something that can really make me

Hunnie: A bit happier.

Hunnie: Just a bit.

Hunnie: It doesn't have to happen, but it would just make me a bit happier.

Y/n: What's that?

Y/n: Hello?

Y/n: Potty break pt.2?

Y/n: see that reference I did there? U proud of me?

Y/n:...

Y/n: ...Hunnie?

Nothing.

She'll probably reply in a bit. I look around, swinging my legs that dangle off the bench back and forth, looking at the blue sky. The clear blue stretched from one end to the other in front of me but my eyes absorb nothing of it. Trivial thoughts taking up all the spaces in my head. If Hunnie's free after this, should I ask her to join me? What should we do? Should we eat lunch? Maybe brunch? I am getting hungry. What should we eat? Pancake?

The phone rings in my hand. Hunnie. I pick it up instantly.

"Hey-yo. Where did you go?" I ask, leaning fully on the bench while once again looking at the sky.

"I did what would make me happier."

"And that is?"

"Ditching my class and having a celebration," she laughs, huffing a little.

"You ran out of your class?" I smile. I can picture her yeeting herself out of the classroom with her bag like a discount maniac during a seventy-five per cent supermarket sale. So basically, every broke college student during a seventy-five per cent supermarket sale.

"Yeap!!! Where are you?"

"Me? I'm sitting on that pretty bench."

"That insta-famous bench at your uni? Didn't you have to line up to get to sit there?"

"Not this time. I think the bench-users are either currently in an exam or they're studying for one."

"Wonderful. Why don't you take some pictures while you're there? It's a rare chance you know?"

"Only for me to freeze up in every photo? I haven't cured that illness yet."

She sighs. "We really gotta introduce you to Unnie's model friends. While they're at it, they could also teach us to pose and stuff."

"Sure, that sounds pretty good."

"Oh! And catwalk! Don't you wanna walk like a model? Imagine walking in the streets like a model."

"Won't people stare then?"

"Well yeah, cause they'll be ensnared and enraptured by our beauty"

I laugh.

"Oh, and by the way?"

"Hm?"

"Turn around."

I turn around. Oh gosh.

Hunnie runs towards me, her arms flailing like crazy in the air, her smile so wide and innocent, almost like a duckling looking at her mama. I guess I'm the mama bird. Once she got sick of me, she releases me and caresses the bench instead.

"This bench is as beautiful as I can remember. I've never seen prettier wooden bench in my life! Oh, except for the one Suga used in his Seesaw performances. Just him sliding across it makes it a gazillion time more beautiful. He graces it with his beauty and swag." I don't even know how to react so I just nod along.

Suddenly I hear a grumble. I turn to Hunnie who is stuck in a very special half awkward half smirking smile.

"I'm hungry too, let's go eat!" I stand up with my bag in hand. "I still got a couple hours 'till my shift."

"Why do you have to have a shift on the last day of your exam? We should be having an entire girls-day today," she whines.

"I know I know. I can't help it cause I only did two shifts last week so I gotta do four this week." Her pout remains. "But hey! I practically only have half a shift. I get off at six today! There's a new recruit and the manager is gonna use the last four hour as an intensive-training session."

"That's great!"

"Yeah," I sigh happily before being interrupted by my stomach's boisterous grumble. "Right. We were talking about eating." Hunnie's stomach also lets out a whimper. At this point, they're just competing with each other over who could make the loudest noise.

"Yes. Food! I'm craving for western food." Hunnie laughs at the little fart-like noises her stomach makes.

"Me too. I was thinking of pasta, but not right now." My sound my stomach makes gets more and more vulgar. I increase my pace of speech. "Creamy pasta for dinner."

"Sounds great!" she rambles.

"Let's see, I think I wanna eat, hmm—"

"I don't know about you," Hunnie says in a hurry, "but I'm craving for some—"

"Pancakes," we say at the exact same time.

Hunnie smiles mischievously, nudging me with her elbow, mouthing 'telepathy'.

"Well that was easy," I shrug. She laughs.

"Y/n, I'm still handling the cashier, can you stock up instead before I clock out?" says Oh Moonsik, a fellow staff mate and a same-age chinggu who joined around the time Hunnie and I did.

"Sure. Which one, Moonsik-ssi?"

"It's Moonie. So cold. Don't treat me like a stranger," he pouts. "It's the honey twist. There's still a couple of 'em on the rack, but it won't last long."

"Got it, moon-moon," I answer.

He squints his eyes at me for a second before shrugging and scanning the items once more. "Not the best, but why not."

I went to the storage room and brought a whole box back with me. The Honey Twist is one of the top-selling snacks for years and by how many bags of them people grab in a single purchase, I wouldn't be surprised if we need to refill it tomorrow morning. Or even tonight.

I push the ones on the rack to the far back and start putting new ones neatly in front of them until it filled up all the way to the very front. When the box is empty, I stand straight and l gaze at newly refilled and arranged snacks, satisfied at how perfectly they line up together.

As I return to the storage room to put the empty box, Moonsik's head appears from the opened door.

"Hey, are you done?"

"Yeap."

"Great, okay. I gotta clock out."

"Sure, see ya," I wave. He does the miss universe wave in return and disappears.

I quickly go back out there in case anyone needs me but Moonsik sure handled everything. The line is gone and there is almost no customer left, except for one. I enter the counter and wait there.

The only customer in the entire store is a tall man with fashionably baggy clothes – an over-sized full-sleeve shirt that hangs loosely on his frame and a pair of straight trousers. My attention, however, goes straight to the familiar bag he's carrying on his shoulder. It's the same white canvas bag that Jin-ssi always brings when he visits, at least in design. I have no idea whether they all share one 'grocery-shopping-only' bag or he just happens to have another bag with the same design.

The tall man grabs multiple bags of Honey Twist in one go, like those toy-crane machines at the arcade. Satisfied, he walks towards another end of the aisle and picks up some Honey Butter chips and some chocolate biscuits. He wonders around briefly afterwards, but he doesn't stop to take anything until he finally reaches the register.

"Good afternoon," I bow slightly before I immediately start scanning.

"Good afternoon," he replies with a deep and quiet voice, nodding his head politely while doing so.

"Do you need a bag?"

"I have a bag right here," he taps the canvas bag and slides it down his shoulder to his wrist.

"All right then." I finish scanning all of them and read the total. "It's thirteen thousand Won. Would you like to pay with cash or with the card?"

"I'll pay with cash." He slips a hand down his pocket to realise that it's not there. He tries the other pocket, the back one, the front one, the little one on his shirt, tapping one by one like he's dancing the Macarena. His eyes widen and grow bigger and bigger the more empty pocket he taps. He gulps nervously. "Can I pay with e-cash?"

"Yes, I'll set it up for you," I smile and pulls another machine. When I finish entering the amount, I look up only to see that he is staring at the bags of snacks with a horrified expression. When he notices that I am looking towards him, he does another pat over from top to bottom but he finds nothing. His phone must've gone missing too.

"I- I'm so sorry," he mutters in a very serious manner. I try to pull off the kindest expression I could muster. This happens to other people many times in the years I've been working here, and honestly, despite understanding the annoyance it might cause, I feel like we have to be extra nice to them. They probably feel worse than we do when these things happen. Not to mention the possible embarrassment.

"No worries, I can just put them back in your basket and save it behind the counter for you. That way, if you're planning to come back here to pay and grab your stuff, you could do it any time before my shift ends, which is at six. Actually, the store policy says any time before closing, but I think they're training a new staff later today and, you know, just to be safe." I move the tiniest step forward and put one hand next to my mouth with the palm facing the other side like I'm telling him a secret. "The new ones are usually not used to this rule. They might try to keep things as neat and proper and might return everything in your basket back to the shelves."

I see his eyes sparkle for a few seconds before he looks down apologetically again. "I think that would just cause other people troubles. That's alright. I'll just put it back in the shelves myself." He moves forward to grab the basket.

"Sir—" I call out. He jolts. I might've been a tiny bit too loud. "It really is alright." I smile at him reassuringly. "Trust me, it won't cause me any trouble at all. And besides, it's the store's policy." He looks back up at me and the sparkles reappear.

"Thank you!" He bows swiftly. "I'll come back as soon as I can." I bow in return.

"No worries. Even if you can't make it, it's okay, I can just easily put the stuff back. It's not a big deal."

"I'll try my best! Sorry again."

"No worries at all."

***

And true to his word, exactly at six, he shows up again. When he enters the door and sees me, he takes out his wallet from his pocket and smiles excitedly. I smile back. I lift his basket from where I kept it behind the counter and begin to scan the items as quickly as I can. In no time, the snacks are nicely packed in the familiar white canvas bag.

"That'll be—"

"Thirteen thousand Won, right?" with cash in his hand, he smiles widely, showing teeth – which turns his mouth into the shape of a rectangle. I receive them and count it. Exactly thirteen thousand Won. I'm impressed. He's got a great memory.

"Would you like your receipt?"

"No, it's okay."

"Thank you for visiting," I bow politely.

"No. Thank you," he bows slightly before leaving the store with a little wave bye-bye.

After he leaves, I keep thinking about that little bye-bye wave. It was just adorable.

When the manager arrives with the new recruit, I clean up as fast as I can, get changed, and leave the keys to the manager to handle the rest. I skip homewards, excited for a little feast we're planning to do to celebrate my end of exams. We're having creamy cheesy pasta with pink peach soda. It's fancy time.

When I open the door, there are balloons scattered all over the place and a random home-made banner saying 'Congratulations! You can stop studying now!' I take off my shoes laughing. That's definitely Hunnie's handwriting, but where did she get all those balloons?

"Surprise!" She shouts while setting down empty plates and glasses on our tea table – a table that we use for anything and everything.

"Where're all the balloons from?" I look at all the smiley balloons, amazed. Seriously, where the heck did she get them?

"The mall."

"You mean that time when—" She nods. "Seriously, just how much stuff did you buy that day and what are they?"

"Don't worry about it," she hums. I shake my head and go back to admiring the balloons.

"What if the balloons pop at night?"

"You'll just be awake then." She stands up and heads towards the kitchen.

I drop my coat on my bed and follow her into the kitchen. "I'll be awake and you'll probably just sleep through it. You won't even notice it."

"Which is fair since I was the one who put all those efforts to blow it." She opens the cupboard and starts pulling out all kinds of ingredients and set them next to the stove.

"You're so extra, I love it."

"Thanks," she winks at me.

"By the way, since when do you cook?"

"I don't! These are for you." She then proceeds to abandon me in the kitchen while she leaves to go lie down in her bed. I find myself alone with a stack mostly the wrong ingredient piling limply next to the stove.

***

"Why are you pointing your finger to your forehead while looking at your phone?" I twirl my pasta around my fork until it forms a big ball.

"Tryna get inspiration from Pinterest." She then clicks on something. "Y/n, why don't you ever get bangs?"

"I do have them," I lift my long side bangs.

"Those doesn't count. They've practically merged with the rest of your hair."

"I don't know. They seem to require more maintenance. They're really cute and all, but I'm not sure if I can handle periodical trimming every few weeks or so."

"Right. Maintenance. You know you have me, right?"

"You have plenty on your plate already without me hunting you down and make you cut my bangs for me. If a haircut could be cute AND super easy to manage," I say while stuffing pasta in my mouth. Hunnie doesn't reply. I look up with my cheeks still fully stuffed to see that Hunnie is starring dazedly at the wall, so prominently that I could almost see the loading icon on her forehead. Once I'm done chewing, she jerks her head towards the kitchen table where she left her sketchbook and runs towards it.

"What are you doing?"

"I just got an idea! Finish your pasta without me!" I look to her plate. It was already empty anyway, so I continue chewing.

While Hunnie saunters off to her work station, a notification pops up in my phone. I click on it. The lecturer posted an announcement on the online notice board which says, "The exams are over but your future is just getting started. You must have entered the college of humanities for a reason! Here is a list of unpaid internship you can apply to. Get you one step closer to your dream!"

I close the notice board and put my phone back on the table with the screen facing down. I need money to live alone, I can't afford to do an unpaid internship. I take a deep breath and sigh. Something doesn't feel quite right. I don't feel any pain, but I feel something lodging, somewhere between my throat and my lungs.

I rest my chin on the table and stare at Hunnie who is sketching so fast that if this world is an anime, I wouldn't be able to see her hands. She has the biggest grin on her face and completely absorbed in what she's doing, she doesn't seem to realise it. She seems to be having so much fun. I wonder if I will ever experience something remotely close to that, if I'll ever find something that makes me that happy.

I take another deep breath, closing my eyes. You're okay. Don't get fixated on it, you'll find it someday. The time will come, it's just not now.

You're okay, Y/n, you're okay.

Chapter Text

I wake up with erratic breathing.

I wait, sitting on the bed with a straight back, breathing deep breaths until my lungs can't take it anymore. Slowly, Y/n, slowly. Slowly, again and again until my respiration levels again. The room feels slightly cold but I'm sweating all over. My shirt is warm and damp. Damn it. I have to change the sheets. What was that?

A nightmare. I haven't had one in a while.

I hug my pillow and submerge myself in its case. The smell of something familiar gives me a bit of comfort. The room is still dark and quiet. I lay back on the bed and stare at the blurry ceiling. All I can think about at the moment is how much I miss my mom. When was the last time I spoke to her? What did she do years ago when I come scurrying to her bed and hid in her blanket from a nightmare? Did she pat my head and tell me everything's fine? Or did she hug me without a word, just the comfort of her body temperature? It was too long ago, I can't seem to remember. I look for my phone and find it next to my pillow. It's four-thirty, still too early, I'll call her in the morning. I look back to the ceiling hoping that staring at it for long enough might drag me back asleep.

The next time I check for the time, my phone screen says four-thirty five. Time seems to stretch eternally and instead of getting sleepy, I'm just getting bored.

Who are you kidding? You're not sleeping anymore, might as well think happy thoughts to pass the time. I sigh. Happy thought. Think about happy thoughts.

Flashes of images swirl in my brain and I close my eyes to relive them. The funny look on Baram unnie's face when she saw Min Suga coming through the door in the morning, Hunnie's excitement when cursing that person who insulted her in the 'Great Shout-out, Hunnie when she was fangirling on Jungkook, and the funny customers who were debating on why Iced Americano is AA for short instead of IA, which to be fair is a very good point. I still think about it sometimes when I'm operating the espresso machine.

My lips slowly curl up into a smile on their own. Good. Let's continue.

Moonsik's reaction when I called him moonmoon, Jin-ssi trying to hold back his laughter when he hands me that autograph on his receipt for Hunnie, last night's pasta dinner, seeing Hunnie excitedly working on her designs, the end of exams, the post—

No. Let's not go there right now. Lets' go back, way back.

I sigh, finally opening my eyes. The time shows five-twenty. It's working. Good. Let's keep doing that.

I think about many more things. The pancake we ate, the picture Hunnie sent me at Haneul unnie's wedding of her beating up her brothers, the harabeoji that reminds us of Jin-ssi—

The images come unprompted and flow one into another. When I'm finally satisfied and my mood has reached its maximum capacity and can't possibly advance upward further, my usual alarm rings. It's six-thirty. I made it till morning.

I stretch both my arms tightly above my head and get out of my bed, finally ready to be awake.

***

The line clicks.

"Hi, mom."

"Ah, Y/n! How are you? Did you always wake up this early?"

"Yeah, I'm usually up by now. I heard waking up early is good for you."

"Yes, as long as you sleep early too," she laughs softly. Gosh. I miss her.

"I do, mom."

"When you're my age, no matter what do you, you'd always ended up sleeping early and waking up early anyway," she coos. Warmth and comfort fill my chest. I feel like I could go to sleep instantly. "Anyway, how are you, my baby?"

"I'm great." I smile. "I just finished my exams and I have a little break so I'll be taking things slowly for the next two weeks."

"Oh, good, good. Take things slowly. Be happy."

"I still have work but those aren't straining at all."

"Oh, that reminds me, have you found it?" she asks. I froze upon hearing that. "Honey?"

"Ehm, mom? I have to go." I cop-out. I can tell what's about to come next and I can't bear it. Not right now. "I might be a little late for work."

"Ah, okay, have a great day at work!"

"Hey mom," I pause. I hold my breath, trying to dissolve the little lump in my lungs. "I miss you so much."

"Mom misses you so much, Y/n. Remember, be truly happy." A second lump appears.

"I love you, bye." The call is cut and I stay still again. I inhale deeply and hold my breath again and wait for the second lump to disappear. She wants you to be happy, there was no pressure, nothing to bear on your shoulder.

It was just a word.

I breathe out when my head is finally clear again.

At exactly eight o five, the bells ring as the door opens. The regular that Baram unnie deemed 'caffeine junkie' enters the shop. I laugh and pat Baram Unnie's hand as she looks at me nervously. "I got this," I tell her, stepping up to the register. She nods with a little 'hwaiting'.

"Good morning, what would you like to order?"

"A regular Iced Americano with an extra shot please." His voice is as deep and gentle as always.

"To have here or take away?"

"Take away."

"Anything else?"

"That's all."

"That would be 4500 Won."

Like that time, he already has the perfect amount in his hand before I even finished the sentence. I receive it and quickly store it in the register.

"Coming right up."

***

Two minutes later and the soft-spoken man is ready to leave with a cup of Iced Americano in hand.

Fifteen minutes after he left, Hunnie comes. Hunnie visits sometimes when she has spare time or when she's walking around for inspiration. Today is one of those days. Luckily, there is barely anyone so Baram Unnie and I can take it easy and the three of us can chat without a care in the world.

"You should've come sooner," I tell her.

"Why? What happened?"

"Nothing." It's too late anyway, I'll just tell her next time.

Hunnie shrugs. "Anyway, I've decided on what to do to your hair for the exam."

"What is it?"

"I'm not telling you."

"What is it?" Baram unnie excitedly chirps. "I wanna see!"

"Come here." Baram unnie scurries to Hunnie's side and look at the Hunnie's phone screen.

"Daebak! Sesange—"

"What, what is it?" I try to snatch the phone out of Hunnie's hand but she's faster. I turn to Baram unnie. "Unnie?"

"I'm not telling you. You can just see it after the exam."

"Unnie~"

"Interesting," unnie raise an eyebrow. "I never hear you whine. It's pretty cute."

"Please?"

"Still not telling but I think it'll look great on you. It's so pretty!"

"Yea?" I look at Hunnie.

"Of course," Hunnie grabs my cheeks and squishes them. I struggle to pull her hand off me but as usual, she's really strong. "And if you're not comfortable with it, you can always use one of my wigs."

"Am I supposed to wear a wig every single day?"

"Unless you're gonna own the style and flaunt it~" she finally lets go of my face and twirls in excitement.

"Anyway, don't you have a class today?"

"Yeah, I'll be going soon. See you later!" she winks at me then turns to Baram unnie. "Unnie, I'll visit again next time."

"Come visit often so that we won't get bored."

"Got it. Love you." Hunnie blows a kiss to us before she twirls out the shop. While I wave my hand casually in return, I notice that Baram unnie's face is frozen in a funny expression.

"That girl is something else," Baram unnie says with the shock still on her face.

"Yes, she is," I say. "I hope next time she'll come the moment I text her though. She would cry if she knows she lost her chance to meet Bangtan."

"Yeah, let's never tell her that."

I finished changing and walk out of the staff room to the store. The round clock hanging on the wall shows one-fifty eight. I'm a little early, but I clock in anyway. I approach manager Unnie who is keeping watch behind the register.

"Oh, Y/n, you're here?"

"Yea, sorry I'm a bit early."

"That's completely fine. You're only," she looks at the clock, "two minutes early, and besides, I need help. Could you watch over the counter for me please? Apparently, there's a kid who's been shop-lifting around this area recently. I need to check the stock of everything just in case and it's gonna take a while."

"Oh sure, I already clocked in any way."

"Thanks," she looks for a pen around the register and finds one fallen to the floor. She puts it in her pocket then hurries to the storage room.

I stare at the clock waiting for a customer but there's no one. The needles strike exactly two o'clock but Hunnie is still nowhere to be found. I look around but manager unnie is still in the storage room so I carefully pull out my phone and call Hunnie.

The phone rings for a solid minute before eventually stopping. She's not picking up. I spam her with messages, telling her to come as soon as she can but the read sign doesn't seem to show up.

Suddenly, the door opens. I shove my phone back in my pocket instantly.

"Good afternoon," I bow politely.

"Ah, it's you again, chinggu," he chirps. I see the familiar white canvas bag and smile.

"Welcome back, Jin-ssi."

"I'm back," he replies with a smile. "How is it that most of the time when I visit, you're also here?"

"Cause it's my job, Jin-ssi."

"Ah, right," he says to himself then laughs. He then walks in further into the store and starts to look around. When he moved from where he was, a second figure appears from behind him. He looks at me surprised.

I bow politely at him too. "Good afternoon." He nods politely before he walks in, following Jin-ssi from behind.

I quickly pull my phone back out and text Hunnie again and again for her to quickly come.

Y/n: COME HERE THIS INSTANT! YOU HAVE TO!'

Y/n: I'M BEGGING YOU

Y/n: HUNNIE WHERE ARE YOU

Y/n: PLEASEEEEEE

Y/n: COME RIGHT NOW

"Do you sell gift boxes?" I look up. Jin-ssi is standing a couple meters away from me. I put my phone down.

"Sorry about that."

"I won't tell." He smiles.

"Right, the box. We do have them, but not a lot of variety. What kind are you looking for?"

"Any kind is fine, as long as they're not too small and they're under 3000 Won."

"I think we have something like that." I step away from the register and guide them to the corner opposite of the counter where gift-wraps and boxes are mounted neatly on the wall above boxes of little dolls and plastic accessories. I look closely to the boxes and tap on one of them that lies one-third of the whole line from the corner on its right. "The ones that are around three thousand Won and below are from here to the right. Do you need anything else?"

"That's fine. Thanks!" He gives me a thumbs up and I smile in return before going back to the counter.

A few minutes later, they return to the counter with a simple purple box, a vitamin drink, a couple of pens, and a bottle of honey milk.

"Hey, I forgot to ask last time but how did your friend react to it?" he presses one hand behind his neck nervously.

"The autograph? She loves it, wouldn't shut up about it." I smile while scanning the items, thanking him from the bottom of my heart. "Will you be using that bag today as well?"

"Ah, yeah" he places the same eco bag he always carries on his shoulder on the table. I arrange the scanned items in the bag.

"I'm glad she likes it. Hm, listen," he starts scratching his left ear. "She didn't— post it, did she?"

"No," I laugh. "Your secret is safe with us." He gives me a thumbs up. He then turns to the man behind him.

"If you really wanna stop biting your nails this time, you could start with replacing your target from your nails to chewing gum instead. Why don't you grab some? Who knows? Maybe it'll work better than that bitter gel."

The man behind him nods understandingly and obediently take some gums that are nearest to him and hands them over to me. I scan it and puts it with the rest of their purchase.

"Pay together or separate?"

"Together," Jin says. I read out the total and this time he shows me his card. I put it through the reader and moves the machine towards him. He taps the card onto the machine, and it beeps. The receipt starts to print.

"Would you like the receipt?"

"Yes please, I need to start charging the maknae for all his milk expenses," he winks. I smile back and hand him the receipt. He shoves it down his pocket.

"Thank you for visiting," I say formally as part of the routine. He waves at me.

"See you next snack time."

I wave back. When Jin-ssi was halfway out the door, the other stands in front of me, still standing at the same place.

"See you next coffee time," he says with a very faint mischievous smile, so faint that I'm not sure whether it was real or merely something I imagined. He then follows closely after Jin-ssi and goes out the door.

***

Not even five minutes after they left, Hunnie appeared, all ready for her shift. I sigh and signal her to come closer. She scurries toward me.

"Sorry, I'm a bit late. Human traffic."

"Please listen to me," I say tensely with my hands on her shoulders. "Please for goodness sake, always have the notification and volume of your phone on. And if you see me texting ASAP, I mean it. Just in case."

"Okay. Did something bad happened?"

"No, nothing bad." I laugh in disbelief.

She has the worst timing in the world.

Chapter Text

A week later, things are almost back to how they were. The classes start again next week, and so, unlike what I said I was going to do, I’ve been working as many shift possible, covering the ones I missed from the exam period and doing a few extras in case the new semester keeps me busier than usual.

So here I am, calling manager unnie from ‘Bora coffee shop’ asking for any available shift I can take.

“Is there really no more empty slots for morning to afternoon shift?”

“No, Y/n, sadly, everyone is healthy and can come to work.”

“Maybe you can take a break and I can work your shift. You’ve been working hard, Unnie.”

“Aigoo, this one. Don’t you think you’re turning into a workaholic these days?”

“Not really.”

“Are you sure? Did you or did you not call the manager at the convenience store too to ask for extra shifts?” Shit. She got me. “See!” she laughs again.

“No no, I’m not a workaholic. It’s just some kind of shift-savings so that I can be a bit more relaxed once the semester starts again. Besides—” I grab the side of my neck, wondering how to phrase my thoughts.

“Yes?”

“Does the shop have a policy regarding its staff members’ hairstyle or colour?”

She pauses for a moment. I picture her staring at the ceiling remembering the entire guideline. “I don’t think so. As long as it doesn’t bother or intimidate the customer, I guess that’s alright.”

“Wow, that’s— Very vague.”

“I know right. But that’s a good thing. More freedom for everyone. What hair can intimidate people anyway? A meter-high mohawk? And I don’t think many people are even brave enough to pull off a mohawk or an extreme mullet. Maybe subtle ones, but subtle won’t scare people away,” she says. “It might even attract more people. Now that I think about it, Y/n, why don’t you get an eye-catching hairstyle? Maybe that can raise our sales.”

“Don’t ever mention that in front of Hunnie. Don’t plant any strange seed in her mysterious brain. I’m gonna be her hair model next week and she might just do that,” I sigh. She snickers.

“If you show up with some sort of weird hairstyles, I’ll consider giving you one of my shifts.”

“So that’s your price.”

“Of course it should require that much determination, after all, it’s my precious shift.”

“Unnie.”

“Yes, Y/n?”

“I lost.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow! At the usual time and not earlier,” she chirps before cutting the line.

The next morning, I wake up at six. I want to immediately change and walk towards the coffee shop but I realise that I can’t do that. Not because I’m incapable of doing so, more like I’m not allowed. At the usual time and not earlier, manager unnie said yesterday. So in the morning, I take things slow. I sip my cup of coffee instead of downing them like there's no tomorrow. I even took the time to to take care of my toenails and clip them nicely, making sure they're not disgusting, even though no one will ever see them because all I wear are shoes. Yet, I still do it out of boredom.

When I get out of the shower, it's only six-thirty and so while waiting for my hair to dry, I sit around the short tea table and read up some general knowledge on any topic I can think of. Today, it was biology and medical science. Did you know that sometimes, and by sometimes I mean there’s a 0.01% chance that a person is born with all their prominent internal organ in the chest and torso area in an inverted position? Meaning that their heart, for example, is on their right instead of left. It’s called ‘Situs Invertus’ and apparently, it doesn’t really have any effect on their life. The only thing it does is giving inexperienced doctors headaches from trying to imagine the human body in mirror mode. What if a person with Situs Invertus needs an emergency treatment in a place with no proper medical equipment and the doctor has no idea?

“No! Not enough time!” Hunnie mumbles in her sleep, interrupting my imaginary emergency. “The lightener won’t have enough time!”

She’s probably really nervous since her exams will be held next week, moreover in front of big-shots like that guy with the golden Mohawk whose face is posted in a huge billboard in Gangnam. She’s so cute. I can understand why someone would be nervous about that, but I don’t think there’s a proper reason for her to get that nervous. I’ve seen what she does on all her wigs and sketches. She’ll be fine.

“Y/n! Your hair!” she shouts. My head snaps towards her. My hair? “I’m so sorry, I picked up the wrong volume and now your hair is melting.” Wait, what? “I think I can glue them back on and no one will notice, it’ll be fine!” she then suddenly stops mumbling and the room goes quiet again. Just what is she doing to me in her sleep? What will she do to me in real life? I feel like I'm heating up. Is it possible that I'm getting a psychogenic fever?

I show up at seven-thirty and, as usual, manager Unnie has already started the opening preparations.

“Unnie, among us, I think you’re the workaholic.”

“It’s called being dedicated.”

“I’m also just dedicated!”

“Dedicated is doing one’s job whole-heartedly. Being a workaholic is trying to take other people’s shifts cause you like to work so much.”

“I don’t absolutely love working.”

“Then why are you constantly working, unless it’s to pay your bills. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

“What? No, no. I’m fine and I have spares every month even after the bills.”

“Then why do you work yourself this much?” she asks. I don’t say anything. After all, I don’t know the answer to it myself.

***

Our conversation is forced to a stop due to the sudden wave of customers entering the premise. There are two big groups. The first group consists of formal-attired workers with their suitcases, and the second appears to be a family or perhaps a group of close friends. Both groups decide to have their order in. The group with the formal attire sits at the long rectangular table, working with their laptop and papers that are most probably related to whatever project they are working on. The other is seated at a circular table on the sofa area at the other end of the coffee shop. Getting their order ready takes a while, after all, they are large in number and they order all at once. It keeps us occupied enough until the next customer arrives. Then the next. And the next after that.

At twelve, things have finally calmed down. Everyone left except for a man who is sipping on his cup of hot latte in relief with his adorable toddler by his side after what he described as ‘just another tiring park-play-date’

The door opens, revealing a cheery familiar customer – whom I refer to as the smiley cake guy. It’s been a while since I last saw him and he looks as friendly as ever, so consistent.

The smiley customer doesn’t come alone today. Tagging along is another adorable-looking person who, if I don't know any better, I would assume to be a model. He certainly dresses like one.

“Welcome back,” I smile. “What would you like today, J-Hope-ssi?”

“Call me Hobi.”

I clear my throat. “What would you like today Hobi-ssi?” He displays his dimple smile.

“Which one do you recommend? The Chocolate shake or the Vanilla coffee shake?”

“I personally like coffee so I would get the Vanilla coffee shake with an extra shot since the Vanilla is quite sweet. But among the two of them, most people tend to like the chocolate shake more.”

His mouth turns into a cute little pout while his pupils stare at the ceiling. He looks like a thinking cartoon character. Adorable.

After a few seconds, with his eyebrows still thoughtfully scrunched together, he abruptly turns to his companion who looks back at him in surprise due to the suddenness in his motion. “Jimin-ah, what are you getting?”

“I don’t really know, they both look good.”

“Okay!” he exclaims then turns to me. I see that a decision has been made. “We’ll get one of each and— which cake has that little pieces of orange?”

“That would be the orange fresh cream cake.”

“I’ll have a slice of that too.”

“Sure thing. Eat-in or take away?”

“In, please.”

I type in the orders and read out the total. Hobi-ssi pays for both of them with his card. “Coming right up!”

***

They sit on one of the corners of the room near the window where the sunlight falls gently on the table. They both sit facing in, and Hobi-ssi places a gentle hand on the back of Jimin-ssi’s neck, smiling. The sun illuminating their back. What a pretty picture.

“Drink this. Want Hyung to buy you a cake?”

“No, I’m fine, Hyung.”

“Come on, drink it. You’ll feel better,” Hobi-ssi slides the vanilla coffee shake towards Jimin-ssi’s side of the table. Jimin-ssi takes a little sip. “How is it?”

“Really yummy. You should try it too,” he says quietly before sliding the shake back to Hobi-ssi.

He takes one sip and his eyes light up. “You’re right, this is great!” Hobi-ssi laughs looking at the shake in his hand with admiration. “Want more, Jimin-ah?”

Jimin-ssi doesn’t reply. His head dangles limply on his neck. He looks at the floor, lost in thought.

“Jiminie?” Hobi-ssi calls him again.

This time, he snaps awake and returns to reality. “Ah, yeah?”

Hobi-ssi looks at him with a sad pout. “Ignore that person. Jimin-ah. Sometimes people hate just because they want to hate.”

“I know that but— My head knows it but—"

“But your heart is not convinced?” Hobi-ssi asks. He nods.

“When was that clip from?”

“That 'Fake Love' performance from the 2018 MGA.”

“And how long ago was that?”

“Around a year. My heart still aches whenever I think about it.”

“Do you think you sound good yesterday?”

“Well, no. I was only playing around.”

“That’s the point. I think you sounded amazing yesterday and you’re saying that that was what you called playing around.”

“But that wasn’t very good.”

“Ah, I know what this is. It’s not that your voice is not improving, but your ears are sharper now. You notice things you probably won’t pick up before. You’re growing as an artist, Jimin-ah. So don’t look down on yourself like that.”

“I’m trying. But it’s hard.”

“I know. It’s okay. You can take as much time as you need. Even if you think you suck, you should at least remember that there are at least six people that admire you and love your voice.”

By the time I realize that I’ve been listening in on a private conversation, I have served two or three customers their coffee to go. It seems that my body was working on autopilot. Good. Maybe I finally absorbed some of Hunnie’s multi-tasking skills via osmosis.

I honestly didn’t expect self-consciousness out of Jimin-ssi or rather out of anyone in Bangtan. I’ve always thought that they’re so insanely skilled that any problems they have wouldn’t have anything to do with their crafts. Now, I know that I'm wrong. It's wrong of me to assume things or have certain expectations, to begin with. Bad habit, go away.

I wonder if many masters of their crafts also experience that even when they’re at the top. Now that I know it’s possible, I believe that many of them have probably felt something like that at at least a single point in their life. It’s very possible. Most of them are perfectionists who would not stop at anything less than perfect. They’re masters for a reason. In search of perfection, no matter how great one is, there’s always a tendency to see the imperfection in oneself.

Sometimes I hope that that is the case for me, that there is more to me than what I can see of me. I don’t know if I’ll ever find out whether there is actually something more to me. After all, life doesn’t always go according to plan and that’s okay. I’m pretty sure there are ordinary people out there that have the potential to be noble prize winners, but they never figured it out. If that’s the case for me, I’m okay with it. I just can’t help but wonder how would it feel to live knowing you’re perfectly suited for something and you love doing it.

I sigh, clenching my fist. This is what happens when I’m left alone in my own head for too long. I need Hunnie to drag me out of it, to imbue me with a little speck of optimism. However, this time around, I might be the one who needs to give her some optimism. I trust that she’ll pass with flying colours but I don’t know if she knows that she’s capable of that. I guess I’ll need to make sure she knows it herself.

Hobi-ssi and Jimin-ssi stayed for an hour before leaving, and they leave around the time my shift ends. I'm hoping manager Unnie wouldn’t notice if I stay for a few minutes longer. Hope. But that doesn’t happen. She catches on quick and makes me go to the staffroom to get ready to go home.

After I finish changing and packing my stuff, my phone vibrates. Hunnie. I pick it up.

“Hey, you’re done with your shift?” she chimes.

“Yeap.”

“And you have no evening shift today, correct?”

“Yeap,” I sigh.

“Stop that,” she huffs. “You’re really turning into a workaholic lately.”

“Like you can say that to me,” I laugh.

“Styling hair is not a job. It’s a game. It’s a hobby. Getting yelled at by a grandma while working the cashier is a job.”

“Wow, you’re still salty about that? I thought you released it all at the Great Shout-out.”

“I thought I did. Maybe the stress is bringing the memory back. Oh right, you’re free right?” She gets easily swayed then switches back on track. I laugh.

I hum in response.

“Do you mind coming with me?”

“Sure, where and when?”

“To the wig place in Myeongdong in an hour.”

“The one in the same building as that hidden guesthouse?”

“That’s the one.”

“Cool.”

“Wait. Actually—” Hunnie pauses for a moment. “Can we go to that place in front of that really modern looking museum? I forgot that I was supposed to pick up the developers that I ordered. After that, then we can go to wig place since they open till late.”

“Sure.” I shrug though knowing she can’t see me. “I wait at your school then? I got time to kill today.”

“Love you~” she draws out. I smile. I know I’m the one who should give her an extra shot of optimism, but before I get to give her the injection, she takes her own shot and jabs it in my arm. I lost. She beats me to it.

“Keep being you,” I smile.

“What’s that about?”

“Nothing. Love you too. Hunnie Fighting!”

“Fighting!” She exclaims.

Chapter Text

My stomach grumbles.

It’s one-thirty-five. Despite the slightly crowded streets and pavements, it’s not a particularly great day. It's been, okay, I guess, but definitely not great. The concrete and the asphalt of the streets are almost sweltering hot and I already start perspiring at a rapid pace the moment I left the café. I seem to be the only one affected. Everyone else either wears a hat or a cap or walks under a parasol or a conveniently black umbrella.

I flap my hand in an attempt to fan my face. The wind that the hand-fan delivers is humid and warm and not cooling in the slightest.

My stomach grumbles again.

I stop in my tracks and look around for something, anything. There’s that pancake place Hunnie and I frequented on the right and a burger place on the left. None of them is a viable choice. I shouldn’t get anything heavy. Hunnie would probably be hungry as heck when she’s done so I can’t eat now. What can I get? Water. Ice water. I’m dying a little inside. Ice water and a small gimbap or a little bottle of chocolate milk. Or ice cream. Walking through this area, I know that after one more crossing from here, there will be a convenience store located one block away which fortunately is within the route to Hunnie’s school. I’ll just choose when I get there. Hopefully, by then, I haven’t lost my consciousness yet.

***

The moment I reach Hunnie’s beauty school, I find a circular concrete bench under a big tree. The concrete feels cool under the touch and it seems to be the only place in the whole area that is completely untouched by the sunlight.

Sitting there, I open and drink the cold milk I bought and down half of it, feeling grateful that I made it alive. Once I’m no longer on the verge of dehydration, I pull out a small gimbap from my bag and devour it without a pause. It was a good thing I managed to restrain myself enough from buying the whole store. With how much my stomach was rumbling in the store, it’s not too far-fetched.

Only when I’m on my second gimbap that I take the time to enjoy it. Convenience stores really have increased their food standards. These are really good, as good as home-made ones. I finish them in small bites then wash it away with the milk. I sigh in satisfaction. My stomach now rests on a comfortable level. Not full but not empty. I lean back, looking at the sky. They’re as blue as blue can be. I decide to stop moving and just look at it no matter how long until Hunnie finds me. Yeah, that seems like a good idea.

.

***

“Y/n!” Hunnie calls out and rushes towards me after time has passed indefinitely. I don’t know what time it is, only that the air is not as hot anymore. Did time even pass at all? “Did you wait long?”

“I don’t think so?”

“Good enough.” She smiles, gives me her hands and pulls me up I grab them. “Let’s go eat, I’m starving.”

“What do you wanna eat?”

“Anything. My stomach has been complaining non-stop in class.”

Right after she says that my stomach grumbles a little again. “Same.”

“Let’s go then.”

“I just need to pay now. You can wait outside for me.”

“Are you sure?” I ask hesitantly.

“Yeah, I’ll be right out.”

“I’ll wait in front of the museum then.”

I walk out of the store in front of the museum, though it’s more accurate to say the store next to the museum. But then again, now that I look at it, it’s not a museum, it’s an art gallery. So, the most accurate way of describing their location concerning each other is that the gallery is in front of the store. The store is situated at this wide alleyway, facing the side of the gallery, and it takes a mere twenty-steps to go from the front of the store to the front of the gallery.

In front of the gallery, I stand doing nothing, staring at the cool architecture. There are flags everywhere that show the new-exhibitions going on inside. It really does look like a gallery. Even the automatic glass door has the image from the poster in the form of a translucent sticker. Maybe on a day off, when I have nothing to do, it might be nice to visit this place.

The automatic door opens and a tall man with a loose white t-shirt and a cap comes out. He seems familiar, but I can’t quite place it in my head. He’s too far away for me to see clearly anyway, especially with his cap. All I can see is his bleached hair sticking out of his cap.

He walks away from the door and he’s getting closer and closer until I finally see the face behind the cap. It’s RM-ssi.

The notification banner in my head pops up. Tell Hunnie. Tell Hunnie now.

I quickly whip out my phone and call her. I call her again and again. I text her, spam her, call her again desperately. She doesn’t pick up.

“No, not again. Hunnie, pick up!”

I look at RM-ssi. He’s still there, standing around the bicycle parking rack, unlocking the chain on the bar when suddenly the bicycle slowly folds in two. He panics and grabs the handles. I watch as the two handle-grip unscrew themselves and one of them rolls on the ground towards me while the handlebar folds itself. The bicycle now looks like a tightly compressed bar of metals.

“No!” His gasp is audible from where I’m standing, He squishes his face with both hands. “This can’t be!”

I check my phone again. None of my messages have been read and Hunnie hasn’t responded either. I spam her with messages again before locking my phone screen with a sigh as I feel something tap my foot and look down. It’s the runaway handle.

I pick it up and walk towards RM-ssi who is now holding his head, crouching near the folded bicycle. His vague mutterings become audible as I grow closer, “I broke it… What should I do? How can I go home? I guess I should tell him. Next time, it’s better to rent from a company than borrowing from a friend. What were you thinking Kim Namjoon? I better get him something to apologize. He’s never gonna let you go near his bike again.” He scratches aggressively at his head in frustration while muttering a thousand more ‘why are you like this Namjoon-ah’.

“Hi, there,” I say as I arrive a few steps away from him. He turns around quickly in surprise. I hand him the handle.

“Oh, thank you so much,” he says, bowing slightly with a faint smile. As soon as he starts turning away, his smile completely disappears and is replaced by worry.

“Are you alright? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, this?” he laughs awkwardly when facing me again. “I think I broke the bike.” He cringes on that last word.

“Can I see it?”

He nods spiritlessly as if he’s given up. I look at it. The bicycle looks new and I think I’ve seen a few of that model before at the university. It’s the new compact-type bike that has more foldable parts than most foldable bikes if I’m not mistaken. The handlebar of the bicycle leaning on the tree in front of us is completely folded and from the look of the handles that I picked up earlier, those are supposed to be detachable too. Other than that, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. “It looks perfectly fine.”

“Really???” his eyebrows shoot up in surprise creating little indenting waves-like lines on his forehead.

“Yeah.” I smile.

“So, I didn’t accidentally snap this in half?” His eyes are still wide open but the forehead creases lessen little by little.

“This part?” I point at the handlebar and he nods. “It doesn’t look like it. I think this part is foldable. May I?” I gesture to the bicycle and he nods again. I try moving the two halves, but they won’t move. It feels like they are locked in place. I crouch and look at its steel body frame. Then, on the bar perpendicularly connected to the handlebar, I find a little button hidden on the underside of it. I press the button and the folded half moves when I push it with one hand. Both the halves move closer, mirroring each other, until they meet in the middle and let out a light click, signaling that they are now locked in place. “I think that’s it.”

I face up to see him towering far above me, looking intently at the bicycle with his jaw hanging slightly open. His hands are hanging awkwardly in the air like some sort of early 00s robot-toy that suddenly ran out of battery. I tilt my head in question. “Thanks!” he snaps out of his thoughts. “Thank you so much, I really thought I broke it,” he sighs, relieved. He finally unfreezes himself and moves like a normal human being again, his hands at his sides.

“No problem.” I stand up and back away.

“I’ll get going now. Once again, thank you.” He nods his head in a small polite bow.

“It’s really not a big deal. Travel safe,” I reciprocate the bow. He smiles and leaves riding the bicycle.

Right when RM-ssi turns the corner on the street and disappears from sight, Hunnie taps me from behind. I turn around. She’s carrying two bag-full of equipment? I’m not sure what they are. Oh, developers. Right. I take one from her and carry it with me. They’re heavier than they look but Hunnie doesn’t seem exhausted at all.

“Did you wait long?” she asks.

“Your timing is as impeccable as always. At this point, it’s becoming an ongoing comedy trope.”

“What? What did I miss this time?”

“Nothing,” I sigh. “Ready to go?”

“Got everything?”

“Yeap! Now I got everything I need for my great experiment,” she smirks.

“Does that experiment, perhaps, have anything to do with what you’re planning to do with my hair?” I look at her nervously. She doesn’t hear me, but I catch a glance of a somewhat evil look on her face. Yeah, I don’t want to know. I pretend I saw nothing and start walking homeward.

On the way home, Hunnie looks, contemplative, I guess. I have no idea what it’s about, but her gazes are long. It’s like she’s not looking at anything but just lost somewhere.

“Still nervous?” I ask. She snaps out of her head and looks up to me nodding.

“I have a solution. It might hurt a little though.” I stop walking and she stops with me.

“It’s okay. Give it to me,” she nods firmly.

“Okay.” I take a deep breath. “Imagine that person who you always hate because you think their skills and hair designs are so-so but all the mentors think they’re the best cause they’re really good at sweet-talking.”

She closes her eyes. “Ouch. That is actually painful.”

“Then, imagine that during the test, they did the most generic hairstyle ever. Like the person who invented hairstyles would roll in their grave while clicking their tongue.”

“Oh, the pain disappeared,” Hunnie says.

“Now imagine that person still got the highest score just because of those mentors who like them so much.”

“Are you trying to kill me?”

“Now imagine that all those scores aren’t final because it hasn’t included the scores from the guest stylists who are impartial. What do you do?”

“Obviously crush them to pieces with my design up until the point that if that person still wins, we can sue the school for bribery.”

“So,” I raise an eyebrow. “How are you feeling?”

“Ready to raise up hell! I feel like freaking super Saiyan! Imma crush that smooth-talker to pieces!”

“Are you still nervous?”

“Heck no!” she grins. “Wait, that works so well.”

“That works unexpectedly well,” I laugh. “I guess I really only do need to light up your competitive spirit and everything else will go smoothly.”

Hunnie laughs loudly. “Honestly, when you told me to imagine that person, I thought you were gonna tell me to imagine punching the heck out of them.”

I pause. “I guess that would work.”

“Right,” she laughs again. “Anyway, you don’t have work tomorrow, do you? Let’s hang out.”

“I do,” I say in a voice that comes out chirpier than what I intended.

“You sound way too happy to be working constantly,” she squints her eyes at me. “Tell me,” she rushes towards me. “Why are you turning into a workaholic? What happened my love!” Hunnie grabs the front of my t-shirt and fake sobs dramatically. She really is good at this. She even nailed the detail; the slight lip quiver is great.

“What? No! I’m not a workaholic, why does everybody think I am?”

“Because you are!”

“Am not!”

“Denial, I see. One of the stages of grief.” Hunnie sighs before suddenly taking a deep breath and fake a smile. “Who caused you grief?”

“What—”

“Who?” her smile turns even sweeter. I’m scared.

“No— no one.” I see Hunnie’s eyes glaze with a hint of evil. Okay, that might be pushing it but I really do think she’s coming up with some evil plan about kidnapping and possibly body disposal.

“I’m gonna hunt them down and kick their ass,” she nods, satisfied with herself.

“Please don’t.” I grab her arms and sigh. “No one did anything to me.”

“Then why are you being like this?”

“It’s me.” I look down on the pavement and kick a stray pebble. “The problem is with me.”

“Did you perhaps— talk to any of your parents recently?”

“Not exactly recently. About a week ago?”

“It’s been that long and I didn’t know anything about it until now?” Hunnie flings herself to me and locks me in a tight hug. “I’m such a bad best-friend! Always tell me if anything is bothering you!”

“Sir, yes sir.” Her arms curls around my waist. I’m trying to hold it in. It’s a sentimental moment but all I can think about is how much it tickles.

“You know you don’t have to have one, right?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Even if you find one, you don’t have to follow it. It’s completely up to you, as long as you’re happy. In the end, the goal is to be able to die without regret.”

“Wow, that just turned morbid real quick.”

“You get my point.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’m fully content with living my life as a B-grade human citizen.”

“Hey! ‘B’ stands for a lot of great things! Like balloons, birthdays—”

“Bicycle,” I add.

“Bae Youngjoon, Byun Baekhyun, Best friend.” She hugs me again. I hug her back, grateful from the bottom of my heart to have her as my best friend.

“Bi—"

“Don’t finish it,” I interrupt.

“Oh, and also Bui—” she says, still hugging me.

“I love you and all, but it starts with the letter ‘v’. That’s literally the only letter. Just, V.”

“Shh, you’re ruining the moment,” she whispers while patting my back.

After staying for a while in that position, we finally let go and continue walking home.

“By the way,” Hunnie lifts her head to see me as we wait to cross the street. “Bicycle? where did that come from?”

“Nowhere. I just happen to see an interesting one today.”

Chapter Text

After Hunnie and I got back from the little trip to the wig and beauty-tools shops last night, a wave of exhaustion overwhelmed me, the type of exhaustion that you can feel when you breathe in deep. I felt it in my lungs, and my eyes were shutting themselves down. It wasn't that long of a walk or that heavy of a bag to lift, but when I arrived, all I wanted to do was fall into bed and disappear. Just when that was about to happen, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I don't quite recall how the conversation went, but it was something like this:

“Hello?”

“I really don’t want to do this and water your seed, but, are you free tomorrow morning?” Manager Unnie said. The fog of sleepiness was lifted off me for a bit.

“Yes, I am. So I take it you’re asking me if I want to do a morning shift tomorrow?” I tried to sound as awake as I could, but my voice wavered and I think she noticed it.

She sighed over the phone. "Yeah. Baram-ie called just now. She can't make it tomorrow. She doesn't feel well."

“I’ll take the job.”

“Congratulation. Your wish came true, you made someone ill,” she laughed loudly through the phone. I never heard her laugh this hard before.

“Unnie, don’t say that,” I tried to say it seriously but in my slightly dazed condition. I ended up breaking character and laughing with her. “I’ll call Baram Unnie to apologize later.”

“Promise me something if you’re taking this shift.”

“Yes?”

“Please don’t end up a workaholic or I’ll die of responsibility and then I’ll torment you and follow you everywhere you go as a ghost.”

“Yeah, okay, that doesn’t sound great.”

The moment the call ended, I placed my phone on the floor next to my bed and fell asleep.

It’s Wednesday morning, or more precisely 9:03 on a Wednesday morning. I’m standing behind the counter in the café, somewhere I thought I wouldn’t be today on 9:03 in the morning on a Wednesday. A sigh escapes my lips. What I’m doing now is not great. Escapism. I know I shouldn’t be running away like this, and I definitely shouldn’t feel relieved that Baram Unnie is sick, but I couldn’t help it. I don’t think I’m ready to think about it right now, to deal with it. And I know that I should deal with it the moment I’m ready. But the problem is, when will that be?

There is not a single soul in the café aside from a woman in her mid-twenties, her daughter, and I. The little girl cries in one of the sofa-benches against the wall, she has whipped cream smeared all over her mouth and cheeks. Her mom looks at her and pats her on the head. ‘It’s okay,’ she says. ‘I’m not angry that you dropped the strawberry,’ I hear her gentle words. The little girl stops bawling but silent drops of tears still escape her eyes.

I close my eyes to try and absorb the warmth that is in the air. This is why I work here. There are a lot of strange, nonsensical people out there, but these sort of moments are why I end up still liking people, why I can never grow to hate them. If only I can spend my whole life like this, it would be enough. I’ll be content.

At least that’s what I think. I doubt that that’s what my parents think.Or at least society.

The door opens with the typical ringing of the bells. Another welcomed distraction. I inhale as deeply as I could and straighten my posture.

When the door fully swings open, someone whose figure I recognize shows themself and walks into the quiet morning air of the café. He comes wearing a pair of glasses, which I’ve never seen him wear before. His hair is tucked in a white baseball cap and a light-washed denim jacket drops gently over his shoulders. The door closes behind him and I wait for a possible second person to walks in, but today he comes alone.

He walks through the empty line and comes up to the counter, his posture as immaculate as always. “Hello again,” he says with a pure and polite smile.

His eyes are a little swollen, possibly from lack of sleep. Looking at that, my head goes directly to Suga-ssi and his eyebags and the abnormal number of espresso shots which probably comes from the pure need of caffeine above all else. I feel a little bad. I know that they’re busy. Heck, everyone in the world knows how busy they are. Still, I wish they would rest more, not push themselves to the point of sleep-deprivation and exhaustion. They’ve spread enough happiness to almost everyone in the world, can’t they rest and at least experience small and normal happiness that regular people feels? I wonder if I should give him a free slice of cake or something.

“Good morning, Jimin-ssi,” I reciprocate the smile. “How may I help you?”

“Can I get the vanilla drink from yesterday? It was really good.” He blushes a little. I wonder what makes him embarrassed for ordering a drink. Maybe he’s just a shy person? If he is, it’s quite unexpected considering how he acts in his performances. Hunnies showed me fan-cams before, plenty of them, and his confidence can shake someone to their very core. But then again, Hunnie also told me about his ‘dangerous duality’ as she calls it.

“Sure! Any additional? Maybe an extra shot of espresso or syrup?” I try to observe him while I ask and I see that his hands are intertwined cutely in front. Maybe he is shy outside of the stage.

“I don’t know. Can I get the same one from yesterday?”

“Eat in or take away?”

“Take away.”

“A vanilla coffee shake with an extra shot coming right up,” I smile. “Anything else?”

“I heard that Hobi-hyung goes to this place often for cakes. Do you happen to know which cake he usually likes?”

I think about it for a second, trying to remember all the cakes that Hobi-ssi has bought and which he seems to like the most. “As I remember,” I hesitate a little, “it’s this one and this one,” I point at the orange fresh cream cake and the little chocolate tart. “But if you want something that’s a little different, I remember he said that the apple cheesecake is strangely mild and great.”

Jimin-ssi looks at the display for a while. His pupils keep darting left and right between the three cakes. After a whole minute, he covers his face with both hands and groans. “They all look so good! I can’t choose.”

He’s so cute. I kind of want to squish his cheeks. He reminds me of Hunnie, but just, non-violent, I guess.

“Oh, can you choose two for me? Just package them and put them in the bill. Don’t tell me what you put in there.”

Oh. That seems fun. “Sure!” I wanted to say it politely but my excitement seeps through my voice. I look at him, slightly red. He’s laughing now, not just a smile, but an outright airy light-hearted laugh. Gosh, I’m embarrassing.

“Okay, great,” his laughter settles down to a smile.

“Ehem,” I clear my throat. “Anything else?”

“That’s all.”

I read him the total and he pays with his card.

As he waits on the side, I pour everything into the blender as swiftly as I can before I grab the cake box and start picking up the cake slices as discreetly as I could. I pack the orange fresh cream cake, then take the little chocolate tart for the second option. I check on Jimin-ssi and he isn’t looking. Perfect. I grab the apple cheesecake and stuff it in there too.

Now all I need is a small but clean piece of paper, clean and safe enough to put into the cake box. When I find one in the packaging area where the takeaway boxes are, I quickly grab a pen and write ‘Bangtan Fighting!’ and tape it on the underside of the cake-box lid. Hopefully, the cake will give them extra energy. They work hard enough.

When the cakes are all ready to go, the Vanilla shake is ready to be packaged too. I give Jimin-ssi his orders and politely nods when he comes out the door. “Thank you for visiting,” I say. Please don’t come with eyebags again.

Since I have no evening shift today, I head home from the café. My stomach has been complaining on the way home but I don’t care for it. All I want to do is to go home and lie down while I munch on some snack. Yeah, that sounds great. My stomach growls again.

“I’m back.”

“You’re here!” Hunnie sits in front of a neat row of six wigs with all different colours and cuts. Leftover hair and some extra tools and accessories from yesterday’s ‘pick-up day’ have overflowed her work-station area and they are now crawling towards the living room slash bedroom.

I sweat a little looking at the mess that seems to be staring back at me. Okay, broom first, food second. “What’s happening?”

“Art is happening,” she says, her eyes bright with confidence. “Come here.” Though the wigs in front of her are brushed neatly, her own hair puffs messily on her head and she has a little crease under each eye. Hunnie’s not the type to easily get eyebags so those creases are the equivalent of constantly waking up at night. She was still sleeping when I left for the café this morning, I thought she slept well.

“You didn’t sleep well last night?”

“Nevermind that. Come. Right now.” She hurries me to go sit beside her right. Still standing at the entrance, I put away my shoes in a hurry and go to her. “Try this.” She shoves a black wig with cute messy sparse bangs in front towards me. I struggle to fit it on my head especially since I’m still carrying my keys in one hand and my bag in my other shoulder.

“Take this from me,” I hand her back the wig, drop all my things on the floor before taking the wig back from her. With both hands finally free, I manage to fit it properly.

“Oh, that suits you,” Hunnie cooes.

“This is cute,” I smile, looking at myself in the mirror. The messy sparse bangs drape gently on my forehead. As I stare at my reflection, the ‘severity’ of my face, or the ‘rbf’ that a few co-workers said I have, lessen a little. I still look quite serious but the bangs help redirect people’s attention from my eyes to my forehead and I’m not mad about it.

“How about this one?” she gives me another wig that strangely looks very similar to my hairstyle right now. I take off the previous wig and try it on.

“It’s ehm, it’s me.” I was right. It’s my exact hairstyle, just, more fake since I look like I have more hair, a lot of it.

“Which one do you like more? This one or the one with the bangs?”

“On me? The one with the bangs? It’s so cute.”

“Good. You got yourself an emergency wig.” Hunnie smiles as she sits in her place, brushing her other wigs.

“What now?”

“Emergency wig! You know, in case you feel insecure about your new coming haircut, you can always just wear the emergency wig,” she explains nonchalantly. Actually, that does make me feel better coming to Hunnie’s exam blind-folded. At least I have a guarantee card, like a 100% survival rate. There’s a chance I won’t feel the best coming out of it, but I will at least survive.

“Thank you,” I hug her. “You know this is like one of the best birthday presents I’ve ever given anyone, right?”

“If only this is around your birthday, I would do the same thing and make you say thanks instead,” she crosses her arms smugly.

“Remember, as long as you don’t make me permanently bald then it’s okay, but if I like the cut, you’ll have to constantly trim it and style it for me.” I try to wiggle my brows but failed desperately and it end looking like I’m suffering from constipation.

“Yay! Living mannequin with living and growing hair!”

I stare at her as the realisation dawns on me. I adopted a weirdo as my best friend. What have I done and where can I adopt more of them. I ruffle and completely mess up her hair in my head. She’s cute. But creepy. But cute.

I pick up all the stuff I dropped on the floor and put them in their respective places before I start gathering a fresh set of home clothes and a towel, and head towards the bathroom for a quick shower. Though I don’t desperately need one right now since I’m not especially sweaty and it isn’t very hot today, I did take the long way home and so a little cold water shower might be nice. So it's shower first, broom second, food third. My stomach grumbles in complain. Okay, food second and broom third.

“Oh, by the way, Y/n,” she shouts from her work station towards the bathroom just as I take off my last piece of clothing.

I open the door just slightly and peek my head out of the gap. “Yeah?”

“I’m going to a retirement home tomorrow afternoon or evening, wanna join me? Are you free tomorrow?”

“Sure, I’ll come. I’m free after two. What’s the occasion?”

“Do I need an occasion to cheer up and bring happiness to the elderly?” she sulks.

“Lol, sorry I doubted you.” I chuckle. Yes, yes, she’s cute, she’s generous, but I’m still suspicious. I’m sure it’s not like she’ll do anything bad, but—

“I’m there to give free haircuts,” she announces.

“So there’s a hidden agenda!” I laugh even louder.

“But It’s a win-win, don’t you think? They get free haircuts and I get to practise!”

“You’re experimenting on the elderly? I don’t know if I should take back my sorry.”

“What no!” she shakes her head violently, rotating it left and right. Her hair flaps around and hits her face multiple times. “It’s not like I’m gonna go crazy with the styling! I’m just gonna get them haircuts that suit them, and hopefully, bring out that youthfulness back.”

“Okay, okay,” I smile. “I’ll go. I’m free anyway and I don’t have anything better to do with my life.”

“That’s the spirit.”

“Should we get something for them?”

“Maybe, like sneak in a few bottles of soju and have a great time with the gramps and grannies?”

“What, no! I mean like a fruit basket!”

“Oh. They would appreciate that bottle of soju more.”

“Don’t you think they’d want to live a long and healthy life?”

“Oh, my sweet thing,” Hunnie coos and eyes me like I’m a little toddler. “Most of them just want to not think about anything and have a blast without being a responsible adult. What else would you want if you’re stuck in a retirement home? That’s why abroad they have those super fancy retirement homes with swimming pools and salsa classes.”

“I guess you’re right, I surrender. But I’m still not sure about the soju thing. How many are you thinking of bringing?” I raise an eyebrow.

“I don’t know? As much as I can. Maybe 5 bottles?”

“I’m okay with two,” I say. My neck is starting to strain. I realise I’m still standing in the bathroom with my head out through the little gap between the door and the doorframe. I need to finish this conversation before my neck breaks into halves. “Two or no deal.”

“Fine. I’ll just meet you at the store then. Need to buy the soju anyway.”

“Sure!”

“I’m telling you, there will be some angry old people when I come with only two bottles. I usually come with five. Ten on a lucky day.”

“They might be pissed but their liver will thank me,” I smile as I return to my normal two-legged-Homo-sapiens-standing-upright position.

“I’m not sure Grandma Kang will share the sentiment,” she mutters. I have no idea what she’s talking about.

Chapter Text

I turn the sign to open and stand behind the counter waiting for the first customer of the day (who would usually show up around fifteen minutes after the sign is turned). The wait today is nowhere near that long, however. As I stare at the glass door, a figure approaches and opens the door not three minutes after opening. I glance at him. So he’s the first one today. Moderate eyebags, I note, but he looks oddly refreshed. Something good probably happened. He steps in.

Then suddenly behind him, appears a second figure.

Is it that easy to meet Bangtan around here? It seems like I meet one almost every day. What’s happening?

“Hyung, this way,” Suga-ssi calls Jin-ssi who almost walk pass the door and into the glass window.

“Welcome,” I say.

Jin-ssi sees me at the counter and follows behind Suga-ssi with a gaping mouth. I flash my sweetest smile as a ‘hello’ while he still stares at me in confusion. “Chinggu, you work here too??”

“What would you like today? The usual or perhaps that Vanilla Chai again?” I speak to Suga-ssi who is already waiting patiently in front of the register.

Jin-ssi’s eyes dart left and right, very visibly confused. Suga-ssi looks at me in the eye before tilting his gaze Jin-wards while smiling that mischievous little smile that I sometimes see him do whenever Boram-unnie looks like she’s ready to pull all her hair out upon receiving his one-of-a-kind coffee orders. I receive the message.

“Y/n-ssi, I’ll get the usual,” he says. Y/n? So that’s how much you want to push it.

“Sure, Yoongi-ssi, one Iced Americano with an extra shot to go coming right up.” I smile at him. He looks at me wide-eyed before he chokes a little, trying to contain his laughter. He then gives me a satisfied smile and I just know that he’s well-aware of the confusion he is inciting within Jin-ssi. That’s his main purpose anyway.

I type in the order and look back up to Jin who is about to burst from all the questions he seems to have.

“What about you, Jin-ssi?” I ask.

“You know each other?” There it is. He exploded. Suga-ssi doesn’t react in the slightest as if he’s fully expecting it. “Since when? And you call him Yoongi???” Jin asks another question.

“Quite a while. Months? Maybe half a year? A year?” I ignore the last bit of the question. He’ll notice soon enough that I was just being an accomplice.

“What!”

“Yeah, I’m a regular here. I like their coffee.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” I say.

“Wait— Then that time in the convenience store—” he throws his arms up and starts shaking Suga-ssi’s shoulders back and forth. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Surprise,” Suga-ssi laughs.

Jin-ssi then turns to me. “Chinggu, why didn’t you tell me you’ve met other bangtan members? Did you perhaps go to our concert?”

“Unfortunately, no. Almost did, though, but the tickets sold out in a flash.” The memories of Hunnie sulking for the entire day last year cause she didn’t get the ticket pass through my head. “But if you want to know then I’ll tell you next time I meet another member.

“Did you meet anyone else yet? Aside from the two of us.” I stop myself from answering and I return to what I was doing instead, pretending I didn’t hear him.

“So, Jin-ssi, your order?”

“I’ll have a dark chocolate milkshake.” He’s trying to cool down but from how much he moves, I can guess that he’s still slightly freaking out, and I have to try really hard for the laugh not to slip out.

I read the total. “Pay together or separate?”

“Together.” Suga-ssi takes his wallet out but Jin-ssi beats him to it.

“I got it,” he says while pulling out a five thousand won before he goes through his pocket for all the spare change he can get and hands it to me.

I count it quickly and there it is again, the perfect amount. “Perfect, again.”

“Like a miracle,” he winks.

“Do you have a talent for pulling the perfect amount of money from your pocket, Jin-ssi?” I look at him amused.

“Maybe I do.” He turns and nudges Suga-ssi’s side. “You jealous Yoongi-ah?”

“Nah, I have the same ability, but mine is more efficient.” He puts his hand in his pocket and pulls his black card only enough so that its tip is shown.

“You cheeky brat,” Jin-ssi half laughs half sighs, but in the end, he just shakes his head. I turn around quickly and start making the orders to hide my smile. Is this what Hunnie meant when she said ‘Suga’s existence is swag’? Probably. I also asked her once what she would do if she saw all of bangtan hanging-out together. She said she would just watch and not talk to them since watching them communicate with each other is the most entertaining thing ever. I replay the whole scenario again in my head while measuring the milk for the shake with a smile, agreeing with Hunnie the whole time.

When they're done, I bring the drinks to the counter to give them to their respective owners who are casually chatting.

“I'd love to go again, hyung” Suga-ssi says, “it’s just so early in the morning.”

“Here you go, one iced americano with an extra shot and a dark chocolate shake,” I call out.

“Ah, thanks,” they say at the same time.

“How come you both come very early today? You didn’t sleep?” I ask.

“Well, we didn’t sleep much, “Suga-ssi replies.

“Please don’t overwork yourself and take care of your health. I’m sure that’s what all armys are thinking.”

“Oh, it’s not work this time. We just went fishing.”

“Oh, sounds great! Did you catch anything?”

“Yea, a few fishes, not as many as we wished, but the boat owner made sashimi from our fish and it was really good. You have to try sashimi that is fresh from the sea at least once in your life, Y/n-ssi. While you drink soju, it’s, kkhhhhh… Hits the spot.” I can feel the hunger creeping out.

I start salivating and I have to swallow it before I can talk. “Ah, that sounds so great. I’ll make sure to ask my friend after her exam.”

“Is it the same friend who got my receipt?” he laughs.

“Yeah,” I start to laugh with him. Why is his laughter so contagious? When I finally settle myself down again, I continue, “yeap, that’s her. I only have one friend,” I smile.

Jin-ssi gasps exaggeratedly. “Am I not your friend?”

“Do you want to be?” I raise an eyebrow.

“I’m slightly offended. You can think that he’s not a friend,” he points his thumb at Suga-ssi, “but me? I even call you chinggu!”

“Ya,” Suga-ssi starts.

Jin-ssi tilts his chin up towards him. “Wae wae.”

“Ya.”

“Wae.”

“Ya!”

“Waeeee,” he only barely manage to restrain himself from exploding into bits from laughing so hard.

I unknowingly laugh along, again.

“Y/n-ssi! From now on, we’re your friends!” he leans back towards Suga-ssi and whispers, “you’re not against it are you?”

“No,” he answers simply.

“Ah, right, you’re already friends,” he sneers at him and returns to his starting position, “We’re friends!”

I chuckle a little. “Great! I have three friends now.”

“Hyung,” Suga-ssi taps his watch a few time.

“We should get going. Bye, chinggu,” he waves.

“Bye, chinggu,” I wave back. Suga-ssi doesn’t say anything but waves on the way out.

After they leave, I already accept the fact that the morning can’t grow any more exciting and therefore will only be downhill and more uneventful as it progresses until the end of my shift. But that’s okay. I already laughed enough to last me the entire day. I replay their interaction in my head again and laugh, yet again.

“Please~ let me bring five,” Hunnie whines as she stands in front of the cooler in the convenience store.

“Two or nothing.”

“I’m telling you, the gramps and grannies are going to be very upset with you when I tell them that you’re the one that is standing between them and soju.”

“It can’t be that bad,” I say. She shrugs and grabs two bottles. “Should we just get something to eat and eat it on the way? I’m hungry. What do you think?”

“Yes please! I’m so hungry I feel like throwing up.” We stride to the ready-to-eat section and grab as much gimbap we could grab in one hand before quickly checking out at the cashier. Less than a minute after, we’re already walking away from the store towards the retirement centre while stuffing our mouth with some gimbap.

“This way,” Hunnie says, pointing at a building near the mouth of a small alleyway. I follow behind wordlessly, having finished all my gimbap a few minutes prior. Hunnie then stops in front of a gate and abruptly turns to me. “Remember, don’t be nervous. They can smell nervousness. Most of them are nice but some can and will exploit that nervousness.”

I laugh. “You describe it like we’re in the wild and they’re a group of wild animals.”

“I guess your animal instinct emerged after a certain age,” she says plainly. I laugh again. She doesn’t.

When she finally opens the gate and show her face, a few grandmas who are lounging at the front of the veranda look our way and stop their conversation.

“Oh, it’s Hunnie!” one of them says.

“I’m back, grandma Lee,” she gives her a wave instead of a bow. For some reason, I can’t say I’m entirely surprised.

“If you are someone else, I would yell at you for not respecting their elders, but if you are someone else, you won’t bring us soju.” Grandma Lee smiles. “And you there,” she turns to me. “Are you Hunnie’s friend?”

“How rude,” Hunnie shakes her head disapprovingly. “She’s my soul sister.”

“Then do you bring us soju too?” says another grandma next to grandma Lee.

“Well, about that,” I start.

“Nope,” Hunnie interjects. “She even restricted me to only two bottles this time.”

All the grandmas gasp together. Grandma Lee gives me a disapproving look.

“Oh, you’re normal. You can stick to bowing then.” I happily oblige.  

“Grannie, we’ll come inside first.”

“Okay okay. Cut my hair for me later. I want a pretty cut.”

“Sure.”

We enter the building. The building is far bigger than it seems from outside. I guess it’s only normal considering there are at least twenty residents at the moment.

Hunnie goes to a woman who seems to be a caretaker in this place and the woman ushers us into a space behind a wall partition on one side of the huge hotel-lobby-like living room. The space inside the partition is by no means small. Its size is big enough for Hunnie and a few other people to hang around comfortably. The place already prepared a few chairs for the hair-cut session.

Hunnie grows excited looking at the space. Her hands moving on their own, no doubt cutting hairs in their imagination. “Thank you,” she tells the lady.

The lady smiles brightly. “No. Thank you. I’ll call everyone over.”

Hunnie smiles and the lady walks away brightly. Hunnie then turns to me. “It’s gonna take a while. You’re free to walk around, explore this place and talk to grannies and gramps. There’re a lot of interesting people here, you won’t even notice how fast time goes.

I feel a little strange looking at how much Hunnie enjoys doing what she does. I can’t quite describe it. I don’t want to describe it. Though it’s not a horrible or negative one, it’s not exactly pleasant either. I swallow everything down and try to get past it all. I put on a bright smile and fist my hands in the air. “Alright, Hunnie fighting!”

“Fighting!”

With that, I turn away and walk to any direction my feet take me. I don’t know where to start anyway so any place is as good as the other.

I somehow spent an entire hour talking to this gramps who has a deep interest in plants. It seems that the person who runs the place lets him in charge of the garden, but that’s not enough for him. He also ends up growing a bunch of vegetables and herbs for everyone to use.  He’s a really fun person and anything that comes out of his mouth just sounds interesting. I could keep listening for hours if only gramps (he didn’t tell me his name) wasn’t called inside. Apparently, it’s finally his turn for the haircut.

After that, I walk around aimlessly. Various thoughts slowly invade my head, creating an unwanted flood. Happy thoughts, troubling thoughts, thoughts I was trying so hard to repel, and thoughts I shouldn’t think about (or more accurately, ones that I should solve asap). That is until I stumble upon another veranda on the side of the building which seems to be connected with a room that looks like a tea room.

No one is around. No one, except for a tough-looking grandma who is sitting on a bench with fire still-blazing in her eyes. She looks at me and waves her hand.

“Come here,” she taps the empty space next to her. I walk there and sit. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Y/n.”

“What a pretty name. Y/n. What’s troubling you, my dear?”

“Me?” I didn’t realize that it was showing on my face. I try to clear away the grey fog in my head. “Nothing, really.”

“Then should I tell you my problems instead?”

“Oh, yes, please do, if you want to, grandma," I pause. I don't know her name.

"You can call me Grandma Kang, kiddo."

"Okay. Grandma Kang." I nod to myself. "I can’t give you a haircut like my friend over there, but I can be a conversation buddy. People tell me I’m really good at listening.”

She grins and looks at the sky. “You know what my friends call me here? They call me psycho.” I don’t know how to react to that. “Oh, they don’t mean any harm, they say it with love. The name sounds funny but I think some of them are actually jealous of me.”

I stay quiet, not knowing what to say. She chuckles.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” she laughs harder this time, looking at my face contorts in confusion. “I’m not kidding that they call me a psycho, but that’s not my problem, that’s theirs. No. My problem is that I heard someone decided only to bring two bottles of soju. That’s the only thing I’ve been looking for the entire day yesterday when that someone called the place to tell us they’ll be visiting. I’m bored as hell and now at my age, I can’t even drink till I die? What a mean thing to do to this poor old lady!” Grandma Kang rapid-fires. Her intonation goes up and down like a rollercoaster the entire time.

Wow. Hunnie was not exaggerating. “Actually, Grandma Kang,” the back of my neck grows hot. It’s probably guilt. “It’s actually—”

“I know it’s you, Hunnie told me.”

Damn that girl. “But your liver?”

“Screw my liver! I’m ninety-two! I could just die already and I can’t care less.”

“But, but—"

“Phew, that felt great. Now you go.”

“Me?” My eyes widen.

“Yes, your expression when you look at your friend. Something is troubling you. Spill it.”

“What? When did—?

“I was in the lobby before I went here. I saw EVERYTHING,” she smiles.

“There’s nothing troubling me.”

“Spill it before I give you a gentle kiss with my sandals.”

“You’re still so lively.”

“That’s partly why they were jealous,” she smiles. “What do you feel towards your friend?”

“Hunnie? I love her, with all my heart. She probably knows me the best out of everyone in the world.”

“Yes, yes, that’s great and all, but what did you feel that made your eyes go down sadly like that.”

“Oh.” I choke up. I didn’t notice my face contorted like that earlier when I was looking at Hunnie.

“I know there’s something there. You can’t lie to me.”

“I—” I pause.

“I’m just kidding. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to tell anyone, but you seem to be the listener type, maybe even all your life, you know, someone who other people keep telling their problems to, like a human dumpster.” I look at her in shock. “Ah, those kind of words are also why they call me psycho,” she laughs and it’s infectious. I’m already laughing along with her before I realise what I’m doing. “I noticed that great listeners usually have a lot to say. Maybe sometimes more to say than others because they keep repressing everything inside. They don’t have anyone to fully share their problems with because they know how heavy learning about other’s problem is and they don’t want to give their burden to anyone.”

I gulp though my mouth is dry.

“And you, y/n, seems to be a particularly great listener.” There’s a tiny knot in my throat but I can’t seem to bring it down. “So, if you have any problems that you want to unload, feel free to tell me, I’ll even promise I won’t think too much or worry about it. After all, with my age, I’ll probably forget about it in a few weeks.” I don’t know if it’s rude to laugh or not, but seeing that she smiles mischievously, I give myself permission to let out a little chuckle.

“Sometimes,” I start. “Sometimes, I’m a bit jealous of my best friend,” I pause. “She seems to have her whole life figured out and I don’t know what I have to do after college. I don’t have a dream. I don’t know what occupation will make me happy. I don’t have a specific goal to achieve. But then I feel bad about it because all she ever does is support me and love me, yet, here I am harbouring this bad feeling that shows up without will. I feel like I’m betraying her every time I feel this way.”

“Well, being alive and around people for more than ninety-years, all I can say is that jealousy doesn’t make you a bad person. Siblings get jealous of each other all the time, but it doesn’t mean that they hate them if they feel that way.”

I stay still, not replying.

“You’re a single child aren’t you?” Grandma Kang chuckles. I stare at her and nods a little. “Figured. If you have siblings, you’d know this already. And geez, you’re supposed to be young and all, why do you even think of these sort of things?”

“Grandma Kang,” I begin. “Before, you said that everyone’s jealous of you, right? What are they jealous of?”

“I’m not really sure, but maybe cause they’ll never be as happy as me? I never have any regret, even when I look back and scream at my younger self for being so dumb, I never regret what I did.”

“Is it because you fight for your passion and win?”

“No no,” she shakes her head. “That’s cute and all but it’s a little artificial, isn’t it? You work hard all your life towards this one goal but then one day you reach your goal and you’re so happy and—then you become empty because you don’t know what to do next.” She tilts her head sideways, leaning into me for a whisper. “That’s what they did.”

“How do you stay happy, Grandma Kang?” I ask in a low voice.

“Me? Do we need a reason to be happy? I don’t. I don’t need a dream to be happy, I just am. In fact, I never had a single dream. I have food to eat, a bunch of friends I can talk to, what else do I need? Ah right, I need soju.” She glances at me.

“Fine, I’ll bring you a bottle next time.”

“Aw, what a good girl you are,” Grandma Kang grins, entirely satisfied. “Make it a crate.” I sigh. If someone tells me that Grandma Kang and Hunnie are related, I’ll believe them.

“But isn’t it hard? A lot of people think that people who say that are too scared to chase after their dream.”

“It was, at first, but only for the first few months. Afterwards, I stopped caring about what other people might think and realised just because they might think badly about me, doesn’t mean they actually do. Most of the time, they don’t even think of me. And if they make fun of me or cuss me then screw them! If they think I’m less successful just because I don’t aim to be a doctor or a CEO or a billionaire, let them think it. Let’s see who’s happier in the end cause that’s the real measure of what everyone keeps calling ‘success’, which for me is such a stupid concept,” She huffs. I laugh. “As long as your mind doesn’t compare yourself to other people and your heart fully believes that you’re satisfied with what you have, that’s it. You don’t really need anything else to live.”

I stare at her in amazement. Experience really does make a difference.

“What? Did I impress you?”

I nod.

“I do tend to impress people,” she feigns indifference.

“I believe you,” I smile. “Next time, I’ll try and get like half a dozen bottle but only if you promise that it’ll last at least two weeks.”

“Better roll in the bottles then,” she smirks.

I smile. “Thank you.”

***

“Y/n?” Hunnie calls from somewhere inside the lobby-like living room.

“Here,” I call out. A short while later, she comes scurrying out.

“There you are. Oh, I see you’ve met grandma Kang.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s almost seven, we can go home if you want.”

“Seven?!” I look around and true enough, the sky is already dark. “How long have we been talking?”

“Quite a while,” grandma Kang answers.

“Sure, we can go,” I answer Hunnie’s earlier question.

“Hm, if you want to go, better leave now. It’s seven and they’re going to start the weekly dance night. If they catch you, you’ll have to stay forever,” she cackles.

I laugh and look at Hunnie. She’s not laughing.

“Do you think there’s anyone around the back? What if we sneak out from there?”

“I don’t know, it’s fifty-fifty now since that new ahjumma started dating again. She likes to hang around the back with her new secret lover.”

“Oof, spicy,” Hunnie remarks.

“Tell me about it. The biggest chance you have of escaping is either by scaling the wall or by running fast enough that the oldies can’t reach you.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Hunnie smirks. “Thanks, grannie. We’ll be leaving first.” She waves. Hunnie then turns to me. Let’s run by the count of three two—“

And we run, as fast as we can. There are a few grannies and gramps that shouts ‘get them’ as we run but we get nearer and nearer to the gate, until—

Until a group of the younger grandparents, probably in their seventies, manage to get to the gate before we do and block our way out. With that, our escape plan reaches a dead end and they drag us back into the building.

We dance until nine. When we finally reach home at ten, we go to bed right away and pass out the moment we touch the bed.

Chapter Text

It’s Friday. Having woken up at eight after close to ten long hours of slumber, I am now feeling tired from being too rested. There will be nothing happening in my schedule, not until my two p.m. shift at the store. I rise from bed and yawn loudly, stretching my arms out. Staying in bed will not do. I go to the kitchen and whip out a quick cup of instant coffee, only to down it quickly. I then head to the bathroom for a quick shower. The shower I took ended up being too quick even for me – I never showered that fast before — and soon, I am back to where I started, alone with nothing to do.

At around nine, Hunnie begins to stir in her sleep and with a loud groan suddenly sits up with her arms straight in front of her like a zombie rising from her grave.

“What time is it?” she asks. Her voice is barely a whisper.

“Nine-two,” I answer.

She nods limply. “I have to wake up now. Gotta leave soon,” Hunnie mutters under her breath.

“I thought you don’t have any class today.”

“I don’t.”

“Then where are you going and why?”

“Practise.”

“I thought you already did yesterday?” I tilt my head. “Where else can you practise?”

“The street,” she says blankly.

“What the heck do you mean by that?”

“I’m giving people free haircuts on the street,” she shrugs, rubbing her eyes. “Oh, or maybe I should go to a campus. I’m sure there are at least three dozen penniless college student who won’t spend their hard-earned money at a salon and in need of a haircut right now,” she mumbles.

“Hu—” I stop myself. That actually seems like a great idea. If she could pull it off. “How are you going to convince them that they can trust you not to give them a ‘bad-hair-day’ for the rest of the week?”

“Easy.” She groggily stands up, then wobbles all the way to her work-station. When she arrives in front of her wig-table, she reaches down under it and pulls out a standing blackboard signboard, like those in front of cafes. Where the heck did she get that.

“And what are you planning on writing on it?”

“I don’t know precisely yet.” She yawns loudly and stretches up, creating cracking sound as she pulls both her arms. “Maybe something like, ‘Free-haircut by the top-of-the-class student of Keeo Beauty School. Request any haircut you want and it can be done!’ What do you think? Sounds trustworthy enough?”

“Confident, aren’t you?” I grin.

“Fake it till you make it.”

“Inspirational,” I nod. She nods along. “So which college are you thinking?”

“Yours!” she grins. “Come along with me?”

I think about it for a moment. It’s nine fifteen-ish and I have nothing to do until two. I’m a boring person who can’t even think of a hobby. How the heck am I supposed to spend all that time? I nod, my mind is made up. “I’m free until my shift at two. I’ll come along, I guess. My college, right?”

“That seems like a good idea to me, how do you feel about it?” she asks.

I then think of the tired college students I saw after my exams with zero make-up and hair clipped messily or put in a tangled ponytail. If I remember correctly, half of the university has their exams throughout this week and they have their last exam today. It’s probably a good thing for them. And the electrical engineering department— no, the entire engineering department. They all need some serious post-examination care. “Sounds great,” I smile, then it turns into a smirk. “Hopefully, I get to introduce some of my professors to you and after you’re done giving them the best haircuts in their life, they’ll up my grade.”

“I knew I’m a good influence on you,” Hunnie winks at me.

“Where should we set it up?” I ask, carrying the signboard Hunnie made across the grassy patches on my campus. The board now says ‘Free-haircut by the top-of-the-class student of Keeo Beauty School. Request any haircut you want!’

“I don’t know, where would be good? The pretty bench?” Hunnie hauls her big suitcase with her equipment in it which includes multiple types of scissors, razors and hairbrushes, and a shaver and a hairdryer.

“If we use that, someone’s gonna kill us for obstructing their selfie session,” I chuckle.

“Then how about near it, close enough so whoever is done with their haircut could easily go to the bench to take pics.”

“That’s actually a great idea,” I feel a flashbulb moment. There’s an open area really close to that bench but it’s hidden from sight due to the row of big trees standing between the place and the door to the main building where most classes are. Though I know a way to inform everyone, and by that, I mean absolutely everyone currently on university ground. “There’s an area just like that with electrical sockets and everything and people usually use it to charge their laptop. You can actually use the shaver or hairdryer if you need to. But, the place can be hard to spot if you’re not really looking so it might be hard to get many people on board, just cause they probably won’t even know about it. But, I can let the entire school know. That is if you’re up for it,” I look at her for confirmation.

She gulps and smirks. “It’s on.”

***

I lead her to the hidden open space near the bench and set down the signboard. It’s a very bright day, a hot day even, with the sun-ray glaring at everything it touches. The hidden area, however, is situated under a tree, cool under the shadows and safe from the sun.

“So, what’s the plan? What do I need to do?” Hunnie asks.

“Nothing. You stay here and I’m going to speak to one of the professors or staffs. It won’t take that long.” I look at my phone for the time. “It’s ten-fifty. We got ten minutes before the end of all exams. I better hurry up then.”

“You sure you won’t need me to come with you?”

“Nah, it’s fine. Just stay here and get ready to greet your first free barbie doll.”

She laughs. “Okay!”

I then walk away before slowly going into a sprint knowing exactly where I need to go.

***

With breath slightly heavy and my pulse racing, I finally reach the room. The third floor to the left, right across the teacher’s lounge. I look at my phone again, it’s five minutes till the end of the exam. I knock on the door.

“Come in.”

“Oh, Eunseok hyung,” I call. He looks up and meets my eyes. I’m happy to see that it’s his shift today. Sometimes, one of the more strict staffs or hard-headed professors would take charge of the student bulletin and the announcement table. Luckily today, it’s the best sunbae in the entire school and a fellow member of the department of humanities.

“Oh, Y/n, hi,” he waves. “What are you doing here? I thought you’re done with your exams?”

“I am. I’m here for a request.”

“Well, what is it?”

“Remember Hunnie?”

“Hunnie? The one that can curse like a sailor and carried you like a princess when she was drunk?” he laughs, no doubt remembering the School festival fiasco from a few months ago.

“Yeah, that Hunnie.” I laugh a little too. After Hunnie came to the humanity-school tent, no one in the entire major could ever forget her. Even if they want to. Especially not that poor guy who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. It must’ve been quite a shock to be lifted by a drunken petite-looking girl. “She’s in a beauty school and her practical exam is coming soon. She’s really nervous and she thinks she needs the practise even though I know she’s great. Anyway,” I cut myself off, realising I’m mumbling. “Anyway, she wants to offer exam students free hair cut just for today and she can pretty much do any style. The offer also extends to professors and staff members. So, can you make an announcement after the exam bell rings that there’s a free-haircut service available?”

Eunseok hyung rests his chin on his hand in a thinking pose. “I’ve never seen any of her work and since I’m actually employed by the university, I’ll have to check just to make sure that students won’t file complaints if the haircut somehow turns out, well— it’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just something I have to do.” He puts a hand behind his neck awkwardly. He may be feeling bad having to do that even though we’re pretty close, but he really doesn’t need to feel bad. He’s an excellent sunbae to everyone.

“I understand, hyung, don’t worry.” I grab my phone and open Instagram. It’s actually a very easy thing to prove. I only need to click Hunnie’s account and hundreds of pics pop up immediately, almost all could serve as proof of how skilled she is. “Here you go,” I give him my phone.

He scrolls through the screen and smiles. “Maybe I should get a free haircut too.”

“I’m sure she would love to meet you again. It’s not every day that she could do the most random things in public without everyone looking oddly at her.”

“My little brother’s like that too. Maybe I’m just used to that.” He furrows his eyebrows like he’s contemplating deeply about it.

I shrug.

The bell rings, signalling the end of the exam.

“So?” I ask.

He nods, “I’ll do it.”

“Thank you!”

He presses the announcement button and clears his throat before starting. “May I have your attention, please. First of all, I want to congratulate you on completing your exams. Today in our college ground, we have a very skilled Keeo Beauty School student offering free hair-cuts for everyone, and this includes all members of staff.”

He turns to me. ‘Where is it?’ he whispers. ‘The area under the tree near the pretty bench,’ I whisper back.

“The free haircut is located in the area under the tree near the pretty bench. I’m sure everyone knows which bench and where. Though she hasn’t graduated from Keeo Beauty School, she has done many amazing works. You can check her work on her Instagram. The account is called Honeydriphair.”

I give him a thumbs-up, which he reciprocates.

“Once again, congratulations on the end of your exams and have a nice break everybody.” With that, he ends the announcement.

“You’re the best, hyung,” I nod, “just, the best.”

He laughs.

“I’m going there right now, do you want to come along? You know, saying hi to Hunnie or something like that if you’re not busy.”

He turns to a glass-door bookcase sitting snugly in the corner of the room right next to the announcement booth then stares at his reflection. “I’m going,” he says while he muses his hair, inspecting it disapprovingly. “I think I need that haircut.”

I chuckle, “let’s go.”

Eunseok hyung and I reach the little make-do hair cut station only to see that there is an actual line of people queueing for the cut. It’s a long line too which extends to other areas which are also under the cover of the trees. Though most of the ones waiting are guys, there are also girls which take me by surprise. I smile at the thought of them trusting Hunnie with their much-beloved hair. Hair is hair that can just grow back for most guys, but for many girls, it’s a sentimental attachment; their hair stores their memories.

There’s one group of girls which piques my interest in particular. They stand in one corner, not waiting in line, looking at Hunnie’s haircut process. They’re interested, for sure, but the way some of the girls’ hands fidget, they’re collecting their bravery to get their hair cut. Then one of them, the one with steady hands, steps out of the group and walk confidently into the back of the line.  

“Are you sure?” I hear one of the shaky-hand girl whispers.

 “It’s alright,” she shrugs. “If I don’t like it, I can always just go to a salon and cut it short. I’ve been wanting to have short hair for a while anyway.”

“Then I’ll line behind you,” another one says. “If I don’t like what she did to your hair, I could always just step out of the queue and leave.”

“Me too.”

“Yeah, I’ll do the same, I guess.”

All of them end up waiting in line at the back, nervous but excited. Some of them still can’t stop fumbling with their hands but now there’s a smile on their faces.

“The line sure is long,” Eunseok hyung scans the area deeply impressed.

“People are braver than I thought,” I nod along.

“They just finished their last exams. When I finished my exams last week, even if someone were to shave me bald, I would be completely fine with it, that’s how much freedom can affect someone,” he shrugs.

“So, what do you plan to do? Still getting that haircut?”

“I think so? How long will she be here for?” he asks. We both look around until we spot Hunnie’s little standee I carried here from home. There’s new writing that she must’ve put up recently. It says ‘Break between 13:30 and 14:00 for lunch, then back to work!’

I was about to speak up but then I realise he is also looking at the sign-board.

“I’ll be here after lunch then,” he chuckles. “I’ll just go over there and say hi for now. I can always do upcoming work or study up next semester’s syllabus.”

“Pre-term studying?  How are you so diligent?”

“Diligent? No. This is self-preservation. I have Behavioural Psychology as one of my classes.”

“So, your lecturer is,” I sigh.

“Professor Ha,” he says neutrally. I’m amazed that he can just accept his fate of being taught by someone he doesn’t want to be taught by without anger or annoyance. Or if he does feel those emotions, he hides it perfectly. Either way, I really should learn from him.

“Goodluck, hyung,” my voice drips with sympathy. He chuckles.

“You too. I heard he’s going to teach more modules next term which means you might get him in more than one of your classes.”

I sigh exasperatedly.

“Now now, let’s go say hi to your friend.”

***

“How’s it going?” I pat her back as a ‘customer’ goes out of his chair with a thank you and leaves.

“How did you do it?” Hunnie eye me suspiciously.

“Not me,” I grab her shoulders and turn her around to face Eunseok hyung. “It’s thanks to him. You remember him don’t you?”

“Ah, ye- yes, Eunseok Sunbaenim!” She bows slightly. “Whatever you did, thank you so much!” she smiles brightly.

“Not for free, of course. Can I get a haircut in return?” he teases as he smiles brightly.

“Of course!”

“I’ll come back later then, after your break.”

“Sure!” Hunnie’s voice breaks from how high she’s talking. Eunseok hyung chuckles slightly and Hunnie turns bright red.

“Alright, I’ll see you later then. Bye Hunnie, bye Y/n,” he waves and walks back to the main building. I glance at Hunnie who is staring at hyung’s figure walking away with a smile in her face, almost giddy. I try to hide my grin.

By the time one-thirty rolls in, I come back from a short trip to the nearby store for some take-away jjajangmyeon only to see that Hunnie has made a very significant dent in the line. The group of girls have left happily, all satisfied with their hair even if they only asked for a light trim. The few who is still waiting agrees to come back after the break especially since they no longer have anything to do and are very hungry.

I start mixing the noodles immediately as we sit under the shade, starving out of our minds. Hunnie takes a big bite the moment she opens the packaging and chews it aggressively. I decided to do the same and we both eat in quiet, furiously getting food into our empty stomach.

After I finish half of mine and see that Hunnie has completely finished hers, I finally decide to speak up and ask something I’ve been dying to ask.

“Be honest, do you have a thing for Eunseok sunbae?”

She coughs lightly. It’s a good thing I waited until after she finished eating. “I don’t know. Maybe?” She keeps shifting in her seat, partially blushing.

“Aww, I got your back!” I coo and her face turns into a deeper shade of pink. “Oh, and I’m pretty sure he’s still single too.”

“Wait, really? How?” she looks at me wide-eyed.

“You mean how is such a perfect guy still single?” I laugh. “I have no idea.”

“Maybe there really is something wrong with him,” Hunnie laughs.

“So, that’s your type, huh?” I ask, smirking while nudging her arm.

“A mature and reliable kind man? Then yes. Why do you think I biased the entire hyung-line?”

“I thought you’re OT7?”

“I am! Having a bias and being a fan of only one member is different. I like all seven of them but I just have soft spots for the hyung-line. They all just seem mature, like they can stop an argument, take care of you and give you a cuddle when you need it and you would feel safe in their arms.”

“I see I see.” I laugh and she grows excited.

“It’s hard not to be attracted to mature and reliable men when all three of my brothers are unreliable immature idiots.” She groans. “Why can’t my brothers be like Bangtan’s hyung-line? Then at least I won’t need to punch them all the time.”

I laugh, finishing the last bite of my noodle. I look at my phone. Ten minutes til two. I stand abruptly. “Oh, shit, I gotta go now, gotta start walking. Almost late for work!”

Right when I stand and wave at her, Eunseok hyung shows up for his free haircut. Seeing how Hunnie is still sitting casually, he checks his phone again.

“Oops, I guess I’m a little early, aren’t I,” he says looking at the ground, embarrassed.

“Hyung, I gotta go for my shift.”

“Oh, okay, have a great day at work.”

“Thanks,” I smile. He’s such a nice person. I turn to Hunnie and wink.

“I’ll see you later hyung, Hunnie.” I pass by Hunnie and whispers a ‘good luck’ before walking away. I don’t get to see it, but I think she blushes a little. If this is actually turning into something, I’m definitely shipping them. Heck, I’ll be the captain of this ship!

About a minute away from the convenience store, I turn right at the pedestrian intersection to the main walkway. A man is striding in a hurry on my right and I accidentally bump into him. ‘Sorry,’ I tell him but he is too absorbed and runs without looking back. He is probably late and I feel no hard feelings. However, the bump must have had an effect on me as I swerve left suddenly and only manage to tilt myself in the right direction at the last second before bumping onto someone, saving myself and that person from an unpleasant situation. I saw this person a few seconds earlier right around the intersection. He came from the other side of the street and is now heading towards the same direction as I am. When I look up to say yet another sorry in less than thirty seconds from my last one, the person looks back at me and we accidentally make eye contact.

Oh, it’s him.

He tilts his head for a moment before he recognizes me and gives me a wave. I wave back. “Oh, it’s unexpected to meet you here, l/n y/n- shi?”

“Jimin-ssi? What a coincidence!” Wow. Seriously meet a member of bangtan almost every day. A bangtan a day keeps the doctor away? Isn’t this too much of a coincidence? Is this like the universe sending me a cure for all my insecurities or am I living in some sort of fictional world? Cause this is just getting too unreal.

“Where are you heading to?”

“The convenience store right down the street,” I answer while trying not to bump into people.

“You’re also heading there? What a coincidence,” he smiles.

“I know right, it’s almost not real.”

“You’re right,” he laughs. I smile but it doesn’t reach my eyes. Is it really THAT easy to meet celebrities??

We soon reach the front door and Jimin waves as we enter the place and heads to do what he came to do.

“I’ll be heading first then. It’s nice meeting you.” Jimin-ssi waves after we enter through the automatic glass door.

I make eye contact with Moonsik as soon as Jimin-ssi saunters off to an aisle, and he informs me through his stare that he has questions. I try steering my gaze away but his eyes follow me persistently, demanding attention, and so I’m forced to walk towards him to hear him out and answer those questions.

“I don’t think you’re the type to know a celebrity?” he whispers.

“Why not?” I shrug thoughtlessly.

“I don’t know, you don’t really fangirl, like you’re not attracted or curious to their presence—” he pauses himself, looks at me intensely then finally continues, “actually, I take it back. You’re exactly the type to have loads of secret celebrity friends.”

“Again, why is that?” I tilt my head.

“Don’t celebrities get tired of being treated like, I don’t know, not human?” he asks. I shrug. “Wow. Now that I actually think of it. You— Jimin— are you friends with the rest of bangtan too? Like, all seven of them!”

I laugh.

“Why are you laughing? Are you?”

“No,” I shake my head still laughing.

“Ah too bad,” he shrugs, leaning back on the wall. “I thought I could ask for an autograph or something.”

“I didn’t think you’re interested in artists,” I eye him.

“Well, usually not, but I do like some musicians. And when I like the, I like them. People told me I've got an obsessive personality," he shrugs. "I even went to Japan once for a concert.”

“No way,” I stare. Who is this person and what have they done to Moonsik.”

“It was only SID, one of the most legendary anime-specialist jrock band.”

“Such a weeb,” I laugh.

“I know you secretly are too,” he smirks. I sigh dramatically, faking disappointment, and he laughs. “Anyway, I really dig their more hip-hop r&b based songs.”

“Does Hunnie knows?” I ask.

“No. Cause then she’ll drag me to fangirl with her. How is Hunnie by the way? It’s been a week. I heard she’s been taking short shifts once a while cause she’s busy then take extra shifts later after she’s not busy anymore. I didn’t know you can do that.”

“Apparently, it fits perfectly with manager-nim’s situation, so it’s the perfect solution for both of them.”

“Lucky her,” he mutters. I nod in agreement.

“Anyway,” I say looking at the clock. “My shift starts in like two minutes. I need to get ready right now.”

“Y/n, catch!”

He throws the key to the staff room and I manage to somehow catch it one-handedly.

“Nice one,” he gives me a thumbs up and I disappear into the staff room.

***

When I finish changing, I quickly punch in my time slip and head to the counter, high-fiving Moonsik who walks away from the cashier like we’re some kind of tag-team passing on the baton.

Jimin-ssi comes up to the counter with two bottles of soju and a bag of honey chips. He sees me in uniform and covers his mouth in disbelief.

“Just two bottles?” I ask, scanning the bottle of soju. “So I’m guessing that you’re the type of person who drinks because you like the taste?”

“Exactly,” he chuckles. “Y/n-ssi, do you work here?”

“Yes, I do,” I smile.

“Then what happens to the coffee shop?”

“I still work there. Would you need a bag?”

‘Ah, I’m good,’ he says. He then raises an eyebrow. “So, you work at the coffee shop and here too? Wow, must be hard working two jobs.”

“Must be hard being a global artist,” I chuckle lightly.

He laughs brightly at that. “Good point,” he says.

“How is it, Jimin-ssi, being a global artist,” I look up at him, just finished scanning everything. “Are you not exhausted?”

“Not really. I really love what I do. Sure, it gets tiring sometimes but in the end, I just want to work and work and work.”

“Has anybody ever told you that you might be a workaholic, Jimin-ssi?” I ask while punching in the number pad. “Five thousand and six hundred Won. Will you pay with cash or card?”

He takes out his wallet and pulls out six thousand Won. “So I’ve heard,” he smiles. “What about you? What’s the story behind two jobs?”

“Nothing much.” I count the coin and give him his change. “I just like being busy. Would you like your receipt?”

He mutters a quiet ‘no, thanks.’ “Then, has anyone ever told you that you too might be a workaholic?”

“Yes, several in fact,” I confess.

He laughs.

Later in the evening, Hunnie comes running into the store, grabs five bottles of soju, slams all the cash in her pocket on the counter and yells, “give me the change later when we’re at home!” before dashing through the front door.

I quickly stand up. “Why are you running? Where are you going?”

“To hell!” she shouts exasperatedly. With that, she’s gone.

***

At around seven p.m. Moonsik comes in dressed neater than I’ve ever seen him my entire life. His hair is gelled, though a bit too heavy at the back, and he’s wearing a properly ironed button-up.

“Who are you? Wait, no. What happened?”

“I’m getting ready for a group date.”

“Have you finally decided to abandon your bachelor life?”

“Please, Y/n, you don’t have to sugar-coat it,” he waves his hand slightly in the air in front of his face. “You can just say my lonely life.”

“Aren’t you technically a bachelor though?”

“A bachelor is out of choice, being lonely is just fate,” he sighs. His hand goes up to brush his hair back out of habit but he stops himself the moment his finger touches his hair. He finally remembers the very generous amount of gel currently residing in his hair and immediately lowers his arm back to his side.

“So why are you here?”

“Ah, that—”

Suddenly Hunnie bursts in through the door with a heavy sigh.

“Hey, what happened earlier?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Please?”

She doesn’t reply and stays stuck in her own head.

Moonsik and I notice that Hunnie is mumbling strangely about things we don’t understand. We look at each other. He raises his eyebrow quizzically. I shrug.

After a moment, Moonsik gives up and sigh. “So, I got a group date meeting later. How do I look?” he asks, facing Hunnie.

“Be grateful you have hair. Don’t you know some people don’t and some people got their hair taken away from them to be sold as wigs or sometimes accidentally?” she rants, mumbling angrily at him. Still, it doesn’t seem that way to me. It looks more like she’s just frustrated and he happens to be there. Even if he’s a wall, it won’t change anything.

“Uhm, I know there was a compliment somewhere in there and I’ll take it,” he hesitatingly smiles, but then he nods to himself, satisfied at his own optimism.

This time, Hunnie stares right into his eyes. “Use more gel and when your potential girlfriend gets all friendly and ruffles your hair, she won’t be able to pull her hand back.”

“Ah, there it is.” He smiles like a martyr accepting his death.

I nudge his side with my elbow. “You know better than to stand in the path of the fire.”

“My bad,” he mutters back to me. He walks to the cooler and returns with six bottles of soju and the perfect amount of cash in hand. He scans his own items, inserts his own staff discount code and puts his own money in the register. “Oh well, everybody, I’m gonna go and impress someone and hopefully in a week I will no longer be lonely.”

“Aww,” I pat his shoulder. “Moonsik, fighting!”

“Fighting!” he exclaims before stomping out with his bottles of soju.

***

After Moonsik is out of sight, I turn to Hunnie. “By the way, Hunnie?” She turns to me. “What have you done to my poor, possibly, classmate?” I ask laughing.

She stays silent while staring at the floor, refusing to look me in the eye.

“Wait, what—”

She shakes her head.

“Don’t tell me—one of my professors!” she nods. I close my eyes, pinching my nose bridge. “They won’t fail one of my classes, right? I won’t get expelled, right?”

Hunnie looks even lower to the ground and shrugs sadly. I pull her into a hug.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I pat her head. “If I get expelled then I can just work and save money and we can set up a salon together or something.” She finally looks up.

“That’s if I also don’t get expelled.” Hunnie laughs a little while I freeze in place, gawking at her.

“Seriously, what happened?”

“I’ll tell you after the exam.”

“Oh, also, how did it go with Eunseok hyung?”

“I’ll tell you that one later at home.”

Chapter Text

Thursday, Hunnie cut everyone’s hair in the retirement center.

Friday, Hunnie gave probably hundreds of college students free haircuts (and I reckon that something’s gonna happen to her in the romance department, but step one, let’s get them closer, they might need a little nudging. After the exam of course.)

Saturday, Hunnie moped around the house with nothing to do and no more hair to cut. So she spent hours just brushing all the wigs she has before I made her stop and took her out to play in the park like children before going for a chimaek picnic by the river. We over-ate but there was no regret. The chicken was great.

And then there’s Sunday. On Sunday, she spent the entire day panic eating and brooding about how she felt so unprepared – despite giving at least a hundred people a haircut in the past few days – and how she wasn’t good enough.

It was to the point that she inhaled most of one whole liter of ice cream like it was a competitive sport then spend the next five minutes groaning due to the brain freeze that followed. I tried all methods including distraction and deflection of topics but it didn’t work, not like I was sure it was gonna work anyway. Hunnie is always the person who would rather talk about what’s bothering her. Snatching her tub of ice cream away from her cradle to replace her sadness with anger did nothing aside from almost getting me a bite on my hand. So, we did what we should’ve done from the beginning of the day.

“Why are you like this? I’ve never seen you this nervous before, ever in fact! You didn’t even flinch in your entrance exam!”

“I’m so not ready for my exams! It’s possible to do so badly that the Golden Mohawk man bans me from all his salons and then spreads the word so that no one in this country is willing to risk employing me for the rest of my life! Well, maybe unless I then win a competition, but even then, there’s no guarantee anyone will let me join a competition unless I go incognito. That’s how much influence he has, he—” she mumbled rapidly without any signs of stopping.

“What are you talking about, you’re so so ready.”

“More like so-so,” Hunnie continued her mumbling. I felt an urge to shake her shoulders till her head bobbed up and down to oblivion.

“Hush. Have you forgotten how happy everyone was after the haircut you gave them?”

“Well, not everyone,” she whispered but I heard it clearly.

“What do you mean ‘not everyone’?” I finger quoted it.

She sighed. Visibly feeling bitter knowing that I’ve heard her. “I’ll tell you after the exam.”

“The point is,” I continued, “all I ever see is how talented you are. I love all your hair designs. I love all the wigs you styled. I love all the haircuts you did on people and all the works you posted on Instagram. Even if you did one mistake, that must be one out of a few hundred. That’s less than one percent!” I waved my hands around to make a point. “Even if you may make the same mistake, the chances are less than one percent!”

“But there’s still that one percent!” she yelled, running her hands through her hair while huffing away. She walked in the room back and forth continuously. I didn’t say anything and waited until she calmed down, which proved to be a while. When she finally sat on the floor, I stepped out of my bed and sat next to her.

“You know I never go to salons right? Haven’t been for like half a decade.”

“I could tell,” she said, eyeing my hair.

“Now is not the time for sass!” I screeched. She clamped her mouth shut and pouted, arms hugging her knees that were folded together in front of her chest. “The point that I’m trying to make is that you know how straightforward and honest I can be, right?”

“Yes,” she said, barely above a whisper.

“Then you know I don’t lie to you, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Then doesn’t that mean something? The fact that I’m literally letting you do whatever you want to my hair? Heck, I don’t even know what you’re planning to do to it! Even Boram unnie knows and I have no clue!”

Hunnie looked at me apologetically with sad eyes.

“I’m not angry,” I sighed. “I’m just saying that that’s how much I trust you. And you know I’m honest. If I think your work sucks, I would have told you your work sucks.”

“Aww, babe,” Hunnie pulled me in a tight hug. “Fine,” she pouted, rolling her eyes. “I’ll stop whining.”

“That’s not the point, I—”

“I know I know, I’m just messing with you. I’m feeling better. Thanks, babe, you’re my soulmate.” She kissed my cheek and pulled me in a tighter hug before flashing her cheeky grin. I stared at her blankly and slapped my forehead with my palm.

“Remind me, how did I get involved with you in the first place again?”

“But you love me,” she pinched my cheeks tightly and cooed at me like how aunties and grandmas would.

“Shut up.”

She laughed.

The conversation turned out great. Better than I had expected in the first place. She had gained some of her confidence back by the time night rolled in, which was great. However, unfortunately, perhaps Hunnie’s ranting and groaning and brooding and self-doubt had affected me more than I thought. As the night darkened my stomach turned more and more often, and as the clock struck twelve a.m. my stomach flopped non-stop, giving me shivers.

“Can’t believe in a few hours, it’ll be time to redeem my birthday gift,” she sighed but she couldn’t help that grin from showing on her face.

“Right, the day has finally arrived,” I laughed nervously.

“Aww, now you’re nervous? You’re a few hours late babe, we could’ve cried together!” Hunnie smiled. “But oh well, you shouldn’t stress over it too much. It’s only part one out of two anyway. I only need to cut your hair.” She came gliding to me to pat me in the head. But before she got to, I caught her wavering hand above my head mid-air.

“What do you mean out of two,” I realised that my eyes widened spectacularly at her.

“Well, the exam is divided into two parts,” she explained casually. “The first one, tomorrow, is the haircut round. Then next week is the second and last one, the hair colouring round.”

I froze, panic surging inside my gut. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought I did?”

“I don’t think so!” I couldn’t control the pitch of my voice which raised itself so high that it sounded like it came from a different person. I shot an apologetic look at Hunnie.

Hunnie rested her jaw on her fist. “I think I did. You must’ve forgotten about it. Doesn’t matter,” she waved her hand. “I already got your permission to dye your hair anyway.”

“When?!” I accidentally yelled too loud, again.

“Back in chapter three!” she huffed, having just yelled back at me.

“What?” I have no idea what she meant by that.

“No, nothing,” she shook her head, stealing glances at me. “But I did tell you that I’m going to dye your hair weeks ago.”

“Sorry I shouted. You probably already did. I just forgot about it.”

I felt bad. Hunnie’s been concentrating so much on her exam, making sure I’m okay with being her hair model and asking me if I’m okay for many days now, and all I cared about was my own stuff. I really didn’t deserve her. What was I going to say? ‘Didn’t really get a lot of chances to think about having coloured hair. Too busy picturing myself with some wild hairstyle that would bring the golden mohawk man to shame’? I cringed at my own thoughts. “Sorry, I know you wouldn’t do that to me. I mean you would, but you prepared a wig I can wear anyway, so it’s all good.”

“Good!” she crossed her arms over her chest, smiling.

That was Sunday night.

Now here we are on a Monday morning, the day of the exam, standing nervously inside an empty classroom which smells heavenly of hair products. All the other participants and their hair models scatter around us, some more confident than others but absolutely everyone is nervous.

“No~” Hunnie whines while looking at her phone to check for the time. “Y/n, my tummy hurts!”

“Show me your hand,” I order. Hunnie slightly raises her hands. “No, not like that, like this!” I take her hands and place them in the air parallel to the ground. After I let them go, her hands almost immediately start shaking like crazy.

“What now?” Hunnie panics.

“Crap.”

The door creaks open and a man with a ponytail appears from the door. “You can start coming into the room in five minutes,” he announces and leaves again.

“Oh crap. I’m gonna crap myself.” Hunnie jumps in place, shaking her hands to oblivion. “What if I got too nervous and shaky and I end up accidentally making you bald?”

I flinch. “Great. Now my stomach is hurting too.”

“Aww, sympathy pain?” she stops jumping and look straight into my eyes. I barely see any traces of nervousness left. Maybe distraction is the way to go.

“Ehm, yeah, sure.”

“You’re sweet,” she chirps, almost completely distracted. Either that or she’s just a really good actress when she wants to.

“Remember, if I end up bald, the super-growth-serum money is coming out of your pocket. Deal?” I raise my brows.

“But you’ll still look pretty even if you’re bald. I get the feeling that you’re one of those people who have a good head shape that would suit no hair.”

I stare at her with more vigour. “Deal?”

“I already prepared the wigs for you, remember?”

“Should I run away right now then?” I mumble.

“Nooooooo. Fine! Unfair but fine! If I accidentally get you bald, I’ll get you that super-fast hair growth serum, which I’m sure is just a cash-grab.”

“Thank you,” I ruffle her hair into a bird’s nest but rather that stopping me, she revels in it instead. “You’re such a puppy.”

“Hair ruffles and belly rubs feel great, though,” she says, looking at me innocently. I pinch her cheeks.

I sometimes forget that she has this side of her, a side that makes me forget that she mercilessly screams at strangers annually at the Great Shout-Out and doesn't hold back her punches and will headlock her brothers if necessary.

The door suddenly clicks open again and the man with the ponytail returns. “If you all could form a line and follow me towards the room. We’ll go right now.” He turns around fabulously and waits outside the door. His ponytail flips beautifully when he turns, showing his glossy silky hair. For some reason, seeing that, all I can think about is Steve Aoki, or as Hunnie calls him ‘Pantene oppa’. Gosh, he sure has a beautiful lustrous lock of hair.

***

One by one, the students walk out of the room, forming a line behind the ponytail man. When everyone is outside, the man starts walking down the long corridor towards a double-doored room at the very end.

“Wait here just a moment please,” he asks politely before opening the door slightly, just enough to announce that we’re here. I can see some of the judges sitting at their special well-cushioned seat. I turn to tell Hunnie but the gleam in her eyes tells me that she’s already looking at them.

The ponytail man then nods to someone in the room and the door finally opens. The entire place looks almost like a lecture hall. It’s massive, bigger than what I had in mind when I saw it through the gaps of the door. Instead of the judges on one side of the room and the students in the other, the chairs of the so-called ‘clients’ are arranged in a big semi-circle and the judges are sat in almost a large crescent formation. I note that there’s no mirror in any of the work stations. The models will have no idea what is being done to their hair.

There are a few audible gasps as the students see who their judges are. I assume that they are freaking out about meeting the man with the golden mohawk cause, I mean, almost everyone in Seoul knows his face. But I was wrong. With all the ‘oh gosh, it’s—’ and ‘oh wait! She’s also here!’ I assume that it is a very impressive panel of guest judges in general.

I keep observing, taking mental notes of each individuals starting from the one who is sat closest to the door. A lady sporting a platinum blonde with what seems to be a veil of green sheen sits coolly, her pant-suited legs crossed, and though she seems hard to approach, it seems to be more of a charisma thing than an intimidation thing. The black shirt and jacket suit she’s wearing also helps with the impression. She’s just an extremely cool individual.

Next to her is a surprisingly normal-looking woman with long braided black hair. Like the first one, she also wears a black buttoned up and a jacket suit, but instead of a pair of well-pressed trousers, she wears a long flowy black maxi skirt. She sits calmly, back straight and completely expressionless, yet, still manages to look like elegance incarnate.

The man sitting next to her has it rough. He probably exudes the least aura out of the four. The man has the typical idol ‘bowl-cut-with-bangs’ blond hair and it doesn’t quite sit right with his age. He is also wearing an all-black suit and, like the hair, it doesn’t really fit him. There’s just something that puts me off, something that makes him feel out of place. The way he smiles, however, lets everyone knows that he feels at home.

The guy with the golden mohawk sits furthest away. There are no words to describe him. I can’t even see what he’s wearing or what expression he has on his face. My eyes are inevitably drawn to the hair which actually shines like gold in real life and towers at least a solid twenty-five centimeters above his head.

All of them sits in their chair comfortably, occasionally smiling, and all with different poses They seem nice enough. I glance at Hunnie to check if she’s okay and she’s grinning like she just found a piece of her favourite candy in her pocket. Oh wait— it just escalates. Now she looks like how she would look after a successful payback to her older brothers. I don’t know whether it’s a good thing. Well, most probably it is, but—

“Welcome to round one of your exam,” a voice announces, cutting my thoughts. I look around to see that the source of the voice is a bespectacled woman with the same slicked-back and smooth ponytail as the man who led us into the room. She appears very stern but the gentle though strict voice tells me otherwise.

I hear many whispers of ‘oh, it’s starting!’ and ‘good luck!’ around the room. Hunnie grabs my hand tightly and I reciprocate the hold.

“There are numbers and names on each work station,” the voice continues. “Participants, please find your respective seat and check for your student numbers. If there is any mistake, whether it’s the number or the spelling of your name, please stay there and raise your hand. We will come to help you. If there is no problem, stand on the right of your station with your hair model. We will take the register shortly.”

Holding hands, Hunnie and I walk around the room until we find where we’re supposed to be and stand on its right. I tap the back of her hand with my thumb and nods when she looks at me. ‘You’re gonna be fine’ I try to convey. Judging from the way she glances at the judges briefly before nodding, looking at me convinced, I can tell she gets the message.

The same woman who seems to be in-charge of announcements along with the man – I’d like to call them the ponytail duo – take the registers briefly, writing down extra information while doing so. When she reaches Hunnie and me, she asks Hunnie a few questions about her choice of haircut, that is whether it’s for ‘male, female or unisex?’ and whether Hunnie will be needing additional tools as not everyone has their own ‘good scissors’. Hunnie says she’ll need a rattail comb, a round brush, and a hairdryer. She jots everything down and nods thoughtfully.

She also inquires about me, making sure that I am not forced or threatened in any way to be receiving this coming haircut. I answer as calmly and plainly as I can, trying not to let my thoughts show. There were such cases before?!

When the registers are complete, a countdown begins. Ten. Nine. Eight…  Two. One. The scramble starts. Almost everyone is moving as fast as they can, running from one area to the other. Is this how beauty schools usually have their exams? It looks like one of those competition shows on Netflix.

“Y/n,” Hunnie calls me. She extends her hands, grabbing mine, before swiftly taking me to the hair-washing sink. She quickly but gently washes my hair, so fast that she finishes before the fiery and rushed atmosphere of the examination seems to hit me. Hunnie then wraps my hair with a towel and leads me back to the chair. Her eyes glimmer with confidence the entire time. I smile and close my eyes as she brushes my damp hair and begins her first cut. Good for you Hunnie, I’ll leave my hair in your care.

My eyes stay closed almost the entire time, only opening when I can feel Hunnie cutting the front of my hair creating bangs. I open them momentarily and give Hunnie a reassuring smile. ‘It’s looking great,’ she mouths to me. I give her a discreet thumbs-up which I placed on my lap before going back to having my eyes closed.

The minutes pass by quickly, and soon, the fifteen minutes mark is reached and announced. Within the last five minutes, someone drops a scissor which forces my eyes to open. The girl who did it is freaking out, her face pale with horror. Some judges shake their head in disapproval. A few of them even begin to write something in their little note, no doubt about the accident and my stomach churns slightly in sympathy. According to Hunnie, a hair stylist’s scissors are like their family heirloom and one of the worst thing you can possibly do to them is to drop them cause it’ll make them lose their sharpness. I just hope it won’t cost her exam.

By now, Hunnie is doing the final touches, cutting stray bits on dried and combed hair. She walks around facing me and nods approvingly.

“I think I’m done,” she gleams. “You’re gonna freak out! It’s amazing.”

“Do I look cute though?” I smirk, raising an eyebrow.

“The cutest that ever struts on the planet. That is if you start strutting. Come on babe, you gotta. That’s the kind of life one should live.”

“A life of strutting around?” I tilt my head.

“No. Their best life!” she laughs as quietly as she can. Even if the room is noisy with the sound of hair-dryers and electrical razors, it’s still an exam.

“Can I feel my hair?”

“As long as you don’t muss it.”

“Fair enough.” My hand slowly approach my hair and I freeze when it touches nothing but air. I go up and up until my fingers touch the tips of my new haircut. It freaks me out a little and maybe to the point that my hand trembles. Not because I think I’m gonna end up looking ridiculous. I can’t help it, my hair has never been this short before. It has been short but not this short. I touch the hair at the back. It’s barely touching the middle of my neck. Breathe in. Breathe out. Slowly and repeat. In. Out. My hands steady. In. Out. The feeling is successfully pushed back. I slump in relief and smile.

“You look real high-fashion,” Hunnie smiles. “I should really introduce you to unnie’s manager and model friends. They might hire you.”

“Dear, you and I both know I love food too much to give up some of it for modelling. And let’s face it. My plump belly and arms don’t really say, model.” I shrug.

“Screw that, your face makes up for everything, even though I don’t see anything wrong with a li’l belly. It matches mine, see?” she pinches her stomach from outside her shirt.

“Ay, twinsies,” I chuckle.

“Last thirty second!” the woman announces.

“Back to position?” I ask.

“Back to position,” she nods, “and the last-minute styling cause you did muss it up slightly,” she winks. Hunnie runs her fingers through my hair and styles everything down to a single strand.

“Two, one, and stop. Everybody step away from your station and stand next to your model. Models, please stand up.”

There is cluttering in the room as everybody moves from where they were. Hunnie stands by my side and holds my hand again. She lets out a little ‘eekk!’ of excitement.

“Now. One by one, from the furthest right, together with your model, please step here, to the front of the judges.”

“You may leave the room,” the lady announces and as I leave the door, I see the judges finally standing up from the seats, huddling together.

“So,” Hunnie puts her arm around my shoulder, standing on her tip-toes, “do you want to see what your hair looks like?”

I caress the tip of my hair with my fingers. “Yes please.”

We slowly walk towards the restroom which is on the way to the exit of the building and I notice that most participants and models are also walking in, no doubt from the tension of the exam. Hunnie stops just before the door and points to it with both hands, palm facing up. “After you, mademoiselle.”

I fake a rich-lady laugh. ‘Oh my, thank you,’ and push the door open.

I stand firmly in front of the mirror but my eyes are nailed to the floor, unable to bring myself to see it.  

“Come on! I can’t wait!” Hunnie shrieks in excitement besides me.

“Okay, okay.”

Though hesitant at first, my gaze slowly tilts up, degree by degree, until I finally see it. My hair. And it is definitely something. It’s very short, my hair. Almost a pixie cut but not quite there yet. Somewhere between a pixie cut and a lob. Definitely not a bob though, it’s much more sophisticated than that. It looks a little messy, but it definitely shows that the mess is on purpose and the mess makes the cut looks neat and put-together.

The bangs are definitely the show-stopper. Wait. I recognize this haircut! It’s from that sketch Hunnie drew for one of her assignments, the one where she made me choose which I thought were the best. My hair is almost exactly like that sketch, but a bit longer – which I think is Hunnie’s way of giving me some lee-way. I appreciate that she didn’t completely render me unable to hide behind my hair. The bangs, exactly like in the sketch, are uneven and jagged, creating unconnected lines of various slopes of hair. And it looks cool as heck. I almost crap myself it looks so good. Maybe a bit too good, a bit too cool for me to pull off.

“You chose that sketch,” I smile to her through the mirror.

Her mouth quirks up mischievously. “I sure did! Now tell me I did one heck of a job.”

“Hun, this is the best thing I’ve ever seen!”

“But?”

“But what?”

“But?” she pushes again persistently. My eyes must’ve betrayed me. I sigh and try to smile again.

“But I don’t know whether I can pull this off. It’s a bit too cool for me.”

She snorts. “What the heck are you talking about.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t you remember my usual hair? Relatively long hair, long enough to cover my face when I don’t want to speak to people I know but don’t particularly like? Always tied in a ponytail or stuffed in my jacket, or beanie, or cap, or anywhere I can get it out of the way?” I smirk.

“You mean that— ‘thing’ you had before. I remember.”

“Yeah. I’m used to that lameness. It made me feel like I’m cooler than my hair. Now, my hair is cooler than me.”

“Your point is?” she narrows her eyes.

“I don’t look weird?”

“You don’t! You look real attractive! I should’ve cut your hair ages ago.”

“I don’t look out of place?”

“Nope. It suits you really well, so well that now I feel that all this time, your true potential is hidden away.”

“Oh.”

“Yeap.”

“I won’t get weird stares?”

“Not weird. But people are going to stare. Cause you look like a model.”

“Oh,” I rub the back of my neck, feeling a bit awkward. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” she smiles, hugging my waist. “Best birthday present ever!”

I smile and rub her head.

“So, you’re gonna hide it away with a wig or what?” she smiles sarcastically.

“Maybe for work, but for now? Heck no!”

Her smile intensifies. She grabs my hand and drags me away, links her arms with mine.

“Now let’s get away from here and eat. I can devour a whole chicken. You don’t have a shift or anything today, do you?”

“Nope, I cleared all my schedule.”

“Mall, photoshoots and chimaek?”

“What are we waiting for?”

Chapter Text

Friday night

Today have been a long day and all the excitement doesn’t help either. It’s not a particularly stressful day. It’s more— eventful. Yeah, I would only describe it as eventful. It’s still odd, though, because I’m sure I have experienced more eventful days. But there’s just something about today and I can’t tell what it is.

The moment I arrive home, I discard all my belongings on the floor before taking off to the bathroom for a quick shower. Then, post-shower, I drag myself, holding onto the towel sitting on top of my head that is wrapping around my wet hair, I make myself a cup of coffee, a nice hot steamy cup. Maybe it’ll burn the strangeness that seems to linger.

Fixed in my kitchen table seat, I glance at Hunnie who is slumped next to the bed on the floor.

“Want coffee? Tea?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” she sighs limply, still where she was before I entered the bathroom, sitting with her legs sprawled on the floor while looking emptily at the wall.

I look at the wall she’s staring and find nothing interesting there. Maybe she can see something I can’t, or maybe today is also a weird one for her. I nod to myself. “I got you,” I reply, taking a second before lifting myself out of my seat, leaving my barely-touched cup of coffee to go to the kitchen cabinet. Hot chocolate, I mutter under my breath while rummaging through the drawers. Ah, the last one. Perfect. “Why don’t you take a shower first, Hun. You look about ready to stumble over and sleep on the floor, or die, or sleep first then die.”

She looks towards me but not at me. It’s a vague space above my shoulder, next to my head somewhere. After more looking at nothing, she nods and lifts herself up, trudging over to the bathroom.

“Here you go,” she takes the cup and sits across me in front of the low circular table. “So, Hunnie, about today—”

“Can we not talk about it right now? I promise I’ll tell you after the exam,” she answers weakly, facing the floor.

“No, not that, don’t worry,” I rub a comforting circle on her back. “I just want the deeds. You didn’t tell me what happened with Eunseok hyung yet. So?” I chirp excitedly.

Hunnie looks up from the table to finally meet me in the eye and smiles weakly. It’s still a smile so I’ll take it.

“Are you going to tell me?” I raise an eyebrow.

She takes a sip of the hot chocolate before nodding with a bigger smile. “Okay. Where should I start?” I mini-clapped, my shoulders shaking in excitement.

I think about it for a short while. There’re too many questions. Start with something simple I guess. “When did it start and when did you realise it?”

“Okay,” she clears her throat and sits up straighter. “Remember your school festival a few months ago?”

“Yes.” My eyes widen expectantly but it’s completely out of my hand.

“And we got slightly lost cause there were way too many people and tents and we couldn’t see anything?”

“Yes?”

“And you spotted Eunseok sunbae because he’s tall and stood out of the crowd but you can’t call him cause it’s too loud so you asked me to call him and I asked you what his name is and you kept having to shout it to me cause I can’t hear it over the crowd and you kept on shouting his name to me until he heard it himself and practically dove into the wave of people and rescued both of us?”

“You’re rambling like me, which is unlike you, but yeah?” I raise an eyebrow and smirks. She seems better. “Where is this going?”

“So, at that time, I just thought. Oh, he’s cool.”

“That’s it?”

“What? No, no-no.”

“Oh, “ I take another sip of my rapidly cooling second cup of coffee. “Please, continue then.”

“Then we walked around together cause his friend ditched him for a girl. We go around buying snacks occasionally, and I, being me, acted just how I would act every day but he didn’t even flinch or looked like he was in pain, which is the general reaction of people who met me for the first time.”

“What did you do again? Remind me.”

“You know, the usual stuff,” she shrugs. “Oh, and I did accidentally lost control of my arm and slapped someone until they fall on the ground, but that someone turned out to be a pick-pocket who stole the wallet of that really pretty girl in front of us. Remember? The tall one with the purple hair and the flower face paint? The one whose voice sounds like IU.”

“Oh, her! She’s so pretty I thought I was going blind.”

“Yes, her! Anyway, she thanked us and I ended up having to pin him on the ground until the security comes.”

“Right, that happened,” I snicker. “That sure was fun.” I sigh, looking at the ceiling.

Hunnie takes another sip “Right?”

“So, that was it? Because he wasn’t weirded out?”

“Not entirely. That’s part of it. But I don’t know. When I was pinning that guy on the ground and look up at you guys, you were chill, which, is understandable, I mean you’ve seen me wrestle someone before.”

“Well yeah, I saw you slam a drunken full-grown man who tried to make a move on us on the floor that time we went drinking. I could see you wrestle a crocodile like Steve Irwin and I won’t even blink.” I take another sip of my lukewarm coffee.

“Right. But not only that he was relaxed even though he never met me before, he also smiled at me like he’s proud of me. He didn’t ask if I needed help either, which is very rare. And to be honest, I’m grateful he didn’t, cause I can handle it, you know?” she looks at me directly with no hesitation or pauses this time. She’s back. I nod with a smile. “And most guys would ask because they think I’m weaker than them cause I’m a girl. I don’t really blame them because a lot of them are, but if they still ask after seeing me throw someone or pin someone, they’re just an idiot.”

“You’re right,” I chuckle. “I can still remember that dude in high school who insistently asked you if you needed his help after you knock-out a bully with a huge build.”

“Yeah, he’s an idiot. I’d like an idiot but only if they’re still smart. Like you,” she blows a kiss towards me. I blew it back before it reaches me. “But then, the best part is,”

“Oh, you’re not finished.”

“I’m not even half-way, dear.”

“Okay.”

“The best part is,” she continues her monologue, “even though he didn’t move to help me or asked if I needed help, I could see his stance. He was prepared to take charge if anything went wrong. I think he studied martial arts before and I think he’s way out of my league. Either he’s really good at stances or he’s actually like a black belt or something.”

“What! Really?” My face contorts as I go inside my head, attempting to sort out all the information I know about people and dig in, trying to find everything I know about Eunseok-hyung. “I think you might be right.” I remember someone saying that they use to do either karate or taekwondo or basketball back in high school. It could be someone else, or it could be him. But I’m pretty sure he did one of those. “Still. He’s that good?”

Hunnie shrugs. “Don’t know. Either he’s just good at stance or he’s actually great and intimidating.”

“Damn. I don’t know anything about sports and martial arts and I still think he’s an amazing person just because he’s always so kind, helpful and respectful. And now this? There might actually be something wrong with him judging that he’s still single and he doesn’t seem to avoid relationships either.”

“Exactly!” Hunnie shouts excitedly before breaking into a laughing fit. “It’s not real is it?”

“I get it now. Even though I don’t feel that way towards him, I get that there’s enough reason for absolutely everyone in the world to like him.”

“And that’s not even all.”

“What now?”

She pauses, catching the words in her throat before persevering to get the words out there. When she speaks again, her cheeks are red. “To be honest, I don’t really remember everything that happened in the humanity tent. I was way out of it. I’m pretty sure I did a lot of questionable things.”

“Yeah, you did,” I tease.

“I guess I did,” she sighs before chuckling. “What I remember is just you worrying about me after I threw up. And I was gurgling water and apple juice to wash away the vomit but they ran out of tissue. And while I frantically look around for tissue, still crouching next to the portable tap in the tent, I was still half-drunk and panicking, and I’m pretty sure I was half-crying cause there’s no tissue and he said that I could just wipe it on his sleeve, and—”

She goes quiet after that.

My face contorts into a smile bigger than what my cheeks can handle and I squeal from the top of my lung. “Hunnie! That’s— Aaaaa! I’m shipping so hard right now!”

She giggles, and not one of those fake ‘to be cute’ giggles either. It’s not often that she does that but it means that she’s probably in this deep. “I feel so embarrassed looking at him! Before today, I didn’t think I can ever look at him anymore. And I mean ever! Cause one, I have this crush on him, and two, my drunken ass actually took his offer and wiped the not-necessarily clean water around my mouth with his sleeve!”

“Oh, Hunnie, this is it! My new otp.”

She blushes again.

“I didn’t even know you liked him for so long already,” I admit.

“Actually, for a while, I kind of forgot about it cause I’m just so busy. That is untilIsawhimagaintodayandIjustgotremindedofeverything,” she shoots the words out.

I laugh. Though her voice wavers and barely audible almost at the end and she raps it out in the speed of Eminem, I understand it all. I’m used to it.

“Ah, right! Did anything happen today particularly? with Eunseok hyung?” I ask after emptying the content left in my cup.

She nods.

“Tell me,” I lean forward onto the table.

“So, on the chair,” she starts, “I ask him what style or haircut he wanted. He opens my account on Instagram, scrolls around quickly and asked me if I like to imagine what may or may not look good on a person. I said yes and he asked me to choose a haircut for him.”

“Omo.”

“I know! He left it up to me! And when I finally gave him the mirror after the haircut, he took one look and said ‘I knew it’. I said, knew what? He said, ‘I knew I have good intuition.’”

She then blushes like crazy, deep red from her cheeks all the way to her neck.

“Hunnie!”

“I know!”

“Omo, Hunnie!” I jump in my seat, my clenched fists shaking excitedly in the air in my best attempt not to squeal too hard. I squeal anyway. “marry him!”

She laughs brightly.

“Speaking about idiots with brains, who in Bangtan matches that description the most?” I ask curiously, breaking the comfortable silence we settled in as I take my empty cup to the sink and she finishes her.

I’ve been checking more of their content these days, especially since I start constantly meeting them ‘unexpectedly’ like I’m ‘y/n’ in a fanfiction (which is stupid because if someone is ‘y/n’, it should’ve been Hunnie). I’m definitely a fan of their music now, their lyrics, their rap, their dance, everything they stand for. Sadly, I haven’t seen a lot of their variety shows where they have more fun and, therefore, I’m still not very familiar with their distinct personalities yet. I may have seen them in real life and talked to them, but I highly doubt just talking to them a few times can rival hundreds of vlogs and shows compiled over the years – especially since Hunnie mentioned that they’re almost, if not exactly, the same in real life and in the videos.

Hunnie seems to ruminate on the idea a little before looking directly into my eyes with a great poker face. “All of them,” she says.

“All?”

“Yes. Each and every one of them. They’re all either very witty or actual book-smart, but they’re all idiots. Like they all share one dying brain cell together and if one of them trips, all of them is going down together.”

That breaks me.

Next thing I know, I’m on the floor, rolling with a laughing fit, which is then followed by a coughing fit, which is then followed with Hunnie holding me tightly to make sure I’m still alive.

I let the tip of my index fingers wipe the stray tears on top of my cheek. “You’re not just making this up are you?”

“Nope.”

“But that’s us!”

“I know!” It’s her time to roar with laughter.

***

While she settles down, I contemplate the previous topic with my face resting in my hands. How do I help with this? Pretty sure I’m the captain of this ship now. How do I steer it and make it canon? I sigh. “Hunnie, I don’t know what I should do yet, but I promise, I will figure it out.”

“For what?”

“Bringing you two together of course! Do you forget who your best friend is? The legendary Y/n the matchmaker. Ring any bells?”

She laughs. “I still find it weird how they all crowded around you seeking for relationship advice.”

“I guess people who’ve been single forever just gives the best relationship advice cause our head isn’t clouded by the mist of ‘love irrationality’ yet,” I give her a wink.

Hunnie rests an elbow on my shoulder. “What a positive take on being single forever.”

“I noticed. Even I’m impressed with myself.”

“So, you said something about figuring it out. What do you need to figure out anyway? What do you think you need to do?”

“As I said, I don’t know yet. All I know is that it’s time to start scheming.”

“And here I thought I’m the evil sneaky one. We sure learn something new every day.”

“I won’t call it evil. I’ll try to be as diplomatic as possible. Humanity student, remember?”

“That’s like the typical humanity students’ excuse for being sneaky,” she huffs.

“Is it working?” I quirk an eyebrow and Hunnie mirrors the expression perfectly before laughing.

“Strangely yes.”

“And I know for a fact that you’re on board so quit playing,” I nudge her shoulder.

“As if you don’t know me,” she smirks. ‘What a Slytherin’ I think about it fondly.

“You just thought ‘what a Slytherin’ didn’t you?”

I ruffle her head again. “Impressive as always.”

“Then what about you? If I’m a Slytherin, what are you?”

“I don’t know. Guess.”

“Mother Ravenclaw.”

“Of course I am.” I coo pinching her cheeks. “You kids can’t take of yourself. What shall happen when I’m not here? The house would be in flames and we’ll lose everything overnight.”

“Yes, mother, take care of me.”

“Yes yes. Now, do you want another cup or are you ready to sleep?”

“Sleep.”

“Okay. Brush your teeth then go to bed.”

“Yes, mom.”

Hunnie stands up and walks over to the sink to drop her cup before going to the bathroom, leaving me on my own. I think about today. The long line of college students waiting for a free haircut, Moonsik being neatly dressed for the first time and going on a group date, me and Jimin-ssi accepting the fact that we both might be workaholics and the possibility of romance between Hunnie and Eunseok hyung. I break into a grin. I still have no clue how to ‘unknowingly’ nudge them closer together, but when I figure this out, I just know that this is going to be so much fun.

Chapter Text

Hunnie abruptly stops in her track and looks up with a gaping mouth. “I completely forgot! It’s out now!”

“What’s out now?”

“And you call yourself a veteran weeb?!” her eyes widen in disbelief. She points at the large banner hanging on one of the big pillars in front of the movie theatre area. I gasp.

“One Piece!” we exclaim at the same time. Hunnie does little jumps while I tremble, clenching my fist hard to contain my excitement. How could I forget? I look at my phone.

“It’s still early. We have time. Let’s go?” I ask.

Without another word, she drags me to an empty ticket machine and starts pressing on the touch screen. I look at the soft digital screen and smile. Technology has sure gone a long way. Even though I haven’t seen it, I’m sure I can’t even compare the display quality of the new One Piece movie to its first episode which was broadcasted when? Around twenty years ago? Woah. I really am a veteran weeb.

“Y/n.” I blink to see Hunnie waving her hands in front of my face. “The next one starts in fifteen minutes. There are still a few empty seats around the usual spot. What do you think?”

“Great, let’s do that one!”

“Okay. I’ll pay and you’ll buy the popcorn.”

“Got it.”

While Hunnie is punching in the details, mostly selecting our seats and typing our names, I see a face I‘ve seen before doing the same thing on the machine right next to ours and my eyes grow uncontrollably wide.

He looks around while stuffing his wallet back into his pocket and catches me staring. He looks at me and Hunnie for a bit before closing his mouth in surprise. “Oh, wait, it’s you guys!” he says.

Hunnies notices him too and freaks out the moment she does. I grab her shoulders to bring her back to planet Earth. When the slight trembling under my fingers stops and she manages to contain her large grin into a calm smile, she speaks up. “How’re the baby carrots?” Hunnie asks feigning poise, but her voice is clearly almost breaking.

Jungkook-ssi tilts his head before letting out a small ‘ah’. He takes his phone out of his pocket and shows us the tiny carrots phone case. “The baby carrots are still cute and healthy.”

Hunnie beams at that.

He looks at our tickets that are slowly edging out of the ticket slot currently printed by the machine.

“Oh, One Piece! You like One Piece too?”

Hunnie points her thumb at me. “Veteran weeb.”

I laugh, nodding my head.

“Who’s your favourite character?”

“I don’t think I can choose just one,” I answer.

“Liar. Probably Zoro or Sanji,” Hunnie says.

“Hey! I like all members of the straw-hat pirates equa—”

“I like Chopper.”

“Me too!” His eyes glow brighter at the mention of Chopper. “Isn’t Chopper like the cutest character ever,” he says excitedly, almost giggling. I stare in fascination.

“Oh, if you like Zoro, you’d probably get along with Jimin hyung. He likes Zoro too.”

Hunnie chuckles.

Then suddenly, an announcement rings. “The door at theatre three is now open. For those with tickets, you may now enter the theatre. The show will be starting in ten minutes.”

“That’s us,” Hunnie says.

“Oh, we still gotta buy snacks!”

“Yeah, we have to go.”

Hunnie quickly turns to Jungkook-ssi and smiles. “We have to go now, it’s great seeing you again.”

He smiles in return. “I have to go too. Nice meeting you guys.”

We wave to each other and Hunnie and I turn our heels to the snack counter. As we walk away, I hear a familiar voice talking to Jungkook-ssi. “Who did you meet while you were buying the ticket?”

“Oh, the nice people who helped me search for my phone.”

There is a pause.

“That day, hyung, remember? I told you. Han river.”

“Oh, right! If I meet them, I’ll have to thank them and apologize for what our maknae have put them through,” he snickers.

“Ah, hyung!”

I smile, trying to submerge my laughter that’s, pushing its way out of my mouth, bubbling in my throat. Hunnie notices my no-doubt-contorted face and laughs. “Why do you look like you’re constipated but you enjoy it?”

The seal is broken. My shoulders tremble and it all comes bubbling out. I laugh a little louder than I probably should. Hunnie looks at me concerned while I try not to rip my face open by smiling.

“Do you think Jk is here to watch One Piece too?” Hunnie nudges my arm as we wait for our larger-than-our-head-sized garlic butter popcorn.

“Maybe. You didn’t see his tickets?” I ask.

“No way,” she looks at me weird. “I’m not that type of person. Are you though?” she smirks while raising an eyebrow suspiciously. I don’t know if that’s supposed to be an I-am-suspicious-of-you look or what, but all I can see is that one Debby Ryan meme, the one that appears on everyone’s head when they hear the phrase that-one-Debby-Ryan-meme.

I shrug, slurping at our equally-large cola.

“Here you go, the jumbo garlic butter popcorn,” the staff says kindly.

“Thank you,” we both answer. Hunnie holds the popcorn, embracing it with both arms as she pops some into her mouth.

We then stride quickly to the theatre room, not wanting to mutter a thousand apologies as we walk past people who are already sitting to get to our seats in the center of the room. Might as well get there a little early.

“Oh, by the way,” I say as we get our tickets checked, “if Jk is watching One Piece too, I think he’s not alone.”

Hunnie’s eyes widen for a moment then quickly return to their previous state. “Probably with his parents or friends, right? What are the chances that we get to meet more than one bangtan members at the same time?” she walks in the room and I follow right behind her.

Right. What are the chances. Again.

“I think he might be here with another member though,” I smirk. Hunnie, who is walking in front of me, doesn’t see it. She doesn’t answer and focuses on finding our seats.

When we get to where we’re supposed to be, we sit in comfortable silence. She looks relaxed, closing her eyes and leaning back with all the carelessness in the world. It’s a well-deserved break after a whole week of practising and worrying.

I touch my freshly-cut hair, it’s light and feels nice. As I feel the smooth strands wrapping themselves around my fingers, I suddenly get the urge to see how it looks like again. Does it actually suit me? I open the front camera on my phone and take a good look at myself.

I’m still not used to it. It’s a look that requires confidence. I guess I can see how it could suit me. Maybe. If only I’m more confident.

I close my eyes like Hunnie did and lean back on the plush chair. Come on, Y/n, you’re allowed to be more confident in yourself.

After a few more minutes spent in silence, an announcement dings, “One Piece: Stampede will begin in a short moment. For those still outside, please enter the theatre at your quickest convenience.”

Hunnie and I open our eyes to see that the room has slowly gotten dark and crowded. Almost every chair in the mid-section has been filled. Looking around, I suddenly remember something.

“Oh gosh, Hunnie, Moonsik would be pissed when he finds out that we watch One Piece together without inviting him.”

“Moonsik? Why? Doesn’t he has other weeb friends to watch this with?”

“That’s the thing,“ I laugh. “I think all his other weeb friends have girlfriends or boyfriends and now he’s left as the only single weeb with no one to watch anime with.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

A theme song starts. The last of the commercials end and the production company logo appears on the screen.

“Maybe next time?” she asks,  her eyes nailed to the screen.

“Yeah, definitely next time,” I laugh, grabbing a handful of the popcorn and stuffing myself in anticipation.

“Ah, that was great. A bit disappointed that it’s not canon though,” Hunnie stretches her arms out, still sitting in the chair while most people have begun standing up, including myself.

“Pff, Didn’t the previous eleven movies taught you anything?” I take a sip of the cola and look at the cup to see that the liquid is still barely hitting the a-quarter-cup-full mark. The combo is great and cheap but the portion sure can blow up a person.

“If you mean taught me to be epic then heck yeah!”

“Sure, you do you, boo.”

She smiles at me like a child and says nothing more.

Still waiting for the people in our row to clear out, I look over towards the exit door and spot Jungkook-ssi trying to rush out quickly but is stuck among so the group of teenagers heading out. Is he actually here alone? I could’ve sworn that back there I heard— And there he is, four or five rows behind us, the source of the familiar voice. He’s checking all his pockets before hauling an empty popcorn box with one hand and drinking his beverage from the same-sized cup as ours. They must’ve gotten the combo too. He reaches the top of the stair and starts to descend down slowly with the crowd. At that, I quickly turn back to Hunnie and shake her vigorously.

“Hunnie, don’t freak out. Can you promise me that? Whatever you do, don’t let out a voice.”

She looks at me all confused but nods anyway. “Look at the exit door in front. Jk, was watching One Piece too.”

She quickly closes her mouth with her hands, stopping whatever squealing was about to come out. “Now, for the best part,” I say. She looks at me expectantly. I lean towards her and whisper in her ear, hoping no one else can hear it. “Jimin is also here and he’s on the staircase, still behind us, and he’s heading here.”

Hunnie quickly looks towards the staircase and immediately stands up and starts to squirm. “Be cool. Calm down, or everyone is gonna look at him and he’ll be trapped.”

She nods quickly, trying her best to stay in place. I laugh. “Also, tone it down with the squirming or everyone is going to think that you really need to use the toilet.”

Hunnie struggles but eventually the squirming stops.

“Let’s go.” We grab all our stuff and trash and head towards the stair. The moment we reach there, Hunnie stands frozen and I tap on her shoulder. “You can stay here if you want and wait for him, but I really gotta go. Nature has called and it wants me there urgently.”

She looks at me like I just told her I killed her entire family. “You’re seriously okay with missing this moment?”

“I’d love to witness the moment you meet Jimin for the first time but my bladder says HECK NAH, ME FIRST!” I turn around and take my leave down the stairs, though occasionally looking back to check on her. When I reach the bottom of the stair, I glance back up to see that Jimin-ssi is now only a few feet away from Hunnie when he bends down to look for something. Hunnie seems to find it first and picks it up before muttering an ‘excuse me’ to get his attention. But that’s the last thing I see before I half-sprint to the toilet.

***

“That amount of cola and popcorn is definitely not great for a person,” I mumble to myself as I leave the restroom.

Dingding!

I fish out my phone.

Hunnie: Wait for me a bit. I’m in the toilet too.

Y/n: Kay. I’ll just be outside.

I lock my phone and put it back in my pocket.

Outside, the restroom, there’s a small circular bench that looks like it’s made out of brick. I sit there waiting for Hunnie while looking at everything yet nothing at all. While I stare at one of the walls with many posters of upcoming movies, someone next to me clears their throat, making me look their way.

“Jimin-ssi,” I nod with a smile.

“Y/n-ssi.” He returns the gesture. “Waiting?”

“Yes, I’m here with a friend. She’s probably washing her hands. What about you?”

“I’m waiting for the maknae,” he says while also looking at the big wall of posters.

“So, Jimin-ssi, a little birdy told me that you like One Piece, is that true?” I ask dramatically.

“Yes, I do. And what about you?” he asks back. I show him my ticket. “Ah, so the little birdie is yourself?”

“No, actually. my friend and I met Jungkook-ssi when we were buying the tickets.”

“Ah, then you should’ve said that a little bunny told you,” he chuckles.

“Bunny? Ah! Is that why his phone case is a bunch of tiny carrots?” My eyes widen in realisation. I notice Jimin’s mouth hangs slightly open.

“Oh! You’re the one who found his phone? What a coincidence!”

“It’s actually my friend who found it. I just happen to be with her, I—” I catch Hunnie appearing from the restroom from the corners of my eyes. “Oh, that’s her over there.”

“She’s the one who picked up my phone too! Does she have a radar for phones or something?” he jokes. I laugh, thinking that it’s not impossible.

I wave at her and when she finally sees me and the person with whom I’m standing, she freezes. I wave my hand faster, urging her to come faster. She half-jogs her way to me and Jimin.

“Hi,” she chirps nervously.

“Jimin-ssi, this is Hunnie, the phone whisperer.”

Jimin laughs a little then smiles at her. “Thank you again for finding my phone.”

“Ah, it’s no problem at all.”

“Still, thank you. And thank you for finding kook’s phone too,” he laughs.

“No problem at all,” she smiles weakly like she’s a few steps away from fainting. I put my hand on the small of her back and tap her a few times to snap her out of it. It seems to be working, although only a little.

“Oh, right,” Jimin-ssi says, “If you’re the one who found Kook’s phone, then if I’m not mistaken, you’re an army?”

She nods excitedly.

“Well, Army, is there anything I can do for you? As a thank you. I can’t really have my picture taken though.”

“Then, ca- can I get an autograph?”

“Of course,” he smiles.

Hunnie takes out a free One Piece pamphlets from her pocket and hands it to me while she rummages all her pockets for a marker or a pen.

“Don’t worry,” he says, rummaging his pockets. “I got one. Where should I sign it?”

“On the empty space next to Zoro please,” she says and I can see a twinkle in Jimin-ssi’s eyes.

“Of course,” he quickly signs it, smiling brightly, but I can see the grin in his eyes. “Here you go.”

“Thank you!” she beams.

“No. Thank you.”

Hunnie seems to shine even brighter and my eyes almost hurt looking at her. Today is Hunnie’s day, for sure.

A tune starts playing and I look around to see where it’s coming from.

“Oh, sorry, someone’s calling me.” Jimin takes out his phone and looks at the screen. “I have to take this one,” he says right before pressing his phone to his ear. ‘Jimin-ssi, where are you?’ the sound leaks from his phone. “Ah, Jungkookie-ssi, I’m waiting on the circular bench, the one in front of the restroom. Where are you?”

I glance at Hunnie who seems to be trying her hardest not to listen to the conversation. ‘Don’t listen in. Respect their privacy,’ I hear her mutter under her breath. She’s so precious. If only I can be that thoughtful. One more thing to learn Y/n, I sigh.

“I’ll be there in a sec,” he says before putting ending the call. “I’ll have to go, maknae is looking for me. It’s been nice meeting you both, and sorry I have to go so suddenly.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll have to go too,” I nudge her side.

“That’s right, chimaek by the river.” she chirps, smiling at me. “Thanks for the autograph, Jimin-ssi.”

He smiles, waving goodbye as he jogs away.

That sure was nice. Hunnie finally gets to see him. I turn to Hunnie who is still standing there in a daze, half star-struck.

“Hunnie?”

“Y/n, please tell me this is not a dream?”

I pinch her arm as hard as I can.

“Ow, you fucker! It hurts!” she slaps my arm then caresses her own.

“You did ask whether it’s a dream. Did you figure it out?” I smirk.

“If it’s a dream, I’ll kill you already.”

I laugh.

“I might have you to kill you in my dream tonight.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Oh, btw, have you met Jimin before? I know you don’t really care about someone’s fame and all that but you were still a bit too relaxed in front of someone of that calibre,” she says. Damn, she’s sharp as always.

“Yeah, I’ve accidentally met him. A few times actually. He sometimes visits the convenience store for snacks.”

“What! We work at the same store? When? Why didn’t you tell me?” she grabs a fistful of her own hair and squeezes it slightly.

“Because it’s too sad.” I sigh, remembering all the almost-encounter.

“What do you mean?”

“Okay.” It’s time to tell her. I really don’t want to do this. “Remember when I kept spamming you to come to the convenience store as quickly as you can?”

“Yeah?”

“That’s because he was there and I wanted you to see him.” When I finish, Hunnie stops moving. She’s completely frozen. “Hunnie?”

“Just that one time, right?” she looks at me hopefully. I don’t want to do this.

“It happened on a few different occasion.”

“Kill me now. I don’t want to live anymore,” she mutters.

I laugh. “There’ll be next time. Just make sure your phone is always on.” I put my hands on her shoulder and spin her around. “Now, let’s have fun and buy you something pretty to celebrate!”

“You’ll definitely tell me if you meet another member next time, yeah?”

“Of course. And I’ll try to stall them just enough so that you can get a glimpse of them. Probably, morally, a bit dodgy, but you’re my best friend. I have to.” I smile.

Suddenly, she’s all sunshine and rainbow again, smirking as she grabs my hand and drags me away.

“Where are we going?” I stumble around as she keeps holding my hand.

“You’ll see.”

I sigh. I should’ve told her everything. I did bad.

“Hunnie, you know I love you, right?”

“I love you too,” she winks before dragging me again.

Chapter Text

I can do this.

It looks good on you Y/n, it looks good on you. I say while stealing glances at myself on every surface I can. Be confident. Come on, it’s cool. You look cool. And for the entire morning preparation, I bought it.

I brush my teeth calmly, I comb my hair with a smile and dress for work with confidence. When I’m all neat with my eco bag on my shoulder, I stare at myself in the mirror for the last time before going back into the house, running towards Hunnie’s wig station. I can’t do it. I can’t go out looking like this. Not yet at least.

What do you mean you can’t? You did it yesterday to the movie! Granted you were wearing a cap and you tucked you bang away at the end of the movie, but it doesn’t mean you didn’t wear it out before the movie? No one even looked at you weirdly! You promised to be more confident! It’s all just in your head.

Ah, yes, but we all live in our heads, do we not?

I find the cute wig Hunnie prepared for me in case of a low-self-esteem emergency and glance towards Hunnie’s bed. She’s still sound asleep, no doubt tired after yesterday’s celebration and mini photoshoot which consist of me being her personal photographer.

I feel a twinge of guilt for covering her artwork on my head, but I wear the wig nonetheless. Hunnie taught me how yesterday. I sigh. Low self-esteem one, confidence zero. I step outside and disappear with the morning crowd.

“So yeah, sorry, we watched One Piece without you.”

“But you promised!” he makes a weepy face, pulling the corners of his mouth as low as he can get them to go. “I poured my heart out when I told you that I’m the only lone weeb in my group after that group date,” he clutches his chest dramatically. “Can’t believe you and Hunnie would abandon me like that! Wait, no, not really,” he scoffs. “I expected Hunnie to do that, but not you!”

“Woah Woah Woah, calm down, sir.” I neatly place bottles of non-alcoholic beers in the cooler from the stock crate, laughing harder when I catch a glimpse of his unamused expression. I grab another glass bottle from the crate. I look at the time. It’s approaching lunch and there’s nothing to do. The store is completely empty and has been since morning and so Moonsik and I checked the stocks of every item and filled the display to the brim out of boredom. Moonsik leans on the other door of the cooler with his arms folded across his chest and what seems to be a long-lasting pout across his face.

“Now who will I watch it with? No one is going with me and I’ll have to wait until it shows up on Crunchyroll or something.” The pout stays.

“You can always watch it alone,” I wink. “When a weeb watches an anime movie, weeb shan’t pay attention to their surrounding but focuses solely on the screen. Are you a fake weeb, Moonsik-ssi?”

“Moonsik-ssi?”

“I’m sorry, I mean Moonmoon-ssi.”

“Just, stop.” He massages his temples lightly with his index fingers

I grin. “Why are you so persistent in not going alone?”

“Instead of a fake weeb, try a scared and lonely one,” he tapes on a sarcastic smile. “And besides, what am I gonna do after that? It’s not exactly close to my house and I’ll just be roaming around alone, feeling extra lonely.”

I just nod along.

“You get it, don’t you? You and Hunnie are the only single weeb friends I have left!”

“Uhm, about that,”

“Don’t tell me… I’m the only single one now?!” he screeches.

“What? No. It’s just that I’m thinking of setting Hunnie up with this one sunbae who might be a good match with her.”

“You’re playing match-maker on one of your two bestest friends in the world to lead them outside the path of singleness? Are you out of your mind?”

“But why?” I whine, not understanding his point in the slightest before I snap my head his way. “Wait, my two bestest friends? Who’s the other one?”

“Obviously me!” he looks at me incredulously.

‘Right, sure,’ I chuckle under my breath.

“What was that?” he glares at me.

“Nothing.”

“What do you think would happen when Hunnie finally find someone? Who would you hang out with?”

“I haven’t thought of that.”

Moonsik stares at me with a look of pure devastation. “Wow, I gave you a chance to say ‘with you cause you’re my other best friend’,” he mimics an annoying high-pitched voice.

“That’s not how I sound like—”

“It hurts, Y/n, you’d rather be alone than to hang with your bestie right here.”

“Shut up.” I laugh and am quietly relieved when I see he laughs along with me.

“Won’t you be lonely?”

“I’ll think about it when I get to it.”

“You’ll finally feel how I feel being the only one alone. Oh, so lonely.” He stares into nothingness. I’m not even sure anymore whether he’s just dramatic or he’s actually made out of sass.

“You sure are ready to always admit your loneliness.” I lift an eyebrow.

“Guys who are ready to expose and own up to their fears and weaknesses are the truly brave and confident ones. They’re the cool ones.”

“Then how are you still single, Moonsik-ssi?” I quirk an eyebrow. He looks like wanted to say something about how I called him again but he lets it go and shrugs.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

My phone beeps. I put down a bottle I was holding and fish my phone out of my pocket. It’s Hunnie.

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: Hey, I can’t believe I forgot, but we need to have a mini photoshoot session

Y/n: But we did yesterday?

Hunnie: Not me, you pabo

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: I need to take a picture of your hair *ehem* my work of art *ehem* for my portfolio and Instagram. You’re going to need to put on some model make-up though

Y/n: What model make-up? Also, isn’t it better to have the pictures taken after the coloring exam?

Hunnie: Definitely not just concealer and eyeliner. I’m talking about a bit of highlighter, A bit of contouring, Natural-ish but with smoky eyes. And no, we’re gonna have another photoshoot after that, maybe an even bigger one 😏

Y/n: Natural but with smoky eyes is that supposed to be an oxymoron? Also, *sigh*

Hunnie: I think this time, it’s going to be like male idol stage make-up, but even less glittery and more like a cat.

Y/n: Please don’t tell me you’re making me wear those super thick eyeliner and mascara… It takes forever to remove.

Hunnie: Nah, just trust me on this one.

Y/n: Okay. So when and where are we doing this?

Hunnie: Probably tomorrow evening after our joined shift. We’re hunting for those golden hours.

Y/n: Anything I need to do or prepare?

Hunnie: Just your heart and soul. If we’re going tomorrow, we’ll stop by at Haneul unnie’s place first for hair and makeup, oh, and clothes.

Y/n: So, for everything.

Hunnie: The perk of having a model sister. Free make-up, free clothes, and great make-up tips.

Y/n: is she even back here already from her honeymoon?

Hunnie: Yeah, a few days ago, actually.

Y/n: Oh, cool.

Hunnie: Yeah. Oh, and help me think of the location, will you?

Y/n: okay. Just don’t expect much okay. Remember? Chandler Bing syndrome.

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: We’ll see.

“Moonsik, if you have company after you finished watching so that you don’t have to wander alone, would you be okay with watching by yourself?”

“I guess,” he squints his eyes.

“I’ll have to ask Hunnie but I think you can join us. Are you free tomorrow?”

“I have a morning shift at my other part-time but that’s it. I’m free for the rest of the day.”

“Great.”

You are typing…

Y/n: What about Han River, like yesterday?

Hunnie: Actually

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: If we are going to go towards Han River from unnie’s place, WE CAN HAVE A WHOLE ASS BIG SCALE PHOTOSHOOT!!! OH GOSH IM SO EXCITED!

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: There’s a two-story accessory store with a really elegant and modern aesthetics with lots of little aisles to pose in and it’ll be perfect with the hair! Might as well get an earring for you that suits the hair!

You are typing…

Y/n: Now that that’s settled… When we hang at Han River tomorrow, can Moonsik join us? He’s planning on watching One Piece tomorrow and he doesn’t really want to be alone and I feel bad for ditching him yesterday.

Hunnie: Only if he helps around

Y/n: I’ll ask

“You’re free to join us tomorrow after the movie. Hunnie and I will be hanging around the river. Oh, but Hunnie said she’ll only agree if you help out.”

“Help out with what?”

I shrug. “Not really sure myself, but she needs to take a few pictures of me for her portfolio and Instagram.”

“Oh. Sure, why not. Anything to soothe the pain of being alone.”

“You’re such a drama queen.”

“So I’ve been told,” he winks at me. I sigh exasperatedly and fish my phone out again.

Y/n is typing…

Y/n: he said sure.

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: WE CAN FINALLY GET THE JUMBO TRIPLE CHEESEBURGER PIZZA AND THAT NACHOS I’VE BEEN DYING TO TRY AS SIDES FOR THE CHIMAEK!

Hunnie: Tell him to completely empty his stomach. We’re gonna feast tomorrow.

Y/n: Okay, chill

I lock my phone and shove it down my pocket before finishing arranging the last few beverage bottles from the crate in the chiller.

“Moonsik, I think it’s best if you don’t eat during the movie and leave a lot of space for food by the river.”

“Chimaek?”

“Chimaek will be an underestimation.”

His mouth forms a small ‘o’ as he nods understandingly.

“By the way, Y/n, that new haircut, did Hunnie do it?”

I nod. “She styled it,” I let my fingers play with soft strands that don’t feel at all synthetic.

“So when she says she’s amazing at it, she wasn’t lying?”

“Nope,” my mouth lets out a little pop. “This is actually a wig. Wait until you see my real hair.”

“That’s a wig? It looks so real! Lemme see your hair!”

Before I can refuse, the sound in the room changes as the automatic glass door opens the store to the outside world and a customer with a baseball cap enters, his cap placed so low on his forehead it borderline covers his eyes.

“Good afternoon,” Moonsik politely greets the customer as I shuffle towards the staff-slash-stock room carrying the now empty crate.

Once I’m in the room, I take my time and slowly place the crate at the corner right next to a stack of unopened boxes with two dozen milk cartons in there each. Glancing at all the boxes in there, I know there’s nothing interesting, but surprisingly, the boxes keep my attention, they keep me busy.

Though I should probably go back soon. It’s not nice leaving him out there working alone. Although, I did fill up the cold drink section alone.

“Y/n,” I turn around to see Moonsik’s head appearing from the door. When did he even open the door? “Come on! come with me! You’ve got to see who’s here right now.” I still stand dazedly for some reason. He has to enter the room and clap his hands in front of my face to get me to move. “Quick, we can’t leave a customer unattended! Hurry!” he yell-whispers.

I close the door behind me when I leave and follow along eagerly behind him to see who pulls this reaction out of him.

That’s when I see him again, roaming calmly this time with curious eyes that seem to look at everything in the room. RM-ssi.

I quickly pull out my phone and open my chat with Hunnie.

“He seems to be looking for something,” he whispers while I’m typing. He stares at him, paying very close attention to every move RM-ssi makes.

I sigh. “Then ask him if he needs your help. You seem excited to talk to him.” I click send.

Y/n: RM IS IN THE CONVENIENT STORE, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO COME HERE??

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: WHAT?? NOOOOO I CANT!!! I’M ON THE WAY TO UNNIE’S HOUSE AND IT’S GONNA TAKE FOREVER!

Hunnie: Just, get an autograph for me or something! 😭

Y/n: Okay

“No, I’m too nervous,” Moonsik says, “you do it!”

I look up from my phone screen. “You were fine when Jimin-ssi was here. Why the difference in attitude?” I raise an eyebrow.

“The rap-line mixtapes are legendary!”

“So, go then?”

“Just go and ask him if he needs anything.” He looks at me, pleading.

“But—”

“Just do it.”

“Nike?”

“Hush!”

I snicker and walk over to where RM-ssi is standing.

***

“Do you need any help?”

He looks at me briefly before glancing back and forth between me and the notebook section to describe a specific type of notepad. I know exactly which one he means. I saw it often. I believe Suga-ssi always brings the same one when he decides to stay in the coffee shop and write, and if I’m not mistaken, I believe I also saw RM-ssi with one of those notepads in the park during ‘The Great Shout-Out’.

I browse the shelf quickly and my eyes land on an empty space where the lined tear-away notepads usually stand. Moonsik and I restocked everything this morning which means that if it’s not there, we just don’t have it at the moment.

“Sorry, we’re out of that one,” I turn to face him. “Any other one that you’d like to use?”

“I don’t really know. I’ve always used that type before. Do you have any suggestion? It sounds silly, asking for a suggestion for a notebook cause it’s just a notebook but,” he stops. It seems like he runs out of things to say.

“I don’t think it’s silly at all. Isn’t the type of note-book really important for the note-takers and for the people who are going to read them?” He doesn’t say anything but he looks at me surprised. “I can’t study if I don’t have a specific kind of notebook and writing pad.”

“That’s what I thought and I thought I was just being extra sensitive about this stuff.”

“It just shows you care,” I smile but doesn’t avert my eyes from the row of note pad and books. “So, do you have a specific use for the notebook? Is it for note-taking and idea keeping or is it for brainstorming, jotting down ideas you may or may not use or discard?”

“The second one.”

“Then, try this one, it might help.”

I pull out a cheap A4 sized notepad of around three or four hundred pages made out of extra thin recycled papers.

“My friend and I usually use this one if we’re trying to get as many ideas as we possibly can. I find it really helpful since it’s very thin, very cheap and easily disposable. I usually feel a little burdened if I start writing on an overly beautiful piece of paper. It’s just a lot easier to write knowing that it can easily be thrown away and that we can always use a whole new sheet as there are tons of them,” I explain. “And since it’s easy to tear it from the pad and it’ll still be intact, you can always tear away and pin or stick the sheet somewhere if you like. ”

I hand him the pad and he inspects it with wonder and curiosity, flipping the pages carefully as if he’s dealing with pressed flower, as if the pages will all fall away and crumble into dust. After a short moment, he smiles. “The imperfections and fragility of this make it beautiful.”

“I agree,” I nod.

He stares at me in contemplation for a moment before something clicks. “It is you! You helped me with the bike! I thought you look familiar!” his eyes widen. “Thanks again, and nice to see you again.” He smiles, revealing two adorable dimples that sink deep into the center of his cheeks.

I chuckle quietly, mirroring his smile. “Nice to see you again too.”

He nods, nailing his gaze at the pad attentively for a short while. Then, he abruptly looks up and mutters a quiet ‘ah’ with eyes searching the room.

I turn to him. “Anything else I could help you with?”

“Uhm, is there ink tubes for that plastic fountain pen? The one that— Uhm—”

“Ah, the one that’s transparent and made out of hard plastic?”

“Yes, that one.”

“I’m pretty sure we do. It’s over here,” I walk a few steps from where we were standing to a small table-like stand with only pen-refills, erasers, white-out, and ink bottles. I point at the small selection of what I think he’s looking for.

“Thank you. I owe my friend some of these. I accidentally broke them,” he says as he laughs awkwardly at himself.

I want to ask how the heck did he manage to break such a tube but I decided against it as it doesn’t seem all that polite. So I settle with silence and I follow him towards the register as Moonsik leaves briefly to grab a pen from the staffroom.

“I hope this helps,” I say as I point the barcode reader at the notepad until it beeps and I smile. I don't know why I think what I think, but the beep the scanner always makes sounds like a distressed baby robots sometimes and it's the cutest thing ever.

“You seem to know quite a bit about notebooks and creative processes, are you perhaps also in the creative industry?” he inquires.

“Not entirely, although I do like to write random notes and theories I thought are interesting. It’s a habit I guess, a second nature to people in the creative and humanities department.”

He laughs. “I think you might be right.”

“My friend is in the creative sector, though. She’s an amazing hairstylist and hairstyle designer, and she happens to be an army.”

“Oh, that’s cool! Should I sign something for her?”

“Only if that’s okay with you, RM— RM-ssi?”

“Namjoon is fine.”

“Then, Namjoon-ssi,” I flash a smile.

“Of course,” he smiles brightly before looking into his small brown crossbody messenger bag. Looking lost, he taps all his pockets.

I finish scanning everything and looks around for a pen, but there isn’t any at the counter. Sorry, Hunnie, maybe it’s just not meant to be for you this time.

As if on cue, Moonsik returns with a box of new pens for the register. I grab one from the box and hands it to him. “Here, you can use this one, Namjoon-ssi.”

He thanks me and picks up the notepad. “I haven’t paid but can I use the notepad?”

“Sure.”

He rips a page easily and sign it. “What is your friend’s name?”

“Hunnie.”

“To Hunnie,” he mumbles to himself while concentrating on writing her name.

At this point, Moonsik who has been nervously moving in his spot can’t seem to handle it anymore and blurts out, “I like your music!” I find it a little too loud and from the look of horror in his face, I think he has the same opinion. I start breaking down into laughter.

“Hahahaha! Calm down!” I laugh, half-slapping his back.

Namjoon-ssi is half shocked and he stands there not moving for a little before he shows his brightest smile, practically beaming at the nervous Moonsik.

“I like all your music but I’m a hardcore fan for the more hip-hop and R&B influenced songs in the discography,” he blurts quickly once more. I chuckle.

“Thank you,” Namjoon-ssi smiles sincerely at him .“Would you like a signature too?” he asks him.

“Yes please!” he answers a little too over-enthusiastically, again.

Namjoon-ssi smiles turning to me to hand me the signature for Hunnie.

I thanked him and read out his total. “Do you need a bag?”

He shakes his head and pays with cash.

“Thank you for visiting,” I say with a little bow. He mutters a thank you too before disappearing out into the world outside the store.

I look at Moonsik who is still radiating a little.

“You’re such a mush,” I laugh.

“Shut up! I couldn’t get the right timing to ask Jimin for an autograph the other day, thank goodness I gathered the courage to ask today or I’ll kill myself!” I only listen to about half of it, still busy laughing myself. “How are you so chill? I thought you’re an army too now?”

“I don’t know, is this not a normal reaction?”

“Mine is,” Moonsik looks at the signature, still half giddy. “Yours isn’t.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. How?”

“Don’t know. I guess cause I met some of the members before I become an army. Do you know that Jin-ssi comes here often?”

“Wait, really?”

“Yeah. So I guess when I first saw Namjoon-ssi, my first thought was ‘a cute and a little clumsy person who likes writing’. Not to mention I actually met him once before. The handle to his bike was rolling away on the pavement.”

“How many members of Bangtan have you met?!”

“Hunnie and I accidentally met Jungkook-ssi and Jimin-ssi yesterday. They were also watching One Piece.” I wink.

He groans. “I hate you.”

“Are you sure? Do you want to go alone to anime-related stuff?”

“I’m sorry.” He clamps his mouth immediately.

I laugh.

Chapter Text

After our shift ended at two pm, we went home for a bit to grab our picnic matt and shed everything we won’t be needing for the shoot before heading straight to unnie’s house. Haneul unnie’s place is the same as always, the same grown-up and neat aesthetics, the plush dark grey couch and glass coffee table surrounded by the cream and beige walls, the same cute but minimalistic decor giving out the same comfortable cool-older-sister-slash-mom vibe. I absolutely love it. There is a slight increase in décor and things in the room that I assume belongs to Jihoon hyung, Haneul unnie’s husband, but it still feels so— her.

When we arrived, unnie immediately led us into the kitchen where she laid a variety of makeup neatly on the counter that is illuminated by the bright white light hanging from the ceiling. I sit on one of the high chairs in front of the island as I feel a pair of eyes on me. She’s looking at my hair. I feel unsettled, almost like the stare will create a hole where it lands. I look at her, she’s looking at me with an innocent gaze, almost admiring. I exhale in relief. So it’s just me. I muss with my hair, combing it again and again with my hand, still feeling a little awkward with it.

I’m not wearing the wig. I wanted to bring it with me in case I need it after the photoshoot but I pushed that thought away, took it off and left it back home.

Come on. You have an excuse to be feeling like a model because you are one today, Y/n, take the chance and do it!

But now that there’s no turning around and going back in to grab the wig sitting at home, I just want to cover my face, or preferably crumple myself up and toss it into the trash, because, why am I like this? I was completely fine yesterday. What’s wrong with me? I sigh.

“Unnie, can I use the bathroom?”

“Of course, Y/n. You know where it is.” She smiles at me before slapping Hunnie’s grabby hands away from the makeup that is already arranged so neatly on the island. Hunnie whines and she glares at her, not-entertained.

I wet my face, in an attempt to wake up. Wake up. I look in the mirror. You were never like this before, Y/n, what happened? This doesn’t seem like you at all? What had gotten into you? I don’t know. I stare at the mirror. I don’t look bad at all. No eyebags, no significant stress acne. I’m just me, just plain old Y/n, but why do I feel like hiding? Why are my eyes look back at myself lifelessly? Why am I so tired even though I got plenty of sleep last night?

Calm down Y/n. Calm down. Come on, Hunnie always says that it suits you, that your RBF makes the haircut works so well. Don’t you trust her?

And I do. I really do. I trust her, I want to believe her. So, I wipe my face with a piece of tissue, wipe my damp hand on my pants and come back out from the bathroom where I tuck away the ugly crawling feeling. Hopefully, they won’t follow me out of there.

***

“This isn’t too much?” I ask Haneul unnie who hands me a hand mirror as I sit with my back slouched, almost retreating into myself, on one of her tall chairs next to her kitchen island.

She smiles and shakes her head. “I personally think you look like a model. You need to work on your posture though. Oof. Especially your upper back.” I laugh. “Come on. Shoulders down, head held high, neck elongated.”

I do as I am told and sit a bit straighter. Whatever made me feel like crumpling myself into a ball retreats a little, back into the shadow. Maybe this is why most confident people seem to have great posture. It helps.

“Hunnie? What do you think?” I ask Hunnie who is slouching, looking at her phone next to Haneul unnie. She looks up. “Is it good enough?” the feeling starts creeping out a little again and I stutter. “I- I know the makeup is really great because unnie is amazing but I wonder if I—”

“Shut up, stop whining. You look great!” she cuts me and a part of me is relieved she does it before I descend even further and my emotion snowballed. I shut my mouth and smile weakly, feeling deeply appreciative. “You look great, you do,” she smiles, but her eyes don’t look as cheerful as they usually are. In fact, they look rather sad. It’s probably nothing. It could very well be projection. Get your act straight, Y/n.

“So, when are you going?” unnie asks. “And are you going to change or you’re going with what you’re wearing?”

Hunnie looks at me, her glinting eyes goes up and down again and again like a scanner. “Change of plan, Y/n. It’s definitely going to be a major photoshoot day. Unnie, can we borrow your modelling clothes?”

“Do you need a fairy godmother too?” she smiles with poise. Hunnie smirks and winks at her. Haneul unnie laughs, her light chuckle rings and flutters in the air. “Okay, let’s move to the clothes room then.”

“Yes! I love the clothes room!” Hunnie cheers like a five-years-old, trailing behind unnie like an over-eager duckling following its momma. I laugh and follow along.

I’ve been here before but I can’t help but gape every time I enter unnie’s separate gigantic walk-in closet or the so-called ‘clothes room’, entirely in awe by the sheer number and variety of strange clothes that I can only describe as the opposite of my seven-years-old band t-shirt and joggers. It doesn’t help that every single time I visit the room, most clothes draping on the hanger in the walk-in-closet change.

In the room, Haneul unnie waits as Hunnie immediately scramble around, touching various pieces to take a better look at them. She turns to me when Hunnie’s excitement doesn’t seem to be decreasing any time soon.

“Any specific concept that you two are thinking of?”

I shake my head, having completely no idea whatsoever. “Sorry, she didn’t tell me anything.”

“Hunnie?” she asks but Hunnie is way too occupied in her own thoughts to be listening. Unnie sighs tenderly. “This kid,” she smiles then turns to me. “Well, I guess it’s up to me now. Anything that would go along with the hair, right?” I nod. “Then, will you be okay with androgynous rock-chic?”

I’m not aware that I’m staring at her directly in the eyes, being completely lost but intrigued by the idea, until she chuckles and I forcefully avert my gaze somewhere else, blushing in embarrassment.

“Great. I’ll go pick some stuff then. You’re free to pull anything that you like or want to try from the hanger. I can take a look at them and if there’s anything that you really like, we can try to find something to pair it up and maybe use it for the photoshoot. How does that sound?”

I smile even wider this time. “Thank you so much.”

“No problem. You’re basically my dongsaeng anyway,” she says before walking off to one corner of the closet. I look at her and am sure of one thing. Haneul unnie is an angel and no one can convince me otherwise.

***

The next half an hour is hectic. Hunnie and Haneul unnie keeps throwing me things to try out. We went through a whole range of style from gentleman’s trousers to miniskirt and leggings, to fishnets and lace and by the end of it, they have decided that they liked to see me wearing the more urban fusion of rock and street and therefore, I leave the clothes room wearing an asymmetrical grey t-shirt under a black leather jacket paired with black almost-puffy faux leather shorts with fishnets underneath and a grey combat boots. I have no idea how they found one that fit me because all three of us have different shoe sizes but somehow they got it and made me put it on.

By the time we leave the house, Hunnie is slightly panicky.

“Oh Gosh, Y/n, it’s almost three-thirty! We have to be there in ten minutes otherwise we’ll have to rush the shoot or we’ll be late and miss the golden hours then we’ll have to do it again sometimes and—”

I laugh.

“Come on then,” I grab her hand and we run all the way to the station.

Click. Click.

“Oh! This one turns out great,” Hunnie comments. “But I still think we need an impactful pair of earrings, long and dramatic if possible. Let’s pause this and help me look for it first.”

“Oh, okay.” I grab the matt bag that is leaning on the wall off the floor and walk towards Hunnie who is already scampering excitedly to another aisle. I quicken my pace, trying not to get left behind. When I finally exit one long aisle, Hunnie is gone. Oh no. I slap my forehead.  

We are in a two-floor-high accessory shop which is filled with neatly lined tremendous display racks that almost reach the ceiling and together they form aisles. Each of those display racks is divided into sections of little squares, like grids, and inside each square, an earring design on their square paper is hung perfectly. There are a few potted plants at the end of each rack, and the entire place is very highly aesthetically pleasing, but being lost in it is a different story. The store itself could very well be a pretty labyrinth.

“Hunnie?” I walk around a little. There are not many people in the store and it seems acceptable to call around. I’d rather be stared at than be lost forever. “Hunnie?” I increase my volume.

“I’m here!” she answers from somewhere on the left. I walk past each aisle carefully, checking if she is there.

“Hunnie?” I saw her tip-toeing, stretching her arms and reaching up to a set of earrings. “Look! Doesn’t it reminds you of that one earring that V wore in Fake Love?”

“Love, I like them but I don’t know every article of clothing in all their mvs and stage performances.”

“Wait, it’s ehm,” she types on her phone. “It’s this one.” She turns the screen my way.

“You’re right, this one does give me that vibe.”

“Right?” She places the earring in front of my ears. “I think this one will do. Can you wait for me in the couch area? I’ll just pay quickly first.”

“Okay.”

Hunnie dashes off again and I walk slowly to the only recognisable place in the entire shop, a very plush and fancy looking sitting area with huge dark brown leather sofas at the corner of the room, the farthest corner from the entrance door. No one is there aside from me and I let out a deep breath of relief as I throw myself onto the couch, the matt on the floor leaning on the short table separating the huge sofa from two armchairs in the same colour and material. I close my eyes and revel in the peaceful solitary while I wait for Hunnie to come.

***

“Here, wear these.” Hunnie gives me two different pieces of earrings and an ear cuff.

“Which one goes where?”

“The big on your right, the rest on your left.”

I nod and slowly take out the tiny ones I’m wearing so that I can out the new ones on.

“Done. How does it look?”

“Perfect!” she grins, but her gaze lingers longer on the big one that she told me reminded her of V’s earring.

“What’s up?” I wave my hand in front of her face.

“It’s not fair, really,” Hunnie grumbles. “I’m the only one who met only two! You met most of Bangtan and unnie met all of them!”

“Unnie met all of them before?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Ah, yeah, about a year ago. She was waiting for a photoshoot and apparently, the management booked the slot directly after BTS. She said that the photoshoot lasted a bit longer than the slot and when they all came out, they apologized to all the staff for dragging it on. Even though they really didn’t. The photographer was just a huge perfectionist. Unnie said that she was sure they were tired too.”

“What a pro.”

“I know, right?” she sighs. “I just wish, I could meet them again. Not that I’m complaining that I’ve never met all of them before, I’m grateful enough to have met JK and Chimchim, I just want to meet them again. They’re such nice people and though at first, I thought it might be awkward if I ever met them, it wasn’t awkward at all! They’re super friendly!”

“Yeah, they are.” Memories of how Hunnie’s sparkling eyes as she talked to Jungkook-ssi and Jimin-ssi swirl inside my head and I just wish it’ll come true someday, and I’ll do the best I can for it to happen. After being a fan for so long, I’m sure she deserves going to at least one of their concert, right?

“Oh well,” Hunnie shrugs. “Let’s continue?”

I nod.

***

“Oh, by the way, you didn’t tell me what you did to one of my professors,” I say, half leaning on the armrest of the sofa with my head facing the side.

“Sit there just like that, and look straight into the distance.”

“Like this?” I try to copy her direction.

“Yeap.”

“SO.” I continue, still holding the pose. “My professor.”

“Stay right there. Three, two one—” the shutter clicks. “Now stay there and look straight at the camera. Look serious. Okay, three, two one.” Another shutter clicks. “Okay, now smile while looking at the camera.”

“Hunnie, my professor?” I ask, faking a smile for the camera.

“Oh, right.” She freezes, biting her lips from behind the camera. “I accidentally gave him a wide strip of bald spot. Three, two—”

“Wait what?”

“Smile.” The shutter clicks again.

“Hunnie!”

“Shh, we’re still in a photoshoot. Please express your complain after we’re done.”

I glare at her. This is going to be a long and interesting day, I'm stressing on the long part.

Chapter Text

“Smile this time. Three, two, one, smile Y/n!” Hunnie exclaims from behind the camera.

I smile and the shutter clicks. Hunnie doesn’t say anything while she looks at the photo she just took. I sigh. The Chandler Bing syndrome is back.

“I knew it. Chandler is here with us,” I mutter, looking at the ground.

“Nope, just gotta try a different approach. A few more shots and I think we’re ready to wrap up here.” She smiles at me, giving me a thumbs up from where she’s standing across the empty street.

We are currently in the second location, a narrow street five minutes away from Jamsil-dong that looks like one of the human streets of Hongdae with little shops and colourful booths. Just as colourful and nowhere near as crowded. I stand in front of the colourful wall of a candy shop, holding a red lolly.

“Oh, I got it!” Hunnie says after a moment of contemplation and lowers her camera. “Wait. If we’re in the world of One Piece. Who do you think is who? Cause I think I just thought of something too precious to not be shared.” A glint of mischief shows in her eyes and I notice how her mouth is completely clenched shut trying not to laugh, but it fails anyway cause she can’t keep her shoulders still.

I think about it for a while. It’s an interesting concept really. I guess, based on personality or just goals then— “I think you’ll be Nami. Wait, actually, you’re exactly Nami, what the heck!” I laugh.

“Go on, I’m not the funny part.”

“I’m— I don’t know who I am. I want to say Nico Robin but she’s way smarter and way too elegant for me to handle. Luffy is too— energetic. Franky too. I’m not ambitious at all so Zoro is out of the picture. Probably Usopp?”

Hunnie nods. “Maybe. Go on?”

“Why are we suddenly talking about one piece?”

“Who cares, it’s fun. Keep going.”

“Okay. So, Haneul Unnie is probably Nico Robin, and in that case, you two are like the dream sisters.”

Hunnie winks. “Thanks, babe.”

“Then, based on what I’ve heard from you, your brothers would be Luffy, because, and I’m quoting you, ‘troublemakers! All of them!’” I laugh.

“I’m not exaggerating though, it’s true.”

“Then, Boram unnie. I think she’s between Usopp and Nami. Or Chopper.”

“What about the guys?”

“Which guys?”

“People we know.”

“Oh. Then, Eunseok hyung,” I wink. Her cheeks redden. Gosh, she’s so adorable. “I think Eunseok hyung is a mix between Ace and Zoro? He got Ace’s friendliness and sometimes he gets stoic and almost stone-faced when he’s trying to focus.”

Hunnie squeals a little. “What a dream.”

“I am now really suspicious on how or why he’s still single,” I squint.

“I feel you.”

“Next, Moonsik?” she nods vigorously, a bit over the top compared to even her usual jumpy excitement.

“I guess he could also be Usopp or Brook, but he’s not that goofy and he’s actually pretty brave, just a bit desperate to find someone, he’s probably— Oh God. NO.”

“YES.”

“MOONSIK IS SANJI???”

That’s when the dam bursts. Hunnie’s laughter echoes through the air and her body quakes while I lay crumpled on the ground, my knees too weak to stay standing.

“NO WAY!” and so the saga of laughter continues. After five whole minutes, we finally start to at least try to settle down. My cheeks hurt and my eyes are teary.

“The makeup!” but I can’t completely bring myself to care. Happiness is bubbling in me and the serene after-effect is too good to miss, something I need after my mind is trying to push me down the trash shoot this entire day— possibly the entire previous week.

Wiping the corners of my eyes carefully not to smudge the eyeshadow, I will myself to stand straight again and clear my throat. “Hunnie, let’s go back to what we’re here for,” I chuckle.

“Oh, we’re done here.”

“How?”

“Look.” She clicks on some stuff on the screen to go to the picture gallery and as she said, there are at least twenty pictures of me laughing my ass off and it strangely looks, good. I never know how I look when I smile or laugh in photos, but apparently, it looks like that and I don’t hate it at all. I smile, slowly scrolling through every single one. Hunnie is a wonderful photographer, I note.

“Dang, I walk right into the trap didn’t I?”

She grins innocently. “I got all I need here. Let’s take a break then we can walk to the river. Let’s go here.”

***

She leads me to the alley right next to the shop and we sit on a short graffitied concrete wall in front of an unused store space behind the candy shop.

“Sorry if that’s quite hard for you. I know I’m not the best model and I’m glad you got some pics you can use.”

Hunnie stares at me like I’m crazy then proceeds to squint at me.

“Y/n do you know that you’re incredibly hard on yourself? Like you would forgive me for breaking your favourite mug but when u do it yourself, you would punish yourself like crazy,” she sighs. “If I don’t know any better, I would’ve thought that you just think of yourself better than everyone and that other people can make those mistakes but you can’t cause you’re better.” Then she smiles but her eyes are sad.

“Hunnie, you know that’s not—”

“Thank goodness I know better. And I know that it’s not the reason why you’re like that on yourself, so please tell me.” Hunnie lay her head on my should and squeeze my hand. “Tell me what happens.” Her voice breaks and my heart breaks with it.

I can’t muster the words I need, only managing to mutter a small ‘I’m so sorry.’

“Please,” she whispers. “Please don’t say sorry to me. You never did anything wrong to me. More than that, you always stick to me through every whims and mood. You don’t owe me anything. You shouldn’t be saying sorry to me. You should be saying it to yourself.”

“Hunnie.”

“No! Listen to me!” She sits up straight. “I know!” She looks into my eyes and her voice softens “I know.” I look at her, not knowing how to respond.

 “It’s not that bad, is it? Everyone has their insecurities.” I sigh and try to laugh but it comes out more forced than I thought it would.

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not important.” She caresses the back of my hand with her thumb. “It’s like saying that because everyone else knows how it feels to be sad that your sadness is invalid.”

“I’m sure it’s not THAT bad.”

“Y/n, you talk!”

“Hm?”

“You talk– in your sleep, you talk, sometimes.”

My heart drops to my stomach and I freeze, unable to process what I just hear. I talk? I don’t remember having any nightmares in the last two week or two. And Hunnie knows? All this time— she knows?

A lump forms in my throat and I can’t swallow it down.

“You keep saying sorry. At first, I thought it was just the thing with your mom, and you said you were gonna talk it out with her eventually and that you just needed a little time, so I let it slide. But then you kept saying weird things.”

“How long has this been going on?” I ask nervously.

“A few months.”

She knows for that long already. Gulping, I take Hunnie’s trembling fingers. “What did I say.”

“You said you’re not special and that you shouldn’t get it to your head.”

“Oh.”

“You keep on saying, you’re replaceable and I pray that you don’t actually believe it. Tell me you don’t mean it—"

“I—”

“And don’t you dare lie to me,” she scolds, but there’s no anger in her voice. It sounds more like a wish, a plea.

“Look, Hunnie, I’m sorry, I—"

“Just because you love yourself, Y/n, it doesn’t make you less humble. Loving yourself doesn’t make you arrogant. You’re allowed to appreciate who you are. Just taking a break from improving yourself and enjoying who you are doesn’t mean you’re going to regress and delete all those progress you know? You’re already a great person.”

“I really am not,” I look at the grey combats boots Haneul unnie made me wear.

“Of course you are!” she slaps my back and I hope that’s the cue for a turning point, for a chance to fix the happy and carefree mood that I ruined. But when I look at Hunnie, she is outright frowning. “What the heck are you talking about?”

“I—” My mouth opens and closes again. I breathe deeply. “I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m talking about. I don’t know what to think. I guess I just want to be useful, for people to boast about me sometimes. And I know it sounds self-centred but I can’t really help it. Sometimes—” I inhale and let out a shaky breath, tears threatening to fall. “Sometimes, I thought, if only I’m like you, my parents would be proud and my mom wouldn’t be as worried about me as she is. They’ll be able to boast about me to their friends. If I’m more like you, I can be a better friend to you. To everyone. I’d be able to make people laugh more and cheer people up, just like you always do to me.”

“Y/n.” She rubs my back. “I’m sorry I haven’t noticed it earlier,” she hugs me tight. “It’s okay to cry, babe.”

I didn’t notice when my breath staggers and that I was already sobbing before hot tears slowly drip to the tip of my nose as I return the embrace. “No, please, don’t apologize. You didn’t know cause I didn’t want you to know.” I choke on my own tears. “You’re too good a person, and I know you’ll probably feel responsible for this and you’re not. It’s just me. I’m just slightly messed up, I mess myself up and I don’t know how to stop!”

“Y/n.” She doesn’t say anything more. She draws soothing circles on my back and my panic is reduced to a sob. My lips still tremble.

“I have so many things to say, I don’t know where to start,” Hunnie chuckles lightly. I let myself melt onto her shoulders. “First of all. If you think you can’t make your parents proud, you are dead wrong.” I keep quiet. “I see how they look at you. I can see how proud they are even when they think you have no goals. Imagine when you tell them what kind of life you know you want for yourself. That’s also a dream, Y/n, that’s also a goal.

Then the thing about you feeling like you’re not being useful. I hope you know that I can’t live alone. You know I have the survival skill of a five-year-old. I can’t survive on my own and you not only keep yourself alive, you keep me alive all this time too! I think you might be ready to be a parent with that skill.” Her eyes are closed as she nods approvingly. “I mean, seriously, you raised a baby, me, all by yourself! I consider that amazing. If you don’t exist, Haneul unnie would have to raise four children on her own. Well, she still got three with my stupid big bros, but it’s not that bad because of you,” she snickers.

“And trust me when I say this, everyone loves to be around you. Me of course, Haneul unnie too. Boram unnie, Moonsik. Everyone. You might not be a comedian but you give off this super comforting aura like everything will be okay if you’re around. And the best thing is, you don’t notice it and you’re not even trying!

“So, Y/n, please be kinder to yourself. If only you can love yourself even a quarter of how much we all love you, you’ll be smiling every day.” She pats my back before placing her hands on my cheeks and lifting my head up to look me in the eye. “You’re kind, responsible, super considerate, diligent, gorgeous inside and out, reliable, low-maintenance, what else could you possibly want!”

I settle back into her shoulder with my eyes shut. My breathing evens out, feeling all the love in the world. “Thank you, love,” I croak. “I’ll do my best.”

“Good. If anything happens, please talk to me about it.”

“I will.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Chapter Text

“Feeling better?” she stands up and pats the dust away from her pants. I nod.

“Good enough to eat, actually,” I answer and my stomach grumbles. “I’m hungry.” Hunnie laughs.

“Feeling sad never stops me from feeling hungry.”

“Of course it doesn’t,” I laugh. “Can’t eat yet though. Remember the feast?”

“That’s the only reason I wake up this morning,” she smirks. “Anyway, let’s go now? We can grab a tiny bite before Moonsik arrives, consider it a head start.”

“Sure,” I shrug. She holds out her hands and pulls me up when I grab them.

The sky is a slightly darker blue when we begin walking. It’s no longer uncomfortably bright in the eyes. The surface hit by the light isn’t as bright and the shadows on the ground aren’t as dark. It is the perfect walking weather.

“Let’s go through the main street,” Hunnie suggests and I nod, following after her lead.

We walk through the main shopping street, surrounded by live and comfortable chatters. A few shops have turned on their night light and it feels like standing in the open door between two vastly different dimensions, two entirely different atmospheres.

“Y/n,” she takes my arms in hers and put her head on my shoulder as we walk. “We should do this more often. Walking around like the two young people that we actually are in the middle of the crowd at night. Embracing the urban lives. Neon lights. Doesn’t that sounds amazing?” I hum and look around only to spot a fishcake stand.

“You know what will make this even more amazing?” I smile and drag her towards the short line in front of the stall. “Hunnie, how many sticks? Three? Four?”

“What? We’re going to eat after this. I eat a lot but I don’t eat that much for a snack.”

I keep staring into her eyes, not flinching in the slightest.

“Worth a shot,” she shrugs. If I’m haven’t been staring as intently at her, I might have missed the sliver of mischief in her eyes. “Four please!”

I nod, taking out my wallet.

The fishcake was good. No, it was great. My stomach stops complaining so violently about its need of food and instead is now sleeping blissfully, covered in warmth from the broth that came with the fishcake, warmth that now travels to the rest of my body. The food paired with urban life sceneries does wonders to calm me down. Well technically, Hunnie is the one who calmed me down but the atmosphere helps, and for once, I feel giddy without it being overcome by nervousness or anxiety. I take a deep breath, enjoying the air, even if it is nothing different from the air I usually inhale.

As we walk with more bounce in our heels nearing a small junction, a big surge of people appears from the mini street on the right. Hunnie pulls me to the side of the street on the left to avoid us bumping into the crowd when she stumbles on her own feet, and with her legs all wobbly, almost crashing onto another person in front of her who is walking towards where we came from. I pull her out of the way just in time before she manages to headbutt them in the stomach, but now, it’s the other person who is falling down in slow motion, stumbling on the rock that is jutting out of the walkway, their bright red shopping bags hanging on their arms are flung above their head in some sort of defence mechanism reflex, perhaps in an attempt to get a grip of, something.

Before I can completely understand what is currently happening, my body moves on its own and my hands reach forward in a pathetic attempt to catch them. But somehow it happens and no one’s face is hitting the ground. I found myself half kneeling, half crouching. My hands holding the stranger on the chest. The person who turns out to be a man yelps when all their previously floating bags crash onto their back. He staggers for a bit, trying to stabilize his feet in surprise and laughs his thank-yous. Hunnie pats my back excitedly, muttering a thousand ‘well done’.

When the man looks up at me, I recognize him instantly and judging from his smile, he does too.

Hunnie almost screams when she sees his face. “Oh my God!” she shrieks.

“Oh!” he smiles. “From the coffee shop! Y/n- Y/n-ssi?”

“Ah, jhope-ssi!”

“What did I tell you?” he pouts light-heartedly.

“Right,” I chuckle. “Hobi-ssi”

He smiles.

I glance at Hunnie who is still rather in shock with her jaw half hanging open.

“Hobi-ssi, this is my friend, Hunnie. She’s an army.”

Hobi-ssi looks at Hunnie who is stuck in a strange pose with her jaws hanging and her hand only half-covering her open mouth in wonder. Her expression looks half excited and surprised but also half confused which results in her seeming very constipated. He smiles even brighter, lifting his prominent cheekbones and they seem to glow in joy and positivity.

He’s too pure for this world.

“Nice to meet you, Hunnie,” he sticks out his hand for a handshake.

She puts out her trembling hand slowly to shake his. I hear a few harsh ‘calm down’ breaths along the way.

“Nice to meet you,” Hunnie manages to say. “I’m a fan and I think you’re the most magical entertainer ever—” she cuts her own sentence in shock, not believing herself for actually saying what she said. Her mouth opens and closes without any sounds coming out if it.

I look at Hobi-ssi who is completely losing it. His nose wrinkles strangely in what I think is a gesture of blush and he freezes, looking into the ground as if he’s thinking about his life. When he finally loads properly again, he chuckles in an attempt to stop the situation from being awkward.

“Thanks, though I think a magician would be more magical—” he freezes again, probably realizing that he is getting to influenced from his hyungs’ humour and regrets it immensely. Hunnie doesn’t know how to react and I, feeling the awkwardness in the air even thicker than before, am unable to hold it in any longer and laugh, falling onto the ground. I don’t know what I found funny or why I‘m laughing, I just am. I will myself to get up, trying not to obstruct people’s way but my knees are too weak. When I look around and realise that there is not that many people anymore and that there are more than enough space for everyone to pass through, I give up and laugh until I choke and cry.

I feel slightly bad but the laughter is overcoming all my thought process. I just hope that Hobi-ssi won’t get offended. Fortunately, however, that’s not the case at all and when I finally get a grip of reality, I find Hunnie and Hobi-ssi laughing alongside me at the ridiculousness of the situation. It seems my laughter triggered theirs and the awkwardness disappears without a trace. Ten points for Hobi-ssi, fifty points for me.

When we’re all done laughing. Hobi-ssi wipes the corner of his eyes and sighs, “ah, that was really funny.” Hunnie nods along. They look at each other and grins like old friends. I can’t say I’m surprised. After all, they are two of the biggest extrovert I have ever seen. This is kind of bound to happen. They then just instantly start talking casually, all weird comments forgotten.

I notice a stray shopping bag a few steps away from where we’re standing and I pick it up while Hunnie and Hobi-ssi are busy talking.

“Hobi-ssi,” I call, raising the bag to chest level. “Is this yours?”

He checks his bags carefully and nods excitedly. “Thank you so much!”

“No problem,” I smile.

“J-hope-ssi?” Hunnie asks.

“Call me Hobi.”

“Hobi?”

He nods with a smile.

“Hobi-ssi, do you know a good shop around here? Clothes, and or accessories. Preferably weird and interesting ones. Y/n and I aren’t very familiar with this area and if there’s any, we might check it out.” She directs her hand towards me, “for the photo shoot.”

“Ah, is that why? I was just about to ask about why you are dressed like a model. So you are a model too, outside being a barista? And your hair! Have you been wearing a wig this whole time?” he laughs in disbelief. “Or is this haircut recent? Cause I’ve never seen anything like it and it’s amazing!” Hobi chirps, looking very excited. He then turns to Hunnie, “and you’re a photographer?”

“I told you you’re gorgeous!” she winks at me.

I laugh, shaking my head at Hunnie. “Not exactly,” I turn back to Hobi-ssi. “Hunnie is a hair-designer and I’m just her best friend who happens to let her use me as her hair model for her recent exam. This,” I gesture towards my hair, “is her artwork that she did just a few days ago. Today, she’s taking pics to put in her special hair design Instagram.”

“Ah, is that so? But really, it looks great!” he turns to Hunnie. “You are amazing, do you know that? Oh, and what’s that insta account? I want to see your other designs!” He pulls out his phone and starts typing as Hunnie tells him the account name excitedly. When he opens it, his eyes are filled with sparkles.

“Woah,” he lets out.

“I know right, she’s amazing.”

“These are incredible!”

Hunnie squirms in her spot, I can feel her trembling in happiness all the way from where I’m standing. I pat her back and she gives me a face-splitting grin. I chuckle.

“If you scroll, she also has designs that are for men and ones that are unisex,” I comment.

“Wow, these are just, wow,” he mutters.

Suddenly, his phone starts to ring. He looks at his watch and panics.

“I’m sorry, I forgot the time and I have to go. There’s a really cool accessories shop called ‘Rebelliyouth’ if you keep walking straight until that circular blue sign and turn right. The shop’s sign lights up in neon green so it should be easy to find. See you again!”

“See you!” we say simultaneously and soon, Hobi-ssi disappears into the crowd.

“Well that was fun,” I grin, looking at Hunnie.

“That was the best thing ever! Hobi! Freaking Hobi looked at my hair designs and was impressed by it! If only I knew he was going to say that, I would have my camera read and record it.”

“You mean if only it’s not a crime to record people without them knowing.”

“Ah, yes, that too.”

“Come on, Hunnie. Look at the time. We need to catch the golden hour, remember?” I start walking.

“Yeah, yeah.” She smiles, looking ahead again. “Let’s go.”

I hum approvingly.

“Oh, and Y/n?”

“Hm?”

“You do look like a model.”

“Shut up.” She laughs. “But thanks.”

She nudges me on the side and we quickly walk to the river, being a little behind schedule.

When we finally reach the riverbank, we immediately separate to find the premium location, one that is far enough so that the photo would actually show the river and the lights in the background and not just people’s heads, but close enough so that we won’t need to take a fifteen-minute walk just to go to the food trucks or the restroom.

About five minutes into the search, I found nothing but the ringing in my phone indicates that there’s no need to keep searching.

“Yeah? You got a spot?” I ask over the phone call.

“Yes! Come quickly, I’m standing still in the middle of it with all my belonging scattered around it so that no one can place their mat even remotely close to where we’re gonna place ours. Run!”

“Okay,” I chuckle, “but where is it?”

“You know how that convenience store, the one that is a minute walk across the bbq chicken place has like a pole with a bench on the side, right?”

“The black metallic one?”

“Yeah. If you’re coming from the chicken place towards the store, keep going until approximately three benches after the one next to the store. I’m around that area.”

“Oh, cool. I’ll come now.”

“RUN!”

“Okay.”

“DASHI RUN RUN RUN!”

“Okay, okay!” I smack myself on my forehead.

I close the call and run like Hunnie instructed.

“I was thinking of doing something,” I say as we are sitting on our mat, a can of light beer each in our hands. We took a couple of pics already, which Hunnie claimed to be really good and were the best results we could get without the foldable reflector. But we need another person if we want to use it, so we decided to wait for Moonsik, if he could come fast enough before the golden hours ended.

“I think I won’t be much help, and I still need your permission if I want to do this right. Do you want me to meddle? You know, the thing with Eunseok sunbae?”

“Yes, of course,” she looks at me incredulously, making me feel like I just grow a third head that I don’t even know is there. “I’ll take all the help I can get” she laughs.

“Okay,” I clear my throat. “How meddlesome can I get with this.”

“Well, from my side, I give you full permission. It’s not like you even need to ask. You know we both have life-time meddling member card on each other’s life.”

“Ehem, excuse me, what?”

“Of course we do,” she gives me that weird look again.

“Since when? Why do I not know and why didn’t you tell me!”

“It’s more like how did you not know? And I already got the permission to meddle, why should I ask?”

I squint at her.

“Well, I’m okay with you meddling in my affairs,” she shrugs, “but I don’t know about him. Would he be uncomfortable?”

“I won’t overdo it, don’t worry. Now I just need to come up with a plan.”

About fifteen minutes after the meddling-in-each-other’s-affair talk, Moonsik arrives with the biggest smile I’ve seen him wear, his face glowing, not sure from the happiness or from the golden hours.

“How’s the movie?” I ask.

He pretends to wipe away tears from his eyes and does the chef kiss gesture dramatically.

“That good, huh?” I lift an eyebrow. Just when I thought he can’t possibly smile even bigger.

“Of course it’s that good! Master Oda is always—"

“Yo, hold this.” Hunnie cuts him off by shoving the reflector towards him. She begins giving him directions on what angle and where he should stand before giving me directions on the pose. Moonsik lets out a huff, annoyed that he’s being ignored but he still does what he was told.

This goes on for quite a while, the instructions seem to be getting more out there and unusual. I’m used to it. That’s just Hunnie’s creative juices getting out of hand. Moonsik however never looks as baffled, and after being stuck in a particularly odd half-kneeling-half-sleeping position for too long, he gives her a pointed glare. I’m pretty sure he’s too soft to actually throw in an insult. Hunnie, however, is not, but she’s not that type who would attack something like that unless they’ve attacked her first. So, they’ll be fine. I think.

“Alright then, if you don’t like it, next time you don’t have to come along with us,” she takes another picture.

Moonsik looks at me in shook, his eyes pleading. I shrug. There’s nothing I can do. Moonsik pouts and whispers under his breath, ‘it’s not like you would invite me anyway.’

“What was that?” Hunnie asks. “You don’t want to come along next time? Okay, sure.”

“No no no, I want to come.”

Hunnie smirks from behind the camera and Moonsik pout protrudes even more. I try to hold back from laughing. Hunnie said I have to look ‘ethereal’ for a few shots and I have no idea how to pull that off, but I know that it’s definitely not by laughing until I fall on the ground.

The sulk continues until the end of the shots when we’re all tired and starving. But then all is forgotten when it’s food time. When the pizza arrived at the same time when Moonsik returns to the mat with a box of chicken and his own beer in hand, they had the same starving predator look in their eyes before they both jump into the food, inhaling everything in their track. Halfway in and they’ve successfully bonded while eating, talking with their mouth full of food like they’ve been best buds since forever. What a sight to behold. I daze out, looking at the reflection of the city on the surface of the water. There are bright shiny cars too, and lights on the square windows of tall offices. Joggers come and go once in a while, the same applies to people riding their bicycle and those who are casually strolling down the lane with earphone on, looking at nothing yet everything at once.

“I swear, I think Y/n is some sort of celebrity magnet or something,” Moonsik exclaims, pulling me out of my daze, then proceeds to chug half a can of beer.

“What were you guys saying?”

“That you just have the weirdest luck with meeting celebrities. Like you have a celebrity magnet or something,” Hunnie explains before taking another bite of the chicken.

I shrug. “But Bangtan is the only celebrities I’ve met in my life.”

“No, they’re not.” Hunnie washes the chicken down with beer. “Remember primary school? I think Second or Third year? The school invited some guest to talk about their careers and suddenly Kim Heechul dramatically appears from the door and everyone screams before settling into a chant, ‘Hinderella! Hinderella! Hinderella!’. Remember?”

“You’ve seen Kim Heechul before?” Moonsik gawks, almost choking on his pizza.

“Ah, right, I completely forgot about that!” I take another sip of my almost abandoned beer. “Yeah. Apparently, one of our classmates at that time is his cousin’s daughter or something like that.”

“Y/n,” Moonsik calls. “You definitely have the celeb magnet.”

“What? No way. It’s all just one big coincidence. Right Hunnie?”

“Sorry, but I have to agree with him.”

“Wow, one meal and now you chose him over me,” I cross my arms over my chest.

Hunnie laughs. “Seriously though. I met Jimin, Jungkook and Hobi, and I was with Y/n every single time. How the—”

“You guys saw J-hope! That’s not fair! When?”

“Just today on the way here,” Hunnie shrugs while taking another piece of chicken.

“Well then guess what, Y/n, I saw Agust D today!”

Hunnie gasps and looks at him with eyes so wide that I fear it might get dry fast and hurt her.

I smile. “You’re just backspacing your own point then! You saw him without me.”

Now it’s his time to shrug. “I don’t really care. I just want to show off. But I do still think you have a magnet. Mine was just a coincidence.”

“Sure,” I snicker.

“Suga?” Hunnie finally unfreezes. “Min Yoongi! The genius who never steps out of his studio or house and therefore almost impossible to be seen outside?” she shrieks.

“I’m sure it’s not that extreme,” I laugh. She doesn’t laugh with me. “Oh. Wait, really?”

“They say that army who’ve seen him without it being a concert, a fan meet or an event once are very very lucky, twice in the span of three months are ridiculously lucky, thrice are impossibly lucky to the point of questioning whether or not they are a stalker.”

“Is it really that extreme?” I ask, trying to keep my composure.

“Yes! And now Moonsik is one of them, you lucky bastard.”

“Thanksies.” Moonsik gives her a wide obnoxious smile and Hunnie pretends to gag. “Y/n, have you seen Suga before?” he gazes at me, almost pleading. I look at Hunnie who stares with an entirely different yet equally concerned expression. I gulp.

“Nope” I’ve seen Min Yoongi but I’ve never seen BTS’s Suga. I withhold that last part and I hate to lie. But the look of relief in their face. Still, it doesn’t feel right to lie. I should just say it, it’s no big deal. “The thing is—”

“Of course not,” Moonsik cackles. “If Y/n is friends with all of them without us knowing, we might as well shoot ourselves.”

Hunnie snickers and turns to face me. “Y/n, you were saying something.”

I’m doomed. At least I’m not friends with every single one of them yet. I don’t know if I’m friends or acquaintances with Jimin-ssi and Hobi-ssi, just that I’m explicitly friends with Jin-ssi and Suga-ssi.

“I’ll tell you guys when I somehow befriend all of Bangtan,” I finally say. I guess that works, right? It’s the truth, though it might not be the whole truth. Oh gosh, am I turning into a pathological liar?

They nod, taking another swig of beer. I let out a deep breath.

“Oh, speaking of which, Y/n told me about the possibility of setting you up with someone, a certain sunbae,” he says. “Can I help?”

I choked and spit my beer onto the grass. Hunnie stops mid-chew and gawk.

“What? What’s wrong?” he asks.

When we recover, Hunnie and I laugh simultaneously, gripping at the mat to hold on, trying not to topple over.

“What!”

“Nothing, just unexpected,” I say, slightly heaving.

Hunnie is still laughing unabashedly even when Moonsik throws a mean glare at her. Nothing can stop her until she settles down by herself. I just let her be. When she finally calms down, she chokes out a “but why.”

He shrugs. “To give me a sense of purpose or something.”

“I feel you,” I nod. “But it’s up to her. After all, it’s Hunnie’s life we’ll be meddling.”

“Right,” he takes another sip. “Hunnie?”

“I guess why not. I’ll need all the help I can get.” She looks around before leaning towards us and fake whispering, “he’s too perfect.”

Moonsik looks at me with a quirked brow.

“It’s true.”

“Then I better learn from this guy,” he laughs.

I laugh. “If he’s really what he seems to be, the whole planet needs to learn from him.”

“Like I said, too perfect,” Hunnie whispers again. Moonsik nods.

“So, should we start planning?”

“I think I have an idea but I’m not sure yet. Let’s just brainstorm first.” He nods and once again, I fall into a comfortable silence while Moonsik and Hunnie ramble on about food like children.

Later that night, I grab one of the pretty notebooks that I never dared to use from the bookshelf, grab my favourite dark grey pen and sit on the floor leaning on the round tea table.

I open the overly pretty notebook and have the pen ready in my hand but I can’t seem to bring it down to the touch the surface of the paper. I take a deep breath and remember Namjoon-ssi’s words from yesterday. ‘The imperfections and fragility of this make it beautiful.’ If there’s any topic that is more fragile and beautiful, it’s this. I smile and lower the tip of the pen.

~~~~~

{Operation ‘Let’s be happy together.’}

          Goals:

• Objective 1: Help Hunnie find something that makes her even happier than she already is.

• Objective 2: Maybe help Moonsik find someone too while you’re at it (keep it a secret from Moonsik.)

• Objective 3: Love yourself.

          Objective 1 missions:

          STEP 1: Talk to Eunseok hyung and try to see what he approximately feel towards her

          STEP 2: If the relationship turns out possible, get them to ‘accidentally meet’ often

          STEP 2B: If Eunseok hyung is not interested, find something else for Hunnie to be happy (to be figured out)

          Objective 2 missions:

          STEP 1: While doing objective 1 step 1, ask Eunseok hyung whether he knows someone single, nice, funny, and likes anime or tolerate someone who does.

          Objective 3 missions:

          STEP 1: Walk around without a wig and try to not feel self-conscious

          STEP 2: Does anything you want in public even if it’s weird, and try to not care about the weird looks or comment people say.

~~~~~

I stare at the page and smile. Tomorrow is going to be a new start and hopefully, a good start. I close the book.

Chapter Text

Today, I woke up alone. Hunnie has an early shift, a full working day until nine at night. It was eight-fifty-five when my eyes blinked open. The sun was already high in the sky and Hunnie has most probably reached the shop by then. Being completely alone, I took things slow. I stretched on the bed, then hummed the entire time I was folding my blanket. I made myself a cup of coffee and drank two glasses of water before I proceed to stare at the kitchen wall for around ten minutes. It was around nine-thirty when I begin thinking about the possibility of showering.

I drag my feet into the bathroom. The floor is cold, but one tile, colder than the rest sends a jolt from the tip of my toes that goes all the way into my head, and at once I am awake, awake and suddenly very aware of the promise I made to myself last night, to be better, happier, to “make the best of every single day”. I sigh. I pull the corners of my lips up and shower with a smile. I massage my scalp smiling, scrub my feet smiling, standing still while warm water sprays all over my back smiling until finally, the muscle work turns genuine and I can begin to feel happiness thrumming on the tip of my pinky fingers. I hum in pleasure, letting the warmth of the shower drown me for another thirty-second and decide that I’m going to drag myself outside the house and do something, anything aside from letting time pass me by.

 Stepping out of the bathroom, I get dressed quickly, put a bit of makeup on, and walk towards Hunnie’s work station. I pick it up, the wig resting peacefully on a mannequin’s head and a hair net scrunched up next to it. It’s okay to take things slow, it might be better that way, dampen the shock and all that.

In front of the mirror, I take a good look at myself with the wig still in the clutch of my hands. I smile, feeling good today, and bold, and slightly better about myself. Who knows, maybe I’ll even take the wig off sometime today and walk around with my real hair. I put on the wig and clipped it in place.

I’ve already noticed a few days ago that I ran out of things to read that are not textbooks nor reference books, but I haven’t felt the need to go buy or borrow more. Today is finally going to be the day! I forget how much fun can come from looking for recommendations of fun and potentially random reads and walk to the college library to borrow some books to read today in a café, maybe a park, or even at home in the middle of the night if I can’t sleep. That sounds lovely and it seems like a good enough idea to spend such a free day that way. I walk out the door smiling for the nth time today. The sky is of a deep and comfortable blue. It seems like it’s going to be a good day.

A few random books that manage to peak my interest and don’t have enough potential to bore me to death found their way into my arms and after gathering enough to last me a month, I’m quite ready to leave and read one.

The library might be a nice place to read with its comfortable sofas on the wall below a large glass window and some of its hidden chairs in its numerous hidden corners, especially since it’s technically still within the post-exam break period and there is barely a soul here because everyone who is seriously studying is in the self-studying cubicle in a separate room, but with the sky as nice as today, I’d like to read outside if I can.

I thread the floor of the library slowly, through the empty tables and bookshelves, trying to reach the book checkout. Halfway in the middle, however, someone who I want to see conveniently appears. It’s a little too convenient, really.

I spot Eunseok hyung standing in between one of the abandoned shelves with a book in his hand. He raises his hand to his mouth as he reads, trying his best to muffle a yawn. After a few second, he closes the book, put it back in the shelves and blinks violently. ‘Oh goodness that was so unbearably boring, he mutters to himself before yawning again. I laugh at the sight and decide to go and say hi.

He forces his yawn to a stop and waves back when he sees me, looking very bored. But then his eyes widen in the slightest of movement, barely noticeable, and they stay on top of my head.

“Hyung.”

“Y/n, I want to say hi, but before that, you finally cut your hair!” he grins.

“Why does everybody keeps on saying that, it’s not like I’ve had one hairstyle all my life.”

He chuckles under his breath and I shrug. “So? The bangs?”

“The work of a friend,“ I hum.

“Let me guess. Hunnie?”

“Yes, Hunnie,” I chuckle.

“What made you decide to finally change your hairstyle?”

“Actually, er—” I’m wearing a wig. I snicker at how ridiculous I’m being. Might as well tell him. “This is not even my real hair.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a wig.”

“It’s a— huh?”

“Yup!”

“Oh. Then is your real hair the same as always?” His eyebrows droop slightly and something from the way he says it makes him sounds so disappointed.

I laugh. “Well, no. Hunnie made me her hair model for her exam, so now I have a very unique hairstyle.”

“Why don’t you show it off then? I’m sure she did a great job.”

Ohoho, he doesn’t even realise he was complimenting her, does he? They’ve only met a couple times yet he already trusts her this much? This match-making thing is going to be even easier than I thought.

“Obviously, it’s Hunnie,” I laugh, clearly not answering his question. He doesn’t push it further and I feel my shoulders relax a little, though I didn’t notice when it was tightening.

The conversation reaches a halt, and in the comfortable few seconds of silence, I think about what to say, how to start the gear turning. Should I start with the second objective aka project Moonsik? Maybe that’ll lead the conversation somewhere.

“Hyung,” I start again. “This might sound weird, but do you happen to know a nice girl who’s looking for someone? Who is okay with someone around my age and likes anime. If they happen to like anime too, it’ll be a miracle!”

“For who? For you?”

“Nah,” I shrug “I’m still the same Y/n who is not interested in relationships whatsoever. It’s for a close friend of mine. He’s been feeling kind of lonely and though he didn’t really say it, I think he really wants to be in a relationship. He’s a nice guy and he’s really caring, and there’s a chance he might ditch me when he finds someone so if the girl would like a lot of attention from her boyfriend, it’s definitely not a problem. At least I assume so.”

“I think I might know someone. I’ll ask my friends. I’ll text you if there’s someone like that and she says yes.”

I nod enthusiastically. Moonsik owes me big time if this works out.

“While I’m at it,” he says while texting, “want me to find you someone too?” he raises an eyebrow.

“I’m ‘Y/n who is not interested in relationships whatsoever yet’,” I finger quote. “Remember?”

“You don’t feel lonely at all?”

“Nope. Got my books and anime. What a life!”

“Right.”

“What about you, hyung. Not lonely?”

“A little, sometimes,” he says weakly, putting his phone in his pocket and crossing his arm on his chest. “So if you know someone,” he jokes, grinning.

“What if there’s actually someone I know whose personality I think suits you?”

He laughs even harder. “Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously.” I grin from ear to ear and he just stares at me in astonishment and disbelief. “Would you give it a go?”

“Might not be so bad,” he shrugs.

“Wow, I didn’t think you’re the type who would go to blind dates, hyung.”

“It’s cause I trust your taste, especially compared to some of the ‘as-long-as-they’re-good-looking-they-are-allowed-to-be-horrible’ guys from fourth-year philosophy who are unfortunately in charge of arranging sogetings. Though I guess the physiology seniors do arrange better ones. But I’m not that close to them.” Sometimes I forget that Eunseok hyung is a double-major who is also taking sports science.

“If I ask her and she says yes, will you show up?”

“Obviously! You can’t just ditch someone like that, Y/n” He shakes his head and clicks his tongue disapprovingly. I shot him a glare and he smiles innocently. I return it with a very obviously fake smile.

“Great, I’ll text you if she agrees.”

“Wait, this is serious?”

“Yeap.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Okay,” I laugh. “Now I got to go. The sky’s too pretty to read indoors. See you, hyung.”

“Bye, Y/n.”

I walk quickly to the checkout to borrow the books I’m holding and exits the place.

Okay, so maybe I am taking this a bit fast, but the sooner I know whether or not he’s interested in Hunnie that way, the sooner I can decide whether I should or should not execute step 2B, the backup plan. For now, a new step.

          Step 1.5: Arrange a “blind” date between Hunnie and Eunseok hyung and pray that it’ll go great.

Leaving the college building, I feel light, happy, like I’m in a sudden extremely good mood. And I just want to jump around, shout stupid things. Maybe. And see if it’ll echo through the blue sky above me.

This is actually very possible. The whole Eunseok hyung and Hunnie thing turn out to be very possible and that makes me happier than I thought I would. I take a deep breath of the fresh air and a smile emerges on my face, all on its own, as I exhale. Suddenly, I’m overtaken by this urge to do something stupid, something silly, like all the fear of judgement and dependency on others’ opinions that chained themselves around me, binding me, are suddenly broken, torn apart and crumpled on the ground. And why shouldn’t I do it?

The thought hit me, why shouldn’t I do it? And there’s no reason why. Even my notes fully support this:

          Objective 3 missions:

          STEP 1: Walk around without a wig and try to not feel self-conscious

          STEP 2: Does anything you want in public even if it’s weird, and try to not care about the weird looks or comment people say.

I haven’t even done step one yet, but it’ll take a while, to take it off and set it neatly in the hair net, etcetera. So why not skip to number two? It’s just something silly, and it’s not like many students are hanging out on campus ground anyway.

I inhale and take the first step.

Then the next.

Then the next.

Before I know it, I’m skipping my way out of the campus, smiling like a maniac, whistling like one of the older Disney princesses that could talk to animals. I meow to a stray cat who meows back to me, and as I’m skipping, I feel my heart skipping with my feet; exhilaration, excitement. I feel truly content.

That is until I pass by a particular group of people. Not my favourite kind of people going by the way their faces contort in disgust as they look at me.

“Look at that weirdo skipping. Do they think they’re five? What an embarrassment,” one of them says.

I’m a little surprised to hear those kinds of remarks. I really thought people stopped caring about what other people do around a decade ago.

“I wouldn’t want to be her friend,” the friend laugh.

Well, screw you! I wouldn’t want to be your friend too! I shouted in the depth of my mind, hidden behind walls of skull and dermis that are barely enough to restrain it, irritated and confused. I think about to the others who were not saying anything and lowered their head in embarrassment as their friends spat out mean passing comment that could’ve been harassment.

How does it feel to be surrounded only by people who repress their feelings out of fear of being judged? Well obviously, not everyone who prefers not exhibiting strange behaviours is like that. Maybe some of them just don’t feel the need to express feelings like I do, as Hunnie does too, and even Moonsik. Maybe it’s just us. We know that we are a little ‘odd’ or ‘a little out there’ and we don’t mind it, but why do the words affect me?

I shouldn’t be the type of person to be affected by those kinds of remarks, I shouldn’t be. And I’m not! I thought. But when I look down near the edge of the campus, I realise that I’m no longer skipping. Maybe, some of those chains are left unbroken, or that I have more chains wrapped around me more than anyone. Maybe, that was all an illusion and I could never be one of those people who would completely not care about what other people think of them. I don’t have that bravery. Hunnie does. I wish I could have a fraction of her bravery, then I might be happier with myself. That sounds so dark but that’s not too strange, I feel. How many people in the world are actually completely comfortable in their own body and doesn’t want to change a thing about themselves? Not many I would assume.

I sigh. Maybe I was being too bold going straight to number two like that. It’s okay. Number two should take more time than number one anyway. Let’s take it slow. It’s okay. Maybe we can try losing the wig today, at least for the halfway home.

Let’s not give up yet, Y/n, be optimistic, We can still save today from being shitty.

I try to change my train of thought towards a different direction, a better one. Then I thought about the conversation earlier with Eunseok hyung. This was going to be easy. Well, easier with faster progress than my ongoing self-quest. There already seems to be something there. They just need a little nudge.

I think hyung has always been impressed by Hunnie since the beginning and not the ‘she’s always perfect’ kind, cause he’s definitely seen her going around drunk and threatening people, throw up, and all that jazz. I think it’s an admiration of how she’s always genuinely herself and knowing Hunnie, she’ll always be like that. And knowing Eunseok hyung for the past few years, he seems the type to never expect something in return when he does something. Which is perfect for Hunnie. She hates fake people or people with hidden agendas, which she thinks is funny since she classifies herself as a Slytherin.

They seem right for each other.

I smile, ticking the list inside my head. It’ll have to do until I get back. No. I don’t want to go home yet. I hope a walk will do me good. I turn left and start the longer way home. Ticking that list in my head will have to do for now before can find a bench to sit in.

          Step 1: Talk to Eunseok hyung and try to see what he approximately feel towards her ✔️

After a five-minute walk, I finally found an empty bench facing a small river stream and I couldn’t have asked for a better spot. It’s quite peaceful, the perfect place for an alone time. There are not many people around and it’s impressive how sites like this still exist in a large metropolitan city.

I take out the notebook and quickly open the specific page. Looking at the list, I tick step one properly this time and write the additional points before I can forget it.

{Operation ‘Let’s be happy together.’}

          Goals:

• Objective 1: Help Hunnie find something that makes her even happier than she already is.
• Objective 2: Maybe help Moonsik find someone too while you’re at it (keep it a secret from Moonsik.)
• Objective 3: Love yourself.

          Objective 1 missions:

          STEP 1: Talk to Eunseok hyung and try to see what he approximately feel towards her ✔️

          STEP 1.5: Arrange a “blind” date between Hunnie and Eunseok hyung (and pray that it’ll go great).

That looks about right. Now, what else.

Ah, Moonsik!

I scribble down some changes for the objective two steps too.

          Objective 2 missions:

          STEP 1: While doing objective 1 step 1, ask Eunseok hyung whether he knows someone single, nice, funny, and likes anime or tolerate someone who does. (work in progress)

I smile at the changes I made. This should be enough, for now. I just need to think of ideas, how to set up the date. Should I just ask Hunnie to meet me somewhere and ditch her while actually setting her up on a date she’s not even aware of? Erm, that might make things even more complicated later. What if Eunseok hyung thinks it’s a date and Hunnie thinks they’re just hanging out? No, that won’t do. Or maybe tell Hunnie that we’re going on a date and when we see him, I’ll run and say something like ‘I did say on a date, but not our date, it’s yours!’ and run away?

Ac— actually, that seems like a good idea.

I quickly jot it down in tiny letters at the end of the page.

Now that I have a vague idea on what to do with that one, it’s time to tackle the last one. I really don’t want to, but I know it. I know I have to talk about it with myself. To reflect on the situation if I want to get better. If I want to feel better. I sigh and look at the third objective:

          Objective 3 missions:

          STEP 1: Walk around without a wig and try to not feel self-conscious

          STEP 2: Does anything you want in public even if it’s weird, and try to not care about the weird looks or comment people say. (half tick)

I sigh, closing the notebook and place it down on the bench right beside me. The subtle sound of water from the stream does wonder for the mind and after a few moments of closing my eyes, I reach into my bag and grab another book at random, one of a few I borrowed earlier in the library. I open it to a random page and start reading.

“Y/n-ssi?”

I look to the source of the voice on my left which my eyes open ridiculously wide.

“Jimin-ssi?” I almost choke. Again? “We meet again,” I laugh a little.

“Yes, we meet again.” He smiles, softly laughing along. “How are you?”

“Okay, I guess,” I shrug. “Won’t necessarily say it’s a bad day.” Why did I just say that? “Let’s just say it’s amazing how some people are confident enough that even if people mock them or hate on them, they’re not hurt by it.” Stop Y/n, stop! Why are you saying all this?

“They love themselves and that’s what makes them so strong.”

“I know right. They’re amazing. People who are not hurt by words. I want to be one of them one day. I think I need to learn from you guys. What you guys are doing, it’s really cool. The message to love oneself. A lot of people need it nowadays. I’m included. “

“Me too.”

“You too, huh?”

Jimin nods. “Like feeling insecure being called mochi cause of my round cheeks. It’s pretty childish isn’t it?”

“Is that what that refers to? The mochi thing.” I laugh. Jimin nods. “I thought that was cause whenever you’re down, you bounce up? I mean I heard from Hunnie, my army best friend that you’re a crazy hard worker. Do you know you’re like an icon for working hard?”

Jimin smiles in a way that lifts his cheeks so high up that his eyes closed partially. “What are you talking about?” he waves his hand dismissively but his cheeks slightly turns a pretty shade of pink.

“It’s true,” I smile. “Even Hunnie’s parents say ‘learn from Jimin!’ whenever she goes back on the holiday and complaints about how hard school is and that she wants to quit.”

“Really?” Jimin looks at me and I saw that his eyes are filled with nothing but love and warmth.

“Really. And I, as a person who was forced to watch all end of year awards stage performances and the many many episodes of BTS Run by Hunnie, and is now turning into an army, agrees with what she said. I think the whole of bangtan is an icon of hard work and when they all point to you when asked about who is the most hardworking member, I’m sure that’s well deserved.”

“I think that’s one way for me to feel better, but about these sort of things, like having round cheeks that I can’t change— Isn’t it childish?” he asks, his eyes looking at his own feet.

“And I’m here wearing a wig ‘cause I feel weird about my haircut,” I chuckle. Jimin eyes widen then he starts laughing.

“I’m wearing one too!” He holds the top of his cap with one hand, still laughing. “I’m wearing one underneath this cap. Shh, don’t tell anybody. But why?”

“The hair you saw when we met after watching one piece is my real hair-cut.”

“That’s so cool! Too bad you’re covering it up. I want to see, I didn’t manage to observe the hair carefully back then,” he smiles and it’s so contagious. It urges me to reciprocate with a wide grin too.

“How ‘bout this,” I start. “I’ll take off the wig and flaunt my real hair. I’ll snatch my own wig up and away, but—” I stop to look at his reaction. He looks intrigued. “But, you have to say out loud five things you like about yourself within the same range of what you hate.” Now he looks confused. “For example, if I say, I hate how short my legs are, then I can say, but I like how my longer torso makes me look a little fierce.”

He stares at me, still baffled.

“I sound crazy right? Like what is this injustice!” I laugh, “and maybe I am crazy, but that’s how not confident I am about flaunting this hairdo.”

He laughs brightly, so pure and joyfully ‘til his eyes crinkles in the corner. Even if it’s temporary, I’m glad he feels better.

“So? Is your wish to observe my hair worth you complimenting yourself?” I smirk.

“What an interesting offer, Y/n-ssi.”

“Call?”

“Call.” He nods and sighs, hiding a faint smile.

“Well go ahead, Jimin-ssi.”

“Okay!” he exaggeratedly stretches his arms across his chest and above his head. “One. I don’t like how damaged my hair is, but I like all the colours!” he shouts energetically before freaking out and looking left and right for bystanders.

I laugh. There’s no one around us.

“Two,” he says it more quietly this time. “I don’t like how irritating it is to keep having to shave cause my facial hair grows quite fast. But I like that it means I got options for when I’m older if I want to grow it out.”

“Great! Keep it going.”

“Three. I don’t really like my cheeks cause it makes me look soft and slightly chubby despite all my effort in exercising. It’s like my effort is not showing,” he sighs, “but I like that my cheeks make me more likeable by parents and grandparents,” he smiles.

“Four, I don’t like that I’m not as tall or muscular as I wish to be, but I quite like my torso to legs proportion, and because I’m lean, it makes me look taller,” he grins.

“That’s so convenient,” I laugh and he smiles at me.

“Lastly.” He halts, taking a deep breath. “I don’t like that sometimes, no matter how hard I work, I’m just not improving. But I like that I keep working hard anyway, he smiles silently this time, inwards and genuine. I can tell. He’s smiling to himself in contentment.

“I think that’s also my favourite thing about you as a fan, Jimin-ssi.”

His smile grows brighter before it changes to something with a glint of amusement and mischief. “Your turn.”

“Right,” I nod sharply and take a deep breath. “You ready, Jimin-ssi?”

“Ready!”

“Okay. Here I go, “ I chuckle nervously, hands trembling a little as I pull the hair net from my bag and carefully remove the wig. His eyes are stuck to the top of my head the entire time.

By the time I have the wig safely tucked in my bag, Jimin is still staring.

“That much of a shock, huh?”

“Quite the opposite. It’s so unique but somehow, it feels familiar, like I’ve seen it somewhere. It looks surprisingly wearable though, like one of those clothes that is almost too strange on the hanger but looks great on people. Is it weird to think that it suits you more than that wig?”

“Guess I’m not wearing the wig on the way home then,” I laugh.

He smiles, giving me a thumbs-up.

***

We talked for a bit more before he excused himself after a phone call while I stayed there reading for hours before deciding to head home. Before leaving that bench, however, I open the notebook one more time and make my final changes for the day.

          Objective 3 missions:

          STEP 1: Walk around without a wig and try to not feel self-conscious ✔️

Chapter Text

It’s been a week after the conversation with Jimin-ssi and classes have finally start again. I’ve been significantly getting better at going places without the needing to wear a wig, and though I haven’t really gotten the courage to go without one to my classes, I’ve already gone to work at the coffee shop with my real hair once. The reaction I got was better, so much better than I expected. Boram unnie nodded approvingly, saying she knew it would look good on me the moment Hunnie showed it on her phone and kept bragging about it the entire shift saying ‘I knew it!’ and ‘I told you so’ to God-knows-who. Manager unnie was so excited by the ‘potential increase-in-sale the new hair is going to bring’ that she wanted me to dye it in pretty colours right away. Hugging them in relief (with an extra pat to manager unnie in an attempt to hopefully get the neon-green hair out of her mind), I went home that day and gave the list a double tick.

The amount of support and love blanketed my heart in a warm embrace and right there and then, I made up my mind to show up at the store like that. It’s not like I can wear the wig forever and based on how most people didn’t seem remotely disturbed by it in the coffee shop, I figured it’s the perfect time for the next step. Therefore, after a pleasant call with the convenience store’s manager yesterday to get permission to show up with an unusual hairstyle, today, after class, I will officially go to the store without it.

Eleven-fifty a.m., still a bit early.

I shove my phone down my pocket and let my hand runs through my hair, trying to shake the tingly feeling off my fingers.

Another deep breath. I walk towards the store.

The door opens.

“Oh, Y/n, great, you’re here, tag me out of here.” Moonsik rushes at the cashier, clearing his stuff and locking the cash drawer before rushing to the staffroom without looking up even once.

I walk over to the staffroom and stop in front of the closed door. “Moonsik? You’ve got a shift today?” My brow furrows. “Geez, how many hours do you do per week these days? And why the heck are you in such a hurry?”

“Hahaha. Says someone who has two jobs,” he faintly mutters from the other side, the sound muffled by bristling of clothes.

“Oh shush,” I roll my eyes. “Is Hunnie here yet?”

“Hunnie? Early? You sure you’re her best friend?” he laughs loudly then suddenly yelps as I hear loud cluttering from outside the door.

“She could be very early if she’s enthusiastic about something. You’re okay?” I laugh.

“Yeap! Just tripped and almost split my head open. Anyway—” he then mumbles a few muffled words that I just can’t understand.

“What?”

“I said, and work is supposed to be one of those things?”

“What thing?”

“Hunnie. Early if she’s enthusiastic about something. Remember? Are you sure I’m the one who hit my head?”

“Yes, you’re still an idiot. And yes, sharing a shift with me is,” I smirk, “and that’s not the only reason today is special.”

“Yes yes, the regular public display of ‘I actually have a best friend’. And I thought I’m your best friend too! Are you not pleased when you share a shift with me, my liege?”

“Shut up.” I frown in distaste. He cackles.  

“Well, what were you talking about?” Moonsik finally reappears stumbling out the door, still fixing the last of his t-shirt to make sure it doesn’t look like he just woke up. I wait for him to look up but it’s almost like he avoids it.

“Hey,”

“Yeah?” he asks, looking at his messy shoes.

“You won’t even look me in the eyes?”

“Be patience! My shoes!” he crouches down to redo the abysmal knot his laces had become. I tap on the ground impatiently.

“What? I’m also in a hurry!” he playfully snaps, looking up. “Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh. So?”

“Wait, you’re okay with this?” he sounds surprisingly concerned.

“What do you mean? It is my hair.”

“Yea, I know, it’s just, er, you don’t seem entirely comfortable with it the other day. You even wear wigs before. And—Oh! You won’t get fired for this, right?” he winces.

“Nope, I asked.”

“Oh, okay cool!” he shrugs. “Now I gotta go. Almost late.”

“For what?”

“Got a study session. If I’m lucky, it might be a date!” he shouts as he runs out the door.

“Tell me how it goes!”

I shake my head and sigh. All my friends are so, interesting.

***

Hunnie shows up exactly at noon, smiling like crazy when she sees that I didn’t back down last minute and wear a cap or something.

“Cool hair,” she gasps, “I’m so jealous!”

“Yes yes.” I shake my head.

“I wonder who did your hair. They must be the greatest hairstylist in the world!” she exclaims, half squealing. I jerk back a bit, caught off guard by the sudden increase in volume.

I look around to see some customers looking around in confusion. “Yes, I know, you’re the best and I’m sorry to have covered your artwork for a while. Now quiet down, you’re disturbing other people.”

She grins in victory, God knows victory over what, but she does it anyway, before sauntering off to the staffroom to change.

The store finally settling in peaceful silence again, a small line has slowly form, just two people. I straighten my back and assume my position tending to the register.

A young girl, maybe a few years younger than me, with really pretty wavy, almost curly ash-brown hair that softly frames her face smiles at me as she puts a huge bag of biscuits on the counter and the perfect amount of money next to it. Though, it would be more precise to say that she smiles at my hair. I nod politely in return.

“I love your hair! Where did you get it done?” the girl’s eyes twinkle. “Please tell me. I actually want to get it done for myself.”

This time, a genuine smile creeps out. “Give me a moment.” I look towards the staff room door that just cracked open as the girl asked the question. “Hunnie,” I wave, “can you come here for a bit?”

Hunnie scampers over to the cashier. “What’s up?”

I look at the girl and point my thumb towards Hunnie. “This here is where I got it done.”

She turns instantly to face Hunnie. “You’re the one who cut her hair!”

“Yes, yes I am,” Hunnie smiles, looking positively radiant. And smug.

“Can you cut mine too?”

“Sure, if you—” I clear my throat and glare at her. She nods in reassurance. “You’re legal, right? And your parents won’t kill me if I cut your hair?”

“It’s not like I’ll turn you in or something,” she smiles with a glint of, something, something that drips very heavily of Hunnie. Oh gosh, now Hunnie has the same expression. Oh no, there are two of them. God help me.

“Then, provided that you don’t mind someone who hasn’t graduated from beauty school yet cutting your hair,” Hunnie displays her most innocent smile, though her eyes say otherwise, “oh, and as long as you mention my Instagram account if you post it,” she lets the sentence hangs in the air.

“How much do you charge? And do you colour too?”

At that point, I notice a rather large group of middle schooler starts to line up behind.

“Sorry, but the line suddenly got long,’ I laugh airily, trying to not make her feel awkward. “Can you move a little to the side, don’t let me interrupt your conversation, just a little to the left.”

“Oh sure,” she laughs. “Sorry.”

“No problem at all, please do carry on, you make my friend really happy.”

Hunnie leans over to me. “You make it seems like you’re marrying me off.”

“The sooner I marry you off, the sooner I’ll get all that space for myself,” I wink then almost instantly huff as she elbows me on the ribs and nonchalantly slides to the side.

The girl also moves towards the left and continue her chat with Hunnie. At some point while working on the line, I see Hunnie opening her Instagram and the girl squeals in amazement. It seems like Hunnie might be starting the beginning of years of loyal-hair-stylist-loyal-customer relationship. I smirk, scanning a couple can of beers.

***

One p.m. rolls in and Hunnie and I clock out and exit the store. After a round of asking questions to people who might know, turns out that the whole work time-table fiasco was started by Moonsik and Dan-ssi, the new part-timer. Moonsik took over an hour worth of shift off Dan-ssi’s back, and he was supposed to replace Moonsik’s shift from twelve to one. My shift was supposed to start from one to eight. But since he could only make it at one, he and I switched shift for an hour, and that’s how we end up with an hour-long lunch break which we take at leisure in the nearest park five minutes away. Well, not exactly. That’s how I end up with an hour break. Hunnie only comes to replace an hour from her shift next week. Something about school and trying to get extra credit.

I don’t even know if that sort of time change is possible since the store really doesn’t need additional staff at this time of the day. I’m starting to believe that the only reason the manager hired us and would allow all this to happen is that manager-nim took pity on us college students.

I stuff the last of my triangle gimbap into the mouth and crumple the plastic wrapping in my hand. The sky is a delicate light blue and I watch the wondering clouds slide across it. Some kids are shouting, playing tag with their friends, a man is gently holding his toddler under the shade of a tree and Hunnie, Hunnie is sitting next to me, staring intensely at her phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Reading.”

“Reading what?”

“fanfictions.”

“Of?”

“BTS of course. Who else?”

“Right.”

“Y/n, you really need to try reading one, they’re so so good,” she clears her throat, “and addictive.”

“You sound like you’re offering me drugs.” I unscrew the cap of my bottle and take a big gulp of water, looking at the sky the entire time.

“It’s almost like that,” she laughs. “Trust me, it’s so much fun. Come on, try it!”

“Isn’t it a bit weird?”

“Don’t be a hypocrite, I know you usually read fanfics too.”

“No, that’s not it. I mean, reading fanfiction about real people. It doesn’t feel creepy? Like—” my voice drops lower, “like you’re imagining things you’re not supposed to about a completely real person, not a fictional character.”

“How rude!” she gasps and dramatically puts her hand on her chest as if I’ve just stabbed her heart. “First of all, when you read fanfiction, the person in the fanfic itself turns into a character. So what you’re reading is not the real person. They’re a character which reminds you of the real person. But they’re not them.” Hunnie crumples the plastic container that held the now finished egg-mayo gimbap. “Secondly, people do the same when they have a crush on someone anyway. Imagining going on a date with them, kissing them, stuck in unforeseen yet fun circumstances with them. Why is this any different?”

“People— people do that?”

“Obviously!”

I shrug. “How am I supposed to know? Never liked anyone, remember?”

She looks at me with her mouth opened and I can see her switch clicking. “Ah, right, I completely forgot about that!” She cackles, completely caught off guard. “Well then, if you’re not completely comfortable, then read the platonic ones first, I guess, where the reader is not in a romantic relationship with any of the character.”

“Yeah, that seems less awkward. I guess.”

“Says someone who’s definitely read smutty fanfic before.”

“Hey!”

“You have, don’t you?”

“Not for the smut! I like the ship’s dynamic.” I quickly finish the rest of my water.

“Says 90% of people who read smut,” she shrugs.

“I’m serious!”

“Yes, sure,” she smirks and I feel the urge to throw my bottle at her.

I huff. “Just give me a platonic one first then a super mild romance one.”

“With who in Bangtan?”

“I don’t care, just any good fic with a good plot and mild romance. Mild, no smut.”

“Okay, I’ll just text you later then. Read this one first.”

My phone rings. It’s the alarm.

“Shoot. I have to head back now. Send it to me.”

“Kay. See you at home.”

I wave and jog back to the store, feeling my phone buzzing frantically in my pocket.

***

Clocking back in and standing peacefully behind the counter in the empty store, I pull out my phone.

5 new messages.

I open Hunnie’s message to find a link.

Hunnie: 👆This one is the platonic one

Hunnie: And for the romance one

Hunnie: Uhm…

Hunnie: I think you’ll like this one cause the plot’s really good

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: But before you read it, I’ll have to give you a warning. Sometime, you might grow to like the character, maybe even a crush, and you know that cause you read fanfic too and though you never like a real person, I’m sure you have at least a few 3d crushes.

Hunnie: Just don’t freak out if you end up with a crush.

Hunnie: Remember

Hunnie: The character is only a character and it’s not the real person. Calm down and think about whether or not you have a crush on the real person.

Hunnie: Celebrity crush and real crush is different. Don’t freak out yet before you think it through.

I begin typing but soon, the sound of the room changes as the automatic door opens. I type as fast as I can.

Y/n: right.

Y/n: Thanks, I’ll check it out later. A large group just entered the store

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: Have fun

Hunnie: *wink wink* *nudge nudge*

Y/n: *sighhhhhhhhhh*

Hunnie: I love pushing your buttons 😘

Y/n: Hate you

Y/n: Okay, really gtg tho

Y/n: Later

I lock my phone and nods politely to the new-comers. “Welcome.”

***

When the customers leave and the store is empty, I click on the second link which directs me to the ‘mildly romantic’ fic in an overly familiar website. I didn’t know they have BTS fanfic here too.

The link automatically brings me to the synopsis page. “What happens when a soft ‘bad boy’ meets a soft ‘bad girl’?” I mutter my breath. “Kim (your/name) is a misunderstood girl who was falsely accused of many things in her life and whose reputation makes her ‘the trash of the school’, one day she meets a boy with milky skin and a piercing gaze playing the piano to a cat, who would’ve thought that he would be no other than the only other infamous loner in her school, Min— Oh.”

Oh. Suga-ssi. Well, that might be slightly awkward considering that I do see him quite a lot. There’s no harm in trying. Right? Er— Maybe later though. One step at a time Y/n. The friendship fic first.

A few days later, I find myself alone in the store again.

Today is a quiet day.

I yawn and look at the time on the screen of my phone. Wednesday, Three-thirty p.m. There’s no one in the store to assist. I yawn. The day is boringly sunny, which is a good thing I suppose. It’s a piece of peace. These sort of times are certainly welcomed. I look at my phone again. ‘Phone is only okay if there’s no customer,’ Manager-nim’s voice echoes in my head.

I yawn again and open the fanfic I’ve been reading for the past two days. It’s less awkward than I thought it’s going to be. Of course, this one is the friendship one. I still have no idea how the romance one will go.

Maybe it is better to start with the romance fic. It might be better to get it out of the way sooner. It also doesn’t help how concerningly similar my life is to the reader character, the so-called ‘y/n character’ in the friendship fic which I surprisingly never heard of before. It’s pretty rare to find an anime fanfic with character x reader since the world of anime fanfictions are mostly filled with an unlikely relationship between two characters.

And I didn’t expect to feel like I’m ‘the y/n character’ (which I pronounce as Yona in my head) but I do, probably because their life is just so similar to mine. But that’s where the concerning bit came from! It’s a bit unnerving how similar our lives are, almost like someone is watching me every day and choose parts of my life to write down, complete with my thoughts. I don’t know if I should continue reading it, it’s a bit too scary. What if the protagonist’s mom, (which sounds exactly like my mom!) doesn’t approve of their decision with not having a flaming passion? It’s stupid but I’m too afraid to read it. As if mine would do the same. As if— Nah. Don’t go there again, Y/n, it’s not pretty there. It’s just a fiction.

Yeah, a fiction eerily similar to your life.

Sush.

Geez, just saying.

Again, it’s just a fiction. Plus, it’s quite good, something to pass the time I guess.

Right.

Forget about it, Y/n.  

I pick up my phone and continue reading.

***

Around four-thirty, the door opens and I snap out of my phone. I glance at the CCTV cameras before quickly putting it on the nearest surface to get it away from my hand. It wouldn’t look good, even if the customer wants to be left alone, which is the case for most young people these days; don’t approach them, let them approach you if they need any help – that is unless they look like they’re panicking (then definitely step in).

A tall man with a white long-sleeve shirt, a pair of fashionable yet simple sky-blue joggers, and a familiar white canvas bag appears from the opened door and walks promptly towards the cooler to grab some banana milk and milk puddings before I can even say welcome.

After the milk pudding, he starts to roam around a little in silence, possibly having gotten everything he came to get. He’s a comforting addition to the quiet place. He comes alone and keeps to himself, humming occasionally as he grabs other snacks that interest him. With the atmosphere in the store slowly returning to how it was, I settle back into my previous rhythm and begins to relax once again.

After a few minutes, the man begins walking towards the cashier carrying two banana milk and milk puddings each with one large hand, and a big bag of honey butter snack in the other, looking intently at me the entire time.

“I have it with me this time!” he smiles.

“Sorry?” I say, completely caught off-guard. He stops in front of the counter and stares closely.

“You are the one who kept my things last time, right? The one who knows about the hidden store policy. I think it’s you. I’m quite confident in my memory.” He tilts his head slightly.

“Oh, yes! That’s me, er, V-ssi?”

“I knew it!” His eyes twinkle in joy. “You look so different cause of your hair! It looks amazing!” his eyes stay stuck to the top of my head while he places down everything he holds gently onto the tabletop.

“Thank you,” I smile. “Your hair looks great too.”

“Hehe thanks,” he flips his ear-length hair back and shows his teeth in a boxy smile.

I smile again. Contagious smiles. That seems to be a prevalent characteristic across Bangtan.

“Do you need a bag?” I ask, scanning the banana milk.

“Nope, I got one right here.” The familiar white canvas bag drifts lightly down his arm as he shakes it off his shoulder to show me it.

“Then, should I pack them for you?”

“Okay.”

“May I borrow them?”

He hands me the canvas bag. I quickly place it on the counter, stack everything I’ve already scanned into it, and leave it open for the rest of the items.

For a while, the room is only filled with the whirl of the a.c., the light buzzing of the cooler and the occasional beeps from the scanner. Until he speaks again.

“Are you studying?” he asks, glancing at my phone.

“Ah, no,” my cheeks are starting to heat up but I try to maintain a poker face. “I was just reading online stories.” Y/n, you idiot! I mentally smack myself for leaving my phone in the open, unlocked, and on the cashier desk. Please don’t see the names, please don’t see the names. Suddenly, the screen dims and the phone dies. It runs out of battery. Miracle exists! As I perform a tiny celebratory dance in my head, another thought enters my mind. Shoot. I hope the manager isn’t watching right now. I give a polite bow to a CCTV camera.

I rush through the scanning and the packing, quickly calculate the total, and read the sum out.

“Will you pay with cash or card?”

“Cash, please.”

I nod. V-ssi grabs all the change he could find in his pocket and puts it in on the table. I count everything quickly. “It’s perfect.” I try to push down the surge of laughter I feel in my stomach, ready to escape my throat. Though I manage to stop it, a smile still manages to escape. Is this another shared talent among all the members?

V-ssi grins excitedly. “An angel whispered to me back home to bring this much in my pocket. Thank you angel-nim.”

“Thank you angel-nim,” I say it too and he looks extremely pleased. I hand him his bag which he easily slings back into his shoulder. “Thank you for visiting, V-ssi.”

“Thank you to you too, Y/n-ssi.”

He gives me a cute little wave like last time and leaves the store with a smile.

I look at my phone on the table.

Well, that was close.

Chapter Text

That night, I apologised profusely to Hunnie. Can't believe I forgot to tell her and broke my promise cause I was too engrossed in reading fanfic. This is strange because I do read fanfiction once in a while but I've always managed to keep the excitement and squealing to my own time. Is it because of the new-ness of this fanfic fandom? Is this what happens to people who are in too many fanfic fandoms at once? They lost all their friends and become a loner? Not that I wasn't one before.

Luckily, however, she wasn't mad with me. On the contrary, she roared laughing. She laughed in my face, saying how I really am a 'Y/n material' and that it's inevitable because my 'bangtan radar' might be too strong, and next time I should tell her or ask for their autograph.

So here I am a week later behind the register in a half-crowded store looking at V-ssi surrounded, in a way that suspiciously looks almost like he is getting mobbed, by a group of three high school students.

He was coming towards the register when the group that just entered the store spotted him and decided that since they're such 'big fans' they get to somehow harass him. He tries to keep his calm and not talk to them while wading through to pay. My knuckles turn white. Anger and annoyance. I feel my head seething at their absolutely ridiculous behaviour. Just because he's famous they think they get to do that? Do they not think about other people?

"Excuse me, customers," I push down the ugly feeling and muster all the politeness I can but no one is listening. I try again, louder this time. "Excuse me." I clear my throat. They are still crowding around him, blocking his path like a barricade. They're ignoring me. My jaw clenches and I take a deep breath before rushing out of the counter and into the small crowd. "Excuse me, dear customers, you are blocking the way. Please move," I warn them sternly.

They sneer and move away slightly.

V-ssi passes through the gap and rushes with his snack and cola to the cashier and almost instantly, the same group forms a line behind him. Then more people get in the line. I look at them all to see if the situation turns dangerous and in need of a hand from a neutral party, the police maybe, but from their baskets, they are genuinely lining up to pay. Thank goodness.

I quickly scan all his things to try to get him out of this situation as soon as I can.

"That'll be three thousand Won."

He nods and hands me the money.

I whisper leaning a little closer to the counter table, "after this, run and be careful. I'll try to distract them so you should hurry up and go somewhere safer."

"Don't worry. I got my cap and I can just take my jacket off. Plus, I got my angel looking after me."

"The same angel that tells you how much money you should bring?"

"The very same one," he smiles.

"Alright. Be safe out there." He nods gratefully, clutches his purchase, and dashes off.

The high schoolers twitch visibly and I quickly call out "next!" I can see the hesitation in their eyes as their pupils go back and forth between the counter and the door where V-ssi's figure disappeared seconds ago. After a few moments of debating what to do, the old man behind them tells them to move forward quickly and lecture them for obstructing everyone. They give up, staying in line.

I may have failed to get Hunnie that autograph, but it was horrible timing and looking at the circumstances, I’m sure Hunnie would’ve done the same. Maybe next time, if he doesn’t get discouraged from coming to the store where he was slightly harassed.

Yet here we are a couple days later and V-ssi appears again in front of the glass doors for the third time that month.

We exchange smiles and little waves, and the moment he disappears deeper into the store, I grab my phone and my thumbs sprint across the screen busily typing.

Y/n: Hunnie. V IS HERE AGAIN.

Y/n: There, I told you

Y/n: HUNNIE

Y/n: I’M GOING

Y/n: TO KEEP

Y/n: SPAMMING YOU

Y/n: UNTIL

Y/n: YOU

Y/n: SEE

Y/n: THIS

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: Damn it! I’m in class!

Y/n: You’re not ditching? I thought you only have a revision for colour theory? Who are you?

Hunnie: I’m only here because I got a genuine reason to be here

Hunnie: I’m too far away from the store. By the time I get there, he’s gonna be gone.

Y/n: Okay then, I’ll try and get an autograph. Couldn’t get one last time. Remember? He

was almost mobbed. Can’t promise you anything though.

Hunnie: I LOVE YOU.

Y/n: I know.

Hunnie: How’s the fanfic btw? Read the romance one yet?

Y/n: I’ve finished the friendship one up to the latest update

Y/n: only the first chapter for the romance

Hunnie: And?

Y/n: It’s a tad bit too intense

Y/n: I mean it also has fighting scenes and stuff like that which is cool, but I kinda wanna

read something super chill and light now

Y/n: So can I get an even milder one?

Hunnie: Hmmmmm………

Hunnie: Chill and light but still romance…

Hunnie: I think I have something that you may like

A link appears in the chat.

Hunnie: Here you go

Hunnie: It’s chill and light romantically but kinda profound

Hunnie: You’re welcome 😌

Y/n: Thanks

Hunnie: When you get addicted, you’ll have me to thank 😌😌😌

Y/n: 🤦🏻 🤦🏻 🤦🏻

Y/n: Yea yea, just go back and study

I shake my head and smile. What a weirdo. What a lovable weirdo. Speaking of, I really do need to finish the next phase of the first subjective.

          STEP 1.5: Arrange a “blind” date between Hunnie and Eunseok hyung (and pray that it’ll go great).

I’ve started the first part of it, but now I need to actually make it happen. Eunseok hyung seemed enthusiastic enough and Hunnie— Hunnie would scream and die. What could go wrong, right?

I look around towards the door and no one else seems to be coming today. Other than that day V-ssi almost got mobbed, it's been a quiet few days and it seems that it might be just me and V-ssi for a while and then just me again (which is partly why I finished the other fanfic so fast). There's just nothing to do for a while. If the new one Hunnie sent me doesn't interest me, I guess I'll start bringing my textbooks with me and study here.

V-ssi is still deep in his own thoughts as he looks around and inspect each snack and drink he comes across and based on the general experience of waiting behind a counter, judging from the pace he's going through now, it's going to be at least around fifteen minutes before he checks out unless a special circumstance happens. It's a lot like physics in this regards. Like Newton's laws of motion. A shopper will usually keep their pace unless a special circumstance –whether it's a phone call, an alarm, a realisation that they're late, or a sudden need to use the restroom – arises and change their pace. Geez, am I so bored that I started thinking in physics?

I yawn and click on the new link, diving headfirst into the first chapter.

***

“Hi, Y/n-ssi.”

My head snapped away from my phone screen. He puts down a basket full of food items with strange flavours, things like wasabi flavoured candy and chicken soup flavoured potato chips. I guess I was too focused on the fanfic to not hear his footsteps. Damn, the fanfic was kind of great. “Oh, hi!”

He raises an eyebrow chuckling under his breath. “You keep smiling at your phone. Something good happened lately?”

“Oh, sorry. I swear I’m not always like this. You just happen to always catch me,” I laugh, quickly tucking my phone away.

“Reading again?”

“Yeap!”

“What is it about?”

“Ehm—” I cringe inside. Now, what the heck can I tell him. That I’m reading a story about the romance between one of his hyungs and the so-called ‘reader’ which is aka me in this context?

A shiver runs through my spine just thinking about it.

“Er—”

“Hohoho, something that you can’t tell me?” he quirks an eyebrow, smiling slightly. Y/n, resist the charisma. Don’t tell him.

“It’s just a romance story.”

“Oh cool, what is it about?” he squints his eyes. Dang, he’s still suspicious. Come on Y/n, make something up!

“A struggling” don’t say artist or celebrity “young man” good job, Y/n “who is surrounded by” don’t say fans, Do. Not. Say. Fans. “artificial love, became friends with this person and they friend-zone each other. But then they slowly realised that they do that because they always like the other and is afraid to get rejected. You know, those sort of stuff,” I shrug. You killed it Y/n. Grade S liar!

“Oh, sounds great! Can you give me the title? I think Namjoon hyung, Hobi hyung or Jimin would love to read something like that.

Ah, shit. Now, what do I do?

“Er—”

“Yes?”

“Okay, fine, I lied!” You’re demoted to Class D for disappointment. “I’m reading fanfiction! Please don’t tell anyone!” I bow at a ninety-degree angle.

“Oh, why don’t you just tell me,” he smiles innocently, “and of what?”

“Anime mostly,” which is not a lie, most fanfictions I read are still of anime. “And sorry I lied,” my palm presses itself to my neck. “Fanfictions don’t have the best reputations out there.”

“I don’t really know about it. I don’t read books that often because of our schedule and because I typically prefer watching movies, but Namjoon hyung reads them sometimes and he said that it’s too bad that fanfictions aren’t as appreciated as books that go through formal publications since a lot of them are as good, or something like that.”

"I see," I chuckle. "I have to agree."

In the small pause that follows the conversation, I start to scan the items and put them in a neat pile while V-ssi looks intently at something with no exact location as if he's focusing on an invisible mist drifting through the air. The clear beep of the barcode reader gives off comforting little breaks to the complete silence, though I'm not saying the silence is awkward.

"By the way," he starts, "my angel told me something about setting up a blind date and to do it this Saturday. I don't know what that means cause I don't have a plan to set up blind dates for people, but they say only what they think I should know."

"Thank you, angel-nim," I say under my breath. "V-ssi, I think that's a message for me, not for you."

"Ah, so you know what that means?"

"I know exactly what it means."

"Great!"

I finish scanning everything and read out the total.

"Will you pay with cash as always or card?"

He shoves his hand in his pocket and pulls out any change he can find. "I think this will do."

I count them quickly. "Perfect. Thank you angel-nim."

He smiles and as he is grabbing his bag, now puffy from all the snacks, while saying his 'see you next time'. An alarm suddenly beeps in my head. It goes 'Hunnie! Hunnie! Hunnie!'

"Ah, sorry V-ssi," I say. He stops on his track and turns around with an eyebrow lifted. "If you don't mind. Can I get an autograph for my friend? Sorry. She's a veteran army who also works here, but it's just not her shift and it'll really make her day if she gets an autograph from you."

He stays in silence for a few short seconds before his boxy smile returns. "Oh, sure! Where should I sign?"

"Er—" I scramble through the stack of paper under the cashier desk and I manage to snatch an empty one along with a marker I prepared a week ago just for these sort of situation, unwilling to repeat what happened with Jin-ssi and RM-ssi. "Here will do."

"What's their name?"

"Hunnie. She's been an army before BTS even debuted," I chuckle.

"That's amazing! Maybe I've seen her before then?"

"Sadly, no. She wanted to come to your promotions then but she wasn't allowed to go to events and concerts alone and all her older siblings were too busy so she had to watch everything online. That day when Suga-ssi gave small gift packages on his birthday, she cried cause she could have been there."

He frowns a little. "I hope she can make it soon. It'll be nice to meet her."

"She'll definitely love that."

He nods.

The paper is quickly signed and V-ssi soon disappears with a cute little wave.

I look at the signed paper and grin.

          To Hunnie.

          Thank you for your love and support for us all these years. For the good days ahead. Borahae.

          From your winter bear, V.

I quickly prance to the staff room to store the signed paper safely in my bag. It must be in pristine condition! I laugh.

She’s gonna flip.

“Hunnie, wanna go on a date.” The cars slowly come to a stop and we cross the first traffic light from our house to college. Today is one of those rare days when we both have our first morning-class at the same time.

“Aww babe, you don’t have to. But okay! When?” her eyes glimmers. I laugh

“When is a good time for you? You know, get properly dress-up sort of date.”

“I don’t know. Tomorrow? Otherwise, on Saturday. Yeah. Saturday seems like a good time.”

“Okay.”

“Where are we going?” she looks at me while still walking without ever stopping.

“It’s a surprise. No, Hunnie!” I drag her to my side quickly before she walks into a slow grandma struggling as she walks with a stick. “Pay attention.” I laugh and Hunnie apologizes to the grandmother.

“What’s the date for?”

“For being my beloved friend.”

“Aww, cute.” She grabs and holds my arm.

“Wait till you see what’s going to happen?”

“What’s gonna happen?”

“Wait till you see on Saturday. If it’s actually going to be on this Saturday, I better check the schedule first.”

“Y/n, tell me, please?”

“Nope. Suffer!” I let out a villainous evil laugh. “I’ll text you the time and location later if it’s on,” I smirk as I stride towards the opposite direction Hunnie is heading to her school. Okay, maybe Hunnie is rubbing on me a little over the years.

***

The library is open all day every day and since I still got around half an hour to start walking to class, I thought now might be a good time to return those books I borrowed a few weeks ago on that day I first manage to walk home alone without a wig. Today, I decide to let it go and show off my real hair to school for the first time. I smile as I touch the strands of short hair framing my face. It’s nice to feel that I’ve come a long way since then.

As my hand reaches to open the door to the library, the door opens by itself.

“Hyung?”

“Oh, Y/n! What’s up?” Eunseok hyung freezes when he sees me. “Your hair!”

I smile, patting my own head. “How is it?”

“Really really cool. Is this what your friend, Hunnie, did for her exam?”

“Yeap this is it. You’re here early, hyung.”

“Ah, yeah. I was returning tons of books I borrowed for a ‘surprise essay’. Don’t ask. The professor thought everybody likes surprises. We did, until he ruined the word ‘surprise’ for us.” He frowns. I try to look sympathetic but I can’t hold back from laughing, which makes him pout and makes me laugh even harder.

“Mean. Anyway, what are you doing this early in the library?”

“Same thing as you. I’m returning all those books I borrowed to read for fun during the break.”

“You finished all of them?” his eyes snap wide open and his jaw slackens.

“Nope. Some were too boring to get past page six, hence why I’m returning them now.”

“Oh thank goodness. Thought you were above us mere mortal for a sec. I can barely keep my eyes open most times when I pick up a random book from the library.”

I thought about that time he couldn’t stop yawning. “Yeah, I saw.”

He laughs.

“Hyung, before I forget, I need to talk to you.”

“Yeah? What’s it about?”

“The possible date. You know, with me playing matchmaker.”

“Oh, and?”

“She said yes. Are you free on Saturday? Afternoon, maybe around 1?”

“As a matter of fact, I actually am free on Saturday. And around one seems great.”

“Great! Lunch date it is. Where should I tell my friend to meet you?”

“Is she on a diet?”

“Nope.”

“Can eat a lot?”

“Yeap.”

“Perfect!” he grins. “Then the new pizza place a street away from that park for the Great Shout-out every year. Oh you know what? Just at the park. It’s a bit easier. At that old fountain that’s no longer working.”

“Okay, cool.” I quickly note it down on my phone. One down. One more friend to go. “Oh, and, hyung,” I raise my head, looking back at him. “Your friend for my lonely friend?”

“I asked. She’s still thinking about it while finding the time. One of her lecturers likes to assign deadlines on inconvenient and impossibly strange dates. Her exams ended and on that day itself, the lecturer gave them an essay to do, due a week after the start of the new term and it’ll contribute 5% to the total module mark.”

“I— I don’t even know what to say.”

“Me too, which is why she always refuses to talk to me when she’s stressed cause apparently my attempt at comforting words are ‘too harsh and blunt’ for her.”

“Then I guess my friend will have to wait till she’s willing to talk to you again.” I chuckle.

“I’m afraid so,” he grins.

“By the way,” I quirk my brow. “You don’t seem nervous at the thought of being set up on a blind date. Not even a group one.”

“I am nervous, my face is just bad at showing it. And plus, I think I may have a clue on who you are setting me with.”

“Yeah? And if you guessed the right person? Then?”

“Then, even if it doesn’t work out like that, we’ll still get along.”

I smile as calmly as I can. “Great to hear that.” Freaking aw!

Kkrrr. Kkrrr.

Oops, I have fifteen minutes to get to class.

“Oh! I gotta go!” I smile guiltily.

“Me too actually. See ya!”

“Bye, hyung!” I wave and disappear into the library.

The moment the door closes behind me, I pull out my phone.

Y/n is typing…

Y/n: I can’t walk you to ‘the date’ on Saturday cause I got a morning shift

Y/n: So… Park. On Saturday. At one

Y/n: The park for the great shout out

Y/n: At the broken fountain

Y/n: wear something pretty

"Welcome back, V-ssi," I smile as the square-smile man appears through the automatic glass door and gives me a little wave.

Despite the fact that it is a Saturday afternoon, the convenience store is quite barren of people. Maybe everyone has just been buying a full few-weeks' worth of snacks and necessity that they don't need anything now. Everyone except for V-ssi.

"Y/n-ssi," V-ssi says aloud in the empty store, "do you have that japchae-flavoured snacks? There're so many types here, I can't find it," he chuckles.

"The round one or the noodle shaped one?" I ask, already stepping out of the counter and striding towards where he is.

"The round one."

"I think we do have it. Give me a moment." I reach the light snack aisle and scans through the huge selection quickly. "That's weird. I've definitely seen it yesterday and today."

"It's okay if it's not here, I'll just grab another one."

"Oh! I remember! Wait right here." I scurry towards the stockroom and key opens the door. "How many do you want, V-ssi?" I ask from across the room.

"Just two."

There are many boxes in there, a bit too many considering the size of the room. Luckily, however, it's not that hard to navigate through them as the boxes are stacked neatly, separated by weight and categories, and in less than a minute, I am locking the door with two bags of japchae-flavoured snack in my arm.

"Here you go," I put hand them to V-ssi who is standing in front of the cooler, fascinated by the multitude of new milk flavour recently brought out into the market. They even have one with peanut butter flavour and another with cheese.

“Oh, thanks!” he finally snaps out of his intense display staring and smiles all giggly knowing he has been caught.

“No problem.”

“So, are there many snacks hidden in that room that people don’t usually see on the shelves?” He grabs his chin while looking at the locked door like a protagonist in a detective show.

“Strangely, yes,” I laugh. “It’s not like that all the time, but the store has been so quiet and empty for the past week, I mean we still get people, but nowhere near as many as the past months. Usually, the snacks on the shelves would be rotated and whenever something empties out, a batch of different snack would replace it. Now there’s just not enough place to put it,” I shrug.

“Anything strange and new?” He asks with a slight twinkle in his eyes.

“Define strange.”

“Something that sounds like it’s challenging you to eat it.”

“There’s that cheese flavoured milk in the cooler, and— er what else. Oh. Oh.”

“What, what is it?” he’s trembling in excitement.

“We don’t have it here yet. It’s not supposed to be out yet cause the official nation-wise release date is still next month, so I can’t show or sell it to you.” I nod to myself.  “But, it’s been confirmed and starting from next month, there’s going to be,” I clear my throat for added tension, “a fire-noodle-flavoured milk.”

“Eh??”

I nod. “For the first time ever.”

“Really? You’re not kidding? Fire noodles flavour?” I nod again. “But why?”

“I have no idea. Sounds like a genius marketing plan that will end up viral leaving a lot of miserable people.”

“Will you try it when it comes out?”

“I don’t know. I might have to if Jin hyung or Jiminie hears about it.” He scrunches his nose. “What about you?”

“My friend might force it down my throat or slip it into my drink. I might have to accidentally ingest it.” I shrug.

Suddenly the phone that I have stupidly left on the counter starts to rings and vibrates like a demented alarm clock and I mutter a ‘sorry’ to V-ssi before sprinting towards it to turn the volume off. V-ssi just chuckles and continues his search of unique food items.

I switch the setting to mute and look at the notification on my lock screen.

21 new messages from Hunnie

Hunnie: Where are you?

Hunnie: It’s 1:10

Hunnie: You said 1

Hunnie: I’m waiting

Hunnie: I thought I’m supposed to be the one who’s late

Hunnie: Are you otw?

Hunnie: Y/n, quickly come

Hunnie: I’m bored

Hunnie: And I’m hungry.

Hunnie: Come soon

Hunnie: 😢

Hunnie: Ehm, Y/n

Hunnie: I see Eunseok sunbae

Hunnie: Oh gosh, what should I say to him??!!

Hunnie: Y/n? Y/NNNNN!!!!

Hunnie: PLEASE READ YOUR MESSAGES!!!

Hunnie: OH GOSH HE’S COMING HERE

Hunnie: Y/NNNNNNNN

Hunnie: oh.

Hunnie: oh. He’s the date.

Hunnie: Damn you.

Y/n is typing…

Y/n: I never said that the date is with me.

I chuckle and smile impossibly wide as I read each frantic message. Maybe Hunnie is rubbing off on me. This is the type of shit she usually pulls.

"Are you reading stories again? You're smiling." V-ssi stands in front of the counter with snacks on the table. I hurriedly look up from my phone blushing a little in embarrassment.

"I was, but not right now," I chuckle at how easily admitting to reading fanfic to V-ssi comes for me now. He's smiling. "Ah, V-ssi."

"You talked to my angel before and I'm wearing flipflops right now with no makeup. V-ssi sounds like I'm at work."

"Then Taehyung-ssi?"

He laughs. "Too formal. Call me Tae."

"Alright," I smile. "Tae-ssi it is."

He nods.

"It's not a story. It's from my friend, Tae-ssi. Remember when angel-nim said something about a blind date on Saturday?" He nods.

I've been setting her up with a sunbae and I think it's working."

"Working as in?"

"As in I think they might get together sooner than I thought," I smile.

He looks at the air like he did last time in contemplation and nods at it. "Angel-nim just gave me another message."

"What it is?"

"If it's meant to be, it will be. Don't worry."

"Thank you again, angel-nim."

"How does it feel being a matchmaker?"

"Really fun," I look at him seriously. "I just need to introduce my other friend to someone nice and if they get together, I'll be a certified matchmaker."

V-ssi laughs heartily.

“Good luck!”

“You! How dare you set me up on the date that I’ve been waiting for without telling me it’s the date I’ve been waiting for!” Hunnie lunges at me as soon as I walk in through the door. “I thought we’re gonna have a bestie date!”

“Wow, I thought you’ll hug me for it.”

She throws herself at me and wraps her arms around my waist. “I hate you for not telling me but I freaking love you cause THAT DATE WAS AAAAAA!”

“Tell me everything,” I grin.

“No. You didn’t tell me so now I won’t tell you anything.”

“Hunnie—”

“Hush. You said we’re gonna have a bestie day,” she pouts.

“To be fair, I never actually said I’ll be a part of the date.”

“Yeah, you did!”

“No, I really didn’t.”

“You did!”

“Check your messages.”

Hunnie hastily reaches for her phone and scrolls through her messages.

“Damn it.”

I grin in victory and finally exit the entrance area where I was ambushed by Hunnie – Hunnie who is now still furiously scrolling through her messages, unwilling to believe that I indeed never said it explicitly. Of course, I never slipped. The messages were all carefully crafted and well-thought of. I smirk and give myself a silent high-five.

***

At night when Hunnie is asleep, I open my bag where the pretty notebook is kept and open its page gently.

{Operation ‘Let’s be happy together.’}

          Goals:

• Objective 1: Help Hunnie find something that makes her even happier than she already is.
• Objective 2: Maybe help Moonsik find someone too while you’re at it (keep it a secret from Moonsik.)
• Objective 3: Love yourself.

          Objective 1 missions:

          STEP 1: Talk to Eunseok hyung and try to see what he approximately feel towards her ✔️

          STEP 2: If the relationship turns out possible, get them to ‘accidentally meet’ often

          STEP 1.5: Arrange a “blind” date between Hunnie and Eunseok hyung (and pray that it’ll go great). ✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️ 💯💯💯

          STEP 2B: If Eunseok hyung is not interested, find something else for Hunnie to be happy (to be figured out) (seems unnecessary from Hunnie's reaction but to be confirmed)

          Objective 2 missions:

          STEP 1: While doing objective 1 step 1, ask Eunseok hyung whether he knows someone single, nice, funny, and likes anime or tolerate someone who does (work in progress)

          Objective 3 missions:

          STEP 1: Walk around without a wig and try to not feel self-conscious ✔️✔️✔️

          STEP 2: Does anything you want in public even if it’s weird, and try to not care about the weird looks or comment people say. (half tick)

Chapter Text

I press the bell and the intercom beeps. After a few seconds, the little light at the machine starts blinking and a voice appears.

“Hello?”

“Ah, yes, I’m here to deliver coffee from Bora Coffeeshop,” I say politely. It is answered by a silence that stretches for a good few seconds long. “Hello?”

“Chinggu?” the voice reappears, one that I’ve heard many many times before. For a while, I can’t pinpoint where I’ve heard it like it’s from some hazy folds at the back of my mind. “Hello?” the voice says again. Then it hits me.

“Jin-ssi?”

“Chinggu! I didn’t know you deliver too!”

“Jin-ssi! What a coincidence!” I laugh. “Only sometimes, when there’s no one else to do the job.”

“Ah, I see! Well, I’ll open the door, come on in.”

The door buzzes and it unlocks itself. I enter a room of only lifts. Before I manage to press any button, the door to a lift opens and I enter it, waiting for it to take me where I need to go.

***

The door opens revealing a smiling Jin-ssi.

“Oh, you’re here! Come on in and put it on the table. Here,” he snatches two out of three bags.

“I can’t allow you to bring it for me, it’s my job. And I don’t think I’m supposed to enter your house.”

“Too late!” He quickly walks in and disappears only to shows his head again from behind a wall. “Well, come on in.”

I toe off my shoes, feeling a little awkward to just enter somebody’s house like that but I still have to give the last of the bag, so I say a little excuse me and bows repeatedly as I enter into the living room. Jin-ssi is putting the bags on the table and I follow what he’s doing.

“I should leave now.”

“You have somewhere to go?”

“Not really, but it’s a little awkward to be at someone else’s house.”

“Don’t worry, not everyone is here right now. It’s only me, Yoongi and Jimin.”

“I see.”

“Would you like anything? Milk? A cup of coffee or tea?”

“Nah, I don’t want to intrude.”

Suddenly, two voices appear from one of the room. 

“You’re so cute hyung. I’m sure you’ll look great as a girl,” Jimin chirps excitedly. Jin and I stay quiet.

“Shut it, we’re not talking about this again.”

“But hyung looks so good as Yoonji! Armys loved it so much! Come on~ We need something special for festa. For armys. Please, hyung?”

“Why don’t you do it?”

“Cause everyone wants Yoonji! And you’re so pretty, you could maybe pass as a girl if you got a proper makeover.”

“It doesn’t even make sense, how the heck could I look like a girl? Which part of me?”

“Your face is pretty.”

“Aren’t I pretty too?” Jin-ssi interrupts loudly from where he’s standing in the living room but they ignore him and continue with their conversation. Jin lets out his classic windshield wiper laugh.

“Aren’t you more suited then?” Yoongi asks.

“Your skinny legs,” Jimin answers.

“I feel insulted. Do you not see the result? I’ve been bulking up Jimin-ah!”

“Please, hyung, I’ll do all your chores for a week.”

“No way. I’ll only do it if all of you, cross-dress, too,” he pauses as if he’s finger quoting before carrying on his laid-back-toned rant, “and by that, I don’t mean just wearing stereotypical feminine clothes, I mean putting on cutesy girl-idol-style makeup with mascara so that if strangers pass you in the street, they would assume you are a girl.”

Jimin sighs and the conversation ends.

“Welcome to the chaotic life of Bangtan.” Jin-ssi smiles at me.

I laugh quietly. “Seems fun.”

I wonder how did things come to this.

The wall of the changing area is cold against my back, as cold as the iced coffee in my hand. I stand still in front of a closed door.

“There’s no one here, right?” the voice inside the changing cubicle behind the door says.

“Nope. It’s clear here,” I answer in between sips.

The door creaks open and a head appears looking left and right. Suga-ssi.

“Is it really bad out there?”

“Outside the changing room?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“Yes.” I twirl around the coffee cup, swirling the bitter liquid inside.

“Do you think I could make it if I sprint away?”

I stride towards the entrance of the fitting are and peaks outside. “You may be able to.”

“Oh?”

“But also, maybe not.”

“Oh. Why?”

I cringe at the sight of rough-looking so-called paparazzi who accidentally spotted Suga-ssi before he spotted me and asked me to hide him. That was around fifteen minutes ago “They seem pretty buff. All of them.”

“It’s not like they’ll tackle me, right?” he laughs.

One of the paparazzi trips a kid on purpose and the boy who is left on the floor cries like there’s no tomorrow. “I won’t be so sure.” I turn around and see him gulp.

“So, am I just stuck here until closing time or further notice? But I have songs waiting in the studio for me to work on them!”

“I guess this leaves you with only one option.”

“Which is?”

“You have to look like a Korean girl. Blend in.”

“What!”

“Shhh! Not too loud, they might hear you!”

“But why?” he lowers his volume.”

“Think about it. They saw your clothes and you’re trapped in a fitting room in the sweetheart section. They don’t sell guy’s clothes here, but they do sell makeup and extensions.”

“No, that’s ridiculous! Can’t you wear the clothes they have here and I borrow your shirt instead? It looks plain enough, rather than the frilly thing they sell around here.”

“Nope, this won’t fit you unless you want to walk around with parts of your torso exposed.” Not that it’s small in the slightest, but he is taller and equipped with a wider set of shoulders.”

“Do I have to wear something from here? They’re all unicorns and rainbows with frills.”

“I think so,” I nod in sympathy. “Although I have to say, I didn’t think you’d be disturbed by such, I don’t know, femininity in clothes.”

“I don’t. But have you seen what I wear on an everyday basis?”

“Ah.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s like you’re purposefully killing off all colours in your life.”

“Yes,” he nods.

“You still have to wear those though, if you want to get out of here soon.”

“Fine.” He sighs. “I guess if I pretend it’s for work, it’s not that big of a deal. I did wear fishnet and skirt for a photo shoot. But would they have my size?”

“Pretty sure they do. Brands are pretty size-inclusive these days. Now. What do you want me to get? What would make you convincing as a girl?”

“I don’t. What do you think?” he says, opening the door slightly. I look at him. His face? Not really, his eyes are quite sharp and masculine in a way. His physique? Nah. His shoulders are pretty wide. His waist is small, but anyone could have a small waist regardless of gender. His legs aren’t dainty looking either. Whatever it was, we need to get an oversized jacket to cover his shoulders and a long sleeve shirt to hide his hands. There’s nothing feminine about those big hands with veins popping out.

“Wait here, I’ll grab some oversized jacket.”

Just as I am about to step out of the fitting area, one of the paparazzi, the one wearing an oversized grey hoodie, peaks their head in and finds us.

While they scramble to take out their camera, I pull him with me and we run, more and more of them see us and soon, a hoard of them are chasing after us.

“Run faster!” I hear him shout. He takes the lead and runs with all his might. I give it my all too, but he’s just too fast and he gets further and further away with every second. My lungs are burning. “Y/n?” I hear a voice but it strays away from me. “Y/n? Hello? Y/n?”

***

I sit up straight. My eyes are blurry. My heart still thumping and I’m still sweating from the running scene. I stay in the same position, trying to breathe as quietly as I can to not wake Hunnie up. When I’m calm again, I feel exhausted, sore almost, as if I’ve just run a marathon. Nevertheless, I realised I had the legendary ‘Y/n dream’, most probably based on the very intriguing conversation I heard in Bangtan’s dorm. It might be that I have read too many fanfictions but my heart is beating a hundred miles an hour and the image of Suga-ssi running is burned on my brain. Of course, it could be that because the dream is so fresh or because I was running, but I definitely blame that on Hunnie.

The next day, I see him again as he buys his daily dose of AA. Baram unnie hides herself the moment she sees Suga-ssi walking outside the coffeeshop from the window and excused herself, telling me she needs to use the restroom, which I receive with a little chuckle mentally. We say our usual greetings, I feel nothing. He orders his coffee, I feel nothing. He says his thank-you with a smile, I feel nothing. It really must have been the effect of the dream, and fanfictions maybe. I feel no romantic feelings for him at all. Zero. Zilch. It’s nothing but a dream. I sigh. I really should decrease my dose of fanfiction.

Still though. Around two decades of never having any romantic feelings towards anyone… Maybe I am an aro, who knows. I shrug away the thought. If I’m lonely, I could always adopt a pet.

Baram unnie reappears just as my pocket vibrates.

“Oh, I think I just got a text.”

“Well, open it then,” she answers nonchalantly, re-tying her barista apron.

“Manager unnie would not be happy,” I laugh.

“There’s no more customer for now anyway and I’ll be on the lookout.”

“Okay then, thanks.”

“No, thank you, for letting me slip to the back,” she grins. I laugh again, remembering the panic in her eyes when she spotted the only one person she calls ‘the caffeine psycho’.

I click on my phone.

1 new message from Hunnie

Hunnie: I just got off class and I’m heading towards my five-hours shift.

Y/n is typing…

Y/n: Oh, is this the thing that made you work for only an hour the other day?

Hunnie: Yeah. And boy have I got news for you.

I scrunch my eyebrows.

Y/n: Me? What does it have to do with me?

Y/n: Wait.

Hunnie: Hair.

Y/n: Oh.

Y/n: Is it your exam?

Y/n: The second round

Y/n: What was it again?

Y/n: Oh no

Y/n: hair colour

Y/n: HUNNIE

Y/n: IS IT?????

I suddenly got assaulted by flashes of memories.

“Y/n! Your hair!” she shouts. My head snaps towards her. My hair? “I’m so sorry, I picked up the wrong volume and now your hair is melting.” Wait, what? “I think I can glue them back on and no one will notice, it’ll be fine!” she then suddenly stops mumbling and the room goes quiet again.

I shudder at the thought of it.

Hunnie is typing…

Y/n: Great

Y/n: And I’m just barely confident enough to pull off this style

Y/n: Wait, I thought the one-hour thing was supposed to be for extra credit?

Hunnie: Well, apparently, it’s supposed to be a sudden test announced only two days prior, but one of the mentors got too… impressed by ‘our willingness to improve’ and decide to tell everyone who shows up for extra credit and we’re sworn to secrecy not to tell the other students who didn’t show up.

Hunnie: So yeah, I’m colouring your hair in about a week from now.

Y/n: A WEEK?

Hunnie: It’s better than telling you this two days before the exam, don’t you think?

Y/n: Right.

Y/n: You’re right. *sigh*

Y/n: You’ll make it pretty right?

Y/n: and not neon

Y/n: Hunnie?

Y/n: HUNNIE???

Y/n: AND NOT NEON???

Y/n: Hunnie, I need you to promise me that it’s not neon

Y/n: It’s not funny. I NEED YOU TO PROMISE ME

Hunnie: Y/n

Y/n: THAT

Hunnie: Y/n!

Y/n: IT WILL NOT BE

Hunnie: calm the fuck down

Y/n: NEON

Hunnie: calm thy dramatic arse, my dear. I promise that it’s not neon.

Y/n: Okay good.

Y/n: You better not be crossing your finger as you’re typing this

Y/n: Hello?

Y/n: Hunnie?

Y/n: Damn you.

I lock my phone, shove it angrily down my pocket and proceed to groan, scratching the back of my neck furiously.

“What’s up?”

“Hunnie’s hair exam,” I huff.

“And?”

My phone vibrates again. An incoming call from Hunnie.

“Unnie, is it okay if I go to the back for a moment to answer a call?”

“Sure,” she shrugs. “It’s practically empty anyway. Unnie can handle this.”

“Thanks!”

I quickly go to the staff room and click receive.

“Hello?”

“Okay, first of all, chill my dude,” I can Hunnie smiling through the speaker.

“Hunnie—”

“Relax.”

“Promise me. I’ll need a signed agreement back home later than you’re not going to dye my hair crazy colour and possibly give me a heart attack or a stroke.”

“Sure sure. Relax, don’t worry. I gotta hand it to you though.”

“What?”

“What you did. I think you really should try to pursue a career in matchmaking.”

“Huh?”

“Which is why I’m not going to give you a stroke with my genius and elegant taste of colour palette. I love you too much. I mean I already love you to the max but this just adds even more, even though max plus a number is still max. It doesn’t really change anything, but it’s the thought that counts, you get me?”

“Nope. Go back to the matchmaking though. So I’m assuming things are going well?”

“Yes! Superb! Amazing!”

“If you’re sorry enough that you have to colour my hair, you should forgive me and spill all the tea?” I say, trying to keep my voice as even and nonchalant as possible.

She pauses for a few seconds before muttering “all right deal!”

“Good,” I smirk behind the phone. “Spill.”

“So that date on Saturday was—” she hums approvingly. “We talked about nothing and everything and I don’t know how or why, but the way he talks when we were discussing why I choose a career in hair and beauty, it’s like he believes in me a great deal. He doesn’t even know me that well yet and he already believes in me more than my bros,” she laughs.

“He really does, though,” I reply, “at least that’s what I think. We talked about you and my haircut before, when I was still wearing a wig everywhere, and he said not to worry since it’s probably a great hairstyle. Not kidding, he didn’t even see the hair yet and he was already so sure it’s amazing!”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaa!” she then proceeds to squeal.

“I know I know. Calm down. This is not so great for my ears.”

“Shut up. Let me be happy.”

I laugh. “I’m not stopping you from being happy, just don’t scream into my ears.”

“Fine.” I hear the phone plops from the other end of the line and a scream in the distance. After some more rustling, Hunnie’s back.

“You let it out?”

“Yeap.”

“Okay. Now that you’ve found the love of your life and that all, what’s gonna happen now?”

“So, at the end of that day, we exchange all our social media details, which was not a lot, he only uses Instagram. The rest are just messaging services.”

“Why didn’t you tell me!”

“It was hard for me too! I wanted to tell you!”

“Fine! And?”

“And we chatted just now AND I THINK WE’RE GOING ON ANOTHER DATE NEXT WEEK!”

Now it’s my turn to yell, or supposed to be. I’m still in the coffee shop and people are going to hear. Oh shit, I’m still in the coffeeshop. Baram unnie!

“Hunnie, I gotta go. We’ll talk more about this next time, on a real bestie date with pancakes and chicken and all. I have to go now. Can’t leave Baram unnie to tend to everything alone.”

“Alright.”

“See you at home.”

“Later.”

I quickly check my uniform and walk back to the work station as fast as I can to see that the line is still non-existent.

“Hunnie?” Unnie asks, her hand on her mouth as she yawns.

“Yeah.”

“And? You were saying something about the hair exam.”

“Oh, right. The second one is coming soon and she’ll have to colour my hair.”

“Finally!” she smiles, clapping her hands like a seal.

“What? Why?”

“Hunnie showed me what she planned to do to your hair, remember? It’s not just the haircut, she showed me the entire coloured sketch.”

“Oh, right. How—” I gulp, “showy, is it?”

“Not too much, especially with how the trendy style is these days, you know with the idols and the young adult becoming more expressive. It’s not going to be too strange or out of this world.”

“But I’m going to be trendy?” I shriek.

“Shh, calm down. And you’re already trendy with that haircut.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“It’s not going to look strange, I swear. I think it’s going to look pretty instead.”

I nod. “I know Hunnie won’t ever do that to me, I’m just nervous, you know. I mean even with this haircut, it took me weeks to finally be confident enough to not hide it under a wig.”

“I get you. I wouldn’t do it too, but only because my little cousin will disown me if I do, at least now. He’s in a rough spot and in the midst of puberty. He’s not coping really well.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah. But that would be the only reason. At least be happy that the manager would greet your new hair transformation with open arms. She looks really excited when you showed us your hair and now she won’t stop mumbling ‘sales increase, hair, sales increase’ and honestly, it’s creeping me out. You would think she’s farming human hair or something like that.”

I snort. “At least there’s that. You think I can urge her for a promotion or a raise if I say I’ll dye my hair but only if I get a raise or sth?”

“I don’t know, maybe. Just tell me when you’re saying it. I want to be there to see her expression,” she snickers.

“Alright.”

I wake up with erratic breathing, my throat slightly sore, though I can’t remember making any sound. Again, in that dream, my voice won’t come out.

I guess fun and pleasant dreams like drinking coffee while trying to convince Suga to wear clothes from the darling section of the department store are never supposed to last. This one, like all the unpleasant ones, are persistent. Sometimes I forget about it when morning comes, sometimes I remember, but I realise now that it’s been popping up once in a while for the past several weeks, even when I thought everything is fine, even as I was happy, as I was regaining my lost confidence. I wonder when will this nightmare ends.

As I lay on the bed with closed eyes, my head wonders different places, the park, the recent news, a theory I have to read soon for an upcoming class, until I reach a specific thought. I haven’t told my parents yet. What would they say? My eyes spring open. I’m very much awake now. I’m sure they’ll be okay with it. After all, I’ve seen they’re picture back when they were in their twenties and mom had her share of interesting and fashion-forward hairdos. My dad was much calmer, but he too, once, had a very very subtle mullet, probably influenced by my mom, but it has to count, right?

They won’t get mad at me, right? What if I fail to pull it off and ends up looking like an alien. Of course, Hunnie is great at what she does, and she’ll make sure that it turns out perfectly. But what if it’s from an outside factor? Like the lightener manufacturer mistakenly labelled volume 40 as volume 30? What if the machine is flawed and ends up getting hotter than the setting? What if? What if I end up bald. Everyone will think that it’s my choice to shave my head off and someone will talk. What if one of her friends happen to come around the area, spot me, take a picture of me, and spread it to her social circle. What then? They might talk and say that my mom can’t educate her own children properly. I know for a fact that she’ll smile and say it’s nothing if I ask, but I mind.

I sigh, trying to close my eyes again.

At this point, it’s not my confidence that’s at stake. Even if something happens, I learn from the past weeks that I can get used to it and that I have amazing people around me to help me build myself up again. But what about my parents? It’s not about me. I just don’t want my parents to be affected by the choices I make.

Chapter Text

A dark ceiling. Hunnie lies unmoving in her bed, a tiny potted plant by the window, my phone. 4:04. I sigh and get out of my bed, grab my ‘pretty’ notebook, and head to the kitchen. Sleep won’t be coming back to me anytime soon.  

I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry, please— just— just leave, it’s fine. Please don’t cry. Just tell them it was a joke! Yes! It was just a joke, tell them I’m not like that. I can change if that would make them stop. No, you’re wonderful! It’s not you, it’s them, it’s me. It’s okay to leave if it’s painful to stay here, just, please don’t cry, please— please—

A speck of hot water jumps out of the mug as I begin dipping the teabag. It’s been four days and the dreams don’t seem to want to cease, yet they are different now, different than how they were months ago. They are more realistic and true to character, which makes it worse.

“Haaaa.” I take a minuscule sip of the boiling hot tea. I can’t sleep. I flip open the notebook and stare at the page.

          Objective 3 missions:

          STEP 1: Walk around without a wig and try to not feel self-conscious ✔️✔️✔️

          STEP 2: Does anything you want in public even if it’s weird, and try to not care about the weird looks or comment people say. (reading a BTS           fanfic in front of Tae-ssi must’ve count for something, right?) ✔️

What’s the next step. I grab my pencil and write Step 3, but then my hand lingers in the air. I don’t know what to write. No, I do. I can’t. I have to, it’ll be good for me. I don’t think I’m ready. I would never be ready anyway. I place the pencil down and take another tentative sip, the temperature of the tea seems a little more acceptable to drink.

It’s stupid, really. I trust Hunnie with all my heart and so all the worry I have about getting my hair coloured disappeared really quickly. But in the end, everything ends up where it first started and my mind always returns to something I can’t change. Ambition. Or my lack thereof.

That’s just the way it is, isn’t it. With hair, I can always cover it, with career choices, with life, people talks. People talks and I hate it. Why do people talk so much? Why can’t they leave other people’s child’s life choices alone? This society, I’m so sick of it sometimes. Why do we have to impress everyone’s parents? Why can’t we just be happy with the choices that make us happy instead of aiming for something else just because it seems better to everyone’s eyes? Why is being a doctor or a CEO gives more value to a person than being a janitor or a miner or a worker in a construction site if they’re all equally happy? I don’t get it and I think I never will.

The slow coffee-filled afternoon air draws a yawn out of me as I stand, leaning against the cashier table with one hand and rubbing my eyes out in the other. Manager unnie's playlist tends to incline towards the chiller side of kpop these past few days, which really doesn't help fight the drowsiness. Just as I was about to yawn again, two casually dressed customer appear on the other side of the glass door and push the handle causing the little bells to chime. Jimin-ssi and Hobi-ssi. They came together again.

"Oh, Y/n-ssi!" Hobi beams, sending little waves frantically my way.

"Oh!" Jimin-ssi appears from behind Hobi-ssi and waves along too.

"Welcome," I smile. The line is empty. "How are you guys?"

"A bit tired but pretty good. Probably not as tired as Jimin over here," he cackles, "he asked for a solo practice session again last night."

He smacks his arm lightly, his face contorted in an embarrassed smile. "Hyung~"

"Please be careful, Jimin-ssi, don't push yourself too hard."

"Déjà vu?" his head tilts slightly, "but listen Jimin-ah."

"Déjà vu?" I ask.

"Yeah! And you sound just like our manager," he laughs. "So, after his practice, manager came and said, Jimin-ah, please don't push yourself too much, it pains me to look at you do that. Then, Namjoon came and said ,'Jiminie, you're a person, you're not a machine. Namjoonie daebak," he cuts himself, taking a break to laugh.

I nod understandingly. "Even machine need breaks. If they get too hot, they stop working," I say in my calmest of voice.

"Now you sound like Suga-hyung, though you're nicer." Jimin-ssi crosses his arms.

"What? What did he say?"

"He said—" his laugh settled down and Hobi-ssi returns to full consciousness, "He said, 'No, Jiminie, you are a machine, so don't get too tired and heated up or you'll stop working and start making strange noises instead'."

"I don't whine," he pouts.

"Cute." Hobi-ssi pats his head.

I smile. "So, tired, huh? Which means anything with caffeine?"

"Yes, and extra sweet for him so he won't pass out if he forces himself again today."

"Hyung~" he turns towards me again, "less sweet, please."

"Hot or cold?"

"Hot."

"Hmm...Then maybe either a long black or a flat white. Milk or no milk?"

"With milk."

"Flat white it is," I smile and keying the order in. "Anything for you, Hobi-ssi?"

"The milkshake, like last time, it was—wah. Really really good."

"Anything else?"

"Hyung, should we get something for Kookie?"

"Depends. Where is he?"

"I'm gonna text him."

Hobi-ssi nods and directs his attention to the cake display. "Any recommendation?"

"Oh! There's a new cake actually!" I point at it from my side of the glass. "There, the Caramel Dalgona sponge cake." I could swear his eyes twinkle when he spotted it.

"Then that one please."

I nod and return to the cashier. "Anything else?"

Hobi-ssi glances at Jimin-ssi who is shaking his head. "That's all for now."

I read out the total and soon, both of them have secured a spot on the same table at the corner of the coffeeshop where Jimin-ssi and Hobi-ssi sat together before. With the shop peacefully drifting to a rest, swaying to the slow beat of manager unnie's playlist, I carefully take my phone out and start typing.

Y/n is typing…

Y/n: Yo bestie

Y/n: Bangtan is here again….

Y/n: J-hope and Jimin

Y/n: Just letting you know

Y/n: Though I have to say the coffee shop is almost empty right now so if u decide to drop in and fangirl, it’ll be kinda obvious

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: You really do have a magnet wtf????

Hunnie: How’s the mood? Do u think it’s a good idea if I drop by?

Y/n: Honestly, they look kinda tired.

Hunnie: Then I don’t think I’ll come. Don’t want to impose. Everyone knows they’re always busy anyway.

Y/n: I’m so *self-censorship-due-to-inability-to-conjure-a-word-more-severe-than-usual* proud of you

Hunnie: Aw, I love ur dramatic ass

Y/n: That’s u

Hunnie: Well then, u must’ve caught my virus

Y/n: Most prob

Hunnie: *shrugs*

Hunnie: Oh, I have to go

Hunnie: I’m texting Eunseok ‘sunbae’

Y/n: And you still spare some time to text me? I’m touched

Hunnie: Love u too, u ass

The door swings open and a man with a loose white t-shirt and a pair of combat boots enter the shop tentatively trying his best not to catch any eye contact before he found the people he was looking for.

“Hyung!”

“Ah, this kid. Finally!”

“Sorry, I had to go back halfway. I forgot my phone.”

“Our maknae is so forgetful. How, I’ll never know.”

He shrugs. “I’m going to order something. Anything good here?”

“I’ll go with you, I need a napkin anyway, spilled a bit of my milkshake on my pants.” Hobi stands up slowly, pouting as he inspects his pants. “I think this might stain.”

“It’s just milkshake, it’ll go away,” he says, heading towards the counter. Standing calmly with both his hands on his sides, he briefly scans the menu board and the cake display, his eyes lingering at the picture of the shop’s new menu, banana milk tea. Eyes open as wide as Hobi0shi’s did when he spotted the cake, he resolutely nods to himself and begins to speak. “Can I get the banana—” he cuts himself, frozen completely where he stands. “It’s you!”

“Ah, Jungkook-ssi. Nice to meet you again,” I smile.

Hobi-ssi’s eyes open comically wide as he stares with his mouth agape. “You two know each other?!”

***

“Did you do it? Did you talk to him yet?” I hear Hobi asks excitedly, half jumping in his seat.

“What? Talk to who?”

“Ah, right, that,” Jimin-ssi nods. “Suga hyung. Yeah, I talked to him, and no, he won’t budge. He said he’d— Never mind.”

“What? Tell us!”

“No, nothing.”

“Jiminie~ Tell us!”

He sighs, palms pressed firmly on his face, half-convinced he’s going to regret this in the near future. “He said that he’ll only be Yoonji if I also dress up as a girl.”

It is silent until both Jungkook-ssi and Hobi-ssi bursts into laughter, Hobi-ssi goes as far as hitting the table repetitively with the tip of his fingers, though gently as not to accidentally vandalize the property.

“Then you just gotta do it, hyung.”

“What? No! You do it!”

“I’ll do it if you two do it too. Hobi-hyung’s auntie vibe was unbelievably good in 'House of Army'.”

“I’ll do it if Jin-hyung does it too. It’s been too long. The last time he did that was for endplate king, remember?”

“Wah, endplate king, that was a long long time ago, gosh.”

“Yeah, and even then he didn’t have a proper wig and everything. They just put him in a Cheongsam, put some lipstick on him and called it a day. That’s not fair.”

“You’re right!” Jimin-ssi playfully and carefully ‘slams’ his fist on the table. “What is this injustice!”

“Let’s call Jin-hyung,” the maknae smiles, pulling out his phone.

Hobi-ssi laughs. “I bet when we explain it, he’s gonna say he’ll only do it if Namjoon does it too.”

“Of course. Bangtan is one after all.” They all fall back into laughing, looking way more awake than they did when they arrive.

At home after the shift, I remember their conversation again and getting way too curious, I quickly type on Naver. 'BTS as girls'. Thousands of searches appear and I am rendered on the floor bursting out laughing. In some of these photos, they look like little kids, it must've been taken years ago. Why was Jin-ssi running on a treadmill with a Cheongsam? What was Tae-ssi doing jumping around as a fairy with vitamin bottles? Why is picture female-Jungkook-ssi and female-Jimin-ssi look so coy? Why did Rm-ssi look surprisingly normal in a sailor moon outfit? How is Min Yoonji so pretty? Why is Hobi-ssi, my literal aunt??

Suddenly, my thought is cut by a knock on the door.

“Y/n? You home yet?”

“Hunnie? Why are you knocking? You left your keys?” I open the door and come face to face with a smiley Hunnie.

“Nope, it’s just somewhere in my bag and I’m too lazy to dig into it, she shrugs before scampering away to the kitchen. “I got food.”

“What is it?”

“Jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk.”

“I love you.”

“I know,” she smirks. “Now come on, I’m hungry as heck, I can eat a whole mountain.”

“You already eat mountain.”

“Hush child and eat.”

“Yes, mom.”

***

“Y/n, we have to talk.”

“About what?”

We sit around the tea-table. The food is gone almost five hours ago and I lean against the table with my psychology textbook in hand. Hunnie who is reading her colour chemistry next to me puts down her book on the floor.

“I know you’re having that dream again.” She looks at me dead in the eyes and I freeze, not knowing what to say or where to look. “You never exactly tell me what it is you’re dreaming of but you’re always saying the same thing, well okay, it changed quite a bit since a few months ago, but I still think I can kinda make up what it is.” I stick with looking at my book. I can’t look at her. I’m scared to see what it is pasted on her gaze. “Y/n, you know it’s time to talk to her.”

“I know, “ I sigh.

“Tonight? Tomorrow? Very soon, yeah? You’ll feel better the sooner you get it over with.”

“I know. I’m just don’t think I’m ready. She’s always been the one to tell all her tiger-mom friends to let their children chase their own dream. How the heck can I tell her that I don’t have one?”

“Why not? I’m sure, very extremely sure that she’ll be a hundred percent okay with it. She was always the one who keeps saying it, right? ‘Let people do what they want as long as they are happy and it’s not harming anyone’ which is why I think she’s so awesome.”

“Dream. She always says dream. And what if those ‘friends’ – and I’m sure it’s actually acquaintances and she says friends just to be nice – don’t think that living a simple life like what I always wanted is ‘worthy’ to be called a dream? What if words come out? What if she gets mocked and gets labelled as a hypocrite because of me?”

“Babe, I stand by what I said the other day.” I can feel Hunnie’s hand coming to my back and slowly drawing large soothing circles on the center. I lean in further on the table. “You’re a great person with a great wish in life, no matter how simple other people may view it. You’re a joy to be around, great co-worker, a super comfortable pillow, an amazing one-person emotional support system, and the best fucking friend in the world. That’s it! I’m sure that’s what BFF means, ‘Best Fucking Friend’. The only thing you’re horrible at is being gentle to yourself and even with that, you’re getting better! You’re on the way to world domination! So what if you want to conquer the world by lifting the spirit of every person who walks into the coffee shop so much that they can’t live without you and that’s how you ended up being the top of the human population? Doctors save lives biologically, lawyers save lives being giving people their freedom or at least fighting for it, you— With the amount of advice you gave to our many many many school acquaintances from primary school till now, you saved a heck lot of people from making stupid mistakes, and you save relationships too, which I still wonder how since you’ve never even been in one, but you did. And for me, that places you in the same tier as them. And you didn’t even get paid! Maybe you’re even higher on my list.

“I really should start charging people on that.”

“Yes! Yes, you should! You’re too dumb to not charge them.”

“Thanks.”

“Welcome babe,” she smiles. “And knowing how much your mom cares about you, I think you’re at the very top on her list. So please talk it out.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Yes?”

“Yes. First thing in the morning.” I click on my phone and look at the screen. 01:28. “It’s getting late and I don’t want to wake her up.”

“Right, yeah. Do you need me to hold your hand tomorrow while you talk?”

“That’ll be great.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, now let’s sleep. It’s really late.”

“You’ll go ahead first, I’m just gonna finish reading this chapter. Just three pages left.

Hunnie nods and goes to tuck herself in her bed while I finish the pages. Before I leave for bed, I pull out the notebook and a pencil from my bag.

          Objective 3

          STEP 3: Talk to ma and pa

“Hunnie,” I say in my bed while looking at the ceiling. “You won’t melt all my hair away, right?”

***

Hunnie stirs awake and moans “Why are you pacing back and forth so early in the morning?”

“Don’t you think it’s better if— No, probably not, but— Ah, what if—”

“Y/n. Chill.”

“On second thought, I think it’s better to have the talk face-to-face. It seems even silly to me now to make such a big deal over it.”

“No, Y/n, it’s not silly.” She drags herself up and sits up, her butt still nailed to the bed. “It’s important to you, and I think it’s a good idea.

“So you’re going to go back? Have you called her? To say you’re going home and all that? Or are you just gonna pop out and surprise her?”

“I’m gonna call them, and no, not yet. I’m doing it now. Hold my hand?”

Hunnie nods and takes my slightly shaking hand.

We hold each other’s’ hand tightly, waiting for someone to interrupt the ring and pick up the call.

Chapter Text

Hunnie’s second exam is tomorrow and I’m all jittery about it but for now, that’s not the most dominant emotion I’m feeling. The tea table is cool against my forehead. The house is empty since Hunnie is currently out on a date and I’m left alone with nothing to do. I finished all the homework – partly cause two of my lecturers have been busy themselves, something about being a councillor or something about checking for scientific authenticity for a tv show – which leaves me half the school-workload than usual. I tried watching tv, but after re-watching the first two episodes of the second season of Crime Scene for the fifth time, I realise that the other episodes are going to end up the same, with me trying to unbiasedly deduct the criminal and failing, still remembering who it was from the first four watches.

The notebook lay limp on the kitchen table, almost as if it’s soaked by the hot and humid air. No, not really. It’s just transferred epithet, at least in literature. In psychology, it’s just called projection. I know it’s impossible for the notebook to lay limp, especially since it has a hardcover which is why it’s so pretty. It’s impossible for the notebook to lay limp when it’s storing all that hope and dreams inside of it. It’s impossible for that notebook to lay limp cause there’s no hot and humid air. I made that up. The air is cool and crisp from the air conditioning. But I can’t help to feel like the air is hot and humid. Phantom sweat is trickling down my back. What should I do with myself? Did I update the list? Hunnie left just two hours ago. How do I not remember? I walk over from the tea-table where I was sitting slumped over to take a look.

          Objective 3

          STEP 3: Talk to ma and pa (half tick)

Oh, so I did edit it. How did the morning go again?

***

I was pressing the number on my phone. It started ringing. Hunnie was holding my hand. It was cold, her hand, cold and comforting. My hand was hot, so hot it was burning its own skin. Her hand was a relieve. The call was ringing. And then, and then? Then it died. Then I press call and it was ringing again. And dying again, then it rang on its own and I press accept. Yes, I think I did accept the call. I said hello and my dad picked up.

“Yo,” he said. That was funny.

“Yo? Where did you learn that?”

“It’s the trend isn’t it?”

“Only for some people.”

“Oh, maybe I’m one of those people.”

“Maybe.”

“Cool.”

“How are you?”

“I’m fine, how are you?”

“Same as always. Fabulous.”

“Right.”

“Want to speak to Hunnie? You guys are like spirit animals, I don’t understand.”

“Oh, sure! Put her on.”

I turned to Hunnie who looked at me wide-eyed. ‘No, you have to tell them!’ she mouthed. Right.

“Uhm, dad.”

“Are you free sometime next week?”

“I think so. Why?”

“I might stop by. I need to talk to mom.”

“You sound serious. Are you okay?”

“Yea, I’m fine, just need to talk.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll tell her. She’ll be over the moon she might start orbiting.”

“Thanks, dad.”

I hung up the phone and smiled. “Well, that went well.”

The line connects.

“Unnie, I know I don’t have any shift today, but can I come and work?”

 “Control your workaholic tendency, I’m begging you.”

“It’s not that. I’ just have nothing to do. Completely nothing at all. I finished my assignments, I got sick of watching movies, and after weeks of just reading in my free time, I don’t think I can handle more reading, at least for today. Please?”

She sighs. “Fine. Actually, I was planning to call you. My brother can’t get out of work so I’ll have to pick up my nephew and play with him for a while until his mom comes. She’s on the way from Jeonju.”

“Thank you thank you thank you!”

“But only from one till four. If you stay longer than that, I’ll personally drag you out the store myself.”

“Thank you! Seriously!”

“Yeah, yeah. Now hurry up, it’s already twelve.”

“You’re the best, unnie.”

“Sure.” She ends the call and I fling myself to the bathroom to get ready.

I was sorting out a big order of five macchiatos and eight mocha shakes when the door opened.

"Welcome," I announce from the coffee machine, turning back slightly to politely establish a brief eye-contact. "Wait. Moonsik!"

"So this is your other work. Pretty nice." I nod. "It's strange though. I thought you told me two days ago that you'll be lazing around your house cause you don't have any shift left for the week? Unless."

I cringe.

"Workaholic strikes again. Y/n. Chinggu." He sighs dramatically and presses the back of his hand to his forehead pretending to feel all faint like the damsel in distress.

"If you must know," I arrange all the finished beverages in a large tray while shooting glares at the now smirking Moonsik, "the manager asked me for a favour cause suddenly she had a family emergency and there's no one available."

"Is that so?"

"Why else?"

"Geez, I don't know," he rolls his eyes.

"Anyway, wait here." I step aside briefly to carry the tray to the big family who is languidly waiting, perched on a long couch in one corner, deep into the coffee shop. When I get back, he is still propped on the counter table by his elbows, half-sulking. "Stop sulking, what happened?"

"Can I order now?" he pouts.

"Of course. Though I don't really get why you're here. You said you don't really like coffee."

He shrugs. "True. Not here for the coffee though."

"Then?"

"The peanut butter shake. It's getting quite famous you know."

"And where did you hear it from?" I raise an eyebrow

"Someone," he grumbles.

"Come on, spill."

"Fine! It's a girl I've been texting for two weeks."

"Oh God, congratulations chinggu!"

"Don't—" My eyebrows furrow. "The other day she said she's so glad to be my friend." Oh. Oh.

I reach forward and pat his shoulder across the counter. "Welcome to the friend zone. Don't worry. It's quite comfortable here."

"But I don't wanna stay here!"

"Rude." He rolls his eyes again. I push down a chuckle.

"Anyway, the peanut butter shake."

"No coffee, right?" he nods. "Size?"

"Extra-large."

"We only have one size here."

"Then why the heck did you ask?"

I cackle loudly, earning a concerning look from the family in the corner and an unimpressed glare from Moonsik who got his hands on his waist. He pays for his drink and waits on the right.

The shakes are relatively easy to make. As Moonsik said before, they are getting relatively popular and nowadays, people often come for shakes instead of coffee, so much that Manager unnie even thought about putting the shakes at the forefront of our menu, replacing old favourites like iced americano and the lattes, despite this store being a coffee shop.

While I am scooping sweet double cream ice-cream into the blender, the bells ring again.

"Welcome," I look up again.

"Chinggu!" Jin-ssi waves enthusiastically as he enters through the door. An exhausted-looking Suga-ssi follows behind, slumping as he walks.

"Chinggus," I smile. "What's up?"

"Craving for cakes."

"Take a pick," I say while putting a large spoonful of peanut butter into the blender and pressing 'max blend' until it starts to whirl.

Right then, Moonsik seems to finally return to Earth and snaps out of it. "Chinggu? You have friends?"

I gasp dramatically. "How mean! I guess I should take away the friend's discount. You'll have to pay in full."

"There's a friend discount?"

"No there isn't." He squints at me and pouts and I laugh again, pouring the finished shake into a takeaway cup. "Seriously, I never heard any of your other friends except for Hunnie, who— OH." he finally decides to look around. "OH MY GOD!"

"Moonsik, calm down," I laugh. Both Suga-ssi who looks half dead and was looking at the wall and Jin-ssi who was looking at the cakes turns to look at me and Moonsik.

"Uhm, Jin-ssi, Suga-ssi, this is my friend, Moonsik."

"Oh, hello," Jin-ssi greets politely while Moonsik seems to be in the middle of a crisis.

"Sorry about that. He's a fan. Also, I think he's about to pass out after seeing Suga-ssi." I glance at Moonsik who is trying to glare at me and failing, too flustered to do anything except for opening and closing his mouth repetitively like a goldfish in a tank. Jin-ssi laughs nudging at Suga-ssi with his elbow.

"Oh, Suga! You got a fan."

Suga-ssi snaps out of his tired daze at the mention of his name. I wince at the lifeless in his movement.

"Caffeine, Suga-ssi?"

"Yes, please." I nod.

"The usual?" he nods.

"Single or double?"

"Both."

"Got it." I quickly key in his order before moving to take Jin-ssi's chocolate-cheesecake slice. Suga-ssi wordlessly takes out his card and pay for everything quickly.

"Hyung, you were saying?"

"It seems that you got a fan, Yoongi-chi." He points at Moonsik with his eyes and Suga-ssi mutters a low and quiet hello.

"Moonsik, you wanna say something?" He stands there, still gaping like a fish. "No? Okay, I'll say it for you." I turn to Jin-ssi and Suga-ssi who are looking at me curiously. "Moonsik wants to say that he is a big fan of you guys and since he's a hardcore fan of Hip-hop, R&B and Rock music, he's a huge fan of Suga-ssi and would like to say that he thinks your mixtapes are works of art and that it's a shame there's no physical album of it as collector's good. Is that right, Moonsik?"

"Y/n!"

"Too much?" I smirk.

"Too much. I hate you." There's a faint redness in his cheeks. He won't ever admit it but he's definitely blushing. Clear as day.

At that explanation, Jin-ssi is now sporting a grin that threatens to rip his face in two while Suga-ssi stands there quietly with a genuine gummy smile, looking infinitely grateful.

"Thank you, " he starts, "for enjoying our music."

"No, thank you." Moonsik finally speaks though he's still shaking a little. I smile. "Thank you for working so hard to release amazing songs. I'm sure the amount of work and effort you guys put in is just astronomical."

Both Jin-ssi and Suga-ssi smile back.

"Moonsik, your shake." I press the cold cup onto his arm and he flinches madly.

"Y/n!"

"What? I'm just saying your shake is ready." He glares at me and I shrug.

"Anyway, my drink is here so I better get going. It's so great to meet you guys." With that, he hurries off and disappears.

As I wait for the espresso from the machine, I go and grab the chocolate-cheesecake and place it on the pickup table before hurrying back for the next step of both of Suga-ssi's coffee drinks; both, I decided to multi-task it.

While I was pouring steaming hot milk down the cup with two shots of espresso, Jin-ssi speaks up. "Your friend seems energetic."

"He was super nervous," I laugh. "He was also a trembling mess that one time when RM-ssi visited the convenience store."

"You've met Namjoon too?"

"Yeah," I nod, placing an espresso cup under the machine and press the button once again. "He was looking for a, a paper? Pen? Oh, I think it was a notepad if I'm not mistaken." I shrug. "Anyway, what are you guys up to?" I place the completed double shot latte next to the cake, waiting for the espresso.

"Jin hyung is craving for a cake but feeling to lonely to come here alone so I had to escort him all the way here."

"So that's how you want to play it, Yoongi-chi?" He smiles threateningly but Suga-ssi is way too out of it to catch that. "The only reason you had to come along is because you owe me, remember?"

Suga-ssi just shrugs and quickly grabs both his coffee the moment I set the last one down. Jin-ssi just laughs at him and sends a tiny wave my way. I wave back, trying to hold myself from laughing until I keel over as my instinct suddenly tells me that the favour has something to do with the cross-dressing thing. Flashes of that dream return to my head and I curse, pinching myself in the tight to stop the laughter from bubbling out.

Sticking with her promise, Manager unnie show up at five on the dot and I unwillingly returned home left once again with nothing to do. Hunnie returned briefly at around six-thirty but soon left again, rushing out frantically for some ‘last-minute supply’ that she had forgotten before her favourite shop closes. She left before I could even wave.

It’s seven-fifteen, and I’m scanning the content of the fridge in boredom for dinner inspiration but there’s nothing in there that looks remotely appetizing to eat, at least not for today. I sigh, closing the door shut and getting my phone from the tea-table.

Y/n is typing…

Y/n: Have u eaten dinner?

Y/n: I haven’t

Y/n: I’m hungry

Y/n: Probably going to go grocery shopping

Y/n: You want anything to eat?

Hunnie is typing…

Hunnie: I’m hungry too.

Hunnie: I’ll eat whatever you’re having so get whatever you want.

I nod, quickly shoving my phone down my pocket, grabbing my shopping bag and wallet and walks out the door.

***

"Hyung hyung hyung! Listen," says a familiar voice from the next aisle. There's no response. "Ah, Jin hyung!"

"What is it our Jungkookie?" He finally got a reply. Ah, so it was Jungkook-ssi's voice.

"You won't believe it. Turns out, Jimin hyung knows the same person that helped me found my phone that time I accidentally dropped it near Han River! Strange isn't it? He said he met them a couple of times. I guess funny coincidences do happen in real life."

"That is pretty funny."

"It'll be funnier if turned out, you know them too," he chuckles cheekily.

"That would be—"

"Fate." Jungkook interrupts him.

"I wanted to say, it would be good actually if we all have more friends. At least one more mutual sincere friend who doesn't want anything out of us."

"Hyung," he calls him sombrely.

"What? It's good to have true friends."

"Sure, but you don't have to say it like that."

"You're right, Yoongi might be rubbing off of me." He laughs. "It's easy isn't it, to see if they're genuine or not. Just let Taehyung meet them and see if they pass his angel's intuition."

I finally found the curry block I was looking for. It was hidden deep behind the chilli powder and I had no idea how it got there. I grab the curry block and the chilli powder cause I think we ran out of that too now that I think about it, and continue scanning while walking to the end of that little section. After getting all I need around that aisle, I check my grocery list once again and see one item that is almost forgotten as it is buried among my messy handwriting. Milk.

When I reached the dairy section, they were also there. Jin is leaning against the trolley as Jungkook-ssi hauls a few boxes of banana and chocolate milk from the rack and into the cart.

"Phew, that should be enough for a month."

"You mean half a year?" Jin-ssi asks amusedly.

"Hey, you know you also drink them. And I know everyone sneaks a few of them into their room sometimes, that's why V hyung flinched when he saw me the other day."

"I only took like two out of fifty!"

"I believe you," the maknae says expressionlessly. "Though, sometimes I think, they're gone way too fast, like, as if Suga hyung took a whole box and hides it in his studio."

"That's—" jin pauses, "not impossible."

"Just admit it hyung, I know it's actually you."

"Aish this kid!"

I smile, sneakily walking away. I shouldn't be listening to their conversation. Why am I eavesdropping like a creep? Let's walk away slowly, Y/n, don't raise any suspicions.

"Hyung!" Jungkook-ssi whispers loudly. "It's that person right there! Look."

Oh shit.

"Chill, let me grab this first," Jin says while mulling over which flavour of Greek yogurt to get. "Hey, which flavour is better with this brand? Blueberry or mango?"

"What if you know them too? Won't it really be fate then?" Jungkookshi shakes Jin-ssi's arms but got ignored. "Ah, hyung!" Jungkook-ssi smacks him gently, his cheeks all puffed up and his mouth stuck in a little pout.

"Ah waeee~," Jin whines. He reciprocates the tiny smacks which make Jungkook pouts more prominently.

"Look! What if you know them?" I turn around, my back facing them. This is going to be awkward and I don't thrive in an awkward environment.

"I don't think that's gonna happen kookie, that's too much of a—" Jin's sentence is left hanging.

"You know them? You do!"

"Impossible."

"Don't lie. You do know them! This is fate!"

"Are you sure you got the right person? They're the one that keeps helping Hobi buy cakes every week and found your phone?"

"Yeap," he smiles in victory. "I'm sure that's them."

"It really is unbelievable," I hear Jin says. I glance towards them and Jungkook is nodding aggressively. I feel the same.

"I told you!"

"Let's not call it fate yet though. It could just be a coincidence. I think fate is too powerful."

"But it kinda is, isn't it," Jungkook-ssi whispers aggressively. Jin-ssi shrugs. "Then what does it takes for it to be fate?"

"If all seven of us knows them then I wouldn't be able to refute that it's fate," he says, "or creepy and suspicious," he whispers. I have to agree with that. It does sound kind of creepy.

"Positive thoughts, hyung. This could all be just a coincidence and nothing else."

"Let's hope so, Jungkookie." He smiles and I pretend not to notice. "But I do think we got ourselves a real friend this time. If it's them, I don't think we have anything to worry about."

"Should we talk to them?"

"I don't think we should bother them. They're just doing their grocery."

Oh good. Okay. I slowly inch towards the opposite side of the aisle and grab some frozen chicken fingers. It could all end well without any interaction until. My finger. Slipped. And dropped. The package. On the floor. Ha...

I bend down to grab it only to accidentally establish direct eye-contact with Jin-ssi when I lift my head. He smiles, waving at me.

"Chinggu!"

"Jin-ssi! Jungkook-ssi too!"

Jungkook-ssi comes a little closer and smiles while Jin-ssi tags behind him.

"Thank you again for finding my phone, I don't know how I can live without my ipho—"

"Samsung!" Jin blurts. "He didn't know if he can live without his Samsung. Hahahaha, Samsung's the best. Long live Samsung." He slaps Jungkook's arm and glares at him.

"Ah, Hyuuung," he whines. Jin laughs his signature windshield-wiper laugh while pointing at the maknae. He got a mini punch in return. They're so cute together. They remind me of Hunnie and Haneul Unnie.

***

After a few more laughing sessions, we say goodbye and I head to the checkout, already having all I need in my basket.

Siblings. Sometimes I wish I have one, an older brother or sister, a younger brother or sister, a twin, anything. That might be fun, I guess, but in a way that’s quite similar to Bangtan, I found a family in my friends. I smile. I better savour the moment because if things go well, which I hope it does, Hunnie and I won’t get to spend as much time together. But who cares, I’ll be busy shipping them anyway.

I smile on the checkout, excited for the day when I’ll be back here again to buy something special the day Hunnie told me she’s seeing someone and is happy.

Crap, I forgot the milk!

Chapter Text

D-day part two has arrived. Hair colouring exam.

The morning has been such a blur that I cannot for the life of me remember what I ate for breakfast – that is if I’ve eaten at all, what time I woke up, if I’ve had my morning tea or coffee, if I’ve drunk enough water and done all the rest of my boring morning routine. All I could vaguely remember was Hunnie yelling “Don’t wear any of your nicest clothes and shoes! If you want to wear them, bring them in a bag and change after the exam!” because ‘accident happens,’ which is not the most comforting thing one can hear from their hair colourist just a few hours before they colour your hair.

But I stick to it and wore my most unflatteringly fitted jeans and an extremely garish-looking t-shirt my distant relative once gave me, paired with canvas shoes that have already received the Jackson Pollock treatment. The first two, I couldn’t care less even if they burn, and the shoes, lightener and hair dyes won’t really make a big difference. In fact, it’ll be on brand. That is another thing I still remember from this morning, walking around with the most blinding outfit combination next to a radiating Hunnie – who is carrying only her phone and wallet, everything else will be provided by the school – who was laughing at how stupid I look along the way.

Like last time, we were told to wait in a separate room while the exam room is being set up and the judges are getting comfortably settled.

Most participants in the room are either shaking, sobbing, or on the verge of hyperventilating being wholly unprepared for the abruptness of the second exam. Two of them don’t even have their hair model as two ‘calling only a day prior’ is not exactly enough to reschedule and cancel important plans. Only some who came to the ‘extra credit’ session seems to have accepted reality and daze out, their souls already left their bodies and floating everywhere, preferably somewhere that doesn’t require them to do this exam. Hunnie on the other hand is the only one who is beaming with happiness. At least she is calm, that’s good.

“Tell me, Hunnie, why am I more nervous than you?” I cup my chin in my hands, my elbows resting on the table in front of me.

She shrugs in the chair right next to me. “Cause you’re just a generally more nervous person compared to me? Or maybe that I’ve burned all that nervousness away in the first exam and now I’ve reached zen.”

“Both seems entirely possible.”

“I know right.”

I hum, my foot tapping on the white tile. “Though I do wonder if, I don’t know, say, yesterday, has anything to do with it?”

“Yesterday was great indeed,” the corners of her mouth rise as she tries to suppress a grin that is trying to surface. “But that’s not all.”

“Then? Is it ‘cause you like colouring more and you’re more confident at it?”

“That’s definitely one of the reasons.”

“Go on.”

“But also, I’m just super excited,” she squeals, “cause I’ve been imagining you in that haircut with the colour I’m about to dye your hair in and I just, aaaaaaaa!” a few heads turn to us, looking for the source of the weird almost screeching noise. “It’s gonna look so good. You’re going to look absolutely amazing!”

I grin. “Also, is it weird that even though I’m nervous, I’m way less nervous compared to the first exam?”

“Maybe I’ve dragged you with me on my way to enlightenment.”

“Sure.” I continue tapping my feet in the new-found silence, looking at the ceiling. “One last question.”

“Shoot.”

“What actually happened to the exam?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been thinking about it, right? And I remember you telling me in the beginning that the second exam, this one, was going to be held a week after the first. How come you’re only having it now?”

“I honestly have no idea.” Her fingers drum her chin thoughtfully. “There was a rumour though, around the school, that the golden mohawk guy got sued a few days after that first exam cause he handled two clients at the same time and confused their requests together. Someone said he accidentally gave a politician a mohawk, some else said it was actually the CEO of like Gangnam Foods or something.”

“You mean the parent company of most company with food-related business in South Korea?” I gasp.

“Yeah. Just a rumour though. No one knows.”

“Right.”

The door slowly swings open and everyone, except for the few who are crying, spontaneously turns to the door.

“The exam will start in ten minutes. Please prepare yourself. Anyone who needs to use the restroom should go and settle their business,” the same ponytail man from the previous hair exam announces and disappears again as soon as he’s done.

A girl who has been pale for the past fifteen minutes leans towards her hair model, looking like she just turned into a noodle. “I need to go to the toilet and throw up.”

“I’ll go with you,” the hair model says, patting her back. They walk with their shoulders slumped on the way out.

I look at Hunnie who is still calmly humming to a familiar tune, her face a painting of perfect peace. “You’re not going to the toilet?”

“Nah. Made sure I didn’t drink this morning.”

I was about to say something until a thought comes to mind. What about me? Did I drink? Do I need to pee? “Hunnie?”

“No, you didn’t I also made sure you didn’t drink anything so that you won’t be wiggling in the chair.”

And that uncanny psychometry ability is back. “Oh. Thanks.”

She continues to hum.

“I swear I know that song! Why can’t I remember it!”

She smiles and sings it to me under her breath. “희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네. 희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네” Where there is hope, there is always hardship. Where there is hope, there is always hardship.

“Er, that sounds particularly ominous right now. Are you saying there’s going to be some hardship in this exam?” Hunnie ignores me completely, continuing with her humming, probably determined to finish the song first. “Hunnie. Please. I don’t want any hardship in this exam. Please, you’re dealing with chemicals. I’d like to keep my hair on my head, please.”

She sings again, “희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 절망이 있네. 희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 절망이 있네.” Where there is hope, there is always despair. Where there is hope, there is always despair.

“Hunnie, please. I don’t want to despair.”

The door creaks open again to the girl who wanted to throw up and her hair model. They arrive perfectly on time as the ponytail man returns, saying things I remembered him saying from the first exam, “If you all could form a line and follow me towards the room. We’ll go right now” before spinning and flouncing to wait outside the door. Last time, he did that too! Is he actually a robot especially made and programmed for the exams? Is that also why his glossy and silky Steve Aoki-esque ponytail always flips beautifully when he turns? I think I’m onto something.

Like last time, we form a line and stop in front of the exam room, waiting for the staffs and exam coordinators to have their last-minute let’s-all-look-perfect moment. When the door is finally opened, the set up looks exactly the same as last time, with the lack of a mirror, and the semi-circular seating arrangements.

The cool looking lady with the platinum blonde hair and the other lady, the elegant one with the black hair are both there again. On the other side, is a man with an all-black suit. I’m not sure whether he was there before and I merely forgot about him or if he is an entirely different judge. I wouldn’t be surprised either way. He doesn’t really have much presence. There’s just something that’s not quite right in his aesthetic though theoretically, it all sounds like it would mix together really well. Male idol bowl cut, all-black fancy suit, fancy black shoes. It all sounds good, but there is just something that is quite off and I can’t really put a finger on it.

The golden mohawk guy, however, is nowhere to be found. Could the rumour be true? If it is, I wonder which one is it, the politician or the CEO. I mean it could’ve been something entirely different, but it would just be kinda funny and less sad if it’s one of those two. In his place is another very unique-looking individual, tall, lanky, crooked nose, hair as black as, maybe not a black hole, but still very black, strangely blacker than the average Asian black hair and it confuses me slightly. He has a sharp gaze and a strong aura that is enough to fill a whole room without him doing anything but sit in it. I don’t know who he is, but by how striking his appearance and aura is, I feel like I’m in the wrong for not knowing who that is.

“Welcome to the second part of your exam. Please find your name on the chair and make sure that both your name and your student numbers are accurate. Once you’ve found your respective work station, please stay standing next to your model and wait for me to take your registration.” I shriek inside. I lean over and whisper to Hunnie, “oh! The woman with the ponytail is also here! The ponytail duo is once again complete!” She laughs and holds my hand to find our designated space together.

Our chair is the very same one we used on the last exam so it is relatively fast to find. After she’s done checking for the spelling of her name and her student number and all that, the ponytail lady came with her notes on a clipboard and a pen. She asks many things, from Hunnie’s full name, her student card, her student number and some questions about her plan and what material and tool she would require. She then turns to me.

“Are you the same hair model from the previous exam?”

“Yes,” I answer.

“Okay. And now, for formality sake, I have to ask you this. Are you in any shape or form threatened or forced to be receiving this coming hair colouring treatment?” I almost choked. There it is, the damn question again. I pinch myself in the thigh to stop myself from rolling hysterically on the floor, though I’m sure she knows something is up judging by the look of constipation on my face.

“No. I volunteered.” Like the hunger game. Wait, no, not like the hunger game. Maybe like the hunger game. Am I a tribute? Ah, I don’t know.

She ticks two boxes on her list, nods to us, and move on to the next student.

***

The countdown starts. “Ten, nine, eight,” the ponytail lady counts looking down at her wristwatch. “Four, three, two, one, start!”

While everyone scrambles to get places, Hunnie pats my back and smiles. “Come on, let’s get your hair washed. You’re gonna look amazing. People on the street are going to mistake you for an idol!”

I laugh. “Imma have to hold your words for that.”

She drags me to the nearest hair-wash chair and wraps a small towel around my neck. “How long is this exam again?” she asks while guiding my head down and turning on the water.

“They say it depends on the colour. Come on Hunnie, it’s your exam!” I chuckle. “Weren’t you listening?”

“Yeah yeah, alright.” She leathers my hair once it is completely wet and starts massaging carefully. “And no, I was too busy shadow-practicing.”

“I didn’t know shadow practicing is an actual thing. I thought that’s just something in martial-art or boxing movies.”

“It’s real. I think. I don’t know. I do it, but I dunno about everyone else.”

“Fair enough,” I nod. “By the way, why the massage? Is it a part of the exam?”

“Nope, just a way to prepare you for the possible headache and as an apology for the possible buttache you’re going to have to suffer for the next three hour. At least.”

“Great,” I say. Hunnie looks sheepish and that’s enough of an apology. “Can’t lie, it might be worth it. You’re really good at this. I guess you know what to do if one day you decide that you don’t want to work in salons anymore!”

“Shut up,” she laughs. “Yes, I’ll work permanently at the retirement center massaging grandma Kang’s head.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard from Grandma Kang. You?”

“Me too. But I’m sure she’s fine. She can’t die. It’s impossible. She’s immortal.”

“But if she keeps drinking like that—”

“Please. She’s been drinking like that since she was, what, twenty? Not even pure iron is stronger than her liver. Her liver is made out of stainless steel.”

“Let’s visit her again soon. And remind me to bring a whole crate. We did sorta promised her that.”

“Welcome aboard the Grandma-Kang-is-immortal train,” she winks.

With that, Hunnie turns the tap off and pulls out another clean towel to dry my hair. In less than ten seconds, she helps me sit back up and we’re heading back to our individual station.

“How long will it take? Just, approximately,” I ask once seated comfortably.

“Brushing your hair, drying it, lightening it, washing it, toning it, colouring it, washing it again, drying it again, brushing it again. It depends on how long it’ll take for your hair to lighten. Honestly, and I am sorry, at least three hours. That’s the shortest time you’ll spend sitting on that chair.”

“Do I have to stay still and formal? Or can I take out my phone and play games or read fanfics or something. You know, imitating the real salon experience.”

“I can ask them after I’m done applying the lightener?”

“Thanks. I’m not looking forward to three hours staring at the wall. Maybe the judges and the ponytail duo, but what if I accidentally established eye contacts with them?” I laugh. “That’ll be really awkward.”

“That might be fun, Hunnie chuckles as she combs my hair. “I can even provide live commentary.”

“Yes please,” I laugh even more. Thankfully, that sound is covered by the loud buzzing of the hairdryer.  

Hunnie works fast and within the next twenty-five minutes, all my hair have been painted with lightener and wrapped in aluminium foil, and a large circular heating machine with its circle moving around clockwise has been positioned on top of my head. Hunnie said the machine is so that I don’t have to sit there for six hours, therefore the machine is my friend.

True to her words, she asked the ponytail lady if I could use my phone to play games and all that since it will take a while and looking at me in pity, she agreed, bless her. Now I’m reading fanfiction and once in a while, when Hunnie is not busy checking the progress of my hair or cleaning the equipment to be reused, she will stand right behind my left shoulder pretending to check on my hair while actually reading fanfic with me. We even come up with a system on the spot. As soon as I realised that she’s reading too, I wait when I’m done reading and Hunnie would drag her thumb up behind my shoulder to signal that I should scroll up. Once in a while, she’ll change position so that it doesn’t get suspicious. And it works. We pass by the first three hours like that.

***

At one, we all get a lunch break and we are let out to go to the cafeteria and as long as we made it back at precisely two p.m. things will just proceed from there like usual. Hunnie drags me to her favourite spot there, the round bench-like table and chair set made of pure white plastic next to the window. She slumps down and rests her head on the table, slowly stretching more and more onto the table like a cat.

I grin. “So, what are we eating?”

“Depends on how hungry you are.”

“Not really. “

“Then bubble tea and mandu soup for you and jjajangmyeon for me.”

“Hungry, I see.”

“Always.”

“So, is it okay to leave the table or should one of us get the food?”

“I’ll get it,” she stands up and stretches up. “Stay here and guard the table with all your life.”

I roll my eyes at her drama and she saunters away into the relatively short food queue.

Waiting alone at the table with strips of aluminium foil still wrapped around my hair, I sit as near as I can to the wall, away from questioning gaze. At least that is what I was attempting to do before realizing that no one minds and they’re all way too used to this. It’s going to be at least another five minutes before Hunnie arrives with food so I pull out my phone and randomly goes places. Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Reddit, just skimming through all the feeds that pop up dazedly. As I scroll through Instagram, however, a very important post catches my eyes and wakes me up. An event. A very exciting event in Seoul this coming weekend. I click on the link provided and read deeper into it, making notes, memorizing dates, checking my calendar. Suddenly Hunnie arrives with food and drinks and with my well-trained fanfic stone-face, I slowly change tabs on my phone and innocently splay it on the table to help Hunnie arrange everything.

“It looks good,” I say looking at the steaming hot soup and Jjajangmyeon.

“They’re both good. I mean really good, I mean these are the only things that are great. The rest are kind of, not worth it.”

“You’ve tried everything they sell here?”

“Of course I have,” she beams.

“Of course you have.”

“Cheer.”

“Thanks for the food. I’ll pay you back later.“

“Just treat me to dinner.”

“Alright.”

***

It didn’t take long for me to finish my food and I went back to my phone as soon as I’m done.

1 new message from Moonsik

I click on it.

Moonsik: I don’t really know much about it cause I don’t usually come to those

Moonsik: But I really want to go too so I’ll help you look it up.

1 new message from Eunseok Sunbae

From hyung? Curious, I click on it in record time.

Hyung: I got news!!

Hyung: My friend said yes

Hyung: So if your friend is still available and looking

Hyung: She said yes

Y/n: I— gosh YES.

Y/n: I think… he’s still available and looking.

Y/n: OH GOSH HE’S GONNA FREAK OUT.

Hyung: She also said that now that she’s finally done with all her assignments, she can’t wait to go out and stuff, so she’s okay with the blind date thing even if it’s tomorrow.

Hyung: She’s free for the whole week.

Y/n: THANK YOU HYUNG, IMMA TEXT HIM NOW

8 new messages from Moonsik

Moonsik: Hello?

Moonsik: Hello?

Moonsik: Hello?

Moonsik: You abandoned me 😢

Moonsik: Mean

Moonsik: And here I am offering to help

Moonsik: Maybe I shouldn’t

Moonsik: Why did I even agree to help?

Y/n is typing…

Y/n: Because if you help, I’m setting you up on a blind date with a great person according to my source.

Moonsik: Sir yes sir.

Y/n: Behave

Moonsik: Yes sir, I’m sorry 🙂

Y/n: 😌

Y/n: She said that she’s free every day of this week so you can choose the time and location.

Moonsik: Seriously???

Y/n: You are still looking, right? And you’re free this week?

Moonsik: Yes, and yes mostly

Moonsik: UHMMMMMMMMMM

Moonsik: 1 pm café date on a Wednesday? Does that sound okay? Idk, Y/N HELP ME

Y/n: That sounds fine. Which café?

Moonsik: I… don’t know.

Y/n: You can go to where I work and if you go on Wednesday or Thursday, I wouldn’t be there so there’re no spying eyes lol

Moonsik: Oh, where are you going?

Y/n: Back home on Thursday… probably. If my parents are there.

Moonsik: I see

Moonsik: Okay

Moonsik: So, Thursday, 1 p.m. Bora Coffee shop.

Y/n: Okay, I’ll pass the message.

Moonsik: Thank you, sir.

I exit the chat and go back to Hyung’s chatroom.

Y/n: Hyung, I asked him

Y/n: He said yes

Y/n: and he said, if she’s okay with it, maybe they can meet on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Bora Coffee shop?

Hyung: Oh, great! I’ll tell her

Hyung: Btw, if I’m not wrong

Hyung: Aren’t you supposed to be in an exam with Hunnie right now?

Y/n: I am. Just, lunch break

Hyung: I see

Hyung: Tell Hunnie I said hi and that she’s going to do great

Y/n: Aren’t you guys dating 😂 Tell her yourself

Hyung: Oh, I will. But two different hellos are a bit nicer than one?

Y/n: Such a sap

“Y/n, talk to me, I’m bored.” I look up from my phone.

“Oh, sorry. I thought you were also on your phone.”

“My battery’s at fifteen percent. I have to put it on airplane mode and battery conservation mode until the end of exam if I wanna be able to use it on the way home.”

“Oh! I think I have a charger with me in my bag. I know we can’t get our bags until after the exam but you could use it now and charge it later.”

“I’ll think about it.” Her alarm rings. “But not now cause we got ten minutes to walk back to the exam room.”

“Right.”

Y/n: sorry, hyung, time’s up. We need to get back to the exam room

Y/n: I’ll tell her you said hi

Hyung: Alright 😂😂😂

I slip my phone back into my pocket and nudge Hunnie on the side as we walk back to the exam room.

“Hmm?”

“Hyung told me to pass him a hello and that he thinks you’re going to do great.”

She glows and laughs.

“Is that what you mean?” I ask

“What?”

“When you said he always believes in you.”

“Yeap!” she chirps and skips ever so slightly for the rest of the way.

It’s already well into the evening when Hunnie and I finally leave the building. True enough, my butt is sore, but aside from that, everything feels alright. Hunnie is smiling, telling me repetitively that this might be, in total, her best work so far. I smile, finding myself believing her. Who knew that a few weeks could make such a big difference in someone’s perspective.

“Y/n, can you stop there. Wait. Yes, right there.” I stop on my track, looking at her with an eyebrow raised. “The sunlight, the background. It’s perfect. Can I take a picture? I need to show off on Instagram.”

“Sure,” I laugh and just stand there, looking straight into the camera to stare at Hunnie via her phone screen.” She walks a few steps back and snaps the picture.

“You have to see this. You’ll love it. It’s so good!”

I haven’t seen the final result. I don’t know how I’ll look like, but I trust her and I feel fine. I feel comfortable. She walks back towards me and passes me her phone. There I am, standing, shoulders down, looking very relaxed, eyes bright and smiling looking straight into the camera. I didn’t know that I can look like that. I see the hair. Hunnie’s hair. My hair. Still short and stylish as ever but now even better. A beautiful gradient that glows under the warm sun, transforming from wispy and dusty pink at the tip to platinum blond, so pale that it is almost white on the top of my head. I love it.

“Hunnie!” I hug her tight. “This is the best thing ever, I love it so so so much!”

She giggles, hugging me back just as tightly. “Told you it’s gonna be spectacular.”

I nodded. A bit of tear falls from the corner of my eyes down my cheek as I hug this person who has always been by my side, who always believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself, and for once, I completely and whole-heartedly believe that everything is going to be alright. No hugs in the world could convey just how much I appreciate her in my life. I squeeze for the last time before letting her go.

“Ice cream and pancakes and pasta and all that jazz?”

“Yes please.”

Chapter Text

It’s Wednesday, two days after the exam. The pencil glides smoothly on the surface of the rough and thin paper of my memo-pad, writing away. Rubbish, mostly, or not. I can’t really tell. Just random things that catch my eyes in bullet points. Yesterday in class, we learned a couple of things. First, Professor Ha finally got back with his wife. Two, that he’s a very nice guy when happy. Three, he has recently read How to read a person like a book and were convinced that we needed to work on our observation. Therefore, four, we learned that he gave us a ‘fun’ homework, ‘observation’ homework, to be precise. It could be of anyone – with permission and absolutely no stalking, of course – any number of people and regarding anything in particular. It could be simple or in-depth and we can use any one of the three types of observations we want: Controlled observation, naturalistic observation, and participant observation. It’s really up to us.

It’s Wednesday afternoon. The pencil continues to glide smoothly. Here I am, arms supporting my body, leaning against the counter, conducting naturalistic observation on anyone my eyes accidentally settle themselves on, whether they’re Baram unnie or a visitor, baby or adult, anyone. Right now, however, my eyes gaze is heading towards Manager unnie who is standing precisely behind the cake display case next to me.

“Yes, we do provide that service, may I ask what it is for?” she replies kindly to the phone. I begin to write

          On a phone call. Wide eyes. Surprising news. Good? Bad?

I look closely into her eyes that are darting everywhere.

          Slightly dilated pupils. Good news. But it makes her nervous. There is a possibility of failure? An opportunity? An opportunity regarding work?

“I’ll call you back in a moment, I need to check the availability regarding the dates. Thank you.” She clicks the phone and draws a deep breath.

          One, two, three deep breath. Small stretches here and there. Big news. Nervousness?

Then, she looks at me.

“Y/n, I need to talk to you.”

“Yes? What’s up?” I put my pencil down and close the notebook. She doesn’t answer. Her eyebrows crease, deep in thought. I swallow nervously.

“Is there something wrong?”

“Oh no,” she finally looks into my eyes. “Not at all. Just thinking about the dates. Are you free this coming Sunday?”

“Er, depends actually. I might be going somewhere.”

“Oh.”

“What’s up?”

“Well, Baram is unavailable on Sunday and two people have to work for both Saturday and Sunday. If you can’t do it too, I might need to tell them that we can’t fulfil the order.”

“What order?”

“Say,” she smiles sheepishly. Her fingers are thrumming on the side of her thighs. “Can you work alone in a truck?”

“Y/n!” Hunnie’s voice echoes through the speaker. “Where are you? It’s five!”

“Sorry, sorry. Just finished my mini-shift at the store. Got the thing ready.”

“Oh, I thought we’re meeting outside the store near my school?”

“OH MY GOSH IM SO SORRY! I FORGOT TO SPECIFY!”

“So should I wait here or should I come get you?”

“Er, I can’t. really. Bring. This. Alone.”

“I’ll go.”

“Thanksiloveyou.”

“You better.”

I laugh.

“See you in five minutes.”

“I’ll buy cake tomorrow.”

A pause at the end of the line.

“Deal.”

***

Hunnie and I haul the heavy crate and place it gently outside Grandma Kang’s room. “Grandma Kang?”

“Present,” she says, staring at the garden wall. I follow the path of her gaze and I can see why she’s been staring. It just got painted recently. It was just exposed concrete before. It’s a hideous mustard yellow now.

“Whoever chose that colour,” she clicks her tongue. “They must’ve wanted to kill us sooner.”

“You know what would help you speed the process but in a fun way?” Hunnie chuckles and I jazz-hand at an entire crate of soju and a sixpack.

She hums, impressed. “Must be expensive.”

“Let her,” Hunnie waves her hand like she’s dismissing smoke in the air. “Y/n doesn’t have anything to spend her money on anyway. All Y/n ever do is work and work and sleep and eat and work. And here I thought people our age party all the time and get wild cause they have to live like that when they’re a proper working adult. Come on, Y/n!” Hunnie pouts and Grandma Kang laughs. “You’re not a proper adult yet, why do you live like that?”

“Cause I want to?” Hunnie rolls her eyes and Grandma Kang nods with a smile.

“Whoever you marry, if you get married someday, their parents would love you. I don’t even have kids and I want an in-law like you.”

“Why not a child like me? Why in-law?”

“Cause your own child tends to discard you and make light of your problem. At least people are a bit afraid of their in-law to disregard their problem.”

Caught off-guard, Hunnie and I look at each other. “Is that so?”

“Maybe, how am I supposed to know, I never have any.”

“Right,” I sigh in relief, shaking my head.

“Well, it’s almost six. Perfect time to start drinking, don’t you think?”

“Grandma, you’re planning on finishing the whole crate by yourself?”

She looks at me like I just asked her to give me her liver, which in my opinion is the same thing if she is planning on continuing this lifestyle every single day. It’s a good thing that the crate today is the only exception. I’m not going to bring a whole crate for her to finish alone ever again. I can’t say the same about Hunnie.  

“I’m not going to finish it now, it’s for backup. My personal stock.”

Hunnie crosses her arms over her chest with a satisfied smile. “What do you think we should do? Should we order food to eat while we drink or what?”

“You can go to the pantry and ask them for some snacks for me.”

“On it.” She almost flew while standing up and quickly disappears through the door like a hurricane. I know she’s hungry but I don’t know she’s THAT hungry.

It’s just the two of us now, Grandma Kang and I, and the lousy and loud cricket from somewhere near the mustard wall.

“Grandma.” She glares at the wall before refocusing on me.

“Wae.”

“I’m going to my parents tomorrow.”

“Ah, finally!”

“Wae, finally?” I laugh.

“I know you worry about it and I don’t know your parents personally, but they’d be stupid to throw away a child as hard-working as you are.”

“They’re not going to throw me away.”

“My point! Then why are you so nervous?”

“I’m worried her friends are going to make fun of her and talk.”

“Welcome to Asia!” she says, her hands exaggeratedly swinging about in the air.  “They’re going to talk about her and you and your entire family down to your ancestor five family trees before you anyway. People just, talk. Just a week ago, Ji-hoon’s daughter got talked to filth just for accidentally stumbling and spilling coffee all over her dress. They called her ‘too clumsy for her own good, inconsistent and wasteful for ruining an expensive-looking dress’.” She air quotes. “The poor child just stumbled.”

“Ji-hoon as in Grandma Lee?”

“Yes, her.”

“But why?”

“Too much time, not enough excitement, they talk. You get the picture.”

“If that’s the reason then I guess I’ll never be like that. Plenty of excitement in my life just by having Hunnie as a friend.”

At that exact moment, she appears from the door carrying a big bowl of nuts and crackers.

“Tee-hee.”

“You’re back with nuts and, crackers. You said that the snacks are for Grandma Kang and they gave you that?”

“Yes.”

“Grandma, they let you eat that?”

“Tee-hee,” she says with a straight face, already holding the neck of the first bottle of soju and opening it.

“Tee-hee it is.”

We reached back home at around eight pm and all that snacks and alcohol was more than enough to keep us full till morning, so we just opted for a lot of water and call it a day.

Hunnie finally walks into the shower at nine-twenty two, giving me the opportunity to do what I wanted to do for most of the day.

I click on his contact number.

The line clicks. He picks up.

“Hello?”

“It’s me,” I say.

“Yes, I know, I can read, you know?”

“Right. Anyways.”

“The tickets.”

“Yes. Did you get it?”

“I can’t buy more than two.”

“Can I buy the other one, then?”

“Afraid you can’t. Only member holders can buy them. The demand’s too high. It’s not possible.”

“Can you take her then?”

“What about you?”

“I’ll still come, I’m just not gonna go inside. The other one was never for me anyway.”

“Who is it supposed to be for?”

“Her boyfriend.”

“Ah, right. Forgot it’s not an imaginary person.”

“You’re lucky she didn’t hear you,” I laugh.

“Why? She’d kick my ass?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not afraid. She did that once and the first time was enough to get rid of the fear,” he scoffs. “But if it’s not for you and you’re not going in anyway, then what are you going to do when we watch?”

“I’m sure I’ll find something to do.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay. But when you decide to tell her, please also tell her not to force me to give my ticket to you. I would appreciate it, thanks.”

“Yea, yea. I’ll do the whole be-nice-to-other-kids talk.”

“Great, thanks!”

“No. Thank you. I owe you one.”

“Just make sure to bring me along next time you’re going to watch anime movies. I really hate watching alone.”

“Promise. Thanks, Moonsik.”

“No prob.”

I hang up the phone at the exact moment the bathroom door clicks open.

“Who were you talking to?” she yawns and stretches, causing the extra loose pyjamas that make her look like a five-year-old wearing her mom’s t-shirt to ripple.

“Moonsik.”

“Why?”

“He said to bring him next time we’re watching an anime movie cause he hates going alone.”

“He still can’t get over it, huh?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh well,” she shrugs, sitting on her bed with a towel draped on top of her head.

My phone dings.

          Sure! We’ll be waiting!

I couldn’t repress my smile and grin so wide I’m sure it contorts my face and makes me look all sorts of suspicious. “By the way, Hunnie, I have news.”

“What?” she rubs her head vigorously with the towel.

“It seems that I’m going to visit my parents tomorrow,” I say, still looking at my phone screen.

“Tomorrow? That soon?”

“Yeah. They texted me, saying that they were sorting all their stuff so that they can have a free day and they forgot to tell me about it,” I laugh.

“Do you need to pack? Are you staying for the whole day?”

“Nah, I’ll be home by nine,” I smile. “I’ll have to take a rain check on that cake though.”

“Y/n,” the sincerity in her voice makes me look up at her. She is beaming, glowing, the ends of her eyes are curved down, smiling like a kid. “Good for you. All the best tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” I manage to say, almost stuttering, almost crying. She scrambles and tucks herself tightly, ready to drift away. “Good night, Hunnie.”

“Good night.”

I turn off the light.

Chapter Text

“Y/n, all set?”

“Yeah, just grabbing my jacket.” I yawn, trying to pull the oversized sleeve over my arm but it gets twisted at the back.

“Turn around,” and I do as she says. After some quick work with a lot of under the breath mutterings of ‘how the heck did you get stuck that bad, you must be a miracle worker, Y/n,’ the jacket is finally in place. I sling my backpack that was on the floor.

“Wish me—”

“Good luck!” she lunges at me and I laugh, feeling all the energy and support I need for what is going to come. I breathe lightly.

“Okay, I gotta go. See ya tonight.”

“Y/n, you’ll be alright.”

I nod and leave.

Bzz. Bzz. Thump.

What was that?

Thump.

Earthquake? No.

I open my eyes. Window. Mini foldable table. Bag. Right. The train home. I yawn, having fallen asleep in the middle of it. The train buzzes quietly under my feet and shakes with the little bumps along the way and I feel overcome by the still water of serenity.

Still water. I was standing on still water, just like last night. I decided not to run. Not to shout. I don’t know for sure what might happen. In my head and in my heart, things will be fine. They were actually never not, fine. My parents have always been great. It was the ones I created in my head that was a little terrifying, though it was baseless.

I know the ones in my dreams are not my real parents, but fear has always fogged up my dreams anyway, blurring my visions, keeping my eyes closed and muffling my brain to stop it from shouting ‘it’s a dream.’ I never once had a lucid dream. Until last night, the same that just repeated a few minutes prior. Something changed.

I didn’t tell her this time. I knew she wasn’t real, she wasn’t my mom, she was my fear. So I stopped giving her a reason to make me fear for her action. I didn’t tell her. And for the entire duration of the night, there we were, standing above still water. I didn’t reach for her and she didn’t run away from me. We stood still, looking at each other in the eye.

Things will be fine, whatever happens. I can’t back down, I’m already on the train home. And I miss home. I miss my mom, I miss my dad. I miss my dad’s fail attempts at ‘fusion dishes’ and my mom’s hand that still ruffles my hair like I’m five. At the end of the day, I just want to see them. It’s been too long.

Krrr. Krrr.

My alarm goes off exactly at one-fifteen. Twenty more minutes before the train reaches the station I’ve known all too well. I quickly tap my phone to turn it off before I bother the entire compartment only to see messages.

6 new messages from Moonsik

Moonsik: Just saw her.

Moonsik: She’s in the restroom right now.

Moonsik: Love you chinggu. She’s so cool!

Moonsik: SHE LIKES ANIME TOO

Moonsik: From where did you know her?????

Moonsik: Oh, she’s coming back!

Moonsik: Laterrrrr

I laugh. That’s right. It’s today. I hope things are going well for him. I hope we all end up fine. I hope in the end, we could all say that our youth is spent happily. I know that I’ll probably end up laughing at my current self, ten years from now on, thinking how stupid I am being for making such a big deal out of it, and maybe it is a big deal. But, hopefully, I do. Hopefully ten years from now, I’ll laugh about the events of today because then it means things will be a-okay.

I lock the screen, put my phone back into my pocket and look out the window for the rest of the journey. Who knew that the budding of hope is all it takes for a person to start sounding all mushy and sappy.

“Y/n!” Mom opens the door and jumps to hug me. “My baby, you’re back.”

“Mom,” I hug her right back, gently squeezing her frail but perfectly straight shoulders with one arm.

“Come in! Your dad is waiting. He was so excited he couldn’t stop asking for the time, just like you when you were seven.”

“I guess we know who I took after then.”

“Seems so.”

“Either that or he’s just excited about the food.”

“Also very possible.”

“Did he, cook, err, fusion food, again?”

“Yeap.”

I cringe and shiver. “Do I have to eat it?”

“You’ll be surprised. It actually came out decent this time.”

“Thank goodness.”

She laughs. “I know! Now come on. You must be tired. Your butt must be sore. It’s a few hours train ride.”

“I’m fine. I might not have much of a butt but I love food enough to have a pillow following me from behind cushioning my fall.”

“A good-looking body is fine. It has its perk. But a fully functional body is perfect.”

“Hence why I’m like this,” I spin with my arms open.

She chuckles. “Let’s continue the spinning top thing inside.”

“Alright alright.” I trot behind her through the door, into the house and to the connecting kitchen-dining room.

“Y/n!”

“Dad!” I laugh looking at him scrambling to put his cooking chopsticks down and scurrying over to me with mom’s flowery ‘kiss the chef’ apron.

“How have you been kiddo!” he tackles me in a hug and I just let myself be wrapped around his death-like grip of an embrace. It won’t bruise but it sure feels like it might. When he finally let go, I sigh in relief, not missing the amusement in mom’s face.

“Come on, people, it’s almost two-thirty. Let’s eat.” She smiles at first, then laughs as dad yells a tiny ‘oh no my food’.

***

Mom was right. Lunch was unexpectedly good. Who knew tangsuyuk mixed with carbonara would be that good? No one, I’m sure. Not even dad. I saw his eyebrows disappear when he tasted his own cooking.

Mom was about to get the plates, but I quickly grab them away from the table.

“Let me. It’s been a while.”

“Alright then,” she laughs. “Good ol’ time, yes? I’m going to the toilet.”

I nod and she leaves as I begin washing the pile of dirty dishes over at the kitchen sink.

Washing dishes could be very comforting sometimes, especially here in this house. This usually happens on the days my dad would cook his fusion foods back before I moved out for university. The food would turn up as a failure and as an apology to my mom, he would let her rest. Then I would be in charge of the dirty dishes and I would complain about it until I saw him beside me, ready to take the soapy dishes from my hand and rinse it while I scrub.

I finish scrubbing two plates and a bowl when I look on my right and see my dad has already finished rinsing them. It really has been a while.

“You’re ready?” he nudges my side.

“For?”

“The talk. Whatever it is you want to talk about.”

“Yeah, I’ll bring her to my room when she comes back.”

“Okay.” He smiles, puts his damp hands on my shoulders and shakes me vigorously.

“Relax will you. You’re going to give yourself a stroke.”

“What are you talking about? I am relaxed!”

“Sure.”

The sound of the toilet flushing bounces off the walls. “That’s my cue.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“I know, dad.”

***

I walk briskly to mom who is wiping her semi-dry hand on her pants. “That one I got from you.”

“Huh?” she looks up at me before looking back down on her hands and laugh. “Oh, this. Yeah, I know.”

“Mom, come with me to my room.”

“You miss your room?”

“Yeah. And there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Hm? What is it? Are you okay?” she asked, concerned.

“Just something. Come on.”

“Okay, sure.”

The moment we reach my old bedroom, my mom launches herself onto the bed to grab a pillow and I close the door before sitting next to her on the bed.

“So what is it?”

“Remember our conversations about dreams and goals and all that?” I scratch the back of my neck.

“Yeah, of course! You found what you want to do?” I nod. “Well then tell me! Your dad and I will support you no matter how crazy it is!” she laughs

“Actually.”

“Yes?”

“It’s actually the opposite of that.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

I take a deep breath and release it slowly. “I don’t have a dream.”

“What do you mean, love? Everyone does.”

“Except for me.”

“I don’t—”

“I’ve been trying, mom. I really have been trying my hardest but it’s just not— I can’t find it and I’m tired of trying. I’m a boring person. I don’t have something that pumps my soul, keep the fire alive as you call it. I just, don’t.”

“Come here,” she says, her arms wide open. I stride into her hug. “Things will be okay. You’ll figure it out one day.”

“That’s the thing.” I rest my cheek on her shoulder. “I’ve tried and I’m tired of it. I’ve accepted that I won’t ever have that kind of passion for an activity.”

“Alright.” She strokes the back of my head for a while until I pull away. “Then what are you plan on doing after university?”

“I’m going to keep working where I work.”

“That’s it? Can you afford to keep living with that income even when you enter your thirties and forties and have a family?”

“Mom, I love working in a coffee shop. I want to keep working there and maybe someday I could be the manager. Even if I want to take a bigger step, that would still be included in the beginning. I might open my own café or coffeeshop one day, but I’ll have to save first and train better, learn more about coffee, tea, cakes, all of that.”

“And you’ll be happy?” she asks while playing with her fingers. She’s hesitant. I don’t know what else to do.

“Yes, mom. I want to live life in my own pace. The world is too busy. I want to slow down and really live. I want to read a book while I’m waiting for the next big wave of customer to roll in. I want to be up during sunrise and not hurry to work but to watch it slowly go up. I want to have plenty of time to observe my surrounding, really listen to the noises around me. I don’t want to work for money to stay alive, I just need to live to be happy.” I can feel the heat radiating from my eyes. They’re burning. It hurts a little. Something is about to come out very soon and she notices it.

“Then why didn’t you just tell me?”

“I don’t want to hurt you!” I let out, a bit too loud. Her eyes widen but she recovers fast and it was as if I never made any mistakes. “I know how passionate you are about this, mom. You always tell your friends to support their children’s dreams. I thought if I tell you this, what would you feel? What if they talk about you? Your friends. What if they call you a hypocrite?

“I remember people talking about auntie Oh’s son because he doesn’t have a dream and he does everything his parents tell him like a living zombie. And they all said they wanted a child like that but I heard it, how they ended up bad-mouthing him, saying he doesn’t have any back-bone. Remember how Auntie Oh suffered? I just— I just don’t want that to happen to you.”

I take another breath, and another one, my breathing shallow. Both my hands are covering my face at this point. I don’t want her to see me like this. I wish I could just be someone she needed, like the child she had prepared herself to raise, even if that means being more difficult to handle and harder to please, but at least she’ll know how to react, how to handle me.

When I finally let my hands down to wipe my face, she is staring at the floor, my mom, with her eyebrows scrunched limply, painfully.  “Mom,” my voice breaks. “I’m so sorry, please don’t cry.”

“I’m not made, I’m not disappointed either. I’m just sad and not because of you.” She draws a wavering breath and smiles painfully. “I just thought, am I really unreliable? Am I scary? I really thought I’m your friend, someone to who you can tell your concerns. I guess I failed.”

“Please don’t say that!”

“No, Y/n, I’m not talking about you. I’ll never say I failed in raising you cause look how wonderful you are. You’re amazing and I am and always will be proud of you. I guess I fail in raising myself. I should’ve just accepted that to a child, their parents could never be like their friends. It’s impossible. I know that, I just—”

“No mom, parents can. You and Dad can’t, cause you’re more precious to me than my friends. That’s why I’m scared of telling you. I’m scared of making you cry, and see? you’re crying right now. Please don’t cry.”

“I’m okay, Y/n,” she smiles. “I’m just sorry that it requires you effort and courage to tell me something like this. It shouldn’t have to be like that. Mom is sorry. Will you forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I finally broke and cry, clutching onto her tightly. “I love you, mom. Thank you for raising me all these years and thank you for loving me always.”

“Always, love.”

And we stay like that for a while, just holding onto each other while our breathing slows and relaxed. It could have been five minutes. It could have been half an hour. When dad knocks and comes into the room, we are all whole again. The sniffling ceased long ago and we are almost back to smiling. Almost. He comes in and holds us in a group hug and I laugh. He’s like a big teddy bear. When he lets go, mom excuses herself to go to the bathroom. To wash her face, she says, and I nod, worried. A line still etches itself on her forehead. My gaze follows her figure as it disappears outside the bedroom door.

Dad swiftly comes my way and hold me safely in his arms. “She just needs a minute. I think she’s just not aware that it’s possible to not have a dream that involves a specific career. She’s not clueless in any aspect, but sometimes, she just forgets things.”

“Did I hurt her,” I rest my face on his shoulder. “Should I have just not told her? Is she disappointed in me? It might not be completely crazy if she is, she’s probably just way too nice to say it.”

“Did you listen to anything she was saying?” he chuckles. “She’s mad at herself, not at you. It’s just a little hard for her, and no, not because she wishes you to have a ridiculous dream like wanting to be a president.” I nod briefly. “Do you know? that your mom wanted to be a model when she was young? She was actually scouted at the street once because back then, she was the one of very few people who would wear bold clothes, different than everyone else’s. It was a big youth magazine too, the one who gave her the card.”

I stay perfectly still, not knowing how to react. I’ve never heard of that ever before. Why have I not heard of that? Why didn’t she tell me? Maybe she doesn’t want to pressure me. I can see it though; mom has always been different. Bold, confident, graceful. Outspoken. If only I could be a bit like her.

Then I realise my dad has stopped speaking. I look up to see him looking at me. I open my mouth and stumble the words out. “Then, what happened?”

“Her family happened. They said being a model is a disgrace for a girl, that it means selling pictures of her body for dirty eyes to see,” he looks at me sadly. “And since she was underage, it was her family decision and they if course, never let her.”

“Does she regret it?”

“I don’t know, Y/n. Maybe she does, maybe she doesn’t. After all, no one would know what would happen to our family if she is a model instead of an English teacher. I do know that she’s satisfied with our lives now.”

“You think so?”

“I know so,” he smiles at me, patting my back. “Just give her time. She may even need only a couple hours to regain herself. She’ll be fine.”

I sigh, resting my forehead on the table in front of me. It’s definitely going to leave a mark for a little while. “I can see it though,” I mumble. “Mom was and is always so beautiful. Am I adopted?” I flash him a playful smile.

“Well I’m sorry you have my genes.” Leaning against his chair, he crosses his arms and pouts. “That’s mean. But don’t you think you’re beautiful too? After all, your father is very handsome if you don’t know,” he smiles cheekily at me.

“Yeah yeah.”

He gasps. “Mean.” I shake my head and he laughs through his nostrils. “From the way I see it, her expression I mean,” he continues, “I don’t think that cry was a negative one.”

“You sure?”

“I’ve been living with your mother for at least twenty-five years. I’m dead sure.”

With the conversation finally off of my chest, I threaded the rest of the day like I haven’t been in a long time. We laughed. They told me stories about what happened in their work, I told them stories about Hunnie’s hair exams and her panic practise and the accidental bald spot she gave to one of my professors. Night came too soon and without wanting to, I had to leave to return to Seoul where Hunnie is waiting for me. I left with hugs and promises of visiting soon. I left with a smile which lessens the hollowness of the train back.

Once I reached, however, my steps were light again with the prospect of finally resting and possibly eating fatty but delicious dinner with Hunnie, if, she didn’t eat without me. But even if she did, Hunnie is always open to more.

A minute away from home, I take out my phone to look at the time. I accidentally put it on silence earlier during lunch and forgot to turn it back on. My phone is swamped with unopened messages.

4 new messages from Hunnie.

The last one was received at 16:47

Hunnie: So, how did it go? Did you talk yet?

Hunnie: You’re going to be fine

Hunnie: I just know it.

Hunnie: text me when you’re close.

I smile, thinking that I’ll just give her a nice surprise and show up without warning. Oh, the cake!

I stop my step and return ten steps behind me to a small coffee shop. Is it betrayal if I buy something from another coffee shop when I work at Bora’s? Muddling over it, I got two slices of strawberry cheesecakes anyway and head home.

I knock on the door and wait for Hunnie. It’s been a minute yet still, no answer was heard. She’s probably in the shower, so I wait in front of the door. Remembering there were other messages aside from Hunnie’s, I return my attention to my phone.

6 new messages from Moonsik

Moonsik: I think I might be in love.

Moonsik: We talked for hours.

Moonsik: Just a cup of coffee and a cake each for lunch

Moonsik: We talked so much that we didn’t even notice it was time for dinner until our stomach grumbled.

Moonsik: At the fricking same time

Moonsik: I think this is fate.

I laugh and quickly reply.

Y/n: That’s great! So, did u arrange a second date?

Moonsik: Errrrr

Y/n: Moonsik??!!!!

Moonsik: I COMPLETELY FORGOT!!

Moonsik: WHAT DO I DO???

Moonsik: WE JUST TALKED SO MUCH THAT I FORGOT!

I sigh.

Y/n: Did u at least get her contact???

Moonsik: Yes! I did! I have it!

Y/n: Then just contact her. Play it chill, u know? Please don’t scare her off like u did some people

Moonsik: What dyou mean?

Y/n: Maybe don’t tell her the whole u’re already in love, it’s fate and those sort of stuff. Say it was great and just chat. Maybe ask for a second date? Idk. Just don’t be creepy

Moonsik: Please, I’m not creepy

Y/n: Maybe. But you can be clingy

Y/n: Like

Y/n: Really clingy

Y/n: Like

Y/n: Really fucking clingy

Moonsik: ALRIGHT FINE

Y/n: Okay

Y/n: Good luck!!!

The door opens suddenly.

“Y/n!”

“Hey, I’m back.”

“You look happy, smiling at your phone like that. Things went well?”

“Oh, that was Moonsik. He’s finally going on a date and it seems like it’s going really well. He might stop complaining about being single very soon!”

Hunnie roars in laughter. “Hahahaha! Seriously?”

“Yeah, seriously. There might be a side effect though.”

“What?”

“He’s already being dramatic. He might reach a level of sappiness unknown to human.”

“Whatever level that is, it can’t possibly be too different from how he is now.”

“Fair point.”

“Anyway, had a nice trip?”

I smile and Hunnie hugs me gently.

That night, my mom hugs me in my dream.

Chapter Text

“Y/n, all set?”

“Yeap. Just gonna get a new tissue pack and a fan.”

“What for? Just, why?” she laughs. “It’s like you’re going camping!”

“Well, it’s not that far off.”

“What are we even doing?”

“Still a secret. But just in case. I don’t know how the weather is today and we’re going to spend most of our time out-door.”

“Okay, I love a surprise,” she nods with a smirk. “Oh, got your keys?”

“Yes, you got yours?”

“Yeap.”

“Let’s go then.”

“Okay.”

Hunnie exits and I lock the door and check my phone before following her.

I unlock my phone and type:

Y/n: Just left the house

Y/n: Will be there in approx. 15 min

Moonsik is typing…

Moonsik: Okay

Y/n: oh btw, is your…girlfriend(?) free today? Maybe she could join us?

Y/n: I dunno how I didn’t think about this till now

Y/n: But

Y/n: is she a fan?

Moonsik: Don’t say that, I’m gonna have a heart attack

Moonsik: Then you’ll have to carry me there

Moonsik: We’ve only known each other for a few days

Moonsik: So we’re not really dating yet…hopefully soon though

Moonsik: she’s really cool

Moonsik: I’ll ask

Y/n: It’s free admission anyway

Y/n: I’ll ask Hunnie to ask her boyfriend along too?

Y/n: Kinda like a double date

Moonsik: You know you’ll be fifth wheeling right?

Y/n: As someone who is completely content with being single and enjoys watching others be happy in their relationship, I’m in.

Moonsik: Alright, weirdo

Moonsik: I’ll ask

Y/n: What am I if not a weirdo?

Moonsik: Another weirdo. You’re like an onion of weirdness

Moonsik: Or a Russian doll that keeps revealing ‘weird’ with every layer

Moonsik: which one do you prefer?

Y/n: Both

Moonsik: Alright

Y/n: gotta go. Haven’t even taken a step away from the house.

“Y/n~”

“Yes, yes, sorry,” I chuckle.

“What’s up?”

“That was Moonsik. He is in love,” I quirk an eyebrow and Hunnie mirrors my expression.

“I wanna read whatever it is you guys were talking about.”

“I don’t mind, though you gotta ask his permission first.”

“Spoilsport.”

“You mean integrity.”

“Sure.”

“Come on, let’s start walking.”

“Finally.”

“Oh, by the way, do you think Eunseok Hyung is free today?”

“Maybe? I’m not really sure, why?”

“I don’t mind if you invite him to this thing we’re going to.”

“Okay? But I don’t even know where we’re going and what we’re going to do. What if it’s not something he enjoys?”

“Well, I can ask him, but you decide if you want to ask him first, and if you do want to, you should check whether he’s free and if he is, then I’ll text him.”

“Why don’t you just text him directly?” she laughs.

“Cause you’re his girlfriend, you pabo.” And I may just want to see your interaction with him.

She blushes and clears her throat. “Okay, that sounds fun.”

“Great.”

“Then, can you put your hands on my shoulders and steer me as I text while we walk? I don’t want to stray into the road or accidentally hug a pole.”

I place my hands on her shoulders as instructed. “Done.”

“Thanks.”

She starts by unlocking her phone and texting him. When a reply comes, she switches to a phone call instead.

“Hi,” she giggles.

Aww.

“I’m doing great, Oppa.”

There it is, the word that many guys long for. I wonder if Hyung gets flustered at that.

“Actually, are you busy today?” a pause. “I’m going with Y/n to this thing she doesn’t even tell me about. I don’t know where Y/n is taking me, I don’t even know what we’re going to do there. Y/n just told me that it’s okay if I want to invite you and that if you agree, Y/n will text you the detail so that I will still have no clue what is going on.”

Yes. That is exactly what I said.

“Really?”

Can’t see her face but she sounds happy.

“Oh, yay! I’ll ask Y/n to text you. Okay. See you later!”

Definitely happy.

“Y/n?”

“I know, I’ll text him. We gotta switch though. Since I need to text, you gotta steer me now.”

“But I don’t even know where we’re heading,” she squints. Fair point.

“Right. Then, let’s take a little break. It’ll just take me a minute.”

She nods and we stopped under the shade of a tree. I open my phone

Y/n: Hyung, it’s a surprise event for Hunnie, celebrating the end of her exam

Y/n: We’re taking her to a BTS event, like a mini-festival with games and merch and all that.

Y/n: It’s going to be at the Olympic Gymnastic Arena and the area around that

Y/n: I’m inviting the friend I set on a date with your friend and I also kinda told him to invite her too

Eunseok Hyung: and Hunnie has no idea?

Y/n: Nope

Eunseok Hyung: sounds fun. When should I arrive?

Y/n: We’re walking to meet up with my friend and we’ll probably arrive at the venue in 30-40 min?

Eunseok Hyung: Oh ok, cool. See you all there then

Y/n: See you!

“Kay. Done. Let’s go.”

Hunnie nods enthusiastically and we march to the MRT station entrance four where Moonsik is waiting. I hope everything goes well today and tomorrow. Today’s just the practise. Tomorrow is when things are going to escalate. Congrats Hunnie, you deserve this.

***

We walk down to the underground entrance through the sets of stairs and escalators and right and left turns, just following the familiar tunnel-like place. It is technically a tunnel. As we near the electrical gate, I scan the place for a familiar place. Where is he? Is he even here yet?

“Y/n, look!” Hunnie, tugs at my hand. Moonsik is waving his hand around wildly in the air. Maybe I should just turn around and leave.

“Y/n! Hunnie!” he sprints across the room.

“Chill, you’ll run into a wall or slip and get a concussion.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Y/n didn’t tell you yet?” he raises an eyebrow.

“I wasn’t told anything.”

“Oh. Oh well, I’m going with you today.”

“Wait what?”

“Yeah! It’ll be fun!”

She eyes him suspiciously. “I guess I’ll have fun bothering you.”

“You can’t! I help Y/n plan this day!”

“Really?” She turns to me.

“It’s true. He plays a vital part in today,” I shrug, “and something else but I won’t reveal it to you until much later.”

“And does he already know this information that you’ll reveal to me much later?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, good, I can just force it out of him,” she grabs his shoulders and begins to harshly shake him back band and forth.

“Y/n!”

“Hunnie, play nice.”

She stops and let go with a pout.

“Yeah, Hunnie! Play nice! And you’re ruining my shirt. I’ve got a date today!”

“She said yes?”

“To which one? The date or the,” he left the last word unsaid.

“Both.”

“Ah, the first one. Haven’t asked the second one.”

“Right.”

“What are you guys talking about? I wanna know!”

“Moonsik’s love life.”

“Hey! How come you tell Y/n all these things and not me?”

“Cause Y/n is nice to me and because Y/n actually—”

“I kinda played match-maker for a lil there,” I smirk.

“Him too?” Hunnie laughs. “You should really consider a professional career out of this.”

“It’s a back-up plan for sure.”

She hums agreeing.

“Let’s go then.”

We were walking one by one through the gates and down the stairs when Hunnie speaks up again. “Will any of you ever tell me about Moonsik’s love life?”

“Up to him. Moonsik?”

“Nope.”

“Then, nope,” I mimic him.

“Meh, worth the shot,” she shrugs.

***

“Okay, Hunnie. From now on, I’ll cover your eyes and you just need to slowly walk. I’ll guide you.”

We are around five minutes away from the Arena but we’re not heading directly to it just because the place is visible from quite far away. Instead, we’re heading to the tall office area next to a park near the venue that covers the structure enough while not being suspicious. We could always say we’re heading to the park next to it if she asks. But thank goodness she doesn’t.”

She sighs with a dreamy expression. “I love surprises.”

Moonsik snorts. “Who ever said it’s going to be a nice surprise.” She stops in her track to shoot a mean glare at him and I quickly cover her eyes.

“Starting now!”

“Hey!”

“Sush. Just follow our lead.” Moonsik is enjoying this way too much. “Oh, actually, wait.”

“Hm?” I turn around and Moonsik has his arm stuck in his bag rummaging through it. “What are you—” He pulls out a pair of headphones. “Smart thinking.” We place it on Hunnie and Moonsik is in charge of the song selection, a power that he, from Hunnie’s fists that keep flying around along with her treats, definitely abuses.

“Moonsik, if Hunnie struggles even more, she will open her eyes, she will turn around, and she will whoop your ass and I will just stand and watch. And worse, you’ll ruin the surprise so I might just come join her.”

“Fine,” he pouts.

“Thank you.”

True to his word, she stops struggling and starts jamming with the music instead, humming occasionally as we approach the entrance with banners all over the place. The place is huge, bigger than we expected it to be.

From a hundred meters away, we could already see the variety and the huge number of stands set up. More than that, we could already hear the chatters of excitement and songs being played out loud, accompanied by people who dance to those songs. There are balloons, pictures of familiar faces everywhere, stickers, headbands, and the rest of the general ‘festivities requirement’.

Only ten steps left before we reach the gate.

“You reckon we should do the reveal here?”

“Seems like a good place. And I’m running out of songs to play anyway.”

“Okay.”

I take the headphones off her and return them to Moonsik.

“The big time for the reveal. Come on, Hunnie. Three, two, one—” and she opens her eyes and—

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Is she alright?

I look at her standing frozen on the spot, her lips trembling. Slightly worried, I open my arms. “Hey, are you—"

“OH MY GOD WHAT!!!” she screams and jumps at me, pulling in a tight hug and almost spins me around. Almost. “I LOVE YOU GUYS!” Hunnie is on the verge of crying and Moonsik is – kinda – too.

“Moonsik? Why are you—”

“It’s just an emotional moment, okay! Leave me alone,” he sniffs dramatically, and I just stare at them in awe. My friends. My perfectly weird perfect friends.

“Do you need a moment or are you both ready to storm in there.”

“Let’s go!”

“A moment.”

Hunnie and Moonsik say it simultaneously. She laughs while he tucks his headphones into his bag and sniffs the rest of his overflowing emotions back in. “Okay I’m ready.”

“Let’s go then.”

We slowly march to the entrance into the gate where the staff puts a stamp on our hands with a big sign hanging over our heads.

          Welcome to the 5^th BTS Muster [MAGICSHOP]

***

“I can’t believe this is actually happening!” Hunnie says as she munches on a corndog, the spicy mayo sauce smeared messily around her mouth. “And who knows there’s this many food and game stall in a BTS Muster?”

“I know right,” Moonsik nods agreeing while being in the exact same situation as Hunnie.

“Are you going to scarve down food the entire time or are you going to play a game at least once?”

Hunnie gulps her last bite and wipes her mouth vigorously with the free tissue that comes with the corndog. “What kind of ridiculous question is that?” she turns to Moonsik. “Right? Of course we’re going to play!”

Moonsik nods along again. I sigh, shaking my head. Twenty minutes into eating and they became besties like they’ve been getting along since they’re toddlers. I guess food is the way to go.

“Y/n, look behind you on the right, that tent thing with the white top.”

I turn around and spot the tent-like stall.

“Yes? What about it?”

“That’s what we’re all doing.”

“What is that anyway?” I squint at the small banner which says ‘Answer or Dare’

“We’re about to find out. Come on!” she throws away the napkin and drags me with her while Moonsik who is still wiping his mouth runs behind us.

When we reach the place, we could finally see all the merch hanging on the wall behind it. They are arranged with levels too! There are level one which are stickers, level two which are posters, photocard, banners and fans, level three which are small accessories like the small BTS towel, keychain, phone case and bandana, level four which are albums, and lastly, level five which consists of clothing items like jackets, hoodies, shirts, caps, and army bomb.

None of us speaks, completely in awe at all the things they have, none until the staff comes up to us and smiles looking at our funny bewilderment. “Welcome to Answer or Dare. Do you know the rule to this game?”

“Er, no.”

“Okay, no worries. So. There are many different prices divided by their level of difficulties. You can choose either to answer a BTS related question, or do a dare in public, and choose the level depending on which item you want.”

“Oh, cool!” her eyes lit up. “How much per game?”

“You also have an option for that. Either two thousand won per challenge, or you can challenge as many times until you win something for free, but, we’ll record you.”

“Record!”

“Hunnie!”

“What?”

The staff giggles.

“Just let her. She doesn’t have a nerve of shame,” he shrugs.

“Okay then, pick a difficulty level.”

“Five.”

“Answer or dare?”

She mulls over it for a little before making up her mind and answering with a firm nod. “Dare!”

“Dance to a BTS choreography for a full minute.”

“Should I start now?”

“Wait,” the staff checks where Hunnie is standing and tells her to back away a little while constantly checking for the camera mounted on the wall. “Okay, from there, perfect. What song?”

“Go go.”

“Alright. Starting in three, two, one,” she clicks a button and suddenly the song blasts from the speaker attached to the roof of the stall, which I didn’t even notice until now. I’m nervous. I feel nervous for Hunnie, being watched by that many people. But Hunnie is Hunnie and she dances with no worries, albeit messily and all over the place, but she is confident and judging how that staff haven’t stopped her, that is good enough.

After a minute has passed, a timer rings and the song stops.

“Congratulations!” they ring a bell. “Which item would you like?”

Her eyes sparkle and her index finger laser-point to one specific clothing item hanging from the ceiling. “That one.” It’s a mic drop bomber jacket.

They nod and take a brand-new bomber jacket, still in the plastic, from somewhere behind them. “Here you go.”

“Thanks!” she takes it quickly and wears it. It looks really good on her. “Y/n? Moonsik? Who wants to go next?”

Moonsik and I look at each other in a mental discussion, not knowing what to do. We’re not as confident as Hunnie so it takes us a few second to collect our bravery. When Moonsik was about to raise his hand, however, a young boy, probably in middle school or high school, goes up to the staff and raises his hand first to play.

Like Hunnie, he chooses to get recorded and he chooses level five dare. The staff draws a random paper and read it out. “Sing a BTS song for a minute loudly.”

And he does it.

And he’s so good at it that people begin to gather and form a circle around him, enraptured, clapping excitedly when he’s done.

“Which one are you eyeing at?” Hunnie asks me, looking at the array of goods.

“The SG oversized shirt. I’ve seen it in the video and I’m in love right away. I tried looking for it but I can’t find who sells it. I think Suga might have have that custom-made. And now I see it here. Damn.”

“You really want that shirt, huh?”

“I really really do,” I nod resolutely.

She smiles and leans in so that I can hear heard among all the applause. “Then if you don’t succeed, I’ll get it for you. If they allow me to play again.”

“I love you, chinggu.”

“I know,” she winks.

“Congratulations,” the staff says. “Which prize will you choose?” Some of the audiences are still there, curious to see what he would win.

“That one, the SG white shirt,” he says.

“Look, Y/n, he got the same taste,” she smiles.

“Yeah, but, Hunnie?”

“Yeah?”

“Why is the staff taking the shirt from the hanger directly and not a new one?”

“Hm?” Hunnie turns to look. “Oh.”

“They ran out.”

“Don’t be sad yet. Hold the emotion. Maybe they just haven’t open the new stock box?”

“I don’t know about that,” I say.

“Let’s just wait.”

The guy receives his shirt and leaves and seeing that neither Moonsik and I are moving much, the crowd disperses.

“Moonsik?” I ask.

“You can go first, Y/n.”

That’s not what I— Yeah sure, why not. “Okay.” I raise my hand.

“Yes, answer or dare?”

“Answer. Oh, by the way, do you still have that SG shirt?”

“Sorry, we ran out. That guy got the last one.” I nod.

“Answer. Level four.”

The staff nods. “Do you prefer to be recorded too?”

I stand unmoving for a moment. I could always just pay, but, I’m not confident enough to be recorded on camera which is precisely why I should do it. “Hunnie?”

“Anything you want, Y/,” she smiles, patting my back, letting me know that I don’t have to do this if I don’t want to. Therefore, I have to do it, I want to push myself.

“Recorded.”

Hunnie squeals and hops excitedly. “Moonsik, hold me back! I’m so excited!” Yes, Hunnie, I know.

Another piece of paper is drawn and read out. “Name thirty BTS song within two minutes. Starting, now!”

“No more dream, We are bulletproof, Hip-hop phile,” I get straight to it, my brain rotating as fast as possible, “N.O., Second grade, Danger, Boy in Luv, Tomorrow, Coffee, War of Hormones, Rain, Cypher 1, Cypher 2, Cypher 3, Cypher 4, I need you, Run, Butterfly, Bapsae, Whalien 52, Ma city, Boyz with fun, Love is not Over, House of Cards, Nevermind, Save me, Fire, Blood Sweat and Tears, Go go, DNA, Pied Piper, Dimple—”

“Time’s up,” they declare with a smile. “I think that’s more than thirty. Choose your album.”

“Love yourself Tear, please.”

“Here you go,” they handed me the album.

“Actually,” I hesitate, “can I play twice?”

“Yes.”

“Then, recorded, dare level five.” Hunnie’s eyes widen comically at that. So do Moonsik’s.

They took a piece of paper. “Perform a BTS rap song.”

“Any kind of performances, right?”

“As long as it’s not indecent, yes.”

“Alright. I’ll go with nevermind.”

***

“I don’t know what I just saw,” Hunnie chuckles weirdly.

“Whatever that was, one word. Legendary,” I say, squishing the grey ‘Nevermind’ beanie I just got, still processing at what I saw. She nods. “I didn’t know Moonsik could rap.”

“Who knew Moonsik could rap?”

“Hey! Do I not look cool enough to rap?” he pouts, which contrasts greatly to the cool cypher all force one black bomber jacket he’s wearing confidently.

Hunnie smiles sheepishly.

“Ya!” Moonsik glare at her. “I’m not that bad! But while we’re on the subject though, can we talk about what Y/n did?”

“No.”

“But, Y/n!”

“Not now. I’m not ready for that.” She pouts. “Thanks for the jacket-coat though. I love it.” I look at appreciatively at the jacket? Coat? That I’m wearing, hot-red long knee-length jacket-coat with a hoodie. At the back it says cypher three: Killer. Hunnie won it and gave it to me. She named sixty BTS songs under three minutes like it was nothing, spitting titles after titles. I’m convinced that she can name all of them if given the opportunity.

“You’re welcome, babe.”

“Speaking of babe,” I start, “where are yours? Where’s Eunseok Hyung and… Moonsik’s date. Sorry, bro, I don’t know her name.”

“Wait, you don’t know her name and you set me up with her? Did you decide to gamble on me?” He gawks, feeling slightly betrayed.

“What, no! A very reliable person help me set you guys up.”

“Who?” Hunnie asks.

“Your boyfriend.”

“My— What!”

“Yeap. Anyway, where are they?”

Right on time, Hunnie receives a call. “Oppa!”

Moonsik looks at me and visibly cringes after hearing that word come out of Hunnie’s mouth. I shrug but he still looks disturbed.

While Hunnie asks Hyung’s whereabout, Moonsik is also on his phone, texting. “She said she should be here in about ten minutes and that she couldn’t wait. She’s also a fan.”

“Cool. Hunnie?”

“He’s only like two minutes away and approaching as we speak.”

“Should we wait by the gate?”

“Sure.”

Chapter Text

“Oppa! Over here!” she waves her hand enthusiastically from the entrance. “Eunseok Oppa!”

He finally spots her too and smiles, reciprocating the wave with a more composed one, accompanied by an adorning smile. When he reaches where we are standing, he gives her a hug and there they are, just hugging for ten seconds. Right behind him, however, is a girl, a very cool-looking girl, the girl-crush type with jet black hair and a feminine appearance, but the air around her is— I don’t know. She’s just really cool.

“Eunseok, you’re walking way too fast,” she says.

“Noona!” Moonsik smiles.

“Moonsik,” she breaks into a smile which completely changes her impression. Such a warm and friendly smile.

“Y/n, Hunnie, this is Byul Noona.”

“Hi, I’m Y/n,” I grin, looking at Moonsik who has turned into a puppy at the sight of her and shake her hand.

“Hey-ya,” Hunnie chirps. “I’m Hunnie.”

“I know,” Unnie smiles cheekily. “Eunseok couldn’t stop talking about you. About how amazing and talented you are. He kept showing me pics from your Instagram.  I absolutely love your hair design, I’m a fan, but he does it so often that I got annoyed. Not by your designs of course, they’re amazing, but by him. So much that I don’t really wanna be friends with him anymore.”

“Ya!” Hyung blushes and Hunnie chuckles.

“Aww.” That’s right. Freaking aww.

“This event is bigger than I thought.” He starts looking somewhere else, all over the place actually. “I knew it would be big but goodness this is massive!” Yeah, definitely changing the subject. I try to restrain a laugh. I guess I’ll help him along.

“Yes, Huge with tons of food trucks, merch stalls and games. Have you guys eaten lunch?”

“Not yet.”

“No.”

“Great!” Moonsik chirps. I swear I see a tail behind him wagging excitedly. “We saw a lamb skewer food truck earlier. Let’s go?”

We all nod and follow behind him as he promptly strides alone in the front to the said food truck a bit further in the festivities than the corndog stall. He must’ve been really nervous. His steps are a bit shaky and I can’t believe he left Byul Unnie walking behind him back alone, in front of the happy couple who is now holding hands.

“Moonsik, slow down.” I have to interject. “I can’t walk that fast. Have you seen me? Strange body proportion, long torso, short legs? Emphasis on the short legs.”

“Oh, sorry sorry,” he chuckles nervously and stops for a bit, looking at me weirdly, which is fair because my legs are actually fine with keeping up with the pace and he knows that. But the pause gives Unnie enough time to catch up and stand next to him. The tip of Moonsik’s ears reddens in realization of what I just did. When we all start walking again, they were walking in pairs. His ears stay red the whole time. Cute.

Something else entirely happens in Hunnie’s case throughout the walk for food. Walking at the very back, I keep seeing Hunnie’s constant lapse of concentration. Her gaze keeps on shifting and she has to ask Hyung to repeat what he said a few times. One. Two. And three. She glances at Byul Unnie again. Four. Is it because Byul Unnie arrived with Eunseok Hyung earlier? Is it because they are unexpectedly very very good friends? Aww, but oh. Jealous Hunnie is both cute and scary.

When we reach the place, I give my order and the money to Moonsik, wait for Hunnie to tell Hyung what she wants, then drags her aside.

“Y/n. Where are we going?” She looks around, completely baffled on why she just got dragged away. “I haven’t give my money to Hyung. He’s been treating me all the time and I feel bad. He says he wants to but still.”

“Hunnie, talk to me.”

“What?”

“You’ve been, ehem, glaring? Glancing, looking, whichever word you choose, at Byul Unnie. What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing really.”

“Jealousy?” I smirk and she elbows me at the side. It’s really not fair to pout and sulk like a child while having the power of a full-grown thirty-year-old man. “Look here. You have nothing to worry about. I haven’t mention it to you because I forgot but I figure that they’re close, but definitely not that way. Hyung is actually the one who helped me set Moonsik up on that date with Unnie. They were already close friends before you two got together. If he likes her, why aren’t they together already? If he likes her, why did he set her up with Moonsik while she was looking for someone?”

“I know,” she sighs. “I’m being irrational. Can’t help it though.”

I shake my head. “It’s totally adorable and I ship you guys even more. And I remember how he kept asking questions about you before I finally set you guys up. Trust me, you guys are cute as heck.”

 She blushes. “Thanks.”

“Here you go, one lamb wrap according to your order,” Eunseok Hyung appears from behind her with her order and a smile. She sends back a bright smile. Gosh, they treat each other so gently it’s very fulfilling and great for my shipping needs.

“I’m gonna go get my food. There’s no way I’m getting this kind of special service.” I laugh and walk away to the pick-up station where Byul Unnie and Moonsik are waiting.

“The extra spicy lamb wrap,” the person announces. Moonsik shows him the receipt and grabs the food.

“Here you go, the extra special spicy lamb wrap,” he smiles at her.

“Well thank you,” she smiles back. Are all couple just give each other food the same way?

“Oh, no problem.” He blushes. Well, that’s different.

“Lamb skewer,” the same person calls out again. That’s my order. Moonsik shows him the receipt again and he turns to look around, presumably looking for me. He takes the box with one hand and when he finds me, he puts it back to the pick-up counter.

“Y/n, your order.”

“Wow, the different treatment I receive compare to Unnie.”

“Y/n, sush!” he whisper-yells and I laugh looking at the redness spreading from his ears to his face and neck.

“Dude, calm down before you faint.”

He tries his meanest glare but fails. The blush prevents his feature from working normally.

“Chill. Thanks for the food.” I give him a slap on the shoulder, grab my food and quickly takes the first bite while Moonsik is still waiting for his order, the jumbo lamb skewer. When he finally gets his, he turns around excitedly to the rest of us.

“Everyone, let’s take pics of the food first before—” We all look at him with face buried in food and sauce all over our mouth. Unnie is the only one who waits for him. “You all sucks. And Hunnie! I thought you’d at least get a picture first for your insta or something. I mean you’re in the Muster!”

I burst out laughing as Hunnie gives him an unamused stare. “Geez, Moonsik, you must not know me at all.”

“I think trying to separate Hunnie from her food is a bit ambitious. Or careless, whichever one you prefer.”

Hyung laughs. “I agree. She might bite your finger.”

He sighs and Byul Unnie laughs. “Come on, you can take pictures of my food.”

Moonsik lets out the most defeated ‘thanks’ I ever heard come out of someone’s mouth.

***

“I’m craving for coffee,” Byul Unnie sighs as she throws the empty wrapper in the bin. Hunnie nods along.

Moonsik hums, wiping all the smeared sauce on his face after a decent attempt at eating the jumbo skewer. There’s a spot on his forehead that he couldn’t quite get yet.“I’m thirsty too. Ah, I really crave for that peanut butter shake from your workplace, Y/n.”

“Well,” I drawl, “good for you, our shop actually has a stand here.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m taking you guys with me here today, on a Saturday. Tomorrow I’ll be working for the whole day in the truck, still here, but just, working.”

“You. Are. Going. To. Work. At. A BTS. Muster. Tomorrow. What! And you haven’t told me this why?”

“Cause it’ll ruin the surprise! From the start, I planned on telling you now, right here.”

“I’m coming back here tomorrow then.”

“I’m planning on going here with you again tomorrow anyway. I know I won’t be able to walk around with you but I heard there’s a special event thing going on tomorrow. Plus, it’s the Muster! One day is definitely not enough!”

“Good.” She huffs finally satisfied.

“So, Y/n?” Moonsik asks.

“Hmm?”

“The coffee?”

“Ah, right.”

“Let’s go then!”

“Sure, but, er, you still got something on your forehead.”

“What?” he yelps and blushes furiously, so much that he looks like he’s in deep pain. “For goodness’ sake, how the heck did it got up there!”

Byul Hunnie chuckles a little and cooly hands him her phone with the front camera open so that he can actually get it off and we can all finally get some coffee.

“All done. Finally. Anything left?”

All four of us inspect him intensely until we give a resounding no. He hands back Unnie’s phone with a quiet thanks and a shy smile.

“Let’s go then.”

As soon as we start walking, the group breaks into its usual pairing with me in front and the couples following behind me in neat lines, like a trail, and I feel slightly like a tour guide. At least as close as I could be to a tour guide in a muster considering that I know nothing about it and I would probably get lost myself, but Manager Unnie has at least told me the rough location of the truck from the entrance a few days ago so that I won’t get extremely lost. I’ve done that once when the coffee shop was setting up a stall in an event in a newly opened shopping mall. I went around the same floor for thirty-five minutes until I have to rely on one of the security guards to escort me at least half of the way until it was only the ‘go straight’ instruction left. To be fair, it was a very large shopping mall with a complicated floor system. I’m not that hopeless in terms of directions, I just need time to adjust to a new environment, which is why both Hunnie and I are sure that if the world is suddenly hit by a zombie apocalypse like in the movie ‘train to Busan’, I would die in the first five minutes.  

Five minutes later, I spot the black truck with huge purple writing in cursive painted on the side which says, ‘Bora’s Coffee’ and a few seconds after, Manager’s Unnie’s iconic ponytail comes into view.

“There it is.”

“Manager Unnie!” Hunnie waves her hand excitedly.

“Oh, Hunnie, Y/n.”

“How did the shop manage to get a place in a BTS muster? That’s insane!”

“They called, actually. Turns out our drinks are pretty popular.”

“Crazy,” Hunnie chuckles.

“I know right. Anyway. Some drinks everyone?”

Byul Unnie comes first and orders an Iced Americano. Then Moonsik with the long-awaited Peanut Butter Shake. While Hunnie stays perfectly still contemplating on what to get, Hyung orders an iced caramel macchiato.

“Hunnie?” I nudge her shoulder which finally pops her bubble. “You’re not getting anything?”

“Oh, er, what’s your favourite?”

“That’s gonna be hard, I like—”

“Get the Peanut Butter Shake!” Moonsik shouts from behind.

“But I want something with coffee—”

“Just get the freaking Peanut Butter Shake!”

Manager Unnie laughs. “We can put an espresso shot in the shake if you’d like.”

“Then that’s what I’m having,” she smiles charmingly at Unnnie before turning around and shot a piercing gaze at Moonsik who just shrugs.

“I’ll have the same.”

She nods and proceeds to finish making everything in a very short period of time and prove herself worthy of being a manager. I, a mere mortal, can never.

Moonsik grabs the cup the moment it was placed on the pick-up counter and takes a long sip like a person who has been wondering the desert waterless for five days finally getting a proper tall glass of water. “This is insane,” he moans. Byul Unnie laughs while Hunnie looks completely put off. But then she tries the shake and wordlessly drinks from the straw for a long long time.

While everybody is enjoying their cold beverages in the warm weather, Manager Unnie pulls me to the side.

“Y/n, since there’s currently no one as we just passed lunch, do you have a bit? Like fifteen minutes to half an hour?”

“I think so. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just think you would need a brief tutorial and introduction to the coffee truck, seeing that you’ll be working here all alone tomorrow. I just need to show you where I store all the ingredients and tools, where the extra cups and things are if the ones in the main compartment runs out, what to do if the power gets cut, those sorts of things.”

“Ah, that’s right. Okay, I’ll just tell the others to go ahead first.”

“Perfect.”

When I re-enter the circle, they are all just drinking without a word being exchanged. They must really like their drink. “Everyone,” I wave my hand around. “I think I’ll have to stay here for around thirty minutes. Manager Unnie is going to teach me how to work on a coffee truck and there’s so much for you to see. I don’t want you all to stay just to wait for me so please, enjoy the day and walk around without me. Is it okay? I’ll call you when I’m done and we can meet up afterwards.”

No verbal response, they’re all just drinking calmly.

“Okay,” I chuckle and take a slow sip of my own Peanut Butter Coffee Shake. It really is good.

Thirty-five, almost forty, minutes later, here I am walking to the place where the pairs said they would stay and wait for me. The briefing took longer than expected. Apparently, there are way more to a coffee truck than I had thought, especially ones with blenders, a coffee machine, and a large ice storage.

This place is bigger than I thought. I hope they won’t walk away from the meeting place and abandon me. Getting lost here like a five-year-old is very possible with this big of an area and this many people.

I rush along the way, feeling bad for making them wait. When I finally see them from far away, the four of them are engaged in a fun-looking and lively conversation with two strangers with caps and thick, black-rimmed sunglasses. One of them is quite tall with messy black hair and the other is only a few centimeters shorter with a light brown bowl cut. There's something about them that I just can't place, like when you see someone walking randomly on the street and you dream about that person five years after. That's how those two people seem to me. Have I seen them around? Maybe from university? Or maybe they have visited the coffee shop or the convenience store during my shift? I can't really tell.

They're laughing now, all of them, and the two are elbowing each other on their sides. The bowl-cut guy laughs a bit too hard, accidentally flinging his glasses away and— oh, it's Jimin-ssi. It's Jimin-ssi! I laugh, still staying on the spot looking from far away. What are they doing out here? Undercover mission?

The taller one cringes and that's when I know exactly who he is. Rectangular mouth, next to Jimin-ssi? It can only be Tae-ssi. Suddenly, a person only a little shorter than Tae-ssi wearing a ghost-like costume, like the one in Scooby-doo walks towards them from behind, whispering something urgently in their ears. People are starting to stare. When Jimin-ssi and Tae-ssi finally notice what is going on, they picked up their glasses, excuse themselves to Hunnie, Moonsik, Byul Unnie, and Eunseok Hyung – three of the four completely frozen – and quietly slip away. I quit staring and jog towards the shocked group.

“I’m back. What’s up?”

“Oh, hey Y/n.”

“Hyung, what’s up with everyone else?”

“Oh, they just met bangtan.”

“OH MY GOD Y/N I JUST SPOKE TO V AND JIMIN!”

“Calm down, Moonsik. Calm down.” I turn to Byul Unnie who is also unmoving. “Unnie, are you okay?”

“OH MY GOD I JUST SPOKE TO V AND JIMIN!”

I laugh. Maybe they really are suited for each other after all.

“Wanna play games to help get rid of the shock?”

“Yes please,” the three of them say simultaneously.

“Let’s go then. I saw a coin toss game with merch and even VT cosmetics as rewards.”

“Y/n, lead the way.”

The rest of the day goes by like that, with plenty of games, snacks, and prizes. Hunnie is always good at festival games. Byul Unnie is better than expected and Hyung, I didn’t expect Eunseok Hyung to be that bad with games. I’m still feeling a little sad that I didn’t end up finding another one of those oversized cream-colored SG shirts cause I really want to have one – they look so good and comfortable, but at the end of the day, everyone decides to go home early, completely exhausted, and we all walk together, saying goodbyes to one person at a time in their MRT stop. It was Unnie first, then Hyung around five minutes later and then the three of us for a while.

“Hunnie, you’ll come again tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah, of course. I can even come with you together.”

“Nah, you’ll just gonna get tired before the event. I heard it’s starts as soon as the sun is down. And plus, it’s just going to be like a regular working day for me. I’m just gonna be in a truck. I’ll have plenty of time to read if I want to and I get to chat with loads of fans, maybe even switch fanfic recommendations. I’m gonna have a blast!”

“Speaking of fanfic, have you finished that long friendship one I recommended weeks ago?”

“No, not yet. Haven’t got the perfect time to read it. Plus, the author said that it’s going to finish soon so I thought why not wait till it’s completed before binging it?”

“Alright. I’m glad you like it though.”

“Yea, thanks.”

“Thanks for including me in the conversation,” he smiles.

“Oh, sorry Moonsik,” I laugh. “You’re going back again tomorrow, right?” Of course, he will be, still, detail is key in terms of successful surprises.

“Definitely. One day is nowhere near enough.”

“You too?”

“Yeap. Speaking of which, Y/n?” He nudges me and it takes a while for me to realise what he means until it finally clicks.

“Right. Hunnie. Listen carefully. Whatever good things Moonsik might have or get or won tomorrow, promise you won’t take it away from him and give it to me.”

“What? Of course—”

“Promise? Be good to other kids!”

“But why—”

“Promise?”

“Fine.”

“Good.”

Moonsik lets out a breath of relief. “Thank, Y/n.”

“No prob.”

The train slowly halts to a pause. “This is my stop,” he says, stepping out the train and waving his hand.

“See you tomorrow, everyone.”

“See ya.”

When the door closes and the train continues, Hunnie turns to me with a quizzical brow. “What’s that about.”

I simply shrug. “I don’t know.”

Chapter Text

As planned yesterday, today I woke up at the usual time for a morning shift, got ready, grabbed my philosophy notebook, the pretty notebook, some pens and pencils, and walked out the door half an hour early, that is after calculating the added distance with the train ride and the walk. It could be excitement, it could be nerves, but now as I’m sitting in the MRT train, all I can think about is wearing the ‘Nevermind’ beanie I won yesterday to invite conversations and having lots of chats with fellow armys while making their orders. Hopefully, that will take the edge of both of us, them of waiting in line or waiting for their drink, mine for working a full ten-to-seven day in a truck. Or not. That might not happen at all. The coffee truck might not be popular. I guess it’s a good thing I grabbed the books. I even have my trusty power bank with me in case I want to spend the lonely time online.

Just missing the morning rush hour, the compartment is almost empty. I sit with no one else at least three chairs on both sides, trembling with my arms folded, holding each other, the limbs trying to share some warmth. The air is cold, very cold, and I have nothing to do. Should I start reading now? Should I do some observation practise like that homework Professor Ha gave us in Introduction to Behavioural Psychology? Maybe. I don’t have the psychology notebook with me right now but I guess I could scribble it on the back of the philosophy book with a pencil or something. I guess that would work. Or I could always take out the pretty notebook that I haven’t opened in quite a while. It’s probably time to open it again anyway.

{Operation ‘Let’s be happy together.’}

          Goals:

• Objective 1: Help Hunnie find something that makes her even happier than she already is.
• Objective 2: Maybe help Moonsik find someone too while you’re at it (keep it a secret from Moonsik.)
• Objective 3: Love yourself.

          Objective 1 missions:

          STEP 1: Talk to Eunseok hyung and try to see what he approximately feel towards her ✔️

          STEP 2: If the relationship turns out possible, get them to ‘accidentally meet’ often

          STEP 1.5: Arrange a “blind” date between Hunnie and Eunseok hyung (and pray that it’ll go great).  ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ 💯💯💯

          STEP 2B: If Eunseok hyung is not interested, find something else for Hunnie to be happy (to be figured out) (seems unnecessary from Hunnie's reaction but to be confirmed)

          Objective 2 missions:

          STEP 1: While doing objective 1 step 1, ask Eunseok hyung whether he knows someone single, nice, funny, and likes anime or tolerate someone who does (work in progress)

          Objective 3 missions:

          STEP 1: Walk around without a wig and try to not feel self-conscious  ✔️✔️✔️

          STEP 2: Does anything you want in public even if it’s weird, and try to not care about the weird looks or comment people say. (half tick) (reading a BTS fanfic in front of Tae-ssi must’ve              count for something, right?) ✔️

          STEP 3: Talk to ma and pa (half tick)

I look at the list and see some edits and fixes that need to be made. First the goals. I pick up my pen and make quick changes:

          Goals:

• Objective 1: Help Hunnie find something that makes her even happier than she already is. ✔️
• Objective 2: Maybe help Moonsik find someone too while you’re at it (keep it a secret from Moonsik.) ✔️
• Objective 3: Love yourself.

Satisfied, I move on to the Objective one missions.

          Objective 1 missions:

          STEP 1: Talk to Eunseok hyung and try to see what he approximately feel towards her ✔️

          STEP 2: If the relationship turns out possible, get them to ‘accidentally meet’ often

          STEP 1.5: Arrange a “blind” date between Hunnie and Eunseok hyung (and pray that it’ll go great).  ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ ✔ ️ 💯💯💯

          STEP 2B: If Eunseok hyung is not interested, find something else for Hunnie to be happy (to be figured out) (seems unnecessary from Hunnie's reaction but to be confirmed) IT                    WENT SUPER WELL

Next, Objective two missions.

          Objective 2 missions:

          STEP 1: While doing objective 1 step 1, ask Eunseok hyung whether he knows someone single, nice, funny, and likes anime or tolerate someone who does (work in progress) ✔️

          STEP 2: Set up a date for them with the help of Eunseok Hyung ✔️

Lastly, the third objective missions.

          Objective 3 missions:

          STEP 1: Walk around without a wig and try to not feel self-conscious  ✔️✔️✔️

          STEP 2: Does anything you want in public even if it’s weird, and try to not care about the weird looks or comment people say. (half tick) (reading a BTS fanfic in front of Tae-ssi must’ve              count for something, right?) ✔️

          STEP 3: Talk to ma and pa (half tick) ✔️✔️✔️

I pause with a smile. Good. Wonderful. Better than I thought. What’s next?

I spent the rest of the MRT journey mulling over what to write and just when I managed to write something down, the train halts and the door opens to my destination. I quickly dump everything into a tangled mess in my bag and hurry up before I got unwillingly dragged into the next stop.

          STEP 4: Walk confidently with your awesome short pastel-pink hair

***

By nine, I was by the truck, unlocking it, plugging it into the power source, checking the stocks, calling the manager to quickly double-check everything, all that jazz. By nine twenty, I was done with all the preparation and by nine forty, I was down with my phone, looking at outrageous theories on reddit. It is currently nine fifty and I click on my phone’s camera, directing it at the top of my head, just checking if it’s greasy or messy or something. I’ve folded the beanie and set it aside half an hour ago, afraid of it falling to the ground while I bend down to check the supplies. I’ll probably put it back on just at opening. I don’t know, my mind goes to every possibility of things that I can do when there’s nothing to do, and everything that could possibly happen in the future.

I should be used to this, I tell myself. The act of waiting I mean. Working in a coffee shop and a convenience store requires a lot of waiting; for someone to finish looking around that aisle before I finally get to restock a certain item, waiting for someone to search for their wallet to pay, waiting for the blender or the coffee machine to finish its job. Sometimes the waiting requires a person to be okay with being completely solitary in a quiet space. And I am. Otherwise, I wouldn’t stick around for so long, or at least complain about my job on a soju night out. But I am completely fine with that, I enjoy it even. But today is not like any other day.

Today, I’m going to work alone in a coffee truck, and although Manager Unnie already told me what to do in every possible could-go-wrong situation, I know all that only in theory. Whether or not I can execute it is unknown, at least until something does go wrong. If. Today, I’m going to deal with— meet, thousands of excited fans who are probably only within a few hundred-meter radii from their favourite at any given moment. Today, I’m more excited to go to work than on any other ordinary day.  

Staring at the screen for a time way too long, I can finally confirm it. Nope, my hair is completely fine, no grease or things like that. There’re a few odd strands sticking out, but a gentle pat easily sorts it out. The pink has faded a little but I still like it the way it is. The pink is lighter, softer, which nicely contrast the strong angular shape of the fringe. The tips are even whiter than it was before. Cool and pretty, like frozen cherry blossom petals on snow. I smile into the reflection of myself and lock the screen but the screen instantly turns on again.

“Hello?” I ask my phone. Nothing, for a few second. Then, it comes.

Brrr. Brrr.

My phone rings and vibrates in my hand. A minute till ten.

I raise myself up, pull on my clothes to straighten it down, wear my barista vest, and put the nevermind beanie back on. Blender, check. Coffee machine, check. Menu? I turn around. Check. The ice is under the removable tabletop, the flavoured syrups and the powders are all lined up nicely next to the blender with the simple syrup pump. Peanut butter, check. Ice cream. Ice cream! I rush to the fridge. Where’s the ice cream! Damn it, where’s the— ah there. The big, huge, absolutely gigantic tub of ice cream sits without a care in the world. Ice cream, check. Bora’s Coffee ready to open.

A very tired-looking possibly college student comes with a very energetic also-possibly college student.

“I heard of this place!” the cheery one giggles. “I can’t believe they’re here!” The friend just nods. They then turn to me. “Can I get a peanut butter shake?”

“One peanut butter shake?” they nod.

“What about you? What’re you getting?”

“Just, anything with coffee. I didn’t get much sleep.”

“Anything particular that you would like? Anything sweet? A bit salty? Hot or cold? We can add coffee to anything here.”

The tired one finally lets out a laugh. “Something sweet then. What do people usually like? I’m not very into peanut butter.”

“There’s also the vanilla coffee shake. You can opt for an extra shot if you need the extra kick.”

“Double extra shot then,” they smile.

I nod and smile back while typing their order. “One peanut butter shake and one vanilla coffee shake with double extra shot coming right up!”

And so my day begins. Slowly like trickling water, more and more people start pouring into the muster area, which means more customer. Then around lunchtime, the trickling water turns into a flood. So many people in one space! So many people walking around with merch in their embrace or on them, while the rest look jealously at all the items they haven’t won. It’s hot but no one seemed to be affected all that much. A big percentage of them just got here and their adrenaline is too high to care about the heat. They’re just having a wonderful time. The people lining up for order and pick up are the same. No one seems to mind waiting a little longer because of the large number of request and just one sole worker, me, which is great. Friendly customers are the best.

“That’ll be five thousand won, please.”

She hands me the exact change and waits for the receipt.  

“Cool beanie. And damn. Awesome hair,” her eyes lit up.

“Thanks, my friend did my hair, her insta is @HoneyDripHair,” I hand her the receipt. “And the beanie, I won it here yesterday. By the way, I was desperately trying to win the shirt you’re wearing right now but didn’t get any,” I smile, looking at her SG oversized tee.

“Oh this, I got it when I went to a music show.”

“Lucky you.”

She smiles and happily walks to the pick-up line.

Like the number of people, the orders are also flooding in like crazy. At one point, I almost had a mental breakdown over how to quickly make and deliver them before someone got pissed over the long wait. Thank goodness most group just order multiple cups of the same thing so I can make them all at once as long as I’m more thorough with them, making sure they taste the same as how they will be if I make only one of them. From the look on their faces when they take that first sip, I guess I succeed.

After the lunch rush, things are slower again. The lines are all cleared up and  I now have a little time to rest. The moment I sit down, however, I hear a loud mention of my name.

“Y/n! I’m here!”

“Moonsik!” I stand back up. “When did you get here?”

“Like fifteen minutes ago.”

“I thought you said you’re going to enjoy the muster and play till your heart content. What happen to that?”

“I’m still doing that. I need my peanut butter shake to enjoy the very best of muster.”

I laugh. “You’re such a fanatic. Do you live to be a fan?”

“My mom was a fangirl back in the day. Even when she was carrying me. I was soaked, floating in my mother’s womb with the DNA of a fan. I’m made that way and I shall continue for as long as I’m alive,” he nods.

I roll my eyes and shake my head. “Tone it down a bit, drama prince.”

“Prince?”

“Yeah, don’t want to give you the satisfaction by calling you a king. Besides, do you really want kingly responsibilities? I’ve always thought of you as like one of the younger prince who would totally escape from the palace and life a regular life to pursue ‘the romance dawn’ and travel with the mercenary or become a farmer.”

“Touche,” he nods. “But, Y/n, you say I’m born a fan like you’re not also like that.”

I laugh. “Yeah, who am I kidding. I just read a bit of one piece in the morning and damn, Zoro’s hot!”

“You, Y/n, can find somebody hot?”

“Why not? And it’s freaking badass pirate swordsman Roronoa Zoro! You’ve seen him in Wano right? Guys, girls, people who don’t identify as guys or girls, everyone probably find him hot. Deadly charismatic, intimidating, but also heart-breaking! I’ve seen some straight guys completely swooning over him. Oh hey! Aren’t you one of them?”

Moonsik shrugs. “Like you said, it’s Zoro.”

“Right. Anyway, one peanut butter shake.”

“Yes.” He hands me the money.

“Coming right up.”

After getting his much-anticipated shake, he says bye and leaves to get as much merch as possible. Giving his hidden talent at it yesterday, he could rob some stalls blind. The only reason he and Hunnie – the arcade and festival game duo – hadn’t done that yesterday was because Hyung and Unnie were here. Today, there are no leashes and they’re out for blood. I shake my head with a smile and sit down again. Finally, a proper rest.

I look around, empty, and take out the pretty notebook and a pen once again, trying to continue what was left unfinished in the train.

          STEP 4: Walk confidently with your awesome short pastel-pink hair

What was I about to do back then? Ah, right.

          STEP 4: Walk confidently with your awesome short pastel-pink hair ✔️

          STEP 5: Be happy with your own decision

At around four-twenty, Hunnie drops by at the truck again.

“Hey-ya, wha’chu doin’?”

“Working,” I answer her briefly before redirecting my focus to the over-excited fifteen-year-old. “I think I’ve seen you before, have you ever visited Bora’s coffee before?”

“Yes! I was about to ask if you sell any cakes here!” she laughs.

“I knew it! Strawberry Cream Shake?”

“Yes, that’s me! Can’t believe you remember!”

I smile at the girl whose face gets brighter and brighter by the second.

“The same please.”

I nod. “Coming right up.”

“Awesome hair by the way. I wanted to ask where you got it done but I forgot!”

“Well,” I smirk at Hunnie. “Today is your lucky day because the girl on your right,” she turns to see Hunnie who is smiling and waving at her, “she’s the one who did this.”

“That’s so cool!”

She pays and I swiftly turn around to complete her order. When I get back, Hunnie is crowded by excited people from the queue like a sugar cube in the middle of an army of ants, or should I say potential followers and even potential customers?

“The Vanilla Coffee Shake?” a tall guy raises his hand timidly and puts his receipt on the counter. I smile and hands it over to him. “And the Strawberry Cream Shake?”

I hear the girl tells Hunnie that she needs to go.

“Alright. Make sure to get your parents’ permission first.”

“Okay, Unnie!”

Definitely potential customers.

There are three more people after the Strawberry Cream Shake girl and then the lines are all cleared up.

“Well, Hunnie, I guess I’m getting a break.”

“Finally!”

“So, how has it been?  

“Great!” She lowers her backpack, unzips them, and shows me her loot.

“Did you rob the game stalls or something?”

“Technically, no.”

“Technically?”

“I won them! Fair and square!”

I chuckle. “I know, I know. How were their expression though when you keep winning?”

She smiles. “They were actually happier than I thought. I think loads of them are armys themselves and they like seeing people win. Sometimes, when someone tries again and again and doesn’t in, I think they make the game a bit easier for them.”

“That’s really nice.”

“Well, it’s not their stall, so,” she shrugs.

“Hunnie.”

“Just being realistic in this capitalistic world.”

“Right.”

“Oh, anyway, sorry.” I tilt my head, confused. “I didn’t find the shirt.”

“Ah, that. No worries.”

“But you really want it.”

“It’s okay.”

“I really want one too. If I find a stall that has it, I was gonna win two, ya know? Twinsies.”

“Maybe they’ll have it next year, who knows? We’ll just have to come super early.”

“Definitely.”

“By the way, Hunnie. it’s almost five. Why aren’t you with Moonsik yet?”

“Why do I need to?”

“For the event!”

“I can’t play alone?”

“Nope.”

“But why? Why can’t I go alone? What does he has anything to do with the event?”

“Everything. Trust me. And you really should be nicer to him.” I laugh. “If you knew what he’d done, you wouldn’t ever say something or do something nasty to him ever again. He’s such a precious little bean.”

“You know I’m just messing around with him. He’s so easy to tease, he makes it all too easy.”

“I know,” I chuckle. “But still, it’s alright and all, but don’t go over the line. He’s more sensitive than you are.”

“I know I know. Being around him, I think my older sister gene wakes up and urgh,” she fake-gag, “I’m turning into my brothers. Gross.”

“Older sister gene? We’re all the same freaking age!”

“Yeah, yeah, hush, child.”

“Hard to believe someone with your ‘older sister tendency’,” I air quote, “ended up with an older guy.”

“Shut up,” she huffs and pouts but I can always spot the slight nose wrinkle when she blushes.

“Anyway, I’ll just call him and tell him to come here. The event is starting soon.” I look at my phone. “Real soon.”

“Alright.”

I quickly press his contact info and is greeted by the usual ring.

“By the way, Y/n,” Hunnie says, looking at her phone. “Just today alone, I got like five hundreds more followers on Instagram. Did you do this?”

“What— Wha— Why, why would you assume I had anything to do with it?”

She stares at me, unimpressed.

“It’s not me. The hair promotes itself. I just answer the questions they asked.”

“Fair enough.”

The line connects.

“Moonsik? Yeah? It’s about to start! Hunnie’s here in front of the coffee truck. Come here! You’re close by? Okay. See you soon!”

***

“Finally, you’re here! You guys should go now.”

“Go where?”

“For the event of course. The surprise? Remember? No? So, you’re really not that bright, huh?” he taunts.

“You little brat, come here! Imma choke you!”

“Hunnie,” I chuckle, “Come on, you two are gonna be late if you keep this up.”

“Wha—"

“Just, come on!” Moonsik hops where he’s standing impatiently. “Let’s head to the stadium!”

“But why? The stadium is for the concert. Whatever event is going to be around here, right? We don’t have the tickets anyway, I—” Hunnie’s word got cut off by the sight of two beautiful pieces of paper.

“Surprise!” Moonsik and I exclaim at the same time.

“I FXCKING LOVE YOU GUYS! COME OUT HERE Y/N!”

I come out of the truck and got dragged by Hunnie into a group hug, both Moonsik and I are groaning in various degree of pain after being tackled on the ground.

“We fxcking kinda like you too but get the fxck off!” he wails. When she finally gets herself off us, Moonsik stiffly lifts himself up like a robot in need of lubricant.“My back! My back!”

“Oh, don’t be dramatic,” she nudges his side.”

“What are you guys waiting for? Run! Get the best spots!”

“You’re not coming with us?”

“No, each member could only buy two tickets. And plus,” I turn to the coffee truck that is now glowing with the darkening sky, “I have to work!”

“I’m so tempted to yank Moonsik’s ticket out of his hand and give it to you.”

“Hey!”

“Hunnie, we talked about this.”

“Yeah, I know, I’m restraining myself.”

“Just be grateful he gave the other ticket to you. He has a girlfriend who is also an army, remember?”

She nods vigorously. “THANKS MOONSIK!” Hunnie shouts from the top of her lungs.

“Sush, not so loud. Now let’s go.”

“Alright.”

“Have fun!”

“Later, Y/n!”

They wave and run towards the stadium. When they’re no longer in sight, I walk back into the coffee truck.

There is a visible flow of people towards the stadium. Some already waving their army bombs around with giddy excitement marking their features, some quickly inhaling their food because they’re not allowed to bring anything that does not come in a bottle. As the clock nears five-thirty, the already festive atmosphere gets charged even stronger, electricity is flowing freely up in the air, shared person-to-person until the crowd becomes one monolithic entity.

Then the gate is opened and the crowd poured in like water above a glowing light.

I rest my chin on my palm, my elbow propped on the countertop. Everything went by so fast and there is almost no one around now though it was swamped with people just mere thirty minutes ago. Everyone else is now inside the venue, cheering with all their heart. The first performance just started. I could hear the fan chants “Kim Namjoon, Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi, Jung Hoseok, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung, Jeon Jungkook, BTS!!!!!!” I close my eyes for a while, absorbing the traces of the performance, the energy produced from inside the stadium that leaked out and spreads towards the rest of the world.

I think about today. The nervousness and excitement I felt this morning, the challenges of working in an unfamiliar work station, the mind-blowingly fun conversations I had with the people I served – we traded fanfic reading lists, talked about our favourite song and why, chatted over fashion, how we got into the fandom and so many more topics.

With a smile, I reopen my pretty notebook and click my pen.

          STEP 5: Be happy with your own decision ✔️

A wave of warmth surge around me. I like this job. I love it. The hectically trying to fulfil all orders, the funny slip-ups, the idle chats, the smile on their face as they take that first sip. I don’t want a grand career, I just want more days like today.

The cheer crescendos and spreads out as the song takes a quieter turn as though the fans were holding their breath. It all makes perfect sense. Not only that they have great songs, but they’re great at live performance too. It sounds great from outside the hall, nonetheless inside right at the edge of the stage. I can only imagine how amazing the performances that Hunnie must be seeing right now right in front of her eyes. But knowing her, she might not even see that clearly, she might be sobbing while waving her army bombs like crazy. I am genuinely concern about the people who are sitting or standing next to her. They might get hit. Moonsik might get hit, but they could just hit each other, both can’t see a thing, crying and sobbing with the rest of the crowd. I close my eyes and my mind wisps away and join the distant melody.

Then, I hear something. But it’s vague. “E…” I ignore it. “Excuse me, hi, miss?” I hear it loud and clear this time and my soul goes back to my body and to reality.

“Oh sorry,” I tuck my loose strands of hair behind my ear in embarrassment. “How may I help you?”

A stern-faced man, staff, with the staff badge around his neck looks up from his watch. “The boys will finish their performance in one and a half hour so can you have seven drinks prepared before then so that by in one hour and thirty minutes, the drinks will all be set on their table,” he tells me hurriedly as if he needs to be somewhere else right now. It’s possible that he’s busy. It’s also possible that he may want to use his time watching them from the side of the stage, which I also would understand. But instead of all those details, the thing that is stuck in my mind is how he calls seven grown ass men ‘boys’.

“Sure, seven drinks, all fresh and ready on their table in one and a half hour,” I answer abruptly.

“Great. Thanks,” he says and walks away.

Holding in laughter is a hard thing to do. I was shivering when I answered because I didn’t want to laugh. And I especially don’t want to laugh over something so incredibly stupid that, regrettably, I came up with. It’s not like anyone can change their name in bulletproof men-scout. I let out a chuckle and sigh at myself.

Right. The fact that he called seven grown-ass men ‘boys’ and the fact that he left no instructions or specific orders. What drinks should I make then? What if they don’t like what I bring them? Will they all just enjoy the typical iced americano or should I just put extras just in case. But am I allowed to? Should I just call Manager Unnie?

I look around for any possible customer. None. I pull out my phone.

Krrr. Krrr.

It’s ringing.

Krrr. Krrr.

Still ringing.

Krrr. Krrr.

And then it stops. She's not answering. Okay then.

Should I just treat them for one or more drink option? Let's just see how things are first.

Think, Y/n. Think.

Okay, so, since they'll be drinking it presumably after the concert, they'll be all warm and sweaty and exhausted, so all drinks should be cold. Based on their track records, Suga-ssi often gets – well anything with caffeine in it but mostly – Iced Americano. With an extra shot.

Next, Hobi-ssi. He seemed to really like the chocolate milkshake. I think he ordered them a few times.

Jimin-ssi, last time he also ordered a shake and he even ordered the same thing again after that. What was it? It was in the same 'new addition specials' as the chocolate shake. Chocolate shake. Chocolate shake and. Chocolate. Chocolate shake and— Ah. Chocolate shake and Vanilla Coffee Shake. With an extra shot. He liked it enough to order it twice.

Okay. Next. Jin-ssi. When he came with Suga-ssi, he ordered the dark chocolate shake if I'm not mistaken.

Jungkook-ssi. An interesting choice. I chuckle, remembering the exact moment when his eyes sparkled as he ordered the Banana Milk Tea. I'm not really sure how much he liked it precisely, but I remember Jin-ssi always buying chocolate and banana milk for the maknae, and if banana milk is indeed his favourite drink, then there's no way he wouldn't like that, right? Okay, done. Now, the hard part: Namjoon-ssi and Tae-ssi.

I've never seen Namjoon-ssi and Tae-ssi in the coffee shop, so I have no idea what they like to drink. I have to pick two out of three choices I have in mind, but it's too hard! It's either Dalgona milk tea, Iced Chocolate or Peanut Butter Shake, because, like Moonsik said the other day, they really are quite popular these days, BUT WHICH ONE! Should I go with variety and just remove the iced chocolate because it's pretty similar to the chocolate shake? But what if they, Namjoon-ssi or Tae-ssi, want simplicity and something light? Peanut butter shake is quite heavy. Ah! I don't know! I can always make eight and ask the staff later, but then what will happen then?

I sigh.

I guess I can always drink the other one.

Okay. Let’s do this.

One and a half-hour later, the same staff returns, and I show him the eight drink and present him my dilemma.

“So, should I bring all eight or should I choose seven out of them. And if it’s seven, then which two out of three? Dalgona milk tea, Iced Chocolate or Peanut Butter Shake?”

He looks at the drinks tiredly before sighing in resignment. “Just bring all eight, it’s fine, we’ll pay for all eight.”

Beaming, I quickly place them in two four-space take-out boxes and pick them up to follow the staff into the building from the back entrance.

We walk for quite a while, passing through corridors upon corridors. With Microcosmos playing in the background, my adrenalin rises and my heartbeat crescendos in my ear. The cheer is getting louder by the second and I can tell we’re near.

Suddenly, the staff stops in front of the door and opens it for me.

“See that long wooden coffee table in between the two long sofas? Place the drinks there.”

I nod and so as I am told. I set them right in the centre of the table and smile when I look at them from afar, all drinks labelled with the name of each member according to their preference, decorated with the logo of our coffee shop. Manager Unnie would be so proud.

“Er, excuse me, is it okay if I take a picture of the drinks on top of the table? Just the drink and the table, nothing else, for promotional purposes.”

He’s awfully quiet.

“You can check my phone afterwards, if you want. I’m not gonna take pictures of anything else.”

After another short moment of silent torture, he finally speaks up.

“Alright, but I’ll have to check the photo and your image library afterwards to not risk any security breaches,”

“Of course,” I smile and get to work. I spot a pile of coaster on the end of the table, take them and arrange the eight drinks in the fan chant order.

Kim Namjoon, Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi, Jung Hoseok, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung, Jeon Jungkook, BTS!

Satisfied, I take a few well-angled pictures quickly, and quickly walk to the staff.

“Here you go.”

He checks the photos immaculately, zooming in to make sure there aren’t any personal belonging spotted in the background. When he finally gives me an all clear, I take my phone back and quickly shut the door behind me as I leave.

Following him, we walk along the hall towards the same direction from where I came. The moment I turn the corner, however, I hear chatters of excitement before the door clicks open and close again as the voices disappears. I guess they’ve finished their performance for today. I was about to pick up my pace when I hear, “oh look, guys! Drinks! It has our name too!”

“Where is it from?”

“Bora Coffee Shop”

“Oh, I like their coffee. Nice!”

Hearing that, I decided to stay there a little longer, just to see whether I guessed the right drink for the right member. But unfortunately, I couldn’t hear very clearly from where I am, so I make do with the slightly muffled words – trying to breathe as quietly as I could – and make sense of them in my head. I realized how creepy it is and I really should respect their privacy, so I turn around and was about to leave when I hear an “as expected” from many members simultaneously and a loud collection of gasps and an “excuse me.”

“Ah, yes?” I ask the staff member.

“Can you find the way out on your own?”

“Ah, sorry, I don’t really remember how we got here.”

“Oh, okay. Then can you stay for a little bit. I need to do something very shortly and then I’ll lead you to the exit. It’s an emergency.”

“That’s alright,” I say and the staff strides hurriedly back to the direction we came from.

I lean against the wall and hear the guys again.

"Wait," that's Jin-ssi, I think, "what do you mean as expected?"

"What do you mean as expected?" and that's Jimin-ssi.

"I asked first!"

"Because Hobi Hyung, Kookie and I went there before and now we got what we liked from there."

"Yeah, they remember my order. What about you, Hyung?" That's Hobi-ssi.

"This really is fate, Jungkook-ah," Jin-ssi says and I can hear faint low chuckle in the background.

"So—"

I hear a footstep, but it goes away abruptly, probably another staff member.

"Hyung, you know all that and you didn't tell me!" Jungkook-ssi yells. Jin laughs at the ridiculousness of the situation.

"Seriously, Hyung?" Hobi-ssi says. "The same person who we order coffee from is the same person who found Jungkook's phone—"

"One of them," Jungkook-ssi interrupts.

"Right," he continues, "one of the people who found Jungkook's phone, and is the same person you gave that receipt signature while buying so much milk all the time for Jungkook?"

"You know all this, but you didn't tell us?" Jungkook-ssi's voice gets high. "Why?"

"What?" Jin-ssi looks at him widely, trying to suppress his laughter. "Wae. Why only me, Yoongi knows too!"

"How?"

"I told him," Jin-ssi laughs again. "And that's not all."

"What?"

"Yoongi's a regular at Bora's coffee. He knows Y/n for like more than half a year now!" Then, Jin-ssi finally breaks down laughing, clear ringing window wiping laugh echoes through the air which is soon followed by Suga-ssi's bright chuckle.

"Ah, hyung!"

"Sorry, Maknae, Hyung desperately want to see what will happen when you finally find out, Jungkook-ah," Jin-ssi chuckles as he slowly comes back to earth.

"Me too," Suga-ssi says, still laughing.

"Am I the only one who doesn't know this person?" Namjoon-ssi finally speaks up.

"No, Hyung." It's Tae-ssi. "Me too, I also don't know who they're talking about."

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" the staff returns with a nod and we walk back out from the side gate the exact same way we got in. 'To avoid the crowd so you can quickly pack up,' he says. And true enough, I reach the coffee truck and begin to pack all the things away for closing before even half the crowd is out the stadium main door.

Quickly finishing the closing preparation, I keep the lights on and wait inside the truck so that Hunnie and Moonsik know where to find me. We're going to go home together.

I take my phone out and create a group chat.

Group chat created.

Group chat name changed to ‘Weebs and Other Mythical Things’

Hunnie is added to ‘Weebs and Other Mythical Things’

Moonsik is added to ‘Weebs and Other Mythical Things’

Y/n: I can’t believe we don’t have a group chat

Y/n: How the

Y/n: Anyway

Y/n: I’m waiting in the coffee truck

Y/n: kept the lights on so you can see me

Y/n: See you

Y/n: And tell me everything on the way home

I lock my phone, stuff it in my pocket and smile, humming Microcosmos, and snickering as I remember Bangtan’s conversation from earlier.

Wonder what would happen when Namjoon-ssi and Tae-ssi find out.

Chapter Text

“THAT WAS FREAKING AWESOME!” Hunnie launches herself at me and I barely manage to catch her in time before both of us collapse onto hard ground.

“I see,” I put her down, laughing at how squeamish she is being. “And you, Moonsik?”

“I— I—" he shakes, shivering almost, in pure glee and excitement.

“This idiot reached a whole new level of fanboying in there when they performed Ddaeng. I think he almost levitated or something.”

“That’s—" his eyebrows furrow like he wants to complain and say something but he just sighs pleasantly and nods, “yea, that was awesome.”

“Please exit the venue slowly and in line. Watch for your belonging carefully and make sure you have everything with you. Thank you for attending BTS 5th Muster. Have a good night.” Then a little tune plays, signaling the end of the announcement.

“Let’s go. It’s late. We can talk about it as we walk.”

The next day, I stop by at the coffeeshop in the morning to meet Manager Unnie – to hand in the key to the coffee truck, the money, and things like that.

“So, how was it?” Manager Unnie asks as I give her the key to the truck.

“Quite exciting.”

“Yeah? Was it hard working alone in a truck?”

“In a way, yeah, but it’s mostly just feels normal. All the equipments are there. The only difference is that there’s live music and super cheery fans. Gosh, they’re a blast. How was it for you, Unnie?”

“About the same as you,” she smiles. “Most people there were really open with their compliment, or at least I think it was a compliment?”

“What did they say?”

“That I remind them of their favourite anime character. Who was it again? Mi— Misa— I don’t know. They keep calling me president and told me that I’ll look good in a Japanese maid cafe uniform. I don’t understand young people these days.”

“Er, Unnie, was it Ayuzawa Misaki?”

“Ah, yes! That’s it!”

“Okay.” I nod. “I can kinda see it. But are you a tsundere?”

“If I understand it correctly, no? I’m just blunt.”

I laugh. “I see. They probably meant it as a compliment though. She’s amazing. She’s smart and can do anything.”

She nods contemplatively with her arms crossed. “Thank you for your service, the walking anime dictionary.”

“That would be Hunnie, but I accept.”

“Okay, good. Now go home and rest.”

“Uhm, actually.”

Unnie’s eyebrow rises questioning as I cringe lightly. “Yes?”

“I got a shift at the store this afternoon.”

She looks at me dead in the eyes. “Workaholic.”

“Yeah, can’t deny it anymore.”

“How many shift do you have this week at the store?”

“Two?”

“Then this week you’re getting only one shift here. I’m removing your Friday shift.”

“But—“

“Do you really need the money for that shift.”

“Well, not really, but—“

“Then I’m taking that away. Baram said she needs some cash cause her dad’s birthday is in a few weeks.”

“Oh. Then I guess that’s okay.”

“I want you to use that day for whatever you want to do except working. Walking around, studying, cause you’re still a student, playing pc games, going on a marathon, I don’t care. Just don’t come here unless it’s an emergency. Now. See you tomorrow and not any other day this week unless you’re here as a customer.”

“Alright alright,” I laugh. “I get it. I’ll steer clear of here.”

After the brief conversation with Manager Unnie, I run to my Introduction to Philosophy class which luckily is only around ten to fifteen minutes away on a regular walking pace. I’m cutting it close though, but I manage to take a seat and settle right before the professor arrives.

“How’re you gonna spend your birthday?” Baram Unnie says, still wearing her jacket having just entered the shop a minute ago. Her shift won’t be until around fifteen minutes.

“Hm?”

“Your birthday! It’s in exactly a week.”

“Ah, right.” Birthday. I completely forgot. Whoops.

“Are you gonna go home?”

“Ah. No. I have a shift. And plus, Hunnie probably already has plans for it anyway.”

“What about your parents?”

“I went home the other day already and we’re probably just gonna have a video call. We’re used to this by now, since my birthday is never in the holidays.”

Unnie nods. “Gotcha. Oh, what are you planning to do though? I mean like if you’re going to celebrate, are you gonna eat out or, you know, this Unnie is waiting for her dongsaeng’s invitation. Where is it, Y/n?”

“Woah, talk to Hunnie about that. I’m never in charge of my own birthday. Not when Hunnie is around.”

“Is she, I don’t know, is event organizing her hobby?”

“I have no clue. She does it all the time, but I think it’s less of a ‘I like categorizing things and making them neat’ and more of a ‘let’s see how big of a shock I can give you this year compared to last year’.”

“Was last year crazy?”

“Yes. I’m terrified to see what she’s gonna do next.”

“What did she do? You know what? Tell me some birthday stories.”

“Let’s see. A few years ago. She records random people on the street to say happy birthday to me.”

“Amazing. What else?”

“The year after that. She hired a rental boyfriend for me for a whole day, which was very awkward.”

“Pfft!” She bursts into a fit, trembling of laughter. I think I accidentally got spat on a little. I wipe my cheeks with the back of my hand. “I thought those services only exist in Japan!”

“Everything exists everywhere if you look hard enough, apparently.”

“I guess. Oh, anyway, sorry.” She clears her throat. “What else?”

“Seeing that that didn’t work, the day after that she hired a rental girlfriend instead, insisting on a part two on the whole birthday celebration. Equally awkward, except that she was also paid to follow me around. She even went with me to class and got interested in psychology.”

Baram Unnie cackles. “Y/n stop, I can’t.”

“That’s not all. The year after that, she rented both a rental boyfriend and girlfriend. And they’re the exact same people who she rented for my previous birthdays.”

“Hunnie, you absolute legend.”

“Was awkward until we became acquaintances. Well, the guy that is. The girl, uhm, we see each other in the halls sometimes. She takes psychology too now, but she’s on a different year. Now whenever we see each other in the streets, we’ll wave and all. That’s last year by the way. I don’t want to even think that something stranger would happen.”

“What strange thing?”

“Hm?”

I turn to my left and see Jimin-ssi smiling while waving his hand. I didn't even hear the bell.

"Whenever I come here, I always see you working."

"That's cause it's my shift," I smile.

He nods. "So, what's about the strange thing?"

"It's Y/n's birthday in exactly a week. Hunnie, Y/n's friend, always plan something crazy for the day and it escalates every year. It should be exciting but Y/n's going to spend the day working even though the Manager keeps saying to take it easy." Unnie checks the clock and pats my back as a signal. "Oh, excuse me, I have to get ready to start my shift." She smiles at Jimin-ssi and I before leaving to the staff room.

"Spending a birthday working even though the Manager keeps saying 'take it easy'. Sounds familiar," Jimin-ssi laughs.

"I know right."

"Oh, by the way, were you at the Muster a few days ago?"

"Hm? How come?" He was a part of those who figures it out, wasn't he? Who haven't yet? Namjoon-ssi and, er, Tae-ssi?

"It might sound silly, and it could be a complete coincidence, but we got drinks from this coffee shop and all the drinks were things we ordered from here. So, we thought that you could be the one making those drinks?"

"You're right. I was there actually." I laugh as Jimin-ssi gives himself a high-five.

"How was the concert? Did you attend?"

"Unfortunately, no. I don't have the fan club member so I couldn't get the ticket."

"Oh. So, did you go home early or did you stay and play the games? I heard they got really interesting games this year."

"I did play some games. They're interesting alright," I smile remembering Moonsik rapping and Hunnie doing— whatever it was she did. "But during the concert, I got my shift and I had to guard the coffee truck."

"I think we talked about this before, but you might be a real workaholic."

"I remember that conversation and if I remembered it correctly, we also reached the same conclusion about you."

"I prefer hard-working, but I guess workaholic will do."

I laugh.

"Such a shame though. I wanted to ask what you think about the concert, but you weren't attending it."

"Based on what I heard outside the stadium, it was amazing. Too bad I couldn't see you have fun on stage. Though I did experience something special."

"Something special?"

I nod. "I heard Mikrokosmos and Young Forever outside the venue in an open space at night with festival lights. The way the songs echo away in waves, it's— it's out of this world."

"I'm," he looks slightly in shock. Maybe no one has ever told him the possibility of staying outside of the arena being a special experience. But the shock only lasted a split second before it contorts into a bright smile. "I'm really glad you enjoyed it."

"Oh, and Jimin-ssi, your voice was absolutely perfect yesterday. That high notes in Pied Piper were so good I got goosebumps.

"Aa, you don't have to say that," he mumbles as he blushes.

"I want to Jimin-ssi," I smile. "Oh, sorry, ready to order?"

"I think so. I'll have a double shot iced americano, please."

"Sure. Anything else?"

"Nope, all good."

"4500 Won, please."

He pays with cash and while waiting for the coffee machine to finish, I ask the question that has been lingering at the back of my mind since I first catch a glance of him today.

"I think it's the first time I've seen you around with a notepad. Are you working on new songs?"

"Ah, this?" he lifts it up. "Not exactly. At least not yet. Suga Hyung gave me a spare he has. He told me to write lyrics and if it fits then it's considered a new song. Before that, it's an experiment," he laughs.

"That's pretty cool." The coffee splashes a little as I pour ice into it. "I'm now officially an army Jimin-ssi, which means I saw the videos over the years of everyone asking songs from Suga-ssi. How does it feel to finally get one?"

He laughs. "When he gave me the usb drive, I got the chiils. I thought I was dreaming."

"Ah, I'm excited. I want the mini-mini sub-unit to come true! I wish the best for you and your lyrics writing process. Jimin-ssi," I set the finished beverage in front of him. "Hwaiting!"

"Hwaiting!"

He cheerfully takes his coffee and march towards a big table on the left of the counter, on a corner that is mostly hidden from the rest of the coffee shop by a wall but gets an unobstructed view of the counter. Thank goodness he’s so focused on his task. Wait, do the customers sitting at that table stare usually? They do have direct access to the serving station and the whole back wall. Hopefully, I didn’t do anything embarrassing. Hopefully, not.

After a few minutes have passed, the door opens again and this time I hear the bells.

“Welcome to Bora coffee. How may I help you?”

“Coffee of course,” the man scoffs. “Why else would people go to a coffee shop?”

“We also have a range of beverages with no coffee here.” He ignores me and continues to look at the menu. That’s okay. Sometimes people can feel awkward answering, so I wait instead.

“What kind of coffee cost 4500 Won!”

“That would be the americano.”

“Yes, I know! I have eyes! All the others are even more expensive than that! I might as well make my own coffee then, just put the powder in hot water and stir.”

Then why don’t you? “That’s a different type of coffee, sir. This one uses the espresso which is made with high pressure.” I try answering as politely as I can but I’m starting to feel like, how do I describe it? Like I want to punch his face.

“Then what about those others? Why are they more expensive?”

“They use the same coffee as the americano but instead of mixing it in water, they are mixed with milk.”

“Anyway,” he rolls his eyes. I want to poke them with my fingers. “I’ll get an ice americano.”

“That would be 4500 Won.”

“This is so bitter!”

“There’s an additional sugar syrup over here if you need it.” I point to the little squeeze bottle next to a chocolate powder shaker, brown sugar packets and straws, but he doesn’t even care to look.

“This tastes like dog poo. So expensive too! Try it!” He takes a straw, dips it in the coffee then proceeds to take it out quickly and splatters it on me. “Tastes like shit, right?”

“Excuse me!” Before I get to react, Baram Unnie strides over from behind. “What did you just do.”

“Nothing. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I saw you splash coffee to my fellow staff here.”

“It was just an accident, isn’t that right?” he grins at me.

I’ve seen that look many times before. Most people probably have as well, especially when they’re young since most adults around seems to think that a child knows nothing. It a look of demean, as though they have control over you. Yeah right. I stare right back. “He splashes coffee on me.”

“It was an accident!”

I ignore him and turn to Baram Unnie. “He said the coffee tastes like dog poo, told me to taste it, purposely splashed it on me, and even asked “tastes like shit, right?”

“You dare to cuss in front of your elder?”

I ignore him and opt to look at the rest of the coffee shop instead. The cream and beige-coloured walls are so comforting to look at, what a nice choice of colours. And the little potted plants scattered around each corners of the place. What a nice place. The newspaper stands, the wooden floor, the— Jimin-ssi? He looks at me with creases between his brows. I shake my head and smile. Don’t worry, we got this.

“You!”

“You need to leave, sir.”

“How dare you! I’m a paying customer!”

“You treated our staff terribly.” Baram Unnie takes another step further, her voice strong and firm. “You must leave.”

“This is crazy! I’ll tell everyone what kind of place this is and then no one is going to buy from here!”

“Good. Go do that. We have CCTV recordings of everything. We’ll just show the netizen what you did to deserve the treatment.”

With a nasty look, he scoffs again, spits on the floor, and push through the door as though with the intention to break it, cussing the entire time about ‘kids these days’.

We both sigh in relief when he’s out of sight. “Finally.”

“But the floor!” Unnie pouts. “It’s wooden floor.”

“At least it’s not carpet.”

“That’s true.”

“I’ll grab the tissue.”

“No, Y/n, your shift is over. Let me take care of this. Just, I don’t know, get ready to leave or. Oh! Let me make you a drink.”

“No, I can’t. You’re saving for a birthday present for your dad.”

“Who says I’m giving it to you for free? Use your employee discount.”

Oh. “Unnie.” I laugh. “Okay okay. I’ll get a— what’s your specialty drink again?”

“Lattes of course. Perfect crema, perfectly smooth foam, latte art, you name it.”

“Large flat white with your feeling poured into the latte art, please.”

“Coming right up.”

“Just cut it directly from this month’s paycheck in the machine. I’m gonna go change.”

“Yeah. You do that. Quickly though, because I work fast and I don’t want the coffee to get cold cause you’re taking too long.”

“Yes, mom.”

“Good kid.”

***

When I return from the staff room, Unnie has just put the large cup on the order collection area.

“You’re here, great. It’s still fresh.”

“Thanks, Unnie.”

She smiles. As I grab my mug from the counter, I see the art.

“Unnie. First, beautiful. Second. Me too.” It’s a picture of a ticking bomb.

I look around for a comfortable looking table. Maybe the one on the deepest part of the coffeeshop? I don’t think I’ve ever sat here properly as a customer, maybe once or twice before I apply and got this job. Maybe the one on the couch?

Suddenly, in my peripheral vision, I see Jimin-ssi with his hand up, like a student waiting for their teacher to pick them. I smile and walk towards him. “Yes, Jimin-ssi? What’s up?”

“Are you okay?”

“Hm?”

“You can sit here if you’d like,” he points at all the large empty space with his hand. “It’s a very large table.” I look around at the almost empty shop. It can feel a bit lonely if I sit alone. “I mean, the shop is quite empty, and the huge table is empty, and the place can seem a bit lonely.” Right. I smile.

“Then, if you don’t mind,” I place my mug gently and pull up the chair on the perpendicular side of his seat.

As I sit and settle, I notice him looking at my coffee cup in awe.

“Latte art. Haven’t seen that for a long time. I guess that’s what I get for getting coffee all the time and not ordering lattes,” he chuckle. “And a bomb?”

“That’s right. It represents how much she wanted to explode earlier.”

“Yes, that, how are you feeling? Do that sort of things happen often?”

“I’m okay. Not very affected by it. Annoyed for sure, but that’s about it. And no, it’s doesn’t happen often at all. It’s actually very rare. Luckily, people who walk in here generally have more sense than that.”

He laughs. “Also, you defended yourself! You didn’t just agree with him and let him get away with it. I thought you were really cool.”

“Thanks. My best friend has three older brothers, so she has to defend herself to survive. I guess I take after her.”

“Self-defense. Is that why our maknae is so big and scary now?”

“I don’t know, but my friend is really strong, especially her grip for some reason. I’ve always just assumed that it’s because of that.”

“Oh. Then maybe we shouldn’t tease him as much. It could be dangerous if he gets even bigger and stronger. It’s scary. I should tell the others.” Right as he says it, his phone rings. “The devilish bunny himself. Excuse me.”

“Oh no, please.”

He picks up the call and I pick up my coffee, taking the first sip which ruins the bomb on top.

“Where am I? Bora Coffee. I asked you if you want to come and you said no!” He laughs again, even brighter this time. “What! No, I never said don’t follow me. Where did you get that from? You must be dreaming. Yes, I’m sure.” A pause.

In the meantime, I try to drink my flat white as slow as possible. It’s not just caffeine. It’s delicious coffee that should be enjoyed.

“Sure,” Jimin-ssi speaks again. “If you wanna come here then come. I’ll wait.” He hums. “Okay, maknae, just come. Yes, yes. See you.” He hangs up and turns to me. “He’s coming here.”

I nod.

“Hopefully he brings something interesting. I really can’t think of anything for the lyrics.” He sighs.

“Ah, yes, creative writing, one of many forms of artistic struggles and freedom.”

“Oh, I like that. Are you an idea bank?”

“Only on my good days.”

“Is today your good day?”

I chuckle. “I’ll have to see.”

“Can you help me?”

“Sure,” I nod, “this could be fun. What sort of topics interest you now adays? Maybe a personal feeling?”

“Personal thoughts and feeling. Hm.” He goes silent for a moment. As his gaze drifts to somewhere hanging in the air, so are his thoughts, it seems.

I take another sip. What have I been thinking of lately?

“I think I used to feel slightly guilty,” he starts, still looking somewhere in the air. Army shower us with so much love and I used to think I don’t deserve it, that we’re just entertainers. We dance and sing, and we do it because we want to. I feel quite selfish. It’s something I do for myself, but everyone acted like everything we did, it’s always for Army. It’s that sort of thought.”

“I see.”

“Oh, sorry, that was unexpectedly dark, isn’t it?”

“Oh, no, not at all! Don’t worry. I feel that way too sometimes. Especially when I’m surrounded by wonderful people, and I thought, how did I get so lucky?”

“Yes, exactly!” he smiles. “I think people who remain around us even in our darkest times are super important. For that, I would always be grateful to our members and Army. Sometimes a few people would ask, why do you guys prioritize army so much? How do you pretend to love your fans that much? But I don’t think they see the point. How could we not prioritize them? How can we pretend to love them when Army give us so much love and care? When they say ‘pretend’, I feel like those people treat ‘fans’ as objects, a mere number instead of actual living people. It makes me so mad; I feel like I’m going to explode. I want to tackle them to the ground and wrestle them or something.”

“Like a bomb?”

“Like an army bomb,” he grins.

“Nice one,” I laugh. “Exploding like a bomb isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Rightly directed anger is a force to be reckon with. It changes society, making a mark in history.”

“You sound like Namjoon Hyung right now.”

“My mind likes to wonder places. I think about all sort of random things sometimes, like how a well-directed anger can protects things too, like that super popular saying people use in PC bang, the best defense is a good offense.”

“Now you sound like Jin Hyung,” he chuckles.

I smile, but my mind goes back to that sentence he said, ‘I think I used to feel slightly guilty. Army shower us with so much love and I used to think I don’t deserve it’. “Jimin-ssi, do you still feel that guilt sometimes, though?”

He shakes his head. “Instead, I just want to be useful to them. There’s nothing else I could do aside from being a performer, a singer, a dancer, and with this, hopefully, a lyricist?”

I laugh. “You got this.”

“Hopefully. So, I thought I should make myself as useful as possible. Maybe help them create a haven, a place of comfort, become their filter so that the world doesn’t look as dark and ugly.”

“Wait, Jimin-ssi. I like that.”

“Ehm?”

“What you said just now. You want to become their filter so that the world doesn’t look as dark and ugly. I think that’s a wonderful concept.”

“You think so?”

“Yes! I’m sure.”

“Okay! I’m writing that down. Thanks for your help.”

“I didn’t do anything. All of that came from you. I’m just a decent conversationalist.”

“You’re a great conversationalist.”

“Thank you,” I give a cheeky grin. “So are you.”

“Well, thank you.”

I take another sip of the flat white that have lost half of its heat. To become their filter so that the world doesn’t look as dark and ugly, huh. I wonder if it’ll become a song one day.

Chapter Text

"I still don't know what to write but I guess I can start from here. Thanks again."

"Like I said, it was all you."

Jimin-ssi smiles but in a split second, it turns into a frown. "Are you really alright?"

"Yes, I am. Don't worry, it's no big deal."

"But he was really rude, just watching that got my blood boiling."

"It's the service industry," I laugh. "I expect no less."

"Still."

"And don't take this the wrong way. As a fan, I'm grateful that you didn't rush from your seat to stop him. It must be hard to hold back, but it's harder for Army to see you guys get targeted again and again over stupid things. Have you heard the saying? 'It's okay until Bangtan does it'."

"I don't think so. What's that?"

"Well," I pause, thinking of any examples I could muster. That's one of it. I'm also thinking whether it's alright for me to tell them these things. Will they feel hurt knowing what the fans know? Do they know those things already? The air conditioning is set on a constant temperature and with the lack of customers today, the room is colder than normal. I press my rapidly cooling hands to the mug, clinging on the remnants of its previous warmth. I sigh. It's probably better to just tell him. "Receiving the Billboard's Top Social Artist Awards, for example." That's the one example that comes up on top of my head. I recall in detail how furious Hunnie was when she told me this while reading the tweets last year. "There were many jealous people out there who tried to discredit that achievement, calling it 'paper award', basically saying it's useless and non-valuable. Yet, when their favourite celebrity got nominated for the same award, those same people celebrated their favourite's nomination, saying what a great achievement that is."

His face remains neutral as he hums. At least he didn't take it negatively so that's good. "I've never heard of this before."

"Don't worry about it. Just hypocritical people being hypocritical people."

"How can I worry over that sort of thing when we have armys," he smiles.

I chuckle. "That's right."

Suddenly a clear tintinnabulation appears from the door. At the sight, Jimin-ssi raises his hand. "Jungkookie, it's here!" Jungkook-ssi stands near the entrance with a cap and a big brown backpack. His chest rises and falls quickly as his eyes searching frantically. Looks like he ran here. When he finds us, he looks at us for longer than two seconds. Probably wondering why I'm sitting here, then walks quickly over.

"Hi, Jungkook-ssi, is it alright if I join you two?" I ask.

He shifts nervously in places, glancing back and forth to Jimin-ssi before hastily blubbering a "oh, sorry, yes of course! I should be the one to say that, er, Y/n-ssi."

Jimin pulls up the chair besides him and taps it. "Come here, kiddo." Jungkook-ssi complies. After he settles, Jimin-ssi throws an arm over his shoulders and holds him tightly. "Now," he uses his other hand to pat Jungkook-ssi violently on his back, "what are you doing, kiddo? Before you left me alone but all of a sudden you came looking for me?"

"I'm feeling stuck."

"Oh." He pats Jungkook-ssi again, but gentle this time. "How are you feeling?"

He merely shakes his head.

I glance around. The mood was not so great. They need some privacy and they won't be getting any with me around. I really should go. Sorry Unnie, your coffee is really the best. I pick up my mug and start to quickly down my coffee.

"Woah, slow down, you're gonna choke."Jimin-ssi chuckles. I slow down but finished it anyway. Jungkook-ssi is still silent.

With the coffee mug empty, I slowly wipe around my mouth

"Y/n-ssi, if you're leaving only out of consideration, you don't have to. Kookie's fine. On the other hand, I'm still not completely convinced you are after what happened."

Damn it. I can't leave now. I'm crap at making things up as they go along and they're gonna feel crap if they know that that's exactly why I'm leaving. Maybe I should've pretended to look at the time on my phone or something.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Jungkook-ssi smiles apologetically. "I'm not doing terrible, just a bit stressed from work. Sorry. Oh, and I want to say thank you for the drink. You remembered what I like." A genuine smile this time.

"Just doing my job, your company was the one paying for the drinks."

Jimin-ssi shakes his head, looking like he's about to facepalm himself. "You're not great at compliments, are you?"

"Not at all," I smile. "Speaking of compliments, Jungkook-ssi, I heard Euphoria live on Muster and my goodness. It's even better than the recording!"

He scrunches his nose in embarrassment while scratching the back of his neck. "It's thanks to all the staffs and armys who are so supportive. The audio staffs were also really good at their job."

A gentle slap. Now Jimin-ssi has done it. "Look at you two," he shakes his head in disbelief. "I think I better call Jin Hyung to personally train you both at taking compliment. You're not gonna die if you say thank you."

I feel a push. First, it's a chuckle, but then it grows bigger and keeps expanding till I'm laughing way louder than I thought is appropriate. It wasn't even that funny. When I settle down Jimin-ssi and Jungkook-ssi are both looking at me.

"Kookie. I know you all keep saying I'm funny but am I that funny?"

"We were lying, Hyung. You're not funny at all."

"This brat."

"Sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"See? It's not because you're funny."

Jimin-ssi grabs Jungkook-ssi in a headlock and smiles smugly. "Be careful, Maknae." Jungkook-ssi struggles and pushes him away, shaking his head. Jimin-ssi then turns to me. "So, you're staying, right?"

I look at my empty mug. "Sure."

"Oh, you finished your coffee. Want anything else? My treat."

"Oh no, I can't possibly—"

"Come on, Y/n-ssi, it's nice to have something to drink while we chat, don't you think so?"

"Well, yeah. But I'll buy. I have employee discount. In fact, I might as well treat you guys. Do you want anything else? Jungkook-ssi? You haven't ordered yet, right? Jimin-ssi?"

He laughs, shaking his head. "I don't think we'll come to an agreement soon? What if I pay but I borrow your employee discount? Does that work for you?"

"Okay, yeah."

"Okay. What would you like? Any drink? Anything to eat?"

"Then, more flat white, please. Baram Unnie is really good at that."

"Really? Then I guess I'll order the same." He turns to Jungkook. "Jungkook-ah, what do you want?"

"Anything," he pauses. "Oh, actually, that one with the banana milk."

"Okay, be right back."

As Jimin-ssi leaves the table, Jungkook-ssi takes out a folded piece of paper from his backpack. He stares at it for a few moments in deep thought. But a moment becomes two and it keeps multiplying, prolonging itself. It's only when Jimin-ssi returns and calls his name that he takes a sharp breath and break whatever it was he was stuck in.

Jimin-ssi returns to his seat, giving both Jungkook-ssi and I our drink in large.

"Thanks so much," I nod with a smile as he takes the first sip of his own flat white. "So, how is it?"

"Great." He stares into his cup with twinkle in his eyes. "Really good. You know?" he turns to me, "I'm not even supposed to drink lattes cause of the milk and comeback preparations, but this, no regret."

I laugh. "Yeah, she really does make a mean cup of flat white."

He nods.

While Jimin-ssi takes another sip, I notice something off. Jungkook-ssi is awfully quiet with a straw stuck to his lips, though the beverage at the other end of his straw is draining as though there's a hold in the cup. What's wrong? I look at him for more sign. Oh.

"Are you okay? Jungkook-ssi?"

"Yes?" He looks at me searchingly and my gaze falls to his trembling hand.

"Oh," he picks up a pencil he has in his pocket and clutch the back of his neck with his other hand. "It's nothing, just a bit nervous."

"What's that?" Jimin-ssi asks, nodding his head towards the creased piece of paper that seems to have been folded way too many times before.

"It's the lyrics."

"Still worried about the adlibs and the backing vocals?"

He nods warily.

"How many left to conquer?"

"Just one. Can't get the runs right."

"Hyung is sorry the weight fell onto you, but you are the best at it."

"I really want to do it, and I can do it, I just want to do it, right." He sighs looking at the notes again

"You have it with you, yeah?"

"Ah, yes."

"Good. Drink and relax for a bit. Take a break."

Nodding again, he unzips his bag and take out a sketchpad which he then opens to a blank page. I feel like asking more about it would be rude, but he catches me glancing at the pencil. "Drawing helps."

I nod. "Drawing, huh? Definitely a healthier output than mine."

"What's yours? If I may ask."

"Working," I smile.

Jimin-ssi barks a laugh. Jungkook-ssi smiles at that then looks around. For inspiration? Probably. He starts from the counter to the door, from the ceiling to the wooden floor, from the logo pasted on the window to the various plants located in strategic spot in the shop. Suddenly, he stops at once and his pupils roam from top right to top left. I'd like to think that he found something and is thinking of a way to put it onto paper. That's what artists do, right? Looks like it from the countless times I've seen Hunnie's creative process. But then, Hunnie is Hunnie, so it might just be her. As my mind wonders, I hear scratches, the friction between a pencil and the surface of the paper. Oh, he started.

First, he creates a thin line, then more thin lines. A sketch. Suddenly, a bold black line flows in the middle of the page as if merely passing through from one corner to the other. More bold lines. More. One after the other but it gets thinner every time, gentler, more translucent.

I pick up the cup and the smooth coffee pours inside my throat languidly, settling warmly in my stomach. Unnie's coffees are always consistent in taste, the right level of bitterness, a bit of sour and the creaminess. Yes, the creaminess. Meanwhile, the scratching of the pencil is consistently present, sort of like an undertone, a background music.

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

Sometimes softer.

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

Other times bolder.

Scratch. Scratch.

Then nothing.

"Y/n-ssi, are you sure you're okay? You look a bit lost."

I blink, having just realized that I've been staring at Jungkook-ssi's sketch pad the entire time. The drawing is finished. Beautiful. It's a large snowflake in the middle of the page that slowly transforms into a cherry blossom petal before it is cut in half by that one dark line flowing through the page.

"Y/n-ssi?" Jimin-ssi asks again.

"Oh, sorry! I was kind of dozing off."

"Is it the sound of the pencil grazing the paper?"

"Yes! That's exactly it. How'd you know?"

"I'm the same. Which is also why I like to be around Kookie when he draws. Makes me calm but also a bit sleepy."

I nod and look back on the page as Jungkook-ssi finally takes another sip of what is probably a diluted mess of a beverage. "Beautiful." The word escapes my lips before I could stop it.

For the first time that day, I see Jungkook-ssi slowly put down his drink with a smiley-blush covering his entire face and the tip of his ears all red. "Oh, thanks," he says quietly and proceeds to fiddle with his hands. Jimin-ssi laughs at the display and muss the maknae's hair.

"You're so cute."

"Yesterday you called me scary."

"Your muscles are scary. You're cute."

He pouts and turns around to ignore his Hyung "Anyway, it's actually inspired from your hair, Y/n-ssi. Can you see it?" He lifts the paper up. Now that I see it clearly from the front and not some oblique angle, I can kinda see it. The snowflake and the cherry blossom petal are from the hair colour? I assume? Then the harsh but natural lines. I'm guessing those are from the sharp and asymmetrical bangs.

"I think I get what you mean. I love it. My friend, Hunnie, who cut and coloured my hair would freak out though."

"Hunnie as in the one we met at the movie theatre and the one who found my phone?"

"Yes, that's her."

"That's incredible!"

"She also picks up my phone," Jimin-ssi laughs.

"Yes, Hunnie the phone whisperer. She has this Instagram page called @HoneyDripHair which is full with all her designs and stuff. It's crazy."

Jungkook-ssi pulls out his iPhone begins to type. "What's the name again?"

"@HoneyDripHair."

"Oh! Found it." He leans towards Jimin-ssi, sharing his screen.

"Damn, that's impressive."

"Wow. It has styles that give off the unicorn and rainbow vibes, but also ones that are modern and editorial, and some that are rock and grunge. But they're all so good and unusual."

"That's her," I smile, taking a mental picture in my head of two people who are most probably the biggest group in the world all smiley and awestruck while looking at my best friend's designs and hard work. It doesn't get any better than this. Suddenly, my phone vibrates in my pocket. "Speaking of the devil, may I?"

"Oh, don't worry, go ahead."

I pick up the call.

"You're done with work, right? What are you doing right now?"

"Promoting your work."

"Aww, thanks. To whom though?"

"To whom?" I look at them and they smile, nodding excitedly. "Do you want to talk to them? The people I'm promoting your work to."

"Uhm, sure?"

I hand over the phone to them. Jimin-ssi grabs it and presses on the speaker mode.

"Hi, I'm Hunnie," she says sweetly.

"I'm Sunghyun, nice to meet you, Hunnie," Jimin-ssi lowers his voice. Next to him, the maknae is covering his mouth while holding on to the table, desperately trying not to let out any sound. Jimin-ssi then elbows Jungkook-ssi on the side. Once he calms down, he clears his throat and participates in the conversation.

"I'm Sunghyun's friend, Stephen."

Jimin-ssi is caught by surprise and silently let out a violent laugh, his shoulders shaking and his mouth completely open. At that moment, Hunnie gasps loudly.

"Oh God, you're Jungkook-ssi and Jimin-ssi!!!"

She's good. Can't fool a veteran army.

After that, they quickly give up and let out all the laughs they've been holding in earlier.

"Hahahahaha! I can't! What's with Stephen!"

"You're the one who started using fake names!"

"At least mine made sense!"

"What if there's a Korean whose name is Stephen? Korean American or foreigner also lives in Korea, you know, then what?"

In the midst of all the chaotic laughter and playful finger pointing, I notice that Hunnie has gone completely quiet. "Hunnie? You're still there?" No response. "Hunnie?" I take my phone back from Jimin-ssi's powerless fingers and exit the speaker mode. "Hunnie? It's just me now."

"Y/n! What's happening!"

"Jimin-ssi came to the coffee shop during my shift and I stayed for a cup of coffee. Well, more like two. And then Jungkook-ssi came and so here we are."

"Ah! I want to go there! But I can't! We'll talk about this later!"

"Alright," I nod even though Hunnie cannot possibly see it. "So, you called, what's up?"

"Oh, right." She inhales and proceeds to break into a long-winded yet highly fascinating monologue. It starts off with the more normal 'do you want to visit the center and Grandma Kang with me today', explaining how the grandpas might already need a trim and others might want a perm or other interesting things done with their hair. I already know that in addition to the hair, Hunnie also comes there occasionally to help the elderly cut their toenails cause they can't bend, or at least she pretends to do that. There are staffs already doing that, of course, but some elderly are stubborn and ask for Hunnie specifically because they think Hunnie will be better at it, cause they like their hair so much, which is flattering enough. Now, the perm and the colour is where her monologue peaks.

"I keep telling them that I can and will perm or and color their hair for free but only if they buy the chemicals for themselves. It's quite expensive and I can't afford to do that to everyone. If I do that to one or two, I'm gonna get in trouble. It already happened before! I did that once. Once! Before they accused me of favouritism."

"Even though you clearly favour Grandma Kang?"

"That doesn't matter. Grandma Kang doesn't want me to do anything to her hair except trimming it. She like the natural straight and a bit below the shoulder-length. Whenever they say I like Grandma Kang better, I always tell them I never give Grandma Kang any free hair-curling treatment and they'll shut up."

"Okay. So you might even perm or colour their hair. Then what time or we going?"

"Ah, right, got a bit sidetracked there. Oh! Actually! Can you maybe ask if Jimin-ssi and Jungkook-ssi want to come along? Would that be too much, do you think?"

"Er, sure. Wait a bit." I pull the phone away from my ears. "Jimin-ssi, Jungkook-ssi, my friend just asked me if I want to come to the care-for-the-elderly centre with her. She gives free haircuts there every once in a while and gives those grandmas and grandpas something to talk about. Do you want to come?"

"Sounds fun. What time is it now?"

Jungkook-ssi looks at his phone. "Almost four."

"Shit," Jimin-ssi curses under his breath. "Oh gosh, we have to go now. I thought it's around three." He turns to me while cleaning after his table. "I'm sorry. We'd love to but maybe next time. If we're late now, Hobi would have our asses and he could be really scary."

"Hyung, I think Hobi hyung is in a good mood today. We'll be safe."

"I'd rather not risk it. You know how he is when it's dance practice."

I laugh. "Sure. No worries. Thanks for the coffee again."

He smiles. "No problem. See you around." And with that, they leave the door and scramble away somewhere as soon as they're outside. Wow, okay. Hobi-ssi must be strict.

I get back to the abandoned phone, the call still ongoing. "They seemed interested, but they can't now. Apparently, they're late for practice and said something along the line of 'if we're late, Hobi will be going for their asses' or something like that."

Hunnie laughs. "Man, I love their interactions."

"They're great. Okay, so, where should I meet you?"

"I'm just done with my classes and am now waiting for some announcements; I have no idea what they're about, but it shouldn't take too long. I'm thinking in front of *Keeo since it's along the way?"

"Sure. See you soon."

***

When I arrive, without a single bottle of Soju, mind you (I’m sure Grandma Kang’s stash is still not completely depleted. I’ll be deeply worried if it is), Hunnie is already waiting in the shade under a tree.

“You’re here.”

“I’m here. What’s the announcement?”

“It’s really stupid,” she shakes her head. “Please forget it ever exists. I’m surprise they even manage to run a school that way.”

“What was it?”

“That there will be an announcement next week.”

“The announcement was that there will be an announcement. Next week?”

“Yes. Bloody buffoons.”

I laugh.

“Anyway, I just got a call from Grandma Kang. I think we’re not going today. She said we should probably visit tomorrow instead of today.”

“Oh, why?”

“Apparently there’s a big fight between Grandpa Oh and Grandpa Park after they found that their sons are competing each other for the Supervisor roles in their office. She said it was loud and messy and it’ll probably take them a while.”

“Which ones are…”

“Grandpa Oh is the one always wearing a golf cap, that bright orange one, and Grandpa Park is the one always wearing neat buttoned up and crocs.”

“Ahh, I see.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay then. What should we do now?”

“Pancake?” Hunnie says. I think about it for a moment.

“Pizza?”

“Tteokbokki?”

“Tteokbokki,” I nod. With our dinner decided, we walk to the tteokbokki place near our place that sells not only that but chicken feet and their special double honey mandu.

“Now tell me everything that happen in the coffee shop today.”

*just in case anyone forget, Hunnie studies at Keeo Beauty school (to be fair, chp 13 is a long time ago)

Chapter Text

“Now tell me everything that happened in the coffee shop?”

“Where do you want to start?”

“I don’t know, ehm, anything interesting.”

"You mean when Jimin-ssi arrived?"

"I was aiming for a slight euphemism," she sticks her tongue out and kicks a little rock on the pavement. "But sure, why not."

I smile. "Well, he came near the end of my shift with a notepad and ordered a drink, something about looking for inspiration. Then, Baram Unnie made me coffee after my shift and I was planning to go home after I finished it, but Jimin-ssi invited me to sit with him and I ended up staying there for a while. When Jungkook-ssi came, my coffee was finished and he bought me another round. I tried to decline it because it was too nice of him, but he insisted, saying he's still worried or something along the line. I ended up staying there until you called. That's the gist of it."

“Damn, Y/n. You really do have some sort of magnet, don’t you?”

“Don’t know. It would be quite scary if I do.”

“Oh. Wait. You said.” She stops in the middle of the pavement, that is fortunately empty, and turned to me. “Jimin insisted on buying you coffee because he was still worried. Worried for what?”

Shit. “I don’t know. Maybe he— he thought I overworked myself?”

“Y/n.”

I sigh. You’re terrible at this.

“I may, or may not, had a rather rude customer today.”

“Rude? On the scale of Moonsik to me, myself and I, how rude?”

“I did say may or may not. Maybe it’s the may not! Who know—”

“Where in the scale?”

I sigh and tilt my head around, stretching my neck. “It would be, in your own words, er, some of your fellow peers’ taste in hair?”

She gasps. “How dare they! What did they do?” Wow, she wasn’t kidding when she said she didn’t think some of her peers are that great. I raise a little white flag and tell Hunnie the whole story, not forgetting the part where Baram Unnie so bravely defended me of course. In fact, I rush towards it, jumping along across the lake like a bouncing pebble racing to reach the land on the other side. Hunnie would be worried otherwise. “He what! He dared splashed coffee on you?! That little—” and I’ll cut it there for now to spare your ears from Hunnie’s boss-level swearing game. “That’s it. I’ll kill that—” more censoring here, “personally.”

“Why do it personally when you can hire a hitman.” I stretch my arms this time, not knowing what to do with them.

“I guess you make a good point. Are there hitmen in Korea though?”

“I don’t know. Maybe?”

Hunnie shrugs and we fall into a comfortable silence as the sky darkens and all the street and shop-signs begin to light up. The street is getting quieter by each step and that’s how we know we’re getting closer. The shop is a somewhat hidden gem, a cult favourite. Even people who are born and raised in Seoul often have no clue that the place exists. But it does and it’s a treasure. The thing about it is that the shop is always full but never so crowded that you have to wait in line for more than fifteen to twenty minutes, which is heavenly. I personally think that’s one of the reasons not more people know of it. Gatekeeping. People who know and love it aren’t willing to tell all their friends and families to preserve the peace. Like a wonderful little secret or an exclusive little club. Most of the frequent visitors are people who stumbled upon the shop by accident and got hooked instantly. I realise that neither Hunnie and I have ever mentioned the place to other people as well. But for us, or for me at least, I don’t have that many people in Seoul to share it with.

My stomach grumbles and I faintly hush it down. It’s just a physical result from the wonderful smell that wafts in the air. Something sweet, something salty, something spicy. A few seconds later, Hunnie’s stomach emits a similar noise. I take it as a good sign. It means that we’re very close to our drool-triggering tteokbokki and mandu.

“Y/n, where are you going?”

“Hm?” I look up to see the shop sign standing greatly above us, ‘Sugar and Spice’. We’re here.

Hunnie opens the door and I follow right behind her. “Good evening Mr. Kim, Mrs. Kim.”

Mr. Kim waves from the kitchen and Mrs. Kim smiles. She leaves her station right behind the register to greet us and show us our table where we quickly sit and get cozy.

“Hunnie, Y/n, nice to see you young’ins again. It’s been a while since you last stopped by.”

“Yes, sorry about that, studies have been really hectic. I just finished my exam last week!” Hunnie smiles widely while awkwardly adjusting herself in her seat, shifting left and right ever so slightly, trying to find a comfortable place for her bag.

“Congrats for finishing your exam,” she smiles.

Both mine and Hunnie’s stomach growl like grumbling is a synchronized sport.

“Oh, no, what to do?” Mrs. Kim mutters. “Let’s quickly get you something to eat. Do you know what you want?”

Hunnie nods and quickly opens her mouth. “Two tteokbokki mixed with fishcakes, large please.” I nod approvingly, thinking about the warm, sweet and savory, satisfyingly chewy tteok that will soon arrive. A pool of has started in my mouth. It seems I have begun to salivate. Not surprised. “And one chicken feet and one double honey mandu.”

“Okay, I’ll rush my husband to make it as quickly as he can,” she says before rushing away, probably concerned about our stomach.

“Thank you.”

“Y/n? Hunnie?” someone says from somewhere in the place. I turn around towards the door and see Moonsik with a white fluffy jacket and a cap waving at us.

“Moonsik?” I wave back. “What are you doing here?”

“Yeah. What are you doing here?” she quirks her brow. “How do you know this place?”

“I used to pass through here often. A friend of mine live near here.”

“You have a friend?”

He glares dagger at her. I’ll never get tired of their interactions. I tap the empty seat next to me and he plops himself there,

“So, what are you folks doing here?” he props his chin with his elbow on the table.

“Eating of course. What else?”

“But you asked—”

“What?”

 “Nothing.” He sighs. “By the way,” the hands that were holding his chin are now propping his head up by squishing his cheeks. “I’m bored. I have no one to talk to. Noona will be busy for the whole day tomorrow so I have absolutely nothing to do after class,” he sulks. “What about you?”

“Us? Hunnie and I are going to the retirement centre tomorrow, at around three, I think. Wanna come meet retired folks?”

“Hmm. I am free from three onwards. Retirement centre. Where is that?”

“If we go from here to Hunnie’s school, we just have to keep walking straight, cross the park and through the intersections twice, and there it is.”

“What do you do in a retirement centre?”

“Hunnie usually gives them free haircut while at the same time making them her practice barbie. I mostly roam around, seeing what the grandmas and grandpas are doing. Many of them are interesting in the weirdest way possible. It’s so fun to listen to them speak. They gossip a lot.”

“They gossip? If I come there, will they gossip about me for a week?”

“For a week?” Hunnie scoffs. “More like until they get bored of you.”

Moonsik’s pouts. “Will they forget about me soon?”

“Is this you looking for validation cause your girlfriend is too busy studying to take you on a date tomorrow?”

“Yes,” he says plainly.

“So? You in?”

“Sure, though I don’t think I can find the place by myself.”

“We were planning on meeting in front of Hunnie’s school and walk from there anyway. I’ll arrive there around three and we’ll wait for you.”

“Okay. My class ends at three so I guess I could just run straight after. Do I need to get anything? Like a fruit basket?”

“If you want to, I guess.”

“Oh cool.”

Right then, the food arrives, the drool-inducing, food. As one do in Sugar and Spice, we all stuff ourselves and keep eating till we can’t fit anymore. As soon as we finished and paid, we all hurry and leave. It’s almost nine and all three of is have early classes the next day.  

“Take one and go to your seat. I’ll explain it in a bit,” Mr. Lee says as students begin to enter one by one. It’s strange to see Mr. Lee showing up to class this early. He’s usually the ‘arrive-exactly-when-the-needle-strikes’ type. I grab one and take a look at it while walking carefully to an empty seat at the front corner of the class, making sure not to bump anything. I’m still not that great at multitasking.

Only when I’ve dropped my bag on the floor next to my chair that I’ve processed what it is. ‘Planning for your future’, it says on top in capital letters which is then followed by a bunch of blank cells in a table like a spread sheet. The first empty cell is located on the right of a cell which says, ‘Your dream’.

Curious, really. I thought you only submit those types of career forms in high school. Apparently not.

“This might seem ridiculous especially since most of you have probably filled a very similar form back in high school which is also how you ended up studying here. But trust me, it’s important. And, you are all actually super lucky because the previous years who have already graduated didn’t have this help.”

Someone at the back raises their hand.

“Yes.”

“What will happen after we submit this? How will this affect us?”

“Ah, yes. I’m just getting to that.” He clears his throat and fix the collar of his shirt. “So, first, I want all of you to make another diagram in another piece of paper that consists of a line with many stops or milestone. Everybody write that down. Don’t forget it, cause it’s really important. It should have a start and an end. That line is your journey and the end is your goal. At the starting point, you write where you think you are in terms of the journey to achieve what you want, and at each stop, you write the steps you would need to take to get there. Now, as for why this is important. The form that I just gave you is so that we can help you in your first step to get there, We recently obtained a large fund in the college of Humanities, and the donor said in the contract to exclusively use it for any additional support students might need to take the first step after graduation. This includes internships, training, work shadowing, as well as partnering up with a few large corporation who happened to have faith in us and would like the opportunity to scout talented and bright individuals for a position in their corporation.”

The whole class cheer, me included. It’s quite unbelievable for a university to go this far for their students. Why? What’s the catch? Promotion? Reputation? I snicker at my own pessimism.

“I’m not done.” It goes instantly silent. “That’s the first one. The second diagram is for you to keep. Doing that activity will help you plan your future better, so that you won’t feel as lost as you might be feeling. Yes, I was once your age, I know how it was. But not just that. Knowing what you want to do and writing it down on paper is actually a very good thing to send it to your subconscious. The more times you write and read them, the more embedded it is in your subconscious. Life is unpredictable but knowing roughly where you want to be headed might help. I will be in the building on Saturday so you have three days to submit the first one to my office. Now, onto today’s discussion, the final assignment for the semester.”

I look at the still empty form sitting limply on the table top. Barista? A manager? What do I want to do? To run my own coffee shop? That would be great. I love interacting with the customers but that would mean I have to deal with the not-so-pleasant ones too, and after yesterday— No, Y/n. Yesterday was nothing. You shouldn’t be worried about that one person. It’s not like most people are like them. In all this time you’ve been working, serving thousands of people, you’ve only come across those types of people a very few number of times, few enough to be counted by my hands alone. Statistically, they almost don’t exist, right?

***

When my class finishes at two, there are many things I could do. I could go straight to Keeo, stopping by at the convenience store on the way for lunch, and wait for an hour under the shade while eating peacefully, enjoying the blue sky. I could spend the time at the library to just look around and read things that interest me. I could, like the first option, go straight to Keeo but also sit there and think about the small assignments I was just given – due on Saturday. This one seems necessary, but I have no idea whether I’ll be able to handle it, to digest it fully. I believe I’ll need some more time, wait for the food to go down before I can digest it if we’re talking in metaphor. I’m simply not ready. The food is still lodged in my throat, waiting for an opportune moment, or an outside force, to go down.

What to do. To decide, many things need to be considered. What am I wearing right now, does it allow me to move about freely in case I am called to help? Will they be too shocked by the hair? Should I wear a cap to cover it? So many questions. They rummage in the mind slowly but completely until a thought voice itself. My backpack. I won’t be needing it and it would just get in the way. So, option number four it is, quickly go home to drop off things I won’t be needing, maybe change into a more comfortable pair of pants while I’m at it.

Things go as normal afterwards. There’s nothing particularly exciting. I drop off my backpack which contains textbooks and the form I was given. The form. After a monotonous trip of going back and forth between the bedroom where I left it and the front door, I decide to leave it anyway. I also ended up changing my pants.

Though I’m not feeling quite hungry yet, who knows when I’ll be. Better be prepared. Life is unpredictable like that, like what Professor Lee said. So I drop by the store to buy some lunch, even grab some additional snacks and a few bottled water. Why not. I quickly pay, store all of them in my smallest canvas bag and continue my stride to Keeo. When I arrive, it was still half before three. There is still quite some time before we’re supposed to meet. I sit under the shade of a tree on a cool concrete bench and go straight to thinking. I’ll have to do it one day and that one day is before Saturday. Might as well.

A ringing in my pocket interrupts my thought. The screen lights up when I unlock it. Manager Unnie? What could it be? I pick up quickly before the call ends.

“Y/n, are you okay!”

“Unnie? Yeah, I’m alright. Why? What’s going on?”

“Baram just told me what happened yesterday.”

Yesterday? “Oh, that.”

“You didn’t tell me.”

“Sorry, I thought I didn’t need to. Baram Unnie handled everything. She even told the guy that if they threatened us with something, we could always show the police the CCTV recording. Unnie, do we even have CCTVs in the coffee shop?”

“Pfftt!” she breaks into a loud cackle. “Can’t believe she did that! That crazy girl.’

“Unnie?”

“Y/n, there’s no cctv.”

“She was bluffing?!”

“Yes. Though maybe it is time to install a few.”

“I would agree.”

I can feel her smile from the other end of the line.

“So, Y/n, what are you doing? Not forcing yourself, I hope.”

“Oh no, I’m waiting for Hunnie to finish her class, so that, uhm,” so that, er, Hunnie… Right! With Moonsik, the centre.

“Y/n? You sound out of it. What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing really. Was just deep in thought about this assignment we got this morning.”

“You study humanities’ subjects, right?”

I nod before realizing she couldn’t possibly see me. “Ah, yes.”

“Sounds fun. I’ve wanted to study psychology and philosophy and all the connected subjects for fun. What’s the assignment about?”

“It’s more like a form than an assignment. We were given a form, like a career or life planning form and we’re supposed to write every step we think we would require to get to our goal.”

“And what would it be for you?”

The cool wind blows as I take a deep breath. “This might sound really silly, but I just want a peaceful and happy life.” I look above. The sky a vast blue canvas for the travelling clouds. White, grey, translucent, opaque. I like working at the coffee shop, that makes me happy. I probably want to keep doing that. If I have to keep progressing, then I guess I’ll have to rise in rank, maybe becoming a senior barista first, then one day a manager. Then, if I have to or if I enjoy it, maybe one day lead a branch or set up my own coffee shop? I just want to be able to live and work in my own pace. I don’t think I can survive the fast-paced overtime life of office workers.”

“I see. Well, I’m rather glad you said that.”

“Hm?”

“I do plan on working with you for a long time if you want to. And if you become a manager, or if one day our shop decides to branch out and you’re one of a few to lead the new branch, that would be a good experience for you, and it would be helpful if you decided to open your own branch or have your own shop in your future.”

“I love our shop. I’d like to work there for a very long time. But is that big enough as a life goal?”

“Is it not?”

“I don’t know. Working forever at a coffee shop. Aren’t I supposed to be more ambitious about things?”

“Is that what you want?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

“Well, then, do what you want. Why would you do what people tell you to do? You know YOLO, Y/n?”

“Pfftt, yeah.”

“Then YOLO!”

“Thanks. For the YOLO thing and for hiring me. I’m happy with the job you gave me.”

“I’m glad. As the owner, nothing makes me happier.”

“Unnie, you— You’re the owner?!”

“Have I never told you that?”

“Never!”

“Now you know,” she laughs.

“Now I know.”

***

After the phone call with Manager Unnie who turns out to be ‘Owner’ Unnie, I open a small bag of chips and munch on it while reading any webtoon that looks interesting. It’s still not time yet.

Ten minutes before three, Hunnie appears. “Did you leave early again?” I ask Hunnie who casually shrugs.

“I sure did.” She Throws her bag on the bench and plops next to me. “They were talking about some homework for fifteen minutes straight. The instruction is written very clearly on the handouts they gave us, but some people didn’t get it and so the instructor was explaining the same thing over and over and over— I ask if that’s all and they said there’s nothing else, so I excuse myself and left.”

“They let you?”

“They had to. The instructor themself is itching to leave so they’re trying to dismiss the class early.”

“Good? I guess?”

“Meh.”

Her stomach grumbles.

“Hehe.”

“Hold on. I’m fully prepared for this.”

I open the plastic bag, take out three rice balls and toss two of those to her.

“Have I told you that I love you?”

“Sure.”

***

Moonsik arrives ten minutes after three, breathing heavily. “Did you just run?”

“Yeah? The professor made us stay back to lecture us on the importance of being punctual.”

“And in turn, he ignored the punctuality of the end of a class and caused people to be late to other things?”

“Er, yeah.”

“Great job.”

I rummage around the plastic bag. Thank goodness I decide to buy a bunch of stuff just in case. “Catch.” I throw a bottle of water at him.

“Y/n, I love you, my dear friend.”

“Er, sure.”

“Let’s go.” Hunnie stands and dusts her pants when another stomach starts to growl.

“Ehehe.”

I throw the last rice ball to him. “Let’s go.”

He bravely marches in front even though he has no clue where the place is. Hunnie slaps his back and assume the leader position, which he quickly forfeited when he realizes he doesn’t know the way.

I laugh.

“Ready to face the grandmas and grandpas?”

“I think I’m ready,” he says.

Chapter Text

“I don’t think I’m ready for this,” Moonsik tugs on my sleeve as a crowd of elderly ambush the newcomer.

“It’s the first time we’ve seen you here. Whose grandchild are you?” asks a sweet-looking elderly lady with plump cheeks. Grandma Choi, if I’m not mistaken.

“Oh, no one. I’m just here to visit with my friends. They say you’re all so much fun to talk to,” he smiles, and I swear I caught a few of the elderly melting. Oof, that’s a mistake. And I’m right because now they surround him even more and none are willing to relent like ants upon finding a sugar crystal.

“Aigoo, what a kind-hearted young man,” another grandma cooes, pinching his cheeks. Grandma, uhm, Grandma Baek?

“What a pretty child,” another one says. This time I’m sure I don’t know her name. She holds his arm with a sparkle in her eyes. “Outside and inside too.”

“He’s a boy, he’s handsome,” a grandma with a relatively strong grip, a rough perm, and a hook-like nose argues. I don’t know her name either, but I do know her face. It’s hard to forget such unique and distinctive feature among Koreans. There’s not many people here with that sort of nose.

“I don’t know, still more pretty than handsome to me.”

“I was more handsome when I was young,” a grandpa comments from the edge of the circle of mob.

Moonsik pleads with his eyes. ‘Y/n, save me,’ he mouths at me. I shake my head apologetically and raise my hands in surrender. It’s impossible for me. If I try to move, I’ll get swept away until I ended up outside somehow. The only thing that’s keeping me in place is my lack of presence and Moonsik grip on my sleeve. The mob is too powerful for me to handle. “What about Hunnie? Where is she? Can she do anything?”

I tilt my head. That’s a good point. Where is Hunnie? She was just behind us.

“Hunnie?” I tiptoe and rotate like I’m doing a very awkward and bad imitation of a pirouette while ‘en pointe’. “Hunnie?” Nowhere to be seen. “Moonsik, I can’t find her.”

“Then what are we gonna do?”

“If you can bear it, stay a bit and they’ll get bored. Can you though?”

His right eye twitches when a few grandparents start to caress his cheeks like they’re rubbing the tummy of a Buddha’s statue for good luck. Someone even begins to pat him on the head. “What a good boy.”

“Save me,” he mouths again.

“I—"

“Hey, that’s not fair. You didn’t say that to me nor Y/n when we came the first time.”

We turn to the source of the sound behind us and Hunnie is standing there with her arms folded. Finally, here she is. I thought she abandoned us for a minute. Behind her stands Grandma Kang standing in a similar stance, but her hands are resting comfortably on her waist.

“That’s because you got a filthy mouth. You swore not one minute after you said hello,” she scolds. “And Y/n? Who is Y/n?”

“What do you mean, who is Y/n! The one I brought with me a few times? The one with the unique hair?”

The all turn to me and my currently very-pale-pink-almost white hair. I smile awkwardly. “Hi.”

“Oh, I thought you’re Kang’s child!” Grandma Baek covers her mouth with her hand and Grandma Choi nods besides her.

I cough violently, accidentally choking on my own spit. “But we don’t look alike, or do we? Besides, how young must she be, or how old must I be if she is my mother?”

“No, you don’t look like Kang,” Grandma Choi waves her hand. “I just thought you take after you dad. And no, you don’t look old, I thought she had you in one of her late fifties adventure. I wouldn’t be surprised. She’s wild like that. How old are you?”

“Is that true Grandma Kang?” Hunnie nudges her on the side and smirks suggestively. “Were you wild in your fifties?”

Grandma Kang punches her in the arm.

“Y/n, was it? How old are you?”

“I’m in my twenties.”

“Okay yeah,” Grandma Choi nods, taking my hand in hers and patting it gently. “Then you do look old. I thought you were thirty.”

Grandma Baek who stands beside her gasps. “Hyul! You can’t say that to Kang’s grandchild!”

“I’m not Grandma Kang’s, er, grandchild.”

“You just called her grandma.” I groan internally.

“What else could I call her? Chairman Kang?”

“Oh, not bad,” Grandma Kang nods approvingly.

“Chairman Kang it is.”

“Good. Now you two,” ‘Chairman’ Kang waves her hand to us, urging us to go to her. “Come with me, this chairman is summoning you.”

“Okay, Chairman Kang!” Moonsik breaks into a smile and quickly follows behind her like a duckling. He walks a bit stiffly and his eyes are a little off? Like his pupils are trembling. He’s probably traumatized, the poor soul. I turn towards the mob.

“The chairman has summoned me. I have to go.”

“Okay, just go,” the mob disperses quickly. It seems that they were never interested in me. Okay, but maybe not. Maybe they were interested the first time I come but they got bored of me. A bit saddening but what a relief. Either that or I’m protected by either Grandma Kang’s or Hunnie’s aura, or both.

Moonsik and I follow behind Grandma Kang through the multiple hallways until we reach her room. Hunnie part ways to start working on the increasing ‘hair-cut’ queue. Apparently having short hair is all the rage with older ladies these days.

In her room, she grabs a bottle of soju from her stash – thank goodness she hasn’t finished them – and looks Moonsik up and down, scanning carefully.

“So, who are you?”

“Oh, I’m— I’m Moonsik,” he stutters.

“Don’t be nervous. I’m not gonna hurt you,” she cackles. He laughs nervously while starring at one spot on the floor.

“What are you thinking of?” He stays perfectly still. “Moonsik?”

“I don’t know. Something feels like déjà vu. Have we had this conversation before? Have I met Grandma, uhm, Grandma Kang before?”

“It’s either Grandma Kang, Chairman Kang or Boss Kang for you.”

“Have I met Boss Kang before?

“Boss Kang, huh? Good choice,” she nods proudly.

Déjà vu? Grandma Kang? I look at Grandma Kang and sighs.

“Does Chairman Kang remind you of Hunnie?” Slowly I witness the vivid transition of his expression, the way his eyebrows stretch from their previous confusion scrunch to a high arch of lightbulb moment.

“That’s it! That specific familiar vibes!”

“Do I really?” she turns to me, crossing her arms.

“Yes.”

“And what does that mean? Good? Bad?”

Is being called Hunnie a compliment or a mock? I guess it depends on who says it. I shrug.

“I’m not good with people like that,” he responds. Oh, so, not that good? “Oh, no! Not to say that I’m uncomfortable around you! It’s just that— that I don’t know what to say and things are just gonna I think, maybe we’re— Ah! Sorry, I really can’t speak today.”

“I think that’s the Hunnie effect, or in this case, Grandma Kang’s effect.”

“I thought you’re calling me Chairman Kang. Why stop?”

“Force of habit, er, Boss Kang.”

“Oh, even better. Makes me feel like a mafia boss and you people are my underlings. Now come on, why are you standing there? Sit down. Want some soju?” She points at a few red cushions on the floor, and we sit on them.

“Eh? Soju?” he spouts, highly alarmed. I laugh. His reaction was postponed for five solid seconds.

“Yeah, alcohol,” she shakes the soju bottle she’s been carrying for a while, that apparently Moonsik hasn’t noticed, until now. He gasps.

“Where did you get that from?”

“Hunnie and Y/n. They brought me a whole crate.”

“A crate! That can’t be healthy. I can picture Hunnie doing that, but,” he turns to me, “you, Y/n?”

“She made a very compelling argument!”

“Yeah, I did.”

“And what was it?” he asks. She repeats everything she said to me before, the point about being ninety-years-old and just wanting to live the rest of her life doing whatever she wants. When she’s done, Moonsik stays quiet, constantly touching his chin with his thumb and index finger.

“That. That really is a compelling argument.”

“Told you.”

“Alright,” he nods and slumps in his seat. “Can I have a shot?”

“You don’t have your own soju?”

“No?”

“Then you don’t get a shot. It’s my stash, I ‘m not sharing,” she chuckles, and he looks at me in horror, the same horror I often see during his interaction with Hunnie. I usually read that as his inner monologue screaming ‘the audacity!’

“Moonsik.” I open my plastic bag of things I got in the convenience store and pull out a bottle of soju and a bag of cheese-flavored chips. “I don’t have a shot glass though, so we’ll just have to air-drink it.”

“Chinggu.” I swear his eyes are sparkling the same way as when you dangle a toy in front of a baby.

“Alright, don’t get sappy with me.” I twist the cap open, hand it over to Moonsik, then open the chips. “Cheers,” I say, raising a single chip to the sky.

“Cheers.” They clank the bottle together and each takes a sip.

I munch on the chips in silence while they wipe their mouth. It’s a good bag of chips. I’ve never tried it before. It seems I made a good choice. By the time I’m in my fifth bite, they stop drinking.

“Y/n, I heard something happen to you while you work.” Grandma Kang places her bottle on the floor but doesn’t let go.

“I heard that too! What happened?”

“How come everyone knows about this?”

“Hunnie told me.”

“I overheard Hunnie telling Boss Kang?”

“That’s right, I told her.” Hunnie appears at the door.

“You’re back!”

“Nope, just getting some towels,” she says before waving and abruptly leaving again.

“Oh, she’s gone.”

"Y/n, what happened?" And I tell them everything. Well, most things. I left out the part where I spent an hour drinking coffee while conversing with Jimin-ssi and almost drifting to sleep listening to the pencil scratches of Jungkook-ssi creating a drawing inspired by this hairstyle Hunnie gave me.

“It really is no big deal. He didn’t inflict any physical damage. It’s cold coffee and just a little splash,” I try to explain but Grandma Kang is not having it.

“So, how old is that bastard?”

“I don’t know. He looks like he’s around 40? Why?”

“Any other characteristics?”

“Not sure. He looked quite plain. Again, why?”

“No reason. Just in case.”

“Alright.” Having told the story, I’m not sure if it’s not as bad as I remember it being or if it is actually worse. Everyone around me acts like I got punched when it was just coffee, and safe cold coffee, not even scorching ones that can leave burnt marks on my skin. This is typical, right? In service industry? If I want to spend my life working there, I shouldn’t be shaken by something as unsignificant as this. This is a normal occurrence. Or is it? Is it normal? Grandma Kang clears her throat.

“I can see right through you. Something else is bothering you.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s never nothing with you.”

“Y/n, if you’re not comfortable, I can leave the room,” he offers. “Besides, I’m curious. I’ve never actually seen Hunnie cut people’s hair. Is she actually good? Sometimes, I think she might be faking it and only post the good stuff.”

“It’s fine. Also, if you walk out of this room and to where she is, you’ll be kidnapped instantly. You might not survive.” He cringes and nods.

“So? Spit it out.” I sigh.

“It’s stupid, I got a career form to fill from school and I don’t know why I left it blank. I know where I want to work. Why did I leave it empty?”

“Isn’t career forms for high school students?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

“When did you get the form?”

“Today.”

“Okay. Let me guess. You want to write barista or somewhere on the service industry but after what happened yesterday you have a little doubt.”

“Wow, you’re really good at this,” I blink, genuinely impressed. “You’ve successfully guessed and summarized my inner thoughts.”

“I have a knack for this.”

“You sure do. That’s all, by the way. Quite silly, isn’t it?”

“No, of course, not at all.” Moonsik shakes his head in sympathy. Right. He also works in the store. How could I forget? “It’s quite rare for people to be that rude. Sometimes there are a few who wouldn’t answer me and ignored me. But actually splashing coffee? That’s considered a physical attack even if he didn’t make any direct physical contact. Your senior, Baram Noona did the right thing.” Grandma Kang nods as she listens to him carefully.

“Yes, listen to him, he’s a smart boy.”

“If you’re worried whether you’ll have to constantly have that happen to you and endure it, I can’t say that that type of people won’t ever appear again, nor that sort of things won’t happen again. But, what I can say is that it’s definitely a rare case. I mean you’ve been in this line of works for as long as I have. You know most people are polite and some are nice enough to even make small conversations and try to lessen the workload.” Damn. He’s right. Since when is my friend Moonsik so grown-up?

“Thanks. You’re right. I just need a verbal reminder.”

“No problem.”

“Oh, I almost forgot. I haven’t told Hunnie the specific so don’t tell her. I’ll tell her myself.”

“Sure.”

“Alright. Enough about me. How are things with Byul Noona?” He immediately blushes. Aww. “Going great I see.”

“Ye— yeah. She’s so amazing, I can’t believe she’s okay with someone like me. She’s so cool and she can do anything, and— and—” Grandma Kang snickers.

“Someone’s in love.”

“I gotta high-five Eunseok Hyung.”

“Aa!” he covers his face with both hands and groans, the tips of his ears completely red.

“Okay, okay, we’ll stop. Oh, by the way, have Hunnie said anything about a possible event for my birthday?”

“Event for your birthday?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t think so. No. What sort of event?” Then, it dawns to me that Moonsik has never seen the kind of things Hunnie plans for my birthday. They weren’t close enough for Hunnie to invite Moonsik for any party or celebration. It’s usually only the two of us, Hunnie and I.

“If you don’t know yet, you’ll see. Do you think you can bring Byul Unnie along for my birthday? I heard that she’s usually quite busy and when she’s free, won’t she want to spend it with you? I’ll ask Hunnie to invite Hyung too.”

He hands me the half-drunk bottle of soju enthusiastically, which I exchanged with the half-eaten bags of chips.

“Thank you, chinggu. You’re the best.” I raise the bottle and drink it slowly. Meanwhile, Grandma Kang is slowly getting to the half-a-bottle mark. We pass the time slowly like that. When my bottle is finished and Grandma Kang put the cap back on hers at the three-quarter mark, we stretch out legs and decide to go out, back into the main reception-slash-living-room.

When we arrive, the mob is no longer there and Moonsik is no longer in danger. We passed by Hunnie’s little hair station, but she was nowhere to be seen, figured she’s probably on a toilet break since there are still people lining up, so we keep on walking aimlessly. Just when we’re about to exit the place and into the garden, I see Hunnie and Grandma Choi chatting behind a pillar in the corner of my eyes.

“Look, there’s Hunnie,” I tell Grandma Kang and Moonsik. But as soon as they see me, Grandma Choi flee the scene leaving Hunnie alone. We walk towards Hunnie. “What was that about?”

“Something about how she wants more evening events happening and she wants me to tell the head.”

“Aw, that’s kinda cute.” She nods. “Are you still busy? Need any help?”

“No, I’m good. Just a few more people, then I’m free to join you all.”

“Okay. We’ll probably be in the garden.” She nods again and waves as she leaves.

Outside, the garden is the same as it was when I last visit. The walls are still painted that horrible mustard colour and judging from how Grandma Kang’s mouth contorts, it seems that she’s still sour about it too.

“Is it okay?”

“Of course, it’s okay. We’re friends!” we hear from our left. We turn towards the sound and I raise an eyebrow. The voices belong to Grandpa Oh and Grandpa Park who are chatting spiritedly to each other. They’re getting along better than I thought.

“They’re not fighting anymore? They look even closer than before.”

“Have Hunnie told you why they fought?” I nod. “Well, they found out that someone else beat their sons into the job and now they hate that person together, even started talking trash about that person in the morning over a cup of coffee. It’s exactly like in those disasters or alien movies. Having a common enemy could unite people.” I laugh, wondering how often is that true and if the reverse is also true most of the time. Is that why they’re all angry for me? Because the enemy of your friend is your enemy?

On Thursday, I'm back to work the regular evening shift at the convenience store. There was a family and a huge group of friends crowding the place around an hour ago, but after they left, it's been quiet and peaceful. I keep thinking about what Moonsik said yesterday and how he's right. Damn, he was absolutely right. It's been pretty great. Everyone is polite enough to treat me like a fellow human being and, again, like he said, some people even try to make fun conversations with me. The students even included me in their friendly banter which made my day. I wonder if those students are working part-times and get treated badly too. I hope not. They seem to be good people. In the middle of remembering the way those kids waved at me like a friend, the automatic glass doors open.

"Oh, Tae-ssi, welcome back."

"Oh, you're here again!" He waves. "I'm back."

"How have you and your angel been doing?"

"Pretty good. I'm with Jiminie today." He steps to the aide and Jimin-ssi appears from behind him.

"Good afternoon," he beams.

"Good afternoon, Jimin-ssi." Tae-ssi looks around – for posters and promotions I assume, as he often does – and turn to me when he finds none.

"Any interesting product lately?"

"Just the usual cheese milk." I rummage around my memory store trying to remember all the announcement notes manager-nim posted in the staffroom. Posted, posted, poster, poster? Poster! "Oh, I just remember. We finally got the poster for that milk I told you the other day."

"Really? It's here?" he shows off his boxy smile. "Let me see!"

"It's on the wall next to the cooler."

"Okay!" He rushes deeper into the room and disappears, covered by the aisles. Instead of following him, however, Jimin-ssi stays and signals me to come forward a little, so I did.

"Y/n-ssi, I have a favour."

"Hm?"

"Please don't tell him you know me. Pretend this is the first time you've ever seen me."

"Eh? Why?"

"Actually, almost all of us know we all met you at some point but Tae and Namjoon Hyung have no idea and I don't want them to know yet. The look on their face is definitely going to be worth it when I finally decide to tell them," he grins evilly. I nod. Honestly, I want to see it too.

"Sure, I'm in."

"Great," he smiles. A second later, Tae-ssi appears from the snack aisle.

"I'm back," Tae-ssi returns with a big packet of honey crisps and a bottle of iced tea. "Want anything? Go grab them."

"Is it your treat?"

"Fine fine, go get them."

"Love you, chinggu!" He blows a kiss and runs to the snack aisle. I smile at Tae-ssi's little head shake.

"Did you see the poster, Tae-ssi?"

"Yeah, it looks unreal."

"It shocked me too when I first saw it. I thought it was a hoax, an edit someone made and sent to the store. You sure want to try it?"

"Hm," he pauses. "My angel did tell me to be careful when drinking it. Something about choking hazard."

"Angel-nim is probably right, Tae-ssi. I've never witness them making a single mistake," I laugh.

"I'll be careful but I'll do it anyway. And then I'll force all my brothers to join me."

"Is that your main goal?"

"Hehe."

I laugh.

"Y/n-ssi, we're friends right?"

"All of a sudden?" he nods. "I think so. What's up?"

"If we're friends then please call me Tae."

"Okay, but you're also doing it," I smile. "If I call you Tae, you have to call me Y/n."

"Deal." He extends his left hand and I shake it.

"I got that chips Jungkookie likes. Anything else?" Jimin-ssi strolls across the room and places a few bags of chips and a riceball when he reaches the register.

"I think that's all," Tae says. I nod and start scanning.

"I saw the handshake," Jimin-ssi says. "What was that for?"

"Oh, we made a deal, right, Y/n?" he smiles smugly.

"That's right."

"What deal?"

"That if I call them Y/n, they have to stop calling me Tae-ssi and just call me Tae."

"So now, you're Tae?"

He nods.

"It's 7200 won," I announce. Tae-ssi, no. Tae, opens his wallet and pulls out all the cash he has which sums up exactly to 7200. Good job Angel-nim. "Do you want a bag?"

"I'll just use this, like usual." He takes off the white canvas bag he always brings from his shoulders where it hangs snugly and places it on the table. Jimin-ssi packs them all before I can get to them, waiting for the machine to respond.

"Thanks, Jimin-ssi."

"Ah, not fair. Tae is Tae but I'm Jimin-ssi? Can you call me Jimin too?"

"Can't," Tae sticks out his tongue, "you have to be friends with Y/n first."

"Okay. Y/n-ssi, do you want to be my friend?"

"Sounds great."

"And now that we're friends, can you call me Jimin?" I laugh.

"As long as you call me Y/n."

"Yay."

"That's cheating," Tae pouts at Jimin. "That's way too fast!"

"Fast and slow doesn't matter in friendship. What matters is depth," he crosses his arms smugly. I maintain a small smile but it's really hard not to laugh.

"Yeah yeah, let's go. Bye, Y/n," he waves.

"Bye Tae, bye Jimin."

Jimin smiles widely and waves too, and the automatic door closes behind them.

Chapter Text

This morning, I spent the entire first hour of my waking moments wondering where to go. It’s Friday, the day where I was supposed to work but was explicitly told not to. It’s not that big of a deal. I’m not that much of a workaholic. It’s just a little difficult finding out what to do, where to go, who to bring, if there is anyone to bring. I look at the empty bed next to me. Probably not. Though there’s no harm in trying.

Group: Weebs and Other Mythical Things

Y/n: Yo Weebs

Y/n: I’m free and I dunno where to go. Any recommendation?

Y/n: Hello?

Moonsik is typing…

Finally.

Moonsik: no

Y/n: Thanks.

Moonsik: no prob

Y/n: 🙂

Y/n: Moonsik

Y/n: My friend

Y/n: Can u feel it through the phone?

Moonsik: ?

Moonsik: Feel what?

Y/n: I’m choking you.

Moonsik: Alright byeeee

Y/n: Don’t you run away from me

Y/n: I still don’t know where to go

Y/n: Or what to do

Y/n: Help

The notification pops up.

1 new message from Hunnie

I click on it.

Hunnie: Y/n

Hunnie: I’m gonna be super busy for the whole day today

Y/n: Hunnie?