⑨You're Asking For It

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Wearing a cast was awfully frustrating for Taehyung, and it had only been a day. He was wallowed in a pitfall of depression by the whole situation, but he always wore an affable smile on his face when he talked to someone, and mostly to his customers.

And with that fixed, gentle smile, he limped into the cafe with his crutches and greeted Inguk, who was sitting behind the bar.

"Hey, Tae! How are you?"

"I'm okay. The cast is a little annoying, but what can I do..."

"You can only be patient."

"I hate that." Taehyung grimaced, evoking a hearty chuckle from the other.

"I know." Inguk patted his shoulder and receded to the kitchen as Taehyung went to change his clothes.
   
 
It was rather busy that day. He had double the customers than yesterday, and frankly, it was grueling to hop on one leg all the time. But it was just as tiring to use his crutches.

    

Hours went by, and Taehyung just found a minute to sit down and take a break. "Why is it so busy today?"

"I don't know. We have double the customers today for some reason. I'm not complaining, though. More customers mean more money, and more money for you too." Inguk offered him a soft smile.

Taehyung felt a flutter of something pleasant, placating ripple through him when those words reached his ears. More money for him meant that he could pay the next installment of his hospital bill sooner than expected.

   

It was already after seven thirty, and Jeongguk hadn't come to take his food as usual. Taehyung couldn't help but notice his absence, and he wanted to ask Inguk about it, but after contemplating it for some time, he decided against it.

Just yesterday was when he said that he hated Jeon Jeongguk. Asking about why he wasn't there yet would be rather odd.

 
He still had ten minutes to finish his shift, and right then, the door was swung open, and a quite familiar boy barged into the cafe.

"Inguk?" was all Jeongguk said once he stood in front of the black-haired boy.

Taehyung huffed at his behavior and rolled his eyes. Not even a hi, huh? He thought, bottom lip jutting out in a pout, as he went to call Inguk.

"Hey, Kook. What would you like today?"

"Two portions of japchae. To go."

"Okay." Inguk scuttled back to the kitchen as Jeongguk took his seat.

Taehyung's mind unwittingly traveled to what Inguk told him yesterday as he peeped at the CEO. To be honest, he felt a pang of unexpected sympathy for him. He had indeed gone through a lot, and even though he was rich, he was just rich. He knew Jeongguk wasn't happy. He could tell just by looking at him.

He forced his lips together and held back whatever wanted to fly off his mouth as he began cleaning around the bar. The cafe would be open for three more hours, but he wanted everything to be neat for Inguk after his shift.

"Tae, can you please take this tray to the kitchen? I need to take an order," Ten pleaded as he left a tray with a pile of empty dishes on the counter.

"Um, sure," Taehyung breathed out with a brittle smile. Well, it was rather challenging to hop on one leg and carry a tray with a heap of dishes on it. His mouth grew thin with determination to accomplish Ten's request, and he rose from his seat.

"You're not actually gonna do it, right?"

He came to a standstill at the scornful voice and sent a fleeting glare at Jeongguk. "Of course I will."

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