Those days - txtzy

part 5: 三

Since Jisu knew Ryujin's house better than Ara did, she found the weeping girl easily. Wordlessly pulling out a tissue to offer to the other, Jisu crouched down beside Ara, who had slid down the wall outside Yuna's room.

"Thank you," Ara mumbled, blowing her nose gently and taking a deep breath, trying to laugh off how shakily she sounded.

"You okay?" Jisu decided to ask, even though she already knew the answer, "Want to talk about it?"

"I'm...I'm just jealous, I guess."

Ara sniffled and gave a wobbly smile, "I'm not very pretty, or very smart, but my dad's Soobin's father's business partner, I'm sure you've heard that, so they hoped we could be good friends, and perhaps even more than that. Soobin says he's fine with that but when he's drunk, he's a lot more honest. I just...I just hoped that I could be that special person, you know?"

Jisu nodded carefully, "I understand. But-" She grasped Ara's hands carefully, a light smile on her lips, "He turned down all those girls for you."

Shaking her head miserably, Ara replied, "No, he probably did so to appease his mom. His mom's...really sick, and she really likes my family, so it would make her so happy to see me and Soobin together. But I know the moment she goes, Soobin will probably dump me for someone...better."

Footsteps sounded as Yuna and Ryujin hurried over, the youngest soberer than the older. "You good?" Ryujin asked, slightly tipsy, and Yuna held her to steady her.

"We're okay," was Jisu's reply, then she suggested Ara go home and get some rest.

"Well, that was one heck of a party. Maybe we should put it to an end," Yuna said, and the three girls nodded in agreement.

-

Once everyone was chased out of the house, Jisu looked at the time and cursed, it was already 2 am, and she had to wake up for an incredibly early shift tomorrow, since it was a weekend and holiday season was approaching.

"Ugh," Jisu managed, and Taehyun flashed a grin, "If you want, I can cover for you for a bit. I took a day off but I can go-"

"It's fine," Jisu sighed, "I'll be fine."

-

Jisu was not fine. Despite no consumption of alcohol, she felt light-headed and very sleepy. She nearly poured scalding hot coffee on herself once, but thankfully a fellow coworker was there to stop her.

Finally, the owners chased her away from the kitchen and told her to man the counter instead.

So she handled customer after customer, and the words left her mouth before she realised who she was talking to.

"Good morning, welcome to-

Soobin blinked, obviously shocked, and Jisu was dazed too, her hand frozen above the cash register. Clearing her throat to ease the tension, she said in the most polite and professional voice she could manage, "So, what can I get you?" The boy raked a hand through his hair and replied, "A black coffee and a herbal tea."

Slightly taken aback at the odd order, Jisu collected the money and bustled off to handle the order, the elderly Mr Lee suddenly pushing her away to make the drinks while he manned the counter. Confused, Jisu stared at the order ticket. A black coffee, she thought, very depressing. And a herbal tea. Literally, no one orders that it has no sugar and tastes like medication. Why would Soobin want that? Pouring the murky dark tea into a cup, she then frowned at the labelled coffee cup. The owners would probably smack her if they ever learn of this, but it was the same price and wouldn't hurt...so... Jisu was quick to layer frothy cream on top of the milky coffee and slapped the lip on before anyone could notice. Strangely, neither Mr Lee nor Mrs Lee seemed interested in what she was doing, instead of looking at any other possible thing. Slipping the cups into a holder, Jisu handed them off with a 'have a good day!' Soobin simply nodded and walked out.

"So cold," Taehyun muttered as he slipped back behind the counter. Turning to look at him, Jisu chided, "Where were you? You're fifteen minutes late!" The boy heaved a plastic bag, "Mrs Lee told me to get every available type of candy from the supermarket. I thought it'll be ten or fifteen but there are a hundred. I'm not even kidding."

Jisu scoffed and said, "Yeah, right." Taehyun shrugged, "Anyways, what's with the herbal tea? Soobin doesn't seem to be that kind of guy, and I've tasted that. It tastes like crap." That earned a glare from Mrs Lee, but Taehyun's gaze was fixated at Soobin's retreating figure. "Hey, he's heading towards the hospital," Chaeryeong casually mentioned as she breezed in, noticing the two and their intense studying of the other boy. That perked Jisu up, "Oh, why?" Taehyun sighed, "Isn't his mom hospitalised? Maybe he's going to check on her. That'll explain the herbal tea. I think." "Huh," was all Jisu said.