"Seungmin Hyung, can you please remind me tomorrow that I need to bake cookies for Hyunjin Hyung?" Jeongin mumbled, not taking his eyes off from his phone.
His shift has ended hours ago and is now being covered by Minho, a part-timer who works until the closing. So, he decided to remain at the shop, along with Seungmin who is currently waiting for his boyfriend to finish his class so that they could go home together. Felix was long gone, already in the comforts of his home and is probably busy playing video games.
Jeongin, being the sloth that he is, is too lazy to walk back and forth from the café to his apartment, all for a good twenty minutes tops. He is set to meet Chan in thirty minutes and, according to Jeongin's own words, he is being helpful to the Earth by conserving energy, his own energy. Which doesn't make sense to Seungmin.
"You better be careful and text me once you get home, okay?" Seungmin reminded Jeongin for the nth time that day after learning from Felix that his best friend was asked for dinner.
"That's the seventh one this day!" Jeongin grumbled, crossing his arms childishly over his chest.
"Seventh one what?" Seungmin tilted his head in sheer confusion, his eyes turning into slits as he tries to scare the younger, but ends up looking like an adorable puppy instead.
"You reminding me to text you! Seungmin Hyung, it's the same day so I'm sure I won't forget!"
"I'm just saying! You know what..." Seungmin quickly retrieved his phone from his bag before holding his palm out in front of Jeongin. "Give me your phone, I need Chan Hyung's number."
"Hyung, the thing is... I don't have it." Jeongin mumbled sheepishly, frantically taking Seungmin's hand in his warm ones. "I promise I'll text you once I get home. I'll even call you to tell you everything!"
"Is that a promise?"
"I promise!" Jeongin nodded his head, trying his best to convince the older. Seungmin can't do anything but sigh in defeat.
ㅡ
The clock ticked at 7 pm.
Jeongin now moved to the seat where he has a clear view of the outside. Seungmin already went home fifteen minutes ago. Of course, with another reminder for Jeongin to text and call him once he is home, to which Jeongin responded with an enthusiastic nod before bidding his best friend a good night and take care on your way home.
Fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes had passed and there is no man clad in his all-black attire is to be seen, no Chan. But Jeongin tried to remain positive. After all, fifteen minutes is the considered grace period even back when he is in college.
But then, fifteen minutes became thirty.
By then, Jeongin is tempted to contact Felix to ask Changbin for Chan's number. But he decided against it, knowing that he will end up worrying Felix when the mentioned should be resting up and enjoying his games.
Thirty minutes turned into an hour.
Jeongin prides himself as someone patient. In fact, Jeongin once waited for Seungmin for three hours, only to have the elder of the two take rain check because he was sick. And having to wait for an hour is quite bearable for him. However, Jeongin is torn between going home and waiting for a few more. It sounds quite foolish, he does know. But deep down, there is a tugging feeling inside him; a small spark telling him that Chan is coming, he just has to wait.
But how long?
How long will he keep waiting? Keep waiting for the male who asked him for dinner, keep waiting for the small spark of hope inside him to die down, keep waiting for some miracle to happen in his life.
"Innie, are you waiting for someone? Your shift ended three hours ago," Minho, who is currently wiping the table next to Jeongin, asked.
"Well..." Jeongin puffed his cheeks in slight annoyance. He felt troubled about so many things, one of them is confiding in Minho. He does know the older, but his anxious brain is on fire and he is scared that the mentioned would make fun of him. I have nothing to lose, anyway. I'll forget about this after. Jeongin thought as he decides to go for it.
"Well?" Minho questioned, throwing a glance at the counter to see if there is a customer and fortunately found none.
Jeongin cleared his throat, his fingers toying at the hem of his shirt ㅡ a habit he developed when he is nervous. "Someone asked me to grab dinner together but it has been an hour. And I do not have any means to contact him so... should I just go home or should I keep waiting?"
"Honestly, Innie. You should go home." Minho sighed, taking the seat across Jeongin before he continued. "It has been an hour. No one should keep someone waiting that long without informing them beforehand. And you have been working all day, you must be tired. You should go home and rest up instead."
"I was stood up, right?" Jeongin queried, a hint of sadness mixed with confusion can be traced in his voice. Minho didn't answer for obvious reasons. He adores the younger and seeing hurt and disappointment written all over Jeongin's usually bright face pains him just as much. It's as if the sun decided to shine anywhere but him. And when Jeongin received no answer from Minho, he continued, "I guess I was really stood up."
"Yeah, you just got stood up." Minho.
Straightforward. If there's one thing Jeongin extremely admire about Minho, it is the elder's ability to say what he wants without beating around the bush. He is honest without being brutal. His words are usually sharp, like knives. And if you are not strong enough, you can get yourself killed.
At this point, Jeongin was close to tears but he managed to hide it behind the indifferent chuckle he let out. He doesn't even know Chan that well, but he felt oddly hurt. He is sure that it was not because of Chan himself, but because of what he did. Jeongin had never felt so normal in months now, or maybe he did, he just can't remember. And Chan. Chan gave Jeongin the hope he has been craving for and took it away, along with his chance to taste every bit of normalcy he could, all in just a day.
The universe must really hate me, huh? Jeongin thought.
The younger didn't realize the few teardrops that managed to escape his eyes, only finding out when he felt a calloused pad of thumb grazing over his rosy cheek and wiping it away. He decided to shift his focus on Minho. And despite his blurry eyes, he was able to make out the small smile etched on the elder's lips; all without missing the worried expression evident in his eyes. As much as he finds the whole situation upsetting, he felt more than relieved to have Minho to comfort him.
"You know what, how about I close the shop early and we grab dinner together? It's on me. We can get ice cream after too." Minho suggested, the smile on his face only growing as he waits for the younger's response.
"Are you sure? Won't you get in trouble for doing that?" Jeongin pouted, his eyes frantically looking around the shop to find the last two customers who are about to leave as well.
"Seungmin owns the shop and you're his best friend. I'm sure he'll understand."
"Correction, Seungmin's mom owns the shop."
"Yeah, it's the same and you're straying from my point. So, do you want to or not?"
"Fine, I'll help you clean up then we can go. But you have to inform Seungmin!" Jeongin sighed in defeat before moving towards the staff room to retrieve the cleaning materials they need.
It's okay. Jeongin thought in an attempt to console himself. You can just start with a clean slate tomorrow. You can forget about him, about everything that happened