Prompt #77: Until It's Gone (2/3)

[100-timesover.livejournal.com]

[ Part 1 ]

Junmyeon liked it best when Kris was at the café. Sure, Minseok, Jongdae, and Baekhyun were friendly and very nice, but Kris was his favorite. He hadn’t intended for it to happen, but Junmyeon had developed a tiny crush on the mysterious café worker. It hadn’t taken him long to realize it; whenever he set foot inside, and Kris was there, Junmyeon’s heart instantly started beating a little faster. And when Kris was absent, Junmyeon couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

There were never any actual conversations between the two of them, only bare basics, but Junmyeon liked seeing him. There was something about Kris that was so oddly welcoming, and even though they were still complete strangers, Junmyeon felt completely comfortable in his presence. Every time Kris offered him a smile when Junmyeon came in to eat, Junmyeon could feel his heart beating that much faster, as if he was a giddy teenage girl being noticed by her high school crush.

This week was different. Just like every winter, Junmyeon was ill. He wasn’t deathly sick, but he could tell he was rapidly coming down with something. He knew he had a fever. He was shivering but sweating and it was as if every muscle in his body ached. His chest was tight. He was coughing uncontrollably. Breathing was difficult. He knew, deep down, he probably shouldn’t be out in public at all, but he had to do what he had to do. He was already ill and struggling to keep himself pieced together; skipping his weekly ‘large’ meal would only create more problems.

Junmyeon felt so sick that the thought of seeing Kris didn’t make him feel any better. He could see the man standing on a ladder in the back of the shop, working on hanging something. Junmyeon did not want to bother him. And really, he didn’t feel well enough to anyway. So he kept his mouth shut and carried on as usual.

He kept his distance from Jongdae when he put in his order, not wanting to risk getting the other man sick. He may have been contagious. Junmyeon didn’t know. He didn’t think about it too hard as he stumbled to his table in the corner, nearly collapsing into his chair. His head hurt. He coughed into the crook of his arm and curled in on himself. He wanted to sleep.

He must have looked as bad as he felt, because when Kris swung by his table a few minutes later with his meal on that familiar tray, the man literally paused in his tracks to give Junmyeon a rather worried look.

“Are you feeling alright?” Kris asked him, his thick eyebrows furrowing together in a puzzled fashion. Despite his inquiry, Kris bent over a bit to place Junmyeon’s dishware onto the table. “You don’t seem like yourself today.”

“I don’t feel well,” Junmyeon admitted quietly, sniffling a bit.

“It’s not something serious, is it?” Kris asked, sounding awfully worried. The concern made heat spread over the surface of Junmyeon’s ribcage. “Maybe you should go home and rest, Junmyeon.”

“I think I’ll be okay. I get sick often, to be honest. My immune system is poor,” Junmyeon confessed, sighing softly and barely managing to hold back a cough. “It really sucks to be sick all the time, but it is what it is, I guess. There isn’t a whole lot I can do about it.”

“Have you tried tea? It’s not a cure, obviously, but it could help you feel a lot better,” Kris explained, his face lighting up in a grin. “Wait here. I’ll make some for you.”

“Ah, Kris, wait, you don’t…” Junmyeon started, only to trail off when Kris scampered away, obviously not listening to a word he was saying anymore. Junmyeon sighed. “…have to.”

While Kris was gone, Junmyeon turned his attention onto his food, trying to eat before it cooled. Junmyeon was absolutely freezing from fever as he sat there, even though the sweat was running down his skin underneath his warm bundle of clothing. He was sniffling repeatedly, sinuses opening up from the warmth of his meal. Kris returned soon enough, a hopeful smile on his face as he brought Junmyeon a small cup and a coaster.

“Here, this should help you a bit. It’s not much, but it might make you feel a little better,” Kris said, setting the gray and blue patterned coaster down on the table. Junmyeon couldn’t help but notice how it matched the uniforms of the staff. Kris then set down his cup.

Junmyeon glanced up at him worriedly, biting down on his chapped lower lip. “How much do I owe you for the tea, Kris?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s on me,” Kris explained. Despite his large frame and typical scowl that was plastered on his face when he was thinking about something, Kris was quite a warm person. Junmyeon could see that plain as day as Kris gave him a big smile.

“That isn’t fair to you,” Junmyeon argued weakly, only to have Kris shake his head in response.

“Junmyeon, seriously, it’s fine. I really don’t mind. I know we aren’t close but I do consider you a friend, seeing how often you come here.” Kris just shrugged his shoulders. “So don’t worry about it. Besides, you’re sick. You need all the help you can get. I just want you to take care of your body.”

Take care of your body… Where had Junmyeon heard that before? It sounded so familiar, right on the tip of his tongue, but Junmyeon simply could not remember.

“Try to take it easy, okay? Keep your head up,” Kris continued, reaching out to give Junmyeon a small and comforting pat on the back. Junmyeon was having a horrible case of déjà vu. He knew he had heard those words before, but he couldn’t remember where. “If you need anything, just let me know. I hope you feel better soon.”

Kris left him alone then, and Junmyeon could not remember a time where he had felt so confused.

--

Armed with a prescription medication in his bag, Junmyeon closed his front door behind him and kicked off his shoes. The apartment was pitch black as it always was. In the darkness, Junmyeon couldn’t tell if his vision was spinning again or not. He grabbed the bottle of pills and made a beeline for his bathroom. The goal was to take his medicine and then go straight to bed after brushing his teeth. It hurt to even move, let alone walk or do anything else. All Junmyeon wanted to do was sleep.

His illness had manifested into something truly awful, and after fainting on the bus, Junmyeon had no choice but to see a doctor.

Junmyeon had gone to work sick. It hadn’t taken Sehun and Chanyeol long to realize that he was ill, and Junmyeon had to beg and plead for them not to tell the manager, otherwise he knew he would be sent home. They let it slide, though they purposefully let him have the easier jobs, both running at a slower pace and away from people, for Junmyeon’s safety and the public’s.

But that didn’t mean there hadn’t been some close calls. Junmyeon had nearly fainted twice at work, and when he was taking his bus home, he had collapsed, briefly losing consciousness. When he stirred awake, Junmyeon knew right then and there, that he was in bad shape. Despite the aches, the pains, the countless symptoms of illness, fainting was the number one sign he was very sick.

And although he couldn’t afford it, Junmyeon went to the doctor.

After his visit, both paying for it and his medication, Junmyeon couldn’t help but stress. It was even on his mind as he stood there in his bathroom, brushing his teeth tiredly as he struggled not to start coughing. The doctor’s visit had been something that Junmyeon needed badly; it wasn’t like it had been a choice anymore. It was nothing but a requirement. He had been too sick to keep carrying on. But the cost of medical care was something that Junmyeon could not afford, especially with how he was already living on a stretched budget. It had cost him too much. Junmyeon had no idea how he was even going to pay his rent this month. Would he even be able to eat anything this month? He doubted it.

What could he possibly do? Junmyeon was already worn thin from his job. There were only a certain number of hours in a day, and Junmyeon was using up nearly all of them already. But he needed more money. He couldn’t keep living like this forever.

His brain wandered. Junmyeon couldn’t help but think about the more risqué jobs on the market, positions that came to life after dark when Junmyeon was already at home from work. Junmyeon did not know how well those types of jobs paid, but surely, they could work around his schedule. That counted for something, right?

He felt queasy suddenly, as if he was unable to believe he was actually mulling over a second job in that type of field. Junmyeon didn’t know what he could do, but just thinking about it made his skin crawl. He knew he wasn’t cut out for being a stripper. But perhaps…

Junmyeon swallowed harshly as his thoughts wandered even further, and he couldn’t help but shift his weight uncomfortably from foot to foot as the thought of ‘sex industry’ floated into the back of his mind.

It could fit into his schedule. Surely there were plenty of time slots he could take after his retail job, when night was there to shroud him in darkness and keep him safe from the public eye. It wasn’t like it was Junmyeon’s first time having sex; he had lost his virginity years ago. But to have sex with someone he did not know…

He felt suddenly disgusted with himself. The thought of someone paying him just to use his body for sexual release made his stomach flop. The possibility of being paid for such a service was definitely a positive, but Junmyeon was not sure if he could handle the rest of the situation. His mind was a blur of intrusive and horrible thoughts and Junmyeon tightened his grip on his toothbrush as everything became ugly. Surely they would let him choose the sex of the other party – Junmyeon did not hold attraction for women, after all – but there was no telling who he would receive.

He imagined creepy older men with their fat fingers on his thighs, yanking his legs apart, shoving him down onto a dirty motel mattress—

He instantly felt like crying. Was this what his life was about to come to? Letting some strangers have sex with him so he could survive another day? Junmyeon did not know when his life became this bad, when his options had become this limited. He didn’t like it. He felt disgusted and ashamed and he wanted to go home, but this was his home now, just some shitty little apartment that he couldn’t even afford.

When Junmyeon laid down to go to sleep, he felt dirty within his own skin, unable to shake the sensation of strangers touching him. It was a disgusting feeling. And it was even more disgusting to wonder to himself if anyone would even want him. He was so thin these days, even his cheeks had shrunk down in size, and he didn’t know if anyone would dare to go near him.

Would someone even want to touch a person as thin and ugly as him?

--

They weren’t close by any means, but Junmyeon found himself missing Kris when he stopped by the café the next week. He had swallowed his pride and asked Baekhyun if the man was around. After all, Kris had mentioned sometimes he was hiding in the back office to do important tasks, as he was the owner. But Baekhyun had offered him a sympathetic look and said that Kris had the night off. Junmyeon hoped he didn’t look as disappointed as he suddenly felt, just nodding to say he understood.

It wasn’t even because of the butterflies he got whenever he ran into Kris. The mushy feelings he housed deep inside were presently dormant. Junmyeon was instead overcome with a mesh of negative emotions, from worry to loneliness to sadness.

Even though he and Kris still knew so very little about one another, Junmyeon was plenty aware of the fact that Kris was nice company. He just wanted someone to talk to tonight, and while Kris normally fit the bill, he simply wasn’t there.

And Junmyeon missed his presence horribly.

He had grown so accustomed to Kris chatting with him whenever he came into the café that sitting alone in the corner with no one to talk to made him feel disgustingly alone. Sehun and Chanyeol were nice, but Junmyeon didn’t talk to them at all outside of work. He didn’t even have their phone numbers. The trio that worked at the café was friendly, but Junmyeon hadn’t spoken to them much. The only person he chatted with outside of work was Kris. It was pathetic in his eyes. He hardly knew anything about Kris, only saw him once a week, but still harbored a crush on him and looked forward to seeing him so much that when he couldn’t, the loneliness he typically felt only increased.

When had things become so lifeless that he only found pleasure anymore by talking with a borderline stranger once a week?

Junmyeon stared down into his bowl and sighed, loosening his grip on his spoon. He could see the fuzzy outline of his reflection in the liquid. Well, perhaps it was best to experience the emotions now rather than later. Junmyeon knew, deep down, that he wouldn’t get to see Kris ever again. The money he had spent on a doctor’s visit and medication had officially dug his grave. Junmyeon didn’t have enough money in his bank account to pay his rent. The only reason he had been able to stop by the café was because a little bit of a luck Junmyeon had by finding a few bills on the ground, just enough for him to buy something to eat. He doubted that he would be able to come back ever again after tonight. When people were as broke as he was, eating at a café was considered a luxury. And now it was a luxury Junmyeon could no longer afford. And even though it made him upset, it was just how things were for him now.

Nothing ever went right for him. It was no surprise that this situation fell through, just like the remainder of things in his life. The realization stung, but Junmyeon wouldn’t dare cry. He would allow himself to be upset, but wouldn’t cry.

Tucked away in the corner, Junmyeon never heard the whispers of a conversation that went on at the front counter.

“Well, you were right,” Baekhyun commented to Jongdae, watching Junmyeon from his spot behind the register. “That’s a crush the size of Texas right there.”

“Did you see how sad he looked when you told him Kris took the night off?” Jongdae asked him, wiping the back counter off with a rag. “He’s completely love-struck like a little puppy.”

“Kris probably has no idea either. You know how oblivious he can be, especially since he spends so much time in his own head thinking about who-knows-what.” Baekhyun let out an exaggerated sigh and then clicked his tongue. “Well, I guess all we can do is wait and see where the dominos fall.”

--

The second week of January was when Junmyeon’s life unraveled completely. Despite the previous hardships in his life, he had always managed to bounce back from them, fighting tooth and nail the entire time. He always found a way to drag himself out of trenches, but this time, there was no coming back, and Junmyeon knew it. The slope was simply too steep, and Junmyeon was falling.

Little by little, life crumbled around him into dust. He stopped going to the café. He wondered if Kris missed talking with him as much as Junmyeon enjoyed having a conversation with him. His meals grew even smaller as he tried to stretch his paycheck a little thinner, but it was impossible. Junmyeon was officially as broke as broke could get. He had asked for additional overtime at work, but mister Do turned him down, saying Junmyeon was already working too many hours. And although the money in his account slowed, the incoming bills did not.

He didn’t have enough money to pay them, and just when Junmyeon didn’t think life could get any worse, it did.

First was his water. When the proper payment never came, the company didn’t hesitate in switching it off. Junmyeon had lost power a long time ago, and then, he had no running water. He had a few bottles of water in his home that he had swiped out of the break room fridge at work, and had been hoarding for a rainy day. He began to carefully measure out the liquid so that he could keep up with his hygiene, but it was extremely difficult. When they were empty, Junmyeon had no shame when he used the sink at work to refill them.

He began to carry bags back and forth to work, unsure of how long he would have a roof over his head. He did not have many possessions. With some meticulous packing, Junmyeon managed to fit everything inside his backpack. He stored some of his blankets in a separate messenger bag, keeping them folded into the tiniest possible shape so that he could fit more inside.

Junmyeon had seen it coming, but that didn’t make the pain any less. When he came home on a Thursday night, he found a note stuck to his door. And when Junmyeon drew nearer to read it, that was when he at last cracked. It was an eviction notice.

It was on January ninth that Junmyeon, at long last, let himself cry, sinking to his knees outside of his front door and wailing uncontrollably.

He was officially at the bottom, and there was no way to get out.

--

Kris had to admit, he was troubled. It had been a month since he had last seen Junmyeon. It was truly puzzling. Regular customers did not simply up and vanish into thin air without reason. Kris had actually started combing through webpages, checking out reviews customers had left for his café, trying to determine if he had somehow angered Junmyeon enough to make him run off and leave a negative review. He found nothing. It was as if Junmyeon had completely disappeared off the face of the earth.

He was worried.

Monday nights were typically slow. Kris yawned as he scratched his chin tiredly, sinking back in his chair. He could hear the soft patter of rain against the roof. The drawer had already been counted, the store had been cleaned and closed, and his three employees had already gone home. But there Kris was, hiding in the back office and tinkering around on his computer. He liked being the owner, but he didn’t like all the responsibilities – or paperwork – that came with it.

Stretching his arms above his head, Kris heaved himself out of his chair, switching off his monitor and collecting his coat and keys. No point in staying here all night; the work would still be there in the morning.

As he closed the door to his office and locked it, and wandered out near the counter, Kris realized he could hear rattling. It made him nervous for a moment, unsure if someone had managed to slip into the building without him realizing it. However, as he peered across the room, he could see a figure outside, tugging wildly on the handles of the front door. Locked, they rattled pathetically and loudly in response.

Frowning, Kris walked over to the door. He had half a mind to tell whoever it was to read the sign, because they were clearly closed, but he froze as he peered through the glass. He recognized that face.

Kris fumbled for his keys then and unlocked the door before yanking it open, letting in a rush of icy winter air. And standing there outside of the entrance to his café was Junmyeon, shivering and sobbing and drenched from the rain. He was clutching a soaked pillow to his chest, a backpack and a messenger bag hanging from his body.

“I-I’m sorry,” Junmyeon stuttered out, shaking from the cold and hiccupping from crying. “I d-didn’t know where else to go.”

Kris chose not to comment on that just yet. Instead, he ushered the small male inside as fast as he could. “Just get in here. God, you’re soaked—Wait here. I’ll get you a towel.”

Kris hurried behind the counter, yanking open various drawers and cabinets until he at last found what he was looking for. It wasn’t much, nothing more than a dishtowel, but it was all they had. Since Junmyeon’s hands were full, hanging onto his pillow, Kris went to work without comment, fanning out the towel before placing it atop of the boy’s head to try to dry his dripping wet hair. Junmyeon was still crying, sniffling and shaking the entire time.

“Junmyeon, what happened to you? I haven’t seen you in weeks. I’ve been worried,” Kris admitted without shame, still working on drying the boy’s hair. Junmyeon’s teeth were audibly clicking together as he stood there shaking, dripping wet. “Man, you’re lucky I decided to stay late tonight.”

Junmyeon hiccupped weakly, closing his eyes. “I’m s-sorry, Kris.”

“Sorry for what? You aren’t being a bother. You obviously need help, and I’m here,” Kris murmured, at last giving Junmyeon’s hair a break. He frowned down at the smaller male. “What happened?”

Junmyeon’s throat clenched around a sudden knot that ballooned inside of it. His eyes were watering all over again. “I… I-I… My apartment… I c-couldn’t pay my rent…”

Kris blinked a couple times, surprise evident on his face. “They kicked you out?”

“I tried to keep up, I tried so hard, but I c-couldn’t,” Junmyeon squeezed out, face contorting with misery. “I didn’t w-want to bother you, I really didn’t, I know it’s late but everything was already closed, and I… I-I…”

“Junmyeon, I really don’t mind. I’m just confused. You don’t have anyone nearby that you could have gone to?” Kris asked, thick eyebrows upturning worriedly. “Family or friends or a girlfriend?”

“I don’t have anyone,” Junmyeon whispered honestly. He knew people, like Sehun and Chanyeol, but they weren’t close enough, not to mention that Junmyeon didn’t have their contact information. “My family doesn’t talk to m-me anymore. My boyfriend and I b-broke up ages ago. I’m just…by myself.”

Kris’ heart squeezed in pity. “You’re completely by yourself?”

“Yeah,” Junmyeon mumbled. “But it’s okay! I… I’ve been…surviving. On my own. Yeah.”

“It’s not okay. Everyone deserves to have someone that cares about them, you know,” Kris told him, pursing his lips before letting out a sigh. “Junmyeon… Look. Since you can’t go home, why don’t you stay at my place for now?”

Junmyeon paled. “But Kris—“

“Junmyeon, look at me. You’re homeless. You literally have nowhere to go,” Kris interrupted, and Junmyeon slowly mulled it over, shame visible on his face as he simply closed his mouth. “And you’re definitely not staying out in this weather. You’ll freeze to death. And even if you didn’t have that risk, I wouldn’t let you anyway. Anything bad could happen to you out there.”

“Kris…” Junmyeon sniffed, hugging his pillow tightly to his chest. “Thank you. Really.”

“Sure. I only want one thing from you,” Kris said, “and that’s to know what happened. Everything. Okay? Now wait here. I’ll go get the car so you don’t have to go walking back out in the rain.”

As Kris led him outside, locking the door, and leaving Junmyeon under the safety of the overhang momentarily to fetch his car from the parking lot, Junmyeon swallowed audibly. He hugged his pillow just a little tighter. He was already certain he would never be able to repay Kris for this.

--

Kris was restlessly flipping through the channels on his television. The door to his bedroom was firmly shut. Junmyeon was sleeping at the moment, and Kris had lowered the volume on his TV so he wouldn’t wake him up. Junmyeon had offered to take the couch – or even the floor – but Kris quickly told him no. Junmyeon could have the bed today. He had been through enough already.

Junmyeon had told him everything during the car ride to Kris’ apartment complex. As he sat there shivering in the passenger seat, Junmyeon started crying all over again, voice filled with embarrassment and shame and misery. Kris felt so sorry for him. It broke his heart to pieces to hear all of that.

He knew he had made the right choice by letting Junmyeon stay with him.

When they arrived to Kris’ home, Kris ushered him inside and told Junmyeon to make himself comfortable. Junmyeon unpacked his measly amount of belongings – missing the look of pity Kris was shooting him the entire time – and after that, Kris herded him in the bathroom to let him take a much needed shower. The boy was soaking wet and Junmyeon had already told him he was still somewhat sick from his previous illness. Kris didn’t want him getting any worse.

Kris let the smaller male wear a spare pair of his pajamas, even though Junmyeon was much tinier than he was. The hems of his pants dragged the floor and the neckline of his t-shirt hung over the edge of one smooth, thin shoulder. Junmyeon was too small and Kris knew it. So when he ordered takeaway for dinner, he urged Junmyeon to eat all that he wanted. The boy’s appetite was enormous and it really did make Kris feel sympathy for him. Junmyeon was literally starving to death.

Well, not anymore. Kris would be able to fatten him back up soon enough. He would make sure of that.

But what was he doing? He and Junmyeon had talked before, sure, but they weren’t close by any means. It was a little odd that he had invited Junmyeon to stay with him until he could get back on his feet. But deep down, Kris knew he didn’t have much of a choice. He wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if he had just let Junmyeon sleep on the streets.

As soon as Junmyeon ate, his eyelids had started drooping. Kris showed him to the bedroom, and after a brief moment to get ready and give Kris his thanks, Junmyeon was in bed. He was immediately asleep, obviously exhausted. Kris wondered just how long it had been since Junmyeon got to sleep in a bed instead of sleeping on the cold, hard floor.

Sighing, Kris reached down to grab his cup, slurping his drink noisily. Well, this was surely going to be something interesting. It would be even more interesting because Kris had offered to drive Junmyeon to work tomorrow. He had even packed Junmyeon a big lunch and several snacks to take with him to ensure the boy would get enough to eat.

Kris wasn’t sure why the big smile that Junmyeon gave him in return for all that he had done so far made him feel warm.

--

Waking Junmyeon up the next morning was one of the hardest things Kris had to do in quite some time. The sun was just peeking up over the horizon when Kris crept up to the bedroom door that was still firmly closed. Taking the doorknob into his hand, Kris twisted it silently before pushing the door open.

Junmyeon hadn’t moved a single inch since Kris had helped him get into bed the previous night. Still sound asleep, Junmyeon was curled up on his left side, face swollen from a deep slumber, covers tucked beneath his chin. Kris shuffled as quietly as he could over to the edge of the bed, unable to help but notice how much more at ease Junmyeon seemed to be when he was sleeping. It was as if the worries of the world around him melted away, granting him with peaceful rest.

So peaceful that Kris didn’t want to wake him, but he knew he had to.

As gently as possible, Kris lowered one hand and pressed it against one of Junmyeon’s rather bony shoulders. He shook him softly, voice hardly above a whisper. “Junmyeon. Come on, it’s time to get up. I even cooked breakfast for you.”

Junmyeon mumbled something incoherent, eyelashes fluttering as he began to pull into consciousness. And as Kris slowly and calmly coaxed him awake, he couldn’t help but think about something.

“This all happened just so that you could be with your boyfriend?” Kris asked in disbelief. He was setting the table. Junmyeon was telling him all about his life with watery eyes as he chewed on some grapes that Kris had given him to hold him over until their food delivery arrived. “You liked him that much?”

“I didn’t like him. I loved him,” Junmyeon murmured, a few hot and salty tears dripping out of his eyes when he blinked. His grip tightened on the bowl of fruit. “I loved him so much that I gave up literally everything for him. Everything I had, even my heart, and I lost that too. I know we started to argue a lot because of our financial problems, but if you really love someone, you stick with them through thick and thin, right? I guess I just loved him more than he loved me. I never even thought about cheating on him, let alone in the bed we shared at night.”

It just didn’t add up in Kris’ mind. He simply didn’t understand how Junmyeon’s ex-boyfriend could have been so foolish. Junmyeon had obviously loved him immensely; he had given up his family, his dreams, his happiness, just to stay with him. Junmyeon picked himself completely apart for their relationship, and if that wasn’t love, then Kris didn’t know what was. Love that ran that deeply was hard to come by these days, if not impossible to find. His ex had been a damned fool to throw something to that extent away.

And as he stared at Junmyeon, whose shoulder Kris was still gingerly shaking, he couldn’t help but wonder if Junmyeon’s ex had been bind on top of everything else. Why would he need to cheat? Junmyeon was far from ugly, and if Kris dared himself to admit it, Junmyeon was in fact actually quite stunning. A youthful and flawless face, a charming smile, bright twinkling eyes, and a warm, bubbly personality.

“Kris?” Junmyeon sleepily whispered, drowsy eyes staring at him. Kris tried to ignore the sudden warmth in his belly when Junmyeon said his name like that. “What time is it…?”

Junmyeon’s ex-boyfriend had it all, and had thrown it all away.

--

“Are your hours too long, Junmyeon?” Kris asked as he drove Junmyeon to work. The boy was still half-asleep, dozing quietly in Kris’ passenger seat and hugging his lunchbox close. Junmyeon sleepily opened his eyes, gazing at Kris in confusion. Kris merely hummed as he continued to stare out at the road. “You seem awfully tired.”

“It’s tiring,” Junmyeon murmured, sleepily rubbing his eyes with the back of one little fist. “I’ve been tired for so long, Kris, it’s not even funny anymore.”

“I’m a café owner; I can understand exhaustion,” Kris replied, pulling his car up to the curb outside of the mall. It was still quiet since the building hadn’t opened to the public just yet. Junmyeon murmured his thanks and, clutching his lunchbox like a little kid, he pried open the door. He had just managed to hop out when Kris spoke again. “Junmyeon, wait a second.”

Curiously, Junmyeon peered into the car to see Kris’ pursed lips, like he always did when he was thinking about something.

“You don’t have to keep working here if you don’t want to. Just remember that. There are plenty of jobs in the world,” Kris reassured him. He actually chuckled a little. “Not to mention that Baekhyun just turned in his two week notice a couple days ago. We’ll be short-staffed soon, if that’s something up your alley. Just a thought.”

“Won’t you get sick of seeing me?” Junmyeon asked, blinking innocently. “Seeing me at your job and in your home?”

“I doubt it. Besides, if we get to see each other more, I can finally get to know you a bit better. I still hardly know you,” Kris pointed out, shooting the younger male a small but warm grin. “Just keep it in mind. I really wouldn’t care. I think you would be much happier if you got out of this retail business. Some people can pull it off, but I don’t think it is right for you.”

Junmyeon smiled at him, just like he had done the night before, and Kris’ insides suddenly felt like they were knotted together. Junmyeon just nodded, holding the lunchbox Kris had given him close to his chest, eyes seeming the brightest they had since the first day Kris had met him.

“I would like that very much, I think.”

--

“You packed a lunch?” Chanyeol and Sehun asked simultaneously in disbelief when Junmyeon actually announced that day that he was going to take a break, with the polka-dotted lunchbox Kris had given him clutched in his arms.

Junmyeon had never taken a break since he had started the job.

“A friend of mine packed it for me,” Junmyeon said shyly in response. He had no idea what was inside, but the lunchbox was heavy. The mystery of the situation did excite him, however. After all, the breakfast Kris had cooked earlier that morning had been extensive and Junmyeon couldn’t remember a time where he had tasted foods so delicious. “So yes, I’m taking my break today.”

“Your friend?” Sehun asked, arching one eyebrow, obviously not sure he had heard correctly. “Just a friend?”

“Yes, just a friend,” Junmyeon replied, even though his cheeks were threatening to turn pink. “His name is Kris, and he’s very nice.”

“Since when do friends pack their friends lunches?” Chanyeol asked, flabbergasted as he turned to Sehun. “You’ve never packed me a lunch in my whole life! You’ve never even bought me lunch!”

“That so isn’t true,” Sehun snapped back at him, whirling around, “I bought you lunch a few months ago!”

Junmyeon saw their distraction as his chance to escape, and he quickly scurried away, hurrying so that the boys wouldn’t notice that he was leaving. He could tell them that he was planning on turning in his two-week notice later.

Something was on his mind, however, as Junmyeon ducked into the break room. What did they mean by ‘just a friend’? Kris was his friend! What other implications were there supposed to be?

Junmyeon ignored the weird fluttering in his tummy at that thought.

--

Kris wasn’t sure why he had mentioned that a position was opening up. Maybe it was because he needed to fill someone into the role asap, maybe it was because he felt bad for Junmyeon, Kris wasn’t sure. Regardless, the idea hadn’t seemed like a bad one. However, as he took Junmyeon under his wing for training, he realized he may have made a mistake. Junmyeon acted as if he had never set foot in a kitchen in his whole life.

The entire area behind the counter was a mess.

But somehow, it felt as if he and Junmyeon had known each other much longer than they actually had. Even though he and Junmyeon had only seen each other for a limited number of weeks, and despite the fact he had only just learned about Junmyeon’s history less than twenty-four hours ago, it was as if he had known the boy for ages. Maybe it was because Junmyeon was comfortable enough around him to joke around, making the atmosphere so much lighter in the process that there was no longer any capacity for it to be awkward.

“Well,” Kris began, his voice echoing in the empty café. Junmyeon had swung by after work to get some behind the scenes training so that he would be a little more up to speed once Baekhyun’s position was open. There was batter splashed on the apron Kris was wearing, and the hems of his sleeves that he had tugged up to his elbows had still managed to somehow get stained. “Tell you what. Let’s step away from baking for right now. I can try to teach you another dish tonight before we go home.”

Junmyeon shyly shuffled his feet across the flour-drenched floor. “I’m sorry I made a mess. I’ll clean it up.”

“I sure hope so. Reminds me of the time I bought a giant bag of flour myself and lugged it inside, and of course, the bottom fell out before I could even get it into storage.” Kris groaned loudly. “That was a mess of the century.”

“I’m sure it was.” The edges of Junmyeon’s mouth twitched into a small smile. The boy then tried to make himself busy, wrangling up a dishtowel so that he could begin wiping up the counter. “Sounds like it was a pain.”

“Understatement,” Kris countered. Junmyeon chuckled softly under his breath, not looking up at all as he cleaned the countertop. “By the way, Junmyeon, I know you mentioned you aren’t a very good cook, so I know this is all pretty new to you. Don’t stress yourself out if you find it’s taking you a while to get better at these things. It takes time to learn and improve.”

“I’ll try my best. I really do owe you anyway,” Junmyeon replied, turning his head and giving Kris a warm smile that made his heart skip a beat. “I’m just glad you gave me a chance and helped me when I needed it the most.”

Kris just offered him a hesitant smile before turning away, trying to ignore his new temporary speedy heartrate.

--

“So,” Jongdae began one slow evening. Minseok glanced up from washing dishes, and Junmyeon turned around to stare at him as he was busy frosting some cookies. Jongdae had a rather mischievous grin on his lips. The three of them had become rather close to each other ever since Junmyeon had started working at the café, easily bonding with one another without issue. It made an easygoing atmosphere, but it also created problems. Like right now, how Jongdae was about to tease the hell out of him. “Wanna tell us some details about what had happened earlier?”

Minseok laughed, and Junmyeon’s face looked red enough to burst into flames.

“It was nothing,” Junmyeon whined, turning away from Jongdae so that he could go back to tending to the baked goods. “Seriously. It was an accident.”

It had been a blunder, but when it had happened, it was as if time had stood still.

It had felt like something out of a movie. A cheesy, romantic comedy movie, and Junmyeon was the cute but ditzy leading lady. There had been a spill by the counter, and Junmyeon being Junmyeon, he never even noticed the liquid until he was already slipping in it, reeling backwards as he struggled and failed to maintain his footing.

Luckily for him, Kris had been standing within arm’s reach so that he didn’t fall down. In his blunder, Junmyeon’s hands had shot out and grabbed Kris as fast as he could so that he wouldn’t hit the floor. He was only partially successful, however. He was holding Kris by the shirt, so it kept his torso off the ground, but Junmyeon’s legs had gone out from underneath him completely. His knees were resting against the floor.

So there he was, in the middle of the café, on his knees, clutching handfuls of Kris’ sweater, with his face way too close to Kris’ crotch.

Thankfully, there weren’t many customers, and it didn’t seem like anyone had noticed. However, Minseok and Jongdae definitely had, as they were both standing behind the counter at the time. The two of them had instantly erupted into gut-busting laughter, and the redness on Junmyeon’s face as he hauled himself to his feet only seemed to entertain them further.

Junmyeon could have sworn Kris was blushing as the man helped him up.

“It sure didn’t look like nothing,” Minseok teased, chuckling as he rinsed one of his plates. “Looked pretty risqué to me and I sure didn’t hear any complaining out of you after he helped you up.”

“Your face was pretty red too,” Jongdae added, not helping the situation at all. “But I didn’t see you rushing to get up.”

“Maybe Junmyeon likes it on his knees,” Minseok said in a sing-song voice, cackling along with Jongdae. “And in front of Kris, no less! My, my, Junmyeon, we didn’t know you could be so naughty.”

“It was an accident!” Junmyeon shrieked, face beet red as he stood there arguing with his coworkers. “It didn’t mean anything!”

“Oh, relax, Junmyeon, we’re just teasing you,” Jongdae commented playfully. “Besides, we already know you have a crush on him. It’s not like it’s classified information.”

“I most certainly do not,” Junmyeon spluttered in embarrassment, the redness in his face cranking up a few notches. “Where did you even come up with such an idea?”

“We didn’t come up with it. It’s pretty obvious. It has been this whole time, even before you started working here,” Jongdae said as he leaned against the counter. “Baek figured it out first, though. I mean, hey, you should see how different you act around Kris, even before you became an employee. It’s like you did a total one-eighty personality wise whenever he was – is – around. You aren’t good at being subtle, Junmyeon.”

Stifling a moan, Junmyeon buried his face into his hands, feeling as if his face was about to burst into flames.

“Why so glum? It’s actually cute,” Minseok teased him, grinning. “You’re already pretty cute in general but when you’re near him you get all flustered. It’s adorable.”

“Don’t call me cute,” Junmyeon whined into his hands. He wanted to disappear so badly. “And the situation isn’t cute. It’s embarrassing.”

“It’s totally cute,” Jongdae argued, he and Minseok still smiling at him. “And I mean, it’s Kris we’re talking about. He’s a good guy. Why are you so shy about this?”

Junmyeon didn’t mean to yell, but he just didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He was so embarrassed he just wanted to crawl into a hole. “Because Kris is my boss, and I like him!”

His voice was so loud that it caused a few diners to turn around and stare at him. Junmyeon’s face was absolutely burning. Jongdae and Minseok were surprised by his outburst, but after a few moments of blinking, their lips curled right back up at the edges in amusement. It didn’t take them long to crowd around Junmyeon, showering him with teasing and playful hair ruffles and patting him on the back.

The trio never noticed the tall figure lingering around the corner.

--

Oh, this was bad.

Kris had already figured out that he was harboring too many mushy feelings for Junmyeon. Perhaps not a crush – or perhaps it was, Kris didn’t know – but he knew he was getting far too attached to the boy. Kris was not the best person attuned to his emotions, but he knew well enough that all that rolling in his stomach and rapid pounding of his heart was not because of health problems.

He liked Junmyeon, and apparently, Junmyeon liked him.

Kris hadn’t meant to overhear, but it would have been difficult not to. He had been holed up in his office when he had heard yelling. Minseok and Jongdae bickered every now and again, but Kris had never before heard screaming. Thinking something bad had happened, he had hurried out of his office and had made it almost entirely around the corner when he heard Junmyeon’s voice, rippling with embarrassment and shame.

“Because Kris is my boss, and I like him!”

Kris had never even seen it coming. He was so shocked he had just stood there for a good few minutes, numbly trying to process what had just happened. At long last, he merely turned around and wandered back into his office, unsure of what to even think.

Kris was plenty aware that the feeling was a two-way street, but Kris had not dared to tell Junmyeon how he felt. He wasn’t even supposed to know about Junmyeon’s emotions; the only reason he was aware to begin with was because he had overheard Minseok and Jongdae teasing him nonstop until Junmyeon at last blurted out his confession.

What was he supposed to do now? Kris did not know if it would be a good idea to tell Junmyeon at all that he liked him. Sure, the feeling was mutual, but it would be odd to date a coworker, especially one that he was the boss of. Was it unethical? Was Kris even allowed to date an employee? He had no idea.

For now, he would keep quiet, at least until he figured out the right time to speak up. Now just certainly wasn’t it.



[ Part 3 ]