To say I didn't enjoy Beomgyu's company would be a lie.
All three waited till they were my last customers and at last, I had to ask them to leave since it was past the closing time.
Beomgyu was nice and he made conversations with me constantly as I cleaned up and put the chairs upside down on the tables. He even offered to help but o couldn't let him do that.
I was conscious at first, knowing very well yellow was not my color and by the end of the long day I had today, I must look dirty and exhausted but there was something in Beomgyu's voice, it made me comfortable.
More comfortable than I would have liked.
I had to remind myself that he was not my friend and San had warned me about them, so I needed to be careful.
But in the end, it felt nice to have someone to talk to. I would have just been alone here otherwise anyway, talking to myself and butchering kpop choreographies as I swept the floor.
Even Kai and Taehyun whom I had no hopes of conversing with me talked.
It was mostly in relation to whatever question Beomgyu asked and their questions were less friendly than Beomgyu's and more interrogative but still, this was the most either of them have talked to me directly.
Although, I didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
Now that they were gone as well, I cleaned up their table and all I had to do was take out the trash and then I can lock up. I turn off the lights of this place, only keeping the one at the door on, and taking out the trash.
Just when I dump the bags in the garbage can I hear a voice that makes me jump as I try to grab the garbage bag again to hit the person.
"I was hoping you'll be at the closing shift" A figure was leaning against the wall, a couple of feet away from the garbage can.
The light did not fall on him but rather behind him, making his silhouette look like it was emitting light from within.
There was no way I would have guessed who it was if not for the voice.
That voice.
It was spooky to me how I recognized his voice so easily even when I had barely known him for a few days.
"Yeonjun what the hell are you doing here?" I rub my hand over my chest hoping to calm down my rapid heartbeat.
He did not answer.
I saw his figure shift putting his weight from one leg to the other.
Maybe I was stupid, waiting for his answer when I should have been running away from him.
The last we saw each other, well technically he saw me was yesterday, at the lunch table.
And he did not look happy to see me.
Maybe he was here just to threaten me or something.
It was in my best interest to just up and leave.
I was done already.
I have packed up everything. I just needed to lock the main door and then leave. I did not have to stay here.
This time I wasn't ever lurking around to hear his conversation even. It was him who was here alone, like a creep in the dark.
I shouldn't have waited for his answer, I should have turned around and walked away.
Then, why the hell wasn't I?
"I wanted Mint choco," he says in a small voice. If he was just a little farther away I probably wouldn't have heard him.
"What?" I ask him not because I didn't hear him but because I feel like I might have missed something in the sentence he spoke.
"I was craving ice cream" he says, his voice a little louder than before, laced with frustration and something else.
I huff out air and rub my temples hoping he is joking.
"Are you serious?" I ask and he doesn't reply.
He shifts his weight from one leg to another, and what I assume to be him scratches his neck.
"First of all, this place isn't the only ice cream joint in this town, and second, if you wanted ice cream why didn't you come into the store during open hours from the front door like a normal human being?" I don't realize my voice had risen.
I take a step back and am about to turn away when his voice stops me again.
"I didn't want to attract attention" his voice is slowing again, timid almost.
I hear him sigh and a small thud as he rests his head back against the wall.
I turn around to look at him.
I want to look at him.
But I cannot because he is still in the dark, only his figure visible.
"What do you mean?" I ask him to elaborate as I stand there, my patience thin but my curiosity high.
His voice sounded strained and tired.
"Can you just give me a scoop of mint-choco ice cream?" his voice was now louder, not because he raised his voice but because he took a few steps in my direction, the street light finally hitting his face.
I gasp.
Yeonjun has a busted lip and there is some dried blood on his forehead, his pink hair stuck to the wound.
His clothes are completely disheveled, his eyes look tired and he overall looks extremely exhausted.
I move with my feet having a mind of their own.
One step then next and suddenly I am right in front of him, feeling his labored breath on my face.
I don't realize how close I am to him until my finer touch the side of his face.
I don't realize I should not have done that till his face flinches away from my touch and his eyes harden into cold slits like I am usually used to.
"Don't touch me" he grits out, forcing air out of his nose in heavy huffs.
I recoil and take several steps back.
What was I doing?
Was I going crazy or was I so overworked that I didn't know what was right for me and what was not?
I should be running away from him not towards him.
He was bloodied and bruised.
He screamed trouble.
There was not one scenario in which this boded well for me so what was I doing here standing so close to him?
Why was I still standing here?
I should be running.
The metaphorical red sirens in my head blared loudly but maybe I was deaf because I didn't run.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to â I mean - I don't know. I don't know why I did that. I just â you need medical attention. Do you want me to take you to a hospital?" I blurt out trying to assemble my thoughts in my head.
I had so many questions I knew he would not give me answers to.
"I can handle myself." He speaks and takes another step toward me.
This is when I see that he is limping.
This is why he was shifting his weight from one leg to another.
The humane part of me wants to go and help him walk because he he is having trouble doing that but I know if I take another step towards him, he will probably spit out a slurry of insults at me.
And I do not have the patience to bear that.
Was he in a fight or did he meet with an accident?
I study his face, trying to decipher how he got into the state that he is in but I do not get any answer.
On the contrary, his eyes pin me and I find it hard to move.
The light here isn't enough that I can study his face for other wounds but it still makes his eyes shine a dangerous honey color.
His eyes dared me to ask the questions that are on the tip of my tongue.
I break his eye contact and look around him but I don't see his motorcycle. He doesn't even have his helmet.
Did he walk here there or what?
"Do you want me to call your family then?" I suggest that his scowls deepen as his eyes harden.
"What family?" he spits.
His voice is strained and holds so much venom that I recoil again.
Did he get in a fight with his brother?
The pieces of the conversation I overheard at school play through my head and instead of getting angry at him, I feel bad.
No, Yuri, don't.
Do not get emotionally invested.
That is a bad idea.
"Yeonjun, if you don't want to go to the hospital, that's okay but you should at least go home and disinfect the wounds," I say as calmly as possible as if I am talking to a wounded baby fox.
"Will you give me the ice cream or not?" he scoffs, his voice colder than the night breeze.
Maybe it's because he looks so vulnerable right now.
Maybe I feel bad seeing him like this.
Maybe I am just plain stupid.
I sigh.
"This better be the last time," I say and his eyes light up.