⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 𝐔NKoWN .𖥔˚ dream x wayv ˎˊ˗
CHaPTER TWeLVE

EVEN THOUGH KENTO AND KIYOMI WORKED AT THE SAME PLACE, very rarely did the two actually speak to one another.

kiyomi only worked night shifts and kento was never around past seven, despite being being the manager. luckily he does have his assistant manager, jacob bae, to handle the stuff after sundown.

although kiyomi wished kento was around, because even though they aren't that close, it was nice to have someone she knows around. it's not like the other three employees were bad, but kiyomi just didn't know them. all she knows is their ages and basic life stories, courtesy of her brother.

the most senior employee was kevin moon. he who was three years older than kiyomi and was a part time photographer from canada and jacob bae's bestest friend.

then there was yu jimin who went by her english name, karina. she lived in australia for her childhood after her parents divorced. she moved to korea after high school and is now studying law.

and lastly, there was kim jungwoo. he's a nurse that works in the morning and a restaurant/club worker at night. kiyomi finds it impressive that jungwoo has the energy work here right after fulfilling his nurse duties.

the three of them would converse and try to include kiyomi, but it just felt awkward because the three had known each other much longer and now kiyomi was shoved in the group.

kiyomi would do her best to talk, but eventually she'd make up some excuse to walk away. "oh, that lady needs a refill." "oh, someone should man the bar." "oh would you look at that, someone's barfing on the dance floor!"

"i should make sure the bathroom's are in good shape." was the excuse kiyomi made today.

unfortunately, her excuses could only work for so long.

"you're always doing so much, kiyomi." karina chided. "you're new around here, let us deal with the heavy work."

"yeah," jungwoo agreed. "i'll go make sure nobody's having quickies in the stalls."

kiyomi's face must've been a sight, because kevin burst into laughter after one glance.

"that's never happened at your old job?" he asked.

kiyomi shook her head. her previous job was a waitress at a high end restaurant where only the richest of the richest dine, so no one would actually do that in the restrooms unless they want to destroy their reputation.

"yeah, it's best i go in order to protect your virgin eyes." jungwoo chuckled, turning on his heels. this left kiyomi alone with karina and kevin staring at her.

kiyomi felt a flush rise to her cheeks, both embarrassed and oddly amused by the banter. "i guess every workplace has its own set of surprises," she replied with a nervous laugh, trying to play it cool despite the attention.

karina grinned mischievously. "you'll get used to our weird sense of humor eventually. besides, it's fun with you around, kiyomi."

kevin nodded in agreement, his laughter subsiding into a warm smile. "yeah, i'm glad kento hired you. after jay left, we were worried some freak would come in and ruin the vibe."

kiyomi felt a flicker of relief. maybe being part of their conversations wasn't as daunting as she'd imagined.

karina leaned against the counter, her expression turning thoughtful. "so, kiyomi, tell us something interesting about yourself. what's your story outside of work?"

kiyomi hesitated for a moment, pondering what to share. "well, i used to live in tokyo before moving here for university. and i stayed here ever since."

"that's cool," kevin remarked, genuinely interested. "what made you choose night shifts, though? not many people prefer those hours."

"it's easier to be away from my son at night, because he'll just sleep through my absence," kiyomi admitted. when kiyomi first became a mother, she was scared of mentioning her son. but now, she doesn't really care.

well she cares, a lot actually, but now she doesn't really care. kiyomi may not really know them, but her coworkers don't seem to be ones to care.

karina nodded approvingly. "oh, that's smart." she said, not even batting an eye at the mention of kiyomi's son.

their conversation flowed more easily now, transitioning from small talk to personal anecdotes and shared interests. kiyomi found herself laughing along with them, feeling a sense of camaraderie she hadn't expected to find in such a short time.

as the night progressed, jacob emerged from the back office, a stack of paperwork in hand. "everything going smoothly?" he asked, casting a glance around the bustling club.

"smooth as silk," kevin replied with a wink, earning a chuckle from jacob.

"good to hear," jacob said with a nod, before disappearing back into his office.

kiyomi glanced at the clock and realized how quickly time had passed. "i should probably check on the customers," she said, not even making an excuse. this was a genuine desire to make sure everything was in order.

karina nodded in agreement "you do that, we'll hold down the fort."

as kiyomi weaved through the lively crowd, she couldn't help but notice how smoothly everything was running tonight. customers were chatting animatedly, glasses clinked in toasts, and the music thumped with infectious energy. she approached a group of regulars near the bar, checking if anyone needed another round.

"another round, anyone?" kiyomi asked with a smile.

a guy in a sharp suit glanced up, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "you read my mind. whiskey, please."

kiyomi nodded and quickly prepared his drink, expertly pouring the amber liquid over ice. as she handed it to him, he grinned appreciatively. "thanks, kiyomi. you're a lifesaver."

she chuckled and moved on to the next table, where a group of girls were celebrating a birthday. they squealed with delight when she brought over a round of shots, joining in their laughter for a moment before continuing her rounds.

suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. she turned to find jacob standing there, a warm smile on his face. "you're doing great out here, kiyomi."

"thanks, jacob," she replied, feeling a rush of validation from his praise. "it's been fun tonight."

he nodded, glancing around the room with a satisfied expression. "it's good to see everyone getting along. you've really settled in well."

kiyomi smiled gratefully. "yeah, your team is amazing. i'm glad to be a part of it."

jacob's smile widened. "we're glad to have you, kiyomi."

as the night wore on, kiyomi found herself more and more at ease with her coworkers. she shared a laugh with kevin about his latest photography project, listened intently to karina's plans for her upcoming law exams, and even joked with jungwoo about the chaotic life of a nurse by day, club worker by night.

near the end of her shift, as the crowd began to thin out, kiyomi stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. she leaned against the building, the city lights shimmering in the distance. moments like these made her grateful for the opportunities she'd found here, the unexpected camaraderie that had blossomed in a place where she initially felt like an outsider.

"i never expected this," she murmured to herself, a contented smile tugging at her lips.

a voice startled her from behind. "expected what?"

she turned to find karina standing there, a warm expression mirroring her own. "just... how much i'd enjoy working here, being part of this team."

karina nodded knowingly. "it's surprising sometimes, how life puts us exactly where we need to be."

they stood together in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the night unfold around them. kiyomi felt a sense of belonging she hadn't felt in a long time, grateful for the friendships that had grown stronger with each passing shift.

"hey," karina broke the silence gently. "we're grabbing brunch tomorrow. you in?"

kiyomi usually would decline the offer in favor of staying home with yukinari. however, for the first time in ages, kiyomi is going to give herself this.

she stuck with the same group of people since she was a college freshman. and she is starting to like this group of people. so, with a bright smile kiyomi answered, "yes."

"great, i'll send the details in the work chat." karina smiled.

as they headed back inside, kiyomi couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed since she first walked through those doors. what started as a distant job opportunity had turned into a place where she not only worked but belonged-a community of diverse souls brought together by late-night shifts and shared experiences.

and as she joined her coworkers to finish up the night, kiyomi knew that here, amidst the pulsing rhythm of the club and the laughter of newfound friends, she had found more than just a job-she had found a second home.