I checked my wrist watch and sighed.

5:32 p.m.

The bell of the café chimed signalling my presence inside the café.

It was honestly quite hard to show up after what happened between us earlier.

The fact that I didn't have enough money to even get her anything as an apologetic gesture made it even harder.

Shamelessly I went over to the counter of the thinly-packed shop but before I could place an order I heard a female voice screeching out my name.

Being surprised I turned out only to find the person I wanted to see the least at that moment.

There was Yerin, sitting at a table and waving her hands high up in the air at me.

From a part-time girlfriend to a full-time stalker? Pfft.

"Joshua!! Why are you still standing over there? Come here! I already saved you a seat!!"

I shook my head and trotted over to the table to avoid the stares I was already receiving from others.

I pulled out the chair and sat in front of her. Interlocking my palms, I put them over the wooden table in front of my face as I looked out of the window and asked irritatingly, "What brings you here now?"

"Huh? What did you just say?"

"Why did you come?"

"Oh." she paused for a moment and spoke again, "Why? Didn't you want to see your girlfr-"

"It's not like that! Not everything is about you! I need some space too. You can't just keep appearing in every damn place I go to! Do you get that?!"

"Oh so you mean you need space from me huh?? What's your problem Joshua? Why do you always avoid me and take a chance for that scum!"

"Oh man not this hysteria again..." I threw my back over the chair.

"You're in a relationship yet you don't wanna see your girlfriend's face! What are you even-"

"Your order." The voice of the waitress interrupted us which I'm highly thankful for.

I looked over to the waitress for the voice was one of those I yearned to hear.

She had the same nonchalancy in her face as her voice.

But my eyes suddenly popped out when I saw the number of food items she was placing on our table.

"Wait a minute. A-are you sure you got the correct order? I mean we haven't ordered anything yet..."

She stopped placing the plates and listened carefully. For a moment she paused before pulling out a receipt and saying out aloud, "One chocolate milkshake, one love frappe, a slice of berry cream cake, cream cookies and two sugar pretzels. Ordered by Ms. Seo Yerin. That's what it says over here."

"What the hell?! Yerin did you order all these? Seriously!?"

"Why? Can't you even pay for me? I even ordered you a milkshake and you can't even do that! What a miser you are, oh my god!" She folded her hands over her chest dramatically and looked away, but that wasn't any of my concern.

I instantly facepalmed forgetting everyone's presence.

Who the fuck gave her birth in the first place?

"Shall I continue placing the order sir?"

I instantly glanced at her at the mention of the word 'sir'.

"Um, may I see the receipt please?"

She handed me the lengthy bill without another word.

My eyes scanned the paper only to get glued to the numbers at the bottom. $35.68 .

I took my wallet out and counted the few pennies I had that totalled up to not more than $20.45 .

"As expected," Yerin's voice interrupted my thoughts again, "you can just nag at me for being boring when in reality the truth is you're broke as fuck-"

"Oh sorry guys, I think there is a problem in the billing. I will get the right receipt and be at the counter. You guys can enjoy your feast." Haeyoon's voice shocked both of us.

"What do you mean by there's a problem!? You have just one job and you really suck at it! Were you that interested in gawking over my boyfriend that you forgot how to total up things!? You waitresses are so...terrible and pathetic in everything-"

"YERIN STOP!! Firstly, you ordered whatever the hell you wanted without asking about my opinion and now you're yelling nonsense at her! What the fuck is wrong with you!?!!"

"Guys it's okay, please don't fight. It was really my mistake, I apologize-"

"Shut the fuck up you fatass prostitute!! Why would-"

SLAP!

I slapped her as hard as I could. It was the first time I ever raised my hand on a girl but I never regretted it.

The atmosphere stopped around us screaming silence.

Her face still maintained the impact of the slap with eyes glued to the ground.

"One more word and I won't hesitate to throttle you to death. Either stuff in your food or get lost." I hissed out the words venomously, my blood boiling in anger.

"Guys...please don't-"

"Fine, I'll leave. I didn't want to come here anyways. And you," she pointed her fingers at Haeyoon, "you better watch out, lil fella." Saying this Yerin ran out of the shop in tears before waiting for me to speak up again.

I glanced over to Haeyoon. She stood rock solid in her position.

"Sorry about everything."

She simply nodded her head not even sparing a glance at me.

"Um, is it possible to refund everything back?"

"Yes." she replied quietly.

"Will you join me in finishing all of this?"

"What?" she finally looked at me with creased brows.

"Will you be my café mate instead?" I asked a smuggy grin this time. She got it what I did there.

"No."

"Why?"

"I'm busy-"

"No you're not. There's barely any customer here."

She sighed.

"Your girlfriend won't be happy."

"I know how to make her happy. Plus she wouldn't mind-"

"You shouldn't ask a waitress to be your cafémate who is also known to be a pros-"

"I'd like to cancel this order and only have a cappuccino instead."

I felt her glance at me but I already looked away. I heard her heels walking away.

I was done with all of this.

She is now believing that lie and cutting herself out of the world again.

She tried to "save" my "relationship" by rewording the receipt but in reality she is killing herself.

I know Yerin will put up a nasty drama in front of dad but I don't care. I can't bear to hear that lie anymore, especially from the victim's tongue.

She placed the cup of my coffee along with the receipt silently on the table and walked away. I wanted to call her back but something prevented me from doing so.

I ended up just watching her disappear into the deeper caféteria.

Everything has an end and if it won't, it has to be.

|•|

~[HAEYOON]

Thank god I was the only one who was at that hour.

My back slid down against the kitchen counter as I buried my face in my hands between my knees bawling my eyes out.

I'm so weak.

I'm so miserable.

I'm so terrible.

I'm so pathetic.

Why did he slap her?

He believes her, right?

He loves her, right?

Then does he always give me false hopes?

I had adjusted myself to everything, why did he have to ruin it!? Why does he always try to put me up in some delusional fairytale!?

I buried my head even more as tears kept flowing out.

Is giving a second chance to humanity such a big mistake?

...

TIME SKIP~8:05 p.m.

I dropped off the mop at its desired place after being done with wiping off the tables.

I looked outside and a curve formed on my lips.

It was raining heavily.

Without wasting a second more, I closed the shop and hopped outside letting the raindrops hit my face.

The best way I describe myself is when I get nature at my back. The sky too seems to be saddened and done with bottling up everything that's why it unleashed its wrath today.

My uniform was totally drenched but I didn't care. I continued walking my way home slowly, enjoying the moment to its fullest.

Suddenly I didn't feel the raindrops hit my head. I looked up in wonder to see an umbrella over my head.

I creased my brows when my eyes darted towards the owner of the dark blue coloured umbrella.

The person I needed yet anticipated to see the most at that moment, Joshua Hong.

He was smiling at me but there was something else that his face read but unfortunately it wasn't understandable to me.

But there was something about him that attracted me every time I saw him. His wet, jet black hair, ever-smiling eyes, pointy nose, plump heart-shaped lips, sharp jawline and overall his gentle and soothing voice, that made me drool over him. And now that, he was standing ever closer it was getting harder to resist myself from hugging him.

Who would know that this sweet-faced angel would turn his back to me in the blink of an eye?

I jolted when he suddenly wrapped his arms around my shoulder. I first glanced at his engaged arm and then at him but he immediately broke off the stare.

"Let's go?-"

I shrugged off his hands and stepped out of his umbrella and I replied coldly, "I want you to leave first."

"Not until you're coming."

"Please LEAVE." I looked away to prevent myself from breaking down again.

I heard him click his tongue as he said, "Well, I'm given responsibility to check on you so that you don't fall sick and be absent."

"Oh really? Well then don't worry. I won't fall sick and ditch school. Be assured." I said sarcastically.

"How can I be assured? What if you fall sick by getting drenched like this?"

"Ah yes you're right how can you be assured by my statement. Well you know what, even if honesty and promises are a rare sight now, 1% of that still exists. And I can proudly say that I, belong to that category unlike you who is just a...playboy. So fuck off in the kindest way possible unless you want me to call the cops." I spat on his face harshly.

My heart felt the pain of the whole universe while tears brimmed up to the corners once again but thank god, the heavy rain was covering it up for me.

The silence and blankness on his face was too much to bear. I started walking away from the awkward situation but then I heard him speaking back to me loudly once again, "But I can't let a girl walk home alone at this hour and in this weather."

I turned back to face him again.

"So you think a girl walking alone is unsafe while a guy alone is safe huh? Then why the fuck was my dad murdered!?!! He was a grown ass man... then couldn't he save himself!!? Tell me why!!" I howled at him through the downpour as my tears gave in.

I don't know why my dad's memories suddenly screen up in my brain but I just couldn't control it.

"Haeyoon, I-"

"Shut up! Don't you dare bringing up my name on your mouth. And for your kind information," I took a step forward towards him and spoke, "I'd rather die slowly, if not instantly in the hands of a stranger rather than walking beside a bipolar person who showed me hopes of being a best friend. You're a nobody to me Joshua Hong. Just a nobody!" I screamed into his face as I sprinted off towards my home in tears.

Maybe being friends isn't my cup of tea.