Twisting the door knob I slowly made my way into the house towards my bedroom.

Thank god, they are out for business trips.

Freshening up I changed into some comfywear as I lied down on the bed.

Numerous thoughts were jumbled up in my head.

But I got distracted from thinking about them after a couple of minutes as my stomach rumbled signalling me to grab something.

I returned with a hot bowl of ramyeon and decided to watch something to ease off my mind.

After some searching, I finalized on watching Judge Vs. Judge, basically to kill some time before 5 pm.

~[HAEYOON]

5:10 a.m.

A numbening bodyache greeted me as I fluttered open my eyes. But soon after checking the time, I practically jumped out of my bed and dashed towards the washroom, mentally cursing my dumb self for oversleeping.

Completing my daily routine, I put on my work attire and packed my school bag for the day and checked the time.

Tons of notifications are flooding over my phone's screen but I do not dare opening them.

Sighing I decided to help myself with some breakfast. I knew it won't be any use of checking the fridge but dang, I love clinging onto my last hope for finding something there.

As expected. My hungry self devoured the last drops of milk last night so that leaves my fridge absolutely empty.

'Perfect. A perfect start to the morning.' I muttered under my breath as I slung my backpack over my shoulders and marched out of the house.

I crushed and threw my orange juice cup that I grabbed from a vending machine earlier.

Wiping my mouth I checked inside the café.

Talking about this café. It's not something I love to do, but it's something I gotta do to get myself a decent life.
You may ask why I hate my job. Café life sounds so cozy, right?

Well, that's not the case for everyone.

Let's just say, the only reason I am still working here is because no one would hire a high-schooler but this one is newly opened and they are in dire need of workers so yeah, that brings me here.

'Why do they even keep morning shifts when nobody comes at this hour...' I muttered inside my head.

Even though I just got up I was still feeling sleepy.

Gosh I shouldn't have stayed up late.

I decided to clean the already cleaned tables in order to prevent myself from passing out.

Grabbing the mop, I started my work.

Not long after I was done cleaning three tables than I heard the chiming of the bell.

'...woah finally.' I thought as I tried to calm down my introvert self and greet the customer.

Giving him one of my 'work-oriented' smiles I walked towards the counter.

He was a student. A student of Seoul International High School to be precise.

'...woah he goes to the same school but how come I never noticed him? He so handsome oh my-' I mentally slapped myself for thinking too much.

Clearing my throat I finally looked up to him.

"Good morning sir. What can I get you?"

"A normal cappuccino please."

"Alright. Anything else sir?"

"No."

"Okay that will be $2.62- oh wait! Are you a student sir?"

'...dumbass you can already see that...'

"Well...I guess so."

"Okay then it will be $2.50 for you. We have special pass for students that allows 4.5% off on coffee."

"I see. It's a thoughtful one. But aren't you a bit too young to work? I mean you should be going to school now..."

I was kind of surprised by his question. I mean it is a quite normal question but I still don't know why I was bewildered.

Maybe because it's been quite a while someone spoke normally to me...

Nonetheless I gave him my cheekiest smile as we talked.

"Oh no no sir! I do go to school. It's just a shift of my part-time job."

"Oh I see... anyways, here's the money."

"Good timing! The coffee is ready too!" I turned back to grab the cup from him. "Here you go sir. Thank you for visiting. Have a nice day ahead!" I said as I handed him the cup.

"Yeah...thank you...uhm..you too..have a nice day ahead."

He went out.

But I was not done daydreaming about his handsome features.

And accidentally I said, a bit loudly maybe.

"... he's so cool. He's so handsome-"

"Huh what did you say just now? Who is cool and handsome?"

I turned towards the owner of the voice. Turns out it was Seolhyun's who was standing leaning against the wall with folded arms, her uniform being a bit too tight and revealing her cleavage.

Kim Seolhyun. The name that terrifies me and most probably will continue to do so even in my afterlife.

If Satan was incarnated as a human it would be Kim Seolhyun.

"No one..." I quietly answered turning back towards the counter. I honestly have no intention of picking up with her early in the morning.

"Oh really??" I could see the dirty smirk plastered on her makeup-caked face without even looking at her, just how I could hear the sarcasm in her tone.

Suddenly I felt sharp fingernails digging into my cheeks as my eyes bolted around to her direction.

"Oh sweetie, did you think I wouldn't notice? Is my bestie getting a mini crush on our new customer? Aww."

Bestie. Yes she was my bestie. But not anymore.

I slapped away her hands from my cheeks and looked up to her. She was quite taller than me to be honest.

"Live in your delusional world yourself and stop dragging me in Seolhyun. I'm not needy for anyone's attention like you-"

A stinging pain was felt on my right cheek as my face landed over the counter.

Ouch.

"Don't you dare open your shitty mouth at me bitch. Or I can get you fired and you'll again start roaming on the streets, just like how you did 4 years ago, remember?" she spat out smirking in the evilest way possible.

Taking a step closer, she again held up my jaws to face her as she said darkly, "Want me to spill that little secret of yours here?"

I helplessly looked at her as I rapidly shook my head, tears already welling up in my eyes.

She chuckled darkly and pushed me, well kind of threw me on the ground and spat, "Pathetic loser..." one last time before going out, leaving me alone.

I hate being like this. I hate being so weak. I hate being myself.

Had it been not for me checking the time, I would have definitely locked myself inside a washroom or something and cry my eyes out the entire day until I fall asleep.

5 minutes to 8 a.m.

'Can this day get any better!?' I mentally screamed as I dashed towards the washroom to change into my school uniform.

If only I could run away from people just at the speed of how I made my way to school...

...

I sneaked my way into the school premises successfully.

I was panting too hard so I didn't care about the sound made when I slid open the wooden door.

As usual. All eyes on me. But I don't care about them anymore.

"This is the second time being late during this month, right Haeyoon?" I heard Mrs Hwang's voice speak up.

"...no ma'am, it's the third time." I dared to be a little honest for a punishment. How funny yet so unfunny.

"Great. One more late arrival notice and I can send you to the detention room." she spat with the rudest tone of sarcasm.

I didn't care much about her words as I walked towards my seat.

The class began.

But me being me, never listening to classes. Not because I don't want to but because I can't concentrate on the letters and my whole life is an absolute mess.

I plugged in my airpods and played some soothing music to calm my shit down. Teachers and students won't say anything because they treat me as an outcast of this so-called prestigious institution.

...

It was halfway in the middle of the classes when my eyes suddenly noticed a very familiar back of someone. It seemed like I met this person but can't recall when and where. I glanced to who his seatmate was and shoot! Yoon Jeonghan.

Yoon Jeonghan and I used to be good friends. Until that one day of the misunderstanding.

Since then he hates me. He hates me from the bottom of his heart.

Because of his popularity, everyone sided with him and they started hating me too.
I tried but failed to convince people.
At one point this pain of being lonely was unbearable for me and I tried to do stupid things too.
Yes I called those 'stupid' because now I enjoy being lonely.
Well not technically enjoy, but yeah, forced to enjoy. Lol.

There's no point of being interested over him because Jeonghan will tell him to stay away from me sooner or later.

I sighed as I put my head down on the wooden desk as sleep and numerous other thoughts overtook me.

'...Haeyoon let's make our own doll-house!'

'...but how..?'

'...oh here! I got this new doll-house yesterday! Let's play!!'

'..okay!! Let's play! You are the best Jiyeon!!'

'I know I know...hehehe..'

'...Haeyoon where are you?..'
'...Haeyoon won't you save me?...'
'...Haeyoon-ah..'
'Haeyoon...'

I felt something poke my arms.

Not the best way to wake a person up from a nightmarish dream.

As a reflex action, I spat out,
"What the fuck do yo-" I finally lifted my eyes at the owner of the voice.

Shit.

It was the guy who came to the café in the morning

And also, the person I was thinking about a while ago.

Damn it.

I instantly covered my mouth.

"...uhm hi..uhm-" I said trying to dilute the awkwardness.

Gosh, since when did awkwardness start bothering me?

"...Hi. We meet again...café girl." He said with a smile, tilting his head a little to the side.

How come he isn't offended by my swearing?

"Uhm yeah you're- wait what? What did you just call me by?" I must admit I was taken aback by that name. I was not practically annoyed by that name but I don't why I decided to say those words with a hint of anger.

"...uhm café girl? Since I don't know your name so I thought-"

"Haeyoon. Park Haeyoon. I do not condone being called by any other name."

Obviously I do not condone being called by other names because all through these years the other names made for me are just another way to insult me. It's not like I can beat him up if he dares to call me by names but atleast I can try by telling him so.

But 'café girl' doesn't sound that bad right? Oh well girl, let's set the same limits for everyone for now.

"That's a pretty name. I'm Joshua Hong."

Wait wait what-

Did he just compliment me???

Haeyoon...does that name even sound good????

Oh stop girl, stop getting your hopes high damn it-

"Oh thanks...you too...you have a nice name too." I tried some other way to compliment him but I have no idea so yeah, I used his own trick on him.

Very unfunny.

"Aren't you gonna join others for lunch?"

"Oh uh...I'm actually full! I'm not hungry enough to go for a lunch."

"Really?"

"Yeah really! I had a hearty breakfast today."

'Great Haeyoon great. He literally asked you to join for him and you gave him the dumbest reason. Fine. Bon appetít...' I was mentally cursing myself.

But no wait. He'll probably sit with Jeonghan.

I don't wanna face him.

"Oh I see. Might take me around the school then?" I said tilting my head a bit.

"Uhm..I mean... I'm kinda busy right now, maybe some other time? If you don't mind?"

'...very wise of you Park Haeyoon...' I swear if my mind was a human she'll dig her own grave and bury herself alive rather than seeing me embarrassing myself every moment.

"Alright I'll get going then. You sure you don't wanna join?"

"Nah I'm good. Thanks for asking though."

"Alright, bye."

"Yeah bye..." I softly uttered. He already left. Probably didn't hear me.

'...how come he came himself to talk to me? Didn't Jeonghan tell him anything?"

Speaking of the devil, Yoon Jeonghan and few of his gangmates entered the classroom, probably looking for someone.

I pretended to be busy on my phone so that they wouldn't pick on me.

It's only Jeonghan who picks on me but usually he doesn't.
He and his gang choose to ignore rather than bullying me.

That's much better. Far more better.

After doing their work, they left as they came, but obviously not without Jeonghan loudly saying "Pathetic bitch!" to me.
I just rolled my eyes to his comment.

His words don't bother me anymore.

I put my head down trying to think of the good words Joshua said to me to distract myself from Jeonghan.

...

Finally after a day of boring lectures and shit school is finally over.

The whole day I couldn't help but think about how and why Joshua came to talk to me in the first place? How come Jeonghan not tell him anything?

I was thinking about this as I walked out of the building when I suddenly heard my name being called.

"Haeyoon!" I turned around to see Joshua smiling brightly at me.

But wait. Shoot.

I could feel other stares on me. And those stares and glares aren't very comfortable to me. But it would be rude if I suddenly start walking away even after hearing my name.

Since when did rude etiquettes bother me?

Mustering up courage, I walked up to him.

"Oh it's you again!"

"So...what are your plans now?" He gave me one of his cheeky smiles.

I was shocked to hear that question for some reason.

"Hmm? Sorry? I didn't get you." I tried to say it in the coolest and calmest way possible.

"Oh I mean, are you gonna go to the café or head back home?"

"Oh I'll be heading home now but I'll come to the café later on."

"At what time?"

"My shift is at 5 pm. So 2 hours from now."

"Alright, see you at the café then I guess."

"Hah seriously! You're gonna come?" If being invisible was an ability I would definitely love to have that because right now I'm going crazy and I don't want to show that side to anyone.

"Yeah why not? The cappuccino was delicious. It killed my headache instantly."

"Haha! That's good to know!"

We were so engrossed in chatting that we didn't even realize when the gate came in front of us.

"You're going home alone?"

"Yeah. Are you too?"

"Yeah but my house is in the opposite direction."

"Oh that's bad. Anyways, bye. Hope to see you again."

"Yeah sure. You too, bye." He said as we parted our ways.

...

I couldn't help but think about his words and most importantly, him coming again to my cafe during this entire time.

Right now I'm on my bed, biting my pillow as his words are making me ticklish.

How and why am I going nuts over a boy who I just met? Who doesn't even know me and vice-versa?

Well I guess, years of loneliness have made me giddy to these words.

But whatever I can't let Seolhyun's words come true.

No no no no way!

"But he is going to come again at 5!" I screamed as I plunged down again on my bed. Thankfully no one can see my crazy side like this because I live alone.

"Oh hell nah. No. I don't like him. I do not."

I said that to myself before setting up the alarm and dozing off for a while even though I think, my heart will disagree with me after some days.

Tsk.