Mine

Chapter 26

.o0O0o.

"And in my dreams

I will always find my way back

To you~"

Jimin stepped into the café, the familiar chime of the bell overhead barely registering in his ears. His sharp gaze scanned the space, his fingers twitching at his sides before he shoved them into the pockets of his coat.

She wasn't here.

Again.

A muscle in his jaw ticked as he strode toward the counter, expression carefully blank. The barista, currently attending to the customers, barely spared him a glance as she busied herself with the espresso machine.

He rapped his knuckles against the wooden surface. "Maria-"

The barista blinked up at him, expression impassive. "She's not here."

His jaw ticked. "Where is she?"

The woman's hands stilled for the briefest second before she exhaled sharply, looking up at him with disinterest. "I can't disclose any information about the boss. I made that very clear yesterday and the day before yesterday"

Jimin's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "I'm not asking for her bank details. Just where she is."

The barista shot him a look before turning back to the machine, signaling the end of the conversation.

His lips pressed into a thin line. Boss. That was all she was to them, wasn't she? Just their employer. But to him, she was—

He exhaled sharply, shaking off the thought. His gaze flicked toward the back door. "She didn't show up today?"

The barista shrugged, turning back to her work. "I already said I can't say anything. If you're not ordering, step aside. Or I am calling the cops"

Jimin's patience, already thin, began to fray. He wasn't in the mood for this. Something wasn't right. Maria never missed a shift—at least, not that he'd ever seen. The woman had a habit of working herself to exhaustion, the kind that made him want to grab her wrist and force her to sit down. But now she was just... gone?

The café felt off without her. Hollow.

He exhaled through his nose, irritation simmering beneath his skin. He was about to turn away when a small, hesitant tap on his shoulder made him glance back.

Yeonjun.

He'd seen the kid work around the cafe, giving table service. Yeonjun stood barely out of his teens, all wide eyes and nervous energy, but he'd seen Jimin enough times to stop being intimidated by him.

Jimin arched a brow. "What?"

Yeonjun shifted on his feet, casting a quick glance at the barista before leaning in slightly. "I can help you."

Jimin's interest piqued, though his face remained unreadable. "With?"

"Getting in contact with Boss." Yeonjun rocked back on his heels, looking oddly pleased with himself. "But..." He grinned, rubbing his fingers together in a way that needed no explanation.

He huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Of course. You wouldn't do it for free."

The boy smirked. "Nothing in life is free, hyung."

He studied him for a moment, eyes sharp, unreadable. Then, with a slow tilt of his head, he let a smirk ghost over his lips. "And what exactly do you want, kid?"