I O U (NCT JaeYong) | Jaehyun x Taeyong

Chapter 21

Sicheng came to work, looking like a mess. Pale, dark eye bags. He kept zoning out and got easily distracted. He kept messing up the order until the manager won't let him make the drinks for a while now. Sicheng had been like this for over a week already. Everyone was worried about him. The boy that always stole customer's hearts was gone.

"Hey Sicheng, is everything okay? We're all worried about you. I'm worried about you." Yuta asked the latter.

"It's fine. No need to worry." Sicheng just brushed it off.

Yuta was not buying it. He knew something was not right with the boy. He really cared about Sicheng. Yuta hoped that the younger could open up to him a bit. He just let out a small sigh and continued his work.

The day went smoothly, and it was closing time already. The manager was counting the sales while Yuta washing the cups and Sicheng mopping the floor. Yuta then went to clean the tables.

"Hey, you wanna get something to eat after this? Maybe some soju. To let off some steam. You look stress." Yuta invited the younger.

Sicheng hesitated at first. He just wanna go home and talked with Taeyong. But maybe Yuta was right. Maybe he should let off some steam. So he agreed. They closed the café as Yuta and Sicheng bid their manager goodbye.

"I really wanna join you two but I got things to do." the manager said.

"Maybe next time." Yuta replied.

"Don't drink too much. You two still need to come to work tomorrow." she stated.

She got into her car and sped off, leaving the two. The boys then headed to the usual stall they ate. Yuta was complaining about the work as always.

"Hyung, how's your study?" Sicheng asked.

"I'm doing fine. I got one more year before graduation."

"After you graduate, you will go back to Japan." Sicheng put his hands inside his pockets.

"Leave me here all by myself..." he continued.

Yuta didn't know how to reply to that. Of course, he wanted to be with Sicheng. But there's nothing between them to start with. If he followed his insanity, he just wanted to drag Sicheng to Japan with him. But he couldn't. So when Sicheng said that he would be alone without Yuta, it's confused the older. Sicheng always said something that made Yuta confused.

"I wonder how it feels to further study." Sicheng blurted out.

"Trust me. You don't wanna know how it feels." Yuta joked.

They arrived at the stall and ordered the usual, chicken and beer. This time they asked for soju too. Sicheng was still zoning out. No one knew what was in his mind at the moment. Yuta didn't say anything at all as he just looked around. Suddenly, Sicheng spoke.

"So you're gonna work at the café until you finish your degree?"

"Not sure yet. I do part-time not because I need money. My parents give me enough allowance every month. I work just because I like to spend a lot on things that I like. So it's fine as long as I don't waste the money my parents give."

The food came and Sicheng snatched the bottle as he drank straight from it. He just kept drinking until Yuta grabbed his hand to stop the boy.

"Slow down a bit. You need to go home after this." Yuta said.

"You can help me with that." Sicheng just replied with that as he chugged another bottle.

After a while, the food was finished as Sicheng laid his head on the table, completely drunk. Yuta could just shake his head as he went to pay. He then grabbed Sicheng's hand and lifted him up. The boy whined as he stood up. His cheeks were flushed red. They got out of the stall with Sicheng's arm over Yuta's shoulder.