𝟯 𝗔𝗠 - txt + tbz

> 𝟦𝟢: 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗌𝗁 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗌 <

"why do you keep coming back here?"

loey blinked slowly as she felt her cheeks turn a bright pink. she was usually never flustered over a simple question, but the boy with a beret in front of her was staring into her soul, so she couldn't help but feel intimidated.

his tone too, it sounded demanding.

"i'm here to buy brownies for my friend, she's sick," loey raised her eyebrow. "also is that any way to talk to a customer?"

the end's of hyunjun's lips turned up into a mocking smile as he found the girl in front of him amusing. her cheeks were red but she was trying to come off as fierce, while trying to replicate his tone; it truly was a sight to see.

after a minute of glaring at each other, he sighed and pointed to the back.

"he's on his break."

and she turned more red.

the girl scoffed. "what makes you think i'm here to see him?! a man?! i'm here for brownies!"

"yeah and i'm ugly. you see what i did there? we're both lying," his arms crossed over his broad chest after pointing at the both of them. loey rolled her eyes, "yeah okay, just give me the damn brownies."

she noticed a smirk appear on his pretty face as he shook his head softly. "is that any way to talk to an employee?"

i'm going to jump over this counter and tackle him to the ground.

hyunjun finally decided to do his job for the day and went to pick some brownies out as he put them in a container and placed them in a bag. then he also took a slice of brownie cheesecake before putting it in a container too and then in the bag.

"but i didn't—"

"just take it. go share with him in the back."

what the hell is he referring to?

loey eyed him wearily, "am i even allowed to go back there?"

hyunjun shook his head and continued to charge her. she paid and continued to look at him wearily when he suddenly spoke turning away, "oh would you look at that? someone left a mess and i need to go clean it."

the place looked clean when i walked in though.

"i'm now going to go clean it up and won't be behind the counter to see anything."

being the dumbass she was, loey still looked confused when he rolled his eyes, grabbed a broom, and left the counter.

then it hit her.

OH HE'S ALLOWING ME TO SNEAK BACK.

she brought the bag up to hide her face and quickly snuck behind the counter and into the hallway. there was a door on the very end which she assumed led to the outside of the building. he said back, but back here or back outside? she continued to open the door to outside when she turned to find a quiet boy sitting on a bench.

hyunjae.

except, it didn't look like the regular hyunjae.

he looked different.

"lee jaehyun."

at the sound of his actual name, he turned to the side to look at which coworker called him, but instead was met with a girl in a uniform, spongebob backpack, rainbow socks, and messy short hair.

not to mention the slight pink blush dusting her cheeks.

"oh hey loey."

loey walked over slowly to sit on the bench, before her eyes focused on what he was staring at. it was a still parking lot, with only a few cars remaining inside.

she took a small glance at him.

"are you okay? in the group chat you seemed better than ever, but i wanted to come see you to confirm it myself, and if you want my honest opinion," she made eye contact with him. "you don't look so great hyunjae."

her tone...she sounds so concerned.

how could she be so concerned for a stranger?

"i'm fine."

his freshly dyed black hair was slightly curly and blowing with the small breeze passing by. he had on blue jeans and a simple white button up shirt. his sneakers seemed worn out and dirty, and he wore an apron with flour covering it.

he looked normal.

but it didn't feel like he was.

it wasn't her place to assume things, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was really bothering him.

"why do you care so much about someone you know nothing about?"

she felt his words pierce her heart.

it was true. why did she care so much?

it could've been she thought they were friends. texting over two months gave her the impression that they all were friends. but she probably guessed wrong, because behind that screen could be a fake personality of someone who's kind, when in reality they've been suffering on their own.

she would know.

she was one of those people.

acting like everything was fine, only to have multiple things eating away at her by the day.

"when you were gone for a week, i never bothered you this much, did i?"

another few words that slashed through her heart.

he was right, again.

tears started to well up in her eyes the more he continued.

"not everyone can just trust their problems or secrets to people they barely know."

loey nodded.

a sole tear streamed down her flushed cheeks as she nodded once more, a dry laugh coming from her lips. it was different from soobin. he also mentioned how he wasn't comfortable talking with her because they rarely knew each other, and she was fine with that. but hyunjae's tone seemed harsh like he didn't even want to be around her at all.

it was different.

"i'll take this as a sign to go."

but what he said next truly caused her heart to crack into many pieces.

"you should."

and she almost had to stop herself from breaking down that instant.

she quickly pulled out the cheesecake and plastic fork, before laying it next to him softly. "i was going to share with you, but i guess i'll just leave it here."

the girl grabbed her bag before standing up and heading to the sidewalk, a small sigh coming from her pink lips.

"take care jaehyun, i hope you feel better."

and with that she was gone.

the boy sitting alone, tears finally coming down as a breeze passed by again, drying them in an instant. he took a glance at the cheesecake before looking back at the parking lot.

sorry loey, but i have to shut you out now.

because if you really knew what was happening, you would never see me the same again.

because i'm a monster.

and i don't deserve you at all, not like he does.