Faint Whispers

Chapter 2

Luhan stared up at the huge glass door that had a huge sign 'Closed' on it. There was still lights in the restaurant and he doesn't know if he should enter. Then, his manager came and waved at him from inside. Luhan pushed open the door and stepped in, welcoming the cool air conditioner air.
"You're 3 minutes early, Luhan." The manager said pleasingly.
"I came right after I finished my Science project, sir." Luhan said, putting down his bag.
"What a hardworking boy you are." He praised.
"Is there anything I can help with before it opens?" Luhan asked politely.
"Help me clean the counter before lunch time ends. Did you eat?"
"Yes I did, before I started the project. Thank you for asking." Luhan smiled.
"Go do your work." The manager said and went to the staff room.
Luhan was thankful for having such a nice manager. He rarely scold him and was caring. Luhan went to the counter and took a cloth. Then he started cleaning. The glass door suddenly opened, making a sound. He thought it was a customer.
Without looking up, he said, "As you can see, it is still our lunch break. We are not opened yet."
"Sehun?"
Luhan looked up to see his manager by his side, he didn't even notice. He then looked at the door and gasped.
"Sehun?" He repeated what his manager had said.
Sehun was equally surprised as Luhan. He didn't expect to see his Science genius senior to be in his restaurant, let alone work in it. Sehun was still in his school uniform, not like Luhan who had his work clothes on. He approached them and looked at Luhan strangely.
"Why are you here?" Sehun asked a bit rudely.
"As you can see Sehun, I'm working here. Now what are you doing here?" Luhan said.
"My father own this." Sehun said straight-forwardly.
"What?"
"You two know each other?" They both turned to the manager.
"He is in my Chemistry class." Luhan explained.
"And the one who caused me to not be able to use my credit card for a week." Sehun groaned.
"It's just that you're studying the wrong way, Sehun." Luhan smiled teasingly.
Sehun glared at him and the manager shook his head.
"Anyways, what are you here for?" He asked Sehun.
"I was hungry. So I thought I could eat lunch." Sehun said casually and sat down the the nearest table.
"I'll go tell the cooks to cook something for you. As you are waiting, please don't break anything." The manager said and left for the kitchen.
Luhan continued his cleaning while Sehun played his phone games. Luhan and Sehun knew each other far too long. They know each other since childhood, just that nobody knew. Luhan and Sehun were both from a poor family. But their fathers went to a business and Sehun's father got the job instead. Luhan's father didn't get it and Sehun's family got richer and richer. Luhan watched as Sehun gets to have expensive things that they never had seen. Luhan and Sehun's playtime together got shorter and shorter when his father got stricter about his playtime. He wants Sehun to be smarter so he could give him all the inheritance next time.
And Sehun's mother accused his father about having a mistress when she found a faint lipstick ink on the collar of his father's shirt. They divorce and didn't meet. Until one day, Sehun's father decided to move into a new and bigger house. Luhan and Sehun got separated. They never see each other again until Sehun joined into Luhan's high school. But they weren't as close as before because Sehun changed and Luhan became a workaholic. They never cross path.
Luhan blew a raspberry and put down the dirty cloth. He then looked at Sehun. When Sehun looked up to stretch, he found Luhan looking at him. They both immediately look away. Luhan blushed and ran to the kitchen to clean the already clean pots, hoping it will help distract him (which didn't). Sehun look at Luhan's back in the kitchen. He sighed then continued his game.

That night, the restaurant watched as its last customer left. The restaurant then became quiet as everyone did their own tidying up. The cooks and waiters all left home while Luhan and Sehun stayed.
"I will be home late tomorrow. Tell my father that." Sehun told the manager.
"Why? Where are you going?" The manager asked.
"A friend is throwing a party tomorrow. I'm going." Sehun said.
That reminds Luhan. He looked up. "Me too. I don't think I'm coming to work tomorrow."
The manager scratched his forehead and nodded. "Okay. I will inform your father. As for you, do you mind working extra the next day?"
"I won't mind. I'll come straight after school." Luhan said.
"Good to hear that, Luhan. Now finish tidying up so I can lock the restaurant up." The manager said.
"Yes, sir." Luhan went back to cleaning the pots and pans.
Sehun stood by the counter. He should be on the way home by now but he doesn't want to. He doesn't want to go and face his angry father and also because Luhan is here. It has been years since they last chatted, let alone uttering a single word. Now that they conversed, Sehun felt a little different towards him. He noticed that Luhan had grown a little thinner. But his eyes are still as bright as it were. He can't stop looking at him through the half opened kitchen swinging door.
"Ahhh!"
Sehun was jolted awake from his daydreaming when he heard a loud glass breaking noise from the kitchen. He looked to see Luhan bent over, picking up the broken glasses on the floor. Sehun rushed in and immediately helped Luhan with it. Luhan looked up slowly at the eye level where he can see Sehun's eyes. Sehun was picking up the broken glasses carefully and Luhan could suddenly sense a faint concern in his eyes.
"You should be more careful. It cost a lot." Sehun said. Still as rude as always.
"Huh? Uh...I'm sorry..." Luhan mumbled.
"What happened here?" The manager came in and was shocked to see the disasters.
"I-"
"I broke it. I'm sorry." Sehun stood up and said.
Luhan looked up at him in surprise. "Sehun..."
Sehun shook his head slightly at him then looked straight into the manager's eyes.
"I'll pay you back if I need to." He said, ready to take his wallet out.
"You...you don't have to. Your father wouldn't like to know that you broke something." The manager rubbed the back of his neck.
"True...so we're settled?" Sehun asked.
"I guess so. And you should go back home. You father called and I told him you were helping."
"Is he pleased to hear that?"
"I think he is still going to scold you for your Chemistry marks, Sehun." The manager admitted.
Sehun sighed.
"If...if there isn't anything, I'll get going." Luhan said softly.
"Yes, of course. Thank you for your help today, Luhan." The manager said.
Luhan bowed, then he locked eyes with Sehun. It was a few seconds but Luhan went off quickly, trying to calm his beating heart.