The Butterfly Effect | A Hwang Hyunjin Story

Chapter Four: Stay Calm

-Arden's POV-

After arriving at the door behind Mr. Kim's shop, I decided it would be best to get us some water after sprinting so far. As I begin to walk up the steps to the door, I notice that Hyunjin definitely still seems on edge which I can't lie is kind of funny, but only because I know we're in the clear now.

As I carefully enter the back door to Mr. Kim's shop, my nose is hit with the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Very tempting but I decided against it since this morning's fiasco with said hot beverage.

I walk through the few shelving units in the back room, each one holding boxes of different snacks or drinks. As I make my way up to the front, I can see Mr. Kim is helping a customer so I wait quietly for him to finish before greeting him.

As the customer exits the store, he greets me happily;

"Arden! It's been so long, how are you?"

"Hi Mr. Kim! I know, I'm sorry, life has been so hectic recently" I respond with a smile that turns into an exaggerated frown.

"I hear you, so much going on all the time. You'll have to come visit me more often when you have time."

"Absolutely! no one else is going to stock those shelves as well as I do" I say through a laugh.

He laughs with me before walking over to grab a bottle of water and a bag of my favorite chips. He knows me so well.

"Mr. Kim, could I actually get two of each of those please?" I say, smiling hugely while batting my eyelashes.

"The things I do for you" he jokes as he goes back to double the order.

"Thank you, you're the best" I answer as he hands me the snacks. "I hate to rush off but I have someone waiting for me. I promise I'll come back soon!"

"You better!" is the last thing I hear him say as I'm walking back towards the stockroom.

I push open the back door again and exit back into the alcove. I begin slowly stepping down the stairs when I notice Hyunjin has taken his coat off. I feel so guilty about that.

After I beckon him over and give him the other water and bag of chips, I tell him the story of me and this place. I probably went into far too much detail but it's just like me to word vomit my stories.

We then ended up switching jackets since I definitely ruined his. Maybe I can salvage it enough that I could end up wearing it regularly.

Can't even believe I am now wearing one of Hyunjin's coats but that thought is gonna have to wait for later.

In the midst of the jacket swap I make a comment about him being famous and he asks me how I know.

I really panicked internally but had to keep my cool. No way I'm freaking him out by telling him that I not only know Stray Kids but that I'm a pretty big fan of them.

I don't even know how I've been keeping calm throughout this entire interaction. I've been looking up to him and envious of him for so long... maybe my brain just short-circuited today and I haven't processed it yet.

We keep joking and laughing together and it's honestly really nice. He has such a wholesome laugh that I didn't expect to be so contagious in person. We're getting along surprisingly well, maybe the daring escape we made earlier bonded us somehow.

Suddenly in the middle of our joking, my watch pings and I look down to see twelve missed messages from Charlie. How did I even miss all of those??

"I'm sorry, I have to go. I'm late for something" I announce as I quickly push off of the steps and begin briskly making my way to the alley.

"I'm really sorry again about your coat. If you need anything at all, feel free to talk to Mr. Kim and tell him you're a friend of Arden's. He'll help you out." I continue.

I then smile at him, probably staring for a second too long before I turn away from him and begin running down the alley towards my company.