ALWAYS [제이크]

25 : a cold day in July

It took a few minutes before they pulled out. Jake wiped her tears on her soft cheek by his hand gently.

"I love you, Heeseo."

"It hurts me everytime I saw you cry."

"I want to protect you. I want you to enjoy your life too."

He confessed.

She was there, stared blankly and tried to process his words. To her, she never thought that he will have a feelings on her. He only saw her crying the whole time including their first unexpected meet.

"I will wait for you."

-

"Heeseo, did you have any savings?" Her mother stopped her from walking into the kitchen. She wanted to grab some water due to thirst.

"Why?"

"Can you lend it some to your brother. He needs it to further his study.''

"I just only have a few-''

"Its fine. "

"B-but. Don't he has his own savings?''

"Just lend it to him. He will pay it back once he start working."

She didn't have any choice than give more than half of her savings. All the effort for her to collect from her pocket money was useless. In the end, it's not her the one who would use the money nevertheless her own family. She thought it for herself to further her study since nobody would support her passion but it other way around.

"Do you have more? It's not enough." her mother asked while count the money she gave.

"I don't have."

"How about you work for a part-timer?" her mother suggested, thinking the other way she could.

"I-I think it will disturbing my studies."

"Dear, money is more matter in this century. Put all that aside." her mother tried to convince her.

"Why don't you ask him to do it? He needs it, he finds it by himself. Why did he's asking money from me? Did you expect me who is still studying to have lots of money?"

"How dare you-"

"Mom is working isn't it? Why don't you just give it to him?"

"He has to pursue his dream and it costs a lot. I don't have enough." Heeseung missed the scholarship and had to pay the cost by himself. 

"I have my own dream too. That money is for me to pursue my own dream." It's unfair when they were hoping on you only whereas the others comfortably studied and enjoy their time.

"Your time is still long. He needs it as soon as possible."

"Whatever it is. Help me with the financial supports. You're grewn up now."

-

Heeseo was running toward the school gate as soon as they finish their last period. She did not want to come late on her first day of working since they the last one to finish.

She took a glance on Jake who was grinning on her. It was quite hard for her to face him since his confession to him. She afraid that she could not give a commitment on their relationship plus she would lose another of her friend.

Heeseo mouthed a goodbye to him and continued run to the school gate.

"Am I late?" She asked her co-worker at the counter.

"You're not. Take those apron and help me to serve the customer.'' She took the apron on the counter and changed her attire.

Yesterday, she found a cafe which is finding for a part-timer near her neighbourhood and she accepted as they were lack of workers to handle the cafe. It was opened last week and still find for workers.

"Serve for table 5!" Heeseo took the honey soda lemon and watermelon lime soda drinks and carefully bring it to the customer.

"This drink is not that good." The girl, which was on table 5 mumbled as she took a sipped of it.

"It doesn't deserve to be paid." her friend added.

"I know how to make this drink free for us." The girl plastered a smirk on her face and glanced at Heeseo who was busy serving for the other customer. 

"Waiter!" She called and Heeseo hurriedly walked towards them.

"Hey! Look what you have done to my clothes. Do you expect me to clean the stain?" She spilled her drinks on her school uniform on purpose.

"Yes, since it's your clothes.''

The girl snickered before took the half watermelon lime soda drink and poured it to her.

Heeseo was tried to hold the urge from slapping her because she was on her first day of working and had to give in.

Ms.Nam, her manager hurriedly went to them after a worker report what happened to her.

"Are you her manager? Can you at least educate your workers? She has spoiled my shirt that the stain will not easily removed." she crossed her arms and eyed them from head to toes.

Ms.Nam sighed to this highschool student behaviour. "Heeseo, apologized."

"But she spoiled her clothes by herself-"

"Do what I said."

''I'm sorry." she had to apologized even though it not her faults. Thought of the sequence that she might be fired make her to do do.

"I'm sorry for the mess. In return, you don't have to pay for the drinks."

The girl smiled in satisfied as her plan went as expected. She shrugged her shoulder and took a glance on the spoiled worker before left the cafe with her friend.

"Heeseo, I have to lessen your salary for today. Go change your clothes, you may caught a cold later."

Heeseo was leaving alone as she recalled what happened to her just now. She did not even touch the drinks not the girl. She knew that she did it on purpose. 

If she could stand for herself, she would get the full salary but power was more biased. She had no choice other than shut her mouth.

-

"Do you get that money?" the first thing her mother said when she stepped in the house. 

Heeseo handed out the money from her pocket to her mother.

"Only this much? You worked until half midnight and you only get this much? Are you hide some from me?"

"No, I don't. I only receive that much. I don't have money any longer."

"I know you hide some of it." Her mother began to checked on her body and her bag. She found there's a few on her pocket that she fold neatly.

"See?"

"Mom, I don't even get to eat. Let me have a little-"

"NO!"

"Mom, only that." She kept begging and kneled in front of her mom. As expected, there was no any humanity inside of her mom and left her hanging.

"She found that money so quickly but never found out what do I feel."

"What a shame, Heeseo. Do you think your mom will spare some for you?"

She laughed on herself, "What a cold day in July."