OFF OF THE DEEP END | CHANGLIX ✔️

1. mysterious stranger

song: love untold (hyunjin)// stray kids

The door opened, bringing with it a burst of cold autumn air. Changbin sighed, abandoning the intriguing mystery he'd been reading and hoisted himself off of the comfortable black leather couch isolated behind the cash register. He forced himself onto his feet, wincing at the aches in his muscles from overdoing himself at the gym. Resting his forearms onto the smooth wood of the counter, he surveyed the shop, scanning for the customer that had walked in. It was an unusual time to buy a book, and he wasn't used to getting customers during this shift. The 5pm-9pm shift he took out of boredom and the need for money, and it was normally just several hours of reading and perhaps a coffee or two.

A shock of fluffy black hair darted between bookshelves, the dark color reflecting the dusty rays of sunshine that beamed in from the massive windows bordering the bookshop's walls. It darted between the dark wood bookshelves, searching for something. With yet another sigh, Changbin opened up the small gate that separated the employee corner from the rest of the shop. He walked through the aisles, searching for the owner of the black locks. They finally appeared, flipping through the pages of a book in the Romance section.

The person startled up when Changbin approached them, a creak from the floorboards signifying his presence. They looked around his age, maybe a few years younger. He couldn't discern their gender as their features were hidden by a black mask and their visible appearance told him very little. He could see the flyaway cloud of black hair almost brushing their shoulders, ears littered with many earrings, and a set of brown eyes framed by thick eyelashes.

"Do you need help finding anything?" Changbin recited, the words familiar after repeating them several times a day.

"I'm fine! Just.. y'know.. browsing," The other replied in a deeper tone then he'd expected based on their general appearance.

"Okay, let me know if you need any help," Changbin finished, forcing his face into the seemingly charming 'customer service smile'.

The ebony-haired nodded in agreement and returned to scanning the yellowed pages of his novel. Changbin scurried back to his comfortable perch behind the counter and the book that was awaiting his return. He immersed himself in the mystery slowly unwinding, following the ups and downs, the cringes and silent applause, and the finale of the suspect being uncovered. Just as he was about to turn the page for the final reveal of the criminal, a gentle knock on the wood of the counter yanked him out of the intriguing words printed onto a page.

The person had been waiting at the counter, eyes turned up into what Changbin assumed was a smile. They pushed a book forwards, some cliche romance. He silently checked out the book, accepting the card the other slid silently forwards.

"Oh, I have a question," The customer piped up.

"Mhm?" Changbin mumbled in response.

"Is the coffee here free?"

"Yup."

He eased himself up and out of the countertop, shaming himself for wobbling around like an old man. Making his way to the coffee dispenser he often frequented, he started to grind the beans, asking the person quick questions.

"How do you like it?"

"Dark."

"Cream or sugar?"

"None, I prefer it black."

He finished the preparation of the drink, cringing slightly at the dark liquid inside. He always preferred his sweet, the tang of coffee still noticeable but softened by the amounts of sugar inside. This person must be fearless, or just have flawed tastebuds.