Crystal & Pearl [On Hiatus]

Chapter 2 - Encounter

Jimin had just finished his luminescence shift when his employer, Kai, dropped him off in front of his house.

"Good night, Jim. I'll message you once the next schedule is finalized. Take care," Kai said. Jimin nodded and offered a weak smile.

He opened the door carefully, trying not to make any noise so as not to disturb anyone who might be sleeping. As he closed the door, he noticed a car slowly passing by, as if it had been following him. He stood for a moment, watching the vehicle disappear down the street.

Is it just in my head? Why does it feel like someone has been staring at me all day? And now this car is making me think even more about it, Jimin wondered briefly. But fatigue quickly washed over him, and he decided to let it go.

He checked the first bedroom through the slightly ajar door, peeking in to see his mother sleeping peacefully. Jimin then entered his own room, carefully placing his belongings on the table without making a sound. Sometimes he marveled at how he had adapted to move like a cat at night—sneaky and silent.

In the bathroom, Jimin undressed for a shower. When he caught sight of himself in the mirror, he noticed how lean he had become. He had been well-built throughout his life until graduation, but after deciding to take on the responsibility of his family, he had given up his workout routine. Thanks to the nutrients he received during childhood and his teenage years, he still maintained a decent amount of muscle mass on his lean frame.

With a heavy sigh, he stepped into the shower. Afterward, he dressed in fresh pajamas and checked the time: it was 2:45 a.m. He still had a solid four hours of sleep before his next shift. He collapsed onto his bed, and the moment his eyes closed, he fell asleep.

When the alarm went off at 7 a.m., Jimin slowly opened his heavy eyes. They burned from lack of sleep. He felt like throwing his phone against the wall to silence it, but he knew he couldn't afford a new one. So he hit the snooze button two more times before finally rousing himself for the day.

As he got ready for work and stepped into the living room, he noticed breakfast was already prepared on the table.

His mother emerged from the kitchen, smiling lovingly at him. "Good morning, my son."

"Morning, Eomma," Jimin replied, smiling back.

"Sit down, you little fishbone. You need to eat a lot. Mama made your favorite," she said, bustling about the table to set it up for breakfast. Jimin sat quietly and began eating hurriedly, aware that he was running late again. His mother urged him to slow down and not choke as she glanced at the progress email from Jia's university.

"Eomma, have you seen this? Jia got an A in all her subjects again! How could she not, when she clearly inherited her intelligence from you?" Jimin said, his voice rising in excitement.

His mother gently patted Jimin's head, filled with love. "I am blessed with children in this life. They've never failed me, and for that, I am grateful. Thank you for being born as my kids."

Jimin swallowed the last bite of his food and kissed his mother without wiping his mouth. "Mrs. Park, there goes your daily quota for emotional moments. Now, be a good mom and take a rest after breakfast and your morning pills. I'll do the dishes before leaving for work." Mrs. Park wiped her cheeks to remove the food Jimin had left behind with his playful kiss.

~ At the Store

"Jimin, this is the fourth time this week."

Jimin found himself being reprimanded by his store manager for being late yet again. Fortunately for him, his angelic looks were a significant asset to the store's sales. The manager knew that customer retention improved because of Jimin's appealing appearance and his rapport with customers. He had his own tricks up his sleeve—harmless flirting with the younger crowd, being overly polite to difficult customers, and helping new patrons select the right products using his extensive makeup knowledge.