𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄 , the uncanny counter

경이로운 소문 ── EPISODE FIVE

"Come on, enough talking, let's get to work." The next day, Mun had arrived for his first day working at the noodle shop. Yang walked out of his room for the first time of the day, wearing baggy jeans instead of his usual sweatpants that he paired with a black long sleeve. He walked over to Mun, helping the younger put his his apron on.

"Awfully giddy today, are we?" Yang asked, tapping Mun's waist to get the taller to spin around so he could tie the apron.

"Yep!" Mun couldn't stop smiling as he turned. "I'm so excited."

Yang smiled softly at his enthusiasm, finishing tying the apron and deciding to test if Mun was ticklish. He grabbed at Mun's waist from behind, tickling. Almost immediately, Mun burst into loud laughter and squeals.

"Hyung!" Mun laughed, trying to grab Yang's hands. "Hyung, stop! Stop!" Yang stopped after a few moments, putting his hands in his pockets. Mun turned and faced him again, face slightly red and smile still wide. "That was mean, you know that?"

Yang nodded and nodded to the door. "Go change the sign on the door to open for me, yeah?" Mun nodded, walking over to the door and doing what Yang had asked as the Australian walked further into the shop.

"Someone's happy," Ha-na commented, seeing that Yang still had traces of a smile on his face. His eyes widened slightly and he quickly forced himself to drop the smile with a scoff.

"No, what are you talking about?" Yang brushed it off, wiping down a table but he knew exactly what the woman was talking about.

"I'm glad you and Mun are getting alone," She looked at him, like she could see right through him, a knowing look in her eye. Has she read my memories? He cleared his throat, walking away to wipe down a table further away that he had already cleaned.

. . .

"Gosh, Mun, that poor thing," Mae-ok sighed, watching Mun happily sweeping up rubbish on the side walk next to the noodle shop. "One day, he'll find out that his parents were murdered. How is he going to live with that?"

Yang choked on his saliva, eyes wide as he looked at the older Counters. They seemed startled by the noise, looking at Yang, as if only just remembering he was within earshot. "His parents were what?" They all shared a look. Mo-tak opened his mouth to speak but Yang changed his mind, shaking his head and holding a hand up. "It's better I don't know." He went back to wiping the table, trying to rid himself of the thought.

Mun's parents had been murdered and Mun didn't know.

A tense silence passed before Yang was instructed to tell Mun to come back inside. Yang didn't respond, going outside silently. The revelation still ran loops around his mind. He leaned against a window, waiting to see how long it would take for Mun to notice his presence.

One minute and twenty seven seconds.

Mun jumped once he realized Yang was there. He clutched his chest with one hand, the other holding onto the broom. "Hyung! You nearly scared me to death."

Yang clicked his tongue. "Too bad it was only nearly."

Mun scoffed, shaking his head. "I'm ignoring you because my mood is too good to be destroyed by an Australian." He cleared his throat, speaking in his attempt of an Australian accent in broken English. "Good day, mate. My name is Yang Ji-woo and I like foxes and I ride a kangaroo to school. Shrimp on the barbie!"

Yang bit his tongue to stop himself from laughing, but a wide smile spread across his lips nonetheless. "We do not sound like that, and my name is not Ji-woo. You guys have basically named me, I hope you all realize that."