Glass

Chapter 3

Everything was sudden. I had my jacket off, my sweater sleeves pulled up to my wrist, and ponytailed to stay in place while I had an apron on as Jin teaches me how to make every coffee— with and without blood.

"Are you sure you're okay with working here between classes AND on your days off?" Jin asks me from beside me as we make a caramel macchiato with blood for a vampire customer.

"Of course", I assure him as I place the lid on the hot beverage and hand it over to the waiting Yoongi so he can call out the order.

"He worries too much", Yoongi says to me— teasing Jin.

"Yah! If I don't worry then nobody will", Jin defends himself— grabbing the whipped cream can from its designated spot and raises it up like a weapon towards Yoongi. Yoongi just chuckles and shakes his head at Jin as he takes a wet cloth and wipes down the counter where a couple drops of spilt coffee lie.

"Here, hand me your phone", Jin says— turning his attention to me as he places the whipped cream back— holding out his palm for my phone. I didn't think much of it and fished it out of my sweatpants pocket and placed it in his hands. He turns on the screen and swipes up on it.

"You don't even have a password?" He asks me— baffled.

"I've never really used a phone before", I explained as I got to work on the iced mocha Yoongi just rang up.

"You catch on fast", he comments— pointing to the coffee I'm currently stirring the syrup in. I freeze for a second, and then I turn around to find the right lid for it and press it on.

I had to catch on fast in the past or I wouldn't survive. So far, I know two languages by doing that. My own first language— getting lost as I tried to adapt to survive my harsh environment. The harsh cages, and the hash people. I will the memory away. I'm not there anymore. I'm safe.

I hand the large iced drink to Yoongi as he eyes my face— what for? I'm not sure, but as soon as the drink is in his hands— he's on work mode and calls out to the waiting customer. I turn back towards Jin to find him typing on my phone.

"Don't worry, I'm just adding all our numbers to your phone", Jin assures me— looking up from my phone with a smile. He hands the phone back to me. Once I take it back I look at how many contacts he added.

"Seven new contacts?" I questioned— looking up from my phone to him. I see him typing on his phone quickly— then slipping it into his blue jeans.

"Yes, there's seven of us all together", he tells me hesitantly as he avoids my eyes— as if he's testing the waters.

"That's—sort of cool. More people to love. It's—romantic", his eyes lock with my own. Shock crosses his features, but soon he visibly relaxes once my words sink in.

"That's sweet of you to say", Yoongi says from behind me— startling me a bit. I turn around to face him to see him stifling a laugh.

"People usually react with disgust or with envy when they find out we're a coven of seven mates", Jin adds. I turn back to face Jin to see him smiling gently.

"Love is love, and I think fated mates are a wonderful gift", I tell them both— looking back and forth from one to the other— a small smile on my lips to try to reassure them.

The bell chimes once again—Yoongi and Jin breaking out into huge smiles when it does. They both walk over to the cash register, so I curiously follow. Two men walked in— one with a smile I'd say was boxy, and another whose smile was bright and shining.

Jin and Yoongi round the counter as I stand by the register. They envelop each one of the men, giving them kisses, then swapping and giving kisses again. They must be more of the mates.

"How are things going? Not too hard I hope. Do you guys need help?" The man with the boxy smile asks.

"I'm guessing you haven't checked your phone yet", Yoongi chuckles.

"Aw, stop it. He was probably too busy", Jin playfully slaps Yoongi's shoulder. Yoongi covers his shoulder in faux pain— playfully.

"Hello Sana", the man with the shining smile greets me, and I freeze. I wasn't meaning to encroach on their private moment, but I was curious why my bosses left so happy. They must have recognized their mates' scents as they entered.

"Hello", I raise my hand with a small wave, then quickly bring my hand back down and wring my hands together in nervousness.

"Who's this?" The man with the boxy smile asks aloud— quirking a brow and pointing at me.

"Read your texts, Tae", Jin tells him— placing his palm onto his shoulder in a patting motion.

"Mind if I take your picture?" The man asks me with a shining smile— raising up his phone in his right hand to show me.

"No, I don't mind, but what for though?" I make sure I'm standing up straight, maybe a bit too straight. I feel awkward. I even forget to smile. He raises up his phone and takes a couple pictures then brings his phone back down and starts typing.

"There— all done. I wanted to send your picture to the rest of us so nobody will get confused when they see you working here. I'm Hoseok, but you can call me Hobi", he beams down at me. What he said makes sense. I wouldn't want any of the mates to feel threatened by an unknown girl working around their mates.

"Also— don't you have to get to art class?" Hobi asks me— looking at the clock on his phone.

My eyes bulge out of my head, and I frantically paw at my pants pocket to pull out my phone. It was 1:50 and I needed to be at my art class at two. I had ten minutes to get there. I pull off my apron and hang it behind the counter— on the designated hooks on the wall.

I place my phone back into my pocket and I pull my coat and backpack out from under the cash register. My heart is racing and I'm breathing heavily with the urgency to not miss this class. I slip on my backpack as I clutch onto my jacket. I dart out from behind the counter and I run to the door— stopping and turning around right as I open it.

"I'll be back later tonight after this class. It was nice to meet you two, and thank you again, Yoongi and Jin for hiring me. I won't let you down", I tell them all with a deep bow— which makes my backpack slip down towards my head a bit— the weight shifting throwing me off guard.

I stand back up and I dart out as they all tell me 'bye' and a 'see you later' as they all chuckle. It's good that their coffee shop was right across campus, or else I'd be super late. I'm running as my backpack jiggles and sways on my back. As I make my way into the building— I wonder just how Hobi knew I was going to be late, and also what my next class was.