The Boy From Everywhere

Ch. 11: The Application

In the end, I ended up forgetting to ask Eli about his multiple jobs. I can't really tell if it was on purpose or not, though, but he sure was quick with changing the subject and making me forget all about my original question.

And well...

I sighed, resting my chin atop my palm as I watched Eli's sleeping figure at the counter.

Of course, he was bound to get tired after all those shifts he works. I couldn't be sure if this would get him in trouble, but I couldn't exactly bring myself to wake him up either knowing the fact that he probably overworked himself. And I still didn't know why he did that.

... Maybe it was for the best. After all, like I told him, we weren't that close, and he might have had his reasons that he wasn't exactly ready to share either.

I'll just ask some other time in the future. I may not know when, but perhaps I could do it when I'm ready to share my journal, too.

In the meantime... I'll just let him rest.

~•~

Hmm...

Now that I think about it, wouldn't it just be better if I took a part-time job at that convenience store, too??

After all, I'm probably gonna end up going there everytime it's Eli's schedule, too. And since it doesn't seem like too much work, I'm pretty sure I could handle it. I could earn a bit from it, too, and it could help Eli get some rest if he got a little help during his shift, too...

My only problem was applying, however. How exactly was I going to apply when the only time I could go there was at midnight when the manager wasn't even there? Not to mention, I don't know how long exactly the application process is so I can't exactly do it after class, either.

For some reason, though, I feel like luck's really been on my side, recently.

The answer to my worries suddenly came when I checked my phone shortly after my classes ended, and I found a text from my aunt asking me to go buy bread at the usual place again. I checked the time above the notification of her message next. Time sure did pass by quickly. If I walk at a normal pace to the café, by the time I get there, Eli might still be checking in for the day. Hopefully, I get lucky again today and see him just as he's entering the place.

"... Eli!"

The first expression Eli greeted me with when I called his name was a surprised one. Not that it took even a second for his face to brighten, and I found myself blinking and finally feeling comfortable enough to smile at him, my hand still up in the air in a frozen wave.

He raised his hand, too, waving it enthusiastically as he greeted me back. "Hannah! You're here?"

I approached him eventually, rushing to where he stood before any bit of awkwardness formed in the silence I didn't know how to fill, all the while he watched, and all the while his smile remained and reached out to me like a hand on my shoulder.

For some reason, even in just the short distance I ran to get to where he stood, my heart was already pounding and my lungs almost out of breath as I looked back at Eli. His eyes widened, and I saw a glint of concern in them before he held his hand out and grabbed my hand just right before I even realized that I was stumbling forward.

"Oh- Woah! Hey, are you okay?!" His voice came as a wake-up call to me, and I found myself widening my eyes, too, as I kept my eyes on his the whole time, until I finally regained my balance again just as I stopped inches away from him. It took a few more seconds, but soon, I was once again aware of the pounding of my heart... 

And the overly intrigued "oooohhh" of Eli's co-worker from inside the café.

Way to get myself into this kind of awkward situation with a guy who I'm pretty sure still thinks I like him.

"Uhm... I- oh!" I pulled back immediately, taking two steps back  and suddenly finding myself unable to form coherent words as I tried to say something. Anything, for that matter, so long as it countered the awkward atmosphere that was quickly forming around us, and making me panic even more as I felt it slowly getting heavier. "That- I, uh- I just- I didn't mean to-"

"Hannah." But then, Eli spoke my name, and somehow, the heavy atmosphere that was clouding us quickly dispersed the moment I looked back at him. Awkward as he looked, still, as he looked away and placed his hand shyly on his nape, I began to think maybe his smile just had some magic to it, easily making any situation feel better. "So... Was there something you wanted to say?"

Strange... he isn't saying anything crazy this time...

"Yeah, um actually..." I looked away, too, suddenly finding it weird that I'm asking him about this at the wrong workplace. "I want to apply for a part-time job at the convenience store you work at... Is there a way I can apply through you?" I stole a glance at Eli after speaking, but it was enough to catch a glimpse of his reaction. 

His mouth was agape and his eyes wide, which was an expected reaction, but his eyes contained a spark of delight that I was only half-expecting from him.

"Wait, really?!"

Seriously, how does his mind work? I'd like to know how he stays happy over almost everything.