Offroad POV
Offroad was crouched behind the counter counting inventory. He had worked at this convenience store since he moved here to go to college. He had a full-time job, a regular 9-5 he had to wear a suit and then worked here from 5 to midnight most nights unless he could get out earlier. The old man who owned the store was a friend of his mother's and had taken him in on the deal he would work for him. Offroad no longer needed to work for him but the man had become like a second father to him. And in all honesty, Offroad didn't mind the work. It gave him a chance to cut his brain off.
"Hey there, good looking," A voice called over the counter. Offroad sighed. He lied there was one thing he hated about this job. He turned to look up at the familiar pierced face. Daou. He owned the repair shop across the street that had been there for the past 3 years now. Everyone who ventured in from the shop sang his praises about his work and prices but would always follow it up with it's a shame he did that to his body. Daou had an eyebrow piercing in his left brow and an anti-eyebrow piercing under his right eye. Offroad knew the man also had his tongue pierced, catching glimpses of it as he talked and as well as other parts of his body if he had taken the man's hints correctly over the years. Plus all the tattoos on his arm, most of his chest and back, and sides were covered in intricate designs. Not that Offroad had noticed one of the several times he had come into the store shirtless.
"Daou. Isn't the shop closed?" Offroad asked as he stood gripping the clipboard he was using to mark down inventory on, tightly as if the man was going to take it from him. Offroad could never figure out the way he just felt, not uneasy, but squirmy, around Daou. His shop closed at 6 pm on weekdays and 8 pm on Saturdays and closed all day on Sundays. It was currently 9 pm on a Wednesday.
"Ow, are you shooing me away already?" Daou said with a pouty face. "I'm your most loyal customer."
"More like pain in my ass," Offroad sighed glaring at him.
"I can be," Daou said, winking at him. "Just name the time and place," Offroad rolled his eyes. Daou had been flirting with him for the last 3 years as well. It was cute at first but now it was literally the man's mission to flirt with him every day. Offroad had been shocked the first time it had happened, he was bisexual so he didn't mind, but he didn't go around openly flirting with people of any gender.
"What did I tell you about saying things like that?" Offroad asked him.
"Oh right," Daou said as if remembering. He bent down to the shelf in front of the register and grabbed a small pack of gum and plopped it down on the counter. "I have to buy something first," he smiled at him. Even Offroad had to admit Daou had an amazing smile, one that you instantly wanted to return to him but Offroad remained stone-faced. "I would much rather buy you dinner though,"
"No thank you," Offroad said, scanning the pack of gum. "Anything else?"
"Yeah your phone number," Daou said leaning on the counter and staring hard at him. Offroad sighed and hit the total button on the register.
"5 baht, " Offroad said.
"One day I'm going to get your number," Daou laughed, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the money.
"It's been 3 years, can you just stop?" Offroad asked, accepting the money opening the register till, and putting it in before closing it.
"I can play the long game," Daou said, grabbing the pack of gum from the counter, throwing yet another business card down. "Call me if you need a ride tonight do not walk home in the rain," Offroad sighed once more he wouldn't admit it out loud but he did have the man's number saved in his phone. It was in case of emergency, who knew when something may happen at the shop, is what Offroad told himself every time he saw the number in his phone.
