Endless • Stray Kids X reader

2🍹

I simply held onto it, looking at a full ten seconds before realizing the position I was in. I quickly put down the cloth I held, running up to the door in the hopes he was still there, but seeing his black tesla driving off right before my eyes in the dim light of the streetlanterns, I knew chasing after him wouldn't be of any use either. I cursed under my breath before walking back inside. Surely he'd notice it gone soon, right? Still, those few minutes of waiting soon turned to fifteen minutes, with the entire bar already clean, ready to close.

"I don't wanna say much, but I don't think he's coming..." Jisung said, leaning onto the counter right next to me, my eyes fixed on the wallet. "I'm not so sure either at this point," I muttered, unsure of what to do. "It's not like we can just look at it either to see if there's any clue about him on the inside on how to contact him, that's not exactly proper either," I added. He said his day was packed tomorrow, so him being able to pick it up seemed unlikely too. "Maybe you can't, but I certainly couldn't care less," Jisung spat out, snatching the wallet out of my hands. "Wait, you can't-" I started, trying to grab it back as Jisung already opened it.

Even though I knew I shouldn't, curiousity still got the better of me, not exactly trying to stop him anymore. Even though he'd come in for almost a year now, I barely knew anything about him. Watching Jisung go through it, I noticed Chan had quite a lot of cards in his wallet, making it hard to find one that could actually help. Well, until I saw a simple dark blue one. 'All in', it said, with a crown logo on top. "You think that could be a business card?" I asked, taking it out of Jisung's hands. "I don't know, but it's worth checking it out," he answered, seemingly quite curious too all of a sudden.

Jisung pulled out his phone, trying to look up a website, letting out a groan as he appeared to have found something. "What? What?" I asked, making him hand me the phone. "I knew there was something weird about that dude," he said, rolling his eyes. Meanwhile mine widened, scanning the website. A host club? It clearly seemed like it, looking at all the profiles on there, each person prettier than the one before. "You don't think he works there, do you?" I asked Jisung, who simply shrugged. "Or maybe he's a client..." my voice trailed off.

I shook the thoughts away, bringing my attention back to the website. I wasn't here to judge, I was here to give back his wallet. "Nothing else in there with his number or anything?" I asked Jisung, who seemed done inspecting the wallet. "Nope. I think that might be your best shot," he answered. Though he wasn't actively looking with, it was clear he was glancing at my phone screen from the corner of his eye. As I continued to look through the profiles, my thumb suddenly stopped scrolling, seeing an all too familiar face pop up. So he really was a host...

I wasn't going to lie, I felt a slight feeling of disappointment wash over me. Of course he wasn't flirting with just me, it's what this guy did for a job. It probably didn't mean anything to him. I let out a sigh, starting to feel stupid for hoping it wasn't one sided, the feelings I'd built up for him. I scrolled further down, for a second not in the mood to look at him, just barely catching the corner's of Jisung's mouth rise. "So? Any contact information on there?" he asked, taking back the card, putting it back in the wallet. Right. This wasn't the time to be dwelling in my feelings, I had to get it back to him.

Scanning through the rest of the website, I eventually shook my head, putting down my phone on the counter. Turning back around, my arm grazed over it, nearly making me drop my phone if I hadn't caught it in time. Thank goodness it didn't fall, having to spend more money was the last thing I could use right now. I was already tight on money, and rent was due soon again. "Turns out they just closed as well. I'll see if I can start an hour later tomorrow or something, so I can give it back tomorrow," I stated, about to take back the wallet if Jisung didn't hold onto it.

"I'll return it to him, it's probably for the best not to get too close to a place like that. Those guys flirt with just about anyone for pleasure." Still, I tiptoed, able to take back the wallet from him. "I'm fine, I'll figure out a way. I'll send your dad a text message about tomorrow, I'm sure it won't be too big of a problem." Jisung frowned, but shrugged it off, not looking too happy with it however, but hey, who was he to judge?

"Ask me what?" the owner's voice rang through the dark bar, sending chills through my body. What was with everyone coming in all too quietly tonight? "I thought you weren't coming in to close tonight?" I asked confused, watching Jisung equally perplexed. That was, until his face turned into disappointment as two police officers followed along. "Dad... Don't tell me you did something stupid," Jisung pleaded, looking as the place was already torn apart. "I thought I told you already, I'd take care of the cost somehow!" Though handcuffed, the owner raised his hands, ruffling Jisung's hair. It wasn't hard to see who he got the habit from.

"Listen, my boy," he started off with, before glancing to me, "my precious bonus daughter too." Though he never officially became my parent, he'd always been more of a father figure than my actual one had been all these years. "Whatever they say, cooperate, okay? Always be honest, and don't get yourself in trouble, promise?" Jisung shook his head, getting away from his father's grip. "Seriously, what did you do! Does this have anything to do with all of those business meeting you always talk about? You promised you'd quit that kind of business, dad. You promised!" Jihoon sighed, nodding. "You know I had to make ends meet somehow... I'm really sorry I couldn't keep my promise, son. I hope you know I was only trying to do what was best for you."

He looked over at me and Jisung, already feeling his arms linked as he was about to get taken away by the police. "I'm going to sell the bar, so even though it's sudden, I'm afraid you'll have to find something else. I'm really sorry...." A tear fell down as we were ushered to the police station for questioning, but I was quick to wipe it away again as I saw Jisung bursting out in tears. I gave him a small smile, putting my hand on his back to try to comfort him.

As the two of us walked out again half an hour later, in the cool night, I took a deep breath, trying to keep it all together. I'd just lost my job, but jisung lost the only parent he had left to prison. The only good thing he had going on was that rent for his own home had been payed for for the next year or so, but that was about all he had left. Even trying to convince his father to let him take over the bar deemed useless, as Jihoon seemed dead set on selling it, no matter how much Jisung protested.

"Hey... you okay?" I asked, seeing Jisung look down. It was a stupid question, of course he wasn't, but it was all I could think of to say. "I'm fine, it happened before. I just thought he had finally lived up to his promise and got out of the business, but I guess he never stopped... Guess I'll be living alone again." Though I had so many questions, I couldn't bring myself to ask any. Even if I felt like I deserved more of an explanation, Jisung already looked to be in a bad enough state.

I let out a loud groan, stretching out. "This sucks!" I yelled out into the sky, for the first time since hearing Jisung let out a small chuckle. "You know, for someone so kind, your dad really is a shitty person," I stated, watching Jisung grin even more. Good, he was smiling again. "I know right?" was all he said, though his eyes weren't smiling along. "I know we aren't all that close outside of work, but hey, if you ever need something or someone to rant to, don't hesitate to text or call, okay? You should have my number, right?"

A glinster formed in Jisung's eyes, tears seemingly welling up all over again. "You don't have to. I mean, why would you, we aren't even working together anymore," he stated, clearly convinced of himself that was the only reason we were in contact at all. I felt so bad for him, hearing him say all that. Was that really how he thought people viewed him? I'd always known he never really had any close friends, so how could I leave him all alone when he needed others the most? I tried my best to put up a smile, ruffling his hair like he'd always did to me.

"Isn't that what friends are for?"