The Hidden Treasure

~19~

The door bell to the front of the shop jingled causing Jinjoo to lift her head and see who the latest customer was. A man in a hat and mask walked through the door, book and a few daisies in his hands. She frowned slightly before pasting on a welcoming smile. What is with all these shady people lately?

"Welcome to The Hidden Treasure! Returning a book today?" She kept her tone warm and friendly just incase this guy was some psychopath who was triggered by female voices.

Yoongi looked around before turning his attention to the new voice coming from behind the counter. This was not Hyejin. This...this was some ahjumma. Some older woman. He wasn't here to give daisies to an older woman! He sighed slightly before walking casually up to the counter.

"Ah, yes, I'm returning a book." He laid it gently on the counter and looked around once more. He could feel her eyes burning holes into his head.

"Are those flowers for me," she asked, smirking slightly as she studied the sign-out book in front of her.

"Um, no ma'am. Not exactly." He cleared his throat nervously. "By chance, is Hyejin around?" His voice sounded small to his own ears and he grimaced behind his mask at the grating sound of it.

The older woman looked up and over her glasses at him. "No, sir, she is not. But if you want to leave her a message, I'll be sure she gets it." She lowered her eyes back to the book. "Min Yoongi-ssi, I presume?"

"Ah, yes, that's me." He stuffed his free hand into his pocket and fidgeted with the small flowers in his other hand.

"She'll be back in the morning. You can leave those here if you would like." Jinjoo slammed the book shut, making Yoongi jump a few inches off the floor.

"Okay, sure. Can I leave a short note of explanation as well? I don't want her to get the wrong idea." The sound of his nervous chuckle only made him hate all of his life choices all the more right now.

"Sure." She flopped a yellow notepad on the counter and slapped a pen down on top of it.

Yoongi looked at her with a confused expression before hesitantly taking the pen and notepad over to the reading corner and sitting down. He sat there for a moment pondering what he should write. Finally, he scratched a few things down on the paper and tore it off the pad. He folded it neatly and returned to the counter to see the woman had already placed the flowers into a tall glass of water.

He expressed his gratitude and tucked the note into the midst of the flower petals. He bowed his head slightly and turned to leave. He stopped short, however, when he realized if he didn't check out another book he would then have no reason to come back. He quickly turned and walked over to the shelf Hyejin had pulled the last book from. Glancing over the titles, he quickly chose one and walked back up to the counter. "I would like to check this one out."

Jinjoo looked down at the book and then at him through narrow eyes, clearly seeing through his scheme. "You sure you want to check out this book?"

Yoongi stared at her as if she had just offended him greatly. "Yes?"

"You're sure?"

"Yes! I'm sure! I want this book."

"But you are a man, right?" Jinjoo knew he was just taking a book to have a reason to come back, but she expected him to put more thought into it than this.

"May I please just check it out and leave," he said softly, hanging his head.

"Alright, young man.  Your wish is my command."  Jinjoo raised her eyebrows and wrote down the information in the sign out book.  She then slid the book across the counter to Yoongi who quickly snatched it up and tucked it under his arm.