Confidence || Jikook

ii

"Madam! I'm here!" Jimin called out into the nearly empty convenience store, not expecting a response. He placed the key back in it's hiding spot and starts unloading the materials of the heavy boxes onto the shelves.

"Jimin-ah, how nice to see you! When did you come in?" He smiles to his hard-of-hearing boss.

"A couple minutes ago." He finished one section and turned around to the lady. His smile erupts, showing her the smile she knew all too well.

Jimin never smiles at home because he was never given any reason to. The old lady always showed her kindness to the boy, who reminded her of her own grandson. She always treated him with respect and he was grateful for every second of it.

"Jimin, you are so wonderful! I'm so happy you come when you do. I don't have enough help these days..." She smiles back, walking over to the cash register. "If only my grandson could come and help! Oh how I hate that you've had to wait this long to meet him." Her head hangs in shame. Jimin didn't want the lady feeling sad, not even for a second.

"No it's fine! I'll meet him whenever." His hands shake out in front of him as he rushes over to console the lady.

"It's just that, I know it must be hard for you to not have that many friends around here but I would like you two to meet." The old lady didn't know that Jimin had a lot of friends, even though sometimes it felt like he had none.

He started helping her out a while ago and everytime he did, she asked why. I don't have much to do... I don't have any friends, he answered. If only she knew the real reason. "My grandson is very nice, just like you, and he doesn't have much friends either. You see, my daughter chose to homeschool him and they live so far away that I rarely get to see him." Tentatively she paces around the counter, her hand twitching like it always does when she's anxious.

Oh how it bothered him that her own daughter left her alone to start a family somewhere else. "I'll try to visit more often if you'd like. Maybe not work all the time because I have a bunch of homework to do but I can... do it in the back..." Her mouth hung open, surprise written all over her face. "If I'm too much of a bother then-"

"No Jimin! I love having you around. You're no bother whatsoever." The bell rings, alerting a new customer. "Good afternoon, let me know if you need any help finding anything!" Her eyes disappear in her wrinkles, the friendly smile not reciprocated by the twitchy boy. He looked around Jimin's age, maybe a little older judging by his facial features. His hair dye a little faded but you could see a hint of green in the messy blond hair. "Anyways, I wanted to tell you that my family..."

But Jimin was no longer paying attention to her, his focus was on the individual. The boy had earphones in, taking his time around the store as he inspects every item. Jimin looked back to the lady when she stopped talking. "I'm sorry what? I wasn't listening." She continues.

"I was saying that you will get a chance to meet my little sugar cookie because he's moved to my house with my daughter and her husband!" She clasped her hands in joy, unable to wipe that grin off her face.

"That's great! I'm so happy for you." He truly is. Jimin knows how much she missed them because of how often their stories are on her lips.

"You must show my grandson around when he meets you! He's going to need to know all the super fu- what's that word he taught me?... Lit. Take him to as many lit places that you kids like to go to. Ok?"

Deep down, he didn't want more responsibility but for her... "Of course! You're like my own grandma." And she was, as much as she could be anyways. He decided to go to the back room to look at the survalince, a task he would immediately regret once he heard the screams.

"Ahhh! Stop! Leave me al- Jimin!"

He rushed over to see the smaller shelves knocked over and the poor woman on the ground. Whoever it was left already, the cash register ajar and empty. "Oh my god! Are you okay? I'll call 911." He took his phone and ran outside, hoping to see the culprit but to no avail. Barely anyone was outside except for some couples here and there. "Hello? 911? Hi, there's been a robbery..."

Back inside he could see the woman on her knees, picking up the scattered, unwanted items. She stopped, tears meeting the cold hard floor. "I'm getting too old for this Jimin... I don't think I can run this shop anymore."

It broke his heart to see this once lively woman broken down in a matter of seconds. If only there were some other way to comfort her, a way that didn't sound empty when it came out. "Don't worry, I'll keep helping you for as long as I can."

I'm excited for this. I hope you are too. 💕💕💕