Yesterday's Devil

Chapter 16

Jongin

The least thing I had expected was Kyungsoo to show up with his face all wrecked up. At first I just stared at him with my mouth wide open, but then realised that was a very rude thing to do. "Euhm... Kyungsoo, are you okay?"

He looked at me and flashed me a small smile. It was just for a second before his mouth turned into a stripe again. He walked over to the counter and glanced at Monggu who was still sitting in his dog bed, wagging his tail at the familiar guy. "You already taught him?"

"Don't sound too surprised," I chuckled. "It's a smart dog. Here." I shove the coffee I had bought on the way here, to him.

He stared at it like it was the first time he'd seen coffee and then lifted his head to look at me.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked laughing, "it's for you."

"Why for me?" He asked.

"Because you are my... Friend." It sounded more like a question than an answer.

He seemed to think about it for a moment before picking it up. "I'm sorry about yesterday."

"Oh, it's fine." I assured him. "It wasn't your fault."

He pulled his shoulders up like I had just yelled at him and turned his head away, giving me a perfect view of the cut on his cheek. "How can I make it up to you?"

"You don't have to, it's fine. Really."

"Hey guys," Jongdae greeted us as he entered the shop. "How are y'all doi- Jeez Kyungsoo, what happened?"

"Nothing special," he didn't look at us while speaking. "It's nothing." He walked away and placed the cup on the counter, grabbing a few books to go to work.

As soon as Jongdae had left to go to the back, I stood up, walking closer to Kyungsoo so I wouldn't have to talk loud for him to hear me. "I won't judge you," I started. "If that's what you think."

He stopped and looked at me. "Jongin, it's not because of you," his eyes drifted away from mine. Was I imagining he was looking at my lips? "I just..." He trailed off and sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck and bit my lip. "You don't have to tell me."

"I do want to make it up to you though," he spoke. "I can cook for you if you like..." He insecurely looked at me again. "Or does that sound weird?"

"No!" A smile formed on my lips while thinking of Kyungsoo cooking. "It sounds good."

"Yeah?" He asked surprised. "Are you free tonight?"

"No. But tomorrow?" I suggested.
He nodded and it relieved me he seemed a bit more happy. "I can take you to my house after work."

"Sounds like a plan."

~

"So tell me about life," Xiumin said and took a sip from his drink. "I'm curious what's happened in these past weeks."

"Well first of all, I missed you a lot," I smiled. Xiumin was studying in another city, so we couldn't meet often. "Life has been quite the same."

"Quite?" He noticed my word choice and raised his eyebrows. "Like what?"

I shrugged, "just this new guy at work."

"Oh, tell me more." He smirked and leaned closer.

"There's nothing to tell," I protested, feeling a bit uncomfortable to talk about Kyungsoo with him. "He's just a friend, I guess."

"Jongin, Jongin, Jongin." He shook his head in disbelief. "Your word choice is telling it all."

"Telling what?" I asked, looking at him in confusion.

"He's just a friend, I guess." He mocked me in a high voice. "You guess?"

"Shut up. I don't know him for that long, so yeah, I guess we're friends."

Xiumin chuckled and watched me in amusement. "There's no need to get defensive."

I furrowed my eyebrows at his statement. "I hate you."

"No, you love me." He tilted his head and looked me in the eyes. "I'm just playing with you Nini, don't get mad."

I rolled my eyes and looked out of the window. "You know I don't get mad that easily."

A chuckle escaped his mouth, "you do get defensive though."

I shot him a warning glare and he lifted his hands. "I'll shut up. But can I ask him name?"

"Kyungsoo," I murmured my reply.

Xiumin suddenly spit out his drink and started coughing, hitting his chest with his fist. "D... Do?"

"Jeez, are you okay?" I asked worried as I watched him struggle to get his breath back.
He nodded and gulped down the drink. As he finally stopped coughing he asked, "is it Do Kyungsoo?"

"Yes, I think so." I answered with a frown. "Do you know him?"

"Euh... Yeah... From a long time ago though."

We were interrupted by the waiter who arrived at our table. He placed the plates with food in front of us. "Enjoy your meal," he said and bowed shortly at us.

"Thank you," I murmured. I was curious about what I had just found out and was determined to hear more about him and Kyungsoo. "How did you know him?" I asked, focusing my attention back to the guy in front of me.

"It's not a good time for old stories," Xiumin protested. "Eat."

I pursed my lips in annoyance, "why won't you tell me?"

"It's an old and boring story. Now eat," Xiumin kept insisting.

I was wondering why he was being so difficult, but picked up my fork anyway.