Sunrise at Midnight | Iljae

Chapter 4 - Strangers

"Thanks, I really appreciate you doing this for me." Ilhoon says as he and - as Minhyuk puts it - his new made friend turn the corner towards the little café that he works at.

"Hey, it's no problem. You weren't kidding when you said you got lost though, we've been walking for almost two hours."

"I already told you that you didn't need to come the whole way. I knew where I was going ages ago." Ilhoon laughs, lightly shoving the other.

"Well sorry I enjoy your company, you're quite cool to talk to when you actually contribute. And plus, I needed the exercise."

"So you can stop your complaining then," The boy deadpans as the redhead rolls his eyes with a laugh.

"Oh, is this the café you work at? I know the owner." Minhyuk states as he opens the door for Ilhoon, revealing a cute, vintage-inspired coffee shop. The smell of fresh pastries and strong coffee immediately take over their senses, while the loud hum of customers fill their ears. An instant change from their quiet and peaceful walk they had just moments ago.

"You do? You should stay a bit then. Maybe I can use you as my excuse for being so late."

"No way, you were the one who decided to get lost, not me."

"Oh come on-" Ilhoon gets interrupted by his boss who was currently filling in his job at the cash register.

"Why look who finally decides to show up! You're lucky I like you a lot, otherwise, you'd probably be fired by now." Ilhoon's boss says with a small smile and a shake of his head. He is right though, any other boss and Ilhoon would have probably been out of the door ages ago. He's thankful that his boss is quite easy going.

"Ah, Kwangie, it's my fault that he's late- leave him alone." Minhyuk mouths, somehow forgetting to use honourifics and getting the attention of Eunkwang.

"Oh my god, what are you doing here? I thought you said you'd be at your grandmother's house for another two weeks." Eunkwang says as he comes over to give Minhyuk a hug. "And how do you know Ilhoon?"

The redhead laughs and hugs the older man back. "It's quite a long story actually, but we just met this morning. I found him sitting by that lake next to grandma's house, and we got talking."

"We got talking, or did you force him into friendship?"

"Oh shut up! Be nicer to the guy that helped bring your employee here. Otherwise, you'd be stuck behind the counter all day."

"Well then it's great you're here too, you can make yourself useful. We're quite busy today." He roughly throws a spare apron at Minhyuk.

"W-what? You have got to be kidding me!"

Eunkwang simply smirks and throws a wink at the boy for good measure. He takes off his apron and gives it to Ilhoon, silently laughing at the annoyed look that's plastered on Minhyuk's face.

The boy mumbles many profanities under his breath as he watches Eunkwang's retreating form, turning to look at Ilhoon with an incredulous look on his face. "I don't know how you deal with him every day at work. I thought I had it bad when I saw him 24/7 at school. Can't imagine having to get bossed around by him on top of that."

Ilhoon chuckles at Minhyuk's over exaggeration. The man wasn't that bad.

"You go to school?" He questions the older.

"Used to, we finished university just last year. Eunkwang decided to take over his brother's shop for a little while until he sorts out what he's going to do for the rest of his life."