(JinHwi | PanWink) Started with a Dare

Chapter 37

Daehwi's POV

It's my second day here in Jeju and my first day working at the restaurant.

Like my normal morning routine, I took a bath, brushed my teeth, chose my clothes then wore it, ate my breakfast and went out straight to the restaurant. Luckily, the restaurant is just next to the apartment I'm living that's why I don't need to hurry that much.

I knock on the entrance door then went inside. Mrs. Kim greeted me with a huge smile

"Good morning Daehwi! How's your first night?"

"Good morning Mrs. Kim. Surprisingly, I was instantly comfortable with the place. Thank you so much Mrs. Kim."

"Good to hear that"

"Oh! By the way, here's the payment for my rent" I gave her an envelope with the money in it.

"Thank you, dear"

"I paid for the first 3 months of stay at the apartment ma'am but I'll still pay $20 dollars monthly. I just included a 2 months advanced payment so that if I have a financial problem, I have 2 months to spare at this place."

"Sure dear, but don't worry. If ever you need money, I can introduce you to some of my friends at the library. You can work part time there every weekends if you want."

"That would be great! Thanks Mrs. Kim"

"No problem! You remind me so much about that young man who always comes here every summer to visit me."

"Wow! It's so nice of him to do that. Don't worry Mrs. Kim! Starting today, I will visit you everyday. Well, obviously because I work here. Hahaha"

We both shared some laughters and decided to start doing our work.

"Daehwi-ah. You can start waiting for customers near the entrance. They would be coming in a bit. Customers usually arrives betweet 7-8 in the morning."

"Yes Mrs. Kim. I'm on it" I gave her a big smile and waited near the entrance.

The restaurant seems a bit famous. Customers kept on coming in from 7am-10am, 12nn-2pm and 6pm-8pm.

"Wow! Mrs. Kim! You told me that there are only few people who eats in your restaurant. It's like a blockbuster movie over here."

"I really don't know why this is happening right now. Maybe you're my lucky charm." She replied

"That's too much! Maybe your food is really delicious. The kimbap that you gave me a while ago was the best kimbap that I ever tasted."

"Now you're being too much! Hahahaha. Remember that the restaurant will close at 9pm, okay? Let's get back to work. I'll be arranging some things in the kitchen so that packing up will be a bit faster."

"Would you need some help Mrs. Kim?"

"No! I'm fine. Manage some of the customers and wait for mew costumers for a while."

"Okay Mrs. Kim" I said with a smile

As I went back near the entrance I saw a familiar face coming near. It was Jihoon. I immediately went to the kitchen and told Mrs. Kim that I need to go to the bathroom.

I was inside the bathroom for about 5 mins already.

"What should I do? Think Daehwi, think!"

I heard Mrs. Kim calling me and knocking at the door,

"Daehwi-ah! Are you okay? You've been there for more than 5 minutes already"

"Y-yes Mrs. Kim! I'll be back in a bit."

I decided to go out and wore a mask and go back to the kitchen.

"What happened to you?"

"Oh! It's just my runny nose, don't worry about it Mrs. Kim"

"Okay! I have some medicine for cold in the emergency kit. Better get some, okay? Serve this to table #7"

"Okay Mrs. Kim"

I went out of the kitchen to serve the dish. Unfortunately, it was Jihoon and his friends' table. I grabbed a hat and wore my eyeglasses. Hopefully, Jihoon won't notice me.

"Here are your orders."

"Oh!" Jihoon stared at me.

I quickly thanked them and left the table.

"Excuse me!" Jihoon called

"I'll be there in a bit sir." I told him without facing them.

Jihoon's POV

Mrs. Kim went out and went to our table

"You're here again, Jihoon-ah. Is there anything you need?"

"Uhmm. The waiter seemed familiar. Is he new here?"

"Daehwi? Yeah he's new here"

"D-daehwi!? Would you mind if I talk to him for a bit?"

"No I don't. You can go check him out in the kitchen. Thankfully someone knows him. He came here yesterday. He was scammed by a fake house agent near the airport yesterday and has no place to stay. Luckily the old apartment that I own, which was suppoesed to be my extended kitchen was still available. Poor guy. I hope you can help him."

"Thank you Mrs. Kim for the information."

"No problem young man! Visit here again soon, okay?"

"Will surely do! Hahaha. No need to ask for that."

"Go and talk to your friend!"

I went inside the kitchen and looked for Daehwi. I know that he was hiding here somewhere.

"Daehwi-ah?"

No one is answering

"Yah! Lee Daehwi! I'll call Jinyoung if you don't come out in 5 seconds!"

"5..."

"4..."

"3..."

"2..."

"1..."

"I'm calling him now!"

"No stop!"

He went out from his hiding space

"Yah! Why are you hiding from me?" Why are you here?"

"It's a long story Jihoon. Why are you here? You have school, right?"

"I would like to ask you the same thing."

"I told you it's a long story"

"I have all night to hear your story."

"Fine! But please don't tell Jinyoung that I'm here. Please?"

"But why? Now I know why you and Jinyoung didn't attend the class yesterday we all thought that you did "it" and you couldn't probably walk properly"

"Y-yah! What are you talking about! That didn't happened!"

"Hahaha. Fine! Go! Start your story!"

"Well, remember the party?"

"Of course"

"After everyone left, Jinyoung's mom arrived at Jinyoung's place and kinda caught us. She called me to her office and talked with me. She told me that I should leave Jinyoung or else she will cancel my scholarship, tell your mom to fire my aunt from work at your place, renunciate Jinyoung and a lot more. I can't let that happened. Especially Jinyoung, he doesn't know how to live a life like mine. In exchange of leaving, she will grant me a scholarship in a school here and a proper place to stay in. Including my allowance. But as soon as I got here, I receive a letter saying that her contact didn't approve the scholarship that she wanted to offer and gave me $1000 instead."

"Okay, I won't tell Jinyoung for now. What happened with you here? Mrs. Kim told me that you were scammed?"

"Yeah! A guy near the airport told me that he was a house renting agent and offered me multiple rooms. I chose a room that is somehow "addressed" to this place. I even added a payment for the cab that he called to bring me here. As I arrived, the driver told me that the ride hasn't been paid yet. Then I entered the restaurant hoping that I wasn;t scammed, but still, I was. Then Mrs. Kim offered me the empty apartment beside this restaurant. I'm currently staying there. I won't be studying for now. I'll save up some money and then I will go back to Seoul. So please don't tell it to Jinyoung. I know he'll be worrying but his life and living is at risk if his mom would know that he knows where I am."

"Don't worry! I won't tell Jinyoung but please keep in contact with me. I want to know that you're okay. Okay?"

"Okay. Jinyoung's mom gave me a phone with a new number in it. Save your phone number and I'll call you later."

"Okay then. Have some dinner with us."

"Sorry I can't. It's currently my shift right now. Mrs. Kim might not like it."

"Don't worry! Mrs. Kim and I are good buddies."

"Really!? Wait! Are you the guy she's talking about? The one who visits her?"

"Yeah! Hahaha. So nice of her to tell you that."

"Let's go?"

"Okay! Let's try!"

We went out and I talked with Mrs. Kim. Luckily, she agreed on letting Daehwi eat with us.

"Daehwi, these are my cousins, Dara noona, Chanyeol hyung, Jinyoung hyung, and Jeonghwa noona."

"N-nice meeting you all!" Daehwi said

They all greeted Daehwi and asked things about him, how we met, if he know who's the one I'm talking with every late night, and a lot more. Luckily, he didn't reveal my relationship with Guanlin or else I'll be bullied by all my cousins. I still love them tho.

It was already closing time and we're about to leave.

"Yah! Lee Daehwi! Don't forget to call me, okay? I'll tell Jinyoung that you are here if you don't call me until tomorrow. Got it?"

"Yeah sure! I promise to call you! Take care okay!? Hug Jinyoung for me" he hugged me tight and I hugged back.

"I'll come here once in a while. Take care of yourself, okay?" I told him

"You too."

"Mrs. Kim! We'll get going now. Thanks for the amazing meal once again and take care of my friend here, okay?"

"Will sure do. Take care Jihoon-ah!"

"Bye!"

"Bye Jihoon!" Daehwi gave me a faint smile.

I was heartbroken hearing Daehwi's story but I didn'twant to show it to Daehwi, he might suffer more if I tried telling him that. I don'tknow what to do. I should tell this to Guanlin to help me decide.