bubble tea house

"you what!" kyungsoo slammed his hand against the counter top, trapping baekhyun in between his small body and the table behind the said boy. "what did you say to them?" kyungsoo sounded ecstatic, souring baekhyun's mood.

"you want me gone that badly?"

"not until you pay that one hundred dollars you owe." kyungsoo grinned, showing off his heart shaped lips.

baekhyun rubbed his face with his hand. "i said that i'd call them back when i had an official answer. but it's been a couple of days, they probably think i declined."

"if i were you, i'd take the job. imagine how much money you'd make! why work here at this crappy place when you could lay back and work at an internship at a company? at sixteen too!" kyungsoo reasoned. "call them right now and tell them that you're taking the position."

feeling pressured, baekhyun looked away, taking a hand through his messy hair. "kyung–."

"baekhyun. this is for the greater good."

"i don't know what greater good you're talking about. is it the greater good for you or for me." he bitterly grimaced.

"both." he wasted no time in replying, confident in his answer.

"i don't know, i like it here, and i get to see chanyeol." baekhyun sighed, leaning against the counter behind him in thought.

"you should get the fucking job and then use your monthly salary to pay back the money you lost." kyungsoo snapped, growing tired of arguing with his indecisive coworker in front of him.

"quit acting annoying."

"you sure love holding a grudge," mumbled baekhyun, bravely locking eyes with kyungsoo, who raised a brow. "i'll think about it–well, i've been thinking about it, but i'll think about it more."

groaning, kyungsoo lifted his hand off the table, feeling frustrated for the other. "whatever baekhyun, whatever."

-

that night, baekhyun was told to take over closing duty, as one of the part time workers called in sick. he groaned once he heard the dreadful news. tonight was especially chilly, chillier than the past week, or month. baekhyun was just about to lock up the place when his ears overheard a pair of light footsteps around the cafe. scrunching his face, he wondered who it could be. no one was here.

"hello?" he called out, growing curious and nervous at the same time.

the footsteps grew louder and louder. baekhyun halted his tracks before sprinting towards the staff room, grabbing his belongings. he felt drops of cold sweat trailing beneath his shirt and his locks of hair in which draped over his eyes. after closing the door, he pressed his ear up against it, listening for any more footsteps.

his eyes widened and eyebrows furrowed when he heard a deep voice mumbling, probably to himself–slurring their words and making up incoherent sentences. his teeth bit down on his lips, thinking over the possibly choices he could perform to escape this small area. one, he could just scramble out like an idiot and try to flee from the scene. 50/50 chance he could succeed or get captured. two, he could stay in here and hide until the stranger leaves. three, he could call the police.

three was probably the best option, but baekhyun couldn't bring himself to call the police. he didn't find it as comforting as calling the person he dialed next. he clumsily dug out his phone from his back pocket and huddled up in the corner of the room with his bag in his hand. the room had no way of escaping. no windows, no back doors leading outside and no hiding places for baekhyun to hide. the confined space only had a single bench and small lockers for the staff to place their wallets or keys in.