bus stop . hueningkai

𝑜𝓃𝑒

"why can't you watch where you're going, you clumsy idiot?" a woman screamed, pulling at her newly stained blouse. "do you know how much this was?!"

eyes turned. people watched.

she froze. "i sincerely apologize ma'am.. i'll pay for it. would you like another drink? i-it'd be on the house."

the lady looked her up and down vilely. "why? so you could drop it on me again?"

with a loud hmph, the woman got up and aggressively grabbed her designer purse sitting on the chair beside hers. "let's go honey. i can't stand this place and their stupid workers."

she stormed out of the little cafe, a loud slam rattling the door.

people whispered.

the man who had sitting with the woman stood up, and glanced pitifully at the timid employee. "i'm sorry. please accept this, and excuse my wife's behavior.."

"..n-no! that's okay, sir. it was my fault. i should have been watching where i was going." she had said sweetly.

she brought out her own purse, pulling out a few thousand won and placing them in his hands. "please let your wife know i'm sorry, and buy her some new clothes with this."

the man looked astonished at her act, but gave her a smile and a thank you before leaving the cafe.

the employee quietly went to the janitor's closet, coming back out with a mop.

and she wiped, and wiped, and wiped.

wiped and wiped her paycheck away.

☽

night fell.

as she waited at the bus stop, the cool evening breeze flowed through the air and stung her cheek.

her red, red, cheek.

the cheek which had an imprint of a hand across it.

the cheek which had gotten punished for losing such a frequent and well-respected customer.

she caressed it.

she stayed quiet.

it was her fault after all.

when was it not?

the chugging of the engine alerted her to the vehicle's arrival. she got off the bench, and waited in front of the bus to welcome her with its doors.

as she stepped on, the driver turned to her. "the fare."

the fare.

she scrambled to open her purse, and looked at its empty bottom. she'd given it away.

seeing her hesitation, the driver gave her a scowl. "pay it, or get the hell off lady."

she didn't know what to do. she couldn't walk home. but she had no money. so she stood.

"hello? we've got places to be!" a man from the back yelled, which caused a mutual uproar among the others.

suddenly, a voice rung out.

clear, loud, soft.

a savior.

"i'll pay."

he stepped forward, walking up to the fare box and placing his money in.

he silently took his seat once more, and she took that as her cue to find hers.

a window seat.

a quiet place.

she looked over the seats in front of her, and peeked at the black haired boy.

she felt the need to thank him.

but she didn't have to voice to.

he probably just had somewhere to be and didn't want to be holden up.

she was looking too into it.

after all, she'd proven herself to be nothing more than a nuisance.

a problem.

a mistake.

that was all she ever was.

and that was all she ever would be.