【HaKen/VIXX】WHITE

CASE 16.5 - Reminisce

Only a few simple days have passed and Hakyeon went back to his usual quiet days as Jaehwan finally went back to his own apartment. But in the end, Hakyeon was still unable to find the reason behind the younger's strange behavior. Hakyeon could tell though, that whatever it was that was making Jaehwan become that way, must have been really hard on the younger and though he did think it could have been Jaehwan's family again, there was something else that told him otherwise.

Is it because of me? Hakyeon couldn't help but think that way. Was I really neglecting him that much that he ended up overthinking about things too much? Why would he think that I would ever separate from him? If anything... it's the opposite, isn't it? Hakyeon sighed a little as he watched the espresso from the machine drop into a little shot glass.

He was back at his part-time job but he couldn't stay focus at work and though the cafe was closed for the day to do some maintenance, Hakyeon really didn't feel like being there.

"What are you planning on doing after this?" his manager came over. "I still can't believe you're going to quit."

"Sorry about the last minute notice," Hakyeon could only say. "It's just that... school has been a lot more hectic than I thought and I don't think that I can concentrate on my studies if I work at the same time."

A lie.

"We're going to miss you," his manager said.

"I'll miss everyone here, too," Hakyeon smiled.

"Well, come back and visit us from time to time, okay?"

"I'll try my best."

How long has it been since Hakyeon got this job? He's been working at this small local cafe for the past three years since he became a university student. At first, it was to help him fund his tuitions for school but after the first year, Hakyeon received several scholarships from his research papers and good grades. Ironically enough, even Park Hyoshin helped him to get that scholarship since the professor helped write his letter of recommendation. To be honest, Hakyeon could have quit his job any time he wanted since he wasn't in a dire need for the money after receiving his scholarship but the cafe became a good alibi. The location was perfectly in the middle of his school and his apartment, so if anything were to happen, he could quickly go back and forth between the two places especially if his other 'part-time' job as an infamous killer gets out of control, he could try to lie his way out of it. He's thought of everything from the start but slowly, something changed especially when he finally decided to slow down on his secret activities, he realized that maybe it wasn't smart to drag the innocent into his doings. Unexpectedly, he became friends with his co-workers and also the regulars in the cafe became a bigger part of his life as well. The cafe and the people there helped him relax and helped him get his mind off of a lot of things too. When Hakyeon decided that he didn't want to involve innocent people in his own affairs, he couldn't help but think of Jaehwan as well.

If Jaehwan got dragged in because of the things I've done, how will I live with that? Jaehwan is the last person Hakyeon could ever imagine hurting because of his irresponsible actions. Hakyeon didn't want to imagine the kind of face the younger might have if he were to ever be caught.

It pained him just thinking about it. I can't let Jaehwan make that kind of expression, I just can't.

Hakyeon let out another worrying sigh as he finished up the last day of his job as a barista. He walked down the familiar little neighborhood as if it was his last and traced every step with reminisce. As he passed by, he bumped into his neighbors and also regulars of the cafe, all telling him that they would miss him since word of his last day had already gotten out. Eventually, after a long stroll, he finally reached his apartment. He walked out onto the balcony and grabbed the package of white rose seeds from the flower shop owner the other time.