Pins And Post-its

When He Snuck One In

Whether or not he’s alone, Jongup would come weekly and for the usual purpose – studying out. And just like IU he had silently claimed a spot from the limited number of seats and tables. He had particularly liked the long table perched up on the wall, beside the counter, although this time, it was still bare. It wasn’t yet filled with pastel, detachable colors and scribbles or doodles. 

“God, I’m so tired already,” in a whiny, nearly-depressed voice he sinks into his pad of multi-colored notes and rainbow variation pens and highlighters, oh, and books and notes as well. He had allowed himself to complain verbally because it was almost closing time and most of the customers had already left. Actually, he was the only customer at that time, because the couple who were also there for the same purpose as him had just left.

Daehyun leaned forward from the counter, checking up on him, a smirk playing on his lips. “Want another round of coffee, espresso this time,” he mockingly offered. Jongup’s head moved from left to right without moving away and off his pile of papers.

“I can’t afford another one and I don’t think it would really help,” he said, voice muffled. Languorously, he sat up erect and stared against the wall, eyes drooping, and you could just imagine tears streaming down from them. Daehyun had probably envisioned that because he started laughing out loud, oh, he could’ve rolled over.

Daehyun leaned forward, the cork board did not yet exist at this time, and grabbed some scrap paper from Jongup’s pile of… depressing remembrance to the sort of reality he has chosen for himself. He tear off two strips vertically and went back up to the counter, took two strips of scotch tape from the stand, then stuck it to each strip. “Come here for a sec,” he said, a playful smile spreading across his face.

Obedient, Jongup silently complied.

Daehyun had a toothy smile, appreciating his, what he calls, art and what I call, bullying.  “Suits you so much…” Daehyun muttered before he goes into another fit of laughter.

Jongup pouts and just verbosely sniffed, for dramatic effect.  “Ah, whatever,” he had said, given up on the task at hand, for the night. This sort of thing had become a ritual, but that would be a strong word, rather a habit, to degrade and ask himself about Life. Well, just his life actually. He stood up, took off the makeshift paper tears and walked towards the door saying, “I’m going to the restroom before you close up.” He had his back on the door as he opens it and had almost collided against me.

“Sure, take your time,” I replied instead of Daehyun.  Jongup bowed apologetically before dashing outside, towards the hotel, where the restroom was and to where I had leased the café at.

I went over the main computer, checking on emails and well, preparing to log-off. It was ten minutes to eleven, almost time to close up, yeah, unlike most coffee shops ours doesn’t open twenty-four-seven. Daehyun had started tidying up as well, taking Jongup’s mug and dish, I guess Jongup ordered sandwich tonight. Technically, Daehyun shouldn’t be doing that, he has to ask the customer’s permission, you know etiquette but I guess, for some reason or another, to Daehyun Jongup has become another IU, though the kind of IU that he bullies a lot less painfully so.

“What are you doing?” I asked as something that he did catch my eye.

Daehyun had been scribbling something on one of Jongup’s colorful sticky notes. He ripped, well you know how easily you can detach them, I just think ‘rip’ was a proper term for how he just used something without asking permission.  Anyway, he detached it, replaced the pens he had used to the places where Jongup left them, amazingly he remembered how they were aimlessly, naturally scattered about and stuck the note inside one of Jongup’s books before closing it and going back to the sink-slash kitchen-slash counter.