tears of blood | vminkook

01

What the hell?

Most people spend their Friday nights binge watching shows or movies with their significant others aka their soulmates. Either that or they spend their nights relaxing, getting ready for the weekends to arrive.

For me though, spending my Friday night behind a smelly dumpster in an abandoned alley was definitely not how I thought this week would end. I'm either really bad at guessing or I have bad luck and poor choices.

Yeah, the second one sounds about right.

A few hours ago, I was my normal depressed self, everything was— well everything was how it should have been for a broke art college student. Working extra long shifts at a downtown café, scraping just enough money for two meals a day and a few art supplies, overdue on rent and barely keeping a roof above my head—

Mhm, sounds perfect doesn't it?

"Oh my god" I heard a female scream as she hugged a man, who looked equally as joyful and hugged her back with even more enthusiasm, if possible. I smiled softly at them as I wiped the last table in the café, they're definitely soulmates who just found each other.

Ahh, soulmates. I've always dreamt of a man—or woman (we don't discriminate gender or stereotypes here; and really I'd be happy with anyone despite their gender) sweeping me right off my feet, I'd love him/her/them for eternity with my whole being. I've dreamed of it all— the cringy cliché moments such as taking them on cute ass dates on the beach or amusement parks, sharing a drink. everything.

But, as of last year, I've started losing hope. I'm seriously starting to think I don't have a soulmate. Everyone has a timer on their wrists, written in beautiful writing. Its pretty, yes. But its starting to look like its mocking me. Every day at work, I see all these people meeting their soulmates. I look down at my wrist, glancing at the writing.

730 hours

Its been the same, exact number for four fucking months. One day has 24 hours, one week is equal to 168 hours and a month is equal to 730 hours. I honestly think the system is glitching or something. It just can't be the same number for months, can it?

"Yo Kim! Stop dreaming and get to scrubbing" my boss yelled at me, I grumbled under my breath but took the sponge with a fake smile and replied with, "yes, sir. I'll get right to it."

It's honestly tiring to deal with work and school at the same time. I haven't been to college for the past few months since I haven't had enough money to look decent or even have supplies.

I finished scrubbing the counter tops and was about to throw the dirty water away, when I bumped into something— or rather someone, more specifically the young girl from before.

"Oh my, I-I'm so sorry. H-here let me clean it up I—" my hands started shaking uncontrollably at the thought of losing my job. I couldn't.

Idiot.

"hey it's okay, calm down." The girl murmured to me as her soulmate, helped her clean up. "Yeah, dude. It isn't a big deal. Calm down okay?" They both spoke to me softly, seeing how panicked I was.

"Kim. What the hell did you do??!" I flinched as my boss came running from his office.

"Sir I-" I started, trying to tell him what had happened.

"Mr. Bang. It's not a big deal-" the girl said huffing when my boss ignored her.

"C'mon Cindy. Let's just leave" her soulmate spoke to her. Cindy nodded and was about to leave when my boss, turned around and grabbed their hands.

"Oh my. Please don't leave, let me at least give you two a free coffee, it's on the house. It's the least I could do for what he did." He spoke softly towards them with a smile.

How fake can this guy get?

"No thank you, Mr. Bang. As we said it's not a big deal. We'll be taking our leave now." The man murmured pulling his soulmate— Cindy along with him, who looked at him, star struck.

Mr. Bang then turned to me, looking outraged.

"You're fired, Kim" he said and stomped his way back into his dingy office.

I'm what— no no no

I can't lose this job, it's the last thing I have. I rush into the back office, where he was standing glaring at no one in particular. Was it a bad idea to talk to him while he was angry? Yes, yes it was.

But was I thinking rationally? Nope.

"Mr. Bang please, I can't lose the job. I need the money. I'll even work overtime, I j-just can't lose my only source of income." I pleaded.

"It was your fault kid-" he stated, looking way too calm for an angry man.

"But I didn't–" I started, only to be cut off immediately.

"Kim Taehyung, I've made my decision. You're fired and that's it. Grab your things and skedaddle." He yelled, as I flinched and bowed down to him.

After that I packed the very few things I had and left the cafe. My eyes stung with unshed tears. I refused to let them fall. I haven't cried in a long time, and I'm not going to start now.

It was only 5 'o'clock in the evening, as I trudged myself home. Well it's not a home, if you're all alone and nobody's with you. It's more of a shelter.

I slumped on my worn down couch— and glanced at the timer on my wrist one last time, it's not going to be much of a change I know that for sure. And as I said, it's the same number, mocking me.

Soulmates? What a fucking joke. I'm not sure if I'm even going to have one.

I guess the job was the last string holding me on, and now that's gone— I'm falling, falling into a deep hole of despair and self loathe.

Nothing can stop me anymore from giving up. I got nothing to lose, maybe— maybe I can end it all, who would care for me anyway? No one.

I'm all alone in this whole world. Maybe my grandma would miss me for a few weeks, after that I'm sure she'll move on. Everyone does at some time.

And that's exactly what I'm tired of doing.

I slumped on the couch, a few unwanted tears slipping my eyes as I looked at my wrist again, but this time I gasped, sitting upright all traces of tiredness gone.

I-it can't be.

This time it showed 7 hours.

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