safe place || k.v.m

five

it's way past midnight.

heavy rain hammers against the window of nari's bedroom, breaking the night silence. it mixes with the rumbling from eric's music playing from the other side of the wall. normally, it'd make her wonder just what in the world he's up to that late, sometimes even banging a fist against it as if to ask her neighbour to keep it down.

tonight, she doesn't. she doesn't have the energy to do it, or to close the window pulling inside both chilly air and the loud noise of the rain. she doesn't have the energy to put on a pair of socks for her ice cold feet, or get up for a glass of water like her dry mouth is asking for. she doesn't even reach out for her phone to check what time it is, despite it being on the nightstand table right next to her bed. all nari can do, is to lie curled up in the wrinkled sheets of her bed, making weak attempts of regaining a steady pattern of breathing and tightly close her puffy, red eyes.

her muscles are tight and yet, she can hardly feel it, too overwhelmed by a sense of heavy anxiety growing from the pit of her stomach, filling her lungs, clutching onto the heart beating like mad against her ribcage. her head is a carousel of thoughts, each one worse than the previous one.

it's dark but the faint sound of something padding its way across the room coming closer doesn't go unnoticed, followed by something just barely sinking down the mattress and before she knows it, a wet nose nuzzles against her own. in the middle of mental turmoil, shaky breaths and quiet sobs, nari cracks the smallest of a chuckle as she digs her face into the soft fur of her cat.

"you always know how to cheer me up, don't you, new?"

• • •

"oh! it's the petal-girl!"

as soon as nari enters the coffee shop, her cheeks heat up at the outcall. it's early morning and it's almost empty so it doesn't draw all too much attention to her. with a pursed smile, she nods at the barista in a greeting before making his way there. this time, it's not kevin, but another guy.

"I'll take your order in just a sec," he says, softly smiling himself while working with one of the many coffee machines. "it's rare to see you this early; you mostly come here during lunch."

"are all baristas social butterflies?" nari thinks for herself for a moment but answers, "y-yeah, I guess, on my way to uni."

he hums in an acknowleding manner before making his way to the register. "what can I get for you today?"

just as she's about to answer, a second figure shows itself from behind the barista, meeting her with a familiar face and a grin, "a pumpkin latte with extra whipped cream, perhaps?"

really, nari can't help giggling a bit at the random but cheerful appearance, "good morning you too, kevin – and yes, please."

the still unknown barista breaks out in a smug smile as he glances back and forth between the two, "you call each other by your names, I see."

while tightening the knot of his apron, kevin rolls his eyes. "stop it, haknyeon, I don't know her na–" he stops midways, both speech-wise and motion-wase. furrowing his eyebrows, he looks back at her, "wait... nari, right?"

though silently, the other barista – haknyeon – sing-songs as he walks away, "I'll just give you two some time alone."

it takes a moment or two to realize how he knew her name until she recalls back to the day he had visited the flower shop, and how jacob had called out to her. "that's why," she thinks for herself but nods in response.

"nice name," kevin smiles despite turning to register her order. while she pays for it, he starts working behind the counter, preparing the hot drink. just as nari is about to feel like the silence in the almost empty shop is getting awkward, he speaks up again, "by the way, thanks for the flowers! he loved them."

"really? that's great, glad to hear."

"you seem to know your flowers, even your name is one," he comments, chuckling at his own half-joke.

"peonies are just pretty popular as get-well wishes but alright, if you say so," nari slightly laughs, "I guess that's what happens when you work at a flower shop."

this time, kevin adds a bit more whipped cream to the drink than usual and she's not sure if it's on purpose or if he's just distracted by continuing the conversation. "fair, fair; something you're passionate about?"

"nah– I mean, I like flowers, sure but jacob just helped me get a job there."
"jacob? the dude back then?"
"the dude back then," she nods, "canadian."
to her surprise, he gasps, "for real? same, that's cool."

he continues with sprinkling cinnamon powder on top of it. "so... are you okay?"

puzzled, she silently mumbles, "what?"

the drink is eventually placed on the counter, ready for her to take, but they remain on their spots for a few more moments. "I know it's not really my business but the thing that happened with your boyfriend a few weeks ago."

nari remains puzzled yet again and her silence makes him question, "wait, he wasn't your boyfriend?"

"he is but... how did you know?"

"well, it looked like you made yourself all pretty for him," kevin begins and despite the faintest shade of pink dusting his cheeks, he grins again, "or maybe you always are."

hearing this, she lets out a snort. "I'm sorry but was that a compliment or are you lowkey flirting with me?"

this drags a light laugh from him as well. "oh, please. take it as you may but I have enough moral to not flirt with someone else's partner so– yeah, between this and that, it's a compliment."

"that's sweet of you. thanks, kevin," she says before finally taking the hot paper mug in her hands, "anyway, I gotta go."

"sure thing, see you around?"

while opening the door to the coffee shop, she smiles,

"I don't know many others who can make a pumpkin latte this good, so yeah."