comes in waves ↠ kim sunwoo

chapter thirty nine

Third Person POV

It was the first Friday night shift Heiji had in a long time, and her nerves were shattered. She would have to face Sangyeon for the first time in a week. He had texted her a couple of times, but her mind was too occupied by Sunwoo to even give even semi-heartfelt replies. The texts weren't anything too extreme, just the occasional text in the morning to ask how she was and making light jokes about anything he could.

"Hey," Heiji lets out a breath as she enters the work staff room, seeing Eric with one foot out the door. "Your shift doesn't finish for another ten minutes, calm down."

"Exactly," Eric nods dramatically. "I have places to be."

"Another party?" Heiji laughs.

"Maybe, but it won't be as good as yours."

Heiji realised this was also the first time since her party that she had saw Eric and had the chance to properly speak to him. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"You did too, apparently," the boy wiggles his eyebrows as the colour drained from Heiji's face. She remembered the suggestive faces he and his friend were pulling when she spoke to Hyunjae.

"Good one," she jokes casually in an attempt to seem less nervous than she was. "You can go now, I'll start early for you."

Eric grins, running over and attempting to grab the girls cheek to kiss it as she squirms and laughs trying to get away, before a deep voice interrupts their play fight. "Eric, if you're leaving early today you can come in ten minutes early tomorrow."

"No can do sir," he says seriously, letting go of Heiji who he had managed to get in a playful headlock as she fixed her hair. "I'll be very hungover."

"No excuses," Sangyeon says sternly, struggling to keep in a laugh as he looked at Eric's annoyed facial expressions. Heiji laughs at the boy before pushing him away, heading out towards the cashier area, staring at the clock. A five hour shift wasn't terrible.

"Hey," her manager emerges from the staff room, joining her behind the till. "How have you been?"

"Great, thank you," Heiji replies, attempting to avoid his gaze which was proving to be difficult considering she didn't want to be awkward around him. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," the man shrugs, looking at the girl. "I've been meaning to talk to you."

"Yeah?" Heiji says almost innocently, as the boys eyes soften. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want things to be weird around here," he starts. "I get the sense that you're reluctant."

"It's not tha-"

"It's okay, Heiji," he reassures, giving her a smile. "I mean, I like you, I guess I always had a little thing for you since you were hired here. I like a lot about you, that won't change."