Shit. Jiwoo felt like shit.
Her legs were obviously feeling better now, at least she could walk without wobbling like before but her period came in that morning, sending continuous cramps to her poor stomach.
"Dear Lord, help me," Jiwoo groaned with one of her cheeks pressing tightly on the polished surface of the white counter in front of her.
Her shiftmate for that day, Minjun, shook his head at the sight. He couldn't deal with her constant whining and grumbling about her period cramp anymore, he tried though.
He really did.
She had been in that position since the moment he stepped into the store. He got confused at first –who wouldn't, really, seeing his best friend lying on the table while grumbling to herself like a mad man.
Now he was sitting there right beside her with a mug of warm water and a neglected chocolate bar on his other hand. Jiwoo had been refusing to eat them, constantly mumbling a "Just give it to your Qian An," or "It's expensive, put it back you little shit."
He didn't get why she would reject such an offer, he thought girls love chocolates. Did google lied to him or something? He couldn't tell.
"Welcome to SunD!" He automatically chimed as he heard the welcome bell rang. He didn't even take a look at their new customer with his focus mostly directed to Jiwoo.
"Jiwoo, hi!"
The said girl looked up with a small grunt as she felt her insides twisting and tightening even more painfully, their gaze meeting right after that. It took her a few seconds to fully recognize the light brown- no, ash grey-haired boy. He re-dyed his light brown hair into a cute grey shade. It complements his warm caramel skin surprisingly well.
It was starting to do things to her heart.
"Oh, it's you."
"Where is my 'hi'?" His naturally high-pitched voice whined dramatically, earning a glare from Jiwoo and a small chuckle from the other.
"Oh- oh my, you looked like shit, what happened?" He blurted out with his pair of curious deer eyes darting at her.
"Thanks for pointing it out." Jiwoo would love to yell at him for being such a dense bitch, but the monthly waterfall from the depths of hell took most of her energy that day. It would be such a waste to spend all of them on nagging the boy like some PTA mom, he is not even a kid anymore damn it.
But from the look on his face, it was obvious that he was waiting for something more. He wouldn't leave her alone, would he?
"It's just- I'm not feeling well, that's it. Go get your things and pay," Jiwoo muttered before pushing herself up from her seat, immediately regretting her decision as soon as she felt another sharp sting in her abdomen.
"Jiwoo are you sick?"
Yejun rushed to her side with worry in his eyes, she just waved him off with a pained look but he wouldn't buy it. 'That stubborn bitch.'
"It's just a cramp, stop overreacting for fuck's sake."
"It looks so fucking painful! Do you have the meds?"
"This-" Jiwoo pointed at her abdomen before drawing her eyes back at him, "-will go away soon. I just can't move for a while. That's it."
"Fine, I'm going."
"Go ahead, no one is stopping you," Minjun retorted as he took the empty warm mug before getting up, his height towering the other, somehow making Yejun look small. Don't get me wrong, Yejun was tall, but Minjun was a 6ft tall giant.
His lips jutted into an involuntary small pout as his eyebrows furrowed, making the other two cringe a bit. He stomped away childishly, obviously not without shooting a faked hurt look in her direction, eliciting a faint giggle from the latter.
"So, you are into kicked puppies now?" Minjun teased as he saw the boy disappearing to the very back of the store, the area full of fridges where he belonged at the store.
"Shut the fuck up, he is a kid."
"You are a kid too though, a perfect match."
"I'm just half a year younger than you, doofus."
Minjun shot a disapproving look at the younger who shrugged it off before lazily plopping her head on the counter.
To be honest, she had no idea about how old Yejun is. His face could easily pass as a middle schooler, with his slightly plump cheeks, toothy smile, and round, cute, friendly facial features.
Not to forget those pair of eyes, the same pair that fooled her, hard.
'A sneaky devil, that's what he is.'
But obviously, that body belonged to a young man. No way a middle schooler could be that tall, right?
Jiwoo rolled her head until it faced the door, her tired eyes following people who walked past the store.
For the past few days, there weren't many customers. Only Yejun visited the convenience store religiously this lately, just to grab a couple of bottled soda and annoy her to death before leaving.
To him, was she some kind of store attraction?
If that's the case, she should be asking for an extra salary. The bare minimum money she got wasn't enough for the double deed she was doing.
"Yo," she looked up as she felt a poke on her shoulder, waiting for another response as Minjun placed the hot mug full of hot water next to her.
"So, Qian An called me about the job I was applying for. I've told that puppy to take care of you for now. Finish the water, okay? I'll be back soon."
Jiwoo's eyes comically widened at that, no way he was leaving her with a stranger. Not when she was in a vulnerable state.
"No, no, no," Jiwoo shook her head before looking up at him again, with a pleading look this time. "I'm coming with you."
"Who will take care of this store if you're away," he laughed as he ruffled her hair, making the other whine at the messy hair.
"I think he likes you a lot, give him a chance buddy."
"We just met 4 days ago!"
"It doesn't rule out the possibility, you know? I'm running late, got to go now." Before she knew it, he already disappeared.
She noticed the fluffy hair popping up from the shelves, giggling like a shy girl when she caught him.
"You can come out now," she sighed as she straightened out her back.
"Is he gone?"
"No shit sherlock. Now are you going pay or are you just gonna stand there?"
He huffed as he stepped out from his hiding spot, taking a seat right beside her which was supposed to be Minjun's.
"What are you doing?" She couldn't help but let out a whine, why can't he just go home? It wasn't like she's going to die staying alone for a couple of hours in a store.
"I got bored at home, can I just spend it here until your co-worker go back?"
"I- Fine, I don't have the energy to argue with you. Wake me up when a customer comes in."
"Okay."
Without a word, Jiwoo rested her head on her arm, which was rather uncomfortable but she was too tired to expect something more.
Her eyes grew heavier as her breathing calmed down into small puffs of breath. She could feel her consciousness slowly slipping out, slowly drifting somewhere else, to a land where anything was possible.
Before she could get to that land, she felt fingers hesitantly but gently combing on her hair, helping her to get there faster.