He gently examined the claw marks on my neck, his fingers brushing against my skin. I shivered slightly, not from the pain, but from the unexpected spark that his touch ignited. "This might sting a bit," he warned, applying the antiseptic.
I winced as the alcohol made contact, but his focused attention made it easier to endure. "You really do know how to treat a wound, huh?" I said, trying to lighten the mood.
He smirked, his gaze meeting mine as he finished bandaging my neck. "It's part of the job. Besides, I can't have my co-worker looking like a horror movie extra, can I?"
His playful banter put me at ease, and as he stepped back to admire his handiwork, I felt a warmth spread through me. "Thanks, Kristoff," I said, my voice a bit softer.
As I turned to face Kristoff, I realized just how close his face was to mine. My heart skipped a beat, and before I could even think, my hands instinctively shot up to push his face away.
"I-I should go back to the counter!" I stammered, quickly standing up, trying to shake off the sudden flustered feeling.
Kristoff chuckled softly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're fun to tease," he said, leaning back casually, clearly enjoying my reaction. His eyes, however, still held that familiar mischievous gleam.
Kristoff soon joined me at the counter, his eyes glued to his phone as he casually leaned against the wall, typing away. He seemed engrossed in a conversation, and for a while, we didn't exchange any words. The silence, coupled with the lack of customers, made the atmosphere feel oddly stagnant.
I glanced at him, debating whether to interrupt. The boredom was eating away at me, and the repetitive ping of his messages only made it worse. There was literally nothing to do. I sighed, leaning on the counter.
"Who are you chatting with?" I finally asked, hoping to spark some form of conversation.
Without looking up, Kristoff smirked. "Jealous already?" he teased, still tapping away on his screen.
I rolled my eyes while crossing my arms. "Please, I'm just bored. I have no one to talk to."
He laughed softly and put his phone on his pocket, finally giving me his full attention. "Well, since you're so bored, why don't you tell me something interesting about yourself, Cici?"
I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in focus. "Uh... interesting? There's not much to tell. I just work part-time, live with some housemates, and try not to mess up my life too badly."
He raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "That sounds pretty relatable. So, why'd you pick this job? Couldn't have been the pay alone, right?"
I shrugged, thinking back. "Honestly, it just happened. They were hiring, and I needed a job. Plus, it's quiet here most of the time."
"I'm amazed you did well as a newcomer. Yana praises you so much... So could I have your number?" he flashed me a smirk.
I raised my eyebrow at him, "Woah, slow down we just met and I won't give you my number and why is it that you're amazed that I did well?"
"Well we made a bet whether you could last the whole week working here and I was the only one who lost," he scratched his head.
"A bet?" I raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly offended yet curious. "You guys seriously bet on whether I'd make it through the week?"
Kristoff chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction. "Don't take it personally. It's just a thing we do with every new hire. Yana's got a knack for picking out who'll last and who won't. She had faith in you from the start."
"Gee, thanks," I said sarcastically, though I couldn't help but feel a bit flattered. "And what about you? You didn't think I'd make it?"
His grin widened, a playful gleam in his eyes. "I was a bit skeptical when I heard about you. The night shift isn't for everyone, especially at this place. But you proved me wrong."
Since I don't have anything to say about my life, I changed the topic, "What about you? Do you have any other job than working here?"
Kristoff leaned back against the counter, "Yeah, I do," his eyes briefly flickering to his phone before meeting mine again. "Freelance stuff. I do a bit of photography, some odd jobs… you know, whatever comes my way."
I turned to look at him, shock evident in my eyes. "Photography? Really?"
He chuckled softly, noticing my surprise. "Yeah, surprised? Most people are. But it's something I enjoy—captures moments you don't usually notice. Plus, it pays well if you know where to look."
That piqued my curiosity even more. "So, you're good with a camera, huh? I never would've guessed."
"There's a lot about me you wouldn't guess," he said with a teasing smirk. "If you want to know more about me, you could just give me your number or should we have a date right now?"
"Ugh, he's really a flirt," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to him.
Kristoff didn't seem to catch my comment, or maybe he chose not to react. Either way, I figured it was best to leave things as they were. "I'll bring out the trash," I said, standing up and stretching. I didn't notice that it was already 3 AM considering we really had a long and enjoyable talk.
"I'll do it," he grabbed the trash bags I was holding. "Besides, you're smaller than me so how could you carry these heavy trash? Next time, ask for help."
I opened my mouth to protest, but Kristoff was already marching towards the exit with the trash bags in hand.
"Seriously, it's not that heavy," I called after him, slightly annoyed.
He turned back, a smirk playing on his lips. "What can I do? I'm a gentleman, it's in my blood." He winked, and my cheeks flushed slightly at his teasing.
When he came back, his expression was somewhat serious, "It seems that it's lingering outside again so when you're with me, it's best if you're just here inside."
There he was again, saying things that doesn't make sense to me, "What do you mean?"