Work Text:
Shen Jiu worked as a barista in a small cafe. His shift supposedly end soon when five people come. "Welcome to Paper&Si—," Shen Jiu greeted his customers as usual but his usual greeting was cut short when he saw who those people are.
They were the people he didn't wish to see anymore. His (not so) friends at Cang Qiong High School. Mu Qingfang, Liu Qingge, Qi Qingqi, Shang Qinghua, and Wei Qingwei. They were all equally shocked as Shen Jiu.
She Jiu's mind suddenly froze. Wei Qingwei as cheery as ever, broke the silence. "Oh, long time no see Shen Jiu Didn’t know you work here." Wei Qingwei waved his hand and gives a friendly smile.
"Yeah" Shen Jiu shortly answered. And awkwardly asked their orders. They stated their order and silently went to the table.
Qi Qingqi spoke first in a hushed voice, "He already out of jail?"
Shang Qinghua replies, "He was sentenced to 15 years, right? Its been only 5 years!"
Qi Qingqi "Poor Haitang. She doesnt deserve such a fate. His brother needs justice."
“Shhh! Don’t talk about it here. He could still hear it,” Wei Qingwei warned the two.
“Let him be, he deserved it after his despicable crime,” Qi Qingqi defended herself.
Both Liu Qingge and Mu Qingfang chose not to comment on anything.
Even though the group kept their voices small, Shen Jiu could hear them from his station. Moreover, Paper&Sip was not a large place to begin with. Their judgement rangs.
Shen Jiu keeps his hands from trembling. The events of that night replayed in his eyes. The way Qiu Jianluo hands touched his body. He didn’t comply even though Shen Jiu had said no. Shen Jiu ran but the room was locked. Qiu Jianluo laughed, saying that Shen Jiu would never escape him. And then...
Ding! The coffee was ready. Shen Jiu went back to lining their order on the tray. He did not forget to pull his sleeve and collar so that the bruises from last night didn’t show.
"Here's the coffee" Shen Jiu gave them their coffee.
Wei Qingwei gladly loomed over his coffee, admiring Shen Jiu hardwork.
"This is so beautiful, i have no heart to ruin such art."
Shen Jiu heart winched. He didn’t know Wei Qingwei intention is to truly praise him or to mock him. But in the end he only nodded, "Enjoy."
He was about to leave when Mu Qingfang asked him to sit with them. He refused at first but the doctor (Shen Jiu guessed because of the scrubs Mu Qingfang wear) insisted.
"How are you Shen Jiu?" Mu Qingfang asked.
Wretched. Tired. Whole my body is in pain. Everything is fucked up. My boyfriend hates me. Worthless. He’s barely holding it together. Weak. I'm scared.
"Fine," was Shen Jiu answer.
The doctor hummed, "We should see each other more often then. Now that you are ... here" and patted his back.
Shen Jiu reflexed winched. For a moment Shen Jiu thought he saw Mu Qingfang’s eyes bulged a second.
Wei Qingwei but in, "Qingfang is right. We can schedule a weekly meeting. We all miss you Shen Jiu!"
Upon hearing such claims, Qi Qingqi and Shang Qinghua are baffled in disbelief, while Liu Qingge sits impassively. Wei Qingwei was a bad liar, clearly no one missed him.
Liar. Everyone were a liar. He knew it that he was an abomination to the society. No body wants him. Nobody except his boyfriend.
Upon the thought of his boyfriend, Shen Jiu casted his eyes down, hands fumbled with the hem of his sleeve. He wanted to make them longer. The protruding bones in his wrist and the bruises around them disgusted him.
Liu Qingge, who sat across from him find Shen Jiu behavior concerning. "Stop fumbling with your shirt."
"Yes?" Shen Jiu answered in confuse.
"Stop playing with it and look at us in the eyes while we're talking."
Shen Jiu looked at his friends. Mu Qingfang groggily interrupted, "Its okay Shen Jiu. You don't have to listen to him."
What should he do? His friends now knowing one of his bad traits. So he looked at Liu Qingge in the eyes. Challenge the man to prove that he was not weakling.
Shen Jiu tried to pull over the mask that he had been wearing for years now. That gradualy became harder to maintain. Hopefully this will do. Shen Jiu just want Liu Qingge to mind his own business and leave him alone. "Are you happy now?" Shen Jiu taunted.
Liu Qingge smirked, basked in his victory, "That’s better."
"Sorry I am late," a voice heard from behind Shen Jiu. A voice so familiar it radiated warmth to whomever listening. Shen Jiu should know that their meeting is inevitable. However late it is, he would never be ready to face Yue Qingyuan again.
Shen Jiu sat still in his seat not moving an inch. He passively let fate do its work now. He was not ready for this. Not ever.
Finally, "Xiao Jiu? Is that you?" Yue Qingyuan face come into his view. His broad figure went to Shen Jiu like moth to a light. Yue Qingyuan kneeled to face Shen Jiu in eye level, and hugged him tight. So tight it was suffocating.
Shen Jiu’s body went rigid. He was not returning Yue Qingyuan’s hug.
"Oh Shen Jiu.. I miss you. How have you been? Where do you live now?" Yue Qingyuan bombarded him with questions.
"I...--" Shen Jiu had not finished his sentence when his phone rang. Shen Jiu hastily fetch his phone from his pocket, knowing it was from his boyfriend.
"Where are you now?"
"At work"
"You are fifteen minutes late. Home. Right now."
Shen Jiu trembled. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! How come he was so stupid for accepting their invitation for a chit chat, when he was supposed to be home at 5 pm exact. Now, his boyfriend would be very pissed. And when he was pissed, nobody knew what will happen. Perhaps Shen Jiu would get another bruises in his face tonight. Or a broken nose. Or a fracture jaw. Who knows.
"Allright, Binghe. I'll be home," Shen Jiu ended the conversation. He decided to leave. But Yue Qingyuan hands grabbed his arm and wouldn't let go of him.
"Stay a little bit longer. We just met," Yue Qingyuan reasoned.
Shen Jiu tried to pried his arms from Yue Qingyuan deathly grip. He was scared if he’s late for another minute, "No, I have to go home."
What home?
Luo Binghe was his home, he was the only one who is gracious enough to take him in. Luo Binghe was the only one who believed in his story. He was the one who help him out of prison. Who always accepting him despite knowing how filthy he is. Luo Binghe was his only place to go. So, he would cherished every moment there. No matter how angry Luo Binghe would get, in the end Shen Jiu knew that he only had him. They only had each other.
Shen Jiu desperately pried Yue Qingyuan finger but Yue Qingyuan's grip becoming more and more deadly, until ... his long sleeve ripped and exposed his frail arm.
It didn't look like an arm. Just a skeleton and skin, with many vertical scars and bruises from purple, blue, and yellow. So colorful yet disgusting.
The people sat there were shocked. Yue Qingyuan more so. Before anyone can speak, Shen Jiu quickly ran out of the cafe. He didn’t know for what reason he was running from. Was it because of the discovery? Was it because he didn’t want to face Yue Qingyuan? Was it because he desperately want to see Binghe that he cannot bear any space apart from him?
Shen Jiu didn’t know. And probably would never know.
For so long Shen Jiu walked alone. His phone ringing. Undoubtly a call from Binghe, but he doesn’t have the energy to answer anymore.
Ah… Shen Jiu wished the road to home would never end.