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It was a relatively a quiet, almost eerie night, the kind where the city felt like it was holding it’s breath. Even though it was quietly breezing through the few alleyways that was across each empty streets.
Quietly making this city alive- not approachable though at this hour.
His body was moving through each of, he just had to shake off all the restlessness that gnawed at him. He been pacing for hours, and his stomach’s rumbled- it wasn’t just hunger; it was a deep, uneasy feeling that kept him from settling.
Ekko shouldn’t had left that party this late, but what other choice did he have? The guys were getting too rowdy after some game, all the reeking smell of alcohol - thankfully Scar understood and didn’t press him further when he left.
The moon was luckily filling that emptiness on the sky, making all the stars that was in a far distant too far to brighten the moods.
It was floating there like watchful eye, casting its cool silver sheen over the rooftop and skyscraper.
Then came a sudden woosh - a sharp gust of wind that rushed between the buildings, tossing loose flyers into the air.
Ekko pulled the front of his canvas jacket tightly together; this chilling weather wasn’t doing it for him.
But he was glad that it was spring, any more colder and he might’ve developed some frostbite by this point.
Although, for now he was too focused to dwell on that thought.
All the he wanted right now was to find something - some place, any place; to buy something to make him feel fueled again.
One two three four
One two three four
One two three four
His boots made this annoying squeaky noise as he walked through the pavement - should had been wearing sneakers…
But they said it was gonna be a heavy rain, but as he loomed his eyes to find any puddle - none.
Ekko took a heavy breath as he tucked his hands further in his pockets.
Then he finally saw it, a reflection of a undefined flickering, casting slowly off toward the surrounding structures.
It made the streets lights seem so unnecessary to even begin with, they looked like a bunch of firelight now.
Ekko made his way toward the flickering as empty street lamps were looming away from him as he approached it- making his boots squeak again and he moved swiftly.
One two three four
One two three four
One two three…
seven-eleven?
His brown eyes landed on the big sign overhead now. It was casting a soft artificial glow over the empty street.
7-Eleven
“Fuck me” he muttered.
He bite the inside of his cheek, trying to reasoning with himself - the neon light seemingly flickering brighter.
So with a frustrated sigh, he glanced down at his phone, noting the time; just a few minutes before the store closed.
This was his last resort and he wasn’t about to let this craving go unmet, not tonight.
He dashed toward it as the cold air biting at his skin, and pushed open the door to the 7-Eleven just as it was about to lock.
Inside, Jinx was perched on top of the counter, her feet dangling as she fiddled with a pen, whistling to some tone.
“Ya know Vic, this day would’ve been interesting” she said with grudge
Viktor, her dear co-worker, was at the other end of the store organizing the shelves with a precision that betrayed his usual aloof nature.
“Interesting? Like chugging a bunch of energy drinks and rearranging stuff in the wrong places?” Viktor didn’t look up, but the sarcasm was thick.
“You’re no fun” she huffed, twirling the pen faster between her fingers.
“You never wanna do anything reckless for once”
“That’s because reckless get us for surely fired. O-or worse, posted on Social media”
The atmosphere inside was almost surreal - the contrast of the mundane task of restocking with the disarray of late - night wanderers and the strange tension of the hour.
Before she could come up with a snarky reply, the store door slammed open with a late-night costumer with the bell chiming as he stepped inside.
The guy seemed like he was still trying to catching his breath, his heart was racing from the rush of adrenaline.
Making both Jinx and Viktor turn their attention from their previous discussion.
“Hey! Can I—can I? Get some stuff? Just a few minutes!” he said with each breath, looking at Jinx with wide eyes.
Jinx slid off the counter, her expression sharpened.
Viktor, who had perviously been busy rearranging a display of snacks, immediately turned at the sound of Ekko’s voice.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Absolutely not. The store’s closing.” his tone was hard.
“C’mon there’s still a few minutes-“
“No, the Register’s shut down for the night”
Jinx, still lazily standing close to the counter, didn’t even glance at Viktor.
“Hey, Vic”
She raised a finger to her lips - shushing him with an exaggerated gesture.
He shot her a wide-eyed glare, ready to argue - but the exhaustions told him otherwise.
Viktor muttered instead something under his breath and returned to his other tasks.
She looked at Ekko, lips pressed into a smile.
“Ignore him, he’s not in his best costumer service mode”
She strolled over to Ekko, tilted her head a bit and with a grit.
“Ya got four minutes. That’s it. Four minutes to grab whatever the hell you want."
Ekko exhaled in relief. “Thanks, what an angel” he muttered, glancing around the store for something to calm his hunger.
She smiled and nodded at him, and with a swift turned back to the counter.
His eyes scanned the aisles- chips, candy, protein bar, cold drinks, and… then, he saw it.
The frozen food section.
The glow of a lonely microwave in the corner of store beckoned him. Although it would’ve take more than a few minutes to cook anything substantial.
Damn it
He clenched his jaw, while trying to mutter something off.
So he walked through the aisles, his footsteps echoed in the stillness of the store.
Jinx was watching him now, as her legs kept swinging casually off the counter, her magenta eyes following every move he made.
The guy couldn’t help but feel a little offbeat in his movements, and some clouded thought. Music was off here, obviously at this moment.
He walked up to the snacks aisle, where bags of chips, nuts and all the sugary treats was lined on the shelves.
“So… do you like… work here every night shift?” he asked, half-expecting a conversation to just spark out.
But thankfully Jinx didn’t seem the type to let silence last long.
She tilted her head at his attempt to spark a conversation, eyes glinting with that familiar spark of mischief.
“Not always,” she answered cryptically.
“But most of the times. Ay, it’s not like it’s a bad gig.” She leaped down from the counter, landing with a soft thud on to the floor.
“Keeps things interesting, y’know? Plus, I get free reign over the snacks.” She gave a little wink.
Ekko chuckled, scanning the shelves again. “Yeah, I guess you get to snack your way through the night. I could use some of that. My stomach’s been on a rampage.” He paused for a moment, eyes locking with hers.
“I’m not a junkie, I swear”
“Oh please,” she snorts
“I have met enough of 'em to know, you in on the other hand - just look like a person who likes midnight munchies”
He gave her a amused look.
“Sounds to me you’ve been there before”
“Oh, I live there. Midnight snacks are practically my specialty”
From behind the counter now, Viktor’s voice cuts in dry as ever. “You also live off caffeine and those gummy worms. Not exactly a very trustworthy dietary guide.”
Jinx turned her heard and shot him a glare. “Don’t expose me like that in front of the customer, Vic”
Ekko bite the inside of this cheek, to hold himself from laughing.
“Are you two always like this?”
“Only when he’s less cooperative, otherwise we’re best buddies, right?” She tilted her head with a grin.
Viktor shook his head, and muttered something in what sounded like a different language, but the tone spoke enough.
She eyes rolled heavy, and she look at the clock.
“Two minutes left, so you better get that mind of yours galloping - mister”
“Shit”
His hand flew to his hair, pulling slowly on his white thick dreads- gently enough to ground him and away from his face.
Eyebrows furrowed, with his lips pressed into a tight line.
He had to keep up with the time for now, the simplicity of the moment felt enough.
The girl was watching him, while perched on the counter once again. Her gaze was trailing lazily after him as he strolled the aisles.
Jinx wasn’t doing it out of boredom anymore- that’s for sure.
There’s just something about the way he moved so - efficient without any inch of rush.
As if he knew the time he had wasn’t enough, but had to do the best he could for it to not shake him.
Ekko grabbed a bag of chips from the shelf, and made is way to another one.
He checked the dusty clock once again above the counter.
A quiet mutter came out under his breath, then without thinking he reached up to tug his dreads back into a loose tie - pulling them away from his face.
The motion was quick, effortless to say the less.
Jinx blinked.
Oh.
Oh.
The fluorescents light overheard caught the curved of his jaw, the quiet tension in his brow.
Something with that small gesture - the calm frustration, the effortless way he handled himself- made her pause.
Her legs stopped swinging.
For a second, she just watched him. Eyes trailing gingerly along the edges of his silhouette, as if she was trying to sketch it in her mind before he disappeared again.
“You’re staring”
Viktor’s voice said in a low tone, breaking the silence
Jinx feel the heat on her neck reaching her face.
“No I’m not, I’m just observing”
“Sure”
He scoffed softly, as he made his way to the front of the store- reaching out the key to crank down the metal window shades a bit.
The rattled sound it made as it casted jagged shadow across the store.
Ekko was now crouching down looking at the protein bar, he grinned, then, with a slightly playful tone, said, “You guys, got any… intense snack?”
She raised her eyebrow, and grinned at him.
“Yep, the instant ramen on the left shelf - there’s those pretty hot one, so intense that the chicken flavour doesn’t even hit you.” she pointed at a shelf offering a chuckle.
Viktor came in again, deadpan. “You’re enabling him.”
Jinx didn’t skip a beat. “I’m nurturing his freedom of choice.”
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a 7-Eleven this late,” he paused “it’s kinda… different?” he said, settling on the idea that sometimes.
It’s the little unexpected things that make a night feel less lonely.
Ekko moved to the target, lowering down grabbing one pack of instant ramen- one of those spicy one with too many warning labels to ignore. Not the most suitable meal, but it would do to shut his stomach at home.
Jinx softly smiled. “Ya don’t say? Well welcome to the weirdest part of the day. You’ll never forget it.”
As he finally stood up straight with a quiet grunt, he turned his body to the side - then Ekko paused.
Through a gap between the shelves, he caught the view of her.
She was leaning against the counter now, casually twirling the pen like she had before. As she kept on talking to Viktor about something, that he clearly didn’t care about.
Her profile was half-lit by the store harsh light that hanged above the register.
Yet it couldn’t hide her expressions that was so animated, as she talked.
Her blue hair was pulled half-up in a lazy bun, pieces falling around her face. Those magenta sharp eyes, the way her grin never quite left her mouth, even when she wasn’t speaking.
She filled the space like she belonged in every corner of this weird, now empty store.
Jinx had the kind of energy you couldn’t ignore—even if you wanted to.
Ekko blinked for a sec. looking down at the stuff in his hands.
Gotta move quick, no more daydreaming here.
The soft ticking from the clock on the wall, the seconds slipping away as Ekko let out a frustrated sigh as he ran his hand through his hair, staring at the price tags on the fridge shelf.
“Man! Everything’s gone up lately. How is anyone supposed to keep up with this?” his voice was a mix of disbelief and genuine annoyance.
Fingers tapping rhythmically on the edge of a soda-can and then he turned to Jinx, who had been idly half watching him from the counter.
She tilted her head, once more that mischievous grin lingered on her lips.
“Oh yeah? Tell me about it. These prices have been skyrocketing for a while now.”
She stretched her arms overhead, her movements casual but precise.
“It’s all tied to inflation, supply chain issues, and a whole bunch of corporate nonsense.
Y’know businesses gotta adjust to stay afloat, so… they try to hike up the prices.”
Ekko raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her.
“I see, we got ourselves an economist working the late night shift,” he said with a sly smile.
“Wasn’t expecting to get a lecture from the girl with the blue hair and the chirping energy.”
Jinx’s grin grew wider as she leaned forward on the counter, her voice softening into something almost conspiratorial.
“When your father’s driven by numbers and stock market shifts, you kinda have no choice but to listen and learn,”
She tilt her head with a chuckle.
“trust me, I’d rather not have less clue about all these stuff, but it’s everywhere. You can’t escape it.”
Ekko chuckle lightly, his gaze lingering on her.
“Guess, I have to thank your dad for making you so… well-informed” he said, giving her a teasing look.
"Honestly tho, it’s not every night you get to talk to someone who knows what they’re really talking about.”
Jinx eyes sparkled with amusement, she shot him a playful wink in return.
“Yeah well, don’t go spreading that info around. I wouldn’t want to ruin the reputation I already have.”
“Aha?”
Ekko grinned, running a hand over his chin, looking around for the last few things to grab.
“Don’t worry I’ll keep it quiet. Wouldn’t want to ruin your street cred, after all.”
He continued browsing, while his stomach rumbled again, reminding him of why he’d come in the first place. He grabbed a cold drink—and finally headed to the counter.
Viktor was grumbling to himself at the other end of counter, making his rounds to close the second register, looking like he was ready to call it at night.
Ekko stood at the counter, setting his items down.
Jinx glanced at his haul, then at him, her tone soft but amused. “Is that all?”
“Yeah,” Ekko said with a nod, handing over the money. “Thanks for letting me in, though. I was about to starve out there.”
“No problem," Jinx replied, tapping the register with a flick of her wrist. “You’re lucky I’m a fan of the weird types.” her hand moved to give him his change.
She stopped.
Her eyes met his… brown eye? Hazel?
Once more mesmerized, and the lights here reflected in his eyes like still water- oh no she’s down bad.
Ekko grinned, taking them from her. “Guess I owe you one.”
“Sure, as long as you don’t die from eating that hot package in a empty stomach”
He chuckled. “If I do I will try to haunt the store then”
He made his turn toward the door, but before he could leave, he glanced back at her, with a playful smirk on his face he said.
“I hope to see you next time, uh… Birdie.” he nod.
Jinx’s eyes widened slightly, surprised by the nickname, but then she smiled, her voice playful.
“For sure! I hope to be around for the next craving. Don’t fly rushing into trouble, night Owl.”
He gave her a simple quick wink, then pulled the door open and disappeared into the night - the cold air hitting his face as he walked away.
Inside, Jinx was left grinning at the door, still processing the interaction. “Birdie?” she murmured to herself, then turned to Viktor, who was still grumbling as he closed the light on some shelfs.
“Did you see him? That guy was…” Her voice trailed off as she flailed her arms in exaggerated excitement.
“He—he was something else, Vic!”
Viktor stared at Jinx. “Really?”
“You gave him more than four minutes, didn’t you?” he groaned annoyed
She shrugged, still smiling. “What? I’m just good at my customer service.”
Viktor shook his head slowly, pressing his fingers to his temples.
“Please, Jinx. I just want to go home tonight.”
He muttered a quiet prayer under his breath, hoping that by the time their next shift came around, she’d be over whatever this was.
Jinx wasn’t listening though.
She was all giddy with a grin plastered across her face, completely lost in the excitement of it all.
“This… is the highlight of my day- no, wait, my week!”
Viktor glanced over at Jinx, who just kept bouncing on her feet, lost in her own excitement.
And with a heavy roll of his eyes and a deep sigh, he grabbed the nearest broom, held it by the handle -tossing it in her direction.
Jinx caught the broom, as her eyes narrowing mischievously she stared at Viktor.
“What, you think I’m going to be distracted all night?”
“Please, Jinx, just get this done with and sweep the damn floors”
he muttered, the tone in his voice a mix of exhaustion and resignation.
She twirled the broom around, her grin never fading. “I’m still thinking about Birdie, alright? Give me a break!”
“Sure but can Birdie quit chirping?”
Viktor shot her a withering look. “This is exactly why I pray every shift ends before yours does.”
She waved him off, already sweeping with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Yeah, yeah.”
A few days later
Today the customers was in a more rush than usually but luckily it was at the evening, and now it was a bit more later. The streets becomes less rowdy and less crowded around here.
Jinx was looking up at the clock once more.
8 pm.
She leaned forward on the counter, chin resting on her palm now, her voice lower, more thoughtful.
“You ever just see someone and think… huh. That’s a whole story walking around.”
Viktor didn’t respond right away. But with a deadpan.
“I think that when you come in for your shifts.”
Jinx laughed under her breath, finally tearing her eyes away from the door. “Touché, dude”
The door bell chimed over the store, someone is here.
She immediately perked up, her eyes snap toward the entrance.
Vi walked in, hands in her pocket while Caitlyn was walking close beside her.
Behind them Jayce followed, he was already mid-sentence about something none of them were listening to. Poor guy.
Jinx expression dropped for a sec, but she pick up a grin.
She perked up the moment.
“Well, well, look who decided to grace my humble establishment this late” she said, grinning.
Vi gave her a questionable look. “You’re weirdly chipper for a girl who worked long shift.”
“That’s cause,” Jinx said, moving with a dramatic flourish, “I had a visitor last night.”
Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. “Oh no.”
Vi crossed her arms. “Please don’t say it was another guy trying to microwave something with no shirt on.”
“Pff, no no no! This one had manners. And those brown? Hazel eyes. And define cheekbones,” Jinx said, pointing to her own face for emphasis.
“I promised you sis, he came in all flustered and then tied his dreadlock hair back like those ironic movie moment, and then asked me for an ‘intense snack’ so I gave him those.”
She picked a up one of those Hot instant ramen pack.
Vi groaned as she pinched her bridge of nose. “Pow-pow, that’s not food that’s a threat.”
“Oh don’t worry guys he survived. Probably. Called me Birdie tho on the way out.”
Caitlyn blinked. “Birdie?”
Jinx smirked. “Mmhm. I called him a night owl. You just had to be there.”
Meanwhile, across the store, Viktor stood over the hot dog roller with dead eyes, slowly turning the sausages with tongs. Jayce leaned on the counter beside him, grinning.
“So what’s the secret to getting those perfect?” Jayce asked.
“I wake up every day and regret my life choices,” Viktor replied, monotone. “That helps.”
Jayce laughed like he hadn’t heard the sarcasm coming out .
“Man, you should really come to one of my barbecues sometime.
We’d turn this place into a grill masterclass.”
Viktor didn’t respond. He just flipped a hot dog with surgical precision and said, “Please go away.”
Back near the register, Vi shook her head. “So what now? You hoping this mystery night owl comes back?”
Jinx gave a dramatic shrug, arms wide. “Hey! If the universe brought him once. Maybe it’ll throw him at me again!”
Caitlyn gave her a look. “Try not to fall in love with every customer that makes eye contact.”
Jinx grinned, eyes flicking to the register. “Too late.”
“I promise you guys, he was fineee”
The entrance chimed once more, finally a customer to help, instead of these bothersome-
It’s him.
Ekko stood just inside there, looking at the clustered small group near the counter.
“Huh,” his eyebrow raised, while his hands was in his pocket.
“… am I interrupting some kind of meeting” he asked, with a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
The the three girls turned to face him with an utter silent.
“Uh… or should I maybe comeback later?”