Chapter Text
1 - Night Living Shop
... ... ...
San's eyes drifted up to the sky.
His deep brown irises, almost black, scanned the stars shining above him. He felt good. Not particularly happy, not particularly sad.
It was a quiet evening, the kind he was used to. He had come home from school a few hours ago, and his mother had asked him to go buy a packet of spices for dinner.
San had agreed without complaint. A convenience store sat at the bottom of their apartment building, lighting up the peaceful street tucked away in the heart of Seoul.
The boy walked down the few steps under the porch of the building, and his face was quickly illuminated by the neon lights of the store. He pushed open the door, and a faint chime rang out.
San squinted slightly to adjust to the glaring light, which contrasted with the darkness soaking the outside.
He liked that feeling. He liked convenience stores that stayed open all night. Places so brightly lit you'd think they were the only living things left in sleeping streets.
Despite their cold, lonely atmosphere, San saw them as a refuge in the night, a moment suspended outside of time.
He took a few steps, walking along the aisles without really reading the labels. He knew exactly where to find what he needed: halfway between the instant noodles and the sesame seed packets. He grabbed a packet of spice, the same brand his mother always bought, then hesitated for a moment.
Did he want a drink? Hell yes.
He headed toward the refrigerators and pulled out a can of grape soda.
Perfect.
Now that he had everything he needed, he made his way to the checkout counter.
He placed his items down and automatically pulled out his phone, ready to pay. Then he glanced up at the cashier scanning his products. San frowned slightly. He knew the guy standing in front of him.
They were in the same class, but they'd never really spoken. Sometimes, San had caught himself stealing absentminded glances at him across the classroom. He wasn't even sure of his first name, so he read the name tag pinned to his chest. Jung Wooyoung.
It was strange seeing him like this, outside of school and this late at night. He wore the store's black-and-blue apron, and the sleeves of his hoodie were rolled up to his elbows.
Wooyoung's voice broke the silence, pulling San from his thoughts.
— That'll be 4,200 won.
San lightly waved his phone to indicate he'd be paying by card, never taking his eyes off the young man. He hesitated for a second before speaking.
— We're in the same class, aren't we?
Looking mildly surprised, Wooyoung glanced up from the card reader he was holding and took a better look at the customer in front of him.
— Uh... honestly, I haven't memorized all the new faces yet.
San's ego took a tiny hit. Sure, they'd only started their final year a month ago, but he remembered Wooyoung's face! Still, he didn't hold it against him and let out a small laugh.
— Well, nevermind. I didn't know you worked here. Good thing I didn't buy anything weird!
Smiling warmly, the boy tapped his phone on the reader and a beep sounded.
Wooyoung, on the other hand, wasn't really smiling. But he wasn't cold either. Just... reserved.
Since he didn't say anything, San quickly continued before the awkwardness could settle in.
— Well... see you in class, then.
He grabbed his purchases and headed toward the door, giving his classmate a small wave.
— Good evening - Wooyoung replied softly, sounding somewhere between indifferent and polite.
To say he wasn't exactly warm would be an understatement.
The chime rang again as San stepped out of the convenience store. With the packet of spices in one hand and the soda can in the other, he walked the short distance back to his building. His mind wandered as he made his way to the apartment.
He found himself thinking about the unexpected encounter without paying much attention to the thoughts themselves.
He simply pictured Wooyoung in his apron again and wondered if he'd worked there for a long time, if he lived nearby, or if he had taken the job to save up for something specific. He also wondered if he always looked that unimpressed with life.
That was a lot of questions all at once about a guy San had never really paid much attention to before.
The elevator dropped him off on the fourth floor, and he stepped into the apartment where he was immediately greeted by his little sister.
— Seriously? You bought yourself another soda? - she complained. Get me something next time.
— Hey, if you want something, you can go buy it yourself.
— You're so annoying.
San rolled his eyes and handed the packet of spices to his mother, who was busy cooking.
— Thanks, my Sannie. Next time, get something for your sister too - she said absentmindedly without looking away from the stove.
— Yeah, but it's still my money - the boy muttered.
Haneul clearly wasn't ready to leave her brother alone. She threw out a comment she knew would hit him right where it hurt.
— Don't be too grumpy or your eyes are gonna turn red.
A mischievous grin spread across her face, and San shot her a dark look.
Or perhaps a slightly carmin one, actually...
She knew San hated that particular thing about himself, and the quickest way to annoy him was to bring it up.
Ironically, Haneul envied him for it. She envied that detail making him so special. His eyes, the way their color shifted with his emotions.
A rare trait he'd been born with.
Whenever deep joy washed over him, a green glow tinted his irises.
Whenever anger overflowed, his eyes turned red like smoldering embers.
And when sadness took hold of him, a blue as dark as the ocean depths settled in.
As many shades as emotions.
Nothing he felt intensely could ever be hidden from others.
And he hated that.
... ... ...
Cᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ ᴏғ Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 1:
San now has 4,200 won less in his bank account.