Chapter 1

Hyunwoo stood at the counter of a convenience store, busy on his phone since there were no customers coming around yet until the bells on the door hit each other, making a sound that meant a person has entered.

Hyunwoo immediately got off of his phone and looks at the person. Both of them were quite shocked to see each other.

"Fancy meeting you here, Hyejin." Hyunwoo smiled and waved at her.

"Ah, Hyunwoo, you work here?"

"Yes. As you can see by my uniform."

"O-Oh, right. Haha, I didn't notice." Hyejin let out an awkward laugh.

"Is there anything you'd like that can be only taken from the counter?"

"Yes. I'll just go get some instant noodles with a drink then I'll pay."

"Okay. I'll be waiting here." Hyunwoo said and he returned to his phone as Hyejin walked to the aisles.

Shortly, Hyejin returned with a cup of instant noodles, a bottle of ice tea and a small pack of gummy bears which she put on the counter. Hyunwoo scanned the items and she paid for those mentioned items.

"Are you eating the noodles here?"

"Yes. Please do put some hot water on it."

Hyunwoo opens the cup and added some hot water while Hyejin waits for him. There was an awkward wall of silence had descended between the two until one of them finally decided to break it.

"So, what are you doing out here late at night?"

"I just returned from tutoring a younger friend of mine after she had asked me to teach her for their exams."

"I see. Must be pretty tiring."

"Yes. But it's for her own good that's why I taught her. Surprisingly, she wasn't that hard to teach"

"Here's your cup of instant noodles." Hyunwoo handed Hyejin the cup of instant noodles filled with hot water.

"Thank you." Hyejin took the cup of noodles and walked to one of the tables to eat the instant noodles there as she began to go through her phone.

The door opens once again and two scary looking men entered. Though they were shorter than Hyunwoo, they still let out a vibe that intimidated him due to the tattoos and visible scars they had.

"I need two boxes of cigarettes." A man hands some money on the counter in front of Hyunwoo.

"Sir, I'd like to see your governmet issued IDs before you can buy one." Hyunwoo asked them before he should give them the box of cigarettes.

"What? Do we even still need that?"

"Yes. There's nothing I can do about it."

"I don't have mine. Do you have yours?" The man turned to his friend who signalled him he didn't have one as well.

"We forgot our IDs. I'll just pay and add a thousand and a half won just give the box of cigarettes to us."

"Sorry, sir. But it is said here that when buying liquor or cigarettes, any government issued IDs is needed to be seen. Only ages 18 years old and above are allowed to buy liquor and cigarettes." Hyunwoo explained while pointing at a sign behind him that.

"No, we actually forgot it. Just give us the box of cigarettes before we change our mind."

"Please go find another store who will tolerate such irresponsible behavior. The store owner wouldn't like someone underaged to smoke." Hyunwoo told them in the most gentle way he could.

"Hey, kid—"

Just as the man was about to grab Hyunwoo's face, they heard a heavy sigh from the back.

"You can't do anything against the law." Hyejin said, finishing the cup of instant noodles she bought.

"Stay out of this girl. This has got nothin' to do with you."

"Yes. Maybe you're right. But you are violating the laws and bothering a person who is just doing his job."

"Just sit down there. Don't join in on the talk between men."

The other man was going to psuh Hyejin back to her seat, but then they heard a phone ring.

"Hello? Is this the police? I'd like to report a case of someone trying to buy a box of cigarettes without showing their government-issued IDs. Yes. I'm at—"

Hyunwoo who was talking with the cops on his phone was cut off by the two men clicking their tongue and opening the door.

"Tsk. This stupid convenience store!"

"Never mind, sir. They had left already."

"Stupid, are you drunk or something?! Why'd you call me on your phone and ask if I'm the cops."

"No, let me explain, Jeongsoo noona. I know you're tired from work, but let me explain." Hyunwoo started sweating as his older sister's loud voice could be heard, even without the speakers on.

"I thought he'd go for a fight, instead he called someone who could be his sister and used her as a threat, pretending she was a cop." Hyejin smiled as Hyunwoo apologized to his mad sister.

"Yes, yes. I'm safe. There were no problems that happened. They left after I called you." Hyunwoo reassured his sister that he was safe from harm until the call ended.

"Sorry. One of them could've hurt me if you hadn't pretended to call the cops."

"No, don't mind it. I just had to do what's right."

"I actually didn't know she was about to get hurt by them..." Hyunwoo looked away, avoiding Hyejin from getting into his view.

The door opens and two familiar faces enters the convenience store.

"I can't believe we spent five hours straight at the internet cafe." Sungmin let out a tired heavy sigh while he and Jinho enters the store.

"Oh? Hyunwoo, you never told us you worked here."

"You never asked." Hyunwoo laughed

"I guess you have a point, haha..." Jinho sweatdropped as he scatches his cheek.

"I better get going now. It's getting late." Hyejin said, taking her bag and throwing the items she bought in the trash can.

"Okay. Thank you for visiting and come back next time. Stay safe om your way home!" Hyunwoo waved at Hyejin as she heads outside the store.

"Isn't she...?"

"Yes. She's one of our classmates."

"Do you two have something you'd like from the counter?"

"Yeah. Ice cream. Three large soft-served vanilla ice cream on a cone."

"Three? One of you sure have a good appetite." Hyunwoo laughed as he gets the cones ready.

"No, one of them is for you, in fact." Jinho laughed while getting the money ready.

"Oh, no. Thanks for considering one for me, but—"

"I'm paying for all three."

Before Hyunwoo could finish his sentence, Jinho puts the money on the counter.

"I see. Thanks then. I owe you one."

"Don't mind it. We're best buddies after all and we couldn't stand you work there as we eat soft-served ice creams. Plus, it's not expensive."

The door opens once again and another man, the same age as the three enters, wearing a bike helmet.

"Ah, Heesook hyung, welcome. Let me finish this shortly."

"Yeah, sure. Good job again today."

The man enters the changing room while Hyunwoo hands the other two their soft-served ice cream.

"You know him?"

"His parents own this place, but he's managing this place since his parents are busy with their two restaurants and he's busy with university during the day."

Later, Heesok arrives in his work uniform and Hyunwoo went to the changing room to change back into his school uniform, but with a black hoodie on this time.

"I'm heading home now. Thanks again for the soft-served ice cream." Hyunwoo took his bag, opening the door while waving at his friends.

"Yeah, take care!"

After some time walking, Hyunwoo finally arrives at the apartment he and his siblings were living in. He pressed the doorbell and a woman who looked similar to him opened the door.

"You came back at the perfect time, Hyunwoo. I just finished dinner."

"How was school and work today?" Jeongsoo asked while closing the door after Hyunwoo entered.

"It was pretty tiring, but I enjoy it here."

"I see. Sorry you have to go through this and not do the same things you enjoy before." Jeongsoo apologized with the hint of guilt with her voice.

"No, it's alright. Not being able to play basketball anymore like I used to before is alright."

"You're not able to live your teenager life before college the way it should be and yet you're saying you enjoy it when all you do is work and study."

"Being able to help with the expenses is enough for me. I don't need a lot in life as long as I still have you three. Ever since mom and dad died, I felt like I don't want to be separated from you three."

"I guess all of us in this household feels the same way. It's... hard without them."

"You cheer up now. They would've said the same. And they'd be mad if we don't eat already. The food will get cold."

"You're right."

Hyunwoo entered the dining room and got everything ready on the table while Jeongsoo calls their other siblings so they can start eating dinner together.