a thousand cuts
invisible string-running scared, I was there, I remember it all too well-
"Alright, Sehun. You start from next week," the owner of the cafe grinned from one ear to another. Sehun's eyes sparkled with happiness as he extended his hand towards her outstretched one to shake it. "I'll be showing you around if you have the time. You may come within this week to practice your skills with the machines."
"Yes, of course," Sehun nodded. The warmth of the cafe encouraged him to keep smiling, even though something was bugging at the back of his head. The lady in her mid-twenties, Kim Minju, welcomed him further inside. The cafe was temporarily closed for the hiring session. Sehun couldn't believe he had made it among the six more candidates eyeing this job. Not to mention, they had amazing skills with the machines already.
The walls were crimson, the color of Christmas, paired with green. There were white cardboards shaped into snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. The Christmas tree in the corner was a warm corner, lined with accessories. Sehun could guess the owner really put in the most love even in the littlest details. There wasn't a need for a job. His father left them enough, he could concentrate on his studies instead. Even the new man in her mother's life wasn't the reason he got this job. The reason was complicated.
The reason was Bae Joohyun.
He wanted to send something back and he needed the money in order to do so. And he was sure if he sent a letter once, he wouldn't be able to stop. There was a constant thought that if ever Joohyun discovered he wasn't Junmyeon, even if through him, would she still want to talk to him? Could they be penpals? Because Sehun already knew so many of her innocent secrets, he thought he had the right to reply, to get to know her more personally, and maybe tell her his troubles too. It wasn't like they were ever going to meet.
"I was wondering...since I start next week, and I'll be frequenting the cafe regularly to learn in the meantime, c-could I, you know...get an early payment?" He scratched his head, the apron hanging from his neck, untied now as his training for today was done.
Minju smirked, "May I ask why?"
"I...I need to send a letter abroad...before Christmas," he explained, "It's urgent."
"Oh, are you applying for jobs abroad? Does that mean you won't be able to work here for long--"
"No, no, no," Sehun cut in, panic inside his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he looked down at the ground, "It's to a f-friend. It's Christmas so I want to give her something along with the letter," he says with a blush on his cheeks. "Will that be too much to ask for?"
Minju chuckled, "Of course not. Do you have an amount in mind?"
That was how Sehun managed to buy the envelope and a bundle of fancy scented papers. The snow was like a beautiful drizzle of rain, much more ethereal than last year. Jongin had taken Yerim to ski, they had taken their bicycles. Sehun wasn't worrying because Jongin was with her, but he was afraid she was still slightly sick and the icy atmosphere would make her cough. As he walked down th
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