Chapter Twenty Eight
2032 Words
Last bobas and Shots II
After my sad farewell with the three, I decided I should drop by at the bubble yea shop Yichen’s family owned. I mean, this has been a daily routine for me, after all. I should make the most of my last free Saturday before I get back to training with the ladies for weekends starting next week.
I was still a few feet away from the store when I saw Yichen already sitting outside their shop with his head down. I creased my brows in confusion. He’s normally smiley and bright so seeing him like this, like a ball of rain clouds were just above his head, is quite a change. I could tell even from a distance that he was dealing with something. And he was taking a breather outside. He looked really miserable. It’s almost hard to approach him in a state like this. But I was already walking and heading towards him.
“I didn’t think you were capable of being sad.” I casually joked around, in hopes that he’d feel less heavy when I try to make him open up to me and give him a bit of comfort that he might need.
He looked up to me. I could have sworn his eyes almost lit up when he saw me but then again, maybe that’s just me being delusional to the core. “L-Lois …”
I sat across him and realized their shop was actually closed. The sign says so. “I was hoping I’d get your infamous German’s Tea.”
He chuckled but I could clearly tell he was sad. It wasn’t a fully happy chuckle which almost saddened me because my impression of him wasn’t this. “Unfortunately, we’re not opening today. I’m sorry. I’d gladly give you the drink if we were only open.”
“That’s okay.” I quickly replied before he gets even sadder. I didn’t want him to think that I was actually here just for the drink. Of course, I was here to cheer him up and make him like me more without even trying to make him like me. “Hey Yichen.” I called his attention. “What do you call a pig that does karate?”
He glanced at me with a questioning look.
“Pork chop!” I said, mimicking karate moves that I didn’t obviously know.
He lets out a small laugh.
“Corny, huh?” I said before he even says it so it’s less embarrassing. “Your upside down smile’s going to drown me, cutie.” I blurted out but he seemed flustered with the sudden petname. “Are you okay? You look down.”
He sighed.
It was so weird seeing him without a smile. Maybe he just came off too strongly, happy and bright, and all smiley when we first met – came off with a strong happy aura, that’s why it feels weird seeing him this way.
“I’m sorry.”
I almost couldn’t hear it.
“Sorry, I’m not sure when our shop will ever open again, to be honest.” He flashed a weak smile as if he was already telling me the root of his sadness. I guess, this is something about business and whatnot.
That’s why he was sitting here, all gloomy and sad. Because maybe their shop’s about to close for good or something like that. Maybe it happened just recently and he was sad about it. “Meaning?”
He gazed at me hesitantly. Maybe I shouldn’t push it too far otherwise he’d feel uncomfortable with me. “The ones who own this building, they said a bigger investor offered to buy it. We’re not that well off so we might back off.” It is about the business thing with his mom. I could tell he valued his mom very much for him to feel an emotional attachment to this thing. “They’re talking about it today. The owner said all three of them will be meeting for the negotiation.”
Oh…
“It may seem small to other people but it’s what we only have here. Here in this city. It’s the only thing that’s keeping us financially stable while we’re away from our hometown.”
I never knew how sad it was for families who actually experience this until now. I felt bad for Yichen. I may not be experiencing what he was emotionally feeling right now, but I feel for him. I understand. I really do. Not for my personal reasons but I just felt genuinely sad for him.
“If we lost the shop, we might end up flying back to Germany and I didn’t’ want to start another life in a different country when I’m already well-adjusted here.”
I mean Germany’s better than here, to be completely honest. But that’s just me. Yichen’s story is completely out of mine so, I don’t really a have say to his preference.
“I like it here.”
I could tell he really does.
“I like the people. I like the place. I like my school. I like my friends. Everything I have here, I really like. I don’t want to leave everything I have here and start over again.”
I pressed my lips together unable to know what I’m supposed to say to make him feel better. I’ve always been confident with my communication skills but that skill is shutting down all of a sudden. It’s like I’m being eaten by his sadness and I’m getting sad now too. “Hey, don’t worry.” I tried to say with the most comforting voice I could possibly have. “I’m sure you will save your shop. If your mom sees how much you like it here, she will do everything to save it for you. Besides,”
Yichen glanced back up to me so I smiled to make him feel better at least.
“You made me take German’s Tea.” I paused, trying to k****e with his memories so he can feel more relaxed. “You can’t turn back from the responsibility to give me that every time I come back here for it.”
When he let out a chuckle, I felt relieved. I’m still good at communicating, as it turns out. I was happy I’m helping him in some way – in some small way that I could think of. I mean, this is my forte. Guys liked girls who understood them which girls normally aren’t.
“Cheer up, okay? I don’t like seeing you all gloomy. It makes me gloomy too.” I sneaked in, to try to make him feel more eased and relaxed. He did seem a bit more comfortable once he opened up about what was making him sad but I still can’t feel the same energetic vibe he had before.
He looked away, shaking his head with a small smile. “You’re doing it.”
I shrugged, arching my brows in innocence. I pursed my lips, trying to act cute which I knew I was. “Doing what?”
“Being friendly-flirty.”
I turned back to him with a guilty smile, pinching my fingers in the air. “Just a little.”
For the past minutes, I sat across Yichen trying to comfort him for his problem. I’m not sure I’m doing great but he chuckles most of the time so I guess I’m doing fine. I’ve always been good at comforting people as I’ve been told. I guess I just do that out of habit and it comes out naturally.
“I should go. I still need to pick my mom from the agency.”
I nodded, giving him one last smile before he leaves for good. “You better be here when I come back next Saturday.” I joked and he gladly took it lightly.
He chuckled but he nodded anyway. “I will. Thank you, Lois. For talking to me today.”
Then he was gone.
I sighed and leaned back to the chair. That was one long talk with Yichen. Surprisingly not as boring as the library guy I forgot the name already. It was comfortable, like being with Snoopy all over again. I never realized how tiring it was to comfort someone with effort. I always do my best to flirt with guys but giving advice to someone who actually needs it takes some serious brain cells.
I should go for a walk by the park. Coach would kill me if he finds out I’m slacking off during Saturdays when I tell him I still work out despite the tutoring even if I really don’t. Tutoring made me slack off on so many levels.
I’ve been walking around the park in circles when I noticed something pointing my way from a distance. The sixth sense that everyone knows exists. Okay, maybe it’s just the peripheral view giving me the sign that someone was looking my way. I turned and saw a camera pointed over my direction.
“Are you going to ask for a photo with me next?” I said, feistily as I crossed my arms, raising a brow with it.
The man behind the camera pulled it down and I saw his face. What beautiful face, might I add? If he didn’t look this great, I would have called him a creep and accused him for harassment. This could still be harassment because technically, you can’t really film people against their liking. In my case, I’d even pose for him if he wanted me to.
Tall. Great face shape, lazy-looking eyes that I’m very much willing to stare at forever, good enough lips, great nose.
Okay. You’re the lucky park fling winner.
“Sorry. I was trying to take a picture of the scenery and you were accidentally in the frame.” He explained, walking closer to me to maybe show the picture. “I can delete it for your peace of mind."
I crossed my arms, looking at him in disbelief. “Accidentally.” I repeated, bobbing my head sarcastically. “Next time, maybe just try asking. I might say yes.”
“Y-You would?”
“No.” I laughed but I took an even greater look at his face and he doesn’t disappoint. He was tall and good-looking, that’s for sure. A quick fling – maybe. “But maybe I can give you an exception though.”
He looked flustered. Just the reaction I needed to know if my charms were working on him. “Achelois Bartel.” I reached out a hand for him to shake as I introduced myself.
“I know.”
I looked away. I guess I won’t be needing to introduce myself more often now. It appears people around the city know about me more than I anticipated. Is that a good thing? I’m not sure, myself. But do I like that people know me? Maybe a little flattering, and I like it. How are people even finding out my name? It sometimes concerns me but I’m not really mad about it. Then again, maybe it’s fair they know my name.
“You’re CSU’s infamous sly viper of the girls’ volleyball team.”
Of course, of course… volleyball.
“The genius libero.”
My phone rang.
Great.
Talk about really good timing.
“Sorry to cut our conversation short. I’ll see you around Mr. Canon.” I pulled my phone out and saw Aiden’s name flashing over my screen. And it’s Aiden, just great. Of course, it’s Aiden. How is it not Aiden, in the first place? “Hello?” I asked, walking away from Mr. Canon to leave him hanging and wanting for more conversation with me.
“I’m already here. Where are you?”
I sighed and started jogging back to where we agreed to meet, where I specifically told him to pick me up. Which is also my fault why my conversation with Mr. Canon got short. “I went for a run. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Okay.”
Mr. Canon. You were one sly photographer yourself.
- Writer
