Tinkle

Chapter One

I gripped tight on the strap of my sling bag as I walked away from the doorstep of the last house I just got from.

That's the last mail for today.

It was one of my part time jobs, and it was fun because aside from working as a mail carrier, it feels like it's an adventure just finding the address of the mail.

I stopped when I saw a stray kitten wandering around.

I squatted and pet its head as it meowed. I scratched its chin as it purred.

It was the cutest.

I patted its head for the last time before I stood up and continued walking back at the post office.

I saw this new pet shop and stopped by, leaning to look through its glass window, as the puppies wagged their tails at me.

I smiled and left as I continued walking.

Tinkle.

I stopped on my tracks when I heard the familiar sound.

I looked around, only to see busy people walking towards their own paths.

It was still tinkling, but I don't know where it was coming from.

I tried to walk ahead of me as it was fading into louder sound. I knew it was just near.

But suddenly it was gone.

I stared across the street to see people passing by the pedestrian crossing.

I shook my head and walked away.

"It's just my imagination,", I paused and thought, "wasn't it?", I asked myself as my eyebrows furrowed.

There's no way.

It's been so long since I heard it tinkled.

I pulled the bell that dangled on my silver necklace slightly and stared at it for a moment.

I sighed and let it go, then went back to the post office to drop the bag back there.

"Hey, I was asking you if you'll go home now?", Sarah, an elder that was working here waved her hand in front of me as she slid down her eyeglass slightly, looking at me, "You okay, young lady?", she still have her American accent although she lived here in Korea for few decades now.

I shook my head. I'm too engrossed to my deep thoughts about what happened earlier.

"I-I'm fine.", I said as I looked at my wrist watch. It's past 4pm and I need to go to my next part-time job for today.

I bid my goodbye before I left the post office, as I took a taxi on the way to the convenience store.

I went inside and saw the familiar figure, busy listing some things on a logbook.

He lifted his head up to see me and beamed a sweet smile, "Seoji.", he greeted as I nodded and patted his head slightly, and I made my way to get the vest we always wear.

"He's not here yet?", I asked as I pulled my ponytail above the vest. "It's first day of your friend's duty, though.".

He shook his head, "I told him to be early, but he's still late.", he said as I nodded, starting to arrange the items and listed some of them that needs to be re-stocked.

Few minutes had passed and a brown-headed boy went in, panting.

"Sorry, I'm late.", he said as he took a deep breath.

I went to get another vest and gave it to him.

"Here. Why are you late?", I said as I walked towards the aisle where I stopped.

"Ah, the bus I took needed to go to the recapping and vulcanizing shop to fix its tire half way and I didn't have any choice but to walk and run on the way here.", he explained, which I only nodded.

"You're lucky Mr. Jun isn't here.", I said and chuckled.

I walked towards him as he just stood awkwardly beside the cashier. There's no customer right now, I wonder.

"You probably know Kurt.", I gestured to the tall young guy smiling on the cashier. They're friends anyways. "I'm Seoji, Lee Seoji. What's your name, by the way?", I asked him.

"Ah, I'm Ben. Park Ben.", he said as I just nodded to his way of copying my pattern of introducing myself.

"Welcome. I was actually curious about you since this kid is always talking about you his friends.", I said as he just smiled.

Suddenly, four young girls went in and it was the same girls that would come here often every week, of course, with a purpose to visit the handsome little(not really) chic aka Kurt.

"Seoji ~", they cheerfully greeted as I just smiled at them.

I like these young girls actually, they have manners and they kind, also a well-reserved teens.

"Seoji, we passed the exam!", one of them beamed as I gasped with a proud smile.

"Really? That's good. Keep it up, kids.", I said as I proceed to arrange the items.

They are Kurt's school mate and they're a year ahead of the young boy.

"Seoji, who's he?", one of them whispered as I looked at Ben whom she was talking about.

"Ah, he's a new part-timer here. He's Ben.", I said and smiled.

The young girls left after buying some items and beaming about their exam results. Of course, admiring Kurt and Ben—who became their new crush was a plus to their visit.

Just when I was orienting Ben for his tasks on the store, another group of people. This time, it was a group of boys I've never seen before.

I smiled and welcomed them as my eyes met someone's pair of bewitching, magical eyes.

Then it rang.

Tinkle.

to be continued...