Magic Shop

15 | CONVENIENCE STORE AT 1 AM

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Staying at the house of his friends, with personal maids and even butlers, Dawn felt like he had become a royalty. He was seriously happy. He was even humming to himself as he eat. But who wouldn't be happy when people are serving you and giving you such foods, right?

 From time to time someone would serve them different dishes that taste delicious. The meat was even melting on his tongue. He can’t barely hide his reactions every time he was trying the dish. Dawn’s eyes were even sparkling he felt like he could burst into tears any moment.

It’s a good thing that I’m still alive to experience such luxurious foods. Please bless my friends more so I can leech on them like a parasite. Hehehe. Dawn jokingly said in his mind.

Sejin and Roen observed their friend reaction thinking it was amusing. The dishes that were served were quite a little bit extravagant comparing to the meals they usually have since this was the first time Dawn had a sleep over with them.  However, since they’re born with a golden spoon in their mouths, they were never deprived with such experience.

 Roen and Sejin often accompany their parents to some hotels to celebrate and meet people. Their parents said that they need to socialize for the sake of their business and wealth. But every time Roen and Sejin participate on such gatherings, they often felt like they were suffocating. Like someone was slowly chocking them to death.

As Dawn took a big bite enjoying his food without minding any etiquette at all, he sensed someone was looking at him. He was not wrong as a pair of two eyes were looking at him with amusement. He scoffed and rolled his eyes not minding the mocking eyes both Roen and Sejin was giving him.

“What?” He question their eyes. Sejin chuckled slicing the piece of meat on his plate and elegantly putting the piece of meat inside his mouth before speaking.

This guy looked like a prince for the first time. Dawn can’t believe what he was seeing.

“Do you want to go out later?”

Upon Sejin’s question, Dawn’s eyes traveled to the windows. He confirmed that there was no sun and it was clearly evening, he looked at Sejin with a confused expression. “Later? It’s evening?”

“I know that it is evening. What I’m asking you was if you want to go out.”

“Where are we going then?”

Sejin gulped his drink so Roen was the one who answered Dawn’s question. “He want to visit River’s working place.” Roen cast his gaze to his brother before slicing his meat. “He usually go there when it’s weekend or when he had nothing to do.”

“River’s working?” Dawn asked in surprise.

“Yes, everyday. From seven pm to three in the morning.”

“What!?”

Dawn was not surprise that River was working. What had surprised him was River was working on such hours and he went to school every seven in the morning. In Dawn’s mind he used a simple math to calculate the sleep his friend, River was getting.

If he was getting of work every three am and assuming the travel he always take home, he barely had time for sleeping. He only sleep for three hours? How did he managed to get high grades every time.

Dawn was at awe at his friends determination. If Sejin and Roen did not mention it, he wouldn't find out since River always appeared like he had tons of energy in stored. How was even able to finish the homework our teachers asked?

Once again, Dawn felt regretful as the information sink in his mind. This clearly reflected he was not as a tentative and observing enough in the past. He bitterly scoffed inwardly at himself. He was even mocking himself even more.

Suddenly, the food did not taste good anymore. Dawn poured water to his glass and drank the water he poured.

“When will we visit him? How did you find out?” Sejin put his utensils down it was also the same for Roen as they both finished their dinner.

“When I went out to buy some foods and he was the working at the cashier of a convenience store.” Roen sensed something on Dawn’s voice but he wasn’t able to determine what is it so he let it go.

“what time will we visit him?”

Sejin glanced at the big clocked that was placed on the living room as a decoration before saying, “Let’s go at eleven since that’s the time he usually take his breaks.”

Dawn nodded as finished his dinner. His mind was suddenly occupied by different scenarios he once watched and read on the novels. Dawn was over thinking and thinking of the worst possible scenario. He even thought that the owner was abusing his friend so he was restless and wanted to go there in a hurry to ask if River was alright or not.

Roen was quietly observing his friend’s reaction.

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It was eleven pm in the evening.

Roen, Sejin, and Dawn was walking side by side in a narrow road leading to the convenience store where River was working. The three of them were quiet but the silence was not awkward. The three of them were just mesmerized by the dark sky with glitter stars shining above them.

This scene made Dawn thanked Lau and Christine who gave him a chance of coming back to the past to correct his mistakes. He was not trying to be emotional nor dramatic but the beautiful dark sky above them felt like a gem that was gifted by the gods to bestowed him the chance to encounter something magical as this.

When he was stuck inside his room, Dawn watched many movies. Some were romance, fantasy, action, and science fiction. On those movies, there will sometimes be a scene where the female lead and the male lead would walk with the dark sky and glittering stars watching over them.

In those movies, the protagonists would always contemplate about their lives and their mistakes or what they are always thankful for however, for Dawn there was nothing in his mind right now but just the thought of of how nice it was to be alive at the moment.

In his life after his friends had died because of suicide, Dawn blamed himself for not being there with his friends. He blamed how carefree and oblivious he was and every day he would blame himself thinking why did the gods not chose him? Dawn also walked every evening. Dawn witness the same night with dark sky and glimmering stars that looked like precious gems, but he never found the evening serene and beautiful instead, whenever he walked at night, he prayed that a car with no light would pass by and just kill him right there on the spot.

However, now, with his friends by his side, walking together to visit River, Dawn observed himself. His heart  was beating calmly and his mind was weirdly quiet. Dawn then closed his eyes as the cold summer wind brushed past through him.

Inside him, something warm was spreading. Something Dawn was not able to control as he tried his hardest not to cry again.

The night was so serene and beautiful. It was calm and it was magical. Dawn finally understood how those characters in movie and in novels felt. It was really indeed magical. For the first time after how many years, he sincerely thank God from the bottom of his heart.

Thank you for not taking my life away and giving me this chance.

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After walking for thirty minutes, Dawn, Sejin and Roen arrived at convenience store with a blue and white walls and paint. On the top of the convenience store, there was a big name logo that said, Seven at night convenience store. There was a wide parking lot but there were no cars so Dawn felt free at the moment.

There were also no people inside the convenience store expect for their friend, River. Dawn looked at his friend who was dressed on his convenience store uniform. It also had white and blue colors and he was wearing a cap with a number seven on the front.

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Inside the convenience store, River opened his lunch box where he packed his dinner. There were no costumers at the moment so he was savoring his time alone and eating his lunch at the table that was placed outside for costumers.

He was eating his dinner peacefully when he caught a shadow on his peripheral vision. His heart beat wildly. He indistinctly jumped, grabbed his fork and ready to stab the shadow who appeared on his left however he was stopped by Roen immediately saying, “Ops, that’s dangerous!”

Sejin was stunned for a moment as he just realized that he could have lost his right eye if his brother Roen was not fast.

“That’s why I told you not to sneak on people behind their backs. Hopefully this might served as a lesson for you.”

Dawn chuckled and casually took the seat in front of River’s lunch book. He glanced at his friend’s dinner and frowned when he noticed how little River’s dinner was. If he was his younger self, he would have made a comment regarding about River’s dinner however, he was not the same young boy who act as an i***t. So, he ignored the lunch box and calmly tapped River’s shoulders.

“Calm down. Sit down and finish your dinner.”

River seemed to have found his soul and shook his head withdrawing his fork that were inches away from Sejin’s right eye. “Don’t do that again.” He warned his friend. Sejin then put his right hand on the top of his chest where his heart was. His knees were even shaking. Dawn laughed out loud again.

“I thought I was about to die.” He said as he collapsed beside Dawn. Roen then took a sit beside River.

“You three were together?” River asked as he eat his dinner.

“Yes,” Roen answered. “Dawn asked for a sleep over.”

“Right I forgot, so you all came to disturb me now?” River mockingly said to his friends. Sejin, Roen and Dawn just brushed it off and said,

“Of course, friends are people who ruin your peace.”

“Whatever,” River said and continue eating. After Sejin had caught his breathe he stood up and went inside the store.

“What is he doing?” Dawn asked as three pairs of eyes followed Sejin.

“He’s going to buy some snacks. He always do that when he comes.” River answered and Dawn nodded. After a while Sejin placed the packs of snacks on their table.

“I’ll pay them later.” River just nodded. He was used to this rich friend of theirs who spent money like a water. He then grabbed some potato chips and stuff it into his mouth. When Dawn saw this, he thanked the heavens for making Sejin and Roen rich.

“Why did you act like that, earlier?” Roen asked the question as he took the gelatin and opened it.

“What act?” River asked trying to play dumb but Sejin interjected before Dawn can open his mouth.

“You almost stab my eye!” He said with a hysterical expression. River chuckled and shook his head.

“There were some police investigating this area earlier.”

“Police?” Sejin, Roen, and Dawn blurted out in pure shock.

River nodded. “Remember the corpse we all saw last week?” three of them nodded. All their attention was in River’s next words.  

“They’re still finding the culprit and was interrogating me if I saw someone who was suspicious. They warn me to be careful. Besides, you’re appearing like a criminal behind my back who would not mistaken you from the murderer right!?” River said in his defense.

Sejin and River argued for a minute as Dawn was occupied by his thoughts. He knew who the killer was.

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