OSH

"He's back, huh?" Jongin said after he heard me sigh for the fourth time since I first sat down on the chair opposite from him; it had only been five minutes.

It was Thursday night which was also called Jongin Night. It was his idea to meet every week after he heard this pair of girls in the school hallway promising each other to see each other, once a week. He might be the football captain, a good one at that, but he had the softest heart. I didn't mind though because due to our different circles and majors in college, we didn't meet as much as we did before. I especially didn't mind it tonight because I needed familiarity. Jongin, being my old neighbours for ten years before his family moved out, was the perfect person that I needed right now. The surf-themed café helped to calm me as well. All the waves designs on the walls, the framed surfboard pictures that cover them and the wood tables with intentional fading paints. Jongin fell in love with the atmosphere the same way I did with the food hence why we chose it for Jongin Night.

I nodded and sighed again because that was all I could do when I think about my father, "yeah."

"What is he not satisfied with now?"

"Everything. Why didn't I just apply for dormitory, huh, Jongin? Why?"

He chuckled which was an indication that he was trying to lighten my mood. "Dude. I'm so sick of hearing that question every time your father comes home."

I am sick of hearing myself asking that question as well, so I just sighed. Again. Jongin rolled his eyes and then shook his head because we both know, when it came to the sore topic that was my overbearing father, none of us could do anything about it. The waiter finally came with our food and she placed my usual order of cheesy fries and Chai Latte. I expected Jongin's Ice Mocha to be put down next but the waiter gave him an upsized Iced Americano instead. He was the one to arrive at the café first so he ordered for both of us.

Due to my a little bit too long stare at his drink, he explained with a shrug, "Need to pull an all-nighter later, assignments piling up because of football practices. Extra shot, baby."

Aesul's face suddenly popped into my mind and a chuckle escaped my mouth before I could even stop it. I sipped my Chai and wondered why didn't I order Taro milk instead when they had that on the menu. I guess I preferred the ones they sell in mini marts more than what these cafés offer. It had been a while since the last time I drink those carton milk. I never really thought about it, because why would I, right? But if those drinks were really going to be discontinued, I probably would rather die just like Aesul said. I chuckled again. Aesul and her exaggerating expressions are really something. Last week, she asked if my childhood dream was to have a personal library at home and today, my "to-die-for" drink. Of course, she would think my favourite drink was black coffee. ! I snapped my head up to the guy whose order reminded me of Aesul and made me chuckle like a mad man. Twice. Sure enough, that very guy was staring at me like I am a mad man.

"Dude.." Jongin stretched the word out like he didn't even know how to start. "When you looked amused a