I fell back an inch and almost slipped from my seat as I stared up at the waiter for the day.

“Henry!” I heard Donghae gasp.

Yesung and I exchanged glances. We both knew I was about to be sent back to Cali once I put on that apron, which Henry was apparently wearing.

There was a burst of commotion at the table as the guys poured out questions at Henry which Henry just rubbed the back of his neck, mumbling a few things. The guys didn’t give much thought and just listed their orders. I tried my best to look down at the table. But the look of shock on my face was too obvious. I didn’t dare to look up for the past five minutes, but then I bravely lifted my gaze and I caught Henry giving me a little wink before disappearing behind the counter. I was left at the table with my mouth hanging.

“Rika,” Jessica said, “close your mouth. You look like a desperate whale.”

I instantly clasped my mouth with an annoyed pout. I narrowed my eyes, then stood from my seat.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” I mumbled incoherently, and nobody at the table even paid much attention so I dashed away.

When I reached the entrance to the girls’ room, I was surprised to see that Henry was there, coming right out from the boys’ on the opposite side. I flinched at the sight of him and clenched my teeth.

“Oh, hey,” he said, smiling brightly at me.

He’s acting like he doesn’t know a thing, I thought.

I wanted to open my mouth, ask him how it happened, but I couldn’t, and I just stood in front of the girls’ room with a frozen look on my face, like I was a statue.

“What’re you doing here?” I managed to say at last, and without even a stutter.

“I knew you’d ask that,” he said, still smiling that childish grin. He was wiping his hands together on a piece of tissue paper, and then he tossed it effortlessly into the bin beside him. “Kyuhyun,” he said, loud and clear. “He told me that you’re working here. And also he told me about your problem with Jessica.”

My jaw fell.

“That leaky Kyu told you what?!” I exclaimed.

He held his hands in front of him, as if to calm me down. “N-Now, now, there’s no harm.”

I realized that I just shouted out my sentences and I quickly closed my mouth and inhaled.

“So I was just…” He trailed off, a look of pity on his face. “I-I just… thought I could help.”

I had my gaze on the floor, not being able to meet his eyes. But then my head shot up, and I saw him grinning childishly at me again, as if he was scared that I’d get mad.

I would have. But I couldn’t.

“Oh,” was the only thing that came out.

“I-I know I shouldn’t get involved,” he stuttered, “b-but when Kyuhyun told me that, and I-I… I didn’t want things to go bad or anything.” He paused and bit his lower lip, then continued. “It was your personal family problem. I shouldn’t have gotten myself involved in this.” He looked down and his head over. “Go on.”

“Uh, what…”

“Hit me,” he said.

My eyes widened at his order.

A male customer walked by and was heading for the boys’ room when he stopped to stare. The next was a woman, and she, too, had her eyes on Henry, then she looked over to me with a nosy look.

I held up my quavering hands and patted Henry’s shoulder. “H-Henry, p-please—”