iv. the fourth step

“Kai, I can take over from here.”

Wiping his damp hands on the apron around his waist, Jongin turned to find his female co-worker tightening her own and pulling back stray strands from her face. Amber’s round eyes smiled up to him as she nudged him away from the sink.

“Is it time already?” he asked, watching her grab a random plate from the dirty pile he was assigned to.

“Yep, shift’s over. You can go.”

He let out a breath. “Thanks, Amber.”

After dealing with a long morning and a ridiculous lunch period, Amber’s entry was comforting. And he welcomed it, the muscles on his neck already easing. He was exhausted but the day was yet to be over. Once he bid his friend goodbye along with the rest of the crew, he swiftly changed out of his uniform and dashed out into the cold afternoon.

Working at a café that situated in one of the busiest streets in the city definitely had its cons. With each hour almost being as busy as the next, it barely left time for Jongin to breathe. However, this meant that the pay was definitely worth it.

Plus, he owed a lot of people that got him where he was now. One of them being his first friend here in Seoul, Lee Taemin.

Jongin then remembered the invitation he got from the guy, wanting to meet up with him. He was unable to come to an immediate response, knowing that he had to go to the studio today. He already missed practice once and left way earlier than he was meant to before. All because of her. He resorted to practicing in his tiny apartment, pushing his furniture around just to make some room.

He supposed he could that again, couldn't he? It seemed a lot less troublesome than dealing with Gong Minji again. 

With that, a fleeting urge geared his fingers to fly across his keyboard as he replied to Taemin. Screw it. Judging from last time, having that studio all to herself was what Gong Minji wanted anyway. 

Deep within the bustling Seoul, Jongin could hear hollers accompanied by what sounded like heavy bass vibrating the very ground he walked on. As he neared the address Taemin sent him, he recognised the scene laid out before him in an instant. It was a street dance match.

Shoving his way through the crowd, a fascinated grin stretched across Jongin’s face once spotting the silver hue of his friend's head glinting under the light.

If there was anyone Jongin looked up to in life, it was probably this guy, this man captivating the crowd with his breath-taking grace and sharp movements. Teeming with confidence, he commanded everyone’s eyes, including Jongin's to absorb his fluidity and poise.

Pride swelled inside Jongin’s chest. It was almost a sin to think that this talent only thrived within the walls of these streets. It almost made Jongin feel guilty that he was in a prestige academy and not this friend.

Once it ended with Taemin's victory, everyone cheered as his opponent shook his friend's hand. The guy just looked grateful to have even been granted the opportunity. Unsurprising as Taemin was one of the best. 

As the mass begun to disperse, Jongin began to jog to towards the male when he fell into a halt.

Taemin was quickly swallowed by the crowd with many slaps on his back, but that was not what annihilated the grin on Jongin’s face clean. It was the pair of arms that wound itself around his friend’s neck.

Jongin could hear the coos from where he stood as everyone teased them and their public display of affection. He felt a kick in his chest. Unconsciously, he took a step back but it was already too late.

“Kai!”

He barely heard Taemin calling out to him when he saw Krystal’s eyes flickering towards him in surprise.

The urge to bolt burned but Jongin couldn’t. Not anymore when Taemin looked at him expectantly. He could only force a smile and walk towards them, each step tightening his throat.

“You’re finally here! Why didn’t you find me sooner?”

Taemin gripped his shoulder in his usual brotherly manner but Jongin couldn’t even look at him right now. He was afraid his friend would see through him and recognise the emotions stirring inside him. Emotions he shouldn’t be feeling. Not anymore at least.

“Sorry, I almost got lost in the crowd.”

“Yeah," his friend said sheepishly. "A lot of people came today.”

He nodded in agreement before looking up and accidentally meeting her gaze.

His chest seemed to shrivel, catching something familiar fly across her eyes. Was it guilt or pity? Guilt because he witnessed her showering his friend with affection or pity because she knew somewhere deep down, he still yearned for her? Regardless, it sparked enough anger inside him to look away.

“You alright, man?”

Taemin tried to pull him closer for inspection but Jongin fended him off with shrug. 

“Yeah. Just came from my shift, so you know.”

“Right. Did Amber take over for you again? Man, you owe her big time. I heard from Krystal that Amber is supposed to be focusing on her upcoming exams.”

Krystal gave a small laugh. “It’s okay, I’ve been dragging her to the library to study whenever I can. Amber will be fine. We’d all do the same for Kai, right?”