Warnings for this part: none 

Miraculously, you survived the walk to the convenience store. There you greeted your co-workers and started working normally.

Maybe I’ll survive…

Even though you felt hopeful, you also felt anxious. Where was he? What had happened to him?

Someone tugged your sleeve and you turned around. It was a small girl who had tears in her eyes.

“Mommy,” she sobbed. “Where is mommy?”

You crouched down and gently wiped her wet cheeks. “Did you get separated from your mom?”

She nodded while sobbing.

“Did you come here by yourself?” you asked.

She nodded again. “Where is mommy?” she cried and clung onto you as if her life depended on it.

“There, there,” you hugged the girl gently and looked around. There were no customers in the store.

“What’s going on?” one of your co-workers came over. 

You stood up, still holding the young girl. “She got lost.”

“Poor girl,” he said, looking worried. 

The girl cried while you tried to figure out how to find her mother. 

“I’ll go stand in front of the store with her for a while. Maybe the mother will pass by. She shouldn’t be too far away considering that this girl came here on her own. I doubt she would have walked far.”
Your co-worker nodded in response and left. 

“Would you like some ice cream?” you asked the girl who had calmed down a little.

She nodded, her head against your left shoulder. You smiled a little and walked to the ice cream isle while carrying the child. She chose one ice cream and you bought it for her before going outside. 

It’s going to get busy soon, you thought about the store. There were only three people working during one shift so you were worried about how the two others would manage the busiest time of the day alone.

You made the girl sit down on the bench in front of the store and sat down next to her. She ate the ice cream with a smile and it almost seemed like she had already forgotten about what had happened.

If only I could be that carefree too…

You sat there for a while, looking at the people who passed by the store. No one looked panicked or worried. A sigh escaped your lips after a bit and you let your head fall.

How is this ever going to work out?

You lifted your head again and your eyes widened. 

“What are you doing here?” you asked Jooheon who stopped in front of you.

You stood up and he looked at you coldly. “Nothing. Just passing by.”

“Are you in a hurry?” you asked.

“No,” he answered and you couldn’t help but smile. “What’s up with that creepy smile?” he asked.

“Do you like each other?” the young girl asked innocently.

“Hell no,” Jooheon said, almost disgusted.

“I need your help,” you told him, earning a frown in return.

“What makes you think I’d even consider helping you?”

“I actually highly doubt you’ll help me but I’m begging you, please,” you stared into his icy eyes. “Can’t you stay with her for a bit?”

“Excuse me?” Jooheon asked in disbelief. 

“Please Jooheon.”

He just stared at the girl coldly.

“At least stay here for a few seconds. I’ll go get my phone.”

Before he could refuse, you ran inside. Instead of going to get your phone, you hid behind a corner and looked at how Jooheon stared a