Standing by the mirror and fixing his hair side to side for the last time, Jungkook heaved a short sigh as he pictured in mind what he’ll be going through within the long day. He pursed his lips a little as he intently stared at his face: one can clearly see how his tired eyes embellish his once ‘fresh’ visage, how he lost some fats on his cheeks, and how wrinkles started to draw themselves on his forehead. Whispering his daily motivations, he hanged his backpack on his broad shoulder, grabbed the cup of coffee which is already getting a bit colder, and yelled a faint goodbye as he made his way outside his small apartment.

It was ten minutes before 7 in the morning. The spring breeze hitting his face as if it was a daily reminder of how long he had been using up his body was more evident than it was. He walked along a path of the growing flowers which was once absent, a nice hue greeting his eyes even as he roamed them around the whole city. The white streets had turned into its original state, his shoes are not burying themselves on the pathways that was once covered with thick layers of what seemed like shaved ice from the heavens, and he can now comfortably sway his arm and hand as he walks, opposite to the times when he had to keep them under his sleeves and on his warm pocket. A background music was playing on his head, and it gradually became a little more inaudible, softening as he got himself exposed to the bright sunlight when he got out of the protective shade of the once barren trees. 

Jungkook gladly took a sip of his coffee as he made his way to a small café that served as an entrance to the busy streets of Ilsan. The coffee’s strong taste has not faded a bit though he got it sitting by his coffee table for a moment while preparing for his shift. The chimes sounded like music as he entered the establishment, hitting each other as they acknowledged his presence while being greeted with a warm good morning from his coworker, Daewhi, who is a working student without classes during Tuesdays.

Jungkook returned the nice greeting before putting his bag by the room for the café’s personnel and hurriedly finished the coffee he was drinking. He wore his apron with the café’s logo, tying it tightly on his back for it to be less of a hindrance while he’s working, one thing he religiously reminds himself to avoid the same incident that happened one September morning. It was quarter to 8 when he turned the sign from ‘Close’ to ‘Open’ hanging by the café’s glass door, and it was a fourth until nine when the chimes clanked, indicating that he’ll start with what he had been doing for years again. He stated his lines with clear excitement, like he was some kind of a salesclerk who welcomes the shoppers dearly.

Jungkook started off with a single order, increasing in number gradually as seconds and minutes passed by. The chimes were as busy as he was with acknowledging a customer’s presence and informing them that they’ll have another order to take note of. He had his feet and hands working along with his mouth but he managed to greet everyone with the same energy he had when he greeted the first customer, and sounds of glasses and cups together with the sounds of endless interactions and chattering lingered within the small café.

The morning was not quiet like what he had expected, and it was more than fine for him than an hour of silence. The noise means that he’s doing his job well and that they’ll get praises from the café’s owner once he sees the money by the counter. 

Hours grazed moistly by his fingertips as fast as a blink of an eye. He washed almost three-fourth of all their cups, plates, and utensils, smiled for a thousand times with every customer coming and leaving the café, and wiped the tables approximately three times each. Daehwi, on the other hand, has done the same thing as what Jungkook had gone through within a span of three hours. It was undeniable that the café, though a little isolated, is still an attraction to everyone who wants a treat for themselves and still doing well like the past years. 

...

It was 11 when Jungkook packed his bags and got himself ready to go to his next stop: the pizza parlor. He stopped by a small convenience store by the school to grab himself a pack of biscuits, munching on them quickly as he walked to his destination. Unlike Daehwi who’ll stay until noon and eat his lunch at the steakhouse in front of the café, he ought to buy something worth cheaper than a thousand won to minimize spending too much. He had been doing it for quite a while now: eating a pack of biscuits as his lunch.

In lieu of walking freely with the same slow speed as what he did early that morning, he took hurried steps along the sidewalks for the distance between his first workplace to the second is a bit far, whereas walking is really not that convenient if one has a limited time to follow.

For the second time, his presence was recognized but with the creaking sound of the door this time and with a smile from the waiters, their faces adorned with gratefulness that he arrived a little earlier than expected. He managed to get his long legs into good use, taking longer strides than usual. After returning the greetings and reciprocating the same smiles, he went to the room for the pizza parlor’s personnel and hanged his bag by the door to wear his working attire. Before he could proceed to his business, he gently pulled all the packs of pastries out of his bag and distributed them to his coworkers who placed their orders, then collecting their payments accompanied by series of bows to show gratitude. 

He had been baking some goods at midnight before snuggling himself on the bed for two hours of sleep. Then, he’ll carefully put them to rest before packing them up an hour earlier than the time he prepares for his work.

Putting his cap on and sliding the keys into the motorcycle, he made sure that the boxes of pizza he’s about to deliver are in a good shape before making his way out of the store’s parking. It was almost 12 when he arrived at the doorstep of a customer’s house and yelled his famous line as a sign that their order has arrived, then was greeted with a warm smile and the payment with a small tip which he gladly kept on the vehicle’s small compartment. He had his smile plastered on his face within the next customers like it was something natural to him, as if he hasn’t feel the tiredness slowly taking over his body yet and his head isn’t aching from hours of driving.

The pizza parlor’s motorcycle’s wheels were not even close to giving up, but Jungkook already had his feet a little numb with all the houses he had delivered to and that one request from a customer to deliver the boxes at a building’s rooftop. He had to use the emergency stairs for the elevators are all full and he has time running on his hands, running from the ground floor to the 23rd level and vice versa. 

If it wasn’t for his goal and his fear of losing a single job, he wouldn’t have delivered the order even if he’ll receive something more than what he expected.

It was almost 2 in the afternoon when Jungkook got back to the pizza parlor, his shift finished and his work all done: all orders and tasks attended, and all boxes delivered. He had his shirt wet with his sweat, and the cap he wore already absorbed the drops from his forehead. He hurriedly changed his clothes, grabbed his backpack, and stormed out of the pizza parlor while mouthing goodbyes to the waiters, making sure that they’ll feel how grateful he is amidst being in a hurry as he was already late for his next job. He was lucky enough to be blessed with those kind of coworkers for he got something from them to eat while on his way to the amusement park, the place for his third shift for this day. But though he had his muscles all worked up, he had his smile still etched along his warm aura, and if people would be informed that he has worked two shifts already, no one would surely believe. 

...

Shoving all the bread left inside his mouth, Jungkook showed his entrance I.D. to the security guard and made his way to the stock room only for authorized people. There, his enormous bear costume was waiting to be worn, and Jungkook chucked his bag off somewhere as he fanned himself to be prepared for the heat he has to endure. It was not only the burning feeling, but also the five-hour long torture of enduring stubborn kids and the camera flashes with everyone who likes to take pictures. He also has to stand under the heat of the sun but he has to keep himself all giddy and excited to match the place’s mood, and he has to sell the balloons and offer some cotton candy for extra income. He was hesitant at first when he was applying for the job, but he had his head nodding when informed about the pay he’ll get. 

Jungkook groaned a bit when he felt the weight of the bear’s head upon his own, and he almost lost his balance when he stood up. He was escorted by a staff outside, and it wasn’t long until he felt the number of kids surrounding him. The amusement park was filled wih people of all ages even before night comes, and it is inevitable for him not to go through the laughs and pranks of some groups of teenagers. 

The worst thing he ever experienced for being the attraction’s mascot was when he was dragged all the way from the center part of the place to the roller coaster that involves splashing of waters. He was unaware that the