It was a quiet night in the local shop. Kevin, who worked there on night shifts, sighed as he scanned the shelf and jotted down a list of the items needed for tomorrow. He hated doing this part of his job. There was too much choice. 'Why is there so much types of water?! If you are thirsty you don't care!'

He heard a scuffling on the opposite side of the shelving unit in the juice section. It sounded like the person was in a bit of a panic. He listened and tittered as the person cursed under their breath, telling the juice boxes to “stay”.

Then he heard a smash.

He dashed around to the other side and found a man on his hunkers, picking up burst juice cartons and looking very panicked and afraid. Kevin slowly walked over to the man “Are you alright?”

The man looked up at him, startled.

“I'm so sorry! Oh my god I'm so sorry but they just kept coming!”

“It's okay! I'll clean this up, just go ahead and get what you need.”

“Um...this was the last thing I needed...”

“I see. Well, we'll just pay for your things and we're good” Kevin politely grinned.

They made their way to the counter and the man put his basket on the counter. Kevin couldn't help but watch this man fumble around in his jacket pockets, searching for any spare change. “Oh god I'm so sorry!”

“It's okay” Kevin waved his hand to dismiss the apology. And trying not to laugh.

The man pulled out some coins and placed them on the counter. Kevin swiped them into his palm and counted.

“Eh...you're down a cent...”

The man went even paler then he was.

“Um...uh...what should I put back?!”

Kevin quietly sighed. This guy was so awkward. This did happen to him occasionally but he would quickly put something back. This guy was just...

Suddenly the man's face lit up. He proudly placed the last coin onto the counter. Kevin couldn't help but smile at this small achievement.

Kevin packed up the items and slid them to him.

“Thank you...um...”

“Kevin”

“Kevin.” He grinned “Thank you so much”

Kevin watched the man quickly walk out of the store as if he knew he was being watched.

Kevin went back to the mess. He got out a mop, put the 'caution wet floor' sign on the floor and started to clean. His mind wandered as he mopped.

'That guy was so awkward! Like I wasn't going to hit him. Ugh...why did he have to spill everything! Stupid- no that's unfair. Could happen to anyone. Still, he needed to get a grip.'

Kevin put the mop into its bucket. 'He was actually kind of cute. Made me smile.'

Then Kevin looked behind him. It was that guy.

“I'm sorry again for this but I feel so guilty and I should help you clean up.”

Kevin turned around and sighed. 'Stop saying sorry!' “Fine. Just try and not spill anything else”

The man nodded eagerly

“What's your name anyway?”

“Kiseop”

“Okay Kiseop, sort out the 'okay' cartons”

Kevin was slightly amused as this man quickly gathered up the cartons and carefully put them back on the shelf. Kevin began to mop up the last of the juice.

“Why'd you come back Kiseop?”

“Guilt.”

Kevin smiled. He was beginning to like this guy. Even though he was so awkward, he was harmless.

“Guilt? But Kiseop this is my job!”

“I know, but...” Kiseop put the last carton back.

Kevin put the mop back into the bucket again. “What do you do Kiseop?”

“Huh?”

“Y'know, job and so on”

“Oh. I'm still in collage. Well, final year.”

“I just finished last year.” They looked at each other in silence.

Kiseop spoke up first.

“Oh yeah, I actually need to buy one more thing”

Kevin left the mop and bucket and followed Kiseop to the till. Kiseop picked a chocolate bar from the shelf beside the till. He handed it to Kevin and Kevin scanned it. Kiseop gave him the money, but then when Kevin took the money, he held out the bar to Kevin.

“Take it.”

Kevin stared at the bar then at him.

“Why?”

“A small gift” Kiseop grinned “For the accident and for letting me clean up with you.

Kevin took the bar from Kiseop. “Um...Thank you” Kevin looked up at the clock. “Don't take this as being rude but the shop closes in half an hour.”

Kiseop looked down at his shoes “Yeah...”

Kevin tried so hard not to say it but it was too late.

“You alright?”

Kiseop looked at him. He looked like he was going to say something. Kevin waited patiently. But like everyone else, chose to keep it closed.

“Ah. It's nothing. I better go.”

Kevin watched again as Kiseop left the shop. This time he walked out slowly.

'Why did I ask him that?!' Kevin felt angry with himself. He looked down at his bar. 'Still...Why did I want him to tell me?...' He held the bar tight. 'I hope he's okay'

♥

Kiseop unlocked the door and stumbled into his apartment. He dropped the bags on the kitchen table and began to put the items away 'Arg! I feel so pathetic! He must think I'm a freak!'

Kiseop looked at the apple juice carton in his hand. He gave out to it “This is all your fault!” He chucked it into the fridge and slammed the door closed. He threw the paper bags into the bin, slouched into his couch and the t.v, flicking through the channels searching, really, for nothing. He settled on a channel and dropped the remote beside him.

'That guy though...what was it?...Kevin' Kiseop muted the sound 'Holy was he y.' He looked around at his empty apartment. 'I wonder if I should've told him. I feel I should and I need to. If he asks again...maybe. Ah! Sure what the hell am I thinking? I haven't even been with him for an hour! He laughed at himself 'I've probably fallen in love with him, that's why I feel I can tell him' He put his head back and watched the blades of the fan spin slowly. 'Some life I have. Suppose I can't really complain. My venture out of the house in five days got me a real life guy to dream about.'

Kiseop stood up, switched off the t.v and went to get ready for bed. Once finished, he slipped into his bed, and looked out the window through the little crack in the curtains.

He turned over, shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep. He did not dream of Kevin that night.