Internet Cafe

Incredible Things
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ISEUL’S POV

I.

Am.

Going.

To.

Cry.

No, seriously.  I am.  I’m about to cry and resort to Plan F here.  Plan Flip Patties at McDonald’s.

AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!  Why am I not hearing anything back??  Why are none of them calling me?!  Why?!  WHY?!  Is my resume really that bad?!  Do I—geez, do I need to go to those expensive writing centers in Gangnam that loaded kids go to when writing their university application essays?  I’m pretty sure they do resumes too!

With a groan and another sip of my morning hot chocolate that has gone cold already, I scroll through my emails once more.  Out of desperation, I actually applied to the job that Mark told me about.  Just last night.  At first I was all headass and tough and going like eeeh who’s going to need that but now!  NOW!  Oh how things have changed.  I’m literally about to apply to McDonald’s.

Actually, I find it unfair how McDonald’s is always used as the negative example here.  Why McDonald’s?  What did McDonald’s ever do to the world other than producing Happy Meals?  Anyway.

It’s been 11 days.  11 days since I’ve applied to everything.  They said they’d contact me soon if I qualified for an interview, but how soon would soon be?  Is 10 days to soon?  Should I wait till 14? 

Urgh.  I can’t.  I can’t stand being so jobless.  It was fun the first five days but now it’s making me want to go back to high school and study calculus all over again.  Just cause, you know.  University level pure mathematics is a little hard.

I’m kidding, no.  It’s numerical suicide.  Oh God.  I’m at the end of another thought already.  What should I do?  Should I start blogging?  I feel like this is the point in life where Korean stars begin to open cafes.  When they’re like… um… café!!  I should go to a café and you know, collect my thoughts.  Gain a new perspective.

Abruptly, I get up and reach for my sling bag.  But then another thought occurs to me and I sit my back down.

My total income is precisely 0,000 won at the moment.  I should not be spending coins on overpriced matcha lattes just because While You Were Sleeping was shot there—k!!  Speaking of which, the drama ended!!!  !!  You see?  You see?!!  I really don’t have anything to do in life!

I drum my fingers on the tabletop slowly, methodically, one at a time.  Is this supposed to be the waiting period?  Is it supposed to last this long?  Whatever.  A sudden burst of inspiration has me reaching for my phone.  I’m gonna call one of the few people I can call right now.  Mark.

I wait for him to pick up, impatiently tapping my foot.  Aish, hurry up already—

Rowdy background music greets me first.  Then I get a, “Hello?”

“Yah!”

“Yah?  What’s up?”  Mark sounds confused, and I don’t actually blame him.

“I’m about to die of boredom here.”  I announce, emphasizing my words.  “Do you know anyone who has like a café or hairdresser or flower shop that I can help out in or something?  I’ll take payment in the form of lunch and being given responsibilities, I swear.  I’m that bored right now.”

“Um, are you dumb?” 

“No, are you?”

“Clearly you are.”  Mark persists instead, ignoring me.  “What makes you think hiring works like that?”

“It’s not hiring if you don’t get paid!”  Right about now, you can insert that meme of the guy pointing to his temple—

“It’s still called hiring a volunteer!” Mark fires back.  “Instead of offering yourself as a volunteer like that, why don’t you apply to a coffee shop or a restaurant for real?  Wait, didn’t you already apply to other jobs?  Are you dropping those?”

“CAN’T DROP THINGS THAT HAVEN’T EVEN TAKEN ME IN!!”  I scream in frustration, kicking my legs.  Mark howls in laughter.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

“You’re so not!”

“I am!  So you want me to get you a gig?”

“Yes!  Because what if I suddenly get accepted at one of jobs I applied to?  I can’t be bound by a contract!”

“Why don’t you come over and just hang out with us at the internet café we usually go to?” Mark chirps brightly.  “We could use some extra help.”

“Extra help for what?”  I ask, perking up.

“Paying our booth.  We also might have to pay rent here soon.” 

“YAH!” 

Mark’s boisterous laughter ruptures my eardrum again.  “Kidding!  But seriously though, come over!  I know the dude who owns this place.  You can talk to him if you like.  Or I can tell him how you want to help out or something.” 

“Where is it?”  I ask, immediately taking my bag.  “And who did you mean by we?”

“Jackson.”  He answers, before giving me the address.  “Hurry up and come here!  We just ordered wings!”

“Okay okay I’ll be there soon!”  I yell back before hanging up.  It was a good thing I decided to shower early today.  All ready to go, I slip into some comfortable walking shoes before rushing out of my apartment, nearly forgetting to lock the door behind me.

The elevator arrives shortly and I descend to the first floor, cross the lobby, before finally emerging in the outside world.  I check my phone for the bus schedule and, seeing how I only have 7 minutes until the next bus comes, I immediately start heading to the stop.  It’s convenient, actually.  This neighborhood.  We have a subway station nearby and the bus stop is also where many different buses from different routes stop at.  There’s a convenience store a 5-minute walk away, there’s a salon with 50% off for the blow bar on Tuesdays, there’s lots of small, affordable restaurants littered all over the complex.  Honestly, it’s not bad at all. 

I get on the bus and get off two stops later, nearly missing the stop after doing some last-minute estimation of would it be closer if I got down at this stop or at the next one.  Anyway, because I at all things mapped out, I’m pretty sure I should’ve gotten down at the next one. 

As cars pass me by while I walk down the sidewalk with Heart Shaker streaming through my earphones, my thoughts drift back to when I first met Mark—that morning I had to catch a cab to go to… Kai’s place.  My chest constricts a little but I daydream on.  It’s okay.  I proceed to think about how shocked I was when I first saw him in class beside me—Daehyun.

I stop walking.  What?

And of course, the car that was coming from the opposite direction passes me by.  Because I stopped.  But in that brief moment where we met—in that flash of a minute, that beat of a second, under the tinted windshield… I swear I saw Dae, Kai’s driver, in the driver’s seat.

He looked exactly like him.

Was that him?  Dae?

As if moving on their own, my feet turn me around.  And suddenly, they start walking, faster and faster, nearly running because if Dae is in the driver’s seat, then I need to see who’s in the backseat, I need to see who’s sitting in the backseat of the car—

“!”  I curse to myself as the car zooms down the road, right out of my view.  As I bend over to catch my breath, the grappling, humiliating sense of reality sneering at me trickles in and I immediately regret what I just did.  , I just ran back trying to see if you could catch a glimpse of Kai.  Right after I said it’s okay.  Dammit.  I guess this subconscious part of me just wanted to see if I could… if he would…

I mentally slap myself.  Oh God, I really have no self-respect. 

After all he did to you, really Iseul?!!  no.

Swallowing back all hopes and dreams that shouldn’t even have been there in the first place, I take a couple of deep breaths to calm myself down.  Okay.  I’m done being delusional.  I’m done being emotional.  Let’s continue with life!

I turn back around and start heading back to the direction I was originally heading too.  Honestly, I should start yoga or something.  Maybe pilates.  Something to help with the clearing of my mind.  Damn, I also need some food right now.

Before I even reach the internet café Mark has called me again. 

“What?!”

“Where are you?!”

“I’m on my way!”

“It’s not supposed to take that long!”

“Well it could when I’m walking at my pace!”

“Huh!”  Mark scoffs.  “Admit it, you got lost, didn’t you?!”

“Of course not!  Yah, I’ve passed the place you’re at a couple of times.  I know where it is!” 

“If you’ve passed it already then why aren’t you here yet?”

A part of my prefrontal cortex fizzes to near-death from the stupidity.  “Because I mean I passed it on another occasion you , not today!!  What the hell are you on?!” 

He snickers.  “I looove pissing you off.”

“YAH!”

“Just hurry up and come here!  I saved you some wings and this offer is going to expire in 2 minutes.”

“2 minutes?!  What kind of deal is that?!”

“A flash deal!  Flash sale!”

“Oh my gosh, just shut up already!”  I hiss.  “I’m right in front!”

“You are?”

I push the door open and let myself into the dimly light but well-equipped gaming lair.  Trying to peer around and over the large, cushiony, swivel chairs, I look around for Mark… but no need.  Because soon I see someone I certainly wish I wasn’t associated with.  Someone waving a ing chicken wing in the air trying to grab my attention.

“SEO ISEUL!  I’M HERE TO PICK UP SEO ISEUL!!”  He yells, thinking he’s at the airport of something.  It’s official.  He needs rehab.

“Am I supposed to eat that?”  I grimace as I walk over, twitching my nose at the sigh of the poor chicken piece.

“You don’t wanna?  Aaaah!”  Mark opens his mouth wide as he tries to shove it into my mouth.

“It’s contaminated!!” I protest, trying to avoid it.  “And stop force-feeding me!”

“Are they like, dating or something?”  A voice behind me with a strong valley girl accent says.

Jackson, who I’ve just noticed, grins and shakes his head.  “Nah.  They’re just mutually weird.  Yo Seul, meet your future boss.”

Oh crap.  Valley Girl is my boss?  I want out.  I want out… but I turn around.  “Uh… hi!”

Valley Girl crosses her arms.  “You’re Iseul?”

“And you’re the one who owns this place?”  I look doubtfully at Mark, not caring about how I sound.  Heck, a little sass won’t hurt this girl.  “I swear you said it was a guy—”

“Um, it turns out that—”

“Why, you only want to work with guys?”  Valley Girl interrupts with a smirk while chewing her gum. 

“No!” I deny vehemently.  “I was just confused!  And making sure!”

Valley Girl shrugs and blows a bubble that pops immediately.  “He probably told you it was a guy because he’s seen my boyfriend here a lot and thought it was him who owns it.  He takes care of this place more than I do because it’s literally heroin to him.  It makes him feel ing ecstatic and he can’t get himself out of it.” 

“Like these two?”  I gesture at Mark and Jackson, who yelps in protest.

Valley Girl nods.  “That’s why they’re friends.” 

“Okay, so— but you’re the true owner of this place.”

“Yup.  And my boyfriend’s officially back to work now, so you’re dealing with me.”  Valley Girl tosses her platinum blonde locks.  “He’s a ski instructor, before you start questioning.  Jisan Forest Ski Resort just opened for this winter so he’s back on grind.” 

I nod, shoving my hands into my pocket.  “It’s good that he’s back to being healthy and productive.”

“Yeah, he’s back to being alive.  Anyway.  So you want to work here?”

“Yeah.  Actually, I just want to—”

“Don’t worry, Mark told me about it already.  You just need something filler while you wait to get hired at the companies you applied for.”  Valley Girl raises an eyebrow and I nod.  “Not the most flattering application I’ve ever gotten, but let’s hear it.  Why do you think I should hire you?”

I blink speechlessly for a few seconds because never in my life have I been so unprepared for an interview.  Wow.  What the , Iseul.  Why didn’t you prepare for this on the bus?!  Did you think the job was just going to be handed to you on a silver platter without any obstacles?!

“Hey, newbie.  I asked you something.”  Valley Girl snaps her fingers.

I furrow my brows.  “Did you just call me newbie?”

“Like, what do you think?”

“I’m hired already?”  I look back and forth from Mark to her, confused at all the confusion.

“Yeah, but you still need to pass the interview.  Why do you think I should hire you?”

“Why are you still interviewing me if I’m hired already?”

“Because I can if I want it to.  Why should I hire you, newbie?”

I realize that this Valley Girl Boss —yes, her name has just expanded twice fold—is really not letting me get away with this.  “Because I have the skills you need and I’m willing to work cheap.”

“Elaborate ‘skills you need.’”

“I know computers, operating systems, and basic programming, also I’m quick at math so I know who’s going over their time limit and who’s trying to lie their way out of it saying they still got 15 minutes.”

“And define ‘willing to work cheap.’”

“I don’t really care if it’s minimum wage or being paid in the form of lunch.” I shrug. “You know this is only temporary.”

“What if it doesn’t work out?”  Valley Girl questions.  “Your legit job applications, I mean.”

“Then I… I’ll try again.”  I shrug, trying to show how scared I was over the prospect of it.  Oh well, worst comes worst I’ll apply with the letter from the HOC.  Wait, did I throw it away already?

“Hmm.”

“And I can continue helping you out here while I’m back at it for round 2.”

“Yah, she’ll get in for sure!”  Mark immediately defends.  “She’s awesome!”

“Hmm.”  Valley Girl folds her arms.  “Okay, follow me girl.”

I look at Mark in a moment of random panic and he gives me a thumbs-up.  “Go!”

“My wings!  Don’t eat them!” I yell as I follow my new boss to… wherever she’s leading me.

It turns out that we’re going behind the counter.  In her lazy yet minimalist, efficient manner, she breezes me through everything I’ll be dealing with, like the cash register, the little machine things for time slips, passwords general information about the place, and even the vending machine. 

“It’s literally the worst thing ever.”  She groans.  “ keeps getting stuck inside so people start kicking it aggressively, which I think only made it worse!  It’s a never-ending cycle!”

“Did you try getting it fixed?”

“Literally.  Except that they didn’t really fix anything!  Maybe you can help me find… what’s it called, maintenance people to fix it during low hours.”

“For sure.”  I nod.  She guides me along the rows of computers as she lists out the rules of this place.  “…And other than that, it’s fine.  Got it?”

“Yes ma’am.”  I reply while looking around, not sure if I do.  I’m such a terrific employee.

“Any questions?”

“When do I start?”

“You wanna take the night shift today?”  Valley Girl asks, checking her nails. 

“Sure.  Am I gonna meet other workers?” 

“No,” she replies, and I raise my eyebrows.  “Because you’ve already met them all.  Like, it’s just me.”

“Oh… it’s usually just you?” I wrinkle my nose.  “Who cleans the restrooms?  Who disinfects the computers and everything?”

“Oh, those guys.  Well, I can arrange for you to meet them if you want to—the bathroom cleaners when you take the early shift and the disinfectors when you take the night one.” Valley Girl shrugs.  “As for other employees, the guy before used to sneak around using a PC without paying so that got him out, and the girl after that got way too touchy with my boyfriend so I cut her off too.  Do you want to hear older records of last year’s employees or are you okay just working with me?”

As SoCal as this person may be, for some reason I’m starting to like her.  She’s snappy, sassy, all around no bull, but it doesn’t come off as mean, if you get what I mean.  It’s just her no-nonsense attitude and it works fine with me. 

“What do I call you then?”  I grin.  “Boss?”

“Oh, please.  As long as you keep it mind then we’re good.”  She tosses me blue parka vest of some sort.  “Call me Lisa.”

 

KAI’S POV

Sehun throws his feet up on the table.  “You know I’ve been thinking—"

“Urgh, you?  Don’t.  Don’t.”  Baekhyun immediately interrupts, shushing him up with a wave of his hands.  Beside him, Chanyeol snickers.

“I’ve been thinking, Byunbaek,” Sehun continues more pointedly, “how it’s so weird that there’s just a bunch of random, separate attacks that might or might not be coming from the same perpetrator, but it’s never the ultimatum, you know?  It’s like they’re teasing us.  Taunting us, waiting for this moment they have in mind when they decide it’s right for the final blow, and it’s still not coming.  It’s getting annoying.” 

“You mean killing the Joker wasn’t their end plan?”  Suho looks up.

“If it was then why is nobody trying to take over the HOC?”  Sehun counters.  “You’d think that after they’ve gotten Sooman out of the picture, some mob boss of a hidden empire or something would try to take the whole place.  It’s just—it’s pissing me off, you know?  They’ve only just keep beating around the bush.  Even until now.”

“So what are you saying?” I ask, looking up.

“I’m saying that we should just go after Minhyuk ourselves and get straight to the point with these ers!  Why are we sitting around here doing nothing?!  This feels like some newbie’s crap day!”

D.O. sighs.  “Because Minhyuk is just a proxy—”

“No, Changmin was the proxy.  Then Minhyuk killed him, remember?  My gut tells me that Minhyuk is directly associated with their boss and whoever that is, that’s who we should be dealing with.  So why are we letting a team of incapable Diamonds or whatever do the job for us?!”

“Because remember what happened the last time all the Aces left at once?  The time we went to Hong Kong?”

“Yeah, but remember all the times before that?  All the countless times we went out on a mission?” Sehun spreads his hands.  “It’s not like we’re patrolling or anything either.  We’re literally just sitting here arguing over a topic I brought up.  How is that going to keep the HOC safe?  You’re not even with Suzy, Kai.  Why are you not with her?”

“Calm down man!” Baekhyun laughs, looking a little surprised. 

My eyebrows twitch in annoyance but I will myself to calm down, reminding myself that this is just Sehun.  He’s probably just frustrated and hell, we all are.  It’s not like what he’s saying is wrong anyway.  “She’s on her one-on-one with Dongwook.  Relax, I’m doing my job.  I’m keeping her alive.  I’m keeping myself alive.”

Sehun sighs.  “This is just messed up.  If we need to go infiltrate and take the boss down, does that mean Kai can’t come?  Or does that mean Suzy has to come along?”

I ruffle my hair aggressively.  “I don’t know man.  Suzy can’t come.  She’s most likely going to die.” 

“But then does that mean you—”

Suddenly, a double bleep-bleep coming from one of the computers interrupts Sehun midsentence.  Chanyeol jumps up. 

“What was that?”  Suho asks, looking alert.

Chanyeol stands hunched over one of the PCs on the workspace of our headquarters.  “Speaking of attacks…”

“Ha.”  Sehun scoffs.  “Let me guess.  It’s another one of those mini, half-hearted attacks.” 

“It’s a hack.”  Chanyeol replies, pulling out the chair and sitting himself down.  “Someone hacked the security camera on the… um…”

“Where?”  I ask, sitting up quickly.  I knew it.  If it turns out to be—

“Uh, t

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neonflowers
[Incredible Things] Finally complete! Thank you so much for joining me on this looong whirlwind journey 🥰 hope you join me on my other stories!

Comments

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leechoding #1
Chapter 57: Rereading this for 120th time. I'll never get tired of this story. It's like one of the best fics ever written on this app.
samara12 #2
This is the best fic on AFF. I cried when it ended. It felt something was missing from my life after finishing this. You are best writer ever. Some published books are not even this good. Please don’t ever delete this story. Best of best. My favorite fic of alllllll time… I honestly don’t think I will ever find anything better than this. I promise this is not fake flattery. This really is the best!!❤️
xiuminbaek
#3
Chapter 66: Oh my god. It's take me about a week to finish this. I really love this fic so much 😭😭. The roller coaster emotion i am having for this one is so real. The fact that i kinda hate mark so much for leading iseul to think he likes her. And to hate suzy for treating iseul like . I kinda mad at iseul for being kind to much. She's really a forgiving person. She's really quick to forgive mark for everything he did to her. And have him back as her friend. Also she's quick to forgive Suzy for breaking her relationship with jongin 😭. Eventhough the break really helped their relationship a lot. Also lucas appearance really helped too. I wish i could see them being mushy more before iseul getting back with jongin haha. But at last. I love it how iseul is accepting jongin's back. I love the effort jongin have to get iseul back. Everything in this story is so good and i love it. I love u for giving iseul a best friend she deserve like bom. The one who will stick with her. I thought the getting back between iseul and jongin will be a little hard. Like iseul will be playing hard to get or smthg 🤣. But well she loves him so much. And it's good for them...anyway!! Thank you so much for the fic! I enjoyed them so much!!
theshadyone
#4
Chapter 68: Can’t believe I finished reading this, it took me several days of non-stop fangirling and crying but I finally made it! Thank you for the ride, I simply loved this story with all my heart 💜
Ekale_erie
#5
Chapter 13: I'm seriously doubting Mark!
And who's this new person now?
Ekale_erie
#6
Chapter 12: Don't know why I feel suspicious of Mark...
Ekale_erie
#7
Chapter 8: Oh my God! That last line is just aksjskakakja!!
Ekale_erie
#8
Chapter 5: Jongguk is such a cute lil ball of sunshineeeee!