Melanin Love 2

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭

You never asked to work at a cafe or to work the closing shift. You definitely didn't ask to work with your coworker who annoyed you to ends meet. Any other day you would be ok but today was not the day you wanted to be here. You had already been here for a couple of hours and it didn't help that you had a few more. maybe you could call out sick or tell your manager that you're not feeling well but they will probably see through your lies. You sighed leaning your head against your palm staring out the window of the café in boredom.

A whole hour had passed since you started starting out the window and a whole hour had passed since your manager called your coworker letting him know he was needed. But he still hadn't shown up. Maybe it was a good thing he hadn't shown up? Maybe this is a sign letting you know that you could handle this on your own? You didn't need anyone's help because they would only slow down your process of getting this shift over and done with so you could go home. Just when you thought luck was on your side you heard it. The stereo bass and loud music came from the car that pulled up in the front of the cafe. As much as you wanted to roll your eyes you didn't. But what truly made your mood sour was the fact that your coworker stepped from the vehicle along with someone else.

He was late and he dared to show up blasting his music. If you weren't tired you would've called your manager to complain about him. You rubbed your temples as he entered along with the other person. He didn't glance at you and headed to the back as the other person stood in front of you smiling. You had come to learn that he was your coworker's friend that he hung out with but he was nicer than your coworker so you put up with him. 'Good Evening y/n. How have you been?' He asked as you gave him an unamused look. He knew all too well that you were annoyed especially with his little friend.

'Don't ask questions you already know the answer to Sunoo.' You answered as he chuckled. You glared at him as he placed a hand on your shoulder. 'He isn't that bad. I promise.' Sunoo reassured her rubbing her shoulder just as her coworker exited the backroom giving the both of them an eye roll. It took so much in you not to lunge across this counter and choke him. Sunoo smiled at you as your coworker showed him out. Soon it was just you two. No customers no noise nothing. You stood scrolling through your phone as he stood to the side staring at you.

From the corner of your eye, you saw him staring at you. You placed your phone down on the counter before giving him your full attention. 'Is there a problem?' You asked as he rolled his eyes at you before scoffing. You never wanted to hurt someone so bad before in your life. 'I think you should be working instead of being on your phone. That's all.' He shrugged cleaning the counters and pretending as if he's been here the entire time. Now it was your turn to scoff. You couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. He had the audacity. 'It's crazy how I'm getting reprimanded by the same person who just came into work an hour late. If I was you I would keep my mouth close.' You snapped making him turn around tints of red dusting his cheeks.

He opened his mouth to speak but only stopped when the chiming of bells cut through. Someone had entered the cafe. You gave him a smirk pushing past him to take their order. For the remainder of the time, you both worked in silence. No arguing, teasing, reprimanding, nothing at all. There were 45 minutes until the cafe officially closed for the night. You just couldn't wait for it. Some people sat drinking their coffee either working or chatting with a friend that had tagged along. Both of you doing your normal jobs for the evening you taking orders and making drinks while he was cleaning tables. You stood behind the register taking a woman's order when she had started asking you questions.

'Have you been working here long?' She asked as she handed you the money. You shook your head. This was something that usually bothered you when working in the food/drink industry. Why did people have to ask questions instead of worrying about their food and drinks? 'What about him?' She asked nodding over to where Niki stood cleaning the tables and talking to a fellow customer. You simply shrugged your shoulders. You didn't know much about the boy or nor have you ever tried getting to know more about him. The lady hummed as you left to go fix her drink.

You found the whole conversation and situation weird but you shook it off. Soon the cafe was back to being quiet and it was only you and Niki remaining. Only 15 minutes remained until closing. Cleaning and fixing drinks were what the last 15 minutes before closing consisted of. You never caught a break because when you were finished taking orders or fixing somebody's drink another person would walk in as soon as the person left. Niki wasn't any help as he was standing off to the side-scrolling through his phone.

You could've sworn he was doing the same thing he told you not to do. Rolling your eyes would get you nowhere but you couldn't help but do it. You smiled and handed the current customer their order before making your way over to where Niki stood. You stood in front of him with your hands on your hips. He looked up from his phone only to tilt his head at you. He wore a smirk on his face. 'Is there a problem?' He questioned mockingly using the same tone you used earlier. He was just so persistent to get on your last nerves wasn't he?

'Yes, the problem is that you're scrolling through your phone not even offering to help me with the remaining customers or not bothering to clean up!' You complained as he didn't do anything but shrug. You already had to cover his shift for the past week or so and not to mention when he hadn't shown up earlier. Your breaking point had already snapped and had withered away at this point. You snatched his phone placing it in the pocket of your apron before poking him in the chest. 'You don't get it. You never get it! Do you?! What don't you understand about all of this? This is a job where you have to work to earn money. I don't see why you work here in the first place when you don't even bother to show up?! What's the point?! Huh, Niki?! What's the point?!' You nagged poking him in his chest at each word.

His face was getting red by the moment but did you care that he was getting angry. Hell no. You could care less. You wanted to see him angry even though he had no reason to be because you were right. Everything you spoke was true. You knew he wanted to say something. His face was so red that you knew he would burst at any moment. You scoffed and were about to walk away when his hand grabbed at your wrist. 'You can't just yell at me and expect me to not yell at you back! Why do you act as if you care about me when you don't?! You shouldn't be worried about me especially outside of these walls! Worry about keeping this job because I could care less if I got fired! So go back to what you were doing and mind your business.' He spoke grabbing his phone out of your pocket and pushing past you.

You stood there holding the wrist he just let go of watching him leave. You sighed looking at the clock on the wall. There were only 3 minutes until closing. You did your best cleaning up, sweeping, and putting away items. Your jacket swaddled you in a blanket of warmth against the cold temperature of the air. You walked towards the familiar figure holding the items Niki had left as he looked up at you from where he sat. 'You left these and it's cold so.' You exclaimed wrapping your jacket tighter around you. He looked down at the jacket and hat before giving you a nod as thanks. You started the walk to the bus stop but slowed down when you noticed he was walking along with you.

The 4-minute walk was in silence as no one said anything. Even when you two stood at the bus stop no one said anything as you watched snow start to fall. He huffed turning to face you as you peered at him from the corner of your eye. 'I guess I should say I'm sorry. I know I haven't been the best coworker but I'm trying. I know how stressful it is and I'm not making it any better by showing up late and being irritating. I guess what I'm saying is that I'll try to be better at showing up for work and being a good coworker.' He assured you as you couldn't help but smile at his attempt of making things better.

'I would like that very much and I'm sorry for what I said back there as well. It wasn't my place to blame you or make statements about you. Again I'm sorry and I hope we can both become better coworkers.' You proclaimed watching as a small smile made its way upon his face. No other words were said as you both stood there with smiles on your face. The bus came to a stop opening its doors. You stepped on paying for your ticket about to take a seat when you stepped off the bus only to press a kiss on Niki's cheek. As the bus took off you watched as he stood there with a small smile and the faintest of blush dusting his cheeks waving goodbye to you. Things were going to start looking up between the two of you. You could just tell.