Losing Game • Lee Felix

{two}

Wednesday
I didn't go to the arcade today.
Well, it's because I had to work that I didn't go.
I couldn't just make money for games by playing games- that's not really how it works.

I stood behind the counter at the cafe, reciting peoples orders as if I was reading a book.
A familiar voice broke me from my mindless reverie, as I looked towards the boy.
"Y/N. How are you?" He asked.
"Sunshine? I feel like that sounds weird." I fake gagged. "How can I help you today?"

"Just a vanilla latte. Didn't know you worked here." He commented.
"I'm just a casual worker, so I get random shifts. Our times have probably just never matched up." I shrugged, tapping at the screen.
"Small or Large?"

"Large, please." He said, as I nodded.
"Big day ahead?" I asked, raising a brow.
He chuckled lowly. "Yeah, something like that."
A song started playing from the speakers, as I saw him hide his face.
"Don't like this song?" I asked.
He shrugged.
"Never heard it. Do you?"
I shook my head. "Nope. I listen to a lot more western artists than Korean artists, so I've never heard it."

He just nodded, as I wandered off to make his coffee.
Whilst I waited for it to brew, I pulled my phone out, searching for the song title.
It was by a group called 'Stray Kids'.
They weren't even that new, but honestly I had no idea who they were.
I put my phone back away, closing the tab as I finished his latte, taking it back to him.

"That's $6.20." I said, as he pulled out his card.
"Your cafe is expensive." He said as he tapped his card.
"Yeah, I know. I made it so it should be good." I chuckled, as he took the drink from the counter, pulling his mask down as his quickly took a sip.
He put it back up almost instantly, not without flashing me a smile as he walked off.

His smile was stuck in my head for the rest of my shift.
It was beautiful.
What I would do to see it properly.
Just how many of those smiles had I missed due to that stupid mask? I don't understand why he always wore it, but I wasn't going to push him.

Thursday
"Are you from Korea?" He asked, as he played the air hockey machine.
I was beating him, at 10-4, since he had been speaking to me the whole time.
"I was born here, but I moved to Australia for schooling when I was really young. Came back here a few years ago to try live out some dumb dream, and now I'm trying to get enough money to move back." I said, grumbling as he hit the puck into my goal.

He nodded. "Where in Australia?"
"Sydney." I responded. "This was years ago. But my parents spoke Korean, and my school spoke English. I became a translator at parent teacher meetings since they weren't fluent back then."

He went quiet for a second, before his eyes travelled to mine.
"I lived in Sydney for awhile too."
"Really? That's cool. Did you learn English too?"
He just nodded, before his phone began to vibrate violently in his pocket.
He pulled it out, rolling his eyes, before silencing it, shoving it back away.

"Who was that?" I asked.
He shook his head, before smiling, pulling down his mask to take a drink.
"No one important. Say, what was your dream?"

"I wanted to be an idol for awhile. Silly, I know. Moved to South Korea for Seoul, but living was too expensive. Drove in from here, Suwon, for an audition, and I told I wouldn't even make it to becoming a back up dancer. So, I gave up." I said dryly, watching as the timer ticked to zero, before celebrating under my breath.

"You should show me your skills one day. I'm sure you'd make a great idol, Y/N." He grinned.
"Has anyone ever told you that you've got a really nice smile? I've only seen it like, twice, but it's beautiful." I said, as I saw his face go slightly red.
"Oh, thank you. You're really pretty too." He said shyly, his voice trembling slightly as he looked down, pulling his mask back up.

"But about that, uh, maybe one day. I'm very rusty though." I chuckled.
"What did you specialise in?" He asked.

"Dance, and rap. I had some vocal skill, but I couldn't hold any notes."
He just nodded, before he looked to his watch.

"I've got to get going. See you around?" He said, as he grabbed his coffee.
I nodded, smiling to myself, face hidden by the mask.
"See you around, Sunshine."