Finding Each Other

Chapter 17 - A Break from Routine

A week had passed since exams ended, marking the beginning of winter break. Most students would be relaxing, catching up on sleep, or indulging in some much-needed leisure, but for Shinyu, the break meant an opportunity to work more hours at his part-time job. Instead of working just weekends as he did during the school term, Shinyu now found himself working full-time to save up for rent and other expenses. It wasn't glamorous, but it was necessary.

It was a cold Thursday morning, and Shinyu had the opening shift at the small café where he worked. The sun was barely up, and the streets outside were quiet, with only a few early risers braving the winter chill. Inside the café, the warmth from the ovens and the smell of freshly brewed coffee made the place feel cozy and inviting. Shinyu moved around the kitchen with practiced ease, preparing the ingredients for the day's menu. He liked the solitude of these early hours, the way he could lose himself in the rhythm of his work.

But just as he was settling into the routine, the sound of the door opening startled him. He turned around, ready to greet the first customer of the day, but instead, he was met with the sight of his three closest friends—Dohoon, Youngjae, and Chaeyun—grinning at him like mischievous children.

"Oh! What are you guys doing here?" Shinyu asked, his surprise evident.

"We came to kidnap you!" they chorused in unison, their excitement palpable.

"Uh?" Shinyu blinked, completely confused by their sudden appearance and even more by their proclamation.

Chaeyun stepped forward, her eyes twinkling. "Since you opened the café, you don't have anything else to do, right? And there's no one here yet, right?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess," Shinyu replied, still processing what was happening. "But my shift ends at 4 p.m. though..."

"Well, not today!" Youngjae said, his tone firm as if he were making an unbreakable decision. "Shinyu, you're always working! What kind of holiday is it if you're working every day?"

Shinyu couldn't help but chuckle at Youngjae's earnestness. "First of all, I'm not working every day. And second of all, I have to pay my rent, so I obviously need to work."

Dohoon, who had been quietly watching with a playful smile, finally spoke up. "Shinyu, since you're not working on Fridays and Saturdays, could you just ask your colleagues if you can take the afternoon off today? We're going on a trip, and we're not leaving without you!"

Shinyu looked at Dohoon, noticing the determination in his eyes. "But I finish at 4 p.m. Isn't that enough? I don't know if they'll let me leave early..."

"Just ask, we never know," Dohoon insisted.

With a sigh, Shinyu relented. "Alright, I'll ask, but don't get your hopes up."

As his friends waited at one of the tables, Shinyu's colleagues started arriving for their shifts. He greeted them casually, his mind still on the unexpected visit from his friends. After a few minutes, he decided to approach one of his coworkers, feeling slightly nervous. "Hey, um, I was wondering if today I could leave earlier, like in an hour? It's winter break, and I have to go somewhere for the weekend with my friends..."

To his surprise, his colleagues responded with enthusiastic support. "Of course! Oh my gosh, I'm sure it's going to be really fun! Enjoy your trip; we'll cover for you, don't worry!"

Shinyu was stunned by their generosity. "Thank you so much!" he said, a wide smile spreading across his face. He quickly ran back to his friends, who were waiting eagerly for his response.