I literally love this story😭
8 | Acquainted |
Song; acquainted - The Weeknd
Jeongguk wasn't in the best of moods today, for some reason he just woke up with irritation running through his body causing him to be a little uptight. Usually he doesn't let these type of things get to him too much but he wasn't exactly having it, mood swings on ten as soon as he had opened his eyes.
It didn't help that everything decided that it doesn't want to work with him causing him to seethe even more. First it started with his water not heating up, he had to call and ask what that was about considering he had paid his bills so it shouldn't be acting up. Then, maintenance said they'd come give it a look within a couple of days which irritated him even further.
Next was the fact that he could barely find any clean clothes to wear to work so he had to go with the same pants he wore just the other day and a some random sweater that he chose from his basket.
It was like the day was out to get him because as soon as he tried to start the car that he was fixing up, it wouldn't even turn on. The struggling sounds of the car refusing to come to life causing him to groan in frustration.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Jeongguk runs his hand through his hair roughly, holding back from slamming his hand into the the wheel out of anger. It was a colder day and he really didn't want to walk to work in that kind of weather but obviously he had no choice.
Jeongguk opens the car door before taking steps to get out, making sure to slam the door behind him with a dissatisfied shake of his head.
The walk on the way there drove him more up the wall as it was getting colder and colder everyday since it was nearing winter time, the leaves that had fallen on the ground now had frost on them from the drop in temperature. Jeongguk shoved his icy hands in his pockets as he starts to shiver.
"Fuuuuck meee." Jeongguk groans irritably, his face was now turning red from the harsh wind hitting his face and he just wanted to be somewhere warm already.
Although the walk seemed like it dragged on forever, he finally made it to his job. Immediately he takes his hands out and rubs them together to start some friction in hopes of warming them up faster, and it works as he blows warm air onto the skin.
Looking around the building he noticed that it was busier than normal, probably because of the new special that they had. It was a good deal too and the people here never missed out. Jeongguk was quick to ignore the customers though, instead taking his usual route to the back so he could clock in.
Usually he wasn't needed that much in the morning so after he clocked in he stepped out to the back, opening the large metal door before leaning back against the brick building as he pulls out his cigarette and lighter.
Now that he was thinking to himself, he realized that he hadn't eaten and that was bit of a problem since his stomach always tended to cause him problems when he smoked on an empty stomach for some reason. But he didn't exactly feel like going back inside to get a little snack, so risking the pain he goes to light the stick before inhaling the toxic smoke.
Every puff helped his anger melt away, for some type of reason the toxins helped no matter how bad it was for him. So he stood there letting the smoke blow through the wind as he stared at the alley behind his work. Jeongguk takes in the view while trying his hardest to not let the cold get to him, he didn't want to go in yet.
Jeongguk let's time pass as it was about time to throw the trash out but right as he was about to put out his cigarette he heard a loud huff come from the door. He slightly turns his head in that direction to get a clear view of a familiar curly headed girl struggling with a big bag of trash on her back- doing his job practically.
He furrows his eyebrows, wondering when she had gotten here. Was she earlier than him?
Throwing the butt of the cigarette he quickly puts it out with the tip of his shoe before shuffling towards the girl who took slow steps.
Damn what was in there?
Jeongguk steps up to her, body kind of hovering over her side profile. He gently unhooks the string of the bag from her fingers, skin contact was made briefly but it seemed as though time slowed down a bit to him. He liked her touch, he liked being close.
Swiftly he grabs the bag out of her hand, feeling her stare as he does. He couldn't help but to think she was nervous with the way she was looking at him. She was basically closing in on herself physically and it seemed like she didn't even notice.
"I got it." Jeongguk says with a sweet tone that even he doesn't recognize. He would never try this hard, but for some reason he didn't see it in him to be rude to her.
Oh who was he kidding? He knew exactly why but he just didn't want to admit it to himself.
With her in view he couldn't help but to be satisfied with what he saw. She was shorter than him, his own body would practically engulf her if he took ahold of her and something within him kind of liked that. The thought of nobody being able to get to her because they couldn't get through him excited him, he pays close attention to the fact.
Like her other outfits he had seen her in; she wore jeans and a dark green long sleeve shirt. Except there was one thing that he had noticed that was off about it. Instead of her usual, he eyes the way her jeans were lower cut, showing about an inch of her skin since her shirt was moved up a little bit from the struggle of carrying that heavy bag.
Jeongguk smacks each hand off of each other as a way to get the dirt off his hands, not taking his eyes off of her. He watched the way she quickly pulled her shirt down so her skin wasn't showing but that only pulled it down showing more of her cleavage; Jeongguk lifts a brow.
"You didn't have to do that." He tells her.
He didn't mean for it to come out so harsh though which caused her to take a step back slowly. As if she was trying to inch herself away.
"I'm sorry," her hand goes to hold her arm. "I didn't have anything to do so I just thought I'd make myself useful and be productive."
Renaya felt like she was over explaining but she couldn't stop herself from doing it automatically, explaining her behavior.
In front of her she watched Jeongguk, careful not to make long eye contact with him. But he was staring at her almost without blinking and he didn't look like he wanted to look away. In a way it looked like he was sizing her up.
"You're okay, darling."
Renaya shifts uncomfortably, "can you...not call me that?" God, she felt so awkward.
Jeongguk takes a step back at her words.
"Sorry." He apologized. Jeongguk doesn't know what to say.
"I didn't mean for what I said to sound mean." He says, but she looked confused. So he continues. "When I told you that you didn't need to take the trash out."
Renaya nods while crossing her arms over her chest. "No you're fine. Were you supposed to do that?"
Jeongguk starts to make himself comfortable by leaning against the brick wall, his actions motioning Renayas by crossing his arms across his chest.
"Yeah, I take out the trash and bake in the back."
This was new information. She looks at him with a surprised expression.
"You bake?"
Jeongguk honestly didn't know if he should've been offended or not by her question considering the fact that she did look like she was genuinely asking- not because of his appearance.
"Yes, Ren. I bake."
"Ren?" Renaya repeats.
Jeongguk furrows his eyebrows giving her a hard stare. "Ren... as in Renaya, Is that not your name?"
"Oh, um, yea it is my name- well it's my nickname I was just surprised that you even knew my name."
Renaya watches him pull himself off of the wall, his frame coming closer and closer before completely stopping in front of her.
At first he doesn't say anything, just eyeing her. So she continues speaking to make it a little less awkward than she felt.
"Well, it's cool that you bake. I'm still learning everything, it was a bit of a struggle to get used to but I think I'm getting it."
She was trying to make conversation with him it seems, Jeongguk quirks the corner of his lip as he looks down at her, letting his eyes roam around hers admiring the way she had a shine in them. It made him not want to look away.
"Thank you."
Jeongguk was short spoken, wasn't really a man of many words but he really wanted to continue talking to her. Wanted to ask her questions about herself, wanted to explore her more.
Clearly it wasn't the time,
"I should probably get going." She says with the customers in mind, Jeongguk watched her smile at him before swiftly leaving.
•••
Renaya never felt so small before. Besides when she'd talk with her mother, Jeongguk made her want to shrink in on herself but at the same time she wanted to keep being around him. Her spark of interest outweighing her anxiety.
Renaya didn't care that he gave her the chills, something about him was different from how other people made her feel. Somehow, unlike everyone else it was as if he wasn't judging her at all, he acted like he could care less about image. Not in a bad way though, no doubt he looked good.
Maybe the most attractive guy she has seen.
No, Jeongguk wasn't ragged or anything. Dark, yes but nothing about him seemed messy, instead he was very clean. With not one single speck of dirt on his clothes and his hair was in a perfect position, even his skin was perfect. He was perfect.
She was just surprised that someone like him would want to talk to her. Her mind was telling her that she was probably too boring, not anywhere as exciting at this man. He probably wouldn't like her.
Renaya hoped that wasn't the case.
The girl started to feel her cheeks heat up when she thought of the fact that she could smell him when he had grabbed the bag out of her hand.
He was so close that she knew what he smelled like, the wind carried his scent into her nose.
Jeongguk smelled like some type of cologne but it wasn't too strong; it had a distinct smell of sweetness, a hint of the cigarette that he was smoking behind everything else.
She blushed because she was realizing this was a start of a crush, Renaya was familiar with the butterflies fluttering their wings around in her stomach meanwhile her cheeks heat up at the mere thought of his name.
Renaya circles her hand around the counter with her rag, strokes getting slower and slower as she stays in her day dream.
"Renaya?"
The girl who was called out snapped out of her daze before turning to who said her name.
It was her neighbor.
Renaya gave the older lady a small smile as she walked towards the cashier- her immediate reaction to seeing someone coming in the shop.
Susan steps in front of the counter, her hands slowly pulling out from the pockets of her tan coat. She smiles brightly, almost all teeth on display.
"I didn't know you were working." She says sweetly, "Are you still staying with your parents?"
Oh lord, she wanted to make conversation.
She was internally screaming.
"No, I moved out about four weeks ago. And yes, I do work here."
Susan just stared at her for a couple of seconds before continuing. "Oh, well. Congratulations honey. How's your parents doing? I haven't been to church for the last two weeks so I wasn't able to catch up with anyone."
Renayas mothers conversation was now running through her head as she listened to what Susan was saying. Could she be possibly lying? She made it so hard to not believe her, it seemed like she was telling the truth.
"Oh, they're doing good. My mom just started a bake sale with Gene for the church, something about donations."
Susan's eyes lighten up at her words, "Oh yes! My husband did tell me something about that, are you participating? I heard they're having games down at the church too and they needed some game directors, maybe you would wanna take a look into that."
How could this woman ditch church to cheat on her husband? She sounds too interested in the place and that worried Renaya. If she was cheating, how could she lie so easily as if she wasn't dealing with this big sin.
"If I don't have work." Renaya says simply, "Are you ready to order?"
•••
This is Susan ^