❝ A FOREIGN FRIEND ❞

10

You entered the office-looking room, and everyone's attention turn to you as you entered.

"Ah, is she the new girl, something?" One man asked.

"Hi," you mumbled.

You entered the area, which appeared to be an office, huge and spacious, with each cubicle containing at least five to seven people.

But what out stands the most is that they were all wearing a mask, no, not a medical mask, but a mask that covered their entire faces for a reason that you don't know.

Weird. You thought.

The mask was black, with just their eyes visible, yet it was still difficult to see due to the thickness of the mask, which covered their entire faces.

"Yeah, that's what the boss told us." One man said as he motioned you to come near him. "Come here, we'll be guiding you."

"Okay..."

"So, we'll be first starting on how you make this, our bosses love this specific drink and serve—"

"Yeah, I already know how to do it. I've been doing this before." You said as you grabbed the items from the table.

You poured the drink mixtures swiftly, skillfully mixing them before pouring them into another cup, putting a piece of ice into each glass.

The men paused, looking at you as you put both hands on your hip, standing proudly. "See?"

"Wow, well then, I guess we should skip this part and go teach you the paperwork parts." He said.

"Right." You answered as you walked to another table.

"You're learning kind of quick."

"Ah, thank you." You thanked the man that was helping you with your work. Hours passed, and you were still learning these skills, remembering each of them.

"I'm impressed." The man replied with a black mullet hair that's been training you since a while ago, he was wearing a mask that covered his whole face. You were sitting beside him on his cubicle while you were helping him with the paperwork.

"Hey, may I ask what's your name? We've been talking for quite some minutes now, and you know my name... so?" You asked cautiously as you faced him.

The man paused for a moment, looking around as he sighed. "I'm truly sorry, but I can't tell you my name. It's a rule for us here."

"What? Oh, well okay." You blinked for a while, then slowly nodded, focusing back on your work.

"But you can call me friend." He smiled, trying to cheer you up.

"Ouch," you joked. "Joking, well okay then, kind of weird, but nice to meet you."

"Friend kind of sounds lame, so I'll call you Mask Man instead." You said sarcastically.

"That sounds more lame but okay." He said.

"Damn," you gasped, muttering words under your breath. "Did we somehow stumbled upon each other? You know, acquaintances?" 

"Once in a million. That's impossible. We're both new here." He laughed.

"Well, whatever, nice to meet you, Mask." You reached your hand out to make a handshake, he hesitated a bit but then returned it as well.

"Nice to meet you, too."

"I want to know more about you," you said. "Why did you employ here?"

"Oh well, I just did, plus I have a connection with Bonten so yeah."

Raising your brows in suspicion, you nodded.

"Don't worry, I don't do crimes like them, I just simply do the paperwork and serve them."

"Sure?"

"You can trust me, I swear." He raised his hands.

"You kind of remind me of someone." You laughed, shaking your head as you went to face and focus back on your paperwork.

"Who?"

"...Also a friend back then." You hesitated.

"Oh? Tell me about him." You heard him chuckle amusedly under the mask.

"I feel kind of embarrassed telling him about you. Something happened." You laughed.

"He's your ex? Crush something?"

"Let's put in a way where we didn't get to be together officially, but like, I had fee—" You paused. "Actually you do the math. I'm embarrassed."

"I get what you're trying to say." He said.

"You know what, I have a hunch that you'll be my favorite person in here. I don't want to go out and come back to your so-called bosses." You said.

"Oh really? That's interesting." His tone sounded playful.

"When we get out of here, I want to see how you look under that mask." You bantered.

"Okay then, I'll promise I'll take my mask off."

"Alright. Tho' anyway, do I also need to wear those masks-?" You asked.

"What are you doing?" Suddenly, you were cut off as someone entered the room.

"Boss," Mask stood up as he bowed.

"Sanzu." You whispered in annoyance as if his name is a curse.

"Hi, Y/n! Ran told me that your shift is done, I'll be guiding you to your room." He waved to you as you stood up and walked to him.

He grabbed your wrist as you both went out of the office, but before the door closed, you looked back and waved goodbye to Mask.

"Bye-bye," you mouthed, not saying it out loud, of course.

And there, he also waved goodbye from the office.

"How's your first day?" Sanzu asked as you two were inside the elevator.

Feeling your face heat, remembering what happened to you and Ran this morning as this scenario with Sanzu reminded you of it.

"It's fine."

"Did you make friends?" Sanzu asked, holding back a laugh. Who asks this anyway. 

"Stop treating it as if I just went on my first day of school in kindergarten." You retorted.

"Goddamn," Sanzu just scratched his head at your aggressive demeanor toward him.

"Pft," you rolled your eyes as you sighed.

"Just make sure only friends." You felt him narrow his eyes from behind.

You didn't answer, hoping the elevator would ding so that you can escape his suffocating presence.

Ding

You sighed in relief, quickly walking out of the elevator.

"Goodnight, Y/n." You looked back, and you saw him waving at you.

"Night," you briefly muttered.

"Make sure you'll sleep well. You'll be spending more time with me after your work tomorrow." Sanzu said, your lips pursed in question.

"What—?"

"Night night." He winked as he cuts you off, then the elevator doors closed behind him.

You went inside your room, sitting on the bed.

You sighed, wishing you had at least a phone. During your days here, you have almost everything but a phone and your independence. You wish you could at least contact your stepmother, friends (if you have one), or maybe even Draken.

Sighing, you reached for a book from your shelf. Fortunately, they at least provided some.

You lay down in bed, exhausted, but you couldn't sleep because you couldn't stop thinking about Mask.

Was he really a new friend?

Or someone you knew from before? The way he talks, his aura, and his presence were all familiar.

Nonetheless, at least you met someone already.

A new, harmless, and foreign friend.