"Are you okay?" The cafe manager asked, her brow furrowing with concern as she noticed Jin walking with a noticeable limp.

"I am fine," Jin quickly replied. In reality, he was anything but fine. Earlier that day, during his shift at the mall, he faced a painful accident while cleaning the bathrooms.

Someone had left a mess in one of the stalls, and when Jin approached to attend to it, he slipped on the wet floor. The sudden fall had caused him to twist his ankle and jar his wrist, leaving him in pain and a bit disoriented. The incident made him hurry home after his shift to clean up properly. A quick wash wouldn't be enough to get him ready for his next job at the Cafe.

Once he finished his shift at the Cafe, he intended to file an incident report with his mall manager, which is a necessary step in workplace protocol when an employee is injured on duty. He was supposed to do it before going to Cafe. However, time had slipped away, and he hadn't had a moment to do it.

"Seokjin," the manager continued, her voice softening, "you know if you're not feeling well, you can take the rest of the day off, right?" There was a maternal concern in her eyes as she studied his face, intuitively sensing that something wasn't right with him.

Drawing a deep breath, Jin put on a brave smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm doing fine. Really, I can finish up my shift; it's no problem at all," he insisted, trying to dismiss her worries.

Though not fully convinced, the manager chose not to press him further. "Okay, but please take care of yourself. I really appreciate all you do for us here. The customers appreciate you, too." As she spoke, she reached beneath the counter, rummaging through a small storage compartment, and pulled out a neatly folded envelope. "Oh, and before I forget, someone left this here for you. He mentioned how helpful you were in choosing a drink for him last week when he stopped by."

Jin's heart skipped a beat as he looked at the envelope, not sure who could have left it behind for him. He reached out cautiously to accept it, feeling the smooth texture of the small black envelope against his fingers. "Thanks," he mumbled, examining it closely. It had elegant gold lettering, and as he flipped it open, he was greeted by a beautifully designed thank-you card trimmed with delicate black and gold motifs. The sight of it made him smile; it felt simple yet charming.

As he opened the card, a small gift card slipped out, revealing it was to a well-known dessert shop in the area. His eyes widened as he read the note: "Someone as sweet as you deserve something sweet in return. Buy yourself something nice. Thank you for turning my crappy day into a better one." The words warmed his heart, and he flipped the card over, trying to see who might have sent it. With so many customers passing through the Cafe each day seeking his recommendations, it was hard to pinpoint exactly who this anonymous gifter was.

"That is so sweet!" the manager exclaimed as she strained her eyes to glimpse the note. "He was a handsome guy, too. I guess you made quite an impression on him. But honestly, I'm not surprised; a lot of our customers come in to see you!"

Jin's eyes widened in disbelief at her comment, a flush creeping up his cheeks as he stammered, "To see me?"

"Don't tell me you didn't know that? Our café has always had a warm atmosphere and a loyal customer base, but ever since we hired you, our sales have tripled," the manager said with a hint of pride in her voice.

Just then, the bell above the door chimed, marking the entrance of a customer. Jin turned his attention away from the conversation with his manager.

"Hi Hoseok! How are you today?" he greeted, his face lighting up with a genuine smile.

Hoseok, leaning casually against the counter, returned the smile. "Hi Jin! I'm doing well, thanks for asking."

"Are we going with your usual today?" Jin asked.

"Yes! But please make it a double," Hoseok responded, knowing he needed a little extra energy.

"You look like you've had a long day."

"It has been, and it's just the afternoon," Hoseok responded. He sighed deeply. " Please make it extra strong. I am so exhausted!"

Jin arched an eyebrow knowingly. "Exams, right?"

Hoseok groaned dramatically, his shoulders slumping as if the mere mention of exams drained him further. "Don't even say that word. I'm seriously considering just quitting school altogether and finding a different path. It's just not for me."

As Jin prepared Hoseok's order, he couldn't help but smile sympathetically. "You can't throw in the towel after putting in so much effort. I really believe you'll do well on your exams," he said, focusing on the espresso machine.

"I wish you were right, but I feel so overwhelmed! If I fail any of these exams, I'm looking at failing the entire semester," Hoseok admitted, his voice thick with frustration, almost on the verge of tears.

"Have you been studying at all?" Jin asked as he added milk to the steaming coffee.

Hoseok winced slightly, running a hand through his tousled hair. "To be honest, somewhat. It's just so hard to concentrate these days. Between the noise at home and all the distractions, it feels like the second I open a book, my eyelids turn heavy," he confessed.

Jin sighed softly, understanding where Hoseok was coming from. "Well, that could be the root of the issue. You need to focus. If you let distractions take over, it's bound to lead to frustration and failure. But if you channel your energy and commit to what you know needs to be done, I believe you can change the outcome. Don't you agree?"

Hoseok nodded slowly. "You're right, Jinnie. I do know this. But, honestly, it feels so hard some days!"

Jin chuckled at the nickname. It brought back fond memories of the months Hoseok had been a regular at the café. Jin had come to appreciate him coming there; whenever they talked, it reminded him of his time in university, a period that now felt like a distant memory.

"You've got this. I believe in you," Jin said as he turned to hand over the steaming cup garnished with a creamy swirl of foam. "I hope you'll return and share the good news with me once you get your results."

With the warm cup in hand, Hoseok beamed, "Thanks, Jin. I promise I'll try my best; hopefully, when I return, it's with some great news!"

Once Hoseok had left the Cafe, the manager leaned in closer to Jin, a knowing smile on her lips. "See what I mean?" she said, gesturing towards the door Hoseok had just exited. "Look how happy you made him. Our customers really love you here."

Jin felt happy when the manager praised him. He thought he was just being kind, which seemed like a normal thing to do. To him, kindness was simple and natural, not something that deserved a lot of praise. However, seeing the joy he brought to others, especially to someone like Hoseok, made him feel good.

******

Jin leaned heavily against the wall of the nursing home's entrance; his brow furrowed in discomfort as he shifted his weight from one leg to the other. He lifted his right leg to ease the tension in his swollen ankle, which pulsed with an aching intensity. The walk from the bus station had taken him thirty harrowing minutes, a far cry from his usual brisk fifteen. Each step felt like a battle against the throbbing pain that radiated up his leg, and he fought desperately to hold back tears.

Taking a slow, deliberate breath, Jin attempted to rotate his ankle, but the joint refused to budge, locked in place by pain. As he tugged at the hem of his pants to get a better look, he winced at the sight of his ankle, noticeably swollen and discolored. The skin around it was tight, and he could see a slight bruise forming, painting a dark hue against his pale skin. He released his grip on his leg with a heavy sigh, but as soon as he placed weight back on his foot, a sharp groan escaped him.

Despite the discomfort, he forced himself to push through it, reminding himself that he wouldn't be able to relax until he was home. There, he planned on putting his aching ankle in ice water and elevating it on a pillow, hoping to alleviate swelling and pain throughout the night. After all, he suspected it was nothing more than a bad sprain and just a minor setback in his day.

Before heading inside, he thought of stopping one of the nurses who worked at the facility. He knew they would have medical supplies to provide him with immediate relief. A bandage or an elastic wrap would help stabilize his ankle, allowing him to move with less discomfort until he could properly treat it once he was settled in at home. With that in mind, he pushed himself off the wall, strengthening his willpower as he prepared to enter the nursing home, hoping his shift would go by quickly.

*****

Jin had received a bandage wrap from one of the nurses who had discreetly given it to him, along with painkillers and a recommendation to go to the hospital for an x-ray.

On the other hand, his shift had been tortuous; the nursing home was overwhelmed with residents, and a lot had been needed from him, and they were severely short-staffed. By the end of his shift, he found himself sitting on a bench outside the nursing home, unable to move an inch due to exhaustion and pain.

It was then that he noticed Minjun, one of his colleagues, wrapping up his shift. He spotted him from a distance, his brows furrowing with concern as he approached. "Jin, hey, are you okay?"

Looking up, Jin mustered a tired smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hi, Minjun. I'm fine," he replied.

"Are you sure? You look really tired. Are you taking the bus home?" Minjun continued, studying him closely.

He nodded, "Yes, but I have to wait another hour since I missed the earlier bus."

Minjun's eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh my, that's a long wait! Do you know if any trains go near where you live? If so, I could drop you off at the nearest train station," he suggested.

"The train does, but honestly, it's okay; I'll just wait. It will take me about thirty minutes to get to the bus stop anyway, so I'm fine with this," he replied.

"Thirty minutes!" Minjun exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Do you want me to drop you off at the bus stop? That's the least I can do."

Jin hesitated, biting down on his bottom lip as he weighed his options. He had always been wary of relying on others for help, feeling it made him appear weak or needy. However, something about Minjun's kindness gave him pause. He had known him long enough to feel it was probably okay to accept the offer. With a resigned sigh, he finally nodded. "Sure, I'd appreciate that. Thank you."

Minjun brightened up instantly. "It's no problem at all. Let's go; I'm parked in the lot over there," he said, gesturing toward his car.

Jin stood up, his body protesting the movement, and made his way toward Minjun, taking slow, deliberate steps while trying to hide his pain. Jin felt relief when they reached his car as the warmth enveloped him once he slid into the passenger seat. The weather had been chilly, and he realized he felt colder than usual, likely from his struggle earlier in the day.

As Minjun drove toward the bus station, he leaned his head against the window, watching the blurred silhouette of buildings pass by. Each passing moment made him feel heavier, and he fought to keep his eyelids from closing.

"You seem sleepy. Maybe I could drive you home—" Minjun suggested, glancing at him with concern.

"No, no. To the bus station is fine. You're already doing enough by helping me get there," Jin interjected quickly, wishing to avoid any further complications.

Minjun flashed a warm smile. "It's really no trouble at all. I think this is the most we've talked since you started working here. It's nice to get to know you a little better finally."

Jin smiled politely, unsure of how to respond. "Thank you. I appreciate it," he replied, steering the conversation away from himself as he often preferred.

"So, tell me a bit about yourself. I heard you recently moved to this area. Where were you before?" Minjun probed.

Jin felt a flicker of panic; he could see the bus station looming in the distance, but he was not ready for another round of questions.

As the car rolled to a stop at the bus station, he turned to Minjun, sincere gratitude in his voice. "Thank you so much for taking me here. I really appreciate your kindness."

"You're welcome. I'm glad I could help," he replied, a smile lighting his face.

Jin reached for the door, ready to step out, and suddenly heard it click shut. Surprised, he looked at Minjun, confusion clouding his expression.

"Before you go, there's something I need to say," Minjun said, his demeanor shifting slightly. He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned closer, his hand brushing against his thigh, which sent a jolt of shock through Jin.

"W-What are you doing?" he stuttered, feeling vulnerable and caught off guard.

"I'm sorry," he said, his gaze steady as he confessed, "but I need to tell you that I find you extremely attractive. I was hoping I could take you out on a date." His hand on Jin's thigh moved further, leaving Jin momentarily speechless as he struggled to process the unexpected confession.

Jin felt his heart race as he reached for the car door lock, his fingers trembling slightly. Just as he was about to unlock it, Minjun's hand shot out, gripping his wrist tightly and preventing him from making his escape. "Why the rush?" Minjun asked, his voice edged with frustration. "Can you just answer me? Why do you keep ignoring me? Do you even realize how long I've been trying to get your attention?"

Jin, feeling a huge amount of discomfort, pulled his arm away. "Minjun," he replied firmly, his voice steady despite the anxiety swirling within him, "I don't like you touching me. Please take your hand off me. If you genuinely have an interest in me, you could have expressed that without being so physical. This is really inappropriate, and it makes me uncomfortable."

Minjun's expression shifted to one of regret. "I am sorry," he said, letting go of Jin's wrist and averting his gaze. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again, "But please tell me you'll go on a date with me."

"I'm not interested," Jin said, trying to keep his voice calm. "I'm sorry." He could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

"Why not? What's wrong with me?" Minjun pressed, his eyes searching Jin's face for answers.

"It's not about you, Minjun. I promise," Jin replied, shaking his head. "I'm just not interested in dating anyone at the moment. Thank you for the ride." With that, he hastily unlocked the door, practically flinging it open, and slid out of the car, slamming it shut behind him.

As he stood on the sidewalk, his breath came in uneven gasps. He watched Minjun drive away, the taillights disappearing into the distance. Overwhelmed, he sank to the ground, everything crashing down on him as tears rolled down his cheeks.