IX

Taking in a deep breath Jun straightened his formal shirt. A blue stripe shirt with black pants, gifted by Hwa for this important day. Jun walked out of the room and stood in front of Yeon and Hwa who were having their breakfast.

"Wow Jun, this look suits you so much"

Hwa exclaimed with an excited voice. Yeon couldn't utter a single word, he was mesmerised by Jun's look.

"Woah..."

was all Yeon could say. Jun blushed at the reactions he received. He wasn't used to getting ready, this was his first time and he felt so happy.

"Thank you so much for this gift Hwa, I'll surely pay you back when I get a job,"

Jun said with a smile and bowed a bit towards Hwa. Hwa was so moved she walked towards Jun and hugged him,

"No need to pay me back Jun, it's a gift from your Noona."

Jun felt tears forming in his eyes feeling sister love from Hwa. Yeon stood there with a proud and happy smile,

"so would anyone mind telling me what's the occasional here?".

Hwa chuckled as she remembered she never told Yeon about this.

"Jun is going for an interview to work in my friend's cafe"

And Jun nodded with excitement.

"Wow, all the best Jun"

Yeon exclaimed while walking towards Jun,

"Do you want me to give you a lift till there? I have my off today I can do that much for you"

Yeon offered and Jun looked towards Hwa,

"would that be ok Hwa?"

Jun asked making Hwa laugh.

"Oh my god, obviously Jun it's ok. I was about to ask Yeon to help you"

Hwa smiled and patted Jun's back. Jun smiled and thanked her.

"Come on now, you'll be late get going you both"

Hwa pushed Jun towards Yeon.

"Yeah, Just give me a minute. I'll take Isuel with us. till Jun goes for the interview I'll give this boy a walk. It's been a while"

Yeon said while picking up Iseul in his arms and gathered his strap.

"All the best Jun"

Hwa cheered while waving towards Jun. 

Jun walked beside Yeon watching as the said guy settled Iseul in the backseat of his car.

"Hop on Jun"

Yeon signalled the brunette. Jun hurriedly settled down in the front seat. He passed out the address note to Yeon with shivering hands.

"are you ok?"

Yeon asked as he saw the shivering hands and pulled the car out of the garage.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just nervous"

Jun said honestly.

"Don't be, I'm sure you'll do awesome"

Yeon smiled. During the entire ride, Jun kept on fidgeting in his seat, as soon as the car was parked a bit far from the cafe Jun started sweating. Yeon took a look towards Jun and got worried,

"Hey, it's ok don't be so nervous. Come on take deep breaths"

Yeon said holding Jun's hand in his. Encouraging Jun to take slow deep breaths. Jun followed Yeon and felt himself getting calm.

"listen, don't think too much ok. you can do it. trust in yourself"

Yeon comforted Jun and rubbed his thumb on Jun's palm. Jun just nodded and tried to smile.

"I'll be right over there with Isuel, ok, call me if anything."

Yeon said pointing towards the park just across the road.

"ok, thank you."

Jun finally managed to get back his voice. Yeon gave one last tap on Jun's hand with his own and moved to pick up Iseul. Yeon waited till Jun got inside the Cafe.

Brushing up his hair a bit Yeon tied the strap around Isuel and walked towards the park. Isuel started jumping as soon as he reached the park, Yeon chucked and removed the strap to let the puppy roam around freely in the park. He went and settled down on a bench nearby, he couldn't help but remember that panicked face of Jun.

"No matter how I see it, I don't think anyone would be this nervous for a job in a cafe,"

Yeon thought as he kept his eyes on Isuel. Yeon thought of the day he met Jun, with all those bruises and terrified face.

"I don't know if he'll open up about that"

Yeon mumbled to no one. Honestly, even Yeon was nervous for Jun. He wanted to help the boy how much ever he could. Since last time, Jun has improved so much for a silent person. He would joke and smile often. He did put on a little weight, not that much but a progress in Yeon's eyes. Yeon looked towards the cafe and wondered what's happening there. It was after around 20 minutes when Jun walked out of the cafe with his head Hunged low. Yeon saw him and sighed,

"well everything doesn't go as you wish,"

he thought and walked towards Jun. Jun noticed Yeon and walked towards him.

"Hey.."

Yeon said in a low tone as soon as he was near Jun, ready to encourage him. Jun looked towards him and smiled,

"I don't know how, but they said I can start from next week"

Jun cheered and jumped on Yeon. Yeon was shocked, he was worried that Jun wouldn't make it and was ready to encourage the boy,

"Omg wow, congratulations Jun"

Yeon hugged back and laughed a bit. Suddenly realising their position Jun hurriedly broke the hug but still had that beautiful smile on him.

"Thank you Yeon, I couldn't believe when they said I was accepted."

Yeon Smiled looking at the excited face of Jun.

"I knew you could do it Jun, let us go and sit there,"

Yeon said indicating the bench he sat on before. Jun was so happy that finally he had a job, not in some company but working in a cafe was also ok with him. They both settled on the bench and Yeon took a glance to see if Isuel was fine or not. Seeing the puppy having fun, Yeon turned his attention back on Jun.

"So how's the place? you would be comfortable in there right?"

Yeon asked to know if the boy didn't accept the offer in a need or hurry.

"Yes, it's so pretty and the owner. I mean Ms Sue the owner was so sweet"

Jun said with a smile. Yeon was satisfied with Jun's smile. He could see the boy was happy, and that made him happy too.

Jun chuckled out loud as he saw Isuel fall on his face while trying to catch a butterfly. Yeon's heart filled with happiness seeing Jun chuckle and happy. He smiled a big one. 

"you should smile more often... It suits you much better"

Yeon was shocked as the words slipped out of his mouth without him realizing it. Jun stopped chuckling and looked at Yeon and hanged his head low to hide the blush that washed over his face. Yeon loved the reaction.

"thank you"

the latter replied with his head still hanged low with a smile. 

"Jun..."

Yeon said as he looked towards Jun to get his attention. Jun looked over him and hummed as an answer.

"if you don't mind... Can you tell me why did you run away?"

the question made Jun's smile fade in a second, but he still composed himself and returned his eyes towards the gaint.

"I... I ran away from my home"

Jun mumbled as he played with his fingers.

"home... Why?"

Yeon said again as he was confused as to why would a boy like Jun run away from his home.

"it's a long story and nothing interesting too"

the latter replied as he tried to avoid the question. Yeon let out a sigh...

"Jun... Look I want to help you, but how would I do that without knowing anything about you. Sorry if I'm pushing you but please tell me something about yourself."

he pleaded and Jun felt guilty for not letting Yeon know about himself, Yeon was already helping him a lot. He deserves to know...at least some things, rest is not needed. Jun nodded towards Yeon and took a deep breath to start his not so interesting story.

"I'm 20yrs old and I live in Seoul. I've only studied till high school but couldn't continue any further. My parents.... tricked me by saying they couldn't afford my studies when they allowed my elder siblings to carry on their studies. Yuri my eldest sister...she would always pick on me and Seong my elder brother. He allowed me to sleep with him in his room as I never had one. But I would sometimes end up on the couch as my brother would kick me out, he would get disturbed because of my nightmares."

Jun took a deep breath again and looked at Yeon to see if he still wants to hear more, the gaint gave a small nod as if he read his mind and Jun continued.

"umm yeah so... I would do all types of household chores in that house... Like a slave. I was not alone though...I had Jiho, my best friend and my grandma, they are the only one's who cared about me. But I never got to go out or roam around with Jiho without my mom's permission, which if I think about I never got one. If anytime I would walk out without asking them, they would....bea- Beat me with belts or I would receive kicks on my stomach. I endured it all as they were still my family, and I did love them after all. Whenever Jiho would find me with those bruises and scars he would always ask me to move with him, but I couldn't do that. That would risk his life as I know my mother, she would do anything to get me back to that hell. Right now she has started her search for me already. That day when I met you... Was the day when all the pain became unbearable for me and I just ran away."

Jun didn't realize that tears had already started to fall from his eyes on his clenched fists causing, all those memories to rush back to him and engulfing him in fear. Yeon who was just listening to Jun without a word was shocked that he didn't realize a tear left his eyes too. Without thinking much the gaint pulled Jun for a tight embrace. The brunette was so shocked that his eyes became big as Jiho. Yeon placed a hand on Jun's back and moved it back and forth in an attempt to soothe out the fear and pain for Jun.

"I'm sorry if me raising a question made you remember all those horrible things. I would protect you no matter what. Trust me"

Jun smiled as he heard the gaint and pulled out of the hug slowly.

"thank you Yeon... you are a good person. But I don't want to risk your life for me. Just give me some time I'll move out soon "

Yeon furrowed his brows at Jun and shakes his head

 "no, you are not going anywhere. Nothing will happen to anyone don't worry. I'm here"

Yeon smiled as he placed his hand on Jun giving a small squeeze making Jun smile a bit. Isuel came running to Yeon and sat on his lap indicating that the puppy was tired and both the boys busted out laughed at his cuteness.

"let's get going... it's getting late and we should buy dinner today to celebrate your Job."

Yeon said as he stood up and waited for Jun to do so.  

Yeon and Jun parked in front of a restaurant and decided to take out some pizzas and pastries. Jun waited in the car with Isuel in his arms sound asleep as Yeon walked inside to get the orders. Jun felt his phone vibrating, pulling out his phone. He thought it would be Hwa calling him for food but as he noticed the caller name, he froze, he didn't understand what to do.

"Jiho calling"

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