The Nerdy Librarian

Naomi's POV

"Good morning, welcome to Little Café." I greeted the first customer that arrived early this morning and bowed my head a little after I opened the door for him. I was confused as to why he's not entering the shop and his feet stayed in front of me. Then he turned to face me so I looked up and saw a pair of rounded doe eyes looking at me with nothing but dull in them.

It's Lucas, the young man librarian who works at the library two blocks away from this coffee shop. He's our regular customer and always requests for the same cup of cappuccino. I'm actually amazed that he never missed a single day of dropping by in this shop to have his cup of coffee.

He was a good looking young man but he's a nerd, always wearing thick eyeglasses, a cheap shirt and jeans paired with cheap sneakers. I know about fashion because I graduated with a Bachelor of fashion design in one of the biggest universities in Seoul. So I have the right to judge his everyday outfit.

"Morning, Naomi." He greeted me back but his face didn't even change. I'm not complaining about it, I don't care if he doesn't know how to smile but at least he knows how to greet back.

"Alright, just please wait at the table and I'll prepare your drink." I said and smiled at him before walking back behind the counter and starting making his cappuccino.

"He's here again." Nathan, one of my co-workers whispered to me while he was tying the apron around his waist. "I'm already convinced that he likes you." He whispered again.

I snorted and rolled my eyes playfully before I proceeded to make a little design on top of the cappuccino foam.

"Do you want to have a bet with me?" He asked again.

"A bet about what?" I asked without looking at him as I was focused on what I was doing. I love creating designs, especially that I know every customer appreciates my work of art in their coffees.

"That he likes you." Nathan said.

"Can we just accept the fact that he loves our coffee that's why he always drops by here?" I said as I chuckled and transferred the cup in a tray. "Give it to him." I said but Nathan shook his head.

"You give it to him." He said and he went behind me and pushed me carefully out of the counter before he walked back in front of the cashier and started taking orders.

I rolled my eyes at him when she winked at me before I proceeded to give the coffee. "Here's your drink, thank you for waiting." I said as I put the coffee in front of Lucas, who's looking outside the window.

"Thanks." He coldly said without even sparing me a glance.

"You're welcome." I replied with a forced smile on my lips. I turned my heels and walked back to the counter with a frown on my face.

"What happened?" Nathan asked when he saw me.

"Nothing." I replied with a shrug of my shoulders and helped him make the orders in a sticky note stuck on the board in front of us.

"So did he confess?"

"You're crazy." I hissed and turned my back at him. "He didn't like me, stop pushing that objective."

"I'm not convinced. I'm also a guy, so I know that he likes you so you can't tell me otherwise." He replied.

"Whatever, if that is what helps you sleep at night, then think about it but don't include me in your delusions." I said.

I turned around after I finished one order and called the customer's name in a small microphone next to the register. My eyes unintentionally landed on Lucas when a customer next to him stood up and he was looking at me. I pretended that I didn't see him and I smiled at the guy customer when he made his way to me to get his order.

"Thank you." The guy said. I was about to make another order but the guy spoke again which made me stop from leaving the counter and leaned over a bit to make sure that he's talking to me, maybe he's adding another order. "Hey, I'm Mark."

"Uh hi Mark? What can I help you with?" I asked politely.

"I was just wondering if you have plans after your shift?" He asked, showing his perfectly 32 white teeth to me.

"Really? Early this morning?" I asked ludicrously. "Look Sir, not to be rude. But isn't it too early to find yourself a girl? Just drink your coffee and have a great day." I said and quickly turned around. I heard Nathan giggled but I decided to ignore him and continue my job.

After an hour, I noticed Lucas stood up from his seat and gave me a quick glance before leaving his table. I don't know why I kept following him with my eyes until he exited the shop. Then he stayed outside, looked up while stretching his arms above his head.

I smiled at that. It makes me so proud that I could help him to start his great day to keep the books clean in the city library as a librarian. As soon as he took one step, a bunch of guy in a black suits ran inside the coffee shop. They drew attention from the customers when they got in, then one of them pointed to a guy who tried to flirt with me earlier.

"Take him out of here." A man who seemed to be their boss, said. His men proceeded to drag the guy out of the coffee shop and shoved him inside a black SUV and they drove off.

"What the hell was that?" Nathan asked as we were both shocked while looking outside.

"I.. don't know." I mumbled. My gaze shifted to Lucas who's still standing in his spot earlier, as if he doesn't have any idea what happened inside a shop after he left. I thought that he was already gone but I was surprised to see him still standing there after he took a step earlier to leave.

"He's the guy who tried to hit you, right?" Nathan asked again.

"Yeah."

"Then do you know those guys?"

"No!" I shook my head furiously. "Let's just assume that he did something wrong and they took him to let him pay for what he did." I said dismissively and apologised to all the customers for what happened.

"Jeez, this place is getting scarier because of those thugs." Nathan said while shaking his head.

Actually I couldn't disagree with him. There are lot of bad people these days and they keep creating troubles around the city. Mafias, gangs and all of the associations that did nothing but illegal stuff. It's still a good thing to live like an ordinary person here, no reason to be one of those and get inside their messy world.

My shift continued for four hours without fail of having a guy trying to hit on me. I'm actually used to it since I'm not just an average woman. I have good looks and perfect body proportions. But I'm not looking for a boyfriend, I'm looking for a bigger job because it's such a waste if I'm not going to use what I learned from the university.

But unfortunately, I haven't received any calls from all the companies where I applied. I'm hoping that one day, my phone will ring and tell me that I passed the first step and will have an interview with them. I hope one day.

"I'll get going!" I yelled to Nathan and Charlotte, the employee that will take over my position since I finished my shift for today.

I grabbed my bag and went out the backdoor. My phone vibrates inside my pocket, so I excitedly fished it out and frowned when I saw my mom's number on the screen.

"What?" I asked after I answered her call.

"You don't sound happy talking to me." She scoffed from the other line and I know that she rolled her eyes after she said that.

"Just tell me what you want, I have to keep my line clear." I said.

"Do you have extra money?" She said and I'm not even surprised that she will just call me to ask if I have money.

"My payroll is by the end of the month, so no." I replied and was about to hang up but she spoke again.

"Please Naomi, I need your help. There are guys who keep coming to our apartment and they will kill me if I don't pay them back!"

"That's not even my problem! You did that to yourself mom, why would you drag me into your mess?"

"You are my child! I gave birth to you so it's your job to help me!" She growled.

"Did you even ask me if I wanted to be born?!" I shouted and hung up. "Damn it!" I groaned frustratedly and was thinking about throwing the phone on the ground but I remember that I don't have money to buy a new one.

I sighed deeply and slumped down my shoulders. I don't want to go home, but I don't have any place to go as of this moment. My cousin Jamie is in another country because her boss sent her to a conference meeting and she told me that she'll arrive late. Jamie is the only person that has a place to accept me in this situation. So without her, I have nothing to go to.

I walked down the street without any idea where I was heading. Until I saw the city library, I looked up and twitched my lips. "I guess Lucas wouldn't mind if I spent the day in his workplace." I said and with slumped shoulders, I walked inside the library.

I didn't see Lucas, but I saw a lot of students inside, holding a book and studying. I looked for a vacant table and luckily found one at the farthest corner where Lucas won't see me if he comes back to his place behind the long counter. I walked to the table, put down my bag and walked straight to the shelf, grabbed some books that I'm not familiar with and went back to my table. I opened one book and hid my face in between, lay my head onto the table and shut my eyes.

I drifted off to sleep and didn't notice the time. I don't know how long I was sleeping if it wasn't for a light tap on my shoulder that awakened me. I brought my head up and looked at the person who tapped my shoulder.

"I'm going to close the library." Lucas said softly.

"What?" I asked, as if I didn't hear what he said.

"It's 9 PM." He said while tapping at his watch. I don't know if I'm still groggy or what, but I'm sure as hell that Lucas watch is not cheap. That's a Bvlgari serpenti seduttori watch, which cost 30,900 dollars. I blinked my eyes and titled my head while staring at his watch. He noticed it and he quickly hid his arm behind him.

"Wait, how did you afford a watch like that?" I asked in disbelief as I looked up to meet his doe eyes.

"Uh this?" Lucas showed me his watch and I nodded my head. "This is fake, I bought it for 10 dollars."

"Oh, really?" I asked confusedly then I laughed. "Right, how could you buy such a costly watch if you were just working here." I said and I stood up. I picked up all the books and he offered some help to put it back from where I took it. Then we both leave the library.

"Don't you have a house to sleep at?" Lucas asked after he locked the doors and we both started to walk. "That's a library, not a bedroom."

"Haven't you ever experienced sleeping at the library?" I asked back.

"No, because I know the difference between a bed and a library." He replied mockingly.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes playfully. "I'm living in an apartment with my mom." I said, I noticed him looking at me but didn't say anything so I continued. "But lately, there are a lot of men looking for her and keep invading our privacy."

"Who are they?" He asked.

"I don't know, my mom is a gambler so that explains those guys." I shrugged my shoulders.

"It's dangerous for you to stay in that apartment, you should know that." I could feel the concern in Lucas' voice and I'm thankful for that. But what else can I do? I can't leave my mom alone after my dad passed away three years ago in a tragedy after the construction site he was working in suddenly collapsed while they were underneath the building.

"I know." I chuckled dryly. "That's why I'm looking for another job."

"What job?" He asked. We already reached the half of the way to where I live but he seems don't have any plan to stop walking with me, which is we never even talked about that he'll walk me home.

"Are you familiar with LM fashion incorporation?" I asked, looking up to him with my eyes twinkling just by saying the name of my dream company.

"Uh no." Lucas chuckled which made me frown and slapped his arm lightly.

"What a nerd." I hissed and pouted my lips. "That's the biggest fashion company in Seoul!"

"And you applied there?"

"Yeah and unfortunately I haven't got any response from them." I sighed sadly.

"You know, I may have a bit of an idea about that company. My brother mentioned to me that he's working there." Lucas rubbed her chin while he's looking up in the dark sky as if he's trying to recall something in his mind. Then he looked down at me. "Do you want me to ask him to help you get into that company?"

"Oh my God! For real?!" I exclaimed while covering my mouth in excitement. "But wait, what's your brother's position in that company?" I asked.

"Janitor."

"Oh nevermind. I'll just wait for the company to call me." I dismissed and we both continued our walk. I felt happiness for five seconds but immediately deflated when he told me his brother's job in that company.

What can a janitor do to help me get into that big company? Nothing.

"I'm still going to ask him." He said and I stopped walking, turned around to face him and smiled.

"Thank you for walking me home and for trying to offer some help, also for letting me sleep in the library." I then extend my arm at him. "I'm Naomi Kim." I introduced myself. I know it's unnecessary since we both know each other as customers and staff in the coffee shop.

Lucas looked down to my hand and I could tell that he hesitated to take it but he still did and reached for my hand. Lucas Manoban." We did a handshake before I smiled at him for the last time and I walked inside the building of our apartment. Lucas stayed in his spot and watched me walk inside.

By the time I arrived at the third floor where our unit was designated, I looked down to check if he's still there and was surprised to see him still standing in the place where I left him and he's looking up to me. He waved his hand in the air and I laughed but did the same thing. I heard the door behind me creak open, and when I looked back, my eyes widened to see a bunch of guys walking out from our apartment.

One guy quickly grabbed me but another one stopped him from doing so and they both looked down. I'm guessing that they are afraid that someone might see them doing a crime, which is why I'm thankful that Lucas stayed on his spot and saved me from these guys. After I got an opportunity, I pushed the guy and ran inside our apartment and locked the door and dialed 112, which led to the police station.

While I'm waiting for the operator to transfer me to the police station, I leaned my ear at the door and heard nothing behind me. So I think they already left. I peeked at the peephole and saw no one so I ended the call just before the operator could transfer me and I leaned my back to the door weakly and trembling.

"I hate this life!" I mumbled and I started to cry.

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