"Thank you for coming!" You say bowing politely towards another two costumers, with some relief, as they exist the cafe hand in hand. You watch them leave, suddenly feeling a little lonely at the sight of the couple as they smile lovingly at one another. With a sigh you turn around.

It had been quite a long day. You had underestimated the potential workload when you had traded in a half day for a full day of work. Now you felt stupid as you think back to your naïve sense of enthusiasm at the thought of working. You roll your shoulders back and forth feeling the pain of your sore muscles as they cry out for you to stop and take a break.

There's no time for that now. You clean out the recently vacant table and carry the dishes to join the heaping pile of dirty dishes. Minho stands before the sink, yellow rubber gloves covering his hands as he scrubs the dishes with a foaming sponge. He drops the sponge and grips the sink seeing you carrying in more dishes.

"I can't feel my hands anymore," He says while shaking his hands. He clenches them into fists then opens his hands wide to stretch his fingers. You apologetically smile at him, you got him into this after all. "Please tell me we're nearing closing time."

"15 minutes more! You can do this!" You say cheerfully.

"You dragged me into this rabbit hole." He whines.

"I'm sorry. I already feel bad, okay!" You look down apologetically. "Why don't I buy you dinner to make it up to you?"

"Sounds great. I already feel better." You chuckle as his bright smile. It's amazing what food could do to make a man happy. Taking his gloves off he tosses them aside. "I can finish this up later, I'll help you out there first."

10 minutes later the bell at the entrance rings as the last of the customers leave. You rush to the door with newfound energy only to put up the 'closed' sign up. Letting out a sigh of relief you walk to a table Minho is seated at and throw yourself into a chair.

"We did it. We actually did it!" You huff out unable to believe how your body could have endured so much.

"My face hurts from smiling so much." He massages his cheeks. "What were you even thinking when you agreed to do this?"

"I guess it's fair to say I wasn't thinking." Leaning you head back you feel your body begin to relax into the chair. Your eye lids suddenly feel like lead, so you close them.

"Come on. We're not done working." You groan as Minho grabs hold of your wrist and pulls you up to a standing position. "I need to check the inventory, I'll be in the storeroom. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Aye aye captain," You salute making him chuckle. He ruffles your already messy hair before disappearing into the back of the cafe.

You move from table to table trying to get as many dishes and cups onto the tray to minimise the trips back and forth. Your arms finally give out as you place the tray on the sink with less care than you have intended. As you get to get to cleaning the white dishes, you think you hear the bell ring signalling the front door opening. For a moment, you stop everything and just listen trying to pick up any sound to confirm what you had heard before.

Quickly wiping your hands on your apron you jog to the front and see a man standing looking around the cafe. He has his back to you. Your mind freezes for a minute finding the form of the man all too familiar. He has on black skinny jeans and a green bomber jacket. You tilt your head to the side trying to place him. Who is he?

"I'm sorry. We're closed-"

He turns around having heard your voice, a small smile on his lips. As his eyes take you in his lips part in shock, the smile disappearing.

It can't be.. No.. It can't.

Your heart stops, paralysing your whole body. You can't breathe. You can't move. You can't...

He opens his mouth then shuts it again. You shake your head wanting this dream to end. You take a staggering step behind until you feel a piercing pain in the small of your back because of walking into a table nearby. You wince from the pain but it's not worse than the pain in your chest.

"Y/N..." His voice is so gentle when he utters your name. You'd forgotten what it sounded like.. it had been so long. "It's really you, isn't it?" He asks a slight tremor underlining his voice.

Tears form in your eyes, blurring your slight. You blink and feel a few tears escape sliding down your cheek. He notices and moves closer to you. Instructively, you take another step back. Wrapping his arms around you he pulls you closer. In that moment all the running away and hiding seems in vain.

"I'm so glad you're all right.. and safe. I was worried sick for you." He breathes against your hair. You immediately melt into his embrace. As your sobs begin to rock your whole body he tightens his hold on you which only makes it harder to control the tsunami of emotions twisting in you.

"I'm so sorry." You croak out the words you've wanted to tell him for so long.

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