I don't know how I got through the day but I did. I completed my classes, stayed at the library for an extra hour to complete some worksheets, went home, helped out at the restaurant, went to tutor the student I had to teach, and then came back home for a quick snack followed by a quick change of clothes into the Hive uniform and then came in for my shift at Hive.
The next day, I woke up, went to school, completed classes, avoided going to lunch, went home, to a restaurant, tutored, and Hive slept.
Repeat.
I managed to avoid the Royals successfully for the rest of the week.
Beomgyu had tracked my Instagram account and kept asking me questions but I think even he understood that he would not get an answer from me so he resorted to sending me memes that he found funny.
I had asked Saehi to not tell San about our conversation and she promised but I am sure San understood something was up with me because I wasn't speaking about anything to him.
Even when he and Woojin made plans for the weekend, I declined their invitations.
I got a text from San telling me that he will drop by during my shift to talk to me at Hive. Thankfully the last customer was out and it wouldn't be too bad if I closed up a little early.
I didn't like taking the closing shift again and again at the Hive but this was my only opening slot. The parents of the student I tutor agreed to hike my pay after learning that I was going to Royals High now and that was the reason I could afford to let go of the chicken delivery job.
But the hike wasn't enough for me to leave Hive as well.
I am drained both mentally and physically.
The dull headache that formed at the base of my forehead ever since I got to know about the Royals has been persistent, like a nail drilling into my skull, and refuses to go away no matter how many pills I take.
And my muscles are strained beyond their breaking point by riding my bicycle all day because the delivery boy at the noodle restaurant called in sick today.
I can't wait to go home, take a hot shower and just sleep this day away.
Maybe sleep the week away.
Maybe I can wake up to a work-free weekend tomorrow but the chances are less. However, I'd still like to live in my bubble and think that I am like most high school kids who enjoy their weekends without studies and work and go out with friends to have a good time.
I text my mother letting her know that I'll be home soon as I wipe the last counter and pulls the chairs up.
I go through my routine and check everything before taking the trash out.
I hesitate a little when I am near the trash can, my eyes wandering behind them, searching when I scold myself.
Get a hold of yourself, Yuri, what are you doing?
Yeonjun didn't show up here after my talk with Saehi. I am happy about it. I am, then why was I searching for him?
I shake my head, dump the trash, and walk back in.
I was just worried that if he showed up, I'll have to go home late. And I don't want that because I am tired and hungry and I wanted to do anything but entertain any more customers.
That's it.
"Oh my God!" I shriek when I see a silhouette sitting on the counter with their feet dangling in the air.
"Chill, It's me" the faintly familiar voice calls out as the person jumps down and walks towards me, their laughter echoing as I slide down the doorframe clutching my chest, hoping my heart didn't go into cardiac arrest.
"Wow, I didn't think I would get such a big reaction from you, it's funny though," he said as he extended his hand to me, his blue contacts lit up with that same mischief that I saw in them the first time I met him.
"It wasn't funny Beomgyu" I take his hand and get up, dusting the invisible dirt on my uniform.
"It was to me" he shrugs and puts his hands in his pocket. That is when I notice him.
He still has the same haircut but the silver streaks I usually see on his hair are missing. He dyed his hair, and given the look of it, styled it professionally.
And instead of his usual uniform or the baggy graphic t-shirts, I have seen him in, tonight he is in a well-tailored suit, charcoal black with a white shirt and a maroon tie.
He is dressed up.
There is an intricate design with gold tread on the lapels of his blazers and when he pulls out his hand to run it through his hair, I spot the gold cufflink with a cursive 'C' on it.
He is wearing maroon socks and shiny black shoes. He looks put together and effortless without trying. He looks extremely handsome and a little older than his age. He looks out of place here.
Why is he so dressed up?
And why is he here?
As if reading my mind, he smiles at me, eyeing me up and down.
He has already seen me in this uniform before so I don't mind it and plus I am so tired, I couldn't give a rat's ass about what he thought.
After knowing about them, it was easy to distance me from them because I could alter the feeling of dissociation from them.
I mean they were the Royals.
I understood why people of weary of talking about them. After knowing their history and lineage, even I am weary about discussing it with anyone.
The constant nagging in my head that I might say something inappropriate or do something inappropriate haunts me. And it's not like I have a great track record with anyone of them.
"You didn't come to the party," he says more of a statement than a question.
I look at him quizically for a minute before the fog in my brain clears as today's date comes to my mind.
Today is Friday.
Today is the date of the fundraiser.
The invitation.
Soobin.
Beomgyu.
Yeonjun.
The Choi Group.
My head spins just thinking about it again, even though I am just replaying what I already know and what has happened already.
"You got the invite, didn't you? Soobin invited you to the afterparty we have right? Did he not give you the address? He said he did. Did he not?" he asks and I just shake my head.
"I am just not a party person. How'd you find me anyway?" I ask diverting the topic.
"I saw you were not there at the party, and I knew you work here till late since you were the one who closed the shop last time so I gave it a shot. Good thing I did cause I found you" he smiles and it makes him look oddly sweet.
Like he is just another high school boy.
"You even missed the song I sang at the fundraiser. Your advice helped me write it and many people complimented me on it as well" He pouts and stares at me.
I swallow and look around the shop, avoiding eye contact with him.
"Well, as I mentioned earlier, I am not a big party person. And I also had to work here" I shrug.
"Couldn't you have taken one night off?" he asks innocently but his words only lay a firmer foundation for my dissociation.
As if reading my expression, Beomgyu looks at me with guilt and apology but doesn't voice it out.
"Anyway, I am closing so you should-"
"Yuri, where are you?" San's voice called out as he entered the shop. I had turned off most of the lights so I knew he wouldn't be able to see me.
"Yuri- What are you doing here?" San echos once his eyes fix on Beomgyu.
"Ever so nice to meet you San" Beomgyu does a formal bow and San just looks uncomfortable. He looks at me, eyes asking me a silent question but there isn't anything to tell him.
"As I was saying earlier Beomgyu, I am closing up so you should -" I don't get to finish my sentence again.
"Great, you can come to the party then" Beomgyu smiles at me, his icy blue contacts shining with the returned mischief.
"She's not going to any party with you" San grabs my wrist and pulls me a little towards him as he glares at Beomgyu.
The shift is slight, almost negligible, and fleeting but I notice it.
Beomgyu's eyes narrow slightly and the corner of his lips curve up into a smirk, his demeanor changing in an instant but he covers it up quickly and returns to his usual smiling self.
But I noticed the change and it reminded me awfully a lot of a pink-haired boy with the same expression. The only difference was that Beomgyu could easily cover it up whereas Yeonjun wore it as his universal face.
I shivered at the retuning thought that they are brothers.
"First of all, save your attitude for Taehyun. Don't go all bitchy on me, I will not take it kindly-" Is there an underlying threat in his words or am I just imagining stuff?
But given how San tenses beside me, I am sure I am not imagining it.
"And as for Yuri, I think she is more than capable of making her own decisions" he smiles condescendingly at San, even though San is older than him.
"Yuri, let's go. Lock up, you're coming with me" San tugs my arm again but before I can take a step another arm wraps around my free hand.
"No, you're coming with me" Beomgyu glares at San.
Shit.