#category: thread

“Welcome to the store.“ He greeted the other while placing Scarla onto her box so that she will not disturb the customer that just walked in. “How may I help you for the day?“ That inquiry quickly followed his greeting. “Are you here for specific books or some art supplies?“ The closing time was inching closer and it would have sucked for the customer to witness the arrival of his gang members eventually forming alibi to whatever could have happened for the night. The earlier that he ushered this customer away, the easier his life would be.

“oh darling, i could really really patch you up while you are eating but cleaning up wound stings and i am sure of all people, you would know about this.“ he began while writing the drugs he needed-- He had been treating an old lady’s wound as the from her uncontrolled diabetes and in this city where earning a living is quite a hurdle, it was natural that she could not afford her medications. “i could ruin your time enjoying the cake if that is what you want.“ he chuckled after ending his statement. “rest assured that i won’t be eating your portion since i am full from my delicious pavlovas.“ 

 “you see, i need about 60 units of Glargine, why so much? Don’t ask. As for your pain relief, it is your medication, I am suggesting you to take Ponstan but if you can’t find it, search mefenamic acid and take as much as you need.“ He circled the names. “Quite a heavy job but you’re smart and I know you can do it.“ a form of encouragement for a win-win situation. “If you can grab five vials of Lidocaine would be fantastic too.” He sighed after. “That is about it.” He smiled at yeji.

It was a dull night; For once, the operating book shop that runs from 9AM to 5PM finally seen its day that closes at 4PM so that Shiori could sneak himself out early and so-called give him a rest day that he claimed he truly needed. Going home saw the male changing into something more comfortable and relaxing rather than a tie and slack that he often portrayed in the store.

Dashing out of his safe haven shifted his view into a bar in which he happily approached someone that have been familiar to him as of late. “Can I get two Cosmos?” He requested of the bartender then taking a seat next to the person of his interest. “Got a feeling that you would be here and I was right? Lucky me.” Shiori laughed to himself. 

“What were you up to? Scoring some dates that you know you might get or nope?“ He playfully threw that joke in Min’s way with the sole intention to make the vibe lighter than it was already is (or was he getting the signal wrong?).

Shiori remembered the first few months after his license retraction, he could not effort to sleep well and often times consumed by the waking in wee hours but ever since he had opened up a bookstore in Barae, he has found a reason to be tired-- Being in the gang’s mission also send him to be tired as well. So he has reason to sleep. However today, he was consumed by the sudden guilt that sent him awake even if he was bloody tired hence the reason why he took a stroll into the night but somehow... he ended up in a cinema. With a stab on his wallet considering it is past five pm.

“Thank you for shopping with us.“ Shiori bid goodbye whilst handling his lady customer her items then proceeded to wave at her child who seemed to just recently know how to walk. 

Well, if he remembered correctly, the two were not the only customer that had walked in to purchase items here-- there was another one, a tall male that he might have overlooked his departure or might have not so he left his cashier to skim over the aisles -- Ah! There he is!

“Well, what honor do I have to entertain a customer like you?“ It always that at any given time, when a customer such as this man walks into his store, it sends Shiori to be on his feet as he does not know what service could be given for this patron as his bookstore is not as established as the ones they have in the city. “I mean in a good way, of course.“ Shiori deemed it was best to slide that in so no misunderstanding will fog between the two. “Or are you lost like most people from the city?“ Now he slipped another joke. 

Throughout his almost thirty years of living, Shiori never even once thought that he might be holding a pistol towards someone’s head -- He never thought that day was today. He wondered what triggered him to breach into the field instead of staying in the sideline, where he was best suited there to be in to help his injured members but something was fishy, something was off and something was telling him that he should be on the move from his station -- Because everything felt that he was compromised from the get-go.