There's an Easy Cure for Loneliness
For what must have been the fifth time in the past hour, Jimin found his eyes drifting to the stranger in the corner.
There was a beanie jammed over his ears – it was still pretty cold and the heating in the café where Jimin worked was practically non-existent – and a notebook in front of him that he’d been steadily writing in for the entire time he’d been here.
He’d come into the café just after 2pm and now, at 7:45, he’d barely moved. The guy had ordered a drink twice and gone to the bathroom once, but that was about it.
Today was Valentine’s Day. Most of the customers had been cute couples or groups of friends. This guy was the only person on his own. Scratch that, he was the only person in the building who didn’t work there.
It shouldn’t really have bothered Jimin. Not everyone was in a relationship – he himself wasn’t – so Valentine’s Day mustn’t be that important to him.
But sometimes when Jimin had glanced over, the guy had been staring out of the window, an impossibly sad expression on his face.
There could be any number of reasons for that expression, it could even be his resting face, but it still gnawed away at Jimin.
Just before he had to announce closing time, he finally caved. Closing could wait.
Grabbing a slice of chocolate cake and a fork from behind the counter, Jimin wandered over to the guy’s table and placed them in front of him.
“Here you go,” he said, offering a small smile.
The guy’s head snapped up, instantly wary. His eyes flicked between the cake and Jimin.
“How much?” The guy asked, his voice deeper than Jimin was expecting.
Jimin smiled, shaking his head. “It’s on the house.”
As the guy picked up the fork, Jimin slid into the seat opposite him. Half-expecting the guy to tell him to leave, he was surprised when he just dug into the cake instead.
When he’d finished, he spoke again.
Jimin chose not to lie. “You seemed lonely.”
“Wonder where you got that idea,” the guy said bitterly.
“I could keep you company?” Jimin wasn’t sure why he wanted to help so much, but he knew a person in need when he saw one.
Hesitantly, the guy nodded. “Yoongi,” he muttered. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” Jimin said brightly. He smiled widely. “Jimin. Nice to meet you!”
For some reason, talking came easily to them.
They talked about everything and nothing, from hopes and dreams to whether they were cat or dog people (after seeing a picture of Yoongi’s dog, Jimin was tempted to change his allegiance).
Even when Jimin closed up the café, they stayed together.
Yoongi had seemed concerned that Jimin would leave, but the smile that brightened his face when Jimin suggested they go for a walk was just enough to make warmth glow in Jimin’s chest..
And so, Valentine’s Day became that little bit less lonely.
