➴ mansion

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ I’m 28.
/returning the gaze as I see you judging me, I listen to your words before shaking my head, taking a peek at you properly before looking down to my hands.
Not really, I now have someone I want to work hard for.
/nods at your latter sentence, I got the sensing of your lonely lifestyle, being not much different from the first time I met you.
Well, since you’re here, do you want to have some omelet?
/walks to the fridge to check out what ingredients are there.

@✶ kim youngdae Internship- how old are you again? *eyes you down judgementally obviously I dont see you looking that young to be an intern*
You seem quite enslaved. But thats just me. Kudos to you. *shrugs a shoulder and leans my against the counter*
Hmm, not really. I always think of food and sleep. I like those. All what I live for in this enclosed space really.

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /considers my answer to your next set of questions as I walk with you.
I guess it’s a long term internship? Until the boss retires? Trapped there for life, really.
/halt my track when I see you pausing, looking at the all too familiar kitchen.
Ah, I see. Thank you.
/steps into the kitchen area after you, pretending to look around as if it’s my first time.
We usually don’t think about basic needs until we need it. That’s why humans tend to do, no?

@✶ kim youngdae *oblivious about your hurt reaction to me setting boundaries of contact between us, I continue toward the kitchen as we chat*
But you didnt deny being unemployed. What kinda job doesn't pay you? Why you staying if no salary?
Well, maybe you should've thought that over before coming here, no? *pauses at the entrance of the kitchen, raising a brow at you, not seeing any reason to pity you*
Here. *nods toward the kitchen and get inside first*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /noticed your action before pursing my lips for a moment, feeling a little hurt but trying not to show. Follow closely behind you as I let you navigate, replying to your questions.
Well, I don’t receive a salary, if that’s what you’re curious about. And since I’m already here, can’t I just grab a bite? You know that it takes a long while to get out to the city from here, right?

@✶ kim youngdae I know what you just said, I meant are you /unemployed/? Cant you afford food? Is this a charity?
*glances down when you nudge my arm and I simply bring my arm closer to my body and wordlessly walk ahead toward the kitchen, feeling nice enough for that*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ Did you forgot what I said? I’m very free.
/gets up from the couch, approaching you and reaching my palm towards the back of your elbow to nudge you to the doorway.
Sheesh, don’t be so stingy with food. Now, where’s the kitchen?

@✶ kim youngdae Nah, I'll pass. *raises hand dismissively, I stand up and take couple of steps toward the exit before I pause at your words*
Are you here feasting on our food too? Dont you have a job or food at home? Do they let in here just about anyone?

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /shrugs my shoulders at your questions, deciding to keep it short as you probably wouldn't believe me if I were to explain.
You can ask around if you are curious enough.
/watches you seemingly preparing to leave, wonders what I could do to spend a little more time with you.
Well, I'd let you be but I'm getting a little hungry. Anything to eat or drink around here?

@✶ kim youngdae *raises a brow when I see you covering your mouth and fighting back a laughter which rather irritates me, wondering whats so funny about what I just said*
Eh? How come you are allowed here then? And awwh the higher ups are worried about me? Last time I checked they were worried for their customers. *snickers and settles with a lopsided smirk, recalling couple of moments where they were worried of my behavior and attitude with customers, telling you indirectly Im no easy catch nor to with*
Not necessarily. *shuts down your advances(?), I casually reply and swing my legs off the couch ready to stand up and leave*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /looking at how adorably funny you look when your face scrunches up into the look of sourness, I cover my laugh with my palm, as if finding your words funny. Remembering the staff’s words to not force a memory, I decided towards making you curious to find things out yourself.
As if it’s easy to verbally shut that door. Unfortunately or fortunately for you, I’m such a /bad/ customer that the higher up won’t allow me to trial you (anymore).
/with my head tilting against my palm once again to look at how serious you look next while you seem to be thinking, I took the time to consider my words.
If you need space, I can provide that. But leaving you alone? I’m afraid that’s not possible.
/pausing again, wanting to end with something romantic to disgust you even more but choose another route. I lean back and slouch against the couch.
Because I’m waaaaaay too free. And with how you’re secretly not doing your job, you must be free too. So two available people should spent time together.
/leaving it as a statement rather than a question, feeling proud of myself for adding a double meaning before I peek up at you for your facial expression.

@✶ kim youngdae *cant help but scrunch up my face in disgust at your words and exaggerate a shudder of my shoulders to display my cringe*
How hopeless and pathetically romantic. But yeah, if your eyes o h only at me why didnt you put some effort into it and trial me? *pauses the judgement to snicker out a cheekily*
Ah right, I shut that door on you. *smirking, I refer to how I told you to find other boyfriends to trial*
Awwh, are you? Sorry, not my intention. I dont care that much to purposefully hurt you. *shrugs a shoulder sassily then listens to your question and I purse my lips in doubt*
Whats beneficial to me is leaving me alone. *nods at that but keeps within my chest my longing for my last lover (jongsuk)- or at least a closure from them. As thats where my memory stops currently*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ True. Doubt you’d believe me if I were to say that these eyes of mine have been looking only at you for quite some time now.
/glances down to your shrug as I hear you giving a vague response, my gaze went up to your facial expressions to hear the next sentence. Pausing to form my reply, my gaze left your face towards the environment before me.
Such overgeneralisation. I feel hurt by your words.
/briefly brings my palm over my chest to clutch on my attire.
Then what if one day you meet someone whose motive towards you is beneficial to you. For example, what you have always been looking for. What happens next?
/asking to gauge how jaded you were to get a sensing of what approach I should adopt.

@✶ kim youngdae You know yourself, im not to dictate you what you are thinking. *leaves my own thoughts of your thoughts ambiguous, I shrug a shoulder sassily then pause at your words that hit a spot but I roll my eye and chuckle instead*
People are selfish with ulterior motives Im afraid. Unfortunate you are people as well. *indirectly refers to how you have ulterior motives and I dont trust you*

@❅ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ What kinda look am I giving?
/questions you with a raised brow before hearing your latter statement. Chuckling at your words, I directed a couple other questions to you.
What if it’s a curious concern? Has no one ever been curious about how you truly felt before?

Not me, but you. They expose you. *despite my confident words like usual, Im still far away from knowing/remembering the look of love in your eyes instead of usual lust in customers eye*
Hmmm, not really. That question is usually meaningless and if anything is out of politeness and Im not interested in small talks.

My eyes? What were my eyes exposing you to?
/rolls my eyes, feeling a sense of nostalgia to the action when I see you shrugging your shoulder.
Why? Would you rather some other questions?
/props my elbow on the armrest and rest my chin on my palm.

You not making any single effort to deny it and your eyes kinda expose you too. *shrugs sassily and uncross my legs, stretching them on the couch instead*
Are we starting normal pleasantries now?

/settles back down on the couch I’m leaning against.
You are free to interpret however you like.
/peeking back at you, still concerned about the previous state I saw you in.
How are you feeling?

All I hear is you are confirming you are one of those customers, Mister. *holding your gaze with amused smirk of my own but my brow goes higher when you suddenly let go of the intense eye contact*

Someone as smart as yourself would know how customers would think, no?
/attempts to challenge you and look straight into your eyes but adverted my gaze at the last moment, looking away instead.

*taking another bite, I pause hearing your words and glance down at my minimal attire*
How would they think otherwise?

/your words took me back to the previous time you said the exact sentence, to which I raised my brows at you.
One would have thought otherwise, when you’re in that robe.

*takes bite or my banana and watch you getting closer, I scoot to the edge of the seat and rest my elbow against my crossed legs to peek at you*
Why? Distracting much?
Its summer now and hot. Robes feel pretty and freeing.

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/figured I should act out the part where I couldn’t hear, I stood up from the couch and step closer towards you. Moving close enough, yet also giving a good amount of space, I leaned against an armrest of another couch.
Why are you dressed like this when you’re out and about?

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*noticing you looking down to my legs, I raise a brow*
Yes I was saying my face is up here. You aren't so subtle. What? So driven you cant see legs? Of course. We had many customers of your kind. Thinking they are here for es.

/notices you taking a seat far away and your mannerisms but refrain myself from getting up and adjust your clothes, trying to do what the scientist advised. Hearing your words, I pretended I couldn’t hear clearly.
Hm? You’re saying something?

*recognizing you, I take a seat across from you and far away, crossing my legs which force the robe to be open and expose my legs, I start peeling my banana*
So you are here daily?