A Promise to the Moon [BL]

Chapter 4.:

 “Ma opened this restaurant together with my father around forty years ago. I took after my father when he died four years ago.” Pete wasn’t used to people sharing their family history right the first day they met. For Pete, they were strangers, and Pete thought everyone had to think the same way as he did. Pete didn’t know how to react in situations like this. Not only did Bass talk freely with Pete, like they had known each other for years, but he also shared information about his family, which made Pete feel forced to open himself as well.

“I am sorry to hear that,” Pete replied to him. Although Pete could see the sadness in Bass’s eyes, his lips kept smiling even when talking about his late father.

“It’s alright. It was a huge tragedy back then. We lost around twenty people from the town,” Bass continued. The information caught Pete’s attention. Something huge happened here, which cost this town a lot. Too many lives were lost in a single day and way many more were left mourning their loved ones. Pete stayed mostly alone, not letting others come closer into his little world he built for himself, but even he felt the loss of the person sitting in front of him. That day, Bass probably lost more than just a father.

People living here differed from those in the capital, from those Pete was used to interacting with daily. He just arrived today and met Mrs. Aranya and Bass for the first time, but they had both already treated him like he was part of the family and a member of the community. The nervosity and discomfort Pete felt was still present since he was used to keeping people at a distance, but the warmness and friendliness of these people slowly searched for the way into his heart. Something Pete wanted to avoid at all costs kept poking into the hard-shell Pete built around his heart.

“What are you planning to do here since you want to stay for quite some time?” Bass changed the subject almost instantly, not giving Pete the chance to react to the last information Bass shared with him. “I am not quite sure yet.” Pete replied, putting on a smile, hoping Bass would drop this topic. Pete didn’t plan to disclose his medical condition, and he didn’t want to lie about the work and his options either.

“We are always hiring part-timers if you are interested. Who knows, maybe you will like the work in a restaurant.” Bass partly joked about it, but partly he meant his offer seriously. They always kept at least one or two part-timers, especially during rush hours, like during lunch and dinner. Pete looked around, seeing the restaurant was full and quite busy. This was not the kind of work he could do, since this would put his health at risk.

“I am not really sure this would benefit you. I might end up breaking more dishes than delivering them to the tables.” Pete tried to put this as a joke, showing his clumsiness, since he didn’t want to lie to Bass about his reasons, he couldn’t accept this offer. It would be dangerous for him to do heavy work like this.

“I see, but it’s okay. You can always find something else around here. You might try to ask about a cram school which we have here. It is a small one, but they have a lot of students, especially since youngsters want to get to a good university and get out of here. You can tell me what kind of job you can do, and I can recommend you the place. My mom knows about everything and everyone in town, so I have a good information source.” Bass laughed, feeling proud about what he just said. Technically, it just meant his family just kept prying into others' business, the same as Bass just did with Pete. Pete didn’t know whether he should praise him or scold him, so he decided to stay quiet instead.

“I will think about that.” Pete replied to him politely, hoping that Bass would seriously drop the topic of Pete’s staying. He felt uncomfortable, especially because he didn’t like to lie, but he couldn’t speak the truth either.

“Ooh. Good evening, Bass.” Pete heard a pitchy voice calling for Bass. The voice belonged to a young man who walked towards Bass and Pete with hasty steps and a broad smile on his lips. He was taller than Pete. He could already see that as he was getting closer, but with his figure, he resembled Pete. The boy looked slim and weak. The other person who followed him, on the other hand, looked scary and tough, with his broad shoulders and very sporty, muscular body carved under the shirt which copied almost every single curve of him.

“Good to see you Sun. Mork.” Bass replied to him, making space so the boy could sit beside him, while bowing his head with greetings to the other person who walked to them as well.

“Yo.” Mork replied to Bass, but Pete noticed his eyes were on him as he was scanning him from head down.

“And this is...” Sun asked, keeping his smile on. His entire presence radiated enthusiasm and enormous energy.

“This is Pete. He moved to town today.” Bass briefly introduced him. Sun instantly stretched his hand, offering a handshake. Pete hesitantly stretched his hand too, unsure what he should do. Spending time with one person was already enough and suddenly there were two more. The scary one with a stiff expression showing no emotions was someone Pete could handle, since the person seemed to be hesitant to talk either, but the other, a younger one, was very lively and friendly. Even friendlier than Bass, which scared Pete.

“Nice to meet you.” Sun grabbed Pete’s hand, pulling him closer, so Pete had no other choice than to stand slightly up from his seat while Sun shook his hand, holding in between his.

“Nice to meet you as well.” Pete uttered back with his voice low. He slowly drew back his hand, trying to get back to his seat. The other person, meanwhile, reached the table, looking sternly at Pete, who didn’t understand why he stood there and looked down at him.

“Move!” Mork ordered. His deep voice startled Pete, since it sounded like he was going to kill him. The gaze he kept giving him and the tone of his voice brought chills to Pete’s spine. He could feel the hostility radiating from the person, and Pete could already say he didn’t like him, either. Something about this person just seemed off.

“What brings you here?” Sun caught Pete’s attention as he tried to open a conversation with him. Pete moved to the end of the bench, making enough space for Mork and keeping enough space between them as well, since Pete didn’t want to get close to him.

Pete put on a smile, trying to hide the panic which grew inside. A simple question which he should be able to answer, but he couldn’t find any reason he would come here. He couldn’t talk about the vacation since he already planned to stay there for several months. Pete didn’t come to work either and it made little sense to just move here out of the blue with no plans, although Pete had plans in his mind but those he didn’t want to mention.

“How is the school?” Bass noticed the panic in Pete’s eyes. He understood right away there were things Pete didn’t want to talk about and he couldn’t come up with any answer to Sun’s questions, so he distracted Sun by talking to him instead.

“Oh, I took the mock exam at a cram school.” Sun replied to him. The broad smile he had on his face faded slightly, so Pete guessed he probably didn’t achieve the results he most likely wanted.

“Really? And?” Bass continued questioning. Pete noticed Mork kept his eyes on him while he tried to follow the conversation between Pete and Sun, ignoring the poker-faced guy sitting beside him.

“I am in the top ten percent.” Sun replied with his voice down. Pete didn’t understand why anyone would feel sad about such results. Getting into the top ten percent in the country was already good enough to be enrolled in almost any university in the country.

“That’s good, no?” Bass felt confused as well by the sadness entwined in Sun’s voice. Mork silently sat, watching the conversation and keeping his eyes on Pete. His gaze kept sending chills to Pete, making him feel uncomfortable, but he was afraid to turn to him and ask him what his problem was. Pete just tried pretending he didn’t notice at all.

“I need to get to the top five if I want the scholarship I told you about before,” Sun explained. Both Bass and Sun just ignored Mork’s stern, scanning eyes locked on Pete and continued their little chit-chat.

“Which subjects are you struggling with?” Pete entered the conversation. Although he originally didn’t plan to intervene and jump openly into conversations with others, this young boy aimed to get into the top five percent in the country and getting the scholarship caught his attention. He must have been aiming for the same scholarship Pete earned three years ago.

“Physics and English.” Sun turned to Pete.

“I can help you with those. Which major are you aiming for?” Pete continued. Sun’s eyes widened with new sparks filling them while looking at Pete. Pete realized what he had done while looking into Sun’s eyes, but it was already too late to take the offer back. He just blindly jumped into the conversation, hearing about the exams and the scholarship he once gained for himself, not really thinking about what he was doing.

“I am not sure he would be a good option for you, Sun. You should find someone who has finished university or at least studying it now.” Mork’s cold, deep voice interrupted them. It was the first time he had spoken since they arrived and the way he talked brought chills to Pete’s spine again. For some reason, this person was strongly against Pete, although he knew nothing about him.

“You are not at university?” Sun partly ignored his brother, turning his attention back to Pete. Pete shook his head.

“I finished three years in college, but I am taking a break now.” Pete wasn’t lying about that; he just didn’t explain everything.

“Who in his right mind would take a break from college in his last year?” Mork continued with his snide comments towards Pete, while ignoring his presence. Just a moment ago, he couldn’t get his eyes off Pete, but now, he just talked and acted like Pete wasn’t even there, directing his words to Sun and Bass.

“I will gladly accept any available help. He probably had his reasons for taking a break. You shouldn’t be so quick to judge. We already talked about it.” Sun quickly scolded his older brother, but Mork only narrowed his eyebrows in disagreement.

“If you need a tutor so badly, I can find you a better one.” Mork replied to him, but Sun only shook his head.

“I like Pete.” Sun argued with his brother, which left Mork angry and speechless. He couldn’t openly fight with his little brother.

“As you like,” Mork said before he stood up and turned around, walking to the counter and behind the curtain, straight to the kitchen.

“Don’t mind him. My brother is quite difficult to handle, plus he doesn’t like strangers.” Sun quickly apologized for his brother to Pete, while giving him another broad, alluring smile.

“I understand.” Pete replied to him with his half-baked smile he put on his own face, while trying to be as friendly as possible. It was just the first day in a new town and he had already made acquaintance with four new people. One hated him from the bottom of his heart, one was extra shiny and dazzling, which made Pete almost blind and absolutely dazed, and two were acting like family members. Pete felt extremely mentally exhausted. Right now, all he wanted was just to get something to eat and go back home.