jimin's pov

"it's been a long day. you should probably go home already," my manager told me as i was putting back some books a customer had left on one of the couches. i work at stonewall library, a few blocks away from my college.

"are you sure? i haven't finished putting these back on the right shelves."

"i'm sure." he simply nodded and turned on his heel, walking back to his office. i followed suit since my belongings were always kept in the same room. when i entered, i saw him starting to make two cups of coffee. i went to the dressing room and got myself changed. once i was about to head out, he offered me one of the cups and i politely took it, thanking him.

weird. he's never been this nice to me.

"are you alright?" he asked as i took a sip.

"yes. it's good."

"no. i mean...are you alright?"

"yes, sir. why wouldn't i be?"

"you've been working way too hard lately, even taking shifts you usually wouldn't."

"well, i don't have much to do besides sit around and write back home or study for my exams, really. and right now, there's no exams to study for. so, i'm all good."

"if you don't mind me asking..." oh, great. every sentence that begins with that is usually something i would mind. "...is this about that boy?"

i almost spit my coffee. how do you politely tell someone it's none of their goddamn business?

"i'm sorry, i just...you worry me a lot, jimin. i have been working with you for three years now and not once have i ever seen you like this. i know i act like i don't give a shit about my employees 'cause i never do small-talk or even ask you guys out to dinner to celebrate having great sales sometimes, and i know i can be really strict too, but i do notice what goes on under my roof. granted you've never been the happiest employee of mine but you seemed to be at your happiest only a few weeks ago. to go from that to this is just..."

"...frightening?" i finished for him. i wanted to laugh. no one has asked me if i'm okay recently. i feel a little happy that he did, though at the same time, irritated because he reminded me of the one person i should be getting out of my mind.

"some things just don't work out, sir. i've gotten used to it at this point."

"well, if you ever need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to ask for that dinner with me. it wouldn't be a date. i'm already happily married to my wife. it would only be a night of beers and tears."