Chapter 1
"So, this one is made out of well-preserved four-leaf clovers and a few drops of century-old sunflower extract," Jongin explained to his first (and hopefully not the last) customer of the day, showing a gemstone pendant swirling in a mix of dark green and gray colors against the stray rays of sunlight hitting it. "Very helpful when it comes to attracting good luck and warding off money problems."
"Then why is your shop in shambles if that's supposed to be effective?" the customer asked. The tone of his voice is more curious than judgmental though.
Jongin let out a long, defeated breath. "We both know why."
The customer hummed in understanding. "Why keep doing this business then if that's the case?"
Jongin eyed the guy, attempting to assess the situation. He would answer snappily if the guy was just trying to be annoying. But it seemed like there was genuine confusion in the guy's demeanor. Plus, he can't afford to chase away a potential customer. Not when he barely gets any.
"This is more than just work for me," Jongin explained. "This is where my heart lies. This is my identity. Business may be rough lately, but I never considered giving this up."
"I see."
The atmosphere turned quiet, saved for the sudden mewling of Jongin's cat.
After a while, the guy suddenly took something from his pocket. Something Jongin has never seen before.
"How about I help you market your goods? I know a really easy way to pique people's interests, both supernatural and humans." The guy then proceeded to work on the thing in his hand, making swiping and tapping movements on it. He eventually stopped fiddling with it and held the thing in front of Jongin's face.
"What's that?" Jongin wondered, staring at the item. He saw several moving objects in it. Things that he normally see in real life are squeezed into a tiny box of some sort.
"It's a magical place called the Internet," the guy answered with a huge grin.
*****
Kyungsoo, as the guy introduced himself later on, turned out to be a warlock who has been one of the few who have mastered what most people call technology. Even among ordinary humans, he had managed to blend in so well to the point that he could even use mundane stuff to his advantage.
Years back, supernatural creatures like them can openly engage with humans. But a sudden phenomenon hit the supernatural races which almost eradicate them. Afterwards, the few who had survived are looked down upon by humanity until eventually supernatural creatures were deemed as merely part of folklores and entertainment.
"It's really not complicated," Kyungsoo assured as he continues to scroll through what he informed Jongin as cell phone. "All you have to do is put up a website and people all over the world can get informed about you and your products."
To say that Jongin is amazed is probably going to be the biggest understatement of his life. He is, afterall, one of the people of his kind who has never dared to mingle with humans. Though it is not exactly an unusual scenario for some supernatural creatures to try to live a mundane life and attempt to forget their true identity, he likes who he is. Even if he has to live in a secluded area that barely gets attention anymore.
"Also, you don't have to worry about humans finding out about your identity," Kyungsoo assured. "They really don't believe in us anymore more than a figment of the past. But they like pretty stuff so I'm sure that even if they might not be interested with what your products are actually used for, a lot of them will still be swarming due to their aesthetics."
Jongin pursed his lips. It's a tempting notion. But there is one thing that's bothering him about it. "Why would you help me?"
Kyungsoo looked up from the phone he's holding. "Well, I can see you're really dedicated to this business. But, also, I need a job."
*****
The next day, Jongin finds himself seated across Kyungsoo by the shop's solitary corner table. He decided to give the internet a chance, so now he's been watching the latter set up a website for his products.
"Do you have a hat?" Kyungsoo suddenly asked. "You know, the ones you witches wear? Maybe a broom as well?"
"Why?"
"I'll take some photos of you wearing it while you're holding your broom, then we'll put it here on the header." Kyungsoo pointed at a certain empty space on the phone's screen.
"Is that necessary?"
"No, not really," Kyungsoo replied, shrugging. "But it will make things more interesting."
Jongin's not sure what made him stand up and get inside his room to retrieve the things Kyungsoo asked for. But he did anyway and, when he came back, Kyungsoo immediately made him (awkwardly) lean his back by the shop's counter, wearing his black pointed hat and holding his broom with one hand.
"Okay, stand still," Kyungsoo instructed, standing across Jongin while holding the phone in his hand. He kept changing the phone's angle and Jongin noticed that sometimes a sudden flicker of light would come flashing out from it.
However, after a series of shots, Kyungsoo still seemed disappointed. "We need something else in this picture."
A purring sound suddenly broke inside the room.
"That's it!" Kyungsoo exclaimed. "Can you put your cat on the counter next to you?"
Jongin called for Kaiser, his pet, taking it into his arms when the cat approached him. He then gently placed Kaiser on the counter, only to have the cat curl into a ball and close its eyes.
"He's sleeping, is that okay?" Jongin asked, scratching his head.
"It's okay. It's cute actually."
"Only my cat?" Jongin immediately put his free hand over his mouth. Did he just say that out loud?!
Kyungsoo chuckled at that, making Jongin blush even more. "Don't worry, I think you're cute too."
Jongin gaped at the comment.
*****
"The next thing to do is to get the word out," Kyungsoo said as soon as he was able to launch the website. It took a while since he had to put some protective wards as added precautions so supernatural beings would have a completely different interface than humans. "I'll send the link to both my supernatural and human friends."
Jongin was just watching with sheer amazement while Kyungsoo continued fixing the website.
“Ta-da! All done!” Kyungsoo raised the phone near Jongin’s face, a huge grin gracing his lips, turning it into a shape of the heart and his eyes are crinkled into crescents.
Cute, Jongin thought.
“I know, right?” Kyungsoo said. “I personally like the design as well. You really have a good sense when it comes to aesthetics.”
Jongin didn’t realized he said it out loud. But, thankfully, Kyungsoo did not realize that he’s definitely not talking about the website design.
He lowered his face, pretending to scratch it, trying to hide the blush heating up his face. He cleared his throat before saying a quiet yeah to Kyungsoo. Then it became quiet between them.
A single ping! broke the silence in the room.
“What’s that?” Jongin asked, looking around.
Kyungsoo shook the phone in his hand, smiling. “You have just received your first order via your website.”
*****
The first week after Jongin’s website launch found him really booked and busy trying accommodate the sudden influx of online orders from both human and supernatural customers. He had eventually hired Kyungsoo as his assistant, especially in terms of the technical aspects of his business. Along with the weekly salary, he had also agreed to let Kyungsoo live in his house behind his shop since, apparently, the warlock has no place to stay in also aside from needing a job.
“One order of an instant ice-thawing potion from some pyrokinetic named Park Chanyeol,” Kyungsoo read from the site’s official email address. “And if it could be possibly delivered by the end of the month.”
“That’s in a little less than two weeks, right?” Jongin asked, as he worked on another order from someone named Zhang Yixing, who was waiting at the shop’s front counter. Kyungsoo and he are at the storage room of the shop.
"Yup! Why?"
"I need to attend to a friend by next week and he'll be staying over for several days," Jongin explained, closing the lid of the potion bottle in his hand.
"I see. Is it okay that I'm in your house?"
"I don't see any problem with that."
"Okay." Then Kyungsoo muttered something almost inaudible, but Jongin caught it.
"What's that?" Jongin asked. "You said something?"
"Um... Thank you, for letting me stay at your place even if you barely know me."
"Oh. That. It's no big deal. Kaiser seems to like you and he's a great judge of character."
Kyungsoo smirked. "It's just Kaiser who likes me?"
Even if Jongin knows that Kyungsoo is just teasing, he couldn't help the blush that creeped on his cheeks. "You know I like you. I mean, I can use another friend."
Kyungsoo smiled. "I'm glad. Thank you for wanting to be my friend."
A knock interrupted them. It was the customer Yixing.
"Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt. Can I get my order now?"
"Yes, of course," Jongin answered, immediately putting the potion bottle in his hand in a paper bag and handing it to Yixing. "Sorry for making you wait. And I hope you'll find my product useful."
"No worries," Yixing said. "I'm sorry if I interrupted you and your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend," Jongin and Kyungsoo chorused.
Yixing looked at them alternately, seemingly confused. "You're not?"
"We're friends," Jongin clarified.
"But your cat..." Yixing started, but suddenly hesitated. "Actually, never mind." He gave Jongin several gold coins. "Here's my payment. Thank you."
"Thank you also," Jongin told Yixing. As soon as Yixing left, he turned to Kyungsoo. "Well, that was awkward."
"I wonder what he was about to say about your cat though," Kyungsoo said.
"Well, I'll tell you a secret," Jongin said. "Kaiser can talk."
*****
"I'm sorry," Jongin told Kyungsoo, apologizing for the nth time.
"You only said that now when you know I've been speaking to your cat ever since my first day here!" Kyungsoo exploded.
"I swear he never told me anything you talked to him about," Jongin claimed. "You're a warlock, you can cast a spell on me to know I'm saying the truth."
Kyungsoo sighed. "I don't think that's necessary. Actually, I'm just overreacting. I'm sorry."
"Still, I should have told you," Jongin insisted.
"I'm more shocked than angry, to be honest," Kyungsoo said. "Besides, I should have noticed it. As you said, I'm a warlock."
"You sounded sad when you said that," Jongin pointed out, his voice prompting for an explanation.
"Something happened before I got here." Kyungsoo's voice sounded dismissive so Jongin did not try to pry anymore.
Jongin did not miss the sadness in Kyungsoo's tone though. On impulse, he grabbed the latter's hand. "Let's close the shop early today. I'll take you somewhere."
*****
"Why do you have your broomstick?" Kyungsoo asked Jongin when the latter emerged from his room holding a broomstick.
"Well, I'll fly us to where we're going."
The excitement on Kyungsoo's face was evident as soon as he heard Jongin's answer. "Wow! I've flown through an airplane before. But that's human technology. This will be my first time on a broomstick!"
Jongin smiled. "I'm glad I had this idea then."
"Let's go!"
They headed out of the front door and stood at an empty space by Jongin's garden. Jongin put the broomstick in between his legs and motioned for Kyungsoo to do the same behind him.
"Hold tight," Jongin said, bracing himself to direct the broomstick. As soon as the broomstick rose in the air, Kyungsoo started squealing.
It took them almost twenty minutes to get to the place where Jongin intends to bring Kyungsoo. It usually takes only roughly five minutes, but Jongin took his time to take them there so Kyungsoo can appreciate the scenery below them.
The place Jongin brought Kyungsoo to is a clearing besides a waterfall. It was a place he frequents due to its abundant resources. But, more importantly, it's a place he go to when he wanted to relax.
"Jongin, this is beautiful," Kyungsoo commented, looking around the place. He bent down to pick a small, white flower and even put it in his lips.
Jongin laughed at Kyungsoo. "This is my safe place."
"Thank you for bringing me here," Kyungsoo said after a while. "I feel like I've known you even better because of this."
"I'm glad you liked it," Jongin replied. "Sehun never did."
"S-Sehun?" Kyungsoo asked, stuttering.
"My best friend," Jongin replied. "Now that I think of it, he also lives in the city. Do you know of him? Oh Sehun. He's also a witch but he chose to blend in with humans."
Kyungsoo smiled bitterly. "I do. He used to be my roommate. And, well, he's also my first heartbreak."
*****
The trip heading home was awkward, to say the least. Unlike a while ago, Kyungsoo was really quiet. And Jongin didn't dare speak first.
As soon as they get home, Kyungsoo told him he'll be in his room and Jongin did not stop him.
When the door to Kyungsoo's room closed, Jongin let out the breath he's been holding. He wanted to ask questions, but he felt like that would be overstepping on Kyungsoo's boundaries. He figured Kyungsoo would tell him things if he wants to.
*****
A purring sound woke Jongin up.
Jongin opened his eyes to see Kaiser beside his bed.
"He left, Master," Kaiser told him. "Said Master shouldn't worry about him anymore. He also taught Kaiser last night on how to use the internet so Kaiser could help Master with the shop."
Jongin immediately got up, making his way towards the room he gave Kyungsoo. It was bare of any of Kyungsoo's belongings.
But in the middle of the bed, there's a bouquet of flowers that only bloom in his safe place. It was still fresh, and Jongin's heart blossomed with hope as he runs out of the house.