Yuki was returning from his part-time job. He worked at a coffee café. It was all already 9:00 pm, and realized he hadn't had eaten anything all day. So, he decided to stop by a convenience store to buy some noodles.

It had started raining outside, but luckily he had bought his umbrella with him. As he walked down a quiet street, he noticed a strange guy slumped near trash can. The guy looked completely soaked and was clearly drunk.

Yuki paused, concerned. "It's so late.... what is he doing here ? It's raining, and if he stays like this, he'll definitely get sick. He looks badly drunk...."

Yuki tried talking to him, but the guy wasn't responding.

In the end, Yuki decides to help. He brought the stranger to his apartment. The man had black hair, a sharp jawline, and an expensive looking appearance - he looked rich.

Yuki laid him in the sofa once they reached home. The man mumbled gloomily in his sleep, "Why did you leave me ? Why don't you no longer love me ? Why..." and then he fell asleep.

Yuki was half - soaked in water too from the rain. He changed into dry clothes, then glanced back at the stranger. His clothes were completely wet as well. Not wanting him to catch a cold,Yuki changed him into some of his own clothes. Luckily, they fit quiet well.

He placed a blanket over the man and went to take a shower.

...----------------...

The next morning, the stranger woke up with a slight headache. As he tried to gather his thoughts, he realized he was in a small, unfamiliar apartment. He looked down and noticed his clothes had been changed.

He was confused, trying to remember what had happened the night before. The only thing he could recall was going to a birthday party.... then a bar. But he didn't remember meeting anyone there.

Meanwhile, Yuki was in the kitchen preparing rice and soup. He noticed that the guy had woken up and walked over to him.

The guy looked Yuki with a confused expression.

"Where am I? Who are you? Did you kidnap...me ?" he had many questions.

Yuki didn't respond. Instead, he pulled his phone and began typing something. The guy grew more confused. "Hey can't you speak? " He asked.

Yuki finished typing and handed him the phone. He pointed to the screen.

The message read :

" HI. I am Yuki. I saw you near the trash can last night. You were completely soaked and badly drunk, so I brought you to my place. I changed your clothes since they were wet".

The stranger then introduced himself as "Shin "

Why is he not talking? Shin wondered. Can't he speak?

Out loud, he asked, "Why isn't he saying anything?"

Yuki typed again and showed him another message:

" I can't speak. I'm mute".

Shin was surprised." Oh... I see. I understand."

Just then, his stomach growled loudly. He was clearly hungry.

Yuki brought over a bowl of rice and soup and placed it on the table.

Shin looked at the food and frowned.

"This food kinda looks depressing. No side dishes...and the rice is a bit overcooked.

Yuki calmly typed another message and held it up.

"This is all I have. If you don't want it, You can get the hell out of here."

Shin quickly replied, "Fine, fine! I'll eat it! Don't get mad."

As Shin ate, Yuki began using hand signs,thinking shin would not understand sign language. He signed playfully :

"He Complains like a five-year-old kid.

But shin did understand sign language. He just pretended he didn't.

He asked with a smirk," Does want to say something?"

Yuki shook his head quickly.

I can understand sign language, Shin thought I'm not an idiot.

After eating, Yuki returned Shin's dry clothes.

Shin Stood up and began removing his shirt in front of Yuki to change. Yuki immediately turned away, frustrated.

Shin teased, "Why are you embarrassed now ? You changed my clothes last night. But now you're all shy ?"

He stepped closer to Yuki , placing his hand on his shoulder. Yuki flinched turned his head . Shin's face was very close.

Surprised and overwhelmed, Yuki instinctively slapped him.

Shocked. Yuki panicked, He didn't have his phone with him, so he quickly started using hand signs to apologize:

"I'm sorry!"

Shin didn't say anything. He quietly got dressed. As he reached the door to leave, he said,

"Thanks for helping me last night."

And with that, he left.

Yuki stood froze, still embrrassed, and thought to himself

"I hope we never meet again ..."

Shin was standing in front of his apartment building.

He was still confused why Yuki had slapped him and muttered to himself,

"First, my five - year -old relationship ends in five minutes.... and now I get slapped by a guy I barely know for one day?

New experience unblocked : slapped by a stranger".

Shin signed. He was afraid to go inside the apartment because he knew his mother was going to start one of lectures.

"But there's no other option... I hope she is not home today," Shin whispered like a solider about to enter enemy territory.

He opened the front door quietly - no cracks, no noise. He tiptoed towards his room.

But as soon as he opened the door. His mother was sitting in his gaming chair like she owned the place, patting Vanilla, Shin's first pet rabbit, who sat royally on her lap.

She looked at Shin like he just told her he just failed all his exams.

"Where were you last night ? Why weren't you answering my calls?" she snapped.

Shin gulped. He thought he was prepared for this lecture, but the moment he saw her angry face, he felt like a kid about to get scolded for spilling juice on the TV remote.

He sat on the bed, and Chocolate, his second pet rabbit, hopped over and sat on his lap like emotional support. Shin began petting him pretending everything was totally fine.

" Mom... what are you doing in my room?" he asked carefully.

She shot back, "Don't answer my question with another question! You answer me first."

Shin 's brain scrambled.

"Should I tell her the truth, That I got drunk, and a random guy helped me? Yeah, no..."

So he lied," I was drinking at my friend's place after the birthday party."

His mother raised her eyebrow." And why didn't you answer my calls."

"Dropped my phone in the sink," he said as if that was the most believable excuse ever.

She glared at him and said, "You're acting like a five-year - old, Shin. Grow up already."

He suddenly remembered Yuki's words and frowned.

"Why am I remembering him now? Out of all moments...."

Shin's mother was still talking. But Shin was zoned out.

He looked at Chocolate and signed in his head,

" I wish I was a rabbit."

Then his mother folded her arms and declared,

"From tomorrow, you'll be working at my friend's café. And starting next week, you'll also attend art classes."

Shin's mouth dropped open. "What?! That's my punishment? I was just drinking! What is the big deal ?"

She replied, "My problem isn't the drinking. It's the fact that you waste you time - sitting at home, shopping with your girlfriend, playing video games, acting like you have no purpose in life. It's time to learn something."

Shin didn't say anything. Because deep down, he knew there was no way to win this battle.

She handed Vanilla to him and added,

"Drinking? Fine. But if you can drink, then you can work. Time to be responsible."

She slammed the door behind her.

shin hugged the rabbit and groaned internally

" Is she making me responsible... or is she jealous that I have more free time than her."

Meanwhile,

It was nighttime, and the café had already closed. Yuki was inside, cleaning one of the tables. His co-worker Mina was sitting on a chair, sweeping upright lazily.

"Hey Yuki, do you believe in destiny?" she asked suddenly.

Yuki signed with his hands," Why are you asking that all of a sudden? No, I don't believe in destiny. It's just fiction."

Mina understood sign language, as she had been working with Yuki for two years.

She smiled and said, "Well, I believe in destiny. I think two people who are meant to meet always meant to meet - no matter what happens."

As they were talking, the café door creaked open. The manger had arrived.

without even looking, Mina aloud, "We're closed

now."

Then she turned and saw it was the manger. Both Yuki and Mina quickly greeted him.

Mina asked him, "Why are you here sir? Is anything wrong?"

He replied, "No, nothing's wrong." I just came here to inform you two that we're getting a new employee. He'll start working here from tomorrow."

Yuki and Mina exchanged surprised looks.

"But you've never hired a new part-timer before." Mina said.

Yuki nodded with agreement.

The manger explained, "Why do you two look so surprised? He's the son of a childhood friend. His mother asked me to give him a chance, so I agreed. It's his first part-time job. I want you two help him out, alright ?"

Mina gave playfully gave a salute. "Roger!" she said.

Yuki followed with a small smile, mimicking her.

The manger chuckled." Good. You both can close up the café now."

Yuki and Mina agreed, finished their work and went their separate ways.

...----------------...

Later that night,

Yuki walked down the quiet street alone, thinking to himself, "I wonder who the new part-timer is."

He looked up at the night sky and saw the full moon glowing brightly.

He remembered his mother's words :

"If you're ever feeling lonely, just look at the moon - someone, somewhere is looking at it too."

He whispered to himself, "The moon is beautiful tonight."

When he reached his apartment, he went into his bedroom and noticed a big box on his bed.

"Oh I forgot to put this away," he thought.

As he tried to move it on to the table, it slipped and fell, and all its contents scattered across the floor.

While picking up the items, his hand paused on a photograph.

It was a photograph - of him and a boy, both smiling, both so young. Besides, it was a small handkerchief.

Yuki stared at it, lost in thought.

"I finally realize how much I miss him. Wherever something good or bad happens, and the only person you want to tell is the one person who isn't here anymore."

He held the photo gently and whispered,

"Where are you now?"

Yuki thought to himself.

...****************...

Hi. It's Clisha

Do you guys believe in destiny?

Thank you for reading this novel. If you like this chapter don't forget to like and comment. It will help me a lot.

Have a good day

Stay Safe. Stay Heathly.