I Feel Like I’ve Become a Bothersome Person Getting in the Way Between My Childhood Friends. - Chapter 5

“Hey.”
“Yo.”

By the time I’d gotten used to working at the café job I started when I turned sixteen, I came back from a break to find the place buzzing with excitement—including the part-timers. When I asked one of my seniors what was going on, she said excitedly, “Two really handsome guys just came in!” Then she urged me, “Aria, go take a look!” So I went to take their order.

Well, turns out I knew them.

“…What are you doing here?”
“I heard a rumor that you were working here,” Xeno said.
“You kept quiet about this? How could you hide something so fun?” Stanley added.

The two of them grinned across the menu on their table. I hadn’t told them because I knew they’d show up if they found out—but apparently, someone had spilled the news.

I quickly took their order and rushed back to the staff area, only to find the girls in full panic mode. Some were reapplying lipstick, others were fixing their hair. Seriously, could they work instead?

“Which one’s your type? Both of them are so hot.”
“The blond one, obviously. His face is perfect.”
“The silver-haired one’s handsome too. He’s got that smart, cool vibe going.”
“They’re so good-looking it’s like a painting over there.”
“I’m taking their order to the table!”
“Not fair! I’m going!”

And then, a rock-paper-scissors tournament broke out.
If they found out that I was childhood friends with those two, who knows what would happen. It was easier to stay quiet, so I decided not to go near their table and focus on other customers.

But their stares burned into me from across the room. Xeno and Stanley were clearly watching me. I did everything I could to avoid eye contact, but the girls who had been watching them noticed.

“Aria, did you notice those two hot guys are looking at you?”
“They’re totally into you!”
“So unfair! I even slipped my number to one of them, and he turned me down!”

I had concluded earlier that keeping quiet was the best option, but this changed things. I had to deny the misunderstanding quickly, or it would just get worse. After six or seven years of dealing with my good-looking childhood friends, I’d learned how to handle it.

“What?! You’re childhood friends?!”
“So that means they came here because Aria’s working?”
“You better start taking full shifts from now on—for everyone’s sake!”

At this age, people don’t really try to play matchmaker anymore. Most just go after who they like themselves.

“So if we give our numbers to Aria, she can pass them to the two guys?”

Of course, there were exceptions. Once one girl said that, the others scrambled to scribble their numbers onto scraps of paper. It was chaos. So I lied a little. “They don’t date girls they meet through friends,” I said. “They like the type who go after them directly.”

And it worked. Everyone decided they didn’t need me as a middleman and went straight to flirt—only to come back one by one, defeated. The manager looked on, clearly exasperated, and handed me their food.

“They’re your childhood friends, right? You should take this to them. And tell them to stick around longer. Those two are bringing in customers,” he muttered the last part under his breath.

For all his pretending to be annoyed, he was being just as sly.
I couldn’t refuse a manager’s order, so I reluctantly took the food to their table. From a distance, I could already see their grins.

“You finally came.”
“We were getting tired of waiting.”

I set the food down a bit roughly.

“…Stop staring.”
“Oh, you noticed? You kept ignoring us, so we couldn’t help but watch,” Xeno said.
“Told you so, Xeno. Aria’s ignoring us on purpose,” Stanley added.

Then I felt eyes from the kitchen area. The manager and the girls were openly spying on us. Could they please just work properly?

When I went back to the staff room, everyone crowded around me—including the manager.

“So, how’d it go? Are they staying longer? Should we offer them something special?”
“What did you talk about? Tell us everything!”
“The silver-haired one—does he like girls with long hair or short hair?”

I sincerely wished those two would just leave.

As soon as my shift ended, I texted them: Don’t ever come here again.
Xeno replied with a sad sticker. Stanley sent back, No way.
Looks like I’d be getting my revenge soon—at Stanley’s workplace.

＊＊＊

Right now, I’m in serious trouble.

It happened after work, as I was walking home through the night. Someone had been following me. I could hear footsteps behind me—steady, deliberate steps that weren’t my own.

Normally, I bike to my part-time job, but today my back tire went flat the moment I started riding, so I had to walk. I couldn’t call for a ride because my parents had gone to my little brother’s football game and wouldn’t be back until tomorrow. To make matters worse, I took a quiet route home because I wanted to get back quickly. This is America. You can’t underestimate how unsafe it gets at night.

If I suddenly ran, I felt like it would provoke whoever was behind me, so I could only walk faster. The footsteps were getting closer. Maybe I was just imagining things. Maybe they were just going the same way. But I couldn’t bring myself to turn around. My legs were trembling in fear.

When I sped up, the person behind me sped up too. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I decided to call Stanley. He had gotten his driver’s license as soon as he turned sixteen and always said he’d take me for a drive anytime. It felt wrong to ask him to pick me up after work when we weren’t even dating, but with those footsteps closing in, I had no choice.

My fingers shook as I unlocked my phone. Just as I was about to call, the footsteps grew quieter—barely.

“Hello? Aria?”
“Is now a bad time?”
“Ah, I’m driving right now. Can I call you back later?”
“I… I see…”

If he was already on the road somewhere, I couldn’t ask him to turn back just for me. I couldn’t even be sure someone was following me—it could all be in my head.

“Is it urgent? I can pull over for a second.”
“No, it’s fine! It’s not that serious.”

This is what’s wrong with me. I can never ask for help. It felt like taking advantage of Stanley’s kindness.

When the call ended, the footsteps grew louder—closer than ever. They were right behind me. I had to call someone else. My mind went blank, and instinctively, I called Xeno. I guess I always turn to him when I’m scared.

He was probably still at his university lab; he’d mentioned staying late recently for research. I didn’t know if he’d even have time to answer, but I was desperate.

“Aria? What’s wrong, calling me this late?”
“Xeno!”

Hearing his calm, familiar voice nearly made me cry in relief. I was so close to saying “Help me,” but the words stuck in my throat. If I shouted for help, would that person behind me get angry?

“Aria?”

He sounded worried when I fell silent.

“I… um…”

I didn’t know how to ask for help. Tears welled up. Was I really about to be killed here?

“…Xeno.”

My trembling voice barely came out. There was silence on the other end. I panicked—what if he hung up, thinking I was messing around?

“…You can’t say it out loud, but you need help, right?” he said suddenly. “If you’re in danger, just say ‘yes.’”

His quick thinking amazed me—and comforted me at the same time.

“Yes.”

As soon as I said it, the weight in my chest eased just a little.

“Got it. I’m guessing this happened on your way home from work, right?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t hear any background noise, so you’re walking. If you’re being attacked, say one. If you’re being followed, say two. If it’s neither, say three.”
“Two.”
“I’m coming to get you right now. Don’t stop walking, no matter what. Switch to speaker and keep telling me where you are. It’s okay. I’ll keep talking with you the whole time.”

I switched to speaker, and then Xeno’s voice changed—suddenly soft and affectionate.

“Sugar, I miss you already. Where are you? Let’s meet up soon.”
“Uh, y-yeah. I’m, um…”

Caught off guard by the sudden fake boyfriend act, I stammered as I gave him my location. Xeno started talking like we were reminiscing.

“Oh, that place? Remember when we found that lost wallet there and turned it in to the police? You were so flustered. It was adorable.”
“Was I…?”
“I fell for that kind heart of yours. Though I didn’t like how the wallet’s owner looked at you afterward.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“Not at all. Anyone who tries to harm you—I’ll hunt them down, no matter where they run.”

By the time I realized it, the footsteps behind me had faded. Maybe the follower had turned back.

We kept talking until I spotted a figure in a white lab coat up ahead.

“Xeno!”

I ran to him and buried my face in his chest. I had never been so relieved to see him.

“I missed you, Sugar.”
“Me too.”

He wrapped his arms around me tightly, scanning the street behind me.

“Are they still there?”
“No. The moment they saw me, they ran.”

Just as I started to pull away, he hugged me even tighter—so tight I could hardly breathe.

“Xeno, the act’s over—”
“I’m just glad you’re safe. I was so worried.”

No one had ever held me like that before. Not my friends, not even my parents. For someone usually so calm, Xeno’s raw emotion caught me off guard. It felt like more than friendship. I meant to push him away, but I couldn’t. My hands hesitated, then slowly reached up to his back—

Beep!

A car horn blared. Stanley’s face appeared from the driver’s seat window. He was waving his phone with a smirk.

“Is now really the time for a passionate embrace? Get in already.”

Following Xeno, I got into the back seat. The fear had drained me completely, leaving only exhaustion. Then I heard Stanley click his tongue from the front.

“Why didn’t you say anything when you called me?”

His voice was low—different from before.

“I thought you were busy…”
“You still should’ve said something!”
“Stan—”

Startled by his anger, I shrank back, and Xeno stepped in to calm him.

Stanley sighed, his expression softening.

“Just… rely on me, okay? I’d drop everything for you. You get that, right? That’s how much you mean to me.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Aria’s had a rough night,” Xeno said. “The lecture can wait. For now, just rest, Sugar…”

He was still playing the fake boyfriend role as he pulled me gently against his shoulder. Our faces were only a few centimeters apart. Apparently, the lecture really was postponed.

“So, Professor Xeno?” Stanley said dryly.
“What’s with the nickname and the closeness, huh?”

“Oh, don’t take it the wrong way, Stan,” Xeno replied smoothly. “I only pretended to be her boyfriend to scare off that stalker. I wanted him to think she had someone dangerous protecting her. A small trick, really.”

Now that the stalker was gone, there was no need to keep it up. I understood his real reason, but I pretended not to notice.

“Yeah, sure,” Stanley muttered. “Glad that ‘pretend’ thing worked out for you.”

His tone was sharp, and Xeno chuckled quietly.

Those two always competed like this. I wasn’t oblivious—I knew why. But since neither of them had ever confessed their feelings outright, I chose to act like I didn’t notice. I wanted to protect what we had.

Even though I knew… someday, we’d have to face it.

That day will surely come.