Chapter 55:
We Breathe in the Air of this Small Town
-x-
"First try and hired."
By his first try and handling of his resume, things had already seemed to go pretty well and in plan.
"That's great!" Hanji exclaimed and jumped right on his lap, arms wrapped around him. He was lucky to be strong enough to carry and balance them both as she lunged unto him and sat down by the sofa. After being late for a couple of hours for dinner, Hanji was happy to see him stepping inside the house already and can't stop her emotions.
"I'm so happy for you!" she exclaimed and kissed his nose.
"For us, you mean" Damn, he could be really romantic, Hanji thought.
"Did they give you a hard time? And where were you accepted?" Hanji asked, still not getting herself away from Levi.
"In a local Starbucks there in the nearby street next to ours." He remarked and pushes a strand of hair of Hanji's to her ear which she does not seemed to have noticed at all or chose not to do anything about it.
"That's good! Just a couple of steps away from us then" Hanji murmured and lightly played her fingers on his hair, Levi in turn liking the feeling that she gives out.
"I thought I would not be able to get it because the manager said that I looked kind of grumpy but heck I don't know what happened and he told me to see him for final interview the day after tomorrow."
"What did he asked you?" she asked, sounding astounded. At least not worried, Levi thought.
"He asked me if I am still studying so I did say yes and no longer lied because it will definitely make everything difficult. He took a big thinking about that from the way I see it so I thought I wouldn't get the job." He paused as Hanji adjusted herself from Levi's lap and sat in the space between his lap and clung unto him like a baby, eyes still on him.
"After telling him I could still give at least five to six hours a day, including Saturdays and even half on a Sunday if he wanted to, then he said okay. Although that would mean I will have night sessions mostly."
"Have you finalized your schedule then? Will you still have time for studying and doing your school duties?" Hanji asked as she could not contain herself and wonder if Levi would still have enough time to rest and study.
"Of course, and I even have enough time for us" he proudly said while Hanji felt her cheeks turning hot. Ever since they had gotten to live under one roof, he usually uses the word us and had been extra cheesy on her.
"Careful, my panties might drop because of your clinginess Levi" she teased and Levi leaned into her ear and gave it a lick.
"Maybe later after dinner" he whispered to her ear and her hair on her arms stood in anticipation. "What did my shitty glasses prepared for us tonight?"
"Just some sautéed shrimp and steamed vegetables we have inside the fridge." She commented while that reminded Levi why he must have earnings already.
"We need to do grocery shopping tomorrow but on a very tight budget Hanji" he reminded her and she did nodded in agreement. "We will only be spending the money from our own pockets" and mostly is hers Levi recalled and he didn't liked it. Although the money that served as her allowance was enough for them both, a month's bill of electricity and water and some little things and of food, they will have nothing in the end.
What if they have an emergency?
What if one of them gets ill?
He shrugged off the thoughts away, not wanting to attract even a single of it to them. It reminded him why he needed to work for them both.
Hanji was about to stand but was taken by surprise when Levi carried her instead, Hanji like she was some kind of a baby. He saw the table ready with plates and utensils and the meal made things better with its smell, enough to make his mouth water.
"I'd like a dessert after" he requested, his eyes looking bored but tempting with hers as he said so.
"I don't mind" Hanji answered back. "I wanted to celebrate my boyfriend's first landing job in college"
As long as he has the strength to work and do anything for her, he will.
And as long he is there with her and that he takes care of her, she will love him with all her might.
-x-
Just the following week, Levi already started with his work.
He first started being placed in the cashier and take orders and greet them and doing his best to sound cheery and welcoming to the customers. So far, he feels like he is doing great as he is not being questioned or nagged by his boss. And as was told, he is indeed scheduled in the late or last session so cleaning is part of his job, which he has no problem with. It was also agreed that he could work three to five hours a day, depending on the final schedule he will submit to their manager. Luckily, he can work minimum of four days in a week.
He felt that the manager was really nice to him. When he started though, he realized most of the staffs were also all students so maybe the manager was kind of nice towards him.
His efforts in cleaning were even acknowledged by their manager. Unknown to them, they did not know how much he is fond of cleaning. Nothing seemed to be a problem except for the fact that his coworkers were a bit aloof around him as he is not much comfortable with them, as though he even cared.
A group of girls who were trying to keep themselves awake as they read a couple of books together caught his attention and realized that one of those girls was the one he had entertain before, where he had shook his ass for them, not entirely sure if one of those girls had their birthday or just for nothing.
Levi made sure they do not remember him, most especially that he dances with a mask on. Fortunately, their orders were already taken by the other barista next to Levi and he did noticed them looked at him but at least, they did not remember him at all.
"You okay Levi?" his coworker beside him asked, maybe he looks a bit obvious that he is drowning with his thoughts.
"Finding first day of the job a bit challenging?" Riko,, his coworker asked and just like him, is in charge of cleaning duties before closing and is a working student like him.
"'tis okay" he answered rather honestly. Not every second that they will have customers to get orders, although there are a couple bit lot since they are in a student area and in between times that they don't have customers, he gets the chance to read a bit from his of his lectures for the following day's lectures.
After five hours and an hour almost to midnight, they already started cleaning what they can and pack away things from here and there but still are taking orders if there are any. He thought that they will find cleaning to be a difficult part to do and that will take time but it was rather quick, he thought.
"Good job doing everything together everyone!" their manager told them and they all agreed while preparing to go home. Everybody greeted one another and Levi was a bit relieved to see everyone to be optimistic as well.
"Do you have any questions Levi?" their manager asked, and Levi just swayed his head.
"Not at all sir." He answered and gripped on his bag, wanting to go home already.
"Don't hesitate to ask if you have any." Levi nodded and bid farewell.
"Thank you sir. See you tomorrow." His manager nodded and Levi went on his way. Their security guard nodded at him, feeling sorry to him as he would be staying to watch over the store until morning.
He walked on his way home and would take ten minutes and if walking slowly, would take double of the said time. The streets are already dark but there are still a couple of people around, mostly students who were also staying around and some late night employees. The post lights are enough to illuminate the roads and if ever anyone would attack him and would get his money, he has no problem putting them down.
Getting lost in his thoughts, he can't help but hope that this kind of good atmosphere in his job will continue on for a long time because he can't help but cling onto surviving his job for him and Hanji and their needs and bills. This is also to show Hanji's parents that he can provide for their daughter that he is worth the choice.
After breaking a few sweat from walking, he can't help but feel eager to run on his tracks as he sees the little single detached house that he is sharing with Hanji. Walking past the fences (which he guessed needs to be improved) he fished his keys out instead of knocking so he won't wake Hanji just in case that she is already sleeping, which he highly doubt.
Upon opening the door, Hanji's squeal of delight came to crush his ear drums.
"LEVI!" she shouted and lounged at him, fortunately he was able to catch her.
"Why the fuck are you still awake?" he asked with a rub of his thumb on her cheeks.
"I'm just reading and writing down notes of a few lessons" she smiled at him and gave him a quick but sweet kiss. Levi appreciated it and gently rubs his fingers on the back of her head.
"You better finish it already so we can already sleep."
"Sure thing shorty" Hanji exclaimed and gleefully went back to the table and write. Levi's chest felt absolutely warmed by seeing and being welcomed by Hanji after a busy day, somehow feeling everything is sure worth it.
"How was first day of work?" Hanji asked while still looking busily on her book.
"'Tis okay. I still don't see any asshole side from my coworkers or my boss. Everything went well, even with the customers." Of course he no longer told Hanji about seeing his previous client before from his previous kind of job.
He is just not yet ready for how she will react. He will, in the right place and time.
"I might have some earning for us too, aside from my monthly allowance from my parents." Hanji said and Levi came into a halt in preparing his clothes and things for tomorrow.
Hanji did not received any kind of reaction or feedback from him which made her look at Levi quizzically.
"Levi?" she called out but Levi was already giving her a questioning look.
"Look, it'll be good for us to have more income and I wanted to help you and also to save some money for us too." Levi walked towards her with an evident seriousness on his face.
"Hanji" With Levi just saying her name, she already knows what he wanted to tell her.
"I will also save more money for us and lessen my donations to the club that I will be joining this time."
"Of course you will because the university will have it covered and budgeted so you don't need to do it like what you were doing before. We're living together now, and we have fucking bills to pay and each other to think about. We don't always need to ask to your parents everything Hanji, we are already growing up." Levi explained and hoped that he knocked some sense into her brain. Despite being smart, she could get too naïve or even impulsive without considering of thinking what is right.
Hanji realizes that her boyfriend does have a point. They are together now and she is no longer liberated like how she used to be. She should consider that there is someone going to be affected by her decisions in life now.
And this is one of the adjustments that she should be considering, and this learning alone made her feel even more excited to share more moments with Levi.
Just hearing Levi with his words about his dedication for the two of them and life together made her feel excited but also pressured. She knows she has a habit of being impulsive on things that she finds happy and enthusiastic with and would tend to give even if it cost a lot.
And by staring into Levi's deep blue-grey eyes, she found a new home to care for and to think about. She knows she would need to adjust from only thinking of herself to considering Levi's welfare as well.
And hearing him say those words from heart makes everything even more worth.
"What are you even planning to do?" Levi squeezed her hand, bringing her back to reality.
"A little tutoring on some kids." She knows that this is enough for her to start with but is still considering other something else as well.
"Where and how many?" Levi asked with a deadpan voice. Defense mode on for my boyfriend, Hanji thought.
"My professor's niece and nephew and one is mom's friend who lives nearby us and wanted me to tutor her son as well." Levi eyed her deeply, knowing this conversation is going to be difficult and long.
"Look, she talked to me and asked me, telling me that other professors are also saying good things about me intellectually so they kind of indirectly recommended me as well."
"And you are going to their homes or?"
"I'll be the one." Levi's brows are still etched on each other, not loosening up.
"Come one Levi, I'll be fine." Her voice sounded perplexed and pleading. Deep inside, she did not thought that Levi would react this way at all.
"Can I go with you?" Hanji did not move. "Just on your first day at least so I know where you are and the people on the places where you are going to be at."
She did not thought Levi is this overprotective of her. Or did he just become over protective of her after being together? She does not know and what matters is how in the world would she persuade Levi on this part time job of hers?
"Alright" Hanji sighed, knowing that there is pathetically nothing wrong with his demand. It is for her safety anyway and since they are already in a relationship, she should understand where Levi is getting at.
"You can drop me by after class, before you come here and prepare yourself to your work." Levi smirked at her, happy that she finally agreed. He can't help that there are a lot of assholes in the outside world and Hanji is too preoccupied at times to even think of her own safety.
"What are your scheduled sessions with them every week?" He asked and rubbed his thumb on her hand.
"MWTH and Saturday mornings. I still have enough time to work on whatever shit I have and if needed to cancel, at least I have Tuesday and Friday to reschedule if there is a need." Hanji looked up on Levi's steel stare of eyes on her, awaiting his response.
"I'm good with that" exclaimed Levi and Hanji jumped and embraced him surprisingly.
"You are!?" she said while embracing him as he begun to fix her again on his lap.
"Of course. Just as long as I know where you are and you texting me is enough. Don't want to hear or see you getting into any sort of shitty mess." Because he can never forgive himself if he would let something bad happen to her. He now prioritize Hanji more than ever, more than he could even ever comprehend.
Fuck, he never knew he could be like this to someone as well.
"We'll be fine Levi" Hanji exclaims and kisses him soundly.
Yes they will, he promises to her.
-x-
Author's Notes:
I really wanted to update right away but a lot has bee keeping me busy : (( I am so sorry :'( Rest assured that I am still continuously writing whenever I have time ;)
Life is busy and has been though recently but I am in high mood to update so yeah ;) really hoping I could again soon!
Hoping everyone's doing fine and I would be replying to y'all and shouting out to the next chapter. Keep safe everyone!
xoxo