WIP: Like We Just Met

landlord- ‘You have 5 days to come up with rent for the last 3 months. I have no choice but to evict you. We are all struggling.’

God damnit.

The text glares back at you, suffocating over a pile of stress that’s been piling and piling for months now ever since your job had to shut down due to the virus rapidly spreading. It’s been 6 months now, bank account drained, and no response from unemployment resources of any type of payment coming your way any time soon.

Watching the number reaching near negative in your savings, you sigh and lock your phone shut, already beginning to count how many boxes you will need to pack and get out of this place as soon as possible.

‘I really can’t just crash with you until my unemployment check comes in?’

You pleaded with your brother one last time, feeling more pathetic than ever as he frowned back at you over the facetime call and shook his head. ‘There’s already 4 of us living here. You know I’d let you if I could. Most I can do for now is send you a few hundred.’

Sure, it’s irresponsible given your current situation to spend the money sitting in your Venmo account on a nice meal and some groceries, but by now you know that rent isn’t getting paid.. may as well get a ridiculously priced smoothie and buffalo cauliflower all these rich jerks keep raving about on Tiktok..

Erewhon Isn't that far from your soon-to-be past residence, and some fresh air would serve you well after reading that awful text. 

Strolling down your neighborhood feels somber, moving here prior to everything shutting down had been a huge goal for you and something you’d worked hard for. It sucked but losing your sweet luxury apartment isn’t the worst thing that could happen right now. Especially not as you enter this absurdly expensive grocery store met with masked faces, tugging your hoodie on tighter as you make eye contact with a cashier and feel a pang of guilt that while you may be shit out of luck soon, at least you don’t have to work through these worrisome times.

“80 dollars for protein powder?” A deep confused tone distracts your attention away from the variety of kombucha and sea moss, turning with wide eyes to get a look at his powder that no doubtedly must be magical.

“Geeze, for $80 it better come with an Equinox membership.” You mumble under your breath. 

The guy 5 feet away from you snaps toward you with a nod, pointing out how small the bucket in his grip is. “Right?! Who the hell is going to pay this much for some pea protein?!”

“Oh..” you laugh nervously, nodding and looking away. He steps closer, turning the bucket to show you the ingredients.

“No seriously, don’t waste your money on this garbage. I come here for the smoothies mostly, I won’t lie that Bella Hadid one really is as good as people say.”

“Oh my gosh really? I was thinking about ordering one but also trying to convince myself that near twenty bucks for a drink could not be more outlandish.”

He laughs, eyes disappearing prettily above the black mask hiding 70% of his face. “Honestly, it is. This whole store is real,” he says, shoving his chin up forgetting that you can’t see his entire expression. “Flazéda, froo-froo, it’s no surprise all these influencers and celebs shop here.”

“Flazéda?!” You snort, taking a peak at the basket clutched in his built muscular arm. “Drag Race?!”

“Oh,” he ponders, eyes rolled up. “Is that what that's from? I don’t know, I heard it in a Tiktok I think.”

“Ah yes, Tiktok, my only hobby.”

“You too?” He motions to the hot bar, waving for you to follow and continue chatting. “It’s kind of become my life.”

“Same.” You sigh. “This being trapped home all day could possibly be more depressing if not for all the cooking videos. I tried making that trending whipped coffee last week. Sadly, it was not a successful experiment.”

“I did too!” He replies excitedly, pointing out that mac and cheese bites. “You have to try those.”

“Ah, everything looks so good!”

“First time?” He fixes the black cap tucking his hair away, wiping a layer of sweat off his forehead. “Oh by the way, I’m Jeno.”

Jeno?

Jeno.

Wait, JENO?!

“The puppy Jeno?!” You say far too loud, drawing the attention of more than half the store. His eyes widen, taking a step back.

“Oh—” if you could see his face you’d be mortified by the cringe-filled expression pulling his lips over his teeth. “Are you a follower?!”

“I mean..” you shrink, embarrassed. “..yes?”

“I haven’t been recognized like this yet.” He chuckles, stuttering a bit. “I mean, it’s cool! Wow, the first follower to recognize me. Hey do I look the same in real life??”

He stands straight, flexing his arms out by his sides, the one carrying the basket lined with more veins pulsing through his even fair tone. “Uhh..” taking a step back, you squint and eye him from head to toe. “Yes? I mean.. I can’t see your face..”

You trail off, thankful he can’t see yours either as you look away and recall the first video that ever led you to Jeno’s account. The one a girl had stitched showing off the structure of his side-profile with a Doja Cat audio playing along. Admitting you ended up following the influencer after liking a slew of shirtless at-home workout videos had your cheeks on fire, opting to lower your gaze and focus in on the flip flops he has on.

“Wow, you have weird feet.”

“What??” Jeno gasps, standing awkwardly to curl in his toes. “Hey! That’s rude!”

“Sorry sorry..” you laugh anxiously, tugging your hoodie up to cover the hair you barely brushed through before heading out. “I just mean.. never seen your feet before, in videos. Sorry, that was weird too—“

Jeno sighs, adjusting the basket in his hold by propping it against his popped out hip. “Let’s see your feet.”

“What?!?”

He snorts, rolling his eyes. “Exactly!” Shaking his head he points to the hot bar again. “This is a pretty big moment either way, meeting one of my fans..”

“Hey hey! Slow down! I didn’t say all that!”

Jeno’s eyes go wide, flabbergasted as he gives you the sassiest look(that you can’t see, but his demeanor makes it obvious enough). “Don’t you like my videos?!”

“Well. Yes.” You huff, waving him off. “That’s besides the point! I’m not a fan! I don’t even know anything about you.”

“I guess that’s valid.” Jeno hums, snapping his fingers. “I’ve been meaning to do some sort of Q&A, maybe we can discuss what my viewers would like to see over lunch?” 

His eyebrows raise, forehead wrinkling under the tongue of his cap. “Since, you are a viewer?”

“What do I get out of that??”

“You get to have lunch with me! Your favorite Tiktoker!”

“Pfffttt.”

“Fine fine, lunch on me.” His eyes scrunch again. “We can eat outside, it’s safe to do I’ve read.”

“Really? You’ll pay for my food if I toot your horn for all those shirtless cooking videos?”

“Heyyy.” Jeno’s eyes thin, making your chest thump with another laugh.

“I do like your dog a lot..”

“Ahh! Jelly!” Jeno stands on his tiptoes excitedly. “So you are a fan.. of my dog, at least.”

“Yeah yeah.” You grunt, clasping your hands together with another look over the hot bar. “Well, since lunch is on you today, lets eat!”