Archive of Our Own ^beta

[happy hour]

Renjun sighs as he sets down the last box of his things on the desk in the bedroom. His bedroom. He’s going to need to get used to that.

He flops down onto the unmade bed and looks around his new room. The walls are a shade of cream and the furniture is all dark brown. It’s basic but it reminds him of his furniture back home, so he’s satisfied. It’s also bigger than his bedroom he had in the small home he shared with his grandma. In his old room he had a single bed, a set of drawers and a small desk, all of which took up a lot of room and allowed little space for him to move around in.

This room however had the same contents except the bed was a double – Renjun, who has always been one to like a lot of space, sighs a silent thank you – and it had an extra wardrobe as well as a bedside table.

And although currently he can’t really see the floor, he knows he now has a lot more room to walk around in.

Not that he’d complain if it was smaller – he’s thankful that Jeno allowed him to move into the extra room in his two-bed apartment he shared with his boyfriend, Mark.

The couple met in university three years ago while Jeno was in his last year and Mark was starting his post-graduate.

And now, Renjun is living with them. He’s living with a couple who subconsciously look at each other like they hold every star in the sky in one hand. It’s kind of cute but also overwhelming. At least the rent is decent.

There’s a knock at his door and Renjun looks up to see Jeno walking through his door with Mark following behind.

“Hi,” Renjun smiles at his friend. “You just missed my sister – she had to get back to the restaurant so she couldn’t stay but she baked the banana loaf you like. I left it on the counter.”

Jeno’s eyes light up from where he’s leaning against the desk, Mark in the desk chair next to him. “I’ll call her to say thank you later. I’m sorry we were late, there was a lot of traffic.”

Renjun shrugs. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Although my sister may not feel the same, she’s been wanting to meet Mark since you told us you were dating,” he teases which Mark scratches the back of his neck out of habit to hide the colouring of his cheeks.

“Was the drive, ok?” Mark asks.

Renjun hums. “The normal two hours. Did Donghyuck say when he was coming over?”

Donghyuck was the previous owner of the room Renjun now occupies as well as his childhood friend along with Jeno. The three of them had been best friends since they were thirteen and spent most of their time together until it was time for Donghyuck and Jeno to go off to university two hours away. The plan was for the three of them to go together and Renjun had been offered a place. Instead, he had chosen to stay back home with his grandma and help with her restaurant that was struggling at the time.

They all kept in contact, despite their busy schedules, and met up whenever Donghyuck and Jeno came back to visit. Now, seven years later when the restaurant is doing better, and his grandma has his sister (who was in the middle of her own studies at the time) the three of them are finally back in the same city.  

Jeno rolls his eyes but smiles at the mention of the other. “He should’ve been here an hour ago but it’s Donghyuck.”

Renjun snorts and nods his head, it is Donghyuck.

The three of them are half an hour into packing away Renjun’s things (not much – just two large suitcases and two boxes) when Donghyuck shows up.

“Renjunieeeeee,” he whines as he swings open the bedroom door. It hits the wall with a loud noise that all but the culprit jumps at. Renjun suddenly finds himself tackled to the bed.

Renjun squeezes his eyes shut as his face is peppered in wet kisses and reaches a handout blindly to push Donghyuck’s face away. “Get off of me,” he grunts under his friend who just tightens his arms.

“I missed you though,” he’s clinging to Renjun like a koala, his cheek squished against where it’s pressed against the smaller male’s shoulder.

Finally, Renjun gives up trying to push the male off and instead vouches to let him tire when he realises the former isn’t fighting him anymore. “Missed you too, weirdo.”

Renjun looks over to the couple. Jeno is shaking his head and Mark continues to go through the box labelled ‘kitchen’, both of them with fond smiles on their faces. The Donghyuck effect.

Eventually, Donghyuck peels himself away and helps Renjun put away his clothing from one of the open suitcases on the floor. The pair slowly make their way through the suitcase. Slowly because Donghyuck keeps pausing to rate each piece he picks out.

When the suitcase is near empty, Renjun hears a laugh from behind him and turns to see Jeno looking down into one of the boxes.

From the label on the box, Renjun already knows what is coming.

“I can’t believe you still have these,” Jeno says as he reaches into the box and pulls out a large stack of comics, tied together with a wire of blue rope.

There is at least twenty in the pile Jeno holds but Renjun knows there’s more in the box to be taken out. All of them are well read, with most being from when Renjun was in his teens and holding fond memories for him within their slightly torn crumpled pages.

“I use them for referencing a lot,” Jeno raises an eyebrow as he flicks through the pages but says nothing. “I just like to point out the different art styles and shading used, nothing wrong with that.”

“Nerd,” Jeno snorts amusedly but with no real bite to it. He flicks through the second one on the pile. His smile widens when he notices the post-it notes Renjun has dotted around the pages which he turns to show Mark and Donghyuck. “Big nerd, it’s almost adorable.”

“Shut up,” Renjun grumbles. “Don’t act like you never read them either, you were the one that gave me most of them.” He continues when jeno just hums unconvinced, “Anyway you can’t call me a nerd when you were in the mathematicians club for 5 years.”

Jeno’s cheeks colour slightly. Mark’s attention is quickly turned back to him and away from the set of Renjun’s cutlery he’s unwrapping. God bless Mark, Renjun thinks, this is only our second time meeting in person and he’s already my favourite.

“You were in a club? For mathematics?” He says in awe.

“Not only that but for his last year he was the president of it,” Donghyuck adds in from his seat on Renjun’s bed. Somehow Mark’s eyes become even softer.

“Shut up,” Jeno copies Renjun’s words from moments ago and the latter can’t help but feel vindicated. Sucker. “I only joined because the guy that was the president of it before me was hot.”

“Ah,” Donghyuck sighs dreamily. “Kim Doyoung, a very fine man. Understandable decision Jeno.”

“Wait, was Doyoung the guy who made you realise that you wanted to work with tech?” Jeno nods at Mark’s question and the latter hums as if in thought. “Maybe I should thank him then. Without him I might not have shared any classes with you.”

Renjun regrets his decisions as he tries to pull his eyes away from his friends making puppy dog eyes at each other. Vindication cancelled.

He cringes and turns away, making eye contact with Donghyuck as he does so. He can tell they’re thinking the same thing.

Three years and they’re still in their honeymoon stage.

Donghyuck clears his throat loudly then, snapping the couple’s attention to him. “Anyway, Renjun. When’s your job interview?”

“Oh, yeah. We went to the address you sent and it’s not bad. The bar kind of has like a calm vibe to it; I think you’ll like it.” Mark says and Renjun smiles, quietly thanking his friends for going through the trouble. “And we met one of the owners, Johnny? He seems nice.”

“My sister said Johnny will be the one interviewing me so that’s good,” he sighs in relief as he unzips the other suitcase and starts going through its contents. “My interview isn’t until Tuesday though, so I have a few days yet.”

“I doubt Johnny or Kun would be mean if your sister knew them, she’s too protective for that,” Renjun nods, agreeing with Jeno’s statement. “Tuesday is good too. I have Monday off this week so I can show you around the area.”

Renjun agrees as well as Donghyuck and Mark. The rest of the day is spent unpacking and catching up on missed time they’ve spent apart.

Renjun is happy; he’s loved helping and spending time with his grandma, but he had missed his friends and the promises they made to each other. Now, it’s finally time to fulfil them.

…

When Renjun steps through the entrance and lets the door fall shut behind him, he is suddenly plunged into darkness. Great start.

“Uh… Hello?” He calls out. “Is anyone in here?” he waves his arms around to check for any automatic lighting as he steps slowly further into the room.

He gets no reply and the lights still do not turn on, so he decides to pull out his phone and use his flashlight instead. Pointing it downwards in front of him, he can see the wide dark tiled path for him to walk.

“My name is Huang Renjun and I’m here for the job interview. Is anyone here?”

“Hello.”

Renjun lets out a high shriek and swivels around to face the voice. His flashlight follows him, and he points it directly at the person with the happy tone. The person is standing next to the bar in the middle of a doorway to what Renjun can see is the kitchen.

The man steps back with one hand covering his eyes from the bright light which Renjun finally lowers. “I’m sorry!” he apologises, and the man let out a low laugh.

From the light coming through from the kitchen Renjun can see him reach across the wall and flip a light switch, blanketing the room in a low but calming light that still allows you to see all around the room. He understands now why Mark said he would like it.

“Don’t worry about it, I must’ve forgot to turn the lights on earlier,” the man, who Renjun now sees is quite tall and it wasn’t just the light playing tricks on him by enlarging his shadow, smiles at him which makes his cheeks puff up a little. It’s cute. “For future reference though, there’s another light switch to the left of the door on the wall when you walk in if the lights are off.”

Renjun nods and sends the man his own smile that he hopes hides how awkward and nervous he feels right now. He looks towards the door where the man pointed and takes his chance to finally look around.

Overall, it has a classy chic feel to it. The space isn’t massive but it’s a reasonable size. Directly from when you walk through the entrance there is the black tiled path that Renjun walked down that splits the bar and a few booths. The booths are probably large enough for a party of six and the seats are dark red, almost brown with a brown table between them. The bar is the same shade as the tables and has around ten stools spread out in front of it. Behind it there are two pillars made of brick, one where the bar begins and one where it ends, with multiple shelves of alcohol in between them.

Towards the end of the path Renjun can see more tables, this time round with a few chairs surrounding each one, as well as a door which Renjun assumes leads to the toilets.

Johnny speaks up after letting Renjun look around the space. “I’m Johnny Suh. I’m one of the co-owners of the bar along with Qian Kun who you’ll meet later.”

“Huang Renjun,” He smiles back and shakes the hand that Johnny had offered him. “It’s nice to meet you, Johnny.”

After Johnny leads them both to one of the tables, he continues by asking Renjun questions about the contents of his resume he had sent. The whole thing doesn’t take long and in what felt like less than ten minutes, Johnny gathers his papers and stands up.

“Thank you for coming today, Renjun,” he says with his bright smile that never seemed to leave his face throughout the interview. “I will have the contract printed ready for you to sign before your first shift. Speaking of, would you be able to begin tomorrow? Of course, we’ll train you first.”

Is that it? Renjun thinks, shocked that the whole process went so quickly. “Thank you for allowing me an interview. And yes, I can come in tomorrow.”

The confusion must have shown on his face as Johnny quickly explains. “I know it seems quick, but your sister recommended you to us and also sent over your last employer’s reference which explained all the roles you took on while working at the restaurant, your Grandma’s wasn’t it?” Renjun nods. “Today I just wanted to meet you and see if you’d be the right fit for the bar.”

Renjun thanks Johnny once again for hiring him and the two of them discuss times and any other small details they may need to go over before bidding each other goodbye.

…

1.

Renjun has been working at the bar for two weeks so far. After his first few introductory shifts where Johnny taught Renjun the basics of how the place was ran, how to work the till, how to make the drinks and how to change the barrels when needed, Renjun is proud to say he has picked up the role easily.

Both Johnny and Kun are great to work with and they make him feel welcome. They treat him like a friend and not just someone they hired to share the working hours with. He’s missing living and working with his grandma often, but it helps that Kun has started to make food for Renjun to take home for himself (as well as Jeno and Mark) after he mentioned missing his grandma’s cooking.

The customers are nice to. The bar has quite a few regulars that Renjun has gotten to know in the short time as well as a steady line of customers who are just after a quick drink at the first place they see.

If there was one downside to the job, then it’d have to be the dip in customers around rush hour in the week. Although Renjun is shy, he also likes the company of other people. Maybe it’s because the bar seems to be reasonably busy any other time of the day that this hour just seems to drag along.

So, now Renjun sits behind the bar on the single stool allowed behind it on a Thursday afternoon during rush hour and trying to think of anything that will keep him distracted until a customer arrives.

Like any other day, Johnny and Kun choose this time to go and do their paperwork or anything that seems more riveting than sitting alone in a quiet bar, so Renjun also has no one to distract him.

He’s contemplating going around to clean the already shiny tables again when he finally hears a rush of sound coming from outside signalling that someone had come through the entrance.

Renjun jumps up from his seat and smooths out the short apron he has fitted snuggly around his waist as he does so. He walks slowly towards the till as to not seem too eager and looks up at the first person to come into the bar in the last twenty minutes.

Oh. Oh.

He’s attractive.

Renjun’s mind silently thanks whoever’s idea it was for the lights in the bar being so dim when he feels a flush travelling up his neck and planting itself on his cheeks. He’s lost himself in a trance as his eyes travel slowly over the man that has just walked into the bar.

He’s dressed like any other person that works in the many fancy office buildings in the area, but better – his shiny dress shoes tapping against the tile with every step, black slacks hugging his long slim legs with a white dress shirt tugged into the waist band and his briefcase held against his side. Except, this man looks like he’d rather be lying down and resting after a hard day. The top few buttons of his dress shirt are unbuttoned, showing off his long neck and sharp collarbones, his probably once perfectly fastened tie rests against the back of his neck to lie flat against his chest, and his suit jacket is folded over one arm.

Weirdly, what catches Renjun’s attention the most is the man’s hair. His black hair, which looks like it was once styled meticulously, sits against his forehead. It’s stiff in some areas with left over product and he has one piece sticking up in a curve at the crown of his head. But despite that it still looks soft and enticing enough for Renjun to want to run his hands through it.

He stops in front of the counter and across from the bartender. The latter can see his expression even clearer now and he realises just how tired and stressed the man looks. His lips are pulled into a tight line and his eyes look they want nothing more than to close in that moment.

Renjun finally pulls himself together, feeling guilty and creepy for checking him out. A customer who clearly wants nothing more than for his day not to have any more hassle added onto it. He greets him.

Their interaction is hushed – the man exhausted from his day as he talks in a low, hoarse tone that runs through Renjun’s entire being, sending shivers from his head to toes which curl at the sensation. He has to pinch himself to keep it in control. Renjun finds himself speaking quietly too, not wanting to speak too loudly in an already overwhelmingly silent room.

It’s not until the man has paid for his drink – a simple single shot of whiskey but from one of the fancier brands they housed – and Renjun turns around to make it does the other speak up again, louder than the last.

He clears his throat, “I think there was a mistake?”

Renjun turns back around, small glass in hand, and looks confusedly at the man who is staring down at the drink’s menu on the counter. “Sorry, did you want something else?”

Finally, the man looks up again and his eyes meet with Renjun’s. If the latter wasn’t already stood still, he would have frozen at the sharp gaze centred on his person.

“No, the drink is fine I just think you undercharged me. It says here that I should’ve paid more,” he points down at the menu and Renjun looks over it and then looks at the last transaction on the till.

Now, this is where Renjun could admit his mistake. Because the man is right, he’s undercharged him by almost double by choosing the wrong drink. He could admit that and apologise to the man who seems a little too much like a good Samaritan – who would willingly point out that they’ve underpaid? – and they both could go on with their day. That would be simple because it isn’t deep enough to make it into anything else.

Unfortunately, Renjun finds himself smiling nervously at the attractive male in front of him and lying in a situation that does not have cause for a lie.

“No mistake. We have a promotion at this hour for discounted drinks. Kind of like a happy hour promotion as it’s not as busy as any other hour,” he gestures around the room and the man’s eyes follow the movement, seeing for himself that it isn’t busy. With the other’s eyes elsewhere, Renjun finally allows himself to move and pour his drink before sliding it across the counter to him. “Sorry for the confusion, please enjoy your drink.”

The man looks down at his drink, and then back up at Renjun’s bright smile – and the latter hopes the other doesn’t know he’s doing his best not to let out how nervous he is. His hand wraps around his glass and he nods slowly. “Thank you,” he replies, in the same hushed tone from earlier, and turns around this time to walk towards one of the booths directly across from the bar – directly across from Renjun – before dropping down onto the cushion and placing his briefcase and jacket on the space next to him.

And if Renjun spends the next five minutes crouched down behind the counter until his knees feel like they’re going to combust, pretending to restock the shelves below it just so he can avoid trying to keep his gaze away from the attractive male staring down at his glass, then that’s no one else’s business but his own. 

…

3.

Renjun doesn’t mention his slip up to anyone, not even his friends. Instead, feeling guilty for undercharging the customer despite how little, he pays the difference.

Surprisingly, the man came back the week after on the same day and at the same time despite the confusion Renjun caused, albeit this time more put together and even more attractive than last time. The interaction went the same as it did the week before – a greeting, the man asking for his drink, Renjun wordlessly putting the drink through at a discounted price so that the other wouldn’t question the slip up of the week before while mentally reminding himself to cover the difference, and the man sitting down in the same booth across from Renjun. He also left no longer than half an hour later; just as he did the week before.

This week the man is back again. Same day, same time.

More surprisingly though, is that after the man taps his bank card against the machine, he doesn’t walk towards the booth. Instead, he sits down in the stool next to him. At the bar. Right in front of Renjun.

Although he panics for a moment, Renjun is quick to calm himself and chalks the change of seating up to wanting something different. He bought a different drink too, he’s probably just a person who doesn’t like to stay the same for a long time. Yes, that’s what it must be.

He pretends to be resorting the shelves as he did in the first week. He would go back to sitting on his own stool, but he doesn’t want the man to think he’s lazy, that he does nothing all day except wait. Even if that is partially what he does. So, he tries to keep himself busy.

It’s quiet for the first five minutes while he ducks behind the counter, and for the next five minutes after that when he’s had enough of the shelves and instead stands to wipe down any glass he can see with a dry, clean cloth.

Except he feels like he is being watched. He does his best to ignore the feeling and continues.

It must have been at least fifteen minutes since the man sat down when Renjun finally turns around, expecting him to be focused on his drink like he normally is. Yet when he turns, he’s not looking down at the drink in his hands but at Renjun. At Renjun trying to look busy by continuously swiping over the same glass.

The bartender feels his cheeks warm at the realisation and looks away from the man’s gaze, looking down as he walks the short distance to the small sink behind the bar and fills the glass still in his hand.

He drinks and sets the glass back down on the counter before turning again so his back is no longer towards the bar. Out of the corner of his eye he sees the man sparing him a glance again, although he looks back down at his glass after a second.

He clears his throat and finally speaks, “How has your day been?”

The other looks surprised at being spoken to but his surprise his quickly hidden behind the neutral expression he usually wears. “It’s been fine, thank you. Just the usual routine,” Renjun nods as if he knows the man’s usual routine. “You?”

Cringing at the awkwardness, he finds himself replying the same, “Just the usual.”

He receives a nod in reply and its silent for a moment, Renjun not wanting to make it more awkward by speaking again, until the other does it for him.

“Have you worked here long?”

“No, I wouldn’t say so. I’ve only been here a month,” he shakes his head as he looks over in the man’s direction but keeps his eyes on the booth behind him. “And you?”

He realises his mistake when the man smiles amusedly. He raises a perfect dark eyebrow which moves up to slightly disrupt the piece of hair that’s styled smoothly into a comma-like shape. “How long have I worked here?”

“Sorry, um, no that’s not- how long have you worked in the area? If you do. Work in the area that is,” he huffs which seems to amuse the man even more as his smile grows in amusement. He’s so pretty, Renjun thinks despite the awkwardness, his smile is so pretty, please smile at me more.

“I do work in the area. I have done for two years now.”

Renjun nods at his answer, desperately trying to think of something else to say.

Fortunately (unfortunately?) Renjun doesn’t seem to need to think about it much. Just then the man finishes the last bit of his drink and slides it across the counter to Renjun as he stands.

“Thank you for the drink…” he trails off and Renjun takes the hint.

“Renjun. Huang Renjun,” he says and cringes at how he sounds like he’s quoting James Bond.

The man smiles anyway. “Thank you for the drink, Huang Renjun.”

He grabs his briefcase and walks towards the door.

Just as he’s got his hand on the bar handle to pull it open, Renjun quickly speaks.

“And you?” the man raises an eyebrow again in question. “What’s your name?”

He’s still smiling, albeit slightly bigger this time. Big enough that Renjun can just about see his teeth, his perfectly sharp teeth, he answers.

“Jaemin. Na Jaemin.”

…

6.

Though Renjun had expected it, he can’t help but be surprised when he sees Jaemin the week after their first conversation (if that awkwardness was even allowed to be a conversation). But when he sees Jaemin again the week after that, he’s quickly over the surprise, instead finding himself expectant of and excited for the only day the man shows up.

Compared to the first time they spoke Renjun is happy to say that it isn’t awkward. At least not as awkward.

Maybe it’s because of Jaemin, who seems to take it upon himself most of the time to guide the conversation and ask most of the questions. It’s something Renjun is thankful for as he doesn’t know whether he’d be able to do so himself. He’s still hesitant to ask Jaemin his own questions about his own life as he doesn’t want to overstep his boundaries.

Because of this he only knows a few things about Jaemin: he’s 26, an accountant at one of the larger companies nearby, and he also likes to watch Renjun work. The last one being more of an observation than something said explicitly.

Now, three weeks since their first conversation, Jaemin is back.

Renjun gulps, throat suddenly dry as he looks up at the entrance just as the door closes and he sees Jaemin. Jaemin who is not in his usual plain black suit, a suit which alone probably shouldn’t make Renjun so panicked.

To say Renjun is flustered right now would be an understatement.

Jaemin takes long strides towards the bar while Renjun stares. Stares at his figure in the white suit, the fit clinging to his frame more than his usual suits do and paired with a white belt. The change of suit is fine. Totally fine. Except he’s also changed his shirt.

Jaemin no longer wears his plain white dress shirt and instead he’s dawning a dark red silk shirt, loosely clinging to his chest and torso with every movement. His hands don a few rings, some bigger than others, and around his neck sit two silver chains that disappear under his shirt.

Seeing this Jaemin feels like a whole new experience. Renjun swears he’s going to pass out.

Unaware of the others inner turmoil, Jaemin sits across from Renjun with his soft smile and his usual greeting.

“Hello, Huang Renjun.”

Despite still being in a slight state of shock with Jaemin’s change of attire, he returns the smile. “Hello, Na Jaemin. What will you be having today?” 

They make small talk while Renjun makes the drink Jaemin ordered. He slides the glass across the counter and stares at him as he takes his first sip. The latter smiles and nods lightly to say that it’s good.

They only sit in comfortable silence for a minute before Renjun’s willingness to ignore the change crumbles and he blurts out, “What happened to the black suit?”

Jaemin looks down at himself before looking back at Renjun, “Oh, I have a business event tonight.”

With a tilt of the head and a raised eyebrow, Renjun confusedly asks, “it’s Thursday?”

A sigh from the other and an exaggerated pained look is what he gets in return, so cute. “You’d be surprised how eager businessmen are to party in the middle of the week when the ones under them have a 9am start.”

“Ah, must be fun to dress up nice for work.”

“What do you mean? You always look nice,” Jaemin replies with a soft smile.

“Thank you,” Renjun replies quietly, “But you know what I mean.”

“I do but I still stand by it,” he leans forward, elbow on the counter and his chin resting on his knuckles as he sends Renjun a purposefully cheeky smile. “You’d make even a bedsheet look like it came straight out of vogue.”

Renjun flusters, cheeks flaming pink and avoiding eye contact. He misses how Jaemin’s smile widens in his desperate attempt to change the subject.

“Anyway,” he clears his throat, “I’ve been wanting to ask but have you been to this bar before I started working here? I just never saw you in my first two weeks.”

The other shakes his head, still smiling albeit softer. “No, the first time I met you was my first time here. I usually go to the café across the road but it’s being renovated. This place was just the first place I looked at when I saw the café was closed.”

Renjun nods at his explanation and is about to ask a follow up question when Jaemin decides to ask his own.

“You said the first time you haven’t been here long, where did you work before?”

“Oh,” he’s surprised but can’t help the smile on his face as he thinks about his grandma. “I used to work at a restaurant, my grandma’s to be more specific.”

“Did you like it?” Renjun nods ‘yes’. “How come you left?”

“I moved here,” he says simply but continues when Jaemin tilts his head in question, “I used to live two hours away, where my grandma and her restaurant is. I grew up there but moved in with one of my friend’s and his boyfriend here not long before I started working at this bar.”

“Was there any reason why you wanted to move away?”

Renjun shrugs, “it was always my plan to do so. Actually, it was a plan I had with my friends; the one I live with, Jeno, and my other friend Donghyuck. We grew up together and always talked about going to university here. And we were going to, we all got accepted but then my grandma started to struggle with her restaurant. I didn’t want to leave her alone with that; my sister was already off studying so it was only me and my grandad to help but he didn’t have the greatest health either, so I stayed.”

He pauses and looks at Jaemin sheepishly from where he started to clean the counter out of habit, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to over explain.”

“You didn’t don’t worry,” he smiles, and it makes Renjun feels at ease. “I assume it’s ok back home now, then right? Seeing as you’re here.”

“It’s better. It’s not perfect but the business gets a lot of regulars so my grandma’s able to make more from it. And my grandad’s health is steady so he’s able to help. My sister also moved back home recently too after finishing her course. She’s actually the one who convinced me to move.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I didn’t think there was any use in moving here anymore. I mean, the plan was already out so what was the point. But then she said that I should still move here and do what I want to do with my life.”

“What’s that?” Jaemin asks, “What is it that you want to do?”

“Oh,” What he wants to do? Renjun knows what he wants to do, he’s just embarrassed to admit it. He knows he shouldn’t be, there’s nothing wrong with his career choice and he’s always had a lot of support from his family about his choice. He still can’t help the flush that makes its way up his neck.

But Jaemin is looking at him expectantly still wearing that same soft smile, the one that makes Renjun want to tell him everything even if he doesn’t really know anything about the other.

“I, um,” he starts awkwardly. “I want to be an illustrator. I really like to draw and that’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was young.”

“You must be good then,” the other smiles brightly and Renjun eases.

“I guess,” he returns the smile.

“So, are you working here and then going to university like you wanted to?”

He shakes his head, “I’m not sure whether I want to study yet. I mean, I’m torn between going to study it more to improve or whether I want to try and go straight into working. Either way it’s going to be difficult, so I’m looking into my options. I’m just working here while I make my decision.” 

Jaemin nods in understanding but his expression changes. “Uh-” he shifts awkwardly on the stool, looking like he’s trying to make a decision inside himself.

It’s odd, Renjun’s never seen him look anything close to awkward before. He gives him a moment.

“I know we haven’t been speaking that long but,” he pauses, he’s looking at Renjun so deeply that the other feels like he can see through him. He seems to make up his mind on whatever inner turmoil he was having. “I actually know someone in the field. My brother, Jaehyun works for a company who specialises in animation.”

Renjun is confused. The elder must realise that Renjun doesn’t understand what he’s saying because he explains further, “I don’t want to overstep but I could ask him to recommend you for a position?”

“What?” Renjun blurts, eyes wide in shock. He hadn’t expected Jaemin to say that. “You can’t do that.”

The answer seems to upset Jaemin as his face falls, “Why? You said its difficult right? So, take a chance. I’m only going to talk to him, I don’t know if he’ll have anything to offer but it’s worth a shot, right?”

“I don’t know,” he replies, unsure of whether he should take the offer.

On one hand it could really help Renjun get closer to his dream job but also, if he accepted Jaemin’s help would that mean he’s taking handouts? He has a lot of pride; he wants to be able to say he made it by his own merit. He voices these worries to Jaemin.

“Just because you get help along the way doesn’t mean you aren’t doing it on your own,” the other no longer looks sad by the rejection, instead he smiles at Renjun again. “It still solely relies on your skill and person whether you’re able to make something out of it.”

Renjun thinks over it for a few minutes as Jaemin continues to sip from his drink.

It’s only when Renjun agrees to let Jaemin talk to his brother does the bright expression he wore earlier come back full bloom. He does his best to not get too excited over the possibilities, it could all be for nothing in the end, but seeing Jaemin’s excitement over something probably so low on his list of priorities it makes Renjun feel like he can be just as excited.

…

Not long after Renjun accepts Jaemin’s offer, the elder male receives a notification to say his ride had arrived and he had to leave. Although he should be used to Jaemin spending less than an hour at the bar, he still finds himself missing his company and wanting him to stay.

He feels this way from the moment Jaemin leaves until the end of his shift and even after it as he makes his way home. He also can’t help but become distracted while thinking about the conversations he’s been having with the man over the last few weeks.

Maybe that’s why he almost got on the wrong bus as well as almost getting off at the wrong stop which would have added twenty minutes to his already boring half an hour journey.

Finally, though, he’s pushing his apartment door open and stepping inside just as the time passes 11PM.

With a heavy sigh, he drops his backpack down on the floor at the door and strips himself of his jacket and shoes, putting them in their rightful places. He’s distracted but he still has his manners.

“Hello?” he calls into the apartment and walking further inside.

“In here!” Mark shouts back, his voice coming from their living area.

When Renjun enters he’s met with the sight of Jeno, and Mark sat on the couch. There’s scarcely any space between them with Jeno sat with his laptop resting on Mark’s thighs which are placed across the formers lap. Mark’s chest is pressed closely to Jeno’s shoulder as his fingers tease the curled hair at the back of his neck.

Ignoring how mind-numbingly cute their position is, Renjun drops spread eagle on the round cushioned stool that sits to the side of the bigger sofa. His limbs complain at the lack of support as they hang off the surface but Renjun perseveres. He needs this. It’s comforting in an odd way despite the pain.

The three sit in silence, the only sound heard being light breathing and the tapping of Jeno’s keyboard as he plays whatever game he’s obsessed with recently. Until “Alright, what’s wrong?” Jeno sighs, eliciting a confused noise from Renjun. “You’ve been letting out little huffs for the last minute and you keep shaking your leg, there’s clearly something on your mind.”

The boy being questioned hadn’t even realised he was making any sound or movement, too in his head to acknowledge anything outside of it.

“Jun? You good?” he hears Mark asks and Renjun finally sits up on the stool as he’s supposed to. The couple are now staring at him with equally concerned faces, unsure of what’s plaguing his mind enough for him to be so out of it.

“I, um,” Renjun flounders unhelpfully which causes the confused expressions on his friends faces to deepen.

Renjun sighs, choosing to look down at his hands clasped together instead of the pair.

“There’s this guy-” he finally begins but is cut off abruptly.

“Wait let me ring Hyuck,” Jeno says, pulling his phone out of his pocket and calling their other friend as he said. He puts it on speaker as it rings and finally answers the other’s confused looks, “We can’t have guy talk without him here too.” He says as if it’s obvious. Renjun rolls his eyes but waits for his friend to pick up anyway.

Donghyuck answers the phone with an exaggerated ‘yes honey?’ and Jeno smiles but is quick to explain that Renjun is about to tell them a boy-related issue. Renjun rolls his eyes again when he hears Donghyuck let out a noise of intrigue and some sheets rustling, clearly interested in what his friend has to say.

“Anyway,” he presses on. “There’s this guy that’s been coming to the bar every Thursday during rush hour and… I don’t know there isn’t really much of an issue but also there is?”

‘Get on with it Junnie.’ He knows the nickname was added to soften the demand.

“Rude. We’ve been talking for a few weeks when he comes in and he’s always asking about me, but he also doesn’t really talk about himself. I don’t know, like I said it’s not really an issue but also it confuses me a bit?” He sighs heavily.

“I don’t know really know anything about this guy except for the fact that he’s hot, Mark’s age and an accountant but today, for example, he was asking about when and why I started working at the bar and I told him my whole story of working with my grandma and what my sister said to convince me to come here,” he pauses, contemplating whether he should continue.

Looking at the couples’ expectant expressions as well as the pure silence coming from Donghyuck’s side, it’s clear they want him to. Renjun sighs heavily once again, “and then the part that confuses me the most, you could say, is that when I talked about what I wanted to do with my career he offered to talk to his brother?”

“What’s his brother got to do with it?” Mark asks with a small tilt of his head.

“Well, he said that his brother works for an animation company. So, he kind of promised to talk to him about me? Like to see if there’s a possible position available his brother could recommend me for.”

It’s silent for a moment before Renjun looks back at his friends to see their still expectant confessions, “That’s it, by the way.”

There’s another moment of silence and the expectant-turned-confused expressions before Renjun realises his mistake. He should not have opened his mouth.

“Junnie,” Jeno begins, his voice already taking on a sulkier tone than usual. “Why didn’t you tell us about him before.”

Jeno sends him his puppy-dog eyes and Mark, whose eyes are twinkling as he stares at Jeno clearly finding his sulky boyfriend endearing, nods in agreement. Donghyuck also decides to chime in then with an aggressive ‘Yeah!’ in agreement.

“Why would I need to tell you about him? He’s just someone from work,” Renjun’s face crinkles in confusion.

“Is he?” he nods at Jeno, but they still seem unconvinced.

“Would you normally tell someone from work, a stranger, your whole life story?”

Renjun splutters, suddenly on the defensive. “I haven’t told him my whole life story!”

‘But you have told him quite a lot about yourself, personal things you especially wouldn’t tell to just anyone?’

“Yes?”

“And he also told you that he’d talk to his brother about you so that you could possibly get your dream job,” comes Mark’s input.

“Well, yeah but-”

‘Junnieeeee, aw our sweet Renjun has a crush. They grow up so fast,’ fake sniffling can be heard along with Donghyuck’s sudden conclusion.

“Hey!” he shouts, “I’m older than you, you brat! And I do not have a crush. Can we get back to my issue please? Why would basically a complete stranger offer that kind of help when I don’t know anything about him? There’s literally nothing in it for him.”

Renjun does his best to steer the subject back to his issue. However, his friends have their own priority as the three of them continue to chant ‘he likes him, he likes him’.

His friends are useless. Absolutely useless.

…

7.

His conversation with his friends (who were really no help at all) has been stuck in his head for the past week.

This week Jaemin walks into the bar in his usual black suit and white dress shirt. Still very, very attractive but tame enough that it doesn’t garner the attention of Renjun’s every last braincell. Though Renjun doesn’t forget to appreciate the way the shirt clings against his chest with each movement.

They do what they do normally: Jaemin sits across from Renjun and watches him as he makes the drink he asked for, they ask each other about their day and whatever other questions come to mind while Jaemin somehow manages to keep the focus of the conversation on Renjun.

Jaemin is still looking at Renjun when he slides his glass over the counter, and he takes a drink. He does it often and normally Renjun would be frustrated by it, but nothing is ever the same when it’s Jaemin. It’s not a creepy stare, like he’s watching his every move, but like he’s invested in whatever Renjun is going to say or do next. Interested in Renjun’s entire being, what he is as a person.

Renjun notes that he rarely ever takes his eyes off of him, especially when he’s talking. It’s nice to have someone’s full attention especially when so many people seem to be distracted and doing other things while they’re talking.

But Jaemin is different.

Jaemin’s way of communicating is refreshing. That still doesn’t stop the one thing clawing at Renjun’s mind for weeks, wanting to be asked and answered.

“You know,” Jaemin hums to show he has his attention, as if Renjun needed it, “you never really talk about yourself.”

Jaemin is quiet still, just raises an eyebrow as if to ask Renjun to continue. “You’re kind of a mystery. You always ask about me but never really seem to want me to ask any questions about you. It’s a bit like- it’s like the whole bartender-client is relationship is reversed. Instead of the client ranting to the bartender for hours on end it’s the bartender ranting to the client.”

When he’s finished, he looks down, cheeks flamed after admitting what has been on his mind for so long. He’s surprised he even kept eye-contact with Jaemin throughout that whole mini speech.  

It’s silent on Jaemin’s end for a moment too until he lets out a small, soft laugh and Renjun’s head instinctively raises at the sound.

His smile is genuine and relaxed when he replies, “it’s not ranting when I just ask you the questions and I want to hear yours answers right?” Renjun supposes that’s true.

“And I’m sorry if it seems like I don’t want to answer your questions, I’ll answer any questions you have. Honestly, I just like hearing about you that’s all. You’re interesting. And I like your voice.” 

He shrugs easily as if he hadn’t just sent Renjun’s brain into a total mess. Every braincell, every thought and reply that he could have possibly used in this moment has been picked up and thrown away haphazardly. Jesus how does he have this effect on me.

After a moment of the two just staring at each other. Jaemin looking as calm and collected as he usually is and Renjun trying to pretend he is too; the latter finally brings together enough words to reply.

“Uh,” Or maybe not. “Don’t be sorry, it was just an observation. I’ll uh, keep that in mind,” he answers vaguely, trying to keep his mind away from the fact that Jaemin likes his voice. Jaemin wants to know about him.

“So…” Jaemin starts, leaning forward and gesturing to Renjun to do the same as if he has a secret to share, “What do you want to know about me?”

…

11.

Since Renjun discussed not knowing much about Jaemin, the boy has been a lot more forthcoming with information about himself. In the last few weeks, he’s learned a lot more about Jaemin; sometimes through asking his own questions but also through Jaemin speaking willingly about his own interests.

He now knows that Jaemin is interested in photography and he mostly photograph random things but likes it the most when his neighbours Chenle and Jisung model for him. He also likes bunnies and the colour yellow; he likes to cook, he went to university and he only has one sibling (his older brother, Jaehyun).

Renjun now even knows Jaemin’s coffee order, an iced americano with four extra shots – it used to be eight, but his mother nagged him so much that he promised to cut down.

At Renjun’s shocked reaction he goes on to defend himself, “think about it. If you had to sit in an office looking at numbers every day and trying to explain to annoying rich people, why it’s better not to throw all their money into stupid things you’d need the 8 shots too.”

And Renjun nods along because it’s that easy to understand where Jaemin’s coming from. How he talks makes you want to believe every word that comes out of his mouth even if it’s nonsense. Renjun doesn’t know if it’s because he can be gullible or whether the other is an evil genius. Maybe it’s both.

“An iced drink would be nice right now,” Renjun sighs, the bottom of his back leaning against the counter behind him.

The weather has been becoming increasingly hotter throughout the week, it started at a bearable temperature but right now Renjun feels like he could melt into a puddle on the black tiles. He’s normally one to say he prefers the summer heat over rain but at this moment he wants nothing but the latter.

Despite the aircon in the bar being turned up to the highest temperature and having a portable fan held in front of him, Renjun feels like he’s in the pits of hell.

He’s surprised that Jaemin is faring a lot better. They both have their shirts unbuttoned by three and their sleeves unclasped and rolled up to their elbows. Yet where Renjun is continuously flapping his shirt against his chest to allow more air to cool his torso, Jaemin is sat on his usual stool, sipping his drink like it’s a peaceful day. No bead of sweat in sight.

God, I see what you do for others.

It’s silent in the bar other than the sounds of the fans. Renjun is left wallowing in self-pity while he rants about how unfair this is in his mind. Though his rant is cut off when Jaemin suddenly perks up, drink inches from his lips with his eyes set on Renjun’s shoulder.

“You have a tattoo?”

“Huh?” Renjun replies dumbly and Jaemin gestures to his own collar.

Oh. “Oh,” he replies, pulling the collar of his shirt further away from his collarbone so that the tattoo is on show.

It’s nothing fancy, just something Renjun had gotten done at random a few years ago. the tattoo sits just next to his collarbone. Small stars are placed with faint dots lined up to connect them to form the constellation of the big dipper. It’s a small tattoo, no bigger than a bank card, but Renjun thought the design was cute.

“Yeah, I got it a few years ago,” he explains.

“The big dipper, right?” Jaemin asks. “I’m guessing you like stars?”

Renjun’s smile is small, soft. “Since I was a kid. My grandfather likes stargazing, and he taught me a lot about them.”

“That’s sweet, you must be close,” Jaemin’s smile mirrors his own and Renjun nods in confirmation.

He lets go of his shirt collar and basks in the cool air from the fan for a moment. “I also have one on my thigh.”

“Wuh?”

“It’s not big, just two dark brush strokes crossing against each other. It’s on the inside,” Renjun explains, and he sees Jaemin’s eyes widen only slightly as his eyes drift down.

Staring at his thighs as if he could see the tattoo through the other’s blue jeans, he swallows. “Oh.”

“Do you have any?”

Jaemin nods slowly, eyes rising back up to make eye contact with the other. He’s silent for a second longer before he smiles and takes another sip of his drink.

“On my hip.”

Renjun raises an eyebrow for him to continue.  

“Would you believe me if I said it was a bunny?”

Renjun pauses, taken off guard by the question. His eyes turn to slits as he stares at Jaemin and considers. Although Jaemin has shared a lot more about himself, they still haven’t known each other that long. What he knows about Jaemin so far is very little. He’s as mysterious as anything. Still, although odd he doesn’t believe that the attractive man in front of him, staring back at Renjun with an amused gaze and a perfectly sculpted dark eyebrow raised at how long he’s taking, would have a bunny tattoo.

“No,” Renjun finally answers, choosing to stare down at the fan in his hand instead of giving into the male’s intense gaze that has his knees feeling weak.

Jaemin hums and seems to consider it for a moment. “Good answer.”

“So… what is it then if you don’t have a bunny tattoo?”

Jaemin’s smile changes then, something that goes from amused to slightly wicked, large enough for most of his straight teeth to be on show, his sharp fangs peaking just slightly from under his lip. “Maybe I’ll let you find out one day.”

Before Renjun’s thoughts can race to the very dark corners of his mind and start pulling together all types of fantasies for whatever Jaemin meant by that, said male opens his mouth again.

“Also, I never said I didn’t have a bunny tattoo at all.”

With that, Jaemin smoothly finishes the little amount of what’s left of his drink before standing up from his chair. His jacket thrown over his forearm and a stunning smile on his face, he says goodbye to Renjun and leaves.

And Renjun… well.

Renjun really hopes he learns to figure out when Jaemin is being serious and when he’s being purposefully confusing.

…

12.

“No, no, no, no. No,” Renjun chants when he looks up from where he is wiping down a table of a customer who just left.

Standing at the door Renjun sees the last people he wants to see right now.

“What the hell are you guys doing here.”

Donghyuck pouts while the other two wear shit-eating grins that definitely spell trouble for Renjun. “Aw Junnie, is this how you treat paying customers?”

“No, this is how I treat my friends who are up to no good,” his eyes follow the three of them as they move to sit in one of the booths across from the bar. “Again, what are you doing here?”

Mark is the first to give in. “Ok, fine. We wanted to see Mystery Man.”

“Mystery Man? Really?” Jeno replies with an incredulous look towards his boyfriend. 

Donghyuck is wearing the same expression, “Is that the best you could come up with?”

Mark grins back at them and they both soften. Just like that. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” Donghyuck sighs.

“Anyway,” Renjun cuts them off before they can continue. He really does not feel like being present while they all flirt with each other, just date already. “How do you even know he’s coming in today?”

The three of them turn back to him like the answer was obviously. Because it is. “He always comes in.”

Ignoring their answer, Renjun sighs and asks them what they want to drink. When he’s done, he places the tray on their table along with their receipt.

“Just,” he begins nervously, hands playing with the apron tied around his small waist. “Please don’t say anything to him.”

As if fate, the door to the entrance opens just then.

Renjun turns back to his friends, wide eyed. Noticing his nervousness (and because they’re not actually bad friends) the three of them lift a hand to their lips, zip and lock in perfect unison. If Renjun wasn’t panicking so much he’d roll his eyes.

Instead, he turns away to walk behind the bar just as Jaemin strolls up to it with a wide smile.

“Huang Renjun,” he greets.

“Na Jaemin,” he replies with his own smile. Not even knowing it was possible, the smile on Jaemin’s face brightens even more and, just like that, Renjun’s shoulders are no longer tense. He even manages to ignore the presence of his friends behind Jaemin’s shoulders as they whisper conspiringly to one another.

Jaemin only stays for half an hour and before he knows it, Renjun is alone. Or he would be if his friends had given up and gone home.

He gives it a minute after Jaemin is out the door before walking over to their booth. He drops down next to Mark with Jeno and Donghyuck across from him. The three of them sporting the same grins from earlier but stay silent.

When it gets a little too creepy, Renjun huffs. “Alright spit it out, what are you thinking?”

Donghyuck speaks up first because of course he does, “You like him.”

His grin drops off his face when he doesn’t get the reaction he hoped for. Instead of getting defensive, Renjun just shrugs, “Yeah.”

“Well damn,” Jeno voices in shock. “Who would’ve thought Renjun would accept his feelings so easily.”

The man in question sighs, “Well I’m not eighteen anymore. I’ve always found him attractive; it just took him telling me more about himself for me to actually feel anything more than attraction.”

“Huh,” Mark says, nodding his head slowly. “Are you dating?”

“No,” Renjun replies, confused with the sudden question. He chooses to go on the defensive instead, “Are you three dating yet?”

Though Jeno’s cheeks turn red, he still replies confidently, “Soon.”

“If you aren’t dating then why does he get a discount,” Mark whines and Renjun’s head turns quickly to him in a snap.

“W-what do you mean?”

Mark smiles then as if he just won some game Renjun isn’t privy to, he taps his finger on the receipt on the table, “We both bought exactly the same drink, but his was like half the price I paid.”

Ah. He forgot about that.

He’s been so used to giving Jaemin the discounted price every time he orders that he didn’t even notice he did so today.

At their friends’ silence, the three become even more interested in the topic of conversation.

“So,” Jeno begins, “care to explain?”

…

13.

Renjun falls back against the brick wall, his backpack dropping off of his shoulder and thumping against the concrete. His hands go up to fist and tug at his two-toned hair in frustration as he squeezes his eyes shut.

His heart is beating against his chest and his breathing is heavy. He drops down into a crouch, head between his knees and his hands still in his hair. God he just wants to go home.

He wants to go back to his apartment where Jeno and Mark will be cuddling on the couch, maybe they’ve even called Donghyuck over to join them. He wants to go back to the safety of his apartment where he doesn’t need to deal with drunk people screaming at him because they can’t handle their alcohol.

The last thing he wants to do right now is walk to the bus stop so he can catch his bus and be surrounded by more people. But he also knows he can’t just stay leaning against the wall outside the bar entrance forever, not when he can hear people clearly inebriated talking about how he can’t handle his drink or asking him if he needs any help.

Normally, he’d say no but be genuinely thankful for the offer but right now he just needs people to leave him alone.

He gives himself ten more minutes to calm down before pushing himself up, hand braced on the wall for support as his legs shake.

Letting out a heavy breath, he bends down to pick up his backpack, his other hand moving from the wall to roughly rub under his eyes to clear any tears that fell.

There are more footsteps tapping against the concrete walking in the direction of the bar entrance. He doesn’t want another drunk person asking how he is while trying to rant about how shit of a day they’ve had without letting him give his own answer. He begins walking towards his bus stop, even if his knees scream at him for trying.

He only makes it a few steps before the top of his head is bumping into a relatively hard surface. He steps back, head still lowered.

Through his blurry vision he can see someone’s dress shoes and the surface he bumped into is that person’s chest.

He apologies quickly but he doesn’t receive a reply.

He looks up but he can only see an outline of the person in front of him in the dark of the night, the streetlight behind the stranger not helping in doing anything but placing a ring of light around their head. He blinks to clear his vision and when it works, he realises the person he bumped into isn’t a stranger at all.

Instead, he’s met with Jaemin, the latter looking worriedly as he looks Renjun up and down. He takes in his appearance. The once perfectly styled hair now messy from being tugged at, his bloodshot eyes and cheeks slightly red and irritated from crying. Though his eyes get stuck on the brown stain covering the stretch of Renjun’s torso.

The action causes Renjun to realise how cold he is, especially with the wet patch clinging to his skin, as he pulls his jacket closer around himself. It also manages to pull Jaemin’s even more worried gaze away and step towards him.

“What happened?”

Renjun sniffles, “I-it’s fine. It was just an angry customer; he didn’t get the drink he wanted so he decided I should have it instead.” He tries to joke but when he laughs it comes out dry and he cringes at his own attempt at making a joke.

Jaemin’s eyes dart to the entrance, his expression turning thunderous before an awkward cough from Renjun brings his attention back to the smaller male in front of him.

“I’m going to go catch my bus,” he gestures loosely, “You go ahead inside, Johnny already kicked the guy out, so he won’t ruin your night.”

He begins walking again, his shoulder brushing lightly against Jaemin’s as he moves past him. Suddenly there’s a grip on his wrist, stopping him from moving further.

“No,” Jaemin says as Renjun turns back towards him confusedly, “I mean, I only came here to see you.”

This only gets him another confused look from Renjun, so he continues, “Do you want to come back to mine? I can make you a hot drink and you can change.”

Silence.

“I mean, you don’t have to. I can drive you home instead, so you don’t need to catch the bus. I don’t mind my car is only over there,” his words come out in a rush as he points towards the direction of the car park, just across the road from where Renjun would be getting his bus.

Finally, Renjun nods slowly.

Jaemin quickly let’s go of his light hold on Renjun’s wrist, like he hadn’t realised he was still holding onto it as the other replies only loud enough for him to hear, “A hot drink would be nice… if that’s ok?”

The elder is shocked at his reply, expecting him to decline, but he nods quickly. “Of course. Let’s go?”

Jaemin leads the way to his car. It’s one of those expensive models Renjun’s friends would scream over if they were to see it but he’s never cared much for car brands himself. Instead he’s just thankful for the heated seats Jaemin activates the moment they’re both sat in the car.

The ride doesn’t take long. Jaemin turns the radio on low while he drives and Renjun’s more focused on the view out of the window as the bright lights of the city fly past. The view and the almost-silence help to relax him.

By the time they enter the underground parking lot of what he assumes is Jaemin’s apartment building, Renjun feels almost completely relaxed. He no longer feels like his knees are going to fail him and he’ll breakdown at any moment.

He’s taken up four floors before they reach Jaemin’s door. Abruptly, Jaemin turns around to him with his hand on the door to put in his passcode.

“You’re ok with dogs, right?” albeit confused Renjun says he is and Jaemin looks relieved as he leads him inside.

“Oh!” All of a sudden, his feet are being sniffed at buy a small dog. A very, small and fluffy dog that – If his knowledge is correct – is a Pomeranian. Light brown fur surrounds it like a cloud while their tiny legs trot excitedly around Renjun.

He wants to leave the apartment with it right this second. So cute.

“That’s Juna,” Jaemin says, smiling softly while looking down at the pair; Renjun crouched down to be at the pup’s level to give her all his attention. “She’s been with me for about a month.”

“How old is she?” Renjun asks.

“9 months. She used to belong to someone I work with, but her son was allergic so she’s with me now,” Jaemin answers, watching as Renjun cups Juna’s soft cheeks and whispers to her in a baby voice, her tail wagging excitedly as he does so.

“I didn’t know apartments allowed pets?”

“I don’t think all of them do, but this one has a play area off the ground floor where the residents can take their dogs. Juna seems to like the other dogs in the building too, especially Chenle’s dog Daegal, they get on well.”

“Your neighbour, right?” Renjun looks up at Jaemin then, Juna deciding to finally give and receive attention from her owner instead. “You mentioned him before.”

“Hm,” Jaemin looks happy that he remembered, “Yeah, him and Jisung live in the apartment next to me. Juna goes there in the daytime if I have a long day at work.”

The pair finally realise they’ve stood in the entrance far too long, so they slip off their shoes and jackets and Jaemin leads Renjun inside. and jumping between her owner’s legs in a figure eight every time he steps.

Jaemin’s apartment… is not what Renjun thought it would be.

Jaemin’s job clearly pays well, given his usual attire (including the Rolex Renjun hardly ever sees him without) and the car they rode here in. But his apartment does not show that nearly as much as his appearance does. Renjun had thought it would feel stuffy and expensive but instead it feels cosy.

Jaemin’s apartment is much like his own, just bigger. And darker, due to the blackout curtains covering the windows and the low lighting. Though the walls are white which makes the room feel a bit lighter. But the furniture – including a small dining table set, a three-seater sofa, a single armchair, and a large rug that covers the expanse of what is supposed to be the living area – is either black or grey.

Jaemin grabs a mint hoodie from a freshly stacked pile of clothing and holds it out to Renjun.

“You can change into this or I could find something else too.”

Renjun says that it’s fine and accepts the hoodie with a thank you, the material feeling soft in his hands.

“I’m just going to change into something more comfortable if that’s ok. I don’t really like to stay dressed up at home,” Jaemin points to one of the doors behind his shoulder, facing Renjun who has moved to stand next to the armchair that Juna is now sat on.

Renjun looks down at what Jaemin is wearing. It’s a different style to his usual suit but not as much as his white suit was. Instead Jaemin wears black jeans and shoes, his upper body is covered by a long-sleeved sweater with a design of white, black, and orange zigzags over an orange cotton shirt. A single silver chain rests against his chest.

“Oh, it isn’t Thursday,” he replies dumbly, belatedly realising it’s Tuesday and it’s near 8PM, not the usual day or time that Jaemin visits the bar. He curses at himself for being so focused on the situation with the customer that he hadn’t realised sooner.

Jaemin looks confused so he continues. “You normally only come to the bar on Thursday’s. You must have something else to do, I can go. Will you still be able to make it?” he asks worriedly, holding the hoodie back out to Jaemin who looks more confused than before.

“There was a dinner. But that isn’t important; there will be more. I’d rather spend my time with you than stuffy businessmen,” he answers, pushing the hoodie towards Renjun again instead of taking it. “And I was visiting the bar today because I had something to tell you.”

“Oh.”

Jaemin hums, “So, you’ll stay?” Renjun nods slowly which makes Jaemin smile.

“Ok! I’ll go change; you can change out here. I’ll knock before coming out.”

Renjun nods again and Jaemin turns to walk away. He suddenly understands what the other said, “Wait, what did you want to tell me?”

Jaemin stops as he reaches the door and smiles wide. “I’ll tell you in a second.”

Then, Renjun is left alone with Juna.

He sighs and quickly changes into the hoodie. Because of his and Jaemin’s size difference it falls to just about mid-thigh and he has to pull the sleeves up to his elbows instead of letting them swallow his hands. But it’s comfortable and warm, it smells like Jaemin and Renjun would choose this over his stained shirt any day.

He moves to sit down on the sofa and wait for the other but a framed picture on the wall catches his attention. He walks slowly towards it to get a closer look and realises he knows a few of the people pictured.

He sees Jaemin first, near the middle of a group of around ten people clearly celebrating an occasion with dozens of balloons surrounding them. His smile is bright while he has another attractive male next to him in a tight hug, said male pretending to be disgusted by the hug but also clearly bringing Jaemin closer. Next to him stands two more males and suddenly the rest of the picture doesn’t matter.

Jaemin knows Johnny and Kun?

Just then he hears a knock and calls out to Jaemin that he’s ok to come out. He turns around when the door open and Jaemin steps out, starting to walk towards him.

Renjun is about to ask him about the photograph when his eyes are pulled to Jaemin’s hip. He’s changed into a pair of black and white adidas joggers and a white t-shirt that hugs his chest. However, the shirt has become lodged between his waist and his arm, showing off his side before he moves his arm and the shirt falls.

Jaemin comes to stand next to Renjun who is still staring at his now covered hip.

“Everything ok?”

“You- erm,” he stutters. “Your tattoo.”

“Hm? Oh yeah,” Jaemin notices where he’s looking. “I mentioned that before didn’t I,” he raises his shirt enough so that part of his tattoo is on show again.

Renjun’s breath hitches as he stares at the dark ink. The tattoo is of three (of what Renjun can make out) vines wrapped from the middle of Jaemin’s torso to go around his back and disappear into the waistband of his bottoms and travel up his chest covered by his t-shirt.

He continues to stare even as the silence that surrounds them becomes suffocating.

His throat feels dry as his lip’s part slightly and he reaches out a hand, unable to help his fingers desperately wanting to trace along the inked lines. His actions are slow but Jaemin doesn’t move away from his hand slowly reaching out to touch.

Only when Renjun’s fingers are mere centimetres away from the other male’s hip does he come to his senses. Renjun clears his throat and cringes at the loud noise in the silence but pulls his hand away quickly and pushes it into the pocket of Jaemin’s hoodie instead.

He turns his attention to the framed picture as Jaemin lowers his shirt. Renjun misses the shaky breath the other male lets out while he gestures to the photograph with his other hand.

“I didn’t know you knew Kun and Johnny?”

Jaemin looks shocked for a second, “Yeah, they’re friends of Jaehyun,” he points at the man he’s hugging. “They went to school together, so I saw them quite often. That picture was actually taken at Jaehyun’s graduation party.”

Jaemin smiles softly at the memory and turns to look at Renjun, seeing Renjun already looking at him.

“But you never went to the bar even though you knew them?”

“Ah,” Jaemin replies shortly, walking to lean back on the sofa and patting the seat next to him for Renjun. He continues when Renjun is sat down. “I don’t actually like drinking, so I’ve never had a reason to go in.”

Despite his explanation, Renjun is still confused.

“Then,” he pauses, thinking of what to ask first. “If you don’t like to drink why do you visit the bar every week?”

Jaemin looks away from Renjun then to look down, instead staring into his lap. “I- uh. I actually only went the first time because I was stressed with work and, like I said before, the café I usually went to was closed. I went back the second week for the same reason...”

“And the third?” Renjun asks when Jaemin trails off.

“Because I thought you were cute,” Oh. Jaemin looks up to make eye contact with Renjun, his cheeks pink despite how sure he sounds. “I kept going back because I like you. I like you a lot, Renjun.”

Oh.

Jaemin doesn’t like drinking. Jaemin went back to the bar because he likes me. Jaemin likes me and I like him too.

“I lied,” Renjun replies instead. “I lied to you the first time we met; the bar doesn’t have any discounts.”

Jaemin’s worried expression turns amused as he laughs, “I know.”

Renjun’s eyes widen then, “You know?”

“I asked Johnny after the third time I went. he said that the bar doesn’t need discounts because the night-time and weekends are always busy enough for the lack of the customers in the day.”

“Oh,” Renjun’s own cheeks colouring from embarrassment. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because you’re cute,” Jaemin shrugs as if that explains it. And it does kind of, this mess started because Renjun thought he was hot. Maybe they’re more alike than he thought.

“I also wanted to know why you undercharged me and kept doing it,” he continues. “I thought you had either done it as an odd way of flirting, which I hoped wasn’t the case because how would I have known that was flirting? My other guess was that you made a mistake and continued it. And I thought it was cute, so I just put whatever I underpaid in the tip jar.”

“You did?” Renjun exclaims, Jaemin nods. “I just thought the regulars we get in the afternoon were suddenly being generous,” he says quietly and Jaemin laughs again.

Renjun is still shocked and embarrassed but he says, “I was nervous when I first met you. You’re… you.” Jaemin lets out a confused sound so Renjun huffs and continues.

“You’re attractive. Literally one of the most attractive people I have ever met. When you came in the first time you looked really good despite how stressed you were and I got distracted and chose the wrong drink and I didn’t want to annoy you when you already looked like you were having a bad day,” he rambles. “I like you too, if that wasn’t obvious.”

Jaemin still has the same happy smile on his face when he coos, “You’re so cute.”

A hand comes up to cup Renjun’s cheeks and Jaemin starts to lean in slowly. “Is this ok?”

Renjun swallows but doesn’t move away. “Yeah. Yes.”

His eyelids fall shut as he waits to feel Jaemin’s lips on his, fingers tapping on his knees to control his excitement.

But instead of kissing him properly, Jaemin presses a kiss to his cheek. And then on his other cheek, and another on his forehead. He kisses under his eyes, his eyelids, his nose and the corner of his lips.

Admittedly, despite how cute Jaemin is being, it’s not what Renjun wants. Renjun huffs and wrinkles his nose, becoming more impatient by the second as he blindly places his own hands on the other’s cheeks. He can feel his smile against his jawline, the last place Renjun allows him to kiss before he’s pulling his lips to his.

It’s a simple kiss, just a press of their lips and it doesn’t last long. Jaemin is trying his best to contain his smile and because Jaemin’s smile is contagious, Renjun tries to do the same. The latter pulls back laughing.

Jaemin whines. He whines as if he wasn’t the one teasing Renjun a second ago.

He opens his mouth to complain but Renjun beats him to it, suddenly remembering his words from earlier, “Wait you wanted to tell me something.”

Jaemin is still staring at his lips, wanting to lean back in but Renjun presses a finger under his chin to softly guide his eyes away.

Sighing, he replies. “Actually, its related to Jaehyun.”  

“Oh?”

“Yeah, a few weeks ago I talked to him about you wanting to illustrate. There wasn’t anything at the time but a friend of his from the hiring department contacted him today because Jaehyun asked her to keep him updated about any vacancies.”

 “And?” he asked worriedly.

Renjun didn’t want to get his hopes up but the way Jaemin was smiling at him right now, so bright and happy, was not helping.

Jaemin’s eyes soften as he stares back at Renjun, seeing how worried he is. His hand comes up to the back of his neck, fingers playing with the long hair in hopes to relax him. It works, Renjun leans into the touch and Jaemin continues, “They want to get in contact, they want to see your work.”

“They do?” it’s almost a whisper how Renjun asks.

“They do,” Jaemin confirms, matching the whisper and Renjun can’t hold himself back.

His hand comes to the back of Jaemin’s head, and he pulls him forward. Big smile and all, he kisses him one, two, three times before pulling back and gently rests their foreheads together. 

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Jaemin says softly before pressing another kiss to Renjun’s lips.

He pulls back a minute later, his hand reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone before unlocking it.

“Here, put your number in and I’ll send it to Jaehyun,” he hands the phone to Renjun.

Renjun is about to do so but he suddenly looks back, glaring at Jaemin. “Is this your way of getting my number?”

Jaemin laughs, “partially, but it’s also my way of asking you to be my boyfriend.”

Renjun smiles widely, his cheeks colouring but looks back down at the phone to hide it. “I guess my answer is yes to both then,” he inputs the digits.

He feels Jaemin kiss the top of head as he stands up, “I’ll get us those drinks I promised then.”

Renjun looks up, watching as his boyfriend walks towards the kitchen, stroking Juna’s head who leans into the touch as he passes.

“Is tea ok?”

…

14.

Renjun looks to the door when he hears it open, a gush of wind breaking the near silence in the building and abruptly stopping when the door falls closed.

“Hey,” he greets softly as the man walks closer.

He’s attractive in his black suit, his white dress shirt almost clinging to his chest and his hair is soft, not styled as it usually is where it rests on his forehead. And he’s Renjun’s boyfriend.

Jaemin smiles as he sits down in his stool, “Hi.”

Renjun does what he’s wanted to do since the day he laid his eyes on Jaemin. He reaches a hand across the counter and runs his hands through his soft hair and watches as Jaemin’s eyes fall shut. He ignores the other customers sat around the bar, it’s a rarity for them to even be there.

“I like your hair like this,” his fingers dance along the sides and tuck a piece of hair behind Jaemin’s ear.

“You do?” Jaemin’s eyes open slowly when Renjun pulls his hand away. He smiles softly when Renjun hums, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Ok,” Renjun reciprocates the smile. “What do you want to drink?”

“You,” Jaemin replies and laughs when Renjun mutters ‘cheesy’ under his breath with his nose scrunched. “If that isn’t available right now then a single whiskey will be fine.”

“Oh?” Renjun begins making the drink but sends the other a worried look. “Was it a bad day?”

“No, kind of boring actually. Just felt nostalgic.” Ah.

“I see,” he slides the drink over to Jaemin when he’s done and stands behind the register.

He considers it for a moment. There really isn’t any point in it anymore, Jaemin already knows about the mistake he made the first time he was here, but he presses the wrong button anyway. Maybe he’s feeling nostalgic too.

“Ready when you are,” he gestures to the card machine and Jaemin raises a single eyebrow at the price, just visible through his mop of hair, but doesn’t say anything. He laughs lightly and taps his card on the machine.

Before he puts his wallet back in his inside suit pocket, he pauses to take out a couple bills. Making direct eye contact with Renjun, he drops them into the tip jar.

Renjun snorts and shakes his head, he takes the hand Jaemin holds out to him.

“Did Jaehyun call you?” Jaemin says after a moment, thumb dragging softly over Renjun’s knuckles as he picks up his drink with his other hand.

“He did,” Renjun explains their conversation. Jaehyun called him and passed over his friends’ number for Renjun to call. When he did so she asked him to send his resume and portfolio as well as any references, which he did. “She said she likes my work and I have an interview on Monday.”

He doesn’t mention, however, the extra ten-minute conversation he had with Jaehyun about Jaemin’s embarrassing childhood stories. He’ll save them for another time.

Jaemin smile turns blinding then, seemingly just as happy for Renjun as the latter feels. “That’s awesome!”

“It’s just an interview, I don’t even know if they’ll hire me yet,” Renjun says nervously, looking down at his hand intwined with Jaemin’s.

Jaemin squeezes his hand and raises it to his lips making Renjun’s eyes follow the movement. He gently presses a kiss to his knuckles before pulling back. “She said she likes your work and gave you an interview. She wants to see more of you; I think that’s enough to say the possibility of you being hired is high.”

“I mean,” Renjun replies, feeling eased, “You are the expert with numbers, I guess that means I should trust you.”

“Exactly!”

Renjun laughs lightly at his excitement. “Anyway, how’s Juna I miss her?”

“Wow, you only met her two days ago and she’s already your favourite,” Jaemin pouts as Renjun nods in agreement. He sighs dramatically. “I guess I understand that. She’s fine but she misses you too she wants to you to come back this weekend.”

“Is it her that wants me to come back or is it you?” Jaemin smiles cheekily and Renjun pretends to consider it for a moment. “I’ll come over then… for Juna.”

“It’s a date then,” Jaemin replies and Renjun just hums though he’s even more excited for this weekend then he lets on.

Jaemin looks up at the clock just as he finishes the last of his drink and sighs, “I should get going. Chenle and Jisung are looking after Juna right now but they have a date soon and I said I’d come back earlier.”

Renjun nods, sad that Jaemin has to leave so soon but smiles anyway. “It’s ok, I’ll see you soon anyway, right?”

“Right,” Jaemin smiles back, sighing again as he stands up from his stool.

Jaemin leans over the counter then, hand on the back of Renjun’s neck to gently pull him forward. He places a soft kiss on his forehead and then on his lips. “I’ll see you soon.”

He agrees, happy to spend more time with his boyfriend and Jaemin smiles one last time before he’s leaving.

Renjun could have easily cleared up the mistake he made all those weeks ago when Jaemin had pointed it out. Fortunately, he’s never been one to save himself the trouble when it comes to attractive men.