How Not to Impress a Host [Chapter 2]
Title: How Not to Impress a Host [Chapter 2]
Pairing(s): Donghae-centric. Donghae/Eunhyuk; side!Han Geng/Heechul and Yesung/Sungmin
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Friendship, a fair bit of Angst
Disclaimer: Contrary to popular belief, no one owns them.
Warning: Mild language and mature themes.
Summary: Donghae knows that ‘getting smitten with a fair-skinned host and bumbling through many attempts of courting said host’ was definitely not part of his job scope as a valet, but he won’t relent in his pursuit; even if it meant going through abject mortification and more.
Previous Chapters: Chapter 1
Donghae was more or less prepared for his second day of work. He woke up earlier than usual to prepare his work clothes before placing them carefully into a uniform cover, which Heechul had helpfully provided. Heechul had actually wanted to pass it to Donghae after his debrief but the younger man had fled the office prematurely.
When his fellow classmates asked about the conspicuous uniform cover draped over his backpack, Donghae waved away their queries by telling them that he had undertaken a job as a waiter in a different district. Most of them were satisfied with his explanation, but some still hovered around him, asking interestedly about the location of the restaurant and the type of cuisine it served.
"It's in some uptown district," Donghae said in what he hoped was an offhanded voice. "They serve international cuisine, and I don't think you guys would want to blow your money there anyway."
Fortunately for Donghae, his classmates agreed with him. They were more of the partying type, and their university was located in the heart of Hongdae district; there was almost no reason for them to venture out of the area.
This bode well for Donghae; it greatly decreased the chances of any of his classmates bumping into him during work. Well, unless they had reasons to seek the company of a host or the services of an exotic dancer, but Donghae knew that the club's fares were way beyond the budget of the average university student. Youngwoon had informed Donghae about the hourly rates of the club's services, and Donghae blanched visibly at the figures Youngwoon had mentioned.
"That's before the drinks are even tabulated into the bill," Youngwoon piped in.
Donghae's head spun at the possible amounts that the patrons were willing to splash at the club. However, he understood their reasons for not flinching as they exercised their credit cards, or if they were the braggart type, fish out wads of crisp hundred thousand won bills from their thick wallets.
This type of companionship came at a steep price; it was hard to get in a place like Seoul.
-
Donghae arrived at the club forty minutes early. He grinned at Youngwoon's empty spot as he walked past the club doors. The older man was probably in the locker room, changing into his usual suit and sunglasses.
Humming an odd tune, Donghae cheerily strolled towards the locker room. His hand rose instinctively to turn the doorknob, but Donghae soon retracted it when he heard a loud bang.
Donghae wasn't quick enough; he was too close to the door anyway. The wooden door knocked him off his feet, causing him to fall onto his posterior with a soft thump. Donghae sat on the floor dazedly, winded by the momentum from the door.
"Ow," Donghae whined weakly, bringing a hand to massage his sore behind. "What just happened?"
"I'm so, so sorry!" Came a deeply apologetic voice from above Donghae. "I was too preoccupied with getting to my post that I just- I'm really sorry!"
"It's alright," Donghae said calmly. Then, in the next breath, "My butt hurts." Donghae twisted his side to sneak a worried glance at his behind.
"Ah! I really am so sorry!" The voice started again; worry now dripping from his every word. "Here, take my hand; I'll help you up."
Donghae finally titled his head upwards and his mouth promptly fell upon registering the person before him.
Looking past the outstretched hand, Donghae's eyes focused onto its owner. The man, who was bent forward, possessed light brown hair and possibly the creamiest skin that Donghae had even seen on a man. His alabaster skin contrasted brilliantly with the red and silver embellished mask resting on the upper half of his face. The male's lips were pursed in worry, and a tint of crimson (probably due to embarrassment) had burgeoned across his cheeks.
Donghae could only blink mutely as his brain struggled to function after processing the features of the male in front of him. His eyes slowly slid down to the male's hand, and Donghae marveled at how it was just as attractive as its owner; the fingers were spindly, yet elegant.
The male coughed awkwardly, forcing Donghae back into reality and to the realisation that he had been staring at the hand for at least half a minute now.
"I've already washed my hands, you know, in case you were wondering," the man stated. "Don't believe a word Youngwoon-hyung says! He's been spreading lies about my hygiene habits again, hasn't he? I'll have you know that I wash my hands regularly-"
"I believe you!" Donghae interjected, alarmed by the man’s sudden, exasperated outburst. "I-I was just distracted by the pain in my butt."
Grasping the other man's hand firmly, Donghae allowed the former to pull him up onto his feet. Dusting the back of his jeans lightly, Donghae kept his head glued to the floor, too embarrassed by his recent behaviour to face the man before him.
The man was similarly bashful, clasping his hands in front of his body, though he continued to survey Donghae.
"You must be new! I've never seen you before," he commented cheerily, swaying about on the spot.
Donghae nodded, his eyes still very much focused on the state of his shoelaces; which needed to be changed, now that Donghae had thought of them.
"I'm Lee Hyukjae!" The male continued, unaffected by Donghae's reticence. "I work as the receptionist host. I man the receptionist booth in front of the waiting room."
Deciding that it was rude to prolong a lack of eye contact with Hyukjae, now that he had started to engage Donghae in a conversation, Donghae raised his head and offered Hyukjae a smile.
"Lee Donghae." He gave a short bow. "I'm the new valet."
The pair then fell into a lapse of silence, as neither of them had the faintest idea of what to say to bring the encounter past first introductions.
"What was it about Youngwoon-hyung that you were grumbling about just now?" Donghae finally spoke up, when the matter drifted into his brain. “Something about him saying that you didn’t like to wash your hands or…”
Hyukjae tugged at the straps of his suspenders uncomfortably; the topic was obviously a sore spot for him. "That is- Well, Youngwoon-hyung finds it funny to joke about my hygiene habits, for some reason. And it doesn't help that Sungmin-hyung-"
"That Sungmin-hyung what?" A new voice questioned amusedly. "That I what exactly, Hyukjae?"
Hyukjae's cheeks darkened immediately and he turned around to the source of the voice.
"Talking to the new guy without me?" A man stepped out from behind Hyukjae, who was currently chuckling awkwardly and thoroughly embarrassed that he had been caught talking about the other. "That's not very nice."
The other male was wearing a loose white buttoned shirt which was tucked into his contrastingly tight black leather pants. A simple pink mask adorned his face, framing his twinkling doe eyes. His full lips were curved into a grin as he taunted Hyukjae playfully.
"Oh, I'm kidding, Hyukkie!" The male punched Hyukjae's shoulder playfully when the latter started to open his mouth to offer an apology.
"I’m Lee Donghae," Donghae quickly introduced himself again, considering that it was wise to take the initiative by now. "I've just started work as the new valet."
"Lee Sungmin." The male turned his attention back to Donghae, giving him a small smile. "Or No. 7. You should get used to both of them. Of course, I’d rather you call me by my name, but in front of our clients, you ought to address me by the latter.”
"No. 7?" Donghae questioned.
"It's my code name," Sungmin quipped. "Almost all of us have code names here; assigned to us in terms of seniority. Though, Hyukjae doesn't have one, and I'm guessing you don't either?"
Donghae remembered what Youngwoon had said last night, about how the clients had probably thought of them as 'the bouncer' and 'the valet boy'; he finally made the connection. He shook his head.
"We both don't need one anyway," Hyukjae said helpfully. He had mistaken Donghae's contemplative silence as tentativeness in responding to Sungmin’s question.
"Oh really?" Sungmin countered, raising an eyebrow in response. "You have your fair share of admirers, you know, Mr Red-and-Silver Mask."
More colour started to fill his cheeks, and now, Hyukjae's once creamy skin could rival his mask's.
"I'm sure you'll attract some clients as well, Donghae, so don't worry."
"W-what?" Donghae was taken aback. Certainly, the idea of him attracting attention from the patrons had never crossed his mind. It wasn’t as if they paid enough attention to him in order to even consider him, right?
Sungmin shrugged. "If clients are that desperate, they could start chatting up the first attractive, young, eligible male in sight. Namely you, Donghae."
Donghae froze. What if he actually had attracted unwanted attention? Joo-nim and Heechul had never taught him the proper procedure. Was he supposed to reject the advances politely and then escort the amorous client into the club? Suggest a suitable co-worker who was able to entertain his needs?
As if replying to Donghae's unvoiced questions, a loud, familiar voice boomed from behind him.
"If that ever happens, I'll pull the fellow off Donghae right away."
Donghae knew that voice all too well. "Youngwoon-hyung!"
Youngwoon approached the trio; his hands tucked into his pants pockets and his familiar shades resting snugly on his nose bridge. He stopped beside Donghae, and flung an arm around the shorter man’s shoulder.
"I was wondering why Donghae hadn't appeared at his post," Youngwoon said, turning to his side when he mentioned Donghae. “It turns out that the two of you were holding him up."
"Well, excuse us for being interested in the newcomer." Sungmin rolled his eyes. "It’s not like we’ve been talking for long, anyway."
"And what's this about 'the first attractive, young, eligible male in sight'?" Youngwoon crossed his arms, eyeing the two other males before him through his tinted sunglasses. "Aren't you forgetting someone?"
Sungmin stepped forward, while Hyukjae tentatively took a step back, plainly not wanting to get involved. Reading Hyukjae’s cue, Donghae also surreptitiously slid behind a few hasty steps.
Youngwoon’s head was bent forward as he glared at Sungmin. With a hand resting on a protruding hip, Sungmin stared back at Youngwoon, his head tilted to the side mischievously. Their silent war continued to rage, with Hyukjae and Donghae as muted spectators. Finally, Donghae decided that enough was enough; his urge to be included in their exchange overrode his meek respect towards his seniors.
"Techincally, the valet stand is placed near the sidewalk. Which means that the first person clients usually see, is me," Donghae said. "I'm sure that's what Sungmin-hyung was referring to. Right, hyung?"
Sungmin chuckled; he had clearly not expected Donghae to speak up. Instead, he said in a teasing tone which riled Youngwoon even further, "Maybe."
-
Sungmin soon became familiar enough with Donghae to engage him directly in conversation. Donghae didn’t speak out much, for he was simply contented with getting accustomed with their way of interacting.
Every now and then, he would sneak a glance at Hyukjae, who seemed just as immersed in the conversation. Hyukjae had a peculiar habit of bringing his hand up to cover his mouth whenever he burst into an irrepressible grin. Donghae would rather that the other male didn’t do so, as he found the other’s smile rather endearing. The act of covering his mouth bashfully was equally attractive though, Donghae mused.
Nothing short of Heechul’s commanding presence could break their now comfortable exchange; Heechul soon appeared behind Youngwoon and Donghae, demanding a good reason why the four of them had been blocking the locker room for the past twenty minutes. Han Geng was a few metres behind Heechul, presently preoccupied with a cask of draft beer.
“I was just getting to know more of my fellow co-workers, Heechul-hyung.” Donghae was the first to speak up. “I’m sorry for getting too caught up.”
As an added measure, Donghae ended his apology with his practiced, wide-eyed expression, the very same one he had used on Youngwoon the day before.
“Huh,” Heechul said simply. “Is that so?”
The result was remarkable. Heechul’s forehead which was formerly creased in annoyance soon evened out. Donghae silently marveled at the efficiency of his expression, making a mental note to make use of it if he was ever cornered or about to be reprimanded again.
“You’ll have time after work; now get going before the clients arrive.” Heechul had recovered. He waved a hand distractedly, ordering the four males before him to disperse and attend to their duties.
“Why don’t you come visit me at my booth some time?” Hyukjae suggested to Donghae, just as they were about to part; Donghae heading straight past the club’s entrance and Hyukjae turning left to the waiting room.
“I’ll take up on your offer,” Donghae replied smoothly. All the while, he prayed hard that he was imagining the feeling of his cheeks burning. Hyukjae thankfully hadn’t taken notice of it, for he simply flashed his gummy smile and walked off.
Here’s something else to look forward to during work.
-
Just like yesterday, Donghae headed towards the bar counter after work had ended. Donghae had decided that approaching Hyukjae at his booth straightaway would be too forward. He had been accused of being too pushy before, something that Donghae didn’t understand. What was wrong with making the extra effort in getting to know someone?
“A glass of water, please, Hankyung-hyung,” Donghae said once he was within earshot of the older man.
Han Geng smiled in greeting before complying with Donghae’s request. Donghae slid onto the same barstool and watched as Han Geng filled up a glass with water and placed it next to him.
“How was your second day of work, Donghae?” Han Geng asked, as he busied himself with a pair of silver cocktail shakers.
“The same as yesterday, except this time, I got to handle a Jaguar,” Donghae recounted enthusiastically, his eyes lighting up as he recalled the experience.
Han Geng chuckled when he saw the excitable expression frozen on Donghae’s face. “That’s nice to hear, Donghae. I’m glad that you’re enjoying working here.”
Donghae yawned, stretching his sore arms behind him. “It’s still early days, but I really enjoy it here so far. Mostly because of my colleagues.”
“I’ve made two new friends today,” He continued. “Hyukjae-hyung and Sungmin-hyung.”
“Hyukjae-hyung?” Han Geng frowned. “Donghae, how old are you again?”
Donghae cocked his head questioningly. “Well, I’m turning 21 in October.”
“Then you need not address Hyukjae as your hyung,” Han Geng said. “Hyukjae is the same age as you, only that he was born in April.”
“Oh,” Donghae said simply.
-
By his sixth day of work, Donghae had already settled into a slight routine consisting of: Coming early for work, chatting with Hyukjae or Sungmin in the locker room for a moment, getting dressed and ready for work, handling the clients’ cars, accosting Youngwoon for conversation in between breaks, waiting for Han Geng to finish his shift, and finally, getting sent home by Han Geng and Heechul.
Very little varied in Donghae’s routine. He never drank on the job (even if he had no doubts about Han Geng’s mixing ability) and the patrons were still as surly as ever; Donghae was acknowledged with a discreet tilt of the head if the patron was feeling particularly friendly. A small monetary tip usually followed this act of kindness, to which Donghae responded with earnest appreciation.
Notice that talking to Hyukjae at his receptionist booth wasn’t part of his routine; Donghae hadn’t mustered enough courage to even pay the older man a visit in between his breaks. Hence, their interactions were reduced to brief encounters in the locker room or chance meetings when they bumped into each other during work.
At last, an opportunity for Donghae to visit Hyukjae at his receptionist booth was presented to him. On his sixth day of work, the weather was particularly dreadful. Raindrops splattered fiercely onto the pavement, almost as if with a vengeance. Upon detecting the signs of rainy weather, Youngwoon shepherded a clueless Donghae into the club’s premises. The both of them took refuge in front of the waiting room, right next to Hyukjae’s booth.
Hyukjae eyed the pair sympathetically, having heard the sounds of the raging wind even from inside the club. “It must be a terrible downpour outside. I’ve already received several calls indicating cancellations in reservations tonight.”
“No man in their right mind, however desperate in having their needs fulfilled, would brave this weather.” Youngwoon clucked his tongue, as he shook his damp fringe out of his eyes. “Likewise, the clients here would probably stay until the rain lets up.”
Unaccustomed to the procedure during rainy weather, Donghae frowned as he attempted to come up with a logical course of action regarding his job duties. Was he supposed to stay inside as with Youngwoon? Or ought he to consult Joo-nim or Heechul regarding the matter?
“What am I supposed to do now?” Donghae muttered helplessly, unaware the other two could hear him.
To his credit, Youngwoon only sniggered, while Hyukjae smiled kindly.
“Unless you want to catch pneumonia, Donghae,” Youngwoon started lightly. “You can just stay inside the club and await any calls from the clients. Judging from the storm outside, there probably won’t be any for the next hour.”
Donghae rounded his shoulders at Youngwoon’s gentle ribbing. “Is it really okay for me to stay here? I’m not skiving on the job, am I?”
Hyukjae shook his head. “If anything, I’m the one who’s skiving on the job. In between waiting to direct the clients to their private parlours and fetching them once their sessions are done, I sneak in some bits of my homework.”
Donghae couldn’t help but laugh at Hyukjae’s revelation; the other had made it sound as if it was such a devious act. “I just bother Youngwoon-hyung a lot and try to make him laugh.”
The both of them laughed together, obviously having produced similar mental images of Donghae prancing around Youngwoon in attempts of melting his steely façade. Said person in question merely grunted in response, causing the pair to laugh even harder.
“I’m going to visit Hankyung-hyung,” Youngwoon remarked, before turning on his heels and headed towards the bar counter. “If there’s anything, be sure to phone me, Hyukkie.”
Hyukjae nodded, still rather breathless from his laughing fit with Donghae. Youngwoon shook his head, and muttered something along the lines of “Kids these days…” and “That new cask of draft beer looked promising.”
“Speaking of Hankyung-hyung, he told me that you were a second-year like me,” Donghae said, leaning forward over the receptionist booth. “Is that right?”
Hyukjae blinked. “You’re a second-year student as well? Which university are you enrolled in?”
“Hongik University, but of course, you’re probably more familiar with the name ‘Hongdae’,” Donghae laughed breezily as he spoke fondly of the university.
“That clubbing district, huh?” Hyukjae raised a brow. “That’s not surprising. You do seem like the sociable type.”
Donghae shrugged. “People always tell me that. I actually don’t like clubbing though; I much prefer belting out trot songs at a karaoke room. No one seems to share the same sentiments though.”
Hyukjae brought a hand up to cover his mouth; his lips had burst into a wide grin upon hearing Donghae’s last sentence.
“What?” Donghae demanded, when he spotted Hyukjae’s actions. “I bet you’re thinking that I have primitive taste in music. I just enjoy a wide variety of music-“
“I think it’s cute, actually,” Hyukjae chuckled. “And there’s nothing wrong in enjoying trot music; I go for Trot Night with my family whenever we have the chance.”
“We held a special trot night here once,” Hyukjae continued. “Everyone was practically singing along, except for Hankyung-hyung. He looked as if he didn’t know whether to laugh or attempt singing along.”
“That’s amazing!” Donghae enthused. The idea of being surrounded by like-minded people who loved trot (or at least, admitted to it publicly) seemed to be a foreign idea back at his university. After all, something like trot was too old-fashioned for happening, club-hopping university students.
“When’s the next theme night going to be? Are there going to be any more parties like this?”
“Well, there’s the party for-“
Hyukjae paused abruptly, casting Donghae a frenzied look. Donghae looked back at him curiously, surprised by the panicked look on Hyukjae’s face.
“A party for whom? Is someone’s birthday approaching?” Donghae pressed on; he was unsatisfied that Hyukjae had left his sentence hanging.
“It’s nothing,” Hyukjae mumbled, his gaze dropping to the booth. “It’s really nothing.”
Donghae chewed his bottom lip. It was obviously not ‘nothing’, for why else would Hyukjae be squirming for letting the matter slip through his lips?
“Fine,” Donghae finally said. “I’ll take your word for it.”
The pair lapsed into stilted silence, with Donghae surveying the interior of the club distractedly while Hyukjae’s eyes continued to bore a hole into the surface of the booth.
Hyukjae’s hiding something from me.
-
A/N: And Donghae and Hyukjae finally meet! XD
Like I've mentioned to some, I'm going to be updating this rather eratically; I'm actually taking a break from LJ for my modules and assignments and such seem overwhelming and it's only the first week of the new semester. Lol fail.
Not that I'll be neglecting this fic, no! I still have to do up the rest of the chapters and sort out any kinks in the plot. Optimistically speaking, I'll try to upload a new chapter each week; if not, one every two weeks. I'm really sorry to inconvenience those who are interested in this story. :<
And yes, Jongwoon will mark his appearance in the fic, but just not yet. XD
Comments are appreciated! (:
Pairing(s): Donghae-centric. Donghae/Eunhyuk; side!Han Geng/Heechul and Yesung/Sungmin
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Friendship, a fair bit of Angst
Disclaimer: Contrary to popular belief, no one owns them.
Warning: Mild language and mature themes.
Summary: Donghae knows that ‘getting smitten with a fair-skinned host and bumbling through many attempts of courting said host’ was definitely not part of his job scope as a valet, but he won’t relent in his pursuit; even if it meant going through abject mortification and more.
Previous Chapters: Chapter 1
Donghae was more or less prepared for his second day of work. He woke up earlier than usual to prepare his work clothes before placing them carefully into a uniform cover, which Heechul had helpfully provided. Heechul had actually wanted to pass it to Donghae after his debrief but the younger man had fled the office prematurely.
When his fellow classmates asked about the conspicuous uniform cover draped over his backpack, Donghae waved away their queries by telling them that he had undertaken a job as a waiter in a different district. Most of them were satisfied with his explanation, but some still hovered around him, asking interestedly about the location of the restaurant and the type of cuisine it served.
"It's in some uptown district," Donghae said in what he hoped was an offhanded voice. "They serve international cuisine, and I don't think you guys would want to blow your money there anyway."
Fortunately for Donghae, his classmates agreed with him. They were more of the partying type, and their university was located in the heart of Hongdae district; there was almost no reason for them to venture out of the area.
This bode well for Donghae; it greatly decreased the chances of any of his classmates bumping into him during work. Well, unless they had reasons to seek the company of a host or the services of an exotic dancer, but Donghae knew that the club's fares were way beyond the budget of the average university student. Youngwoon had informed Donghae about the hourly rates of the club's services, and Donghae blanched visibly at the figures Youngwoon had mentioned.
"That's before the drinks are even tabulated into the bill," Youngwoon piped in.
Donghae's head spun at the possible amounts that the patrons were willing to splash at the club. However, he understood their reasons for not flinching as they exercised their credit cards, or if they were the braggart type, fish out wads of crisp hundred thousand won bills from their thick wallets.
This type of companionship came at a steep price; it was hard to get in a place like Seoul.
-
Donghae arrived at the club forty minutes early. He grinned at Youngwoon's empty spot as he walked past the club doors. The older man was probably in the locker room, changing into his usual suit and sunglasses.
Humming an odd tune, Donghae cheerily strolled towards the locker room. His hand rose instinctively to turn the doorknob, but Donghae soon retracted it when he heard a loud bang.
Donghae wasn't quick enough; he was too close to the door anyway. The wooden door knocked him off his feet, causing him to fall onto his posterior with a soft thump. Donghae sat on the floor dazedly, winded by the momentum from the door.
"Ow," Donghae whined weakly, bringing a hand to massage his sore behind. "What just happened?"
"I'm so, so sorry!" Came a deeply apologetic voice from above Donghae. "I was too preoccupied with getting to my post that I just- I'm really sorry!"
"It's alright," Donghae said calmly. Then, in the next breath, "My butt hurts." Donghae twisted his side to sneak a worried glance at his behind.
"Ah! I really am so sorry!" The voice started again; worry now dripping from his every word. "Here, take my hand; I'll help you up."
Donghae finally titled his head upwards and his mouth promptly fell upon registering the person before him.
Looking past the outstretched hand, Donghae's eyes focused onto its owner. The man, who was bent forward, possessed light brown hair and possibly the creamiest skin that Donghae had even seen on a man. His alabaster skin contrasted brilliantly with the red and silver embellished mask resting on the upper half of his face. The male's lips were pursed in worry, and a tint of crimson (probably due to embarrassment) had burgeoned across his cheeks.
Donghae could only blink mutely as his brain struggled to function after processing the features of the male in front of him. His eyes slowly slid down to the male's hand, and Donghae marveled at how it was just as attractive as its owner; the fingers were spindly, yet elegant.
The male coughed awkwardly, forcing Donghae back into reality and to the realisation that he had been staring at the hand for at least half a minute now.
"I've already washed my hands, you know, in case you were wondering," the man stated. "Don't believe a word Youngwoon-hyung says! He's been spreading lies about my hygiene habits again, hasn't he? I'll have you know that I wash my hands regularly-"
"I believe you!" Donghae interjected, alarmed by the man’s sudden, exasperated outburst. "I-I was just distracted by the pain in my butt."
Grasping the other man's hand firmly, Donghae allowed the former to pull him up onto his feet. Dusting the back of his jeans lightly, Donghae kept his head glued to the floor, too embarrassed by his recent behaviour to face the man before him.
The man was similarly bashful, clasping his hands in front of his body, though he continued to survey Donghae.
"You must be new! I've never seen you before," he commented cheerily, swaying about on the spot.
Donghae nodded, his eyes still very much focused on the state of his shoelaces; which needed to be changed, now that Donghae had thought of them.
"I'm Lee Hyukjae!" The male continued, unaffected by Donghae's reticence. "I work as the receptionist host. I man the receptionist booth in front of the waiting room."
Deciding that it was rude to prolong a lack of eye contact with Hyukjae, now that he had started to engage Donghae in a conversation, Donghae raised his head and offered Hyukjae a smile.
"Lee Donghae." He gave a short bow. "I'm the new valet."
The pair then fell into a lapse of silence, as neither of them had the faintest idea of what to say to bring the encounter past first introductions.
"What was it about Youngwoon-hyung that you were grumbling about just now?" Donghae finally spoke up, when the matter drifted into his brain. “Something about him saying that you didn’t like to wash your hands or…”
Hyukjae tugged at the straps of his suspenders uncomfortably; the topic was obviously a sore spot for him. "That is- Well, Youngwoon-hyung finds it funny to joke about my hygiene habits, for some reason. And it doesn't help that Sungmin-hyung-"
"That Sungmin-hyung what?" A new voice questioned amusedly. "That I what exactly, Hyukjae?"
Hyukjae's cheeks darkened immediately and he turned around to the source of the voice.
"Talking to the new guy without me?" A man stepped out from behind Hyukjae, who was currently chuckling awkwardly and thoroughly embarrassed that he had been caught talking about the other. "That's not very nice."
The other male was wearing a loose white buttoned shirt which was tucked into his contrastingly tight black leather pants. A simple pink mask adorned his face, framing his twinkling doe eyes. His full lips were curved into a grin as he taunted Hyukjae playfully.
"Oh, I'm kidding, Hyukkie!" The male punched Hyukjae's shoulder playfully when the latter started to open his mouth to offer an apology.
"I’m Lee Donghae," Donghae quickly introduced himself again, considering that it was wise to take the initiative by now. "I've just started work as the new valet."
"Lee Sungmin." The male turned his attention back to Donghae, giving him a small smile. "Or No. 7. You should get used to both of them. Of course, I’d rather you call me by my name, but in front of our clients, you ought to address me by the latter.”
"No. 7?" Donghae questioned.
"It's my code name," Sungmin quipped. "Almost all of us have code names here; assigned to us in terms of seniority. Though, Hyukjae doesn't have one, and I'm guessing you don't either?"
Donghae remembered what Youngwoon had said last night, about how the clients had probably thought of them as 'the bouncer' and 'the valet boy'; he finally made the connection. He shook his head.
"We both don't need one anyway," Hyukjae said helpfully. He had mistaken Donghae's contemplative silence as tentativeness in responding to Sungmin’s question.
"Oh really?" Sungmin countered, raising an eyebrow in response. "You have your fair share of admirers, you know, Mr Red-and-Silver Mask."
More colour started to fill his cheeks, and now, Hyukjae's once creamy skin could rival his mask's.
"I'm sure you'll attract some clients as well, Donghae, so don't worry."
"W-what?" Donghae was taken aback. Certainly, the idea of him attracting attention from the patrons had never crossed his mind. It wasn’t as if they paid enough attention to him in order to even consider him, right?
Sungmin shrugged. "If clients are that desperate, they could start chatting up the first attractive, young, eligible male in sight. Namely you, Donghae."
Donghae froze. What if he actually had attracted unwanted attention? Joo-nim and Heechul had never taught him the proper procedure. Was he supposed to reject the advances politely and then escort the amorous client into the club? Suggest a suitable co-worker who was able to entertain his needs?
As if replying to Donghae's unvoiced questions, a loud, familiar voice boomed from behind him.
"If that ever happens, I'll pull the fellow off Donghae right away."
Donghae knew that voice all too well. "Youngwoon-hyung!"
Youngwoon approached the trio; his hands tucked into his pants pockets and his familiar shades resting snugly on his nose bridge. He stopped beside Donghae, and flung an arm around the shorter man’s shoulder.
"I was wondering why Donghae hadn't appeared at his post," Youngwoon said, turning to his side when he mentioned Donghae. “It turns out that the two of you were holding him up."
"Well, excuse us for being interested in the newcomer." Sungmin rolled his eyes. "It’s not like we’ve been talking for long, anyway."
"And what's this about 'the first attractive, young, eligible male in sight'?" Youngwoon crossed his arms, eyeing the two other males before him through his tinted sunglasses. "Aren't you forgetting someone?"
Sungmin stepped forward, while Hyukjae tentatively took a step back, plainly not wanting to get involved. Reading Hyukjae’s cue, Donghae also surreptitiously slid behind a few hasty steps.
Youngwoon’s head was bent forward as he glared at Sungmin. With a hand resting on a protruding hip, Sungmin stared back at Youngwoon, his head tilted to the side mischievously. Their silent war continued to rage, with Hyukjae and Donghae as muted spectators. Finally, Donghae decided that enough was enough; his urge to be included in their exchange overrode his meek respect towards his seniors.
"Techincally, the valet stand is placed near the sidewalk. Which means that the first person clients usually see, is me," Donghae said. "I'm sure that's what Sungmin-hyung was referring to. Right, hyung?"
Sungmin chuckled; he had clearly not expected Donghae to speak up. Instead, he said in a teasing tone which riled Youngwoon even further, "Maybe."
-
Sungmin soon became familiar enough with Donghae to engage him directly in conversation. Donghae didn’t speak out much, for he was simply contented with getting accustomed with their way of interacting.
Every now and then, he would sneak a glance at Hyukjae, who seemed just as immersed in the conversation. Hyukjae had a peculiar habit of bringing his hand up to cover his mouth whenever he burst into an irrepressible grin. Donghae would rather that the other male didn’t do so, as he found the other’s smile rather endearing. The act of covering his mouth bashfully was equally attractive though, Donghae mused.
Nothing short of Heechul’s commanding presence could break their now comfortable exchange; Heechul soon appeared behind Youngwoon and Donghae, demanding a good reason why the four of them had been blocking the locker room for the past twenty minutes. Han Geng was a few metres behind Heechul, presently preoccupied with a cask of draft beer.
“I was just getting to know more of my fellow co-workers, Heechul-hyung.” Donghae was the first to speak up. “I’m sorry for getting too caught up.”
As an added measure, Donghae ended his apology with his practiced, wide-eyed expression, the very same one he had used on Youngwoon the day before.
“Huh,” Heechul said simply. “Is that so?”
The result was remarkable. Heechul’s forehead which was formerly creased in annoyance soon evened out. Donghae silently marveled at the efficiency of his expression, making a mental note to make use of it if he was ever cornered or about to be reprimanded again.
“You’ll have time after work; now get going before the clients arrive.” Heechul had recovered. He waved a hand distractedly, ordering the four males before him to disperse and attend to their duties.
“Why don’t you come visit me at my booth some time?” Hyukjae suggested to Donghae, just as they were about to part; Donghae heading straight past the club’s entrance and Hyukjae turning left to the waiting room.
“I’ll take up on your offer,” Donghae replied smoothly. All the while, he prayed hard that he was imagining the feeling of his cheeks burning. Hyukjae thankfully hadn’t taken notice of it, for he simply flashed his gummy smile and walked off.
Here’s something else to look forward to during work.
-
Just like yesterday, Donghae headed towards the bar counter after work had ended. Donghae had decided that approaching Hyukjae at his booth straightaway would be too forward. He had been accused of being too pushy before, something that Donghae didn’t understand. What was wrong with making the extra effort in getting to know someone?
“A glass of water, please, Hankyung-hyung,” Donghae said once he was within earshot of the older man.
Han Geng smiled in greeting before complying with Donghae’s request. Donghae slid onto the same barstool and watched as Han Geng filled up a glass with water and placed it next to him.
“How was your second day of work, Donghae?” Han Geng asked, as he busied himself with a pair of silver cocktail shakers.
“The same as yesterday, except this time, I got to handle a Jaguar,” Donghae recounted enthusiastically, his eyes lighting up as he recalled the experience.
Han Geng chuckled when he saw the excitable expression frozen on Donghae’s face. “That’s nice to hear, Donghae. I’m glad that you’re enjoying working here.”
Donghae yawned, stretching his sore arms behind him. “It’s still early days, but I really enjoy it here so far. Mostly because of my colleagues.”
“I’ve made two new friends today,” He continued. “Hyukjae-hyung and Sungmin-hyung.”
“Hyukjae-hyung?” Han Geng frowned. “Donghae, how old are you again?”
Donghae cocked his head questioningly. “Well, I’m turning 21 in October.”
“Then you need not address Hyukjae as your hyung,” Han Geng said. “Hyukjae is the same age as you, only that he was born in April.”
“Oh,” Donghae said simply.
-
By his sixth day of work, Donghae had already settled into a slight routine consisting of: Coming early for work, chatting with Hyukjae or Sungmin in the locker room for a moment, getting dressed and ready for work, handling the clients’ cars, accosting Youngwoon for conversation in between breaks, waiting for Han Geng to finish his shift, and finally, getting sent home by Han Geng and Heechul.
Very little varied in Donghae’s routine. He never drank on the job (even if he had no doubts about Han Geng’s mixing ability) and the patrons were still as surly as ever; Donghae was acknowledged with a discreet tilt of the head if the patron was feeling particularly friendly. A small monetary tip usually followed this act of kindness, to which Donghae responded with earnest appreciation.
Notice that talking to Hyukjae at his receptionist booth wasn’t part of his routine; Donghae hadn’t mustered enough courage to even pay the older man a visit in between his breaks. Hence, their interactions were reduced to brief encounters in the locker room or chance meetings when they bumped into each other during work.
At last, an opportunity for Donghae to visit Hyukjae at his receptionist booth was presented to him. On his sixth day of work, the weather was particularly dreadful. Raindrops splattered fiercely onto the pavement, almost as if with a vengeance. Upon detecting the signs of rainy weather, Youngwoon shepherded a clueless Donghae into the club’s premises. The both of them took refuge in front of the waiting room, right next to Hyukjae’s booth.
Hyukjae eyed the pair sympathetically, having heard the sounds of the raging wind even from inside the club. “It must be a terrible downpour outside. I’ve already received several calls indicating cancellations in reservations tonight.”
“No man in their right mind, however desperate in having their needs fulfilled, would brave this weather.” Youngwoon clucked his tongue, as he shook his damp fringe out of his eyes. “Likewise, the clients here would probably stay until the rain lets up.”
Unaccustomed to the procedure during rainy weather, Donghae frowned as he attempted to come up with a logical course of action regarding his job duties. Was he supposed to stay inside as with Youngwoon? Or ought he to consult Joo-nim or Heechul regarding the matter?
“What am I supposed to do now?” Donghae muttered helplessly, unaware the other two could hear him.
To his credit, Youngwoon only sniggered, while Hyukjae smiled kindly.
“Unless you want to catch pneumonia, Donghae,” Youngwoon started lightly. “You can just stay inside the club and await any calls from the clients. Judging from the storm outside, there probably won’t be any for the next hour.”
Donghae rounded his shoulders at Youngwoon’s gentle ribbing. “Is it really okay for me to stay here? I’m not skiving on the job, am I?”
Hyukjae shook his head. “If anything, I’m the one who’s skiving on the job. In between waiting to direct the clients to their private parlours and fetching them once their sessions are done, I sneak in some bits of my homework.”
Donghae couldn’t help but laugh at Hyukjae’s revelation; the other had made it sound as if it was such a devious act. “I just bother Youngwoon-hyung a lot and try to make him laugh.”
The both of them laughed together, obviously having produced similar mental images of Donghae prancing around Youngwoon in attempts of melting his steely façade. Said person in question merely grunted in response, causing the pair to laugh even harder.
“I’m going to visit Hankyung-hyung,” Youngwoon remarked, before turning on his heels and headed towards the bar counter. “If there’s anything, be sure to phone me, Hyukkie.”
Hyukjae nodded, still rather breathless from his laughing fit with Donghae. Youngwoon shook his head, and muttered something along the lines of “Kids these days…” and “That new cask of draft beer looked promising.”
“Speaking of Hankyung-hyung, he told me that you were a second-year like me,” Donghae said, leaning forward over the receptionist booth. “Is that right?”
Hyukjae blinked. “You’re a second-year student as well? Which university are you enrolled in?”
“Hongik University, but of course, you’re probably more familiar with the name ‘Hongdae’,” Donghae laughed breezily as he spoke fondly of the university.
“That clubbing district, huh?” Hyukjae raised a brow. “That’s not surprising. You do seem like the sociable type.”
Donghae shrugged. “People always tell me that. I actually don’t like clubbing though; I much prefer belting out trot songs at a karaoke room. No one seems to share the same sentiments though.”
Hyukjae brought a hand up to cover his mouth; his lips had burst into a wide grin upon hearing Donghae’s last sentence.
“What?” Donghae demanded, when he spotted Hyukjae’s actions. “I bet you’re thinking that I have primitive taste in music. I just enjoy a wide variety of music-“
“I think it’s cute, actually,” Hyukjae chuckled. “And there’s nothing wrong in enjoying trot music; I go for Trot Night with my family whenever we have the chance.”
“We held a special trot night here once,” Hyukjae continued. “Everyone was practically singing along, except for Hankyung-hyung. He looked as if he didn’t know whether to laugh or attempt singing along.”
“That’s amazing!” Donghae enthused. The idea of being surrounded by like-minded people who loved trot (or at least, admitted to it publicly) seemed to be a foreign idea back at his university. After all, something like trot was too old-fashioned for happening, club-hopping university students.
“When’s the next theme night going to be? Are there going to be any more parties like this?”
“Well, there’s the party for-“
Hyukjae paused abruptly, casting Donghae a frenzied look. Donghae looked back at him curiously, surprised by the panicked look on Hyukjae’s face.
“A party for whom? Is someone’s birthday approaching?” Donghae pressed on; he was unsatisfied that Hyukjae had left his sentence hanging.
“It’s nothing,” Hyukjae mumbled, his gaze dropping to the booth. “It’s really nothing.”
Donghae chewed his bottom lip. It was obviously not ‘nothing’, for why else would Hyukjae be squirming for letting the matter slip through his lips?
“Fine,” Donghae finally said. “I’ll take your word for it.”
The pair lapsed into stilted silence, with Donghae surveying the interior of the club distractedly while Hyukjae’s eyes continued to bore a hole into the surface of the booth.
Hyukjae’s hiding something from me.
-
A/N: And Donghae and Hyukjae finally meet! XD
Like I've mentioned to some, I'm going to be updating this rather eratically; I'm actually taking a break from LJ for my modules and assignments and such seem overwhelming and it's only the first week of the new semester. Lol fail.
Not that I'll be neglecting this fic, no! I still have to do up the rest of the chapters and sort out any kinks in the plot. Optimistically speaking, I'll try to upload a new chapter each week; if not, one every two weeks. I'm really sorry to inconvenience those who are interested in this story. :<
And yes, Jongwoon will mark his appearance in the fic, but just not yet. XD
Comments are appreciated! (: