SH 2013: for jecca_o9 #1
For: jecca_o9
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Surprises and unsuspected outcomes.
Rating: PG
Pairing(s)/Focus: Suho/Kai, minor! Sehun/Yixing
Length: 4,486 words
Summary: Jongin is starting a new job. Is that all he’s starting though?
Notes: To the recipient of this fic, omg I’m so sorry. I tried, seriously I tried ;A; I don’t think this is what you wanted, I apologize for that. And also, there is an obvious lack of Suho in a Suholiday fic. #whoops? Happy holidays everyone! ♥
Do you have any experience in the sales industry?”
Jongin looks at the man seated in front of him. Said man had blonde hair that framed a chiseled face - a face that encompassed two intimidating looking eyebrows, one of which was raised and arched slightly as he looked back at the younger boy. “Uh,” Jongin clears his throat in an awkward cough. “No sir, I’m afraid not.”
He looks down at his black sneakers and begins toying with the hem of his shirt when he catches wind of the soft muttered words, “No sales experience. Exactly as I thought.”
“Why are you here then?” Jongin jerks his head up at the question and sees the older man frowning down at him. “No offense but well, you don’t exactly seem like the kind of person who wants to be in the sales line, judging by your application form,” he waves a piece of paper in Jongin’s face. “Correct me if I’m wrong Jongin, but you’re not here on your own accord, am I right?”
Jongin notes the nametag on the man’s neatly pressed crisp white shirt. Kris Wu - sales manager. He pastes a small polite smile on his lips and says, “You’re right Mr Wu, I’m not particularly interested in being in sales and I’m only here because Yixing hyung wants me to. I need a job, he found me an opening here, I promised him I’d give it my best shot and well, let’s just say that I don’t intend to break that promise.”
“And before you say anything,” Jongin hurries to add on, “It is true that I don’t have any experience, but I’m a fast learner so pretty sure that I won’t disappoint you, Mr Wu.”
The corners of Kris’ lips twitch momentarily before he clears his throat. “Yixing wasn’t lying when he said that you’d be an asset to the team. I wasn’t sure but he was adamant and insisted that I meet you. I see now why he asked me to give you a chance and offer you a job. Take you under my wings, so to speak.”
Jongin frowns as his mind backtracks to part of a conversation that took place just a few days ago.
“If only you knew the things I had to do just so he’d consider you. Kris isn’t exactly an easy man you know.”
Jongin’s head jerks up at that. “What did you have to do? You didn’t-didn’t,” he swallowed the lump in his throat nervously and whispered. “You didn’t have to sleep with him, did you? Please tell me you didn’t.”
Yixing had laughed out in that light airy manner of his and reached over to ruffle Jongin’s hair playfully.
“Of course not, pabo-ah. Don’t be silly.”
“Well that’s a huge relief. I mean, I wouldn’t be able to live it down if you had to..you know, just so I can get a job. Yeah.”
The older boy sent a funny look in his direction before saying, “Right. You can be so weird sometimes you know?”
-
Come to think about it, Jongin muses silently, his laugh did sound a little forced. He didn’t lie to me, did he?
He bites his lower lip, a sign of uncertainty. “Adamant? You said Yixing hyung..insisted that you meet me? When he came to talk to you? He was being insistent?”
Kris lets out a grin, lips pulled back to reveal pink gums and rows of straight white teeth.
“That’s quite a few questions you have there, but it’s a yes for all. You have a very persistent and persuasive hyung in Yixing, Jongin-ssi,” he says with an undeniable glint in his dark amber eyes.
The younger boy narrows his eyes - his heartbeat increasing marginally. He opens his mouth and asks slowly, “And what exactly do you mean, Mr Boss man sir?”
“Please, just call me Kris,” Kris waves a hand in Jongin’s direction, seemingly to wave away the downright ridiculous and overly formal salutation. He nearly smacks the younger male in the face with the mentioned appendage. (Which is by the way, freaking huge, and what his friend Baekhyun would dub as the perfect yaoi hand.)
“Because any friend of Yixing’s is a friend of mine by association,” he adds as an afterthought.
And who told you I wanted to be your friend? Or gave you permission to be one of mine? Just for your information, I have absolutely no intention to be all buddy-buddy with someone who might very well be the defiler of my Yixing hyung’s innocence.
Jongin spits out those words in Kris’ face - in his mind’s eye. “You haven’t answered my question yet,” he pauses momentarily. “Kris.”
“What do you mean by saying that Yixing hyung’s very persuasive? Specifically what are you trying to imply?”
“Hey whoah. Chill dude,” Kris grins and holds up both hands - palms facing outwards - in a ‘calm the fuck down’ conciliatory gesture. Jongin gets more annoyed by every tick that the second hand makes on the clock; wanting nothing more than to wipe the grin off the elder’s face and shake the answer to his question out of roughly 6 feet 2 body. He’s quite certain the scowl etched on his face says all.
“Getting a little defensive there, aren’t we?” Kris continues with that shit-eating grin. “Yes, Yixing did warn me of how you could get when it comes to him. I won’t deny that it’s interesting, because it is, very much so. Don’t you think?”
Is it really that difficult for you to stop talking in fucking riddles and just answer me already? Jongin wants to ask. He bites down on his tongue. Yixing will not be pleased if he gets fired even before officially starting.
“And yes, the answer to your question. That’s for me to know and for you to find out, isn’t it? Though I have to say that I personally do not wish for you to find out, if you know what I mean,” Kris says with a slight smirk.
Okay that is fucking it Jongin thinks darkly and proceeds to shoot the older man a death glare. Screw the job; I can’t work for such an annoying asshole, over my dead body
“You are fucking impossible,” he snarls out - making sure that the words actually leave his mouth this time around.
Kris either doesn’t get the memo that Jongin wants to punch him or he simply chooses to ignore it, because he grabs his coat and says, “I’ve got a meeting to attend now so I’ll leave first. Be at the store by 8 am sharp. I’ll run through some things with you and introduce you to your colleague.”
He gets up and walks towards the exit. He stops after taking a few steps, spins around on his well-polished heel, and walks back. Kris points a long finger at Jongin. “Do not be late. Yixing might have your back but I’m the boss, and when it comes to business, I mean business. Got it?”
Jongin shoves away the urge to bite down on the finger and blinks. “Wait. You’re saying I’m still hired?”
Kris barks out a laugh. “Obviously. As if I’d willingly turn down an opportunity to spice up my rather dreary and monotonous work life. It’ll be fun I think, working with a character like you.”
“Don’t worry though, I hardly mix my personal life with work,” he adds with a godawful cheesy wink that has Jongin’s skin crawling with goosebumps.
Jongin deadpans with a blank expression. “So what do you call the past - ” he checks his watch. “30 or so minutes?”
Kris chuckles and claps a hand to Jongin’s shoulder and lets it linger there. The younger man has the fleeting thought of how Baekhyun would react if he was the one who had the ‘perfect yaoi hand’ on his shoulder.
“Well, we can’t exactly call that work now, can we?”
-
To: Yixing Hyung
Kris Wu is a complete & utter asswipe. Can’t believe u expect me 2 wk 4 him >.<
Jongin vehemently and viciously stabs the send button and sinks into his couch, arms crossed over his chest and dark expression on his face. Approximately 36 seconds later, his phone buzzes to life with Yixing’s reply.
LOL I take it the mtg went well then? Dun mind him 2 much. He likes 2 fool around ^^
Jongin stares dumbly at the line of words for a full minute before coming to a decision that he wants to speak to the older boy rather than type out characters in stupid text messages.
So after a quick jab on speed dial 2 and eight rings later, the other end picks up with a “Give me a few seconds Jongin-ah.”
He hears Yixing excuse himself for the washroom and the unmistakable sound of a chair being pushed back, wooden legs scrapping along the floor.
“What’s up?” he hears the older boy ask after another 5 seconds.
“Hyung, can you come over? I want to talk to you.”
Jongin says simply without preamble and gets off the couch, dragging his socked feet to the kitchen. His never-ending pit of a stomach was calling out for a snack.
Yixing sighs over the line and Jongin is sure that if he could see the elder, there’d be a light crease between his brows right above the bridge of his nose. “Can’t you just talk to me over the phone?
“Nope,” Jongin replies immediately - popping the ‘p’ in the word through pursed lips. “I want to see your face.”
“And you don’t even sound a tad embarrassed saying that. What am I going to with you Jongin-ah,” a smile can be heard in Yixing’s voice as it comes back through the receiver.
“Hmm?” Jongin switches the device from his right hand to his left as he reaches over the counter for some Cocoa Pops. “What’s there to be embarrassed about though?”
“So you’re coming over, yes?”
“I’m actually in the middle of something important now, Jongin.”
Shuffling his way to the fridge, the younger man briefly thinks to himself What could be more important than seeing my gorgeous face? He parts his lips when -
“Yixing hyung? Your food is ready.”
The hand reaching for the carton of strawberry milk freezes. Jongin blinks in disbelief because that sounds like Oh Sehun from his dance class where Yixing’s the assistant teacher and his Yixing hyung spending time outside class with Oh Sehun? No. Just no.
“I’ll be out soon, Sehun-ah. You just start first okay?” Yixing’s soft mellow voice says to someone who is not standing in front of an open refrigerator in Calvin Klein boxers and spongebob toe-socks.
Well fuck.
“Hyung, what are you doing with - “
The older boy cuts him off with a hurried “I’ll call you back? Hanging up now” before the line goes dead.
Jongin looks at his Samsung and lets out a short mirthless laugh.
He closes the fridge door with a slam. He’s not hungry anymore.
Yixing never calls back.
-
Jongin is half asleep on the couch, flat screen plasma television flashing images of a sad-looking Labrador being potty-trained, when the front door opens to reveal a red-nosed young man bundled up in scarves.
Yixing toes off his sneakers and makes his way towards the younger boy. He takes one glance at the whimpering canine on screen, snorts derisively, and powers the television off muttering under his breath, “The hell are you watching?”
Then he bops Jongin on the nose with a gloved fist and announces - spreading his arms wide open, “I’m here.”
“I can tell,” Jongin rolls his eyes good-naturedly and tugs the older down onto the couch. “What were you doing with Sehun?”
Yixing hums low in his throat and begins pulling off his gloves and unraveling the scarves around his neck. “Supper.”
Jongin freezes in the middle of snuggling up to the elder. “Why?”
“What do you mean why. He offered, and I was hungry. So obviously I said yes.”
“And were there anybody else besides you two?”
Jongin asks - casting a furtive glance in the older boy’s direction.
Yixing shoots him a look of bemusement. “It wouldn’t exactly be considered a date if there were other people surrounding us, would it?”
“D-date?! You were on a date with Oh Sehun?”Jongin splutters - eyes growing impossibly wide. “When how why?! Out of all the possible candidates, you choose that kid?” Jongin is extremely awake now, all traces of sleep erased from of his mind due to the new information which proved to nothing but highly unpleasant to him.
The brown haired boy snorts.
“You speak as if I have a line of admirers vying to court and woo me. Which is definitely not the case; I can quite confidently assure you,” he laughs and ruffles Jongin’s raven hair affectionately.
“Sehun is a perfectly nice young man, I personally find him adorable. And he’s not a kid; he’s twenty, same as you. I don’t see you calling yourself a kid.”
Jongin swallows down the urge to throw up when he notes the faint giddiness in his hyung’s voice, the slight sparkle in those brown orbs.
“I don’t mind being your kid though,” he mutters to himself. And when the older male raises an eyebrow at him, he clears his throat and points a forefinger at himself.
“And what about me hyung? I’m nice too, and while I might not be adorable, you can’t deny the fact that I’m gorgeous. Why aren’t we dating then?”
Yixing blinks owlishly at him for a few seconds, before breaking out into a wide unreserved grin that showcased his pearly whites and winking dimple to perfection.
He pokes Jongin’s bare stomach and says, “Our Jongin is jjiang! The best. That’s why you’re my best friend right?”
“Then how come Sehun’s your boyfriend instead of the amazing and awesome me? Please explain that theory to me. Because I don’t get it,” Jongin huffs - arms folded across his naked chest.
The sharp corners at the edges of Yixing’s lips gradually soften, and the grin gets replaced by a gentle smile.
“Jongin-ah,” he says softly, taking the boy’s hands in his own. “I know you think you’re in love with me, but trust me when I say this. What you feel when it comes to me, whatever feelings or affections you may have for me, don’t mistake it for love. Because it’s just infatuation.”
Jongin looks down and murmurs to his lap, “I guess..I’ve been deluding myself into thinking that if I persisted, one day you’ll return the feelings I harbor towards you. Who was I trying to kid? I mean, why would you fall for someone like me right?”
Yixing shakes his head slowly and says softly - earnestly.
“You’re a great guy, Jongin. And the person who gets you as a boyfriend will be so so lucky. But that person isn’t me. You’re my best friend and I adore you, in a purely platonic way. You understand what I’m saying right?”
Jongin sniffs.
“At the very least, you’re not with that asshole Kris,” he looks up and eyes the elder beadily. “Oh Sehun may never be as great as me even if he dies trying, but he is better than Blondie and well, I guess I have to be thankful. Because if I cannot have you, I’ll just have to make sure that you’re dating somebody acceptable.”
“Yes dad,” Yixing rolls his eyes and grins. “But what was that about Kris? Did he say something to you?”
Jongin shrugs lightly and buries his face into Yixing’s neck, infusing himself with the scent that is distinctively and undeniably Yixing. “He didn’t exactly say anything per se,” he mumbles into the porcelain white skin. “But he definitely insinuated something. I can tell he was trying to imply something and just - it’s infuriating and annoying and irritating and asshole-y and I don’t think I can work with a person like him.”
Yixing bursts out into peals of laughter, and Jongin tears himself away from the older boy’s warmth to look at him, confusion swimming in the depths of his orbs.
“Oh my goodness, how many times have I told him to change his methods?”Yixing wipes away an imaginary tear. “I think the big buffoon likes you, Jongin.”
Jongin blinks. “What?”
“Kris enjoys riling up the people he’s interested in. Don’t ask me why, I suppose he’s weird that way? Anyways, he wouldn’t even spare more than 10 minutes of his time if he didn’t have the intention to get to know you better,” Yixing grins widely. “And it’s quite obvious that he spent more than 10 minutes with you for you to have such a big impression of him.”
“You my friend,” he nudges the stunned boy with his elbow lightly, “have an admirer in the big bad blonde giant.”
Jongin shakes his head rapidly to clear his mind.
“And you,” he jabs a finger accusingly at the older male, “have gone mental. Kris likes me? Heaven forbid. He’s so not my type like eww no thank you.”
Yixing laughs brightly at the face his younger friend makes. “Aww..give the poor guy a chance. He’s actually a pretty fun guy to hang out with. Even though he might not look like it, Kris is a great friend. I’m sure he’d make an above-average boyfriend.”
Jongin simply stares speechless at the older boy - head spinning.
Yixing grins toothily and gets to his feet, gathering his gloves and scarves. “Don’t be too hard on him okay? He’s really not that bad.”
“You’re going already?”
“I left Sehun in the car downstairs.”’
Yixing says simply and Jongin really cannot deny the cheerful note in his voice. He sighs internally and starts to stand as well.
“I can let myself out,” Yixing pushes him back down and pats his cheek affectionately. “No need to get up on my account.”
“And just for the record, because I know how quick you can be to jump to conclusions and false assumptions, Kris and I never slept together. He’s tried to get into my pants for god knows how many times in the past, but no. He just isn’t my type.”
-
Jongin stares at the ceiling, his best friend’s words ringing loud and clear in his head. Yixing had said to him before closing the door, “You’re exactly his type. Give him a shot, Jongin-ah, you might be surprised.”
Jongin groans and flips to his side. Clenching his eyes shut, he orders himself to sleep.
Kim Jongin has a very confusing (very good looking) Kris Wu to face in the morning. And he is going to need every ounce of energy he can get.
-
“Thank you very much for shopping with us. Have a nice day and please come again.”
Jongin smiles and bows politely to the customer.
The customer (an ahjumma with a hideous perm and blood red pointy talons) squeals delightedly and pinches Jongin’s cheek. “Aigoo..such a handsome boy. And so well mannered too. I’ll definitely come again, don’t you worry my duckling.”
Jongin fights off the urge to slap that hand away and instead forces his smile to widen. “I’ll be waiting then, noona.”
The lady squeals again. “Noona he calls me. Such a precious boy,” she giggles as she totters out of the stall in a horrendous pair of shorts with large flowery prints that does nothing to flatter her rather jiggly ass.
Jongin shudders and winces the second she’s out of sight, bringing a hand up to gingerly rub at his abused cheek. He’s walking towards one of the two dressing rooms (to check if his face has been disfigured or not in the mirror) when he hears someone clear their throat.
Jongin spins around and says automatically, “Hi, welcome to - Yixing hyung? What are you doing here?” then he notes the gangly young man beside his friend. He nods politely - albeit a little stiffly. “Sehun.”
Jongin sees the linked arms and intertwined hands. He keeps the scowl at bay by pasting a neutral expression on his face.
Yixing smiles and leans up to whisper something in Sehun’s ear. The youngest amongst the three nods and beams before walking out.
There’s a fond expression on Yixing’s face as he watches Sehun go. He grins when he turns and walks towards Jongin. “Had your lunch? Are you alone in the store right now?”
Jongin ignores the questions and asks a question of his own. “What are you doing here hyung?”
“Am I not welcome here?” Yixing’s grin widens and he looks around before focusing his attention back on Jongin. “Well, I was in the vicinity and figured I’d pop by to see how my favorite dongsaeng is faring.”
“I have to say though, I’m highly impressed at how well our precious duckling is doing,” he teases, mischief in his voice, dimple winking, and eyes sparkling.
“Hyung…”Jongin whines, “Don’t make fun of me. It’s bad enough that I had to be mauled by a freaking pedophile. It’s your fault too, making me work in this place.”
Yixing laughs that light easy laugh of his. “My fault? How is it my fault? I didn’t force you to work here.”
“It’s totally your fault,” Jongin says adamantly. “And that’s that. No more arguments please.”
Yixing laughs again. “Okay okay,” he holds both hands up, palms facing out, in a gesture of peace. “Where’s the boss? I need to speak to him.”
Jongin points in the direction of the backroom. “Been cooped up in there ever since he got back from his lunch break. Crunching some very important figures he says,” Jongin shrugs nonchalantly. “Warned me to not bother him unless it’s a matter of life or death. I’m still working on an excuse to knock on that door.”
Yixing grins widely - teeth gleaming in the spotlight. “My name isn’t Kim Jongin so I’m sure that warning doesn’t apply to me.”
He says as he makes his way to the room. Reaching for the door knob, he pauses and looks over his shoulder.
“Play nice when Sehun comes back.”
-
Sehun walks in with two Styrofoam Starbucks cups 20 minutes later. Jongin had just made a sale in that time and fortunately, no bodily harm was inflicted.
“Where’s Yixing hyung?” Sehun asks - looking around.
None of your business, beanpole. Jongin wants to say. He makes a small sound at the back of his throat and jabs a thumb over his shoulder. “In there talking to the boss. The ridiculously good-looking boss.”
“Okay.”
“He’s been in there for over twenty minutes.”
“Okay, I got it. Thanks.”
“No, I don’t think you get it. Kris looks like a fucking anime character. That’s how unbelievably good-looking he is. I think I have his picture in my phone…” Jongin trails off, scrolling through the electronic device.
Sehun takes a sip from his cup and shoots him a look. “I heard you the first time?”
“And you’re not worried even in the slightest bit?” Jongin looks up - surprise evident in his voice.
Sehun snorts. “Kim Jongin, look. Yixing hyung is my boyfriend, and I trust him completely. So why should I be worried? I’m more concerned about the fact that you have your boss’ photo in your phone.”
He punctuates the sentence with a smirk that Jongin wants to smack off.
Another young man wanders into the shop and Jongin pointedly ignores Sehun, choosing to walk over to the prospective customer instead. “Hello there, can I help you?”
The man looks up and Jongin notes that he resembles that Choi Siwon from Super Junior, except maybe for the height. The Siwon-lookalike sends him a blinding smile and says, “It’s alright, I’m just looking around. You should probably get back to that customer over there.”
Jongin parts his lips to say that Oh, he isn’t a customer. He’s just here to make my life more miserable than it already is when yet another young man walks in and directly heads towards Jongin and Siwon junior.
He nudges Jongin to the side and grins winningly at the customer. “Hi, I’m Jongdae. You look lost; can I help you with anything?”
“I’m not lost though? I’m just browsing around.”
“But heaven is such a long way away. How did you get here anyway? It must have hurt when you fell, are you alright?”
The customer blinks, Sehun snorts again, and Jongin mutters to nobody in particular, “I’m going to the washroom.”
“Did you just call me a fallen angel, Jongdae-ssi?”
-
When Jongin returns, a good 20 minutes later, he sees Jongdae leaning over the cashier counter whilst talking to the impeccably groomed young man.
“It seems that I have lost my number. Can I have yours instead, Joonmyun-ssi?” Jongdae offers his phone to the other male, wide smile on his face.
Joonmyun laughs and takes the phone. After keying a few numbers, he hands it back with a smile.
“I have to go now, but it was nice talking to you Jongdae-ssi.”
“You too, Joonmyun-ssi, you too. If I had a dime for every time I saw someone as beautiful as you, I’ll have exactly a dollar.”
Joonmyun shakes his head smilingly.
“Random, but thank you anyways. I’ll see you soon, call me sometimes?” he waves his hand and makes for the exit.
“Joonmyun-ssi?”
“Yes?”
“Is your mom or dad a baker?”
Joonmyun raises an eyebrow. “Because I have great buns?”
Jongdae has the decency to blush. “Well yeah…”
Bursting out into peals of laughter, Joonmyun chokes out, “You’re adorable, Jongdae. Remember to call me okay?”
With that, he jogs out of the store and Jongin has to admit that indeed, he did have great buns.
Walking over to a stupidly grinning Jongdae, Jongin casually drapes an arm around the latter’s shoulders and asks, “Hyung, where’s Sehun?”
“Sehun? Who’s Sehun?”
“The beanpole who was right here.”
“Oh, him. He left with the boss and some other guy a few minutes before you returned,” Jongdae says absently. “Hey Jongin, does this number look familiar to you?”
Jongin peers down at the phone in the older boy’s hand. Under the contact name of ‘Joonmyun hyung’, there was a series of numbers which he knows by heart.
It’s Jongin’s turn to laugh now. “That’s the number of that chicken stall near Namsan Street 10. You just got punked, Jongdae hyung.”
Jongdae looks up with widened eyes and utters a “fucking hell” under his breath, before he’s sprinting out of the shop.
Chuckling to himself, Jongin goes to tidy up a pile of shirts.
“Jongin? When Jongdae gets back, tell him we’re closing up shop in 1 hour’s time.”
Jongin straightens up and asks simply, “Why?”
Kris smiles - all sparkling white teeth and pink gums. “I’m taking you out.”
And Jongin may or may not be a little surprised at the way his heart leaps.
“Okay.”
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Surprises and unsuspected outcomes.
Rating: PG
Pairing(s)/Focus: Suho/Kai, minor! Sehun/Yixing
Length: 4,486 words
Summary: Jongin is starting a new job. Is that all he’s starting though?
Notes: To the recipient of this fic, omg I’m so sorry. I tried, seriously I tried ;A; I don’t think this is what you wanted, I apologize for that. And also, there is an obvious lack of Suho in a Suholiday fic. #whoops? Happy holidays everyone! ♥
Do you have any experience in the sales industry?”
Jongin looks at the man seated in front of him. Said man had blonde hair that framed a chiseled face - a face that encompassed two intimidating looking eyebrows, one of which was raised and arched slightly as he looked back at the younger boy. “Uh,” Jongin clears his throat in an awkward cough. “No sir, I’m afraid not.”
He looks down at his black sneakers and begins toying with the hem of his shirt when he catches wind of the soft muttered words, “No sales experience. Exactly as I thought.”
“Why are you here then?” Jongin jerks his head up at the question and sees the older man frowning down at him. “No offense but well, you don’t exactly seem like the kind of person who wants to be in the sales line, judging by your application form,” he waves a piece of paper in Jongin’s face. “Correct me if I’m wrong Jongin, but you’re not here on your own accord, am I right?”
Jongin notes the nametag on the man’s neatly pressed crisp white shirt. Kris Wu - sales manager. He pastes a small polite smile on his lips and says, “You’re right Mr Wu, I’m not particularly interested in being in sales and I’m only here because Yixing hyung wants me to. I need a job, he found me an opening here, I promised him I’d give it my best shot and well, let’s just say that I don’t intend to break that promise.”
“And before you say anything,” Jongin hurries to add on, “It is true that I don’t have any experience, but I’m a fast learner so pretty sure that I won’t disappoint you, Mr Wu.”
The corners of Kris’ lips twitch momentarily before he clears his throat. “Yixing wasn’t lying when he said that you’d be an asset to the team. I wasn’t sure but he was adamant and insisted that I meet you. I see now why he asked me to give you a chance and offer you a job. Take you under my wings, so to speak.”
Jongin frowns as his mind backtracks to part of a conversation that took place just a few days ago.
“If only you knew the things I had to do just so he’d consider you. Kris isn’t exactly an easy man you know.”
Jongin’s head jerks up at that. “What did you have to do? You didn’t-didn’t,” he swallowed the lump in his throat nervously and whispered. “You didn’t have to sleep with him, did you? Please tell me you didn’t.”
Yixing had laughed out in that light airy manner of his and reached over to ruffle Jongin’s hair playfully.
“Of course not, pabo-ah. Don’t be silly.”
“Well that’s a huge relief. I mean, I wouldn’t be able to live it down if you had to..you know, just so I can get a job. Yeah.”
The older boy sent a funny look in his direction before saying, “Right. You can be so weird sometimes you know?”
-
Come to think about it, Jongin muses silently, his laugh did sound a little forced. He didn’t lie to me, did he?
He bites his lower lip, a sign of uncertainty. “Adamant? You said Yixing hyung..insisted that you meet me? When he came to talk to you? He was being insistent?”
Kris lets out a grin, lips pulled back to reveal pink gums and rows of straight white teeth.
“That’s quite a few questions you have there, but it’s a yes for all. You have a very persistent and persuasive hyung in Yixing, Jongin-ssi,” he says with an undeniable glint in his dark amber eyes.
The younger boy narrows his eyes - his heartbeat increasing marginally. He opens his mouth and asks slowly, “And what exactly do you mean, Mr Boss man sir?”
“Please, just call me Kris,” Kris waves a hand in Jongin’s direction, seemingly to wave away the downright ridiculous and overly formal salutation. He nearly smacks the younger male in the face with the mentioned appendage. (Which is by the way, freaking huge, and what his friend Baekhyun would dub as the perfect yaoi hand.)
“Because any friend of Yixing’s is a friend of mine by association,” he adds as an afterthought.
And who told you I wanted to be your friend? Or gave you permission to be one of mine? Just for your information, I have absolutely no intention to be all buddy-buddy with someone who might very well be the defiler of my Yixing hyung’s innocence.
Jongin spits out those words in Kris’ face - in his mind’s eye. “You haven’t answered my question yet,” he pauses momentarily. “Kris.”
“What do you mean by saying that Yixing hyung’s very persuasive? Specifically what are you trying to imply?”
“Hey whoah. Chill dude,” Kris grins and holds up both hands - palms facing outwards - in a ‘calm the fuck down’ conciliatory gesture. Jongin gets more annoyed by every tick that the second hand makes on the clock; wanting nothing more than to wipe the grin off the elder’s face and shake the answer to his question out of roughly 6 feet 2 body. He’s quite certain the scowl etched on his face says all.
“Getting a little defensive there, aren’t we?” Kris continues with that shit-eating grin. “Yes, Yixing did warn me of how you could get when it comes to him. I won’t deny that it’s interesting, because it is, very much so. Don’t you think?”
Is it really that difficult for you to stop talking in fucking riddles and just answer me already? Jongin wants to ask. He bites down on his tongue. Yixing will not be pleased if he gets fired even before officially starting.
“And yes, the answer to your question. That’s for me to know and for you to find out, isn’t it? Though I have to say that I personally do not wish for you to find out, if you know what I mean,” Kris says with a slight smirk.
Okay that is fucking it Jongin thinks darkly and proceeds to shoot the older man a death glare. Screw the job; I can’t work for such an annoying asshole, over my dead body
“You are fucking impossible,” he snarls out - making sure that the words actually leave his mouth this time around.
Kris either doesn’t get the memo that Jongin wants to punch him or he simply chooses to ignore it, because he grabs his coat and says, “I’ve got a meeting to attend now so I’ll leave first. Be at the store by 8 am sharp. I’ll run through some things with you and introduce you to your colleague.”
He gets up and walks towards the exit. He stops after taking a few steps, spins around on his well-polished heel, and walks back. Kris points a long finger at Jongin. “Do not be late. Yixing might have your back but I’m the boss, and when it comes to business, I mean business. Got it?”
Jongin shoves away the urge to bite down on the finger and blinks. “Wait. You’re saying I’m still hired?”
Kris barks out a laugh. “Obviously. As if I’d willingly turn down an opportunity to spice up my rather dreary and monotonous work life. It’ll be fun I think, working with a character like you.”
“Don’t worry though, I hardly mix my personal life with work,” he adds with a godawful cheesy wink that has Jongin’s skin crawling with goosebumps.
Jongin deadpans with a blank expression. “So what do you call the past - ” he checks his watch. “30 or so minutes?”
Kris chuckles and claps a hand to Jongin’s shoulder and lets it linger there. The younger man has the fleeting thought of how Baekhyun would react if he was the one who had the ‘perfect yaoi hand’ on his shoulder.
“Well, we can’t exactly call that work now, can we?”
-
To: Yixing Hyung
Kris Wu is a complete & utter asswipe. Can’t believe u expect me 2 wk 4 him >.<
Jongin vehemently and viciously stabs the send button and sinks into his couch, arms crossed over his chest and dark expression on his face. Approximately 36 seconds later, his phone buzzes to life with Yixing’s reply.
LOL I take it the mtg went well then? Dun mind him 2 much. He likes 2 fool around ^^
Jongin stares dumbly at the line of words for a full minute before coming to a decision that he wants to speak to the older boy rather than type out characters in stupid text messages.
So after a quick jab on speed dial 2 and eight rings later, the other end picks up with a “Give me a few seconds Jongin-ah.”
He hears Yixing excuse himself for the washroom and the unmistakable sound of a chair being pushed back, wooden legs scrapping along the floor.
“What’s up?” he hears the older boy ask after another 5 seconds.
“Hyung, can you come over? I want to talk to you.”
Jongin says simply without preamble and gets off the couch, dragging his socked feet to the kitchen. His never-ending pit of a stomach was calling out for a snack.
Yixing sighs over the line and Jongin is sure that if he could see the elder, there’d be a light crease between his brows right above the bridge of his nose. “Can’t you just talk to me over the phone?
“Nope,” Jongin replies immediately - popping the ‘p’ in the word through pursed lips. “I want to see your face.”
“And you don’t even sound a tad embarrassed saying that. What am I going to with you Jongin-ah,” a smile can be heard in Yixing’s voice as it comes back through the receiver.
“Hmm?” Jongin switches the device from his right hand to his left as he reaches over the counter for some Cocoa Pops. “What’s there to be embarrassed about though?”
“So you’re coming over, yes?”
“I’m actually in the middle of something important now, Jongin.”
Shuffling his way to the fridge, the younger man briefly thinks to himself What could be more important than seeing my gorgeous face? He parts his lips when -
“Yixing hyung? Your food is ready.”
The hand reaching for the carton of strawberry milk freezes. Jongin blinks in disbelief because that sounds like Oh Sehun from his dance class where Yixing’s the assistant teacher and his Yixing hyung spending time outside class with Oh Sehun? No. Just no.
“I’ll be out soon, Sehun-ah. You just start first okay?” Yixing’s soft mellow voice says to someone who is not standing in front of an open refrigerator in Calvin Klein boxers and spongebob toe-socks.
Well fuck.
“Hyung, what are you doing with - “
The older boy cuts him off with a hurried “I’ll call you back? Hanging up now” before the line goes dead.
Jongin looks at his Samsung and lets out a short mirthless laugh.
He closes the fridge door with a slam. He’s not hungry anymore.
Yixing never calls back.
-
Jongin is half asleep on the couch, flat screen plasma television flashing images of a sad-looking Labrador being potty-trained, when the front door opens to reveal a red-nosed young man bundled up in scarves.
Yixing toes off his sneakers and makes his way towards the younger boy. He takes one glance at the whimpering canine on screen, snorts derisively, and powers the television off muttering under his breath, “The hell are you watching?”
Then he bops Jongin on the nose with a gloved fist and announces - spreading his arms wide open, “I’m here.”
“I can tell,” Jongin rolls his eyes good-naturedly and tugs the older down onto the couch. “What were you doing with Sehun?”
Yixing hums low in his throat and begins pulling off his gloves and unraveling the scarves around his neck. “Supper.”
Jongin freezes in the middle of snuggling up to the elder. “Why?”
“What do you mean why. He offered, and I was hungry. So obviously I said yes.”
“And were there anybody else besides you two?”
Jongin asks - casting a furtive glance in the older boy’s direction.
Yixing shoots him a look of bemusement. “It wouldn’t exactly be considered a date if there were other people surrounding us, would it?”
“D-date?! You were on a date with Oh Sehun?”Jongin splutters - eyes growing impossibly wide. “When how why?! Out of all the possible candidates, you choose that kid?” Jongin is extremely awake now, all traces of sleep erased from of his mind due to the new information which proved to nothing but highly unpleasant to him.
The brown haired boy snorts.
“You speak as if I have a line of admirers vying to court and woo me. Which is definitely not the case; I can quite confidently assure you,” he laughs and ruffles Jongin’s raven hair affectionately.
“Sehun is a perfectly nice young man, I personally find him adorable. And he’s not a kid; he’s twenty, same as you. I don’t see you calling yourself a kid.”
Jongin swallows down the urge to throw up when he notes the faint giddiness in his hyung’s voice, the slight sparkle in those brown orbs.
“I don’t mind being your kid though,” he mutters to himself. And when the older male raises an eyebrow at him, he clears his throat and points a forefinger at himself.
“And what about me hyung? I’m nice too, and while I might not be adorable, you can’t deny the fact that I’m gorgeous. Why aren’t we dating then?”
Yixing blinks owlishly at him for a few seconds, before breaking out into a wide unreserved grin that showcased his pearly whites and winking dimple to perfection.
He pokes Jongin’s bare stomach and says, “Our Jongin is jjiang! The best. That’s why you’re my best friend right?”
“Then how come Sehun’s your boyfriend instead of the amazing and awesome me? Please explain that theory to me. Because I don’t get it,” Jongin huffs - arms folded across his naked chest.
The sharp corners at the edges of Yixing’s lips gradually soften, and the grin gets replaced by a gentle smile.
“Jongin-ah,” he says softly, taking the boy’s hands in his own. “I know you think you’re in love with me, but trust me when I say this. What you feel when it comes to me, whatever feelings or affections you may have for me, don’t mistake it for love. Because it’s just infatuation.”
Jongin looks down and murmurs to his lap, “I guess..I’ve been deluding myself into thinking that if I persisted, one day you’ll return the feelings I harbor towards you. Who was I trying to kid? I mean, why would you fall for someone like me right?”
Yixing shakes his head slowly and says softly - earnestly.
“You’re a great guy, Jongin. And the person who gets you as a boyfriend will be so so lucky. But that person isn’t me. You’re my best friend and I adore you, in a purely platonic way. You understand what I’m saying right?”
Jongin sniffs.
“At the very least, you’re not with that asshole Kris,” he looks up and eyes the elder beadily. “Oh Sehun may never be as great as me even if he dies trying, but he is better than Blondie and well, I guess I have to be thankful. Because if I cannot have you, I’ll just have to make sure that you’re dating somebody acceptable.”
“Yes dad,” Yixing rolls his eyes and grins. “But what was that about Kris? Did he say something to you?”
Jongin shrugs lightly and buries his face into Yixing’s neck, infusing himself with the scent that is distinctively and undeniably Yixing. “He didn’t exactly say anything per se,” he mumbles into the porcelain white skin. “But he definitely insinuated something. I can tell he was trying to imply something and just - it’s infuriating and annoying and irritating and asshole-y and I don’t think I can work with a person like him.”
Yixing bursts out into peals of laughter, and Jongin tears himself away from the older boy’s warmth to look at him, confusion swimming in the depths of his orbs.
“Oh my goodness, how many times have I told him to change his methods?”Yixing wipes away an imaginary tear. “I think the big buffoon likes you, Jongin.”
Jongin blinks. “What?”
“Kris enjoys riling up the people he’s interested in. Don’t ask me why, I suppose he’s weird that way? Anyways, he wouldn’t even spare more than 10 minutes of his time if he didn’t have the intention to get to know you better,” Yixing grins widely. “And it’s quite obvious that he spent more than 10 minutes with you for you to have such a big impression of him.”
“You my friend,” he nudges the stunned boy with his elbow lightly, “have an admirer in the big bad blonde giant.”
Jongin shakes his head rapidly to clear his mind.
“And you,” he jabs a finger accusingly at the older male, “have gone mental. Kris likes me? Heaven forbid. He’s so not my type like eww no thank you.”
Yixing laughs brightly at the face his younger friend makes. “Aww..give the poor guy a chance. He’s actually a pretty fun guy to hang out with. Even though he might not look like it, Kris is a great friend. I’m sure he’d make an above-average boyfriend.”
Jongin simply stares speechless at the older boy - head spinning.
Yixing grins toothily and gets to his feet, gathering his gloves and scarves. “Don’t be too hard on him okay? He’s really not that bad.”
“You’re going already?”
“I left Sehun in the car downstairs.”’
Yixing says simply and Jongin really cannot deny the cheerful note in his voice. He sighs internally and starts to stand as well.
“I can let myself out,” Yixing pushes him back down and pats his cheek affectionately. “No need to get up on my account.”
“And just for the record, because I know how quick you can be to jump to conclusions and false assumptions, Kris and I never slept together. He’s tried to get into my pants for god knows how many times in the past, but no. He just isn’t my type.”
-
Jongin stares at the ceiling, his best friend’s words ringing loud and clear in his head. Yixing had said to him before closing the door, “You’re exactly his type. Give him a shot, Jongin-ah, you might be surprised.”
Jongin groans and flips to his side. Clenching his eyes shut, he orders himself to sleep.
Kim Jongin has a very confusing (very good looking) Kris Wu to face in the morning. And he is going to need every ounce of energy he can get.
-
“Thank you very much for shopping with us. Have a nice day and please come again.”
Jongin smiles and bows politely to the customer.
The customer (an ahjumma with a hideous perm and blood red pointy talons) squeals delightedly and pinches Jongin’s cheek. “Aigoo..such a handsome boy. And so well mannered too. I’ll definitely come again, don’t you worry my duckling.”
Jongin fights off the urge to slap that hand away and instead forces his smile to widen. “I’ll be waiting then, noona.”
The lady squeals again. “Noona he calls me. Such a precious boy,” she giggles as she totters out of the stall in a horrendous pair of shorts with large flowery prints that does nothing to flatter her rather jiggly ass.
Jongin shudders and winces the second she’s out of sight, bringing a hand up to gingerly rub at his abused cheek. He’s walking towards one of the two dressing rooms (to check if his face has been disfigured or not in the mirror) when he hears someone clear their throat.
Jongin spins around and says automatically, “Hi, welcome to - Yixing hyung? What are you doing here?” then he notes the gangly young man beside his friend. He nods politely - albeit a little stiffly. “Sehun.”
Jongin sees the linked arms and intertwined hands. He keeps the scowl at bay by pasting a neutral expression on his face.
Yixing smiles and leans up to whisper something in Sehun’s ear. The youngest amongst the three nods and beams before walking out.
There’s a fond expression on Yixing’s face as he watches Sehun go. He grins when he turns and walks towards Jongin. “Had your lunch? Are you alone in the store right now?”
Jongin ignores the questions and asks a question of his own. “What are you doing here hyung?”
“Am I not welcome here?” Yixing’s grin widens and he looks around before focusing his attention back on Jongin. “Well, I was in the vicinity and figured I’d pop by to see how my favorite dongsaeng is faring.”
“I have to say though, I’m highly impressed at how well our precious duckling is doing,” he teases, mischief in his voice, dimple winking, and eyes sparkling.
“Hyung…”Jongin whines, “Don’t make fun of me. It’s bad enough that I had to be mauled by a freaking pedophile. It’s your fault too, making me work in this place.”
Yixing laughs that light easy laugh of his. “My fault? How is it my fault? I didn’t force you to work here.”
“It’s totally your fault,” Jongin says adamantly. “And that’s that. No more arguments please.”
Yixing laughs again. “Okay okay,” he holds both hands up, palms facing out, in a gesture of peace. “Where’s the boss? I need to speak to him.”
Jongin points in the direction of the backroom. “Been cooped up in there ever since he got back from his lunch break. Crunching some very important figures he says,” Jongin shrugs nonchalantly. “Warned me to not bother him unless it’s a matter of life or death. I’m still working on an excuse to knock on that door.”
Yixing grins widely - teeth gleaming in the spotlight. “My name isn’t Kim Jongin so I’m sure that warning doesn’t apply to me.”
He says as he makes his way to the room. Reaching for the door knob, he pauses and looks over his shoulder.
“Play nice when Sehun comes back.”
-
Sehun walks in with two Styrofoam Starbucks cups 20 minutes later. Jongin had just made a sale in that time and fortunately, no bodily harm was inflicted.
“Where’s Yixing hyung?” Sehun asks - looking around.
None of your business, beanpole. Jongin wants to say. He makes a small sound at the back of his throat and jabs a thumb over his shoulder. “In there talking to the boss. The ridiculously good-looking boss.”
“Okay.”
“He’s been in there for over twenty minutes.”
“Okay, I got it. Thanks.”
“No, I don’t think you get it. Kris looks like a fucking anime character. That’s how unbelievably good-looking he is. I think I have his picture in my phone…” Jongin trails off, scrolling through the electronic device.
Sehun takes a sip from his cup and shoots him a look. “I heard you the first time?”
“And you’re not worried even in the slightest bit?” Jongin looks up - surprise evident in his voice.
Sehun snorts. “Kim Jongin, look. Yixing hyung is my boyfriend, and I trust him completely. So why should I be worried? I’m more concerned about the fact that you have your boss’ photo in your phone.”
He punctuates the sentence with a smirk that Jongin wants to smack off.
Another young man wanders into the shop and Jongin pointedly ignores Sehun, choosing to walk over to the prospective customer instead. “Hello there, can I help you?”
The man looks up and Jongin notes that he resembles that Choi Siwon from Super Junior, except maybe for the height. The Siwon-lookalike sends him a blinding smile and says, “It’s alright, I’m just looking around. You should probably get back to that customer over there.”
Jongin parts his lips to say that Oh, he isn’t a customer. He’s just here to make my life more miserable than it already is when yet another young man walks in and directly heads towards Jongin and Siwon junior.
He nudges Jongin to the side and grins winningly at the customer. “Hi, I’m Jongdae. You look lost; can I help you with anything?”
“I’m not lost though? I’m just browsing around.”
“But heaven is such a long way away. How did you get here anyway? It must have hurt when you fell, are you alright?”
The customer blinks, Sehun snorts again, and Jongin mutters to nobody in particular, “I’m going to the washroom.”
“Did you just call me a fallen angel, Jongdae-ssi?”
-
When Jongin returns, a good 20 minutes later, he sees Jongdae leaning over the cashier counter whilst talking to the impeccably groomed young man.
“It seems that I have lost my number. Can I have yours instead, Joonmyun-ssi?” Jongdae offers his phone to the other male, wide smile on his face.
Joonmyun laughs and takes the phone. After keying a few numbers, he hands it back with a smile.
“I have to go now, but it was nice talking to you Jongdae-ssi.”
“You too, Joonmyun-ssi, you too. If I had a dime for every time I saw someone as beautiful as you, I’ll have exactly a dollar.”
Joonmyun shakes his head smilingly.
“Random, but thank you anyways. I’ll see you soon, call me sometimes?” he waves his hand and makes for the exit.
“Joonmyun-ssi?”
“Yes?”
“Is your mom or dad a baker?”
Joonmyun raises an eyebrow. “Because I have great buns?”
Jongdae has the decency to blush. “Well yeah…”
Bursting out into peals of laughter, Joonmyun chokes out, “You’re adorable, Jongdae. Remember to call me okay?”
With that, he jogs out of the store and Jongin has to admit that indeed, he did have great buns.
Walking over to a stupidly grinning Jongdae, Jongin casually drapes an arm around the latter’s shoulders and asks, “Hyung, where’s Sehun?”
“Sehun? Who’s Sehun?”
“The beanpole who was right here.”
“Oh, him. He left with the boss and some other guy a few minutes before you returned,” Jongdae says absently. “Hey Jongin, does this number look familiar to you?”
Jongin peers down at the phone in the older boy’s hand. Under the contact name of ‘Joonmyun hyung’, there was a series of numbers which he knows by heart.
It’s Jongin’s turn to laugh now. “That’s the number of that chicken stall near Namsan Street 10. You just got punked, Jongdae hyung.”
Jongdae looks up with widened eyes and utters a “fucking hell” under his breath, before he’s sprinting out of the shop.
Chuckling to himself, Jongin goes to tidy up a pile of shirts.
“Jongin? When Jongdae gets back, tell him we’re closing up shop in 1 hour’s time.”
Jongin straightens up and asks simply, “Why?”
Kris smiles - all sparkling white teeth and pink gums. “I’m taking you out.”
And Jongin may or may not be a little surprised at the way his heart leaps.
“Okay.”