Vices: Chapter 8
Pairing: Het!Jonghyun/Key, side Les!Minkey
Rating: PG-13 for language
Word Count: 2,256
Summary: Junghee is crushed over a recent breakup when she meets Kibum. While neither of them have the best first impression, they realize they can learn from one another.
A/N: Ack sorry I didn't upload a chapter yesterday...things are getting a little crazy irl now that I'm about to leave for Tokyo so I apologize for any wonkiness that happens in the next few weeks. But there's only a few more chapters to go now!
We all have our vices.
The went to eat at a small hole-in-the-wall diner that Kibum recommended. Junghee hadn’t been too sure about the place, filled with dingy tables and a single surly waitress, saying uncertainly,
“We can go somewhere nicer, I can afford it, you know.” But Kibum assured her that the diner had the best steak sandwiches in town. She had been forced to agree with him when their food arrived, two enormous plates laden with thick-cut fries and a fat sandwich on each, thunked down gracelessly on the the table by the waitress, a bored looking girl with a slightly sour expression on her face. Kibum rolled his eyes at her when she left, making Junghee giggle.
“Well, what do you think? Try it,” Kibum demanded haughtily. Junghee gulped and looked down at her plate. Up close, that much food was intimidating. It certainly looked delicious, though; huge chunks of steak slathered in a tangy sauce that smelled downright heavenly, all on a flaky baguette, the huge potato wedges piled high on either side of the sandwich.
Junghee took a decisive bite out of hers, and couldn’t resist moaning in delight at the taste. Satisfied by her reaction, Kibum dug into his sandwich too. They ate in silence, both unwilling to stop chewing for any longer than was necessary to take another huge bite.
After demolishing their sandwiches however, all of the urgency was gone so they could finally talk to one another. Junghee burst out laughing as she caught a glimpse of Kibum’s face when she looked up from her plate for the first time in minutes. His mouth was smeared with steak sauce.
His look of confusion only made her laugh harder as she shoved a hung of napkins at him.
“Your face!” she wheezed, clutching her sides. Understanding at last, Kibum ducked behind the wad of napkins to wipe his face. When he emerged, he was grinning heartbreakingly, and nodded at Junghee before saying in that slightly raspy voice of his,
“You should see yours.” Chuckling, he handed her some napkins too.
When their faces were both free of the delicious steak sauce, junghee dumped her plate of fries onto Kibum’s and pulled his into the center of the table for them to pick at while they talked.
They chatted idly long enough to draw the disapproving stares of the waitress, who evidently wanted to clear their table so she could go back to reading magazines in the otherwise empty diner. Junghee shrugged internally, resolving to leave a large tip. A frowny waitress wasn’t going to keep her from learning more of Kibum’s quirks.
She was delighted, for instance, to learn that he loved to paint. Abstract pieces mostly, but sometimes prints, and that his artwork lay in stacks all over his apartment, organized by date, color, or when he was feeling particularly enigmatic- emotion.
The mountainous pile of french fries disappeared little by little, until they were staging a mock sword fight with the last two slivers of potato left on the plate. It was then that Junghee managed to ask the question that had been plaguing her for a while.
“Why did you start smoking?” she asked, thrusting bravely at him with her fry. He parried her attack, answering calmly,
“I don’t know, it was cool, I guess?” Junghee rolled her eyes and knocked Kibum’s potato aside to stab viciously.
“But that’s...” She focused on their battle for a moment, losing her train of thought briefly, “that’s such a stupid reason. I mean, those things kill people!” Kibum shrugged, blocking her swing effortlessly.
“We all have our vices.” Junghee frowned, trying a series of rapid jabs as she spoke.
“Well you should get a better one, then. A less destructive one, maybe.”
Kibum’s mouth raised in that familiar smirk as he blocked Junghee’s fry again and again.
“I will if you do,” he countered, and hacked at her potato wedge.
“What?” Junghee cried in surprise, forced onto the defensive, “I don’t have any vices.” She could hear the smugness in Kibum’s voice as he spoke, but was too busy blocking his sudden flurry of jabs to look up and see it mirrored on his face.
“I don’t know, I’d call a penchant for kissing people at random when intoxicated a pretty fatal character flaw, wouldn’t you?” Junghee was losing ground. She made a desperate swipe with her fry, saying agitatedly,
“I told you that’s not-” He blocked her swing easily and she groaned in defeat as her poor potato snapped in half at last, thoroughly battered. Junghee glared at Kibum, who smiled and offered her his fry, which was still intact.
Junghee accepted it gracefully, breaking it neatly in half and handing a piece back to Kibum, who took it with a smile and popped it into his mouth. They both stood up to leave at the same time, the waitress hovering anxiously nearby to clear the table. Checking to make sure Kibum wasn’t looking, Junghee dropped a large bill on the table. It would more than cover both their meals and there would be a big enough tip left over that the waitress would probably make them preferred customers.
Once they were out in the crisp air, Junghee turned to Kibum and offered him a ride home. He declined, explaining,
“Actually, I live about a block from here, so I can just walk back. I’ll walk you to your car though, it’s pretty dark.”
Junghee thanked him and the two walked in comfortable silence to her car. When she pressed the button on her keys to unlock her car, she found that Kibum was gallantly holding the driver’s side door open for her. She got in and rolled down the window as Kibum shut the door gently. After doing so, he leaned down and rested his forearms on the window sill. Junghee had to look up a bit to meet his dark eyes, finding it a little hard to breathe under his intense gaze. He spoke softly, just loud enough for Junghee to hear.
“Thanks for dinner. I had a really good time, noona.” Noona.
Kibum had rounded the corner before Junghee sat up straighter, shaking her head dazedly, and started her car, pulling out of the spot and driving away.
-
“Minjung-ah?” she called, unlocking the front door to her apartment. The lights were off, and only silence answered her. Sighing forlornly, she flicked on the light switch, seeing a blue post it note stuck to the counter in the newly illuminated apartment. Scanning it quickly, she scowled and balled it up, tossing it into the garbage. Minjung probably wouldn’t be back until morning, if the winky face on the post it next to a scrawled I’m going out with Gwiboon, don’t wait up! had been any indication, so she might as well go to bed. Her story would have to wait.
-
The door slammed open, startling Junghee from her sleep unceremoniously. She groaned and waited for Minjung to burst into her room and flop on her bed as was her habit. She didn’t have to wait long until she heard a thump and felt her mattress sink several inches. Junghee groaned theatrically, but rolled over so she could see her friend’s face.
Minjung was grinning blissfully, staring at the ceiling as though she couldn’t really see it, her arms and legs outstretched in a star. Junghee pushed at her overly long limbs fruitlessly, trying to make the willowy girl take up less space on her bed.
“You had a good night, I take it?” she asked dryly, propping her head up on her hand. Minjung still looked far away when she answered, a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Yeah.” She seemed to become a little more aware of her surroundings and turned her head to look at Junghee, still smiling. “I’ll tell you this; it really fucking pays to date an heiress, that’s for sure.” Junghee giggled.
“Oh god. What happened?” Minjung shook her head, unable to find words to describe how excellent her date with Gwiboon had been. She brought her hands up, gesticulating vaguely before letting them drop back down on the bed. “Wow, that good, huh?” Minjung nodded and turned to her.
“You don’t even know how good. I mean, first she took me to this amazing restaurant with a private room and everything, and she ordered for me -which was kind of hot-”
“Minjung-” Junghee said warningly, and the younger girl backtracked.
“Sorry, sorry. But then we drove to this...I don’t even know what it was, like a botanical garden or something, and it was gorgeous! God, Junghee-unnie, it was so amazing. There was a waterfall and tropical flowers, and everything was lit with little bunches of tiny white lights everywhere and it was just...” She sighed and Junghee studied her friend amusedly. Minjung was never this spacey. “And then, oh my god unnie, Gwiboon took me back to her apartment and it was-”
“Okay, nope. That’s where this story ends. Get out,” she said, pushing at Minjung’s dead weight with her feet. Relenting a little bit at Minjung’s distressed pout, she added, “Get out please.”
“I was just going to say that her apartment is huge. And the view is amazing.” Minjung blinked innocently at her.
“Uh-huh,” Junghee replied, unconvinced, “Sure you were. But that’s great, Minjung-ah. Gwiboonie must really like you.” Minjung flipped over on her stomach and rested her head on her folded arms, looking at Junghee.
“What makes you say that?”
Junghee shrugged.
“Well, usually Gwiboon makes her dates pay for everything, and she’s got expensive tastes. That’s why she hasn’t had a lasting relationship in who knows how long. But if she’s whipping out her wallet for you, it probably means she’s trying to impress you. I’d say that’s a good thing.” Minjung blushed darkly and muttered,
“She doesn’t have to spend a bunch of money just to impress me. I like her more than enough as it is.” The younger girl suddenly went dead white. “Oh god. It’s my turn to pick the date next. Nothing I could ever pull off would be good enough. Oh, shit. What am I going to do unnie?” Junghee couldn’t suppress a small laugh at Minjung’s sudden panic.
“I don’t think she expects you to try to outspend her, Minjung-ah. She probably wants to know more about you, and she wants you to know that there’s more to her than her grandfather’s money.” Junghee swallowed, her words hitting a little too close to home for comfort. “Just show her a good time without spending a ton. She’ll love it, I promise.”
Minjung swooped down to hug Junghee tightly, then got up and headed for the door. Before leaving, she paused in the doorframe to ask half-seriously,
“How come you don’t spend your impressive fortune on fun stuff like Gwiboon does?” She laughed raucously and stepped back to avoid the pillow Junghee had flung at her in mock outrage.
“Because I’m not a superficial airhead who doesn’t think about anything but the latest overpriced fashion trends!”
“I’ll tell her you said that!” Minjung called warningly over her shoulder as she left the room, still laughing. Junghee flopped back down on the bed and shouted after her friend’s retreating back,
“Good! See if I care.”
Smiling, Junghee drifted back to sleep. She would tell Minjung about her night later, when she was more awake.
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Rating: PG-13 for language
Word Count: 2,256
Summary: Junghee is crushed over a recent breakup when she meets Kibum. While neither of them have the best first impression, they realize they can learn from one another.
A/N: Ack sorry I didn't upload a chapter yesterday...things are getting a little crazy irl now that I'm about to leave for Tokyo so I apologize for any wonkiness that happens in the next few weeks. But there's only a few more chapters to go now!
We all have our vices.
The went to eat at a small hole-in-the-wall diner that Kibum recommended. Junghee hadn’t been too sure about the place, filled with dingy tables and a single surly waitress, saying uncertainly,
“We can go somewhere nicer, I can afford it, you know.” But Kibum assured her that the diner had the best steak sandwiches in town. She had been forced to agree with him when their food arrived, two enormous plates laden with thick-cut fries and a fat sandwich on each, thunked down gracelessly on the the table by the waitress, a bored looking girl with a slightly sour expression on her face. Kibum rolled his eyes at her when she left, making Junghee giggle.
“Well, what do you think? Try it,” Kibum demanded haughtily. Junghee gulped and looked down at her plate. Up close, that much food was intimidating. It certainly looked delicious, though; huge chunks of steak slathered in a tangy sauce that smelled downright heavenly, all on a flaky baguette, the huge potato wedges piled high on either side of the sandwich.
Junghee took a decisive bite out of hers, and couldn’t resist moaning in delight at the taste. Satisfied by her reaction, Kibum dug into his sandwich too. They ate in silence, both unwilling to stop chewing for any longer than was necessary to take another huge bite.
After demolishing their sandwiches however, all of the urgency was gone so they could finally talk to one another. Junghee burst out laughing as she caught a glimpse of Kibum’s face when she looked up from her plate for the first time in minutes. His mouth was smeared with steak sauce.
His look of confusion only made her laugh harder as she shoved a hung of napkins at him.
“Your face!” she wheezed, clutching her sides. Understanding at last, Kibum ducked behind the wad of napkins to wipe his face. When he emerged, he was grinning heartbreakingly, and nodded at Junghee before saying in that slightly raspy voice of his,
“You should see yours.” Chuckling, he handed her some napkins too.
When their faces were both free of the delicious steak sauce, junghee dumped her plate of fries onto Kibum’s and pulled his into the center of the table for them to pick at while they talked.
They chatted idly long enough to draw the disapproving stares of the waitress, who evidently wanted to clear their table so she could go back to reading magazines in the otherwise empty diner. Junghee shrugged internally, resolving to leave a large tip. A frowny waitress wasn’t going to keep her from learning more of Kibum’s quirks.
She was delighted, for instance, to learn that he loved to paint. Abstract pieces mostly, but sometimes prints, and that his artwork lay in stacks all over his apartment, organized by date, color, or when he was feeling particularly enigmatic- emotion.
The mountainous pile of french fries disappeared little by little, until they were staging a mock sword fight with the last two slivers of potato left on the plate. It was then that Junghee managed to ask the question that had been plaguing her for a while.
“Why did you start smoking?” she asked, thrusting bravely at him with her fry. He parried her attack, answering calmly,
“I don’t know, it was cool, I guess?” Junghee rolled her eyes and knocked Kibum’s potato aside to stab viciously.
“But that’s...” She focused on their battle for a moment, losing her train of thought briefly, “that’s such a stupid reason. I mean, those things kill people!” Kibum shrugged, blocking her swing effortlessly.
“We all have our vices.” Junghee frowned, trying a series of rapid jabs as she spoke.
“Well you should get a better one, then. A less destructive one, maybe.”
Kibum’s mouth raised in that familiar smirk as he blocked Junghee’s fry again and again.
“I will if you do,” he countered, and hacked at her potato wedge.
“What?” Junghee cried in surprise, forced onto the defensive, “I don’t have any vices.” She could hear the smugness in Kibum’s voice as he spoke, but was too busy blocking his sudden flurry of jabs to look up and see it mirrored on his face.
“I don’t know, I’d call a penchant for kissing people at random when intoxicated a pretty fatal character flaw, wouldn’t you?” Junghee was losing ground. She made a desperate swipe with her fry, saying agitatedly,
“I told you that’s not-” He blocked her swing easily and she groaned in defeat as her poor potato snapped in half at last, thoroughly battered. Junghee glared at Kibum, who smiled and offered her his fry, which was still intact.
Junghee accepted it gracefully, breaking it neatly in half and handing a piece back to Kibum, who took it with a smile and popped it into his mouth. They both stood up to leave at the same time, the waitress hovering anxiously nearby to clear the table. Checking to make sure Kibum wasn’t looking, Junghee dropped a large bill on the table. It would more than cover both their meals and there would be a big enough tip left over that the waitress would probably make them preferred customers.
Once they were out in the crisp air, Junghee turned to Kibum and offered him a ride home. He declined, explaining,
“Actually, I live about a block from here, so I can just walk back. I’ll walk you to your car though, it’s pretty dark.”
Junghee thanked him and the two walked in comfortable silence to her car. When she pressed the button on her keys to unlock her car, she found that Kibum was gallantly holding the driver’s side door open for her. She got in and rolled down the window as Kibum shut the door gently. After doing so, he leaned down and rested his forearms on the window sill. Junghee had to look up a bit to meet his dark eyes, finding it a little hard to breathe under his intense gaze. He spoke softly, just loud enough for Junghee to hear.
“Thanks for dinner. I had a really good time, noona.” Noona.
Kibum had rounded the corner before Junghee sat up straighter, shaking her head dazedly, and started her car, pulling out of the spot and driving away.
-
“Minjung-ah?” she called, unlocking the front door to her apartment. The lights were off, and only silence answered her. Sighing forlornly, she flicked on the light switch, seeing a blue post it note stuck to the counter in the newly illuminated apartment. Scanning it quickly, she scowled and balled it up, tossing it into the garbage. Minjung probably wouldn’t be back until morning, if the winky face on the post it next to a scrawled I’m going out with Gwiboon, don’t wait up! had been any indication, so she might as well go to bed. Her story would have to wait.
-
The door slammed open, startling Junghee from her sleep unceremoniously. She groaned and waited for Minjung to burst into her room and flop on her bed as was her habit. She didn’t have to wait long until she heard a thump and felt her mattress sink several inches. Junghee groaned theatrically, but rolled over so she could see her friend’s face.
Minjung was grinning blissfully, staring at the ceiling as though she couldn’t really see it, her arms and legs outstretched in a star. Junghee pushed at her overly long limbs fruitlessly, trying to make the willowy girl take up less space on her bed.
“You had a good night, I take it?” she asked dryly, propping her head up on her hand. Minjung still looked far away when she answered, a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Yeah.” She seemed to become a little more aware of her surroundings and turned her head to look at Junghee, still smiling. “I’ll tell you this; it really fucking pays to date an heiress, that’s for sure.” Junghee giggled.
“Oh god. What happened?” Minjung shook her head, unable to find words to describe how excellent her date with Gwiboon had been. She brought her hands up, gesticulating vaguely before letting them drop back down on the bed. “Wow, that good, huh?” Minjung nodded and turned to her.
“You don’t even know how good. I mean, first she took me to this amazing restaurant with a private room and everything, and she ordered for me -which was kind of hot-”
“Minjung-” Junghee said warningly, and the younger girl backtracked.
“Sorry, sorry. But then we drove to this...I don’t even know what it was, like a botanical garden or something, and it was gorgeous! God, Junghee-unnie, it was so amazing. There was a waterfall and tropical flowers, and everything was lit with little bunches of tiny white lights everywhere and it was just...” She sighed and Junghee studied her friend amusedly. Minjung was never this spacey. “And then, oh my god unnie, Gwiboon took me back to her apartment and it was-”
“Okay, nope. That’s where this story ends. Get out,” she said, pushing at Minjung’s dead weight with her feet. Relenting a little bit at Minjung’s distressed pout, she added, “Get out please.”
“I was just going to say that her apartment is huge. And the view is amazing.” Minjung blinked innocently at her.
“Uh-huh,” Junghee replied, unconvinced, “Sure you were. But that’s great, Minjung-ah. Gwiboonie must really like you.” Minjung flipped over on her stomach and rested her head on her folded arms, looking at Junghee.
“What makes you say that?”
Junghee shrugged.
“Well, usually Gwiboon makes her dates pay for everything, and she’s got expensive tastes. That’s why she hasn’t had a lasting relationship in who knows how long. But if she’s whipping out her wallet for you, it probably means she’s trying to impress you. I’d say that’s a good thing.” Minjung blushed darkly and muttered,
“She doesn’t have to spend a bunch of money just to impress me. I like her more than enough as it is.” The younger girl suddenly went dead white. “Oh god. It’s my turn to pick the date next. Nothing I could ever pull off would be good enough. Oh, shit. What am I going to do unnie?” Junghee couldn’t suppress a small laugh at Minjung’s sudden panic.
“I don’t think she expects you to try to outspend her, Minjung-ah. She probably wants to know more about you, and she wants you to know that there’s more to her than her grandfather’s money.” Junghee swallowed, her words hitting a little too close to home for comfort. “Just show her a good time without spending a ton. She’ll love it, I promise.”
Minjung swooped down to hug Junghee tightly, then got up and headed for the door. Before leaving, she paused in the doorframe to ask half-seriously,
“How come you don’t spend your impressive fortune on fun stuff like Gwiboon does?” She laughed raucously and stepped back to avoid the pillow Junghee had flung at her in mock outrage.
“Because I’m not a superficial airhead who doesn’t think about anything but the latest overpriced fashion trends!”
“I’ll tell her you said that!” Minjung called warningly over her shoulder as she left the room, still laughing. Junghee flopped back down on the bed and shouted after her friend’s retreating back,
“Good! See if I care.”
Smiling, Junghee drifted back to sleep. She would tell Minjung about her night later, when she was more awake.
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