[D70] SECRETARY DO
Prompt Code: D70
Title: Secretary Do.
Rating: PG
Side Parings: Baekyeol
Warnings: Swearing.
Word Count: 9k
Summary: Kim Jongin is the epitome of playboy and yet he still, so easily, finds himself hung up on his wide-eyed secretary who he’s starting to think hates him...
A/N: Hello, this is my first time writing fanfic so I hope you like it. I apologize if anything didn’t make sense or if my writing wasn’t good…
Kyungsoo sighed.
The howling winds, heard even from within the walls of where he sat, were testimony of this mornings forecast, Kyungsoo having only caught the presenter’s final words in his mad dash to get to work. It was an ominous sound that came and went ferociously, bringing with it the shrilled squeals of pedestrians occupying and overcrowding the sidewalks below. In a desperate bid to get to work, venturing out on this dreaded early Monday morning couldn’t have been avoidable. However, Kyungsoo was sure that the ever growing abundance of thickened scarves and woollen coats that provided the masses with a semblance of solace from the harsh weather - preserving what little warmth they had as they trudged through the ever growing mounds of snow that littered the streets of Seoul.
Snow.
The crystal flakes visibly drift from beyond the glass windows of the office Kyungsoo sat mutedly within. The man, a boyishly handsome youth of twenty-three, is unable to help but be enthralled by the sight before him, ignorant to the seconds that merge and the minutes that pass.
Kyungsoo’s fixation seems almost unwavering as he continues to trace the further snowflakes that plummet from the skies above and disappear past the edges of the peeling windowsills, daring the man to crane his neck and witness their final descent.
However, he did no such thing.
Kyungsoo’s fascination was merely a means of apathetic procrastination; a desperately needed escape from the luminous computer screen he had been glaring at for far too long.
The thought, although correct, is swift to deflate the man’s already punctured mood as the prospect of resignation has Kyungsoo tempted to do just that - resign.
If it hadn’t been for that asshole, he’d have truly been elated by it all.
Kyungsoo was sure that if it hadn’t been for him, he’d have bounded to the nearest window and eagerly placed his face upon its benumbing surface so to stare, wide-eyed, at the spectacle before him. The cold sting of the glass, that’d inevitably turn his once creamy white cheek a blotchy pinkish hue, would have had the male only grinning wider at the sensation.
Except he wasn’t elated.
No, not one bit.
Instead, he was pissed.
The murderous expression upon Kyungsoo’s face is frighteningly so as his hands, clenched tightly at his sides, itch to be swung in the direction of a certain someone. The brain numbing headache that pounds away at him does nothing to help his already sour mood, but rather makes it hard for him not to replay the events of only hours ago.
Kyungsoo, much to his displeasure, had been rudely awoken to the sound of his phone’s constant ring. Delirious from sleep, and with robbed vision, Kyungsoo’s hands had searched frantically for the device, knowing that he’d have to deal with Baekhyun’s constant bitching about losing beauty sleep the next morning if he wasn’t quick to suppress the irritatingly loud sound.
His semi-conscious state was met with the sound of his boss’ deep and groggy voice asking him to come into work early, giving Kyungsoo the honourable job of retyping the manuscript for today’s editorial meeting. He had then proceeded to string together the excuse of being unable to do so himself, having just arrived from an overseas business trip and having had no sleep.
A quick contemplation of the request had Kyungsoo desperately wanting to simply hang up and go back to sleep; dismiss the fact that he had ever even picked up and feign innocence when questioned about his actions later. However, the promise of punishment, the result of previous rebellious episodes and something his boss was more than eager to warn of, had Kyungsoo crankily accepting and biding his boss a lacklustre goodnight, though it was well into the new morning.
Kyungsoo tried hard to pay no mind to the “’night sweetheart, you’ll dream of me, won’t you?” that was whispered from the other end of the receiver but it was hard, he admits, and Kyungsoo was left to more or less bite down on the tongue that itched to voice its own brazen retort to the statement. Instead, he had settled for slamming his phone down mid-hang up, hoping his boss had felt even a smidge of the force upon his oh so pretty face.
He had spent the next ten or so minutes laying wide awake as he prayed for sleep to overcome him. However, when not even a yawn escaped his tightly pursed lips, Kyungsoo had reluctantly forced his lethargic body to get up and get ready for work.
And so here Kyungsoo was, sat in a dimly lit office on his lonesome, save for the odd cleaner who leave as quietly as they’d come, typing furiously away on his laptop.
---
It was the ear-piercing chime of the elevator that had Kyungsoo’s breath hitching and his heart faltering.
So absorbed in his work, Kyungsoo had forgotten to pay attention to the clock beside him and, upon glancing over at the cylindrical thing, time had surely seemed to fly.
Cursing at himself for losing track of time, and also at his boss for everything, Kyungsoo bolts from his seat, irrespective of his ceramic mug as it falls; the result of his left hand accidentally brushing against the object in his attempts to cautiously manoeuvre himself around his rather messy work space.
It happens all to slow, then all too quick and Kyungsoo is left only to wince as the mug meets the tiled floor beneath with a loud clank, the object then proceeding to ricochet sporadically along the ground as the pens and highlighters once held within now, too, lay haphazardly underneath his desk.
Kyungsoo is almost fazed by it all, almost drops to the ground and cries the stress-filled tears that he’s been holding in for the past month, but it’s the ever persistent tapping of heels that grows ever so steadily closer that has him, instead, sprinting towards the kitchen to start the coffee machine for those surely to be in desperateness for a cup, or three, of caffeine.
Kyungsoo then proceeds to rush from one one tedious task to another, from switching on lights to printing the thankfully finished manuscripts. Once collected and stapled, Kyungsoo bolts towards the meeting room and quickly distributes a copy of the booklet in front of each chair that surrounds the large oval desk that stands centre of the room.
It was as Kyungsoo sprints back to his own desk, and as the glass doors began to slide open, that Seulgi, thank god, walks bashfully into the office.
“Morning.”
Kyungsoo waves at her, unable to help the bright smile that engulfs his face as he notices the blush that paints her cheeks a warm pink.
Kyungsoo wanted to coo at her adorableness.
“Morning Ky-Kyungsoo…op-ppa…” Seulgi’s voice is breathy and sweet as she says his name and Kyungsoo tries hard not to smirk at oppa
“Are you attending the editorial meeting this morning?” Kyungsoo asks an obvious question as he knows she is, having been newly promoted to chief editor, but he isn’t sure what else to say as she continues to just stands there gawking at her shoes below as a silent but very evident refusal to meet the other’s gaze.
It’s only after a prolonged period of waiting that Seulgi dares look up and nod, before hastily averting her eyes once more.
“Um… yeah. This is my first editorial me-meeting as a chief. Jongin advised me to be present, just to go over a few things for this week’s i-issue…”
The nervous giggle that follows suit has Kyungsoo almost awwing aloud. However, it’s the name spoken that has Kyungsoo unable to avoid the mental image of anthracite eyes and obnoxiously perfect teeth enclosed within ample rosewood lips that filters across his vision - smirking, no less.
Kyungsoo is more than welcoming of the choleric expression that mars his face.
Jongin.
Kim fucking Jongin.
That cocky, perverted, rich son-of-a-bit--
Kyungsoo always found it rather difficult to restrain his thoughts from conjuring up the harshest of insults, ever single one of them directed to his jerk of a boss, whenever the name was mentioned.
When Kyungsoo had begun working for Elite Magazines he was optimistic about it all. Having had no such luck in finding a job for so long, something his mother was more than eager to criticise him for, and having to room with his best friend, though often foe, Kyungsoo was determined to see the job as an opportunity, rather than a hindrance to his aspirations.
And though fashion was clearly not his forte, Kyungsoo had promised himself to give it a chance; that’s not to say that the fact that he’d have no actual say on the clothing aspect of the magazine didn’t sway him greatly into accepting.
Kyungsoo, much to his own surprise, had quickly found himself enjoying his new job as he grew steadily familiar with both the office and its inhabitants.
But, alas, Kyungsoo’s enjoyment had been short lived all thanks to a certain brunette Kyungsoo seemed unable to avoid.
---
It had been the day of his much anticipated interview, weeks prior to him even having begun work at Elite, that Kyungsoo had collided worlds, and bodies, with Kim Jongin. And although neither of the two knew who the other was, the chance encounter, their first of many, had been nothing less than unexpected.
Kyungsoo had been in a rush, making up for the time Baekhyun had wasted fretting over what the other was to wear, as he speedily walked through the foyer of his soon-to-be office building.
Perspiration had coated his entire body, out of worry than exhaustion.
Gnawing away at his lips, and with eyes that were unable to pry themselves away from his watch, Kyungsoo had helplessly stared as the seconds ticked by mockingly. His heart had raced with fright and his feet had stumbled over each other with quickened pace as Kyungsoo weaved past the throngs of people.
He dared not be late.
However, it was as Kyungsoo expertly served past the oncoming bodies that he had missed the one person who, too, seemed in a rush…
The collision, with what resembled more a brick wall than human flesh, had inevitably stopped Kyungsoo in his tracks.
Kyungsoo’s descent to the ground had been a painful one as his face meet the tiled floor beneath with a loud slap; a distinctive ripping of material had also met ears unwantedly.
Having rolled onto his back with a painful moan, Kyungsoo had been ready to curse at whomever it was that had brutally injured him, accident or not, and had, surely, made him late. The tender sensation of his, then, swollen cheek had Kyungsoo’s eyes darting around until his gaze fell upon the culprit. Kyungsoo, however, hadn’t expected it to be him.
Kyungsoo, for the first time in his entire existence, had been rendered speechless. Kyungsoo, startled by his own inability to say something, had watched the other man shuffle around as he picked up the papers that had escaped his grasp upon impact. Seemingly ignoring Kyungsoo’s laying figure as he did so.
The man, for lack of better word, had been absolutely gorgeous and Kyungsoo was unable to do anything, much less yell at the man, but stare at his flawless face.
Having been blessed with sun-kissed skin, pillowy lips and velvety eyes that hypnotized and rendered Kyungsoo incapable of function; the male could only stare at the perfection, who’d so easily robbed him of his breath, crouched before him.
However, it was as Kyungsoo begun to regain a semblance of himself, his mouth having hung ajar in anticipation for speech, that he had watched the man stand up, align the papers within his hands, and walk off without even an apology.
Kyungsoo had been infuriated, still sprawled along the ground with a hand cradling his injured cheek, when it donned on him how stupid he had most likely looked. Kyungsoo had run to the bathroom to check the extent of his injuries, noting both a swollen right cheek that had been, shaded a deep and angry red, and the large tear to the coat jacket of the sleek charcoal suit that belonged to his roommate.
Not only had Kyungsoo proceeded with his interview, a whopping ten minutes late, coatless and bruised, but he had gotten an earful when he went home that day, having had to explain it all to Baekhyun.
---
Their next encounter had been as unexpected as their first.
It had been at a popular nightclub in the heart of Gangnam that Kyungsoo’s wondering gaze had fallen upon the other in sheer surprise.
Kyungsoo hadn’t even wanted to be there, having been in favour of staying home and watching old re-runs of Running Man, but it had been his roommate’s persistent begging, pleading with the other to go out and get drunk as a means of celebrating his newly hired job, that had Kyungsoo regrettably accepting.
Club EX’ACT had been far from what Kyungsoo had hoped for.
Had been far from the small bar around the corner Kyungsoo had imagined the two gorging on chicken and soju as they reminisced.
But Baekhyun’s left hand been tenacious as he dragged the other towards the entrance, stopping only when the two muscular bouncers in front stared in their direction with an intimidating glint.
Kyungsoo, afraid of possible altercations, had been about to drag his stupid friend to the end of the extensive line, ready to string out an apology.
His words, however, had died mid-apology when a tall male walked out from behind the entrance doors.
Baekhyun had wasted no time in letting go of Kyungsoo’s wrist and running towards the newly emerged man with open arms, eager to fling his lithe limbs around the other’s neck. The man, who was more than willing to reciprocate the actions, had wrapped his own arms around the slender waist of the shorter male, spinning him around as the two engaged in a deep and heated kiss.
Oh.
Chanyeol.
Kyungsoo had rolled his eyes at the sight and tried hard not to gag, crossing his arms in both annoyance and sight envy, though he’d never admit to the second. The couple, so immersed in one another, had been quick to completely forget the, then, third-wheel who was becoming more irritated with each passing second he was ignored.
Fed up with his roommate’s blatant disregard for his supposed “best friend”, Kyungsoo had decided to abhorrently clear his throat in hopes of getting his attention. His actions, however, had caught only Chanyeol’s notice. Chanyeol had smiled his obnoxiously wide smile and had turned to face Kyungsoo, leaving only his right hand to hold Baekhyun tightly within his grasp.
“Hey.” He had said.
“Hey.” Kyungsoo had mockingly retorted.
Baekhyun had glared at his friend and Kyungsoo had simply rolled his eyes in response.
Kyungsoo didn’t know why Chanyeol irritated him so, he just… did, and Baekhyun only made it worse, always trying to get his roommate to like his boyfriend of, then, two years.
Kyungsoo had just hoped his friend would quickly come to his senses and break up with the over-grown child.
“Um… I heard you got the job at Elite… congrats.” Chanyeol had said as awkward as ever.
“Did Baekhyun tell you that?” Kyungsoo had hissed, turning towards his traitorous friend who’d been too busy snuggling himself into the crook of Chanyeol’s arm to actually catch his words. The grin that had plastered Baekhyun’s face had grown only wider when his boyfriend let out a sudden giggle at being accidentally tickled by the other.
Kyungsoo had scoffed louder than intended.
“Um… no. I, um… I work there too… so I found out. Yeah, I’m… I’m the CFO of Elite.”
…
Fuck me.
Kyungsoo had chosen to not respond to the statement and had stared, instead, at the plethora of stumbling bodies that littered the car park. Exasperated by the newly learnt information, Kyungsoo had pretended not to acknowledge the presence of the male before him as he internally cursed at his own misfortune.
“Well then… I guess we should go in.”
Kyungsoo had heard the smugness that coated Baekhyun’s words but had chosen to say nothing more, quietly following the two as they were allowed in.
The trio had been in luck, spotting a newly emptied table centre of the room, however, it came of no surprise when it hadn’t taken very long for the couple to walk off and leave an awkwardly sat Kyungsoo all on his lonesome.
“So much for friendship.” Kyungsoo had muttered, taking a sip of the cocktail Baekhyun had ordered him before disappearing with his giant elf of a boyfriend.
Kyungsoo eyes had wondered, bored by the sight of his empty table, and observed his surrounds with a sullen expression until his gaze was met with the sight of a man in the company of four model-like women. He had scrunched is nose in apparent appal at the view.
Kyungsoo had scoffed when the man, having looked to be in his early twenties, had begun to sensually press open mouth kisses along the slender neck of the leggy blonde to his left, whilst his hands relentlessly caressed the thighs of the brunette to his right.
It was only when the man met Kyungsoo’s gaze, a pure coincidence from nuzzling the neck of the red-headed male who’d come out of nowhere to occupy his lap, that Kyungsoo had been quick to look away with an unnecessary blush.
Oh god, he saw me.
Kyungsoo had dared not turn back in fear of being met with the vision of the man storming over to him angrily, but after what had seemed like minutes passed, Kyungsoo had been unable to not take a sly look back.
Kyungsoo had certainly not expected for the man to still be blatantly staring at him and, when their gazes met for the second time that night, the two had childishly refused to look away.
Kyungsoo, seeing no point in looking away having already been caught, had watched the man stare back at him, even wink at him as a lazy smile overcome his arrogant face-
Kyungsoo had gasped.
It was him!
It was guy that had knocked Kyungsoo down on the day of his interview!
Kyungsoo couldn’t help but seethe at the revelation and had been quick to look away. Kyungsoo sat there, stunned, until Baekhyun’s worried voice, asking him if he were alright, had knocked him out of his daze.
Kyungsoo had looked up and stared at the two men before him, their messy hairs and swollen lips evidence of what they’d surely been up to and Kyungsoo couldn’t help but chuckle, teasing his friend for having no class and quickly forgetting the incident of not long ago.
Kyungsoo never met the other’s gaze for the rest of the night.
---
It was their third encounter that the two finally learnt the other’s name.
It had been Kyungsoo first day at Elite and the poor man had spent the majority of his day running around, doing the most tedious of tasks. As Kyungsoo worked, he was surprised by the sudden demand to stop; a head editor who he shamefully still hasn’t learnt the name of had told him to see the boss for a formal introduction and welcoming.
As he was led down the long and narrow hallway, towards the office of the supposed boss, Kyungsoo had been unsure as to why he felt so sick.
Kyungsoo had been brought in front of large midnight blue double doors and left standing. Alone, he had been confused as to whether or not he was to simply waltz but after a prolong wait, his legs semi-numb from his unmoved position, Kyungsoo had boldly decided to enter.
Shuffling into the room, Kyungsoo had looked at the scene before him and had instantly regretted his decision.
He felt as though he had intruded on something intimate.
At the other end of the room had stood a large glass desk where, behind it, sat two men as they undressed one another. Kyungsoo, stunned by what he had walked in on, had tried to leave the room inconspicuously, so to avoid further awkwardness. But it had been the loud clank that resonated throughout the echoic room, his foot having met the miniature bin below, that froze Kyungsoo in his spot and had the two men slowly looking over at the intruder.
A void of silence had filled the room deafeningly.
“Ah, you must be my new secretary.”
The man whom had addressed Kyungsoo, who was apparently in no rush to cover his exposed chest, had signalled for him to sit on the available seat and Kyungsoo had done so reluctantly.
The silver hair male, who Kyungsoo assumed was his boss, had indicated for the other man to leave the room as he lazily, but finally, buttoned up his shirt; Kyungsoo had tried hard not to take a peek at the hard planes of the man’s abdomen.
“Sorry about that.” The man had muttered nonchalantly as the other male pouted, stole a final kiss, and strolled out of the room.
You don’t seem sorry.
“I’m Jongin, your boss. It’s nice to meet you… Kyungsoo. Do Kyungsoo.”
Kyungsoo had bowed nervously as the man proceeded to explain to the expectations of his position. He had talked for some time in a serious manner, as though Kyungsoo had not walking in on him undressing another man, and Kyungsoo found himself staring intently at the other’s face.
A feeling of déjà vu had washed over him as the man continued and Kyungsoo slowly, but surely, realised that it was, indeed, him.
Kyungsoo had been so started by the fact that he’d met this man twice before, on his interview and at the club, that he had fallen off his seat.
The man, Jongin, had stopped talking and looked down at Kyungsoo with a puzzled expression as the other lay unmoving.
“Are you-”
“No! I… um… I need to be excused… sorry.”
Before the man could say anymore, Kyungsoo had already run out the room, planning not to return anytime soon.
Kyungsoo avoided Jongin like the plague, but it had taken the man a week before he could nonchalantly ask his colleagues about their boss. Kyungsoo had learnt that Jongin was a year younger than him, the information causing the man to scoff at the other’s lack of formality, and that’d he’d inherited Elite when he’d come of age.
The question had resulted in much talk and Kyungsoo had listened to them all, their words not only reaffirming the ideas he already held but tarnishing Jongin’s image even more.
---
The weeks that followed, as Kyungsoo worked diligently, had the male sparing the odd minute or two to observe his boss, hoping that such good looks hadn’t been wasted on a whorish personality. However, the more Kyungsoo had watched, the more Jongin’s sultry aura only verified his promiscuous ways.
A pity is what Kyungsoo had thought of it all as he watched Jongin laugh, on the phone with a foreign investor. His face had glowed, the result of sunlight that shone through the windows and reflected off his smooth skin, and Kyungsoo couldn’t help but lean forward in his seat so he could-
Kyungsoo shook his head at his naivety and sat back down, straightening his, then, creased coat as he forced himself to focus on his work. Kyungsoo had prayed only that their interactions would be kept to a minimum, strictly profession, and that he’d be able to work at the magazine comfortably.
However, it became quickly evident that his prayers had fallen on deaf ears as neither of the men were able to avoid the other; their encounters became painfully
expected.
From awkwardly met gazes across the room, crossing paths in the foyer, sharing silent elevator rides, and even running into each other on the weekends - no matter how hard either of them tried, they simple could not escape the other.
A month of this passed and Kyungsoo had began to notice Jongin’s increased friendliness with each passing encounter. Kyungsoo had been confused at first, suspicious even, and was unable to receive the simple goodnight the other boldly muttered without fearing what the underlying message of his words.
Jongin’s behavioural transition had been a gradual one, having begun on one of the many nights the two had worked later than most. Jongin would have worked into the night on pending issues and articles he felt lacked, though to a perfectionist like him, it seemed as though everything lacked. Kyungsoo, being his secretary, had accompanied him out of politeness, helping him write up notes on ideas and concepts the other would blurt mid-ramble.
In the beginning, Kyungsoo had accepted the awkward silence that’d engulf the space around them as they rode the elevator down to ground level and exited the revolver doors one after the other. A valet, Jongin’s personal one, would come out of nowhere with the man’s flashy sports car and hand over the keys, Jongin then proceeding to get into the car and drive off without a single word. Kyungsoo was never phased by Jongin’s lack of approachability, having already walked off before the man even had his keys in the ignition.
But then one night Jongin had paused. Kyungsoo had been about to run, already late to catch his train, when he noticed the other’s unmoving state. Jongin had not even looked in Kyungsoo’s direction when he whispered a soft goodnight, clearing his throat right after before hurriedly getting into his car and driving off.
Kyungsoo had stood at the side the of the road in sheer disbelief and confusion, sceptical as to Jongin’s motives.
He’d missed the train that night.
A week passed before Jongin dared bid the other a goodnight but, once he’d begun, Jongin was unable to stop his newly acquired desire for conversation, talking to Kyungsoo about the most irrelevant of things before the two reluctantly parted.
---
“Let me take you home.”
Jongin’s statement had Kyungsoo shooting the man a bewildered expression.
Jongin had stood there with the passenger side of his silver Audi opened and waiting, hinting for Kyungsoo to get in.
“Um… no… no thanks.”
Kyungsoo honestly hadn’t known how to respond to such a request, especially as it came from the mouth of his troublesome boss; never imagining simple goodnights to become this only weeks later. But maybe his response hadn’t been what the other man wanted to hear as Jongin had slammed the door upon hearing his decline.
Kyungsoo had jumped the loud sound as Jongin strode over to the driver’s side, hurriedly getting in and speeding off, the rev of his engine so loud Kyungsoo had to cover his ears.
Three weeks of silently shared elevators rides follow but Kyungsoo never comments on the other’s sudden cold behaviour, however, he’d been pleasantly surprised by the unexpected goodnight Jongin boldly says once again, a wide grin plastering his face as he nods curtly at the other’s shocked expression.
Kyungsoo hated to admit he missed the other’s smile after weeks of expressionless glances.
Jongin never offered to take Kyungsoo home again, but Kyungsoo couldn’t help but feel as though the fluorescent yellow umbrella that had been thrust into his hands on a particularly rainy day had been Jongin’s means of compromise.
Jongin had chuckled as Kyungsoo uneasily nodded, bidding the other goodnight before driving off like usual.
Left alone, Kyungsoo had suppressed the smile that threatened to grace his lips as he walked to the train station, happily twirling the firmly held umbrella within his hand.
---
“He probably loves you.” Had been Baekhyun’s brazen answer to why Jongin had been acting so strange over the past few months. Kyungsoo couldn’t help but spit out his kimchi in surprise by the statement, coughing up at the thought of Jongin liking him.
“Don’t be stupid.” Kyungsoo had spat as he threw his spoon at his roommate for saying such a ridiculous thing. Kyungsoo had shook his head, trying to rid himself of such thoughts, and continued his dinner quietly, ignoring Baekhyun’s as he childishly sang - “Jongin and Kyungsoo sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”
---
It had been five or so months since Kyungsoo had begun working at Elite and his boss was causing him more trouble than ever before.
Kyungsoo’s head had throbbed from thinking so much and he felt torn at his inability to just decided.
It had taken Kyungsoo a full week before he could admit to himself that he had, indeed, felt something for the other man. And though he couldn’t let go of their less-than-stellar past encounters and Jongin’s former, he hoped, promiscuity, Kyungsoo couldn't help but fall for the absolute dork that was Kim Jongin.
Kyungsoo had sat, staring at his computer screen as he tried to focus on his work, when he found he could do anything but concentrate.
Kyungsoo blamed his boss for his distracted state.
It was only when lunched had rolled by, and that Jongin hadn’t made his grand entrance, that Kyungsoo had began to question where the other was.
At first, everyone had been shocked and confused as to why Jongin had joined them all for lunch a few days ago; something he apparently never did before. But people had quickly come to accept the fact as Jongin would walk into the lounge grinning, hastily sitting himself shoulder-to-shoulder with Kyungsoo before whispering into the other’s ear and the man biting back a laugh in response.
Kyungsoo had asked a newly emerged Baekhyun and the male had pouted at the question, responded with the fact that Jongin was having lunch in his office with Chanyeol.
Nodding his head, Kyungsoo had excused himself from the table, slyly grabbing the extra mug of coffee he’d made, before quickly walking off. Kyungsoo reached the other’s door in record time, having rushed most of the way there as he wanted to surprise the other with the hot drink. However, he had been perplexed as to why the man’s doors had been opened slightly, knowing Jongin preferred them shut at all times.
His hands had latched onto the handles of the door, ready to push them further in so to allow his body passage, when he overheard a conversation that certainly was not for his ears.
Chanyeol’s obnoxious voice had been painfully obvious, asking Jongin what his relationship with the eavesdropping secretary, questioning why he’d been so friendly with the other lately. Kyungsoo, curious as to the answer as well, had moved closer to the door and silently waited for the other man to speak.
It had taken the man awhile to respond, but when he did, Kyungsoo had regretted ever even coming to his office. The two men continued to talk, laughing with one another as Kyungsoo angrily got up from his crouching position. He’d thrown the drink into the bin near the door and stormed off to his desk where he sat with crossed arms and fuming eyes.
Kyungsoo had not believed, could not believe, the words that had escaped Jongin’s mouth.
“Relax. I’m only being nice so that he’ll eventually sleep with me.”
Kyungsoo still doesn’t understand how he managed not to strangle the other when he’d exited his office later that day, making a beeline towards Kyungsoo’s desk with a gummy grin.
Kyungsoo had scoffed and continued working, ignoring the man until the other awkwardly walked off.
---
Kyungsoo sighs at the memories that fill his head, angry at himself for being so absorbed with the past and not simply letting go. He really should be over it by now, having been a month and a half since the incident, but he just, for the life of him, co-
“Um… Ky-Kyungsoo?”
The softly spoken voice that calls out his name has Kyungsoo turning to look at the figure that nervously waits before him.
He’d forgotten Seulgi was still there.
Shit.
“Uh… sorry about that,” Kyungsoo apologies sheepishly as he scratches his scalp awkwardly, “I, um, I guess I’ll see you at the meeting?”
Seulgi looks confused, very confused as to what just happened, but nods anyways.
“…Y-yeah.”
Tucking in an escaped lock of her auburn hair, Seulgi nervously giggles before politely bowing, though Kyungsoo has told her multiple times not to, and waving cutely as she walks off in the direction of the meeting room.
Kyungsoo’s eyes follow her as she walks, waving his hands and chuckling whenever the other would turn back at look at Kyungsoo, only to spin back around when she notices the other watching her.
As she walks around the corner, disappearing from Kyungsoo’s sight, the male sighs once more and internally scolds himself.
Turning back to his desk, Kyungsoo was certainly not expecting for one Byun Baekhyun to be standing so close to him, let alone even be there.
“Boo.”
Kyungsoo lets out an unmanly squeal and trips backwards. Baekhyun laughs as the other quickly stands up and fixes the lapels of his steel coloured suit jacket, glaring at his friend as he did so.
“It’s not funny.”
“Oh, but it is.”
Kyungsoo, trying to ignore his friend’s hideous cackles, turns to the other male knowing that there were other pressing issues.
“Anyways, where the hell were you last night?” Kyungsoo was really tempted to throw his stapler at Baekhyun just to get him to shut up.
“Chanyeol’s.”
Figures.
“Has he-who-must-not-be-named come in yet?” Baekhyun stresses his words as he asks this with an evil glint in his eyes, loving the way it riled the other.
“No.”
Baekhyun almost applauds Kyungsoo’s one worded answer, surprised it wasn’t accompanied by a string of curse words, but chuckles at the deathly expression that mars the other’s face, teeth grit and fists clenched.
“O-Okay then… I’ll be going. See ya!” Baekhyun hurriedly says before running off in the direction of his own office, worried Kyungsoo would dare swing at him.
Kyungsoo nods his head in acknowledgement of the others departure and breathes slowly, trying to calm his agitated self as he sits down. Starting up his computer, Kyungsoo distracts himself by rechecking this week’s schedule.
When Jongin did enter the office, fifteen minutes later with wind-swept chocolate locks and a cashmere sweater that hugged his frame, Kyungsoo had simply ignored the other. He dismisses Jongin’s pleasantries as he’s bid a good morning and is asked for the other’s mail. Kyungsoo shoves the other’s newly arrived letters and a copy of the manuscript he’d finished across the table, emotionless, before continuing his deliberately loud typing.
You’re welcome. Had read the fluorescent stick-note that he’d attached to the manuscript; Kyungsoo wished Jongin could hear the sarcasm behind the words.
Jongin’s had uneasily thank his secretary as he grabbed the papers, nodding towards Kyungsoo’s apathetic figure before quietly walking to his office.
When Kyungsoo enters Jongin’s office later, after cleaning the remaining shards of his mug from underneath his table, with the cup of coffee he’d asked for, Kyungsoo has expressionlessly watched as the other spit out the drink.
“Sorry, we ran out of sugar.”
There had been plenty of sugar.
---
Kyungsoo was becoming increasingly better at running away from Jongin.
Though he was still required to finish late on some nights, Kyungsoo refused to be stuck in such confined spaced with the other male; shared elevator rides were out of the question.
So Kyungsoo had begun to rush himself, finishing his work quickly and before the other so he could sprint off and catch an elevator on his own before Jongin noticed.
At first, Jongin had noticed the other’s apparent need to escape, yelling at the man to wait for him as he too rushed, grabbing at his stuff so he could follow suit.
But as Jongin had run to the elevator, the other had been furiously pushing at the close button until the elevator doors would slide shut just as the Jongin’s hands met the metallic outer shell of the contraption.
This happened a total of four times before Jongin gave up even rushing himself.
The next night Jongin had just watched from his chair as the other man shut his computer, shoved his things messily into his backpack, and ran towards the elevator. He bit his lip and wondered why the other was acting so strange, fearful as to what the answer may be.
Kyungsoo, on the other hand, had been relieved when he could stop running, knowing the other had stopped following.
---
It was at 3 in the morning the following week that a loud knock came upon Kyungsoo’s apartment door, waking both Kyungsoo and Baekhyun from their slumber.
The two had pretended not to hear the god-awful sound as they dug their heads into their pillows, but the loud banging nerve cease.
“KYUNGSOO GO SEE WHO IT IS!” Baekhyun yells, annoyed by the whole situation.
“WHY ME? WHY CAN’T YOU?” Kyungsoo yells back.
“I’M THE HYUNG!”
Baekhyun’s words were final.
Muttering angrily to himself, Kyungsoo threw his thick comforter off his bare body, regretting it as the cool air of the night nips at his exposed skin and causes him to shiver. Kyungsoo stands up slowly and walks overs to his closet, blindly pulling out a shirt that he shoves over his head as the banging continues.
Anger courses through Kyungsoo.
“I’m fucking coming!” Kyungsoo yells at whomever was outside, wincing as his knee accidently knocks the edge of the dining table in his mad dash to get to the door. He stops to rub at his injured knee and swears under his breathe.
He’s going to kill whoever it was.
Hobbling over to the door, Kyungsoo grabs at the knob and swings the door open, ready to yell, when the vision of whom it was had Kyungsoo surprised to the point of speechlessness.
“…Jongin?”
The male was obviously drunk, unable to keep his body upright as he stumbled from one side of the hallway to the other. His body reek of alcohol, so much so Kyungsoo was tempted to grab at his nose in disgust, and the man looked in need of a good wash; his hair was messily standing, his clothes crooked and crinkled and his skin had lost its usual lustre.
“H-hey.” Jongin giggled the greeting, a wide grin engulfing his face as he stumbled nearer to Kyungsoo,
Kyungsoo puts a hand out in front of him, trying to keep a distance between him and that foul stench.
“Why… Why are you here Jongin?”
Kyungsoo words were laced with his tiredness, the man not even sure as to why he is having this conversation with his boss at three in the morning.
“B-because you… you… you-“
“Yes?” Kyungsoo cuts in impatiently.
Jongin nods at Kyungsoo attempts to hurry him, his head lolling back a little too far and a little too forwards.
“You… you don’t l-like me,” Jongin giggles with slurred word but his face is sullen, “A-and I… I jus-WHY WON’T YOU G-GO OUT WITH ME!”
Jongin’s raised voice is unexpected and Kyungsoo hands quickly reach out to cover the other’s mouth before he shouts anything else. Kyungsoo moves forward to do so and regrets it as Jongin is quick to wrap an arm around his waist, holding the shorter male close and causing them both to stumble about.
“Kyungsoo.” Jongin hums, nuzzling his nose into the other’s head and actually sniffing at his hair.
Gross.
“Jongin, let go.”
Kyungsoo tries to detach Jongin’s arms from around his waist but it’s impossible as the man has an iron-clad grasp of the other’s shirt and Kyungsoo’s nimble fingers are unable to prying his fingers away.
Jongin laughs, suddenly twirling the them both around. Kyungsoo squealed fearfully at the sudden movement, telling the drunken man to stop being he was dropped.
“Why do-hic-why do you ha-hate me?” Jongin hiccups his words, placing an unexpected kiss on the crown of Kyungsoo’s head.
“You know why.” Kyungsoo says sternly, pushing hard at the other to let go. Jongin, having relaxed his arms, surprising falls to the ground in an instant from the push with a loud oof.
The pitiful man coughs, laughingly, but doesn’t help him up as he continues to lay on his side in the middle of the hallway.
Kyungsoo is tempted to head back inside and leave the man here, but something inside of him feels sorry for his boss. Crouching next to the male, Kyungsoo heaves the other’s body up and places Jongin against the available wall behind.
Sighing, Kyungsoo drops his body next to the other’s in exhaustion.
Jongin’s head falls against Kyungsoo’s shoulder fast and the other just watches the man fall asleep against him.
He looks so innocent.
Pushing Jongin’s bangs to the side, noting that the other was in desperate need of a haircut, Kyungsoo looks at the man next to him with a serious expression.
“I wouldn’t hate you if you didn’t say that you were only being friendly with me so that I’d sleep with you.” Kyungsoo mutters more to himself, knowing that the other was too out of it to hear him.
“Do you know how badly I just wanted to quit? I was ready to give you my resignation and all but then it dawned on me… I needed this job. And so I stayed, but I never forgot your words.”
“But I… I actually… really, really like you.”
Kyungsoo is startled by Jongin’s words, having thought he was asleep, but assures himself he won’t remember the conversation.
Kyungsoo chuckles at his words, instead, as the image of the fluorescent yellow umbrella that still stands in his bedroom pops into his mind.
Ruffling his hair in mild frustration, and too tired to actually get up and deal with the drunk man anymore than he has already, Kyungsoo chooses to rest his head on top of Jongin’s.
He plans only to stay awhile, to calm down and collect his thoughts before he goes back inside, but soon finds himself fast asleep against the other.
When Kyungsoo wakes up the next morning sat outside, a blazer draped over his bare legs as the old lady from across the hallway stares at him in utter disgust as she quickly walks off, he notices he’s alone.
No Jongin.
Of course.
Pulling himself up and off of the ground, his limbs painfully stiff from the awkward position he’d slept in, and stretched. Yawing, Kyungsoo walks over to his door, which was thankfully still slightly opened, and walks in. He ignores the puzzled expression Baekhyun sports as he watched him.
Kyungsoo waves the other off and drags himself to his room, staring at his clock that read fifteen minutes to eight. Flopping on his bed, Kyungsoo decides it would be okay if he slept in an extra thirty or so minutes.
---
Kyungsoo was late the next morning from having slept in.
He blamed Baekhyun for not waking him up.
Kyungsoo speeds past the people that loiter the foyer and makes a beeline for the elevators, hurriedly pressing the level nine button once he’d gotten in and impatiently waiting for the doors to close.
Kyungsoo gnaws at his lips in worry as he rushes out of the elevators as soon as it chimes and the doors slide open at his office floor.
He rushes down the hallway, past the racks of clothes for today’s photo shoot, through the sliding doors and to his desk, all the while bowing at the odd senior he’d pass.
Kyungsoo let’s out a sigh of relief as he makes it to his desk, quickly taking off his scarf and putting it alongside his bag in one of his many draws. However, as he eyes gaze over his desk, it was the pink sticky note that had been taped to his computer screen that had Kyungsoo curiously reaching out to pull it off.
Come to my office as soon as you get here, KJ.
Groaning in annoyance, Kyungsoo stomps over to the other’s office, not even knocking as he walks into the room and stands with crossed arms.
“This better be an apology for last night.”
Jongin looked breath-taking, though Kyungsoo was sure he was dead inside from all the alcohol he had probably consumed the night before.
Jongin nods and gestures for Kyungsoo to sit down.
The other complies.
“Yes,” Jongin starts off too enthusiastically, “I, uh, I wanted to apologise for my… behaviour. I’m sorry for disturbing both you and Baekhyun at such an ungodly hour.”
Kyungsoo was about to ask if he could now leave, having received the apology he half accepted, but as he begins to stand up, the other’s loud but has the man sitting back grudgingly.
“I… I want to make something clear, Kyungsoo. Last night, you said that I was only being friendly with you so that I could sleep with you and that… that isn’t true. I really… I really li--”
“Oh that’s rich!” Kyungsoo shouts, interrupting the other as he stands up and glares at the blatant liar.
Jongin stands up too.
“I overheard your conversation with Chanyeol a month ago. He had asked what our relationship was and you responded by saying that you were only being nice to me TO FUCKING SLEEP WITH ME!”
Kyungsoo had never yelled so loud in his life. Not even at Baekhyun.
Jongin’s quiet.
Kyungsoo scoffs.
“If that’s all, I’ll be going.”
Kyungsoo internally praises himself for putting Jongin in his place, turning around and walking over to the door. He almost leaves, but is stopped when Jongin speaks, his hands now clenched tightly around the door handles as he dares not look back at the man behind.
“Yes, okay, I did indeed say that but…” Jongin sighs in frustration, “I didn’t mean it! I know you don’t believe me but I… Chanyeol has been my friend for as long as I can remember and I just didn’t want to tell him that I’d, I don’t know, turned soft. Me, Jongin the playboy, whipped? I… I couldn't do it.”
Kyungsoo turns slowly around and stares at the man,
“Not good enough, Jongin. I can’t believe anything you say! I mean what do you want to say to all of this, huh? What are you go-”
“Go out with me!”
Kyungsoo stops.
“Go out with me and I’ll prove to you my feelings.”
Kyungsoo, after hearing Jongin’s propositions, turns around without a single word and walks out of the room, back to his desk to finish the work he was already late to start.
---
A week passes with no word from Jongin, to which Kyungsoo was more than thankful for after their last conversation.
Kyungsoo walks into work one day, half tired from having analysed stacks of important documents, with droopy eyes and a scarf that covered almost half his face; it had been a cold morning.
His phone rang as he rides the elevator upwards.
Baekhyun.
Kyungsoo declines the call, knowing the other probably has some stupid and irrelevant question google could answer. He’s about to put his phone away when a message comes through quick.
remember 2 thank me l8er.
Kyungsoo, confused as to what he was to be thankful for and appalled by the other’s spelling, shakes his head and pushing his phone into his pocket, looking up as he elevator opened and walking out.
Kyungsoo walks leisurely down the hallways and towards the office. However, it was as the sliding doors opened and Kyungsoo walked in, that the sight of the overflowing bouquets of roses that litters his desk that has him jumping backwards in fright. Many of his colleagues surround his desk as they too stare at the flowers, whispering amongst themselves god knows what.
Kyungsoo stands still, not wanting to move any closer than he already was, until Seulgi had noticed him. She visibly picks something off of his desk and walks slowly to him, everyone watching as she did, gawking at Kyungsoo as though he’d grown an extra head.
“H-here… oppa.”
Kyungsoo tries to thank her but the words get stuck in his throat and only a weird strangled sound escapes him. He shakily receives the envelope.
He stars at the small thing for awhile before slowly opening it, pulling out the little letter that rests inside.
Go out with me.
The nervousness, surprise, and even slight excitement that once filled Kyungsoo deflates with a quiet oh.
“Who are they from.” Someone had asked.
“Um… no one.” Kyungsoo replies, pushing past the people to take off the roses from his desk so he could actually work.
When no one really moves away from his desk, still fascinated by it all, Kyungsoo sighs and begins to hand out the bouquets to his fellow workers.
“Here.” He simply states until there were no left. At first everyone is sceptical but as Kyungsoo waves off their worry, everyone happily walks off with a bouquet or two. Seulgi is last to leave, happily bowing before she walks off with her own bouquet.
When Jongin comes into work later that day, he is rather upset to see his roses distributed within vases that filled all his worker’s tables. They had been for Kyungsoo. Sighing, he bids everyone a good morning and walks to his office, banging his head against his door as it close for his failed attempt.
His failed first attempt.
---
The next day, Kyungsoo wasn’t surprised to see the humongous plush teddy bear that sits in his chair as he walked it.
Please? Read the note attached to it’s protruding stomach.
Kyungsoo aggressively shoves the teddy bear underneath his desk and starts his day like normal.
Kyungsoo later decides to take the bear home and Baekhyun doesn’t question him.
---
Kyungsoo is starting to get annoyed by Jongin’s over-the-top gestures.
From flowers on multiple occasions, to bears, to imported chocolate, to being serenaded by a Chinese guitarist by the name of Lay who followed him as Kyungsoo tried to go about his work, to even publicly declaring to the whole office that Kyungsoo was Jongin’s!
Kyungsoo honestly could not take the strange looks everyone kept giving him with ever new gift he was given by their boss.
It had to stop.
Spotting Jongin as he walked out of his office and towards the kitchen, Kyungsoo was quick to follow the other.
“Stop this.” Kyungsoo spits angrily as he walks in front of Jongin, trapping him.
“Kyungsoo!”
Jongin’s overwhelmingly happy reaction to the other’s appearance has Kyungsoo faltering.
“Do you want a cup of coffee too? I can make you on-”
“Listen! I said stop. Stop with all of this so called “romantic” gestures. It only works if both people like each other.”
Jongin smile quickly fades and he stares at the other seriously.
“Can’t I like you enough for the both of us?”
“It doesn’t WORK like that.” Kyungsoo sighs in frustration, feeling as though he’s talking to a brick wall.
“Okay than! Go out with me and I’ll make you like me, love me even.” Jongin grins wide.
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“I’ll be the best boyfriend.”
“No you won’t.”
“Yes, I will!”
“No.”
“Yes!”
“N.O!”
“Pretty please?”
“Alright fine!”
“Really?” Jongin gasps in shock at Kyungsoo’s words.
“No.”
Jongin pouts.
“Don’t joke, Kyungie!”
Kyungie? I never agreed to pet names.
“Jongin, what will I even get from going out with you, huh?” Kyungsoo crosses his arms.
“My undying love!”
“What if I don’t want your undying love?” Kyungsoo raises an eye in retaliation.
“Then… I, um, I’ll stop with the gestures!”
…
Kyungsoo is tempted, he won’t lie. He just wants the rumours to stop.
One date should be nothing… right?
Kyungsoo is quick to cave.
“Okay fine. ONE date.”
“Really?!?! Really, Really, REALLY??”
Jongin excitedly grabs at Kyungsoo, dragging the other into his warm embrace as he placed a kiss against the others head. Kyungsoo tries to push to other away but Jongin is too strong.
“Yeah just… just stop giving me shit.” Kyungsoo’s words are choked as the material of Jongin’s blazer is shoved into his mouth in the bone-shattering hug.
“But you have to promise that you if you do like it, you’ll go out with me again! And you can’t lie!!”
Kyungsoo is about to decline until it dawns on him the likelihood of actually enjoying himself when on a date with Jongin.
“Deal.” Kyungsoo agrees smirking.
Jongin tightens in grasp and twirls the other in celebration, Kyungsoo trying not to smile as he’s forcefully spun by the other.
When Jongin begins to let go, Kyungsoo pushes the man further away and dusts himself off.
“Hey, where you always this childish?” Kyungsoo mutters judgingly and Jongin just smiles back, reaching out a hand to pinch the other’s cheek.
Kyungsoo glares and swats at the offending hand.
“No, it’s only you that has me acting like a fool.”
Kyungsoo fakes a dry heave at the other’s cheesy words.
“Yeah, yeah whatever. Just remember - ONE date.” Kyungsoo stresses and the other nods.
“And I’ll make sure you enjoy ever second of it!” Jongin sings, “But, hey, I’m confused as to why you didn’t like the over-the-top gestures. I asked Baekhyun and he said you were a sucker for grand proclamations of love!”
Kyungsoo is confused by the other’s words at first, wondering what Baekhyun had to do with it all, when it dawned on him. The text he received-
Byun fucking Baekhyun.
Kyungsoo desperately wants an Advil and, knowing he kept a pack at his desk, the man walks off without another word.
And unbeknownst to Kyungsoo, who walked off worrying only about their first date, Jongin had already begun planning the framework of the magazine issue that’d feature Kyungsoo’s and his wedding photos on the front cover.