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“Hoseok, please! You’re the paper plane expert. Everyone back home dubbed you the Glider King,” says a hopeful Jungkook. Hoseok and Jungkook walk into their office breakroom with their kimchi bowls for lunch. They sit down, across from one another. Jungkook leans across the table as Hoseok sets the napkins, drinks and utensils on the clean surface. Both in black slacks, tucked white dress shirts and black ties (of varying length and width), Jungkook tries to plead his case.
“I just need you to make…a hundred and twenty, at most.” Jungkook clasps his hands in front of his face as Hoseok proceeds to dive into his lunch. “Ji-Eun already told her sister that she knows a pretty good paper plane craftsman, so you pretty much have the gig locked down.”
“I didn’t ask you to lock down any gigs,” Hoseok says before taking another bite.
“I KNOW…I know.” Jungkook’s shoulders slump a little under the weight of the conversation. “Please, hyung. Please! I know…I should’ve asked before offering your services. And to be honest, I kinda wanted to take this on myself. I thought I could hop off the rusty paper plane boat and get back into the skies. But I tried some tutorials the other day and it was more complex than I remember. But you,” he says, eyes with a sparkle. “You’re shooting me with planes, weekly.”
Hoseok glances at Jungkook and picks up his cell phone to scroll thru news stories.
“Please hyung…please do this for me. One hundred-twenty tops. Nothing too crazy. AND I’ll help in any way I can.”
Hoseok looks up from his screen scrolling, hearing the desperation in Jungkook’s voice. Having been friends since grade school, he can see how much this request really means to him. How much Jungkook wants to show off in front of his fiancée.
“None of that cheap lined-paper crap.”
“What” asks Jungkook.
“And I decide the designs.”
“YOU’LL DO IT?”
“And you can’t complain if I choose a pricy, heavier stock.”
Jungkook pushes his chair behind him and runs around the table to envelope the raven-haired man in a hug. In return, Hoseok slaps his back hard. Super Hard.
“OUCH!”
“I never said we’d seal it with a hug. A handshake is enough.” Hoseok holds out his hand, already regretting his agreement. Jungkook stops rubbing his back and smiles at Hoseok. He envelopes Hoseok in another hug. This time, Hoseok lets him be.
Every day, on the way home, Hoseok passes a stationery shop. Decorated with a picture of feathers and an inkwell, the shop is just a couple streets down from his office. Papier says the store sign. It’s about the size of a small bookshop with beige shades against the floor-to-ceiling windows. The store is only a year old. Hoseok knows because he’s been meaning to stop by but he’s always running from the office to the subway. In light of his recent agreement with ‘Kook, Hoseok finally has a reason to pop in.
He opens the door of the airy well-lit shop, the jingle of a bell announcing his entrance. Hoseok smiles and allows the door to close behind him. He walks in further, admiring the wooden trays that are lined up in aisles. A cashier counter near the entryway is empty, indicating a clerk has stepped away.
Hoseok continues further into the shop, entering one of the of aisles with his laptop bag slung over his shoulder and his blazer tied around the strap. He reaches out and touches the wooden frame of the aisle, pulling out a tray. Hoseok smiles at the sight of sea-blue index paper. He glides his index finger across the smooth sheet. “Pretty but not a plane,” he says to himself.
He pushes the tray back in its place. He walks further down the aisle, pulling out various trays and discovering a variety of index paper stock. As he reaches the end of the aisle, he is greeted by a tall, red-head man with a bright smile. “Hi! I’m Tae.” The man bows in his pink button up shirt and navy blue slacks. He brings his hands together when he straightens back up. “Is there something I could help you find?”
“Uhm…hi, I’m Hoseok.” Hoseok slightly bows his head and looks around the shop. Returning his gaze to Tae, “this is my first time in here. And, I was wondering if maybe you had any-off white or light gray wove-uncoated stock.”
Tae’s smile brightens, “YES! We do. This aisle is the cover and index stock. If you follow me, I’ll show you the wove-stock that we have on hand.” Tae leads Hoseok to an aisle that is down and across the way, passing by more wooden trays. There’s already another clerk in the aisle, stocking paper. He immediately catches Hoseok’s attention: silver hair, a light blue dress shirt inside a tan vest with matching slacks, legs for days and well-defined biceps. Not too slim, not too bulky.
“This is our off-white wove,” says Tae with a little louder volume, trying to drag Hoseok’s attention back to the open tray. Hoseok adjusts the laptop bag on his shoulder and leans closer. He runs his thumb on the side of the paper stack, near the open slit of the tray.
“Do you mind if I just…” Hoseok indicates to the paper in the tray.
“NO…go right ahead. Here,” Tae takes a single sheet out of the tray, handing it over. Hoseok takes the single sheet and balances it his hand, measuring the weight against his palm. He holds the paper up to the light, happy with the weight. He plays with the texture between his fingertips.
“It’s all locally made. I have a friend who runs a paper press right outside the city center in Busan. Good quality,” Tae chimes in as Hoseok admires the sheet.
Hoseok’s attention turns back to Tae. “This is exactly what I’m looking for. I like the weight and texture.” Hoseok hands the sheet back to Tae. “Do you happen to have similar stock in a light gray color?”
Tae smiles as he closes the tray. He walks closer to one of the trays near the silver-haired god at the end of the aisle. He pulls out a tray of wove stock with a brightened gray color. Immediately, Hoseok knows it’s perfect. But he doesn’t say anything as he’s still semi-studying the beautiful clerk with glasses.
“This is the same stock with color. Will this hue work for you,” Tae asks while holding a single sheet up for inspection, blocking the other clerk from sight and forcing Hoseok’s attention back to the sheet.
“Yeah, I think that’s fine,” Hoseok smiles and nods.
“Really?” Tae moves the single sheet closer to the head of the handsome silver-haired clerk. “What do you think? Is this still the right shade?” Tae looks at Hoseok, smiles as if holding in laughter and winks. Finally, the other man takes his gaze off his work and looks at Tae, manages an eyeroll and looks over at Hoseok.
Hoseok hopes that his slight in-take of a stuttered breath is not noticeable. Because the man instantly melts him with his soft, piercing gaze in his black-framed glasses. He nods at Hoseok, somewhat, then looks back at Tae with irritation.
“I think they’re both perfect.” Hoseok doesn’t visibly cringe at the words that escape his mouth, but he does feel the heat in his cheeks. Yeah, that was so smooth…and corny thinks Hoseok.
Tae laughs as the silver-haired man whips his gaze back to Hoseok. He blinks and a small smile forms with his beautiful, lush lips. Hoseok wants to swim in the little dimple that appears on the man’s cheek.
“Well,” says Tae, after laughing so hard. “Now that we’ve established everything is perfect, lets ring this up.”
Hoseok feels his blush taking over his entire head. He quickly turns around to escape embarrassment. He tightens his grip on his bag strap, trying to stop himself from running out of the aisle, altogether. Turning towards the front of the store, he feels Tae catch up behind him.
“Sorry about that. I love to give my brother grief over his hair color,” says Tae walking side by side with Hoseok.
“But…”Hoseok turns to Tae while walking. The other man meets his gaze and Hoseok looks up to Tae’s hair, silently noting the red on top of his head.
“I know, I know. I’m one to talk.” Tae grins as he rounds the cashier desk to stand across from Hoseok. “But my brother is too sweet to say anything.”
Hoseok places his order and requests a delayed pick-up. He really doesn’t want to lug paper home just yet. “Thank you for holding it for me. I’ll try to pick it up tomorrow or the day after.”
“No worries,” shrugs Tae. “This means you have an excuse to stop by again.” He winks at Hoseok and does a quick glance of the back of the store.
Two days later, Hoseok and Jungkook walk into the paper shop.
“Wow…it smells like paper in here,” exclaims Jungkook.
Hoseok looks over at his friend, his back to the cashier desk. “I’m not even gonna respond to that.”
“Welcome back, Hoseok.” Hoseok and Jungkook turn towards the cashier stand, greeted by a cheerful Tae in shades of mint green. At a table on the other side of the cashier desk is the silver-haired god from before, in black slacks and a lilac dress shirt. Hoseok glances at him and looks away, still embarrassed from the other day. Jungkook walks forward to bow.
“Hi, I’m Jungkook. A friend of Hoseok’s.” The other two men bow slightly in return. While Tae leans forward at the cash register, his brother goes back to organizing quill sets on display.
“Hi Jungkook, nice to meet. Thanks for coming in!”
Junkgook and Hoseok walk closer to stand in front of the cashier counter. “We’re here to pick up my order from the other day” Hoseok says.
“And Hoseok spoke so highly of this place, I thought I would tag along” Jungkook adds. “But I had no idea you had ink wells.” He walks past the desk towards the table at the other end. He stands next to the man organizing the display. “Hi, I’m Jungkook.”
“Hi, I’m Namjoon” the man answers while straightening up to a standing position. “And yes, we do offer inkwells as well as full quill & ink sets. We also have some sharpening kits.” The man smiles at Jungkook but looks back at Hoseok.
As if being pulled by some weird magnetic field, Hoseok walks over to the ink sets and introduces himself. They bow to one another. Out of awkwardness, Hoseok shifts his gaze to the ink sets on the table as Namjoon continues to study him.
“These are beautiful!” Jungkook picks one up to show it to Hoseok. “I must have one! I haven’t owned a quill set in ages.” Hoseok exchanges smiles with his excited friend. All this unfolds as Tae moves Hoseok’s boxed order onto the cashier desk.
“’Alright, Hoseok. This is it. 100 off-white wove and 100 light gray.” Tae cuts into the conversation, breaking Namjoon’s current analysis of the black-haired sunshine. Jungkook picks up a boxed quill set and walks over to the cashier desk. Hoseok follows him, throwing a backwards glance at Namjoon (who notices).
“And this too, please.” Jungkook puts the set on the desk and receives a bright smile from Tae.
“I love this set. I own one myself. So easy to use, maintain and store.” Tae puts the quill set in a canvas bag next to the paper order that’s secured in a wooden take-away tray of its own. “So, who’s paying? You or your boyfriend?”
Both men snap to attention at the mention of the word boyfriend. As does, Namjoon- who tries to hide his gaze while adjusting the quill display.
“OH…he’s not my boyfriend,” says Hoseok, firmly. Next to him, Jungkook nods furiously in agreement.
“Yeah, we’re best friends. Hoseok is actually helping my fiancée with a decorative request. Hence the wove-order,” Jungkook smiles.
“Aaahhhh…” says Tae, stealing a sideways glance at his brother. He smiles and continues to focus on Hoseok & Jungkook. “That’s so sweet! But, how do you decorate with wove bond?”
“Oh, well. Let me introduce to the one and only…Paper Plane Prince of Gwangju. The Glider King himself: Jung Hoseok.” Jungkook presents Hoseok to Tae with a flourish of his hands.
Hoseok grips his temple and manages to look over at Namjoon. The silver-haired model is looking at Hoseok, soft smile and dimples. Hoseok notices and looks back at Jungkook, smacking him on the arm. Loudly.
“OW! Yah…hyung, if you hit me again, I won’t have a right arm to put in my wedding suit.” This causes Tae and Jungkook to laugh as the clerk rings up the order.
On their way out, both men bow to the Kim brothers and promise to stop by again. Thanking them as they back away to the entrance. Hoseok exchanges sly glances with Namjoon before leaving the shop. As the door jingles shut, Tae looks over at his brother. Kim Namjoon is still tracking the men outside, retreating from the shop.
“You should’ve asked him out,” says Tae from the cashier stand, organizing canvas bags.
“What?”
“Oh please, Namjoon. You checking him out was about as slick as a pool slide in the middle of the Sahara.” Tae rolls his eyes. “And I’m sure he noticed, too.”
Namjoon doesn’t say anything. He knows it’s true. Tae knows it’s true. Jung Hoseok with a heart-shaped smile probably knows it’s true.
“All I’m saying” Tae cuts into Namjoon’s thoughts as he walks towards the display table, “is that you shouldn’t be afraid of the dating scene. Don’t be afraid of getting out there and asking for someone’s phone number. I mean, sure: having your long time boyfriend cheat on you with your boss is kind of a hard thing to rebound from.”
Namjoon looks at Tae and raises an eyebrow as he walks to the other side of the display table.
“But it’s been two years, hyung. Like…it’s time. Time to step out into the sunshine. Time to dance in the rain. Time to play in the snow—”
“Does your hype speech involve weather references, only?”
“Shut the sass.” Tae comes around to the other side of the display to stand near Namjoon who is still stocking sets. “All I’m saying is fuel up and get back into the race. The track is all yours. And the driver ahead might appreciate that bump against the trunk.” Tae ends with a hip thrust.
Namjoon stops the quill stacking and looks over at his little brother. “Go back to the weather references.”
For a whole month, Hoseok occasionally stops by and makes a purchase at the paper shop. He chats with Tae and steals glances of Namjoon. It becomes a bit of a habit: stopping in after work at least once a week. One day, Hoseok and Jungkook have lunch at a taco place across the street from the paper shop. Since they’re nearby, they stop in to get some ink for Jungkook.
“He’s not here” says Tae, in a lower volume, to Hoseok. As Jungkook peruses the various inks and dyes along the wall, Tae smiles at Hoseok. “My brother is one of the many finance analysts for Samsung Corp. He’s usually off around four in the afternoon. He uses the subway to shoot over here because: 1) I’m on the way to his house anyway and, 2) I could use the free labor.”
Hoseok smiles at Tae and nods. They’re interrupted by an excited Jungkook who is ready to go with his ink refills. On their way out the door, Hoseok smiles and waves at Tae who returns the gesture.
Several weeks go by without Hoseok popping into the shop. Marketing projects at work keep him busy, and before you know it, the holidays are in season. Hoseok walks by the store one November evening when he realizes he should get a few things for holiday cards. (NOT because he misses the color silver…maybe.) He hurries into the shop, jingling the bell near the doorway. The warm indoor lighting engulfs him as he scrapes the bottom of his Doc Martens against the welcome mat and looks around.
“Welcome to Papier” says a smooth, deep voice. It’s music to Hoseok’s ears. He knows that voice. He’s only had the pleasure of hearing it on a few occasions. Just then, Namjoon rounds one of the many wooden aisles and smiles in anticipation of his new customer. He comes to an abrupt stop when he sees Hoseok.
“Hi” says Hoseok, not sure if he was loud enough to be heard or if he’s imitating church mice.
“Hi” Namjoon responds. “Tae isn’t here.” Namjoon instantly regrets the words out of his mouth as Hoseok blinks rapidly in confusion.
“Uhm…that’s ok. I was just here to gather some holiday card-making supplies. Is…that ok?”
“Oh my god…yes! I’m sorry.” Namjoon walks forward a bit more. “Of course, you’re here to stock up on supplies. I don’t know why else you would come here,” Namjoon laughs a little, to lighten the awkwardness he’s quickly building.
“Well…there could be another reason,” Hoseok says softly, not sure if Namjoon catches it (which he does). “Anyway” he says a bit louder. “I’m here to see about some green and red stock. Not sure if I’m buying coated or uncoated. Is it ok if I…browse?”
“Yes, please. Let me know if you need anything, Hoseok.” He smiles as Hoseok shimmies past him to walk further into the store. Hoseok turns back to smile at Namjoon and continues to saunter slowly towards one of the aisles. “I’m Kim Namjoon, by the way,” the silver-haired man yells out.
Hoseok stops and turns around completely. He cocks his head to the side and smiles. “I know who you are Namjoon.” This causes the taller man to blush and look down at his hands. “I wouldn’t forget you, you know.”
Namjoon looks up at Hoseok who’s still smiling at him. They stay like that for several seconds. Letting the unspoken set in. Ding, ding, ding. They both turn towards the entrance as an older lady bustles into the shop.
“Hello, Mrs. Min,” says Namjoon.
“Hi Namjoon. Is Tae here?”
“No, he’s at home…sick. But, he did prepare your order yesterday. Said you would stop by to pick it up.” Namjoon walks towards the front counter to assist the new customer. Meanwhile, Hoseok turns to the aisle of vellum bristol bond that he discovered on a previous visit.
Several minutes pass, Hoseok gets lost in various shades of red and green vellum. He calculates how many cards he’ll make. He changes his mind a couple times. He alternates the opening and closing of a few trays, trying to decide. Finally, he settles on a deep, forest green and a rich, cherry red. He smiles, comparing a sheet of each, side by side. He doesn’t notice the silver-haired figure who’s been watching him for the past couple minutes.
“They’re vibrant.”
Hoseok turns towards the voice. Namjoon is leaning against the frame of the aisle, a couple steps away. Dressed in metal gray slacks and a light coral dress shirt. He smiles at Hoseok, a dimple appearing. “The colors you chose, they’re vibrant. They’ll make beautiful cards, whatever design you decide.”
Hoseok smiles and looks back at the sheets. “I think I have what I need.” Namjoon walks over and assists with picking out a few sheets from the trays. On their way to the register, Hoseok sees a wax seal set. The stamp has the letter “H” with holly in a circular border. It’s simple and sweet, just his style.
“This too please,” he says to Namjoon on the other side of the counter. Namjoon looks down at the wax set and smiles. He looks at Hoseok, studying the heart-shaped smile (he’s secretly missed).
“I like this one.”
Hoseok nods, aware that a blush is creeping into his cheeks. He wants to blame the warmth of the shop, shaking off the cold of the outdoors. But, it’s more likely a result of the heat from the pair dark caramel-colored eyes across the counter. With dimples.
As Namjoon rings up the purchase, curiosity gets the better of him. “I know its old news now, but I’m still curious.” Hoseok’s ears perk up as he looks to Namjoon. “When you first came in here, you ordered a bunch of wove-stock and said it was for decorating. Your friend…”
“Jungkook.”
“Yes, Jungkook. He said you were the Glider King. That you were a paper plane expert. A prince,” Namjoon smiles as he puts the rest of the purchase in a canvas bag with the receipt. “Does that mean…all that stock was really intended for paper planes?”
Hoseok nods. “Jungkook’s fiancée’s friend’s son had a flight themed birthday party at the end of the summer. I think they wanted something more original than just plastic planes and jumbo jet decals. So, they went a little more…rustic? They wanted a bunch of suspended paper planes. They used some as supplements to center pieces. They included one in each take-home bag. And they had some set aside for the kids to have flight races.”
Namjoon smiles at the animated speech of Hoseok. “That sounds like an amazing birthday party. How many did you actually have to make?”
“175.”
“175?!” Namjoon’s eyes almost leave his head causing Hoseok to laugh. “Did you have any help?”
“Sure. Jungkook made 10. And then he resigned himself to coffee and dinner duties.” Hoseok and Namjoon laugh. As the laughter dies down, Hoseok reaches for the canvas bag on the counter.
Namjoon smiles and hesitates before speaking, “could you…maybe…build one—”
Ding, ding, ding.
“Aye! Kim Namjoon,” yells a tall handsome stranger with pink hair and a killer smile. A shorter man with blonde hair and an oversized down coat follows him inside.
“Seokjin. Jimin.” Namjoon smiles at the duo and comes around to hug them both. “What’s up?”
“What’s up” repeats Jimin. “Tae told us we could unload some dry gum label and laser bond, today. Is he here?”
The trio continues to talk before Namjoon is dragged outside to do some unloading without his coat. Namjoon remembers Hoseok when he re-enters the store. The cashier stand is deserted by then. “Damn” he whispers under his breath.
Ten minutes later and a couple dolly trips after, all the boxes are in the shop along one side of the wall. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll reorg tomorrow and get it all situated. Just leave it.”
“You sure,” asks Seokjin.
“Yeah. Besides, you had to drive up from Busan to drop it off so you must want some food and actual warmth. Just head over to my place and I’ll meet you there. You know my password, right?”
“As if it were my own home,” smiles Jimin. He laughs at Namjoon’s deadpan look and bats his eyes at Seokjin who tries to stare him down.
“Anyway, I’m here for a couple more hours. But there’s food in the flat and you can stay the night with me. I don’t think you’ll want to be infected by Tae.” Namjoon says, hands on his hips.
“Alright,” says Seokjin, ready to cook a good meal and defrost. “We’ll be at your place. Let me know if you want me to pick you up later.”
“Nah, subway is easier. Faster. Besides, you can get a shower in and de-ice.” Namjoon waves the couple off and goes back to the boxes to push them further against the wall. He huffs a huge breath of relief and speed dials Tae.
After calling his little brother to confirm the drop off, he hangs up and walks back to the front counter. And then, he sees it. A paper airplane in the middle of the counter. Namjoon freezes then turns around to face the store. He does a quick run down the center of the shop, checking each aisle. Is he still here?
Namjoon realizes it’s just him in the store, his smile fading. Slowly, he walks back to the airplane on the counter. He picks up the paper plane, admiring the craftsmanship. He smiles, softly running his fingertips along the wing in admiration. He turns around and sails the plane into the air.
“Wow” he exclaims, admiring the distance and the dip in flight. It lands near the back of the shop. He walks over and picks it up, finally noticing the writing under the wing of the plane.
Namjoon’s Sea Glider
Namjoon smiles, turning the plane around to admire underneath the other wing.
05-8989-0034
It’s a phone number.
Namjoon’s heart rate quickens.
It echoes in his ears.
He feels for his phone in his pocket. Empty.
He turns around towards the front desk, running to locate his cell phone.
As he’s about to pick it up, it rings.
Caller ID: TaeTae
“Hello?”
“Hyung…I almost forgot. Check your text messages for the new vault combination.” Cough.
“Uhm…ok. Yeah. Sure.”
“Hyung, you ok?”
“Huh?”
“I said,” cough. “Are you ok?”
“Yeah, just…”
“Just what?”
…
“Yah…Kim Namjoon. I’m sick. Please take pity on me.”
“Well, you remember Hoseok?”
“The man who you stalk from behind the aisles? Yes.”
Namjoon eyerolls. “Well, I think…I think he gave me his phone number.”
Namjoon recounts the interaction with Hoseok.
He leaves out all the awkwardness and fond gazes.
He emphasizes the paper plane and the phone number.
Then he waits for Tae to respond.
“So, what do you think?”
“Hyung, are you asking for advice?” Cough.
“Yes! Like, what should I do? What am I SUPPOSED to do?”
….
“Tae!”
“Hyung, you want my advice?”
“Of course!”
Namjoon looks at his phone, realizing the call has been disconnected. Then closes his eyes and takes a huge gulp. “Thanks Tae. For being useful and useless and annoyingly vague.”
Namjoon rounds the cashier counter to stand guard. He picks up his phone and puts it down. He does that again. And again. And four more times. Finally, he holds his phone in his hand, closes his eyes and takes several deep breaths. He opens the dial pad on his iPhone then enters the phone number from the paper plane. He stares at it for a bit, willing the phone to dial itself. Then, with one eye closed, he presses the green phone icon.
Immediately, regret sets in and his finger hovers over the red disconnect button. But, its too late a voice comes thru.
“Hello?”
Smacking himself in the face while bringing it to his ear, Namjoon answers. “Hello? Hoseok?”
“Yes, this is Jung Hoseok.”
“Hi…uhm, it’s Kim Namjoon.” Silence from the other end of the line. “I…uh…thank you. For the plane. It’s beautiful.” More silence. “And it flies really well. I already tested it out.”
“I’m glad! I don’t know if you read the other wing but it’s called a sea glider. The design, that is.”
“Paper plane designs have names” asks Namjoon. Hoseok giggles on the phone and it’s like an angel’s chorus to Namjoon.
“Yes, there are different kinds of paper planes. And depending on the paper you use for those planes, it can impact the flight pattern. The sea glider, for example, has a medium distance…” Hoseok’s voice is beautiful. Namjoon listens but is somewhat lulled by the rhythm of the other man’s voice. He should be paying attention but really, he just wants to cuddle with the voice from the other end. He wants to fall asleep with it whispering in his ear. He closes his eyes, smiling at the sound. It’s when the voice goes silent that he focuses on the conversation again.
“I’m…uhm…if giving you my phone number was…too bold, I apologize. I guess I didn’t think about the important questions of single-dom and preference and…I’m sorry. I think I’m rambling. You’re probably busy trying to clean the shop.” Namjoon can hear the uncertainty in Hoseok’s voice. He immediately jumps back into the conversation.
“NO! Wait…you’re not rambling. It’s fine, really. The shop is pretty dead right now.”
“Oh…well, I guess I should let you go anyway. So you can at least focus on more important stuff. And, you’re welcome…for the plane.” Namjoon doesn’t know what he missed when he was busy drifting into lala-land with Hoseok’s voice but he’s sure he has skipped a step.
“Hoseok…uhm…Hoseok…”
“Yes?”
“I know this may seem out of the blue…or maybe not out of the blue…but, would you at some time in the near future at an agreed upon destination, maybe more so of your choosing, wanttogoonadatewithme?”
“I’m sorry Namjoon, all I caught at the end of that sentence was “me”. What was your question?”
Namjoon inhales, trying to gather super saiyan strength. “Would you, maybe if you’re not too busy or just want a break from Christmas shopping, want to meet up for dinner sometime?” Namjoon closes his eyes and sprawls his upper body on the front counter with his phone still pressed to his ear.
“I…yes. Of course! Yes! Dinner sounds really good,” Hoseok answers, enthusiastically.
Namjoon bites down on his fist, picking himself up from the counter, standing a bit straighter. “Really? Cool! Let me see if I can weather the storm with Tae’s illness and then I can get back to you on when and where. Or, we can agree upon the when and you decide the where. Whatever you want.”
Hoseok giggles on the other end. “Ok, we’ll see if next week works out for Tae. Then, we can go from there.”
“Ok. And…Hoseok?”
“Yes, Namjoon” says the voice on other end, a little more flirty than usual. This makes Namjoon smile.
“I’m entertaining Sailor Moon & Chibi Moon tomorrow before they leave for Busan. But, maybe the day after, if you happen to pass by…”
“…stop in for a quick tutorial on sea gliders?” Hoseok finishes with an upbeat tone.
“Yeah. If it’s not too much to ask. I…it would be nice to see you. And to not…have to wait for next week.” It’s painfully embarrassing but Namjoon manages to not stutter that admission.
“Namjoon” Hoseok says before pausing. “I’ll stop by whenever you want me, too.”
Namjoon mutes the phone and screams in the store. Taking a deep breath and unmuting the conversation, Namjoon hears Hoseok chuckling on the other end. “What’s so funny” he asks.
“Namjoon…did you just mute me?”
“…maybe”
Hoseok laughs, causing Namjoon to smile again. “Don’t worry, Namjoon. I’ll wait until we’re off the phone before I scream out loud.”
They both laugh at one another as Namjoon feels a vibration from his phone, heralding a new text from his little brother.
What the F is going on?
Mrs. Choi next door called me to see if I needed help because she heard a scream.
Hoseok continues talking about sea gliders as another text comes in:
If you’re having sex in my shop, I will bust down your front door and cough all over your pillows.
Don’t even think about it, King Crab.
Namjoon rolls his eyes at the text message and continues his conversation with Hoseok. His little brother was right. He should play in the snow.