Chapter Text
Seokjin’s POV
I wondered who started. Was it me who asked you to join me for supper? Or was it you who asked me to join you on a smoke break?
-
“Are you that hungry hyung?” Hoseok looked at Seokjin. The elder’s expression while eating a whopper burger was quite a sight. It was the first time Seokjin had invited Hoseok out during breaktime and they ended up eating at the 24-hour Burger King’s outlet opposite the office.
“Don’t you love their Whopper burgers? And man these tater tots are so good!” Seokjin took another tater tot and put it in his already filled mouth. Munching and moaning at the same time (if that’s even possible). Hoseok looked at him in amusement. If anything, food was the only way to win Seokjin’s heart.
It was 2 in the morning. They finally had some time off to grab a meal. The pair rarely had a chance to work together in such a big company, so the opportunity came for Seokjin to (finally) ask Hoseok out. Hoseok always stood out in the office with his loud but comfortable coordinations. They had taken the same bus to the office a number of times but had no absolute reason to talk or even introduce themselves to each other. It was only natural for them to have a respectable distance between one another.
Seokjin entered the events company slightly more than a year before Hoseok did. Despite working on various projects, it took around 2 years before they finally landed on the same project. And as if god was on his side, Seokjin was put in charge of Hoseok’s team.
“You always had this serious aura emitting while working, but seeing you enjoying your food, you really are a normal person,” Hoseok said, slightly joking, then proceeded to take a sip of his sprite.
Seokjin laughed in sarcasm.
“What are you saying, I am a normal person, I just don’t like to mix up personal life with working life.” Seokjin replied, dipping his tater tots in chili sauce before devouring them completely.
“Is that why you always spend your break time alone? Hyung, you wouldn’t even join us if our eyes meet in the smoking room? You’ve worked with Jimin before right? Namjoon and I sometimes have to explain to Jimin that not every individual takes a break the same way. He doesn’t seem to understand your concept of rest.” Hoseok went on and on but Seokjin listened intently.
Hoseok was right. Seokjin had his own way of resting. The amount of pressure and stress induced during work could get so ridiculous. Seokjin spends his time alone usually playing his games or just grabbing some good food to fuel himself before burying himself in more stress. He’s usually seen alone at the cafeteria or the cafe opposite, watching a movie on his ipad, not caring about the world who has their eyes on him. It’s not that Seokjin had created a wall between him and his colleagues, but break time seems more rewarding if he actually gets his rest.
To Seokjin, Hoseok was that work partner everyone admired. He is always early (early and not punctual), always willing to help out whenever he sees someone in distress and most importantly, Hoseok looks fine. Like completely Seokjin’s type. Though it’s not something for him to say out loud. His eyes tend to search for Hoseok whenever Seokjin walks around in the company building. Seokjin knows he should not, but he might have developed a liking towards Hoseok. There was something pulling him from voicing his feelings out to Hoseok.
They headed to the smoking room before returning to the office. Seokjin had offered a cigarette to Hoseok, but the younger one lit up the cigarettes for the both of them. Sneaky , Seokjin thought.
They took the first few puffs in silence, letting their mind wander in the cool, night breeze, staring straight into the city darkness. Hoseok leaned against the wall and took out his phone. He exhaled loudly and sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Seokjin asked, not out of curiosity, but to show Hoseok how sincere he could be.
“It’s my lover. He’s always telling me to go visit him. Yeah sure, it’s not like I don’t work overtime almost every day, having my meals at 2AM and only sleeping when the sun is up!”
“You got it tough huh,” Seokjin said and took another puff.
Seokjin once heard a rumour regarding Hoseok at the office pantry. He really just wanted to make some cheap ol’ instant coffee but the early morning admins were gossiping about Hoseok and his ‘lover’. Seokjin doesn’t like to pry in other people’s lives, but he sat in the pantry, listening to what the girls had to say. Though he pretended to be on the phone as if his presence there wasn't suspicious enough, not that the girls mattered. He made a mental note when they were done; Hoseok was in a long distance relationship.
“Ah hyung, I’ve never shown you but they are my babies! Mickey and Gureum. My boyfriend and I adopted them but he’s not living with me now.” Hoseok said, eyes fixated on his phone screen who was in front of Seokjin’s face.
“They’re cute.” Seokjin said, then tossed away his stub, dismissing Hoseok’s comment regarding not living with his boyfriend anymore.
Hoseok tossed his stub and kept his phone in his back pocket. They headed to the vending machine for their coffee fix. Hoseok rejected Seokjin’s coins and paid for their coffee. They took a seat at the bench next to the vending machine.
“Aren’t you curious about me? I’ve always heard people talking about me but hyung, you don’t seem to be interested in me, which itself is very interesting.” There was a slight hint of flirting in Hoseok’s tone but the latter caught on.
“That’s pretty contradicting, I’m actually very interested in you.” Seokjin said, but sleepiness was getting to him. So he took a big gulp of the canned coffee, allowing the cold caffeine to hopefully keep him awake for the next few hours or so. He did not look at Hoseok’s reaction, but the younger one fell quiet. Seokjin was desperately trying to rub the fatigue off him.
“Can you repeat what you just said? I just wanted to make sure I heard right.” Hoseok asked, slowly taking a sip of coffee while his eyes gazed upon a sleepy Seokjin.
“Uh yeah I saw you in the bus on the way to the office a few times but I couldn’t get myself to talk to you. Won’t it be weird if a senior suddenly talks to you awkwardly? I don’t have a topic to talk with you about anyway-” Seokjin tried to explain himself but Hoseok cut him off by pulling him to a kiss. Their half empty cups sat next to them. The kiss tasted of acrid marlboro red and a mix of black coffee. To Seokjin it was comforting. It was perhaps the relief he had always seeked from Hoseok. The kiss was lazy, warm, pleasurable. He allowed Hoseok to lean on him. Savouring every moment. More, Seokjin wanted more.
They had 8 minutes left before their break ended, they had to pull an all-nighter in order to finish any overlooked mistakes for their event the following day. 8 minutes left until Seokjin had to set aside all of his worries and pour out the remnants of his blood, sweat and tears into the event they’ve been working 3 months on. 8 minutes left, to enjoy every second of Hoseok.