Chapter Text
he catches jongin’s eyes first during junmyeon’s birthday, mostly because his head is shaved clean and sharp. jongin has never seen a head that round before and his lips twitch. he nudges sehun just a bit and the taller guy follows the line of his sight, lands on the shaved dude beside baekhyun.
“cute,” he says. “but not my type.”
jongin shrugs. sehun’s type runs on thin and waif-like. jongin’s type runs a little on the sexier side, all big hips and big boobs. he doesn’t discriminate between men, and women, and people as long as they’re fun.
“let’s go greet them,” jongin suggests. he smooths his palms down the length of his suit, despite the fact that it’s already impeccable. he roams his eyes as he looks for yixing but he’s probably not here yet, or maybe he’s monopolizing junmyeon’s time.
chanyeol is being an idiot still and jongin sideeyes the way he and baekhyun have at least 10 feet between the two of them and at least two people around their immediate circle. jongin just shakes his head because it is not his business to intervene, whatever these two’s problems are. sehun sidles up to baekhyun’s other friend in their uiversity, jongdae, and pilfers one of the canapés placed on top of the fine china.
jongin, of course, goes beside the man with the shaved head. he smiles at him charmingly and the guy smiles a little, mostly because he probably has two mini savory pastries shoved inside his mouth. his chubby cheeks are rounded with him and there is a slight crumb on the corner of his pouty lips.
jongin has a glass of champagne on his one hand. he hasn’t consumed it yet so he hands it to the stranger, hoping that label won’t be for too long. he looks down and thanks his height, and the other man’s height, because this angle is doing it for the beauty in front of him. his lashes flutter on top of delicate skin and jongin’s not near enough to see the finer details but oh well, he will be, soon enough.
the guy holds the flute all wrong as he tips it slightly into his small mouth. jongin watches his adam’s appple bob down as he gulps. the stranger hands the champagne flute back to him and jongin takes it, amused. the smaller man wipes his mouth with the pads of his fingers before he turns to jongin with a pursed smile.
“thanks,” he says.
jongin likes his voice. it’s low, something that tells him that the guy is quiet and shy, most likely reserved. he has always read people well, has always known how to fit himself into the cracks of their personality. jongin knows how to please people, how to make them fall. it is a good skill to have what with playing bridge and being a businessman.
he moves a little closer and gives a charming smile to the man. he doesn’t make it flirty—the other guy seems skittish, like jongin has to make him feel comfortable enough, and he looks appropriately overwhelmed already.
“have we met before?” jongin asks in a friendly tone. he is usually more monotonous and polite than this but the other guy seems a little younger than he is though that might have been attributed to the baby face.
“no,” he shakes his head. cute, jongin thinks. “it’s our first meeting.”
the right corner of jongin’s lips twitch. this person is awfully honest. he looks like he is a little confused and his head tilts just slightly to the right, lips pressed together in a slight moue, as if thinking if they really have met before.
really cute. jongin is reminded of a maltese—all round with short legs though the guy’s plain and boring black suit is doing him a big favor.
jongin hums a little bit before he leans closer. “huh,” he says in wonder, or well, fake wonder. it is part of the charade. “but i wouldn’t forget such a cute guy.”
the stranger’s cheeks color slightly but it is his ears the turn a really bright shade. most likely sensitive there, jongin thinks as he files the interesting observation away.
“um…” he bites a bottom lip. “we really haven’t.”
“that’s kind of disappointing,” jongin replies with a slight frown. “can i get your name then? i’m kim jongin, by the way. baekhyun and i are friends.”
the guy’s already wide eyes widen still. his soft-looking lips part open, and jongin’s eyes trace the shape with his sharp stare.
“kyungsoo,” he answers. kyungsoo sounds like a beautiful name. “do kyungsoo. i’m baekhyun’s best friend from high school.”
“nice to meet you then,” jongin says as he extends his hand.
kyungsoo extends his as well and he shakes jongin’s own. finally, he smiles a little wider. this time, his lips are not pursed and while the smile has a tinged of awkwardness in them, has a little bit of caution, jongin finds himself pausing.
oh, he thinks. it’s gummy and heart-shaped.
the party is—as usual. jongin lazily moves through the crowd of people in his five-figure designer suit from europe and tries to greet as much important guests as possible. things like this one are still business events as any other. contracts flow freely between every clinks of champagne flutes or thick brandy tumblers.
“—the new factory in malaysia. what do you think of it, jongin?” the middle-aged woman asks. she is an important business partner for jongin’s mother who owns a group of cosmetic companies and aesthetic centers.
jongin nods and smiles winningly, pleasantly answering a question he has not even heard. “that sounds like a sound plan to me. i wouldn’t be surprised though, considering it’s you who have thought of it, surely.”
the older woman giggles and the diamonds on her wrist glitters in the air when she moves her hand to tap jongin’s bicep lightly. jongin does not move and the action from the older woman lingers. he almost rolls his eyes as he tries to find an escape.
he spots a shaved head and jongin steps away, right foot first and his left hand clasped on his right wrist behind him.
“i’ll have to excuse myself,” jongin says with an apologetic smile.
the older woman in front of him frowns but she nods and waves him away with a good night. she says something else but jongin chooses to forget that as he leaves his mother’s business partner with her 28 year old boyfriend.
he sees kyungsoo from before walk around the place, marveling at the centerpieces and even the crystal chandeliers over head. jongin keeps his pace, walking sedately, but dodging anyone who comes too close with a smile and a stare forward, a clear indication that he does not want to talk.
he falls behind a little when someone stops him, a middle aged man whom his dad is seeing as a potential investor for the kim group of companies. apparently, this new rich is interested in his father’s recent foray into the business of resorts and vacation islands.
jongin is asked a few questions, mostly standard small talk, before he manages to pry himself away from the conversation. he tries to find kyungsoo again and his eyes narrow when he sees the shorter male’s narrow back, hunched slightly as if trying to make himself even smaller. jongin’s eyebrows pinch together at the sight because kyungsoo is small enough as it is and the every line of his body paints distress as an old man in an ill fitted suit is obviously hissing at him.
he walks to the commotion with purposeful steps and he hears the man growling, “do you know how much this suit costs?”
kyungsoo sounds scared, as he stutters, “s-sorry. i’m really sorry. i can pay for dry cleaning.”
the old man scoffs derisively, “dry cleaning?” he asks, pitching his voice higher. he pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket and hands it to kyungsoo. his hand pats kyungsoo’s bicep and with a dark expression, “how about you just wipe it clean for me, boy?”
kyungsoo takes a small step back, head down low and face closed off, devoid of any emotion.
jongin steps in and he grabs the old man’s right wrist right wrist. he takes the handkerchief and steps between the old guy and kyungsoo, shielding the smaller man from this businessman.
he says in a tone that is too polite to be truly pleasant, “let me wipe it myself for you, sir.” it comes out in a little whisper, serious with a tinge of threat.
he dabs the cloth against the wet patch and he releases a quick breath of air through his nose. the condescension is evident from the sound and they way his lips lift slightly in a smirk, just enough to be annoying but not too much to break his blank devil-may-care expression.
“look at this fabric,” he says in monotone. “it’s thin—too flimsy. the texture is terrible. the suit probably costs just a little more than the dry cleaning bill. unless, of course, this is rented.”
that is exaggerating it a little bit. the suit is maybe not as expensive as jongin’s but the entire set must have still costed some money. jongin relishes at the old man’s expression—the wide eyes and the gaping mouth, disbelief as clear as the glasses the beverages come with.
the old man swipes the handkerchief from jongin’s hand before he stomps away, whispering and muttering to himself, “what a rude boy, butting into other people’s business like that.”
jongin just smooths his suit down and turns back to the short man from before.
“are you okay, kyungsoo?” jongin asks. kyungsoo nods and jongin places a hand on his elbow, nudging him a little bit. they walk away from the area of the spilt alcohol, farther away from the older man from before.
kyungsoo finally breathes out and he gives jongin a shy smile. he reaches over to fiddle with his right ear, thumbs sliding on the back of his lobe like he is not sure what to do with his fingers.
“thanks, jongin,” he says softly. kyungsoo’s smile is slow and jongin cranes his neck and puts his hands in both his pockets. “i didn’t really know how to handle that without—you know.”
the taller man figures that kyungsoo must mean without punching the dirty old man square in his ugly face so he lifts one shoulder in nonchalance.
“it’s nothing, mr. milk tea,” jongin answers out loud and with his own grin.
kyungsoo’s mouth drops a little bit and there it is again, jongin’s eyes moving south and following the plush lips.
“so you remember!” kyungsoo gasps a little and his smile somehow turns wider, brighter. more of his little teeth show and his pink gums.
“i do,” jongin answers. he leans closer, bending his back slightly so he can look at kyungsoo in the face—eye to eye. “i told you i don’t forget adorable faces, right?”
kyungsoo flushes again but this time, he rolls his eyes a little. jongin does not quite smile but he makes sure his posture is more — open, friendly. he isn’t the warmest guy at first meeting but he is not exactly a liar either.
do kyungsoo is adorable.
before kyungsoo stutters out another denial, jongin continues, “anyway, are you free later? or maybe we can, like, ditch the party now?”
he raised one eyebrow as kyungsoo ever so smartly replies with a, “what?”
“well, i’m a tea expert, mr. milk tea,” jongin replies with a hint of a tease. he keeps his voice neutral, careful, but lets the underlying meaning of his words through the surface. “if you want, we can—”
“hold it right there!” an arm is thrown in front of kyungsoo, pushing the short male a little back. jongin rolls his eyes at the familiar voice and turns a flat stare at—who else? byun baekhyun.
“what are you doing?” baekhyun asks dubiously. he steps in front of kyungsoo and jongin sighs, looking at the side in frustration.
trust byun baekhyun to stick his nose into jongin’s business but not into his own mess of a whatever with park chanyeol.
“we’re in public,” jongin answers dryly. “i know i’m good but what can i possibly do?”
baekhyun glares at him and he turns his nose slightly at jongin before turning to kyungsoo. he says in a warning tone, “don’t talk to him, kyungsoo—ever. if you talk to him, you’ll lose your virginity.”
jongin snorts at what baekhyun has said but his eyes flit to kyungsoo’s expression. the red of his cheeks are more apparent now and he hisses an annoyed baekhyun at the taller man. his fists are curled tightly to his side and his shoulders are in a taut line. no doubt, from the embarrassment. jongin himself is thinking something along the lines of what baekhyun has said and how the color suffusing kyungsoo’s cheeks are pretty.
“hey.” jongin says. he turns to kyungsoo and he sees himself reflected into his clear brown eyes. he is a little surprised to see himself looking so mirthful, as he adds, “kyungsoo has yet to say yes.”
baekhyun gives him a glare and a noise of frustration from the back of his throat.
“ignore this idiot, kyungsoo,” he grumbles before walking away. baekhyun grabs kyungsoo’s hand before he pulls him away, heading towards the direction of the exit.
jongin chuckles lightly to himself as he picks a flute from a passing waiter. he takes a sip of the chilled alcohol and watches kyungsoo be dragged by baekhyun before he probably has had enough, detaching himself from his best friend and falling into step beside him.
he really has a nice ass, jongin thinks as he smirks against the lip of the glass.
this is their second meeting. the first, if jongin does not count ordering milk tea at the shop where kyungsoo works. he wonders if this is the last time and is a little surprised to find himself disappointed at the thought.
kyungsoo seems interesting, like he’s good fun.
jongin finds kyungsoo easy enough on social media. he does not have twitter but he has a fairly active instagram. he is tagged in all of baekhyun’s posts on him. he follows the account and looks at the grid collection displayed on his screen. unlike jongin’s, kyungsoo’s feed and profile is messy. he has a couple of highlights and jongin watches each of them, tapping quickly at things that do not seem interesting—like plants. there are so many plants on kyungsoo’s instagram account.
the most recent photo is of a silver tray with a small succulent in a pot. beside it, there are a bunch of makeup products and—skincare? maybe. the caption is a plain thank you mom i now have to figure out how to use these. jongin snorts, kyungsoo is similar to baekhyun.
he likes the ones with kyungsoo’s faces because jongin is shameless and he knows people love attention. he stops liking at the posts that are way too far back but he does not stop scrolling. the selfies and the filters progressively becomes uglier but jongin does not stop loading each photo, reading the captions.
he learns that kyungsoo attends the public university two stops away from the private one that jongin attends. he is apparently majoring in agriculture with a focus in urban farming and gardening. that explains the plants and—
well, the freckles.
jongin can’t help but think of a photo set posted around a month ago, an impromptu shoot as kyungsoo has called it in his long winded caption. dressed in a pink sweater and with plump lips a shade darker than what he is wearing, kyungsoo lies on grass with artfully arranged flowers all over him, hair not yet shaven and the dots all over his pretty face.
he thinks they might have been fake, at first, but he scrolls through the other selfies and finds that—they are not. kyungsoo really has all those on his face like they are meant to be there.
jongin really can’t take his mind off of that—the constellations on kyungsoo’s face, from the scattering of moles to the splattered stars of his freckles.
the thing about kyungsoo is that jongin has other people he can be busy with. he does not obsess over the other man and when baekhyun corners him with a threat, he says he is going to back off. he won’t be that type of asshole, not to baekhyun, so while he is still following and commenting on kyungsoo’s instagram posts, he has toned it down to friendly and approachable, civl.
jongin does not want to experience baekhyun’s spinning kick and end up like chanyeol so he puts kyungsoo out of the potential category and places him into off-limits.