Work Text:
None of Haesoo's friends knows what kind of life he has outside of work. Aside from the basic personal fact that he is an only child to a widow mother, everything about him is a mystery but it's not like he's a shady person—maybe he's just really this introverted and private, which is why no one bothers him about his being secretive.
So when, one early morning, he receives a text message from Joowon telling him that he's outside, he musters all of his willpower to suppress the curse that threatens to run out of his throat. He is in no time to be surprised and amazed at his self-control for not slamming his phone down on the table, as he attempts to be stealthy with his escape (keyword is: ATTEMPTS) but the way he trudges towards the door is in no way subtle. His footsteps are heavy and unintentionally catch his workmates' attention.
His patience unfortunately isn't running as slow as the elevator. Once he meets Joowon, he's certain that the asshole would wear that smug smile on his face like he usually does because he is a cocky douchebag and Haesoo will make sure to wipe it off by screaming to his face first thing.
When he gets to the entrance door, his eyes automatically pick up the familiar black car that's parked right in front of their building and of course, there stands Joowon, looking hellishly fine in a black unbuttoned cardigan and plain white shirt that he matched with black ripped skinny jeans and light brown leather shoes. He leans on his car, one hand fiddling with his car key and full focus on his phone. With only sunglasses on his face, this man isn't even putting the faintest effort of disguising himself.
Haesoo approaches him and well, Joowon notices him. Joowon is always quick when it comes to him. Haesoo acknowledges that. He's not an oblivious blockhead. The redhead stands straight, pocketing his phone, and a smile so bright it could actually rival the sun. Haesoo can't find the guts in him to yell at the older man who acts like a baby around him.
But he can still be mean.
"Why are you here?" Haesoo tries to sound indifferent, avoids Joowon's gaze.
"You're so grumpy in the early morning," Joowon responds, ignoring Haesoo's snobbish tone. "Aren't you happy that hyung visited you at work? Not even gonna give hyung a hug?"
Haesoo grits his teeth, his eyes forming into tiny slits and eyebrows furrowed. He can't believe this man is a celebrity. "You are so annoying. Why did you come?"
Joowon pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. Haesoo holds his breath at the sight. As a writer himself, he never approved of using simple words but whenever Joowon is close to losing his temper, he does this and there's just no other way to describe him other than... hot.
Haesoo watches him as he opens the car door and pull out something. Closing the car door with his knee, he holds out a paper cup in his one hand and a paper bag in the other to Haesoo, "Here."
Haesoo just looks at the redhead, confusion embedded on his face. "What are these?" He mental facepalms as he judges himself for the question. God, what a dumb thing to ask and Joowon is going to mock him for it.
But Joowon didn't. Instead, he straightly answers, "Your breakfast. You were in a rush when you left the unit. You didn't eat."
"Oh," is all Haesoo can say, diverting all his energy to the objects being offered to him like it's the first time he saw them and he's working all of his brain cells to figure them out. He admits to himself—and he despises the realization so much—that this little gesture warms his heart. "You didn't have to," he continues, voice so quiet he may just have been speaking air.
It makes him feel little, giddy like a child who just met their first playmate, spotting nothing but pure concern and worry etched in Joowon's features. He's so used to being the one who looks after Joowon when the roles should be reversed because he is the younger person here but Joowon is childish and sometimes mischievous and that's why he needs an eye on him 24/7. To have Joowon take some minutes off his precious celebrity time just to deliver him food is endearing, and he loves it. He craves it, even. But no, he's not giving Joowon the satisfaction of witnessing him being affected by his hyung's own displays of affection.
"Haesoo, what's taking you so long?" He hears someone call and it sounded so close that it wakened him and cut his musing short.
Haesoo tilts his head and nearly jumps at seeing a woman stand beside him. "Jeez, you scared me," he breathes with a hand on his chest. "Why are you down here?"
"TL is looking for you," another voice responds and now his heartbeat is ringing in his ears because there's not only one of them here who might notice THE Choi Joowon visiting him and bringing him breakfast but two! "We tried calling you, but you weren't picking up."
Haesoo internally calms himself, putting an immediate stop to the panic attack that's about to come.
"Sorry about that," he chuckles nervously, "I usually put my phone on silent."
Just as he is about to talk them into going back inside the building, one of them glances to the side. Haesoo literally sees their eyes widening in intrigue in slow motion. It happened, just as he feared.
"Who is this?" His co-worker asks and Haesoo really wants nothing but to gag her and drag her back to their building right now.
But before Haesoo can even open his mouth, Joowon moves the paper bag to his other hand, takes his sunglasses off and extends his hand, "I'm Choi Joowon."
Haesoo glares at Joowon, hating how he's so comfortable with the attention. Not that he can blame the redhead for that. He's an actor, first and foremost.
"Choi Joowon?" The other woman screeches, "Like the celebrity? THE Choi Joowon?"
"In the flesh," Joowon laughs coolly.
They both shake his hands at the same time, still squealing in disbelief that they just met a famous actor and got to be this close to him. Even got to shake his hands.
Haesoo bites his lips and silently groans. This scene is giving him a headache. He really can't stand Joowon, most especially right now that he's bringing the spotlight not just to himself, but to the both of them. Haesoo is someone who values his own space and peace. Joowon seems to be forgetting that.
"But may we ask what you're doing here?"
"Just dropped by to give Haesoo these," Joowon lifts the cup and paper bag for emphasis.
They are so in their own world Haesoo can't find the right opportunity to interrupt and end this madness. It irks him. It irks him so much.
"Really? Are you two close?"
Haesoo would roll his eyes and tell them, "No, we're not," in a blink but he catches the way Joowon's lips stretch to a playful smirk and he just decides right then and there to just give an answer that would satisfy Joowon goddamn it!
"He's a family friend," he says, abrupt and sharp. Maybe, even cold. "Anyway, don't you think we gotta head back now?"
"Oh, oh yeah," his co-worker pouts as she scratches her head, "We got distracted. Sorry."
"But before we go, can we take a selfie with you first, Joowon-ssi?"
Haesoo curses himself.
"Sorry, ladies" Haesoo holds Joowon by the arm, softly pushing him to the car, "But he has to go. He's a celebrity after all." Haesoo turns to Joowon, a hostile look in his face, one he is certain of that would make Joowon give up, albeit unhappily, "Aren't you busy? Your sched is packed today, isn't it?"
Joowon clicks his tongue. Haesoo knows that if only there were only the two of them here right now, Joowon would be grimacing. He doesn't enjoy being pushed away like that.
"All right, all right," Joowon concedes, how he does it to not make it apparent that he feels defeated? Haesoo has no dea but well, that's basically Joowon's job so he doesn't wonder much. "But at least take these first."
Haesoo pries the cup of coffee and paper bag from Joowon's hand, only to make him shut up because he knows full well just how stubborn Joowon is.
"Gotta go," Joowon shrugs and shows his co-workers a sorry smile before getting in his car.
Haesoo is relieved that Joowon finally drove off and left, but he's guilty about purposely not bidding a goodbye or a see you soon. Maybe he'll just send him a text message once he's alone.
He and his co-workers start walking back to the building when one of them strikes a conversation.
"Hey, what's that written on your cup?"
Haesoo raises the cup to check what they were referring to. He looks away, wishing that his workmates stay oblivious about the pink flush emerging on his cheeks as they continue to debate about whatever the initials chs♡
stand for.