Chapter Text
Jobs are really hard to come by these days with unrealistic qualifications, so much expectations and a workload that could kill a man in ten years if not for the weekly offs that act as a buffer to slow down the intoxication. The salaries are horrible too or at least for those whose jobs are more efficient than the corporate hogs who feed on said employees working their backs off for them and would nonetheless earn something that can’t even last a week no matter how hard they try to stretch it out for the next payroll to come unfurling while those high-end bastards are living life beyond what even dreams can give. Technically, it’s slavery. They’re just putting a good word into it and pretend it’s not; they call it as ‘employment’. But Seungcheol knows better…
…Seungcheol does know better. Why? Because he’s been living like that for the past ten years now, living off paycheck after the other, well, paychecks if you put it since he doesn’t only have one but three jobs he has to work on six days a week with a single day to spare and live whatever is left of his 29 years old life.
Some would think that Seoul city offers so much opportunity as the capital of a high-rising oriental country, home to the famous K-Pop taking over the world in a rapid pace as fast as their internet could. The ‘Hallyu Wave’ as they call it but Seungcheol doesn’t have the luxury of time for any sort of entertainment except for the one hour breaks he gets on each of his work, one as a grocery staff hauling in boxes after boxes of products he has to arrange right after to each designated shelf they’re supposed to sit on, only to be picked poorly by passing customers he intentionally had to tail behind and clean the so-called mess they leave. It’s a very testing job to say the least but it’s a job like any other else, a job to pay the rent and Seungcheol doesn’t really complain nor does he have a short temper for people to try him with anyway, so as far as he’s concerned, it’s just a job and so the second one is too as he picks up flowers from the orchards outside of Seoul and delivers them to the local flower shop downtown. It’s a quick run especially with the motorbike he was lent by the store but only until his shift ends because Seungcheol has to take the train to the Korean barbecue restaurant he’s to stay at until late at night, multitasking on catering the customers, cleaning the toilets every hour and making sure that the local drunk doesn’t at all costs, stumble into the establishment.
The only saving grace for Seungcheol then is that with these different employers he’s working at, all of them share one thing in common and that’s their number one rule which happens to be his favorite: ‘Serve With A Smile’. As a matter of fact, it is quite easy to serve with a smile considering how Seungcheol loves smiling with those dimples of his dipping in on either cheeks each time he flashes a bright, gummy smile enough to give the Sun itself a break from giving light to the solar system but as sweet as Seungcheol can smile, there’s nothing worth smiling when he was told that he may be the most hardworking employee there is out there but ‘unfortunately’, they still have to let him go due to some reasons.
Well, who can smile then if you’re suddenly fired from your job? It’s not some ‘going to a different direction’ or ‘searching for greener pastures’, no. It’s very plain and very simple: Seungcheol just got fired.
It turns out that Seungcheol is no longer fit as a staff for the grocery store and the flower shop has found a new employee as well, one who’s more qualified and as it turns out, has his own motorcycle to ride. And they do have the same complaint on how Seungcheol sometimes smells of samgyeopsal* whenever he goes to work because the stench of grilled meat doesn’t come clean from the mere cold Korean air, clinging to clothes and to Seungcheol’s hair even (but on his defense however, it only happened a couple of times because he didn’t have enough time to take a bath, not risking to be late his employers didn’t seem to appreciate at all. But they do have their reasons and so does Seungcheol, not that they want to hear what he has to say or anything) so in very rare moments like this is where Seungcheol just wants to scream and shout and let everything that’s bugging him all out in one, heavy and unashamed cry of frustration…
“You know you can scream, right?” Hummed Jeonghan as he takes another sip of what might probably be his fifth can of beer for the night, staying strong in that hazy pink blush dusting his porcelain-pale skin. “As if anyone can hear you in this dump.”
“I try not to, Jeonghan. But thank you for insulting my apartment.” Answered the older, Seungcheol in a playful yet sardonic reply, his voice low and his words slow as they roll off his mouth, evidence of the alcohol kicking into his system he’s hoping would at least drown the disappointment he’s feeling for the sudden and obviously unwanted unemployment, and with one job left, he’s practically sitting duck here in this apartment of his his best friend just insulted or slapped him with the truth because it’s no apartment at all but just a basement converted into a living quarter Seungcheol calls his ‘home’, annoying Jeonghan no matter how often he’s there. It’s only a matter of time before the next rent comes in and Seungcheol doesn’t have any idea how to cover without his other two jobs and no savings to help him with; borrowing money he can’t pay for is bad enough for an idea, let alone loan sharks that are way out of his league.
The younger of the two just sighed at that and finishes his beer before opening another one.
“I am actually at loss here, Jeonghan…” Seungcheol added. “…I can’t go back to Daegu and have my parents work because of me. It’s hard enough for them.”
“Then don’t. Let’s get you a job!”
And there was a sharp look of annoyance cutting at Jeonghan’s direction; a very rare thing to be coming from Seungcheol sitting next to him as those usually, large doe eyes are now squinting into thin, judging slits enough to remind Jeonghan that Seungcheol is at least a few months older than him which somehow gives him the right to knock some sense into the younger’s head if the occasion calls for it, and it’s starting to feel like it does. Jeonghan just needs to keep running his mouth like that.
“I me- mean come on! Have you tried to that local café down- ”
“Yes, twice. I told you they don’t want me there because I’m not qualified.” Seungcheol replied, sighing.
“The bowling alley?”
“Same reason…”
“How about the grocery store down at-”
“They’re the ones who kicked me out, right?”
“Oh, yeah…”
“Yeah, we really are at loss here. Let’s drink.”
Jeonghan is right, surprisingly. Seungcheol doesn’t really look to his best and probably only friend in Seoul whenever he needs some advice especially on matters as important as this. Jeonghan may be the true and most loyal friend there is and the older won’t be trading him for anything, not even a more luxurious life if it means on leaving Jeonghan behind, but in terms of being the voice of (probable) reason that Seungcheol needs, Jeonghan isn’t the most sound when it comes to it. He does however, come up with the most absurd ideas, far-fetched and at times borderline crazy that if one is desperate or dumb enough to listen, per se a man on the verge of financial and emotional collapse, Jeonghan can be a good or bad influence- it actually just depends on the context on which side Seungcheol will take him for it but as long as Jeonghan can and there’s no doubt there, make a good sense out of it, Seungcheol will be interested on hearing what he has to say, he’ll just need five cans of beer to prepare himself.
Or six? Maybe seven? Well, for as many as Seungcheol can drink without passing out and at the same time making sense to what Jeonghan is saying then that’s good enough.
In truth, both men have lost track of how many beers they’ve already chugged down and same goes of the time that has somehow burned away without a second to spare for either of them to realize. All they know is that they’re not that drunk yet- tipsy perhaps but not at all drunk and that is why Seungcheol or as he thought he is, still manages to be sober as to poke a finger at his best friend’s cheek while he was ‘resting and not sleeping because he’s not at all drunk. That wasn’t drool that’s dripping down his mouth but, well, something else!’ and get Jeonghan’s attention to ask him what kind of ‘other job’ the younger has really that he is so adamant on keeping a secret even to his best friend because Seungcheol likes to think that he is somewhat close to Jeonghan. All Seungcheol knows is that his best friend has some kind of secret job he goes to every after shift from the restaurant and that at some days, the younger would come up with light bruises and a sore, aching body he’d insist to be nothing at all but Seungcheol knows better of it. He just doesn’t ask nor does he intend on pissing Jeonghan off of it since he trusts the younger.
A secret is shady enough already especially to those who have an idea of it but to pretend that it’s nothing of importance, shrugging off the evident marks left almost like breadcrumbs that will lead to the truth, it’s a pretty hard job to keep a blind eye of it, even more so to someone who actually cares and Seungcheol does. It only took him this long to ask Jeonghan about this profession of his yet again and hoping that whatever it is, he’s qualified enough for the job since a lot of people seem to be so keen on Seungcheol’s qualifications on each job he takes, that he’s not cut for the job and what’s worse, making him feel like he’s not at all worth it to even prove himself for a time. Whatever secret job Jeonghan is doing, at this point, it’s all or nothing for the older man. He’s got nothing more to lose to anyway so he’s willing to risk this chance and perhaps, get employed to cover the next bills that’ll be sent to him in few days’ time.
Seungcheol was expecting like a drug courier or perhaps a middle man who checks on nasty business shady people send to intimidate those who owe them a favor and Jeonghan looks like one of those people- not that Seungcheol judges him for it or anything but hey! They all have their reasons. Them being in the lowest of the lows are in no position to say anything at all about any illegal dealings, as long as it won’t get them killed or get any of the people close to them in that same fate then this job is as good as it can get. The bruises and Jeonghan’s worn-out look are a complete statement to that but apparently; it’s nothing close to any of what Seungcheol mentioned!
“Can you- Can you say it slower?” Seungcheol, one of the two tipsy men requested. His senses are dulling from the effects of the beer so catching up on what his best friend is saying is almost too difficult to catch. A part of it has something to do with the fact that Seungcheol might’ve gotten Jeonghan wrong, asking him to repeat what he said is just to make sure Seungcheol got it right because as far as he can say, what Jeonghan told him was…
…“Seungcheol, I said I’m a night companion*.”
Night companion, it’s a bizarre term to use for this profession Jeonghan is so stubborn on keeping a secret when a random person like Seungcheol who also happens to be his closest friend, has no idea of what it actually means! Night companion is an unheard of job, it sounds made up even if Seungcheol is being honest there and it seems like the younger man is just bluffing him, making up some weird job to hopefully appease the curiosity in Seungcheol that’s been itching him for as long as the both of them can remember.
“A what now? What do you do exactly, Jeonghan?” Now there’s more to Seungcheol’s curiosity behind Jeonghan’s secret and now more intriguing job.
“Is this even legal?”
There was a heavy sigh as Jeonghan tilts his head back in that mild frustrated expression written all over his face as if he’s weighing in the next words he has to say for the other man to understand and Seungcheol can see it precisely. That careful yet calculated look of intent behind Jeonghan’s otherwise angelic features, his eyes cold and his flushed lips thin, chapped too and why Jeonghan has been licking them again and again, only this time, the way his tongue dragged along those dry couplets speak a different tone, heavier.
“Seungcheol- ” and there was that gesture of turning his face around but stopped halfway through so instead, Jeonghan’s eyes that are usually so bold to look everyone straight now lowering down in what Seungcheol can sense as a sort of embarrassment, shame maybe because the words that followed after Jeonghan mentioned his name are as simple as how Jeonghan would like Seungcheol to understand; simple, yes, but not at all easy to take in. “ –Seungcheol, I sleep with people and they pay me after. I am a literal night companion!”
Okay, now it makes sense! Everything does make sense, the only issue here that has Seungcheol blinking wide-awake, sober, is the fact that everything is definitely not okay.
Sure, now it makes sense as to why Jeonghan is very mum about his job but what supposed to be an answer to solve whatever question Seungcheol had of this backfired to not only him but to the both of them and it did with quite a bang, more questions flying all over the place like shrapnel neither of them could catch. There are questions, some comments too and other things Seungcheol is so eager to say and frankly, even if he was thinking of Jeonghan doing some awful work he said to himself he won’t say anything about, now knowing what Jeonghan actually does hurts more than it should. Not the part where he meets other guys because Jeonghan is like a brother to him, but that’s probably it too! Jeonghan is indeed like a brother to him as to why Seungcheol was taken aback of this revelation. It’s not as heavy as murdering someone or trading drugs but as far as Seungcheol knows and he’s not that dumb, this is close to prostitution or maybe it is prostitution and to think that Jeonghan has stooped so low in his life to actually resort in this scheme of things is beyond what Seungcheol can think of.
Seungcheol is not one to judge, judging Jeonghan or anyone for that matter isn’t a part of him but he should very much at least say something to the younger about this, comfort him maybe or say that everything is perfectly alright but then again, it’s not alright. Jeonghan is sleeping with people! There’s nothing alright there. For Seungcheol to get into that line of work hasn’t even crossed his mind!
“Are you okay, Jeonghan? Do you want to talk about it?” That’s the best Seungcheol could come up with really although Jeonghan thinks otherwise considering how it’s his turn to shoot a glare back at Seungcheol, better and more precise than Seungcheol’s earlier. But who can blame Seungcheol for it anyway? There’s no pamphlet or any virtual guides to help him go through the situation at hand.
It’s not everyday your best friend comes clean and says he sells his body, his dignity too maybe but for what? A car and a decent livable, fully furnished apartment in the good side of the city, maybe even enough money to lend you but you’re so stubborn on accepting it because you want to live your life without any debts to worry about, leading into a tedious job hunt you can’t get a good job just because you’re not “ideally fit” for it?
Seungcheol was not wrong when he said earlier how Jeonghan can come up with the most absurd ideas too chaotic at times for a sound mind to comprehend and yet again, he just proved his point. No one in their right mind would easily agree to Jeonghan’s standpoint right there, even if influenced with a generous amount of alcohol because again, not to judge anyone for this but a profession like that is technically illegal! A one-way ticket to prison if caught; Seungcheol can only imagine if what Jeonghan earns is enough for an attorney if ever he ends up in a tight spot (not that Seungcheol wishes for that to happen. Jeonghan is and will forever be his best friend even if he does some freaky shit at night Seungcheol doesn’t want to know). The point is that is it really worth it?
“Is it really worth it?”
One of Jeonghan’s finely trimmed brows lifts in curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“I mean what you do and what you earn- is it really worth it for you to do this?”
“Why’d you wanna know?”
“Can’t I know?” answered Seungcheol, blinking innocently. “I’m your best friend, right?”
And Jeonghan nodded. “Yeah, you are.” He said. “It’s actually a good pay if you think about it, Seungcheol. There’s this company you can apply for and they will set you up with a client.”
“I see…”
“Wait a minute here- hold up!!”
Seungcheol swears he is not drunk! It’s just that Jeonghan shooting up to his feet in a speed of light with a finger directly pointing at Seungcheol’s flustered face would have anyone falling back in hysteric shock, and with that dangerous look of intent on Jeonghan’s face, Seungcheol knows there’s something rather mischievous at work here.
“What is it, Jeonghan?”
“Choi Seungcheol!” called the younger man to his surprised best friend, still innocent of what his ‘cunning’ mind has in store for him. “You need a job, remember?!”
“Yes.”
“Exactly!”
“What do you mea- no way. ”
“Yes~”
“No.”
“Yes!”
Chapter notes:
“Jeonghan, I said no.”
“And I said yes! Come on, I assure you you’ll be overqualified there!”
Setting his foot down, Seungcheol repeated his and hopefully final answer:
“Thank you but no.”
* * * * *
“Yes, that’s right.”
“These are quite the requirements, mister Lee. Can’t we tone some of them down?” asked the woman, her tone calm and persuasive, careful too as it should be to not make any misunderstanding between her and her client sitting across the oak desk of hers. His petit form comfortable on the chair yet his eyes are like daggers piercing through her with each suggestion she makes that contradicts to the otherwise sure application said client submitted a good week ago.
“What do you mean? Can’t you come up with something? I heard you’re the top company around these parts, and that’s why I came to you.” Said the man. “You even had me work that thing up ASAP only to be told now it’s too much. You guys are something, aren’t you?”
“Forgive me, mister Lee but- ”
“ -no.” The man cut in, still as sharp as ever, maybe even getting sharper with each ticking second his demands aren’t met.
“Well, I am sorry, sir but as of the moment, there is no vacant Night Companion that can match with your request in this form. You are aware of our policy that one Companion per client so providing you one with exactly what you want is still under process.”
“And why is that?”
To put into a clearer perspective as to what this somehow intimidating and rather demanding client has written down in the form he was made to fill up, he technically demanded someone who’d be close to a fictional character rather than an actual man who can satisfy his sexual needs. Someone who’s body is muscular yet soft to the touch. Someone who is innocent-looking, timid and pliant, someone who is polite and who will obey to whatever he was told to do but at the same time is ruthless at what he does. He should also be versatile in bed or technically, can do both ways if it comes to that which it will as per what the client wants. Speaking is not allowed unless told to and will never, at all times, take off the mask nor will he reveal his identity and the same goes for the client who wishes to keep his identity a secret. There’s a non-disclosure form that comes with the application anyway but this specific client just had to be extra careful to even want his requested companion to not who he is and The House of Carats respects that, all it takes is a right price to settle the deal and a deal that hasn’t been struck yet because of their ‘incompetence’ as what the client said- yes, still that client who also demands someone who has a big dick and knows how to use it. He said he knows how to use his mouth and is showing an example already to the woman he is currently talking to, the least she could do is to find a decent man right for the job they are to send to their patron now losing his patience.
“Okay, let’s pretend I don’t exactly need everything I put in there…” He started. “…is there really no one you can send me for the time being? No one at all? Don’t tell me you’re that disappointing.”
And there was that silence setting in, not at all awkward nor it was welcomed either but just that dead air filing in every space, every orifice and gap there is to be filled in while the young man whose tacit ferocity is even enough to bore a hole through the woman’s head as she sat in her own chair, thanking the large gap between her and her client not losing even a blink of a second on studying her form while she assesses the situation this close on ending and judging from the current state of it, won’t be in anyone’s favor.
She needs to think of a solution or a valuable patron is going to slip from her grasp even before she could even reach him.
“Well, if you have no one. I expect my deposit to be sent by the end of the week, miss- ”
The short man with an even shorter temper is halfway on standing up, ready and almost glad to parade his way out of the vast office he thought to be a waste of time for him to visit but as it turns out, it’s not, when the woman he was speaking to was faster to catch his interest back with a quick: “No, wait! Mister Lee, I actually have someone but he’s new.”
“I think he goes with Scoups. He submitted his application more than a week ago.”
“Scoups, really? And am I to assume Scoups is not fully trained yet? Do you even do that here?” The man shot back but nonetheless took his seat again, a good sign for their transaction to continue that eases the woman back to hers as well.
And she continued.
“What I meant, sir, is that he’s not fully assessed and there’s also this one complication Scoups is still under consideration of.” The woman then added: “In terms of his physique, I can attest he’s close enough to what you want and he looks to be a good man too based from his records we have of him. There’s no other medical records of any kind we should be concerned of especially on traces of any form of STDs except for- ”
“ –Let me guess, nonreactive herpes?”
“Not at all. It’s a minor impairment though but I believe it’s something that won’t come as a trouble when it comes to his performance.” The woman replied and for the first time, she was confident.
“Now are you sure you are to use this alias all throughout your membership with us, mister…”
“…LJ. Is there something wrong there?” The man or rather, LJ hummed back with that very tone he’s been keeping rather diligently for the past hour now ever since this meeting started.
“No, sir.” The woman then clarified, now smiling as she shakes her head. “It’s a smart nickname really, if I may say. Quite clever, mister Lee Jihoon.”
“And I hope you’re to use that from now on if you’re addressing me.”
“Oh, yes! Definitely, mister Le- I mean LJ. Your identity is safe with us along with the other number of anonymous patrons and their Night Companions.”
Her smile grew wider, more at ease this time as she can finally breathe. Somehow there’s progress to their negotiations and she can even say it’s a success.
“Is there anything else I can help you with before we conclude this transaction, LJ?”
“I have two more things to ask really, if it’s alright with you.” LJ or as it turns out, Jihoon hummed.
“Yes?”
“Well, first is that is his dick big and second, what impairment is it again that Scoups has?”
* * * * *
“I am deaf.”
[] Chapter notes:
Samgyeopsal – grilled pork belly; too much exposure to the grill and smoke tends to leave a savory yet unwanted scent clinging to you for the next few hours.
Night Companion – It’s the preferred position The House of Carats use to refer to their employees like Jeonghan and in the near future, Seungcheol. A more refined yet pretentiously made-up term (well, at least that’s how Seungcheol puts it).