Work Text:
Soonyoung knows a thing or two about himself.
People often see him in a different light. As a workaholic more than a passionate CEO of a well-known company. He is always measuring and meticulous in managing his domain, which leaves wrong impressions of being a cold and strict person. But Soonyoung absolute doesn't give a single flying fuck about others think of him.
He doesn’t like to admit it, but he is quite dense too.
So needless to explain why Soonyoung don't understand when people keep assuming things about his relationship with the childhood-slash-best friend, Jihoon.
"Sir," Soonyoung just hums in response, too busy typing and still focused on the harsh glare of his laptop screen as the light reflecting through his glasses makes it hard to even recognize the person who called his attention. He heard rustles of clothing and next thing he knew Hansol was already beside his desk, coat neatly hanging by his arms while his other hand was offering a phone. He looked at the time displayed at the very corner of the screen, it was past ten in the evening already.
"You got a call from Jihoon-hyung or rather at least from his phone. Someone is using his phone saying Jihoon-hyung passed out not so long ago and he had no choice but to mend a little and ring on the speed dial," Hansol curtly said that Soonyoung almost- almost couldn't catch up. His brows furrowed, glasses perched up by the tip of his nose- caught up between the ideas of someone answering his Jihoonie's phone and Jihoon had him on speed dial which is surprising. “Sir?”
He blinked a few more times before speaking, "Is the call still going on?"
"Yes, sir."
Hansol immediately handed him the phone, taking a deep breath before he answered, "Hello?
There were murmurs and rustling sounds from the other line that didn't seem to settle right. But before he could even form any conclusions, the person spoke- voice light and gentle but a subtle hint of impatience by how he took a deep sigh. "Mr. Kwon, I suppose? Are you going to pick him up? We just want to inform you about your boyfriend all alone tonight, that and apparently drunk and just passed out in one of our stools"
“Wait, what do you mean?” Soonyoung spared Hansol a glance with a big invisible red question mark above his head. Hansol just shrugged in reply and found his fingernails more interesting than answering his hyung- boss.
“This kid,” Soonyoung muttered to himself before returning to the phone call, "Kindly just ignore my question,” he sighs, “Send me the location of the place where he is now and I will be there in ten minutes.”
He then went quickly through his things, neatly stacking all the finished paper works and never shut his laptop this fast before- more often, he would choose his work over anything (well maybe, except for Jihoon, according to Chwe Hansol). Soonyoung grabbed his satchel bag and car keys and was about to go out when he heard Hansol clear his throat only to see his secretary offering him his thick coat.
“Hyung, make sure to dress warmly. It’s already the middle of December and the temperature outside is gradually decreasing. Besides, a turtleneck is not enough to protect you from catching colds.” Hansol said.
Soonyoung gladly grabs the jet black-toned trench coat offered by the latter, beaming Hansol a smile and messing with his hair. “You too, leave after me or are you willing to stay more?” He turned on his heels and added, “And it’s sir for you, we are still inside the company.”
“As if I want to stay any longer, Pepperoni is waiting for me.”
“Pepperoni?”
“My cat, sir ” Soonyoung can hear the sarcastic tone in his statement, rolling his eyes in return.
“Wait-” he blinks a few times, “You have a cat?”
“Oh, Jihoon-hyung was the one who really gave Pepperoni to me last month since pets are not allowed in his apartment,” Hansol said as a matter of fact. “He really got this very strict landlord, you know.”
By hearing that, Soonyoung immediately made a mental note to give Jihoon a better living space, preferably one that could fit a studio since christmas season is just the perfect excuse for him to do so. (Weird flex but okay.)
“Hansol, can you find me a good living space? Maybe one that can be renovated or large enough to have a studio in it.”
“Are you moving units again, sir? Or is it for one of your potential girlfriends?” Hansol asked teasingly.
“You know very well that I’m not into women,” Soonyoung deadpanned. "Not even into dating anyone."
“I know that,” Hansol snorts, “After all, I was the one receiving calls from almost half of the blind dates you ditched that your mother bothered to arrange.”
Soonyoung groaned, making Hansol laugh.
“And it’s for Jihoon, really.”
“I see.” The younger one just gently smiled. He figured it out easily and decided not to question even further. “Okay, I will ask Seungkwan and Chan’s help since they are more reliable regarding these things. But before anything I want to ask something,”
“What is it?”
“Do you perhaps see Jihoon-hyung as more than a friend?” The suddenness of Hansol’s bold question took him by surprise. He knows how protective the young man could be towards his Jihoon-hyung.
“Why did you ask?” Now something ignited inside him, the one thing he keeps pondering about. He couldn't figure it out yet.
“Nothing hyung,” Hansol chuckled as if testing the waters. “If I were not your secretary and Jihoon-hyung’s favorite, I would have mistaken you two to be in a deeper relationship.” He added, “I’m just curious.”
Soonyoung just nodded and finally stormed out of his office leaving Hansol with the heap of papers atop of the desk that he still needed to stack up before leaving right after. But the weight of the question still boggles his thoughts. Do people really see us like that?
Hansol shrugs, watching the silhouette disappear.
"And he keeps on saying Jihoon-hyung is just a dear friend,” he grumbles, “he is so dense yet he acts as if he is the boyfriend or something.” Hansol looked at the picture of his Jihoon-hyung that Soonyoung kept on his office table.
"Friends, huh.”
Soonyoung arrived not so ten minutes ago trudging his way in as soon as his one foot landed on the cold pavements to a nearby bistro and café just a few blocks away from his office. His nose and cheeks already flushed as chilly air hits, much colder than these past few days. He wound the thick red scarf more even around his neck to cover entirely from the biting shivers. Trench coat hugged his body as tight as it could, his fluffy black hair caught in the harsh December winds, creating a disheveled nest causing him to tussle a few times, fingers in between locks.
He entered the small place, a small jingling sound echoed as Soonyoung pushed the door open and immediately roamed the place until his vision landed on a familiar blue cashmere cardigan and mop of messy silvers occupying a stool. Head resting atop of the cold mahogany counter, and seems soundly sleeping despite the awkward position the latter in.
One step, two step, boots against the rustic parquet flooring moving on its accord.
“You’re earlier than expected,” the tall bartender chimed, wiping some wine glass and beer mugs clean before stacking them back in a cupboard just above his head. He leaned by the counter, propping his elbows and resting his chin in the palm of his hands. “Your boyfriend drinks too much for someone who has low liquor tolerance.”
A whimsical smile appeared on his delicate feature, somewhat mysterious but still friendly.
Soonyoung scratches his napes. He said Jihoon is his what again? His boyfriend?
It took him some time to comprehend, mind confused and almost blank for a response. Soonyoung doesn't quite understand though. He could just simply say no, we are just friends but his mind refuses to do so. Instead, he just nodded and ignored the unfamiliar yet pleasant warmth starting to inflate against his chest.
“Why is he alone here?” Soonyoung asked. He took off his coat and draped onto Jihoon who was still sound asleep. “Why is he even drinking?”
The bartender, Jeonghan as Soonyoung reads the small name plate on his uniform, simply shrugged. “Should I know everything just because I work here?” Jeonghan sighs, “You don’t really know, do you? The reason why he’s acting like this, I mean.”
“I wouldn’t ask if I knew too,” Soonyoung said, a tad bit defensive before turning around and carefully nudges Jihoon’s sleeping form. “Jihoonie,” he said, fingers gently carding all the loose strands of hair behind the latter's folded ear. “Wake up, we need to go home now.” Soonyoung was sure he heard the bartender cooed at their domestic display but he chose to ignore him. He continued waking up the latter, “Jihoonie.”
Jihoon sleepily grumbles, “What is it?” Lifting up his hands in the air and sluggishly stood up, squinting his eyes to see through blurry visions. “Who are you? You look like Soonyoung.”
“I’m Soonyoung.”
“You are Soonyoung?” He cutely asked while pouting. “Why are you so handsome then?”
“Come on now,” Soonyoung sighs, “Can you stand? We’re going home.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s late.”
“Why?”
“You need to go home.”
“Why?” Jihoon pouted, “I still need to wait for Soonyoung and tell him something.” He slurred still under the influence of hazy liquor clouding his thoughts. “Where is he?”
“Hoonie, I’m here.” Soonyoung says gently and just like some enchanting magic, the pet name that Jihoon secretly loves seems to have worked to get his attention. “Hoonie,”
“Soonie,” Jihoon excitedly cheers. He hastily stood up despite still staggering forward and barely had the capability to carry his own body weight. Soonyoung just opened his arms and welcomed the other with an armful of hugs, letting Jihoon nuzzle his face in the neck. “I love you more than just a friend,” he says quietly but enough for Soonyoung to hear. “I want you to be my boyfriend.”
There is a foreign feeling in his chest, light and fluttering. He could feel the ticklish sensation all over his skin and the fast beating of his heart inside his ribcage, a moonstruck smile spreading slowly across his face; lips stretched widely from ear to ear with the infamous crescent eye smile. “Let me hear you say that again once you are sober.” Soonyoung mumbles as he feels the weight put against him was getting heavier. And soon he could hear Jihoon lightly snoring snuggled in his chest. Cute.
From afar, Jeonghan couldn't help but smile at them. "He's right, the one he really likes was one of the most dense objects."
“I think you are forgetting something,” Soonyoung teases, matched with a sly smirk. “Come on, say it again.”
“What do you want?” Jihoon groaned out of frustration. He couldn't stand the fact that he remembered everything that happened last night, by means of that, yes everything even the drunken confession and brief pecks on their way to his apartment. “Leave me alone!”
“Last night, you didn’t even want me to leave,” he pushes the teasing more. Seeing Jihoon’s flushed face and small whines are very endearing. “You’re really cute when drunk, Hoonie.”
“Shut up,” Jihoon rolled his eyes, albeit smiling so fondly. “You're so annoying. Why did I even like you to be my boyfriend.”
“I love you too.”
Jihoon's heart could only squeal.