Work Text:
Jisung never really minded working at the frozen yogurt place near his apartment. It was an easy job with a somewhat justifiable pay. However, he only began to complain when the season rolled near the time of when students started getting off of school. Or, began skipping classes more regularly. As he was a full-time student in college, he had a mixture of both sweet-deprived uni students and rebellious teens who snuck out for a late-night treat.
He stands behind the counter most of the time. Either he’s playing mobile games on his phone when no one is around, and or is dusting off the counters as the toppings area can get a little messy. If he’s really bored, he’ll try to see how much froyo he can fit into one sample cup. It’s not much, unless he piles it really high until it flops onto his hand. Which he typically ends up eating.
He takes on a closing shift which is not uncommon for him. He specifically made his class schedule in a way that sectioned off school, homework and cramming, then work. Therefore, working during the night typically made more sense for him. As he whistles to the tunes that play off his phone and through the store’s speakers, the jingle of their front door catches his attention. However, instead of looking at the customer, his eyes dart to the nearest clock and reads that it is approximately forty minutes before closing.
The boy who walks in evidently does not care about how he looks. His hair is a bit disheveled and the clothing he wears are not the most compatible with each other. The unnamed customer has a well-fitted hoodie with a designer brand plastered on the back. His hoodie is up, covering his face to keep his identity a mystery. In contrast, he wears duck patterned pajama pants and bright red converse. Although they’re all their own individual pieces, it works but also doesn’t at the same time. Jisung reminds himself he doesn’t have the right to judge, he’s wearing a pink visor inside the store with a green apron. What is this, Cosmo and Wanda?
He grabs a large cup without looking, implying that this isn’t his first rodeo or he was really good at guessing. As he heads to the serving stations, he observes each flavor by walking backwards to get a grand view of all of them. Smart move. Jisung thinks to himself as that’s the trick he usually pulls.
After a couple minutes, he presents his decision by walking over to the header that says New York cheesecake and places his cup under the dispenser. However, for a moment he hesitates, walking to the other side of the station and pulling down the handle to swirl their seasonal matcha flavor and vanilla. Dragging his body to the toppings counter, he sprinkles broken up graham crackers, crumbled oreos and drizzled chocolate over his creation. For such a unique outfit, his froyo build is not too shabby.
In silence he places his cup on the weight, as Jisung works the cashier. He states his price, “Seven, thirty-six.”
For a second, the boy is clicking the side of his IPhone violently. Jisung assumes he’s trying to get his Face ID to work to start his payment. “Gosh, so stupid…” He mutters to himself, ripping off his hoodie to display his face.
Jisung sees different people everyday and it’s not like the faces stick unless they’re regulars (which is rarely an occurrence). However, as the boy revealed his face, Jisung’s eyes could not help but invade every detail of him. His jawline, perfectly defined. Perfect moisturized lips, and skin that anyone would kill for. His reddish-brown hair fluffed up from being kept under his hoodie, he smiles and taps the free-hand payment. Although it was for a second, Jisung thought he saw heaven in that single flash.
“Thank you.” He looks up to Jisung, giving him another smile. “Really needed this.” The comment gives a gateway for Jisung to start a conversation while he grabs his spoon and napkins.
“Long day?” It’s the easiest response Jisung could think of without being invasive.
He sighs, “Tell me about it. My lab partner for chemistry is not to be trusted. I knew that, but allowed them to hold onto all of our data. Our report is due tonight, he lost all of it!”
Jisung could understand his pain as he was an English major, imagine working so hard on collecting analysis and workshopping write-ups to find your drive never saved any of your progress? Heartbreak, immediately .
“I’m so sorry, that’s..really tough. But, uh..” Jisung feels a bit timid to ask the next question, knowing it could go multiple ways. “Why are you here if it’s due tonight?”
The brunette is silenced by the question, taking a deep breath he stabs the plastic spoon into his froyo. “Because getting froyo is a better option than cussing out your lab partner and getting reported to the professor. Also! It’s a better option than obsessing over a Hinge profile who barely responds to your text however always views your Instagram stories.”
College student and a double whammy for the night. Jisung takes mental notes. “That’s fair. Also, a good option. It’ll cool you down since you seem heated from these situations.”
Before the boy takes a bite from his froyo, he looks at Jisung, eyeing him up and down twice. “Can I ask you a favor?”
Jisung’s lips purse into a line before responding, “Sure.”
“Can you take off your hat and apron?”
“Why?”
“Please.”
He does. The hat and apron come off without further question. Jisung doesn’t have anything crazy under his uniform. Simply just his platinum dyed hair that needs a touch up, a black fitted t-shirt and black-faded jeans. He was a simple guy with a simple job.
“ You’re perfect .”
Jisung is taken aback by the comment, is he ogling him? And, did he just let him? Before he can get a word in, the brunette begins waving his hands around in embarrassment. “No! Wait, hear me out before you kick me out because that was really creepy!”
Jisung is about to slap his visor back on, except the boy stops him with a flat palm facing Jisung. “Can you pretend to be on a froyo date with me?”
“What? I’m on shift?”
The boy taps his phone to check the time. “You guys close in like thirty minutes? I’ll pay you.”
He wonders if the Hinge guy was that good looking. The brunette was gorgeous, to be chasing a potential uggo on the internet would hurt his soul. If he looked hot enough, maybe he could change his mind about the pixelated person. “Okay. But, can you at least tell me your name?”
“Chenle.”
Pretty. “Jisung.”
“I know,” He laughs, “I read your name tag.”
Although many people probably do the same, the minor detail made his heart beat rise. Jisung ignores it as he watches Chenle scurry over to grab another cup of froyo and fill it up with the cold dessert. He scurried to the counter, dropping fun toppings and handing it to Jisung. Before he accepts it, he places his uniform on the counter.
“I’ll pay for it, don’t worry.” Chenle says.
Jisung grabs the cup with two hands, “What would you like me to do?”
Chenle points to a nearby table, “I’ll sit across from you and snap some photos. I’ll try to make them faceless, but I'd like your whole body in the frame.”
Jisung walks around the counter and to the table Chenle refers to. For some reason, he’s being very obedient to a pretty stranger. As he sits, Chenle places the paid froyo on the seat across from Jisung and sits. He pulls out his phone, “Okay..so, whatever feels best for you. Pretend it’s our first date, you’re supposed to be a little shy. It’s like I’m soft-launching you.”
Taking photos in front of a guy knowing he’d be used for his own personal gain makes Jisung a little vulnerable. But, he tries to weigh it out by looking hotter than the guy he’s trying to get attention from. So, he poses automatically and ensures to get a shy, yet innocent persona on camera to showcase the playful first-date concept. He turns his head to the side, covering his mouth and smiling wide. Jisung shows off his build, sticking out his legs to show off his extension and embodying the concept Chenle described.
Chenle is silent for most of the time, he’s constantly tapping and trying new angles. After a few minutes, he finishes and nods in satisfaction. “You really gave it your all.”
Jisung shrugs his shoulders, “What can I say, I’m a natural?”
Chenle scrunches his nose and smiles, “These will definitely set him off.” He flips the phone and shows the photos of Jisung, there’s multiple variations but they’re all really well shot. “You’re so boyfriend-coded. Wait , you’re not taken are you?”
Jisung immediately shook his head, “Oh, no. If I was, I wouldn’t have let you.”
“Oh good. I thought I almost committed a crime.”
“You’re in the clear.” Jisung reassures, and he begins walking back to his station.
He ties his apron back on and slaps his visor back onto his head. Although there’s little time left, he has to get started with closing. Chenle traveled his way to the front of the cashier, placing the second cup of froyo onto the scale and waited for a price. He waits there for a couple of seconds, however it seems that Jisung ignores him.
“Are you going to ring me up?”
Jisung shakes his head, “You’re good.”
“I can’t leave without paying for this?”
“On the house.”
Chenle sighs, “Jisung..”
Jisung takes the froyo off of the scale and places it in front of Chenle. Making eye contact with Chenle, he smirks. “If the hinge guy you're chasing doesn’t make a move after seeing me on your profile. Can I take you on a date to show him how unlucky he was to pass up on you?”
Chenle tilts his head, a little chuckle escapes and he can’t help but admire how smooth Jisung was with his words. “Sure. But, who said it was only him?”
“Add me to the roster.”
Chenle bites his lip, enjoying the change in momentum. As Jisung began to walk away, Chenle had pulled out his phone and met him behind the counter. It’s the search feature on Instagram, “Can't leave without it, I need to tag you.”
“Wow, are you sure I’m a soft-launch?” Jisung jokes, only making Chenle shrug.
After their social media exchange, Chenle says goodbye and Jisung begins wiping down counters, tables and mopping the floor. Definitely not his favorite activity after having a fun interaction with a cute boy. It only takes about twenty minutes to find his face on Chenle’s page as he felt the notification buzz his thigh. Smiling from the array of photos he posted, he was so silly to request such a favor from a froyo worker.
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However, being a froyo worker that night had its perks. As Jisung sat in his apartment working on assignments, he received a message in his inbox on Instagram. This hasn’t been anything new as he’s been gaining a couple of new follow requests from some randos. However, he reads Chenle’s username.
zchenleee: you jumped to the top of my list, when’s my date?
Jisung smiles, covering his mouth.
jisungpark_: pick you up at 7?