Work Text:
“What the fuck?!” Donghyuck yells, staring at his phone in horror.
“Oops,” Renjun mumbles, also staring at said phone in horror.
It’s just three simple words staring back at him. But the thing is, it shouldn’t be in this particular chat with said person and Donghyuck is mere seconds away from throwing his phone and screaming into the abyss. He drops the phone, not bothering worrying about where it lands.
“It’s done, I’m over,” he groans, burying his head in his arms. “I can never show my face in front of him again, if he would even want to see me at all now.”
Renjun picks up the phone with a frown, “He hasn’t read it yet, stop complaining.”
Donghyuck lifts his head up to glare at the boy. “This is your fault,” he accuses.
“I said I was sorry,” Renjun says, not looking sorry at all.
Donghyuck scoffs, “No you didn’t?”
“Oh, well that’s because I’m not.”
Donghyuck rips his phone out of the boy's hand. “Leave me alone, haven't you done enough damage?”
“Suit yourself,” Renjun says while Donghyuck goes back to his moping. “I guess I won’t tell you about my plan then.”
“I don’t care about your plan,” Donghyuck mutters. They stare each other down, Renjun trying to get the younger boy to crack. He can see Donghyuck start tapping his foot, clearly curious but still wanting to hold his ground. It takes another 5 seconds until he gives. “Ok, spill.”
Renjun grins at him, one of those grins that lets Donghyuck already know this is a terrible plan and also that he’s most definitely in.
“We steal his phone.”
🪐
“I can’t believe your plan is to steal his phone? Really, that’s the best you can come up with?”
“Shut up, do you want everyone to know about our plan?”
“It’s like 10 at night, who’s around?”
“Maybe a cop? I don’t fucking know?”
“Also, were the disguises necessary? He already knows us.”
“Yeah, but we look cool.”
There’s a pause.
“Ok, yeah you’re right. We do look cool.”
“See!”
The door dings, alerting everyone in the store to the two boys entering. And by everyone he literally only means Jaemin because he’s the only soul still in this store at this time. Jaemin looks up from where he was browsing through some random magazine, ready to say the mandatory greeting his boss also scolds him for not saying. The words die on his throat when he sees who it is.
He raises an eyebrow. “If you guys steal anything I am not chasing you down and you’ll have to live with the fact you got me fired because you wanted a pack of starbursts and some mountain dew at 10 at night.”
Renjun scoffs, lowering his dark sunglasses so he can look at Jaemin. Jaemin’s eyebrow raises even more. “How dare you to think I can’t afford a pack of starbursts and some mountain dew.”
Jaemin blinks at him, eyeing the rest of his attire which consists of gloves and a long trench coat. “Right.” His gaze turns to Donghyuck and the suspicious look turns to one of fondness. “What can I get you?” He asks, a smile tugging on his lips.
“Oh, so you don’t question him?” Renjun says, tone insulted.
Jaemin ignores him.
Once Donghyuck’s mouth is able to form words, partly thanks to the small kick Renjun gives him, he says, “Nah, just wanted to hang.”
The small smile he had on his face grows, stunning Donghyuck as he stares at the dazzling boy. “Cool.”
Donghyuck swallows, “Yeah, cool.”
“Yeah, yeah, cool, whatever. Where’s your restroom?” Renjun says, interrupting their moment.
Jaemin frowns, “Jun you know the only restroom here is the one for employee’s only, right?”
Renjun tilts his head innocently. He knows, of course he knows.
“I didn’t know that!” He gives Jaemin his famous pout, the one nobody in their friend group can say no to. “Pleaseeeee.”
Jaemin rolls his eyes, opening the counter so Renjun can squeeze past and head into the employees only door. “Be quick.”
“I will!” Renjun says. As he goes he gives Donghyuck a look . Donghyuck has no idea what this look implies but he nods his head anyways and watches as Renjun gives him a satisfied smile as he slips into the room. Is he supposed to do something?
Donghyuck busies himself with the assortment of candy bars on the counter instead, trying to ignore the boy humming to himself as he lazily flips through the magazine. He picks one up, observing it closely. “So uh, come here often?”
Jaemin’s gaze turns to him, amused. “Seeing how I work here, yeah.”
Donghyuck nods like he just said the most interesting thing in the world, “Cool, cool.” He slides the candy bar to the center of the counter, “I’ll take this.”
Jaemin slides it back to him, “On the house of you promise to share with me.”
“Oh how generous, a free chocolate bar that costs one dollar,” Donghyuck jokes,choosing to sit on the counter as he begins to unwrap it anyways.
Jaemin grins, “Shut up and share.”
Donghyuck tears it in half, “Half a candy bar, coming up.” He goes to hand it to Jaemin, but the boy makes no movement to actually take it, he just opens his mouth. It clicks in Donghyuck right away and he stutters, “W-wha–I’m not feeding you, you’re literally at work?”
Jaemin shrugs as if to say so? “I don’t want to get chocolate on my hands.”
Donghyuck mentally debates the pros and cons to feeding his crush a piece of chocolate. Can’t be that bad for his heart, right?
Turns out it was bad for his pride because just as he’s about to feed it to the smirking boy, the door jingles.
“Oh my, aren’t you two cute?”
Donghyuck yelps and drops the chocolate, Jaemin frowns as it stains his shirt. He still manages to turn to the older lady with a customer friendly smile on his face like he wasn’t just about to be fed a piece of chocolate on the job. “Welcome, can I help you with anything?”
“Hm, if it’s not too much trouble I have a small shopping list you could help with.”
Jaemin nods his head, charming smile and everything in place, “Of course miss, let me see it.” As he passes by Donghyuck he whispers, “You owe me chocolate.”
Donghyuck glares, “Fine, I’ll buy another one.” He grabs a crumpled up dollar bill from his wallet and shoves it in the cash register, setting the candy bar to the side for later.
Jaemin retrieves the shopping list from the older lady and frowns as it keeps unfolding and unfolding. He blinks at the list of 20+ items.
“I hope it’s not too much,” the older lady frowns as she takes it back, examining it once again.
Donghyuck snorts, Jaemin’s eyebrow twitches at the sound. “Not at all miss, I’ll gladly be of assistance.”
The lady coos at him, pinching his cheeks. Donghyuck has to stop himself from falling off the counter in laughter, damn he should have recorded this.
“You’re such a sweetheart, ok let’s get to work.”
Ok this time Donghyuck does fall off the counter in laughter as he watches the older lady take small steps in the direction of the things she needs, Jaemin slowly behind her.
“I hope I’m not going to fast honey,” she says as she slowly picks up a can of whatever and examines it closely only to put it back 20 seconds later.
Jaemin, ever the charmer, reassures her. “Of course not, I’m happy to help. How about I-” he goes to retrieve the paper, but the lady interrupts.
“Which one do you think I should get dear?”
Jaemin must have been raised by saints with the way he’s so patient with her. The door jingles again and Jaemin pleads with his eyes for Donghyuck to handle it. Donghyuck gladly hops behind the counter and puts on that sickly sweet customer service smile he sees Jaemin always wearing, except it doesn’t work on the person who approaches the counter, but Donghyuck decides quickly that his opinion doesn’t matter.
Jeno grimaces as he shoves a few cans of pop and chips on the counter. “Stop that, you look creepy. Also doesn’t Jaemin work here?”
“Dear, grab me that one. Hm, wait actually the one next to it. Huh, maybe the first one was good afterall.”
Jeno doesn’t even have to turn around to figure out what’s going on, “Ah, she’s back again.”
“She comes here often?” Donghyuck asks as he struggles to find the barcode to scan. Jeno easily takes it out of his hand and does it for him, allowing Donghyuck to sit back and relax, pretty easy job if he says so himself.
“All the time, I’m surprised Jaemin doesn’t just have a bag set aside for her.” Jeno also bags his own items and why does Donghyuck even need to be here to begin with? He just accepts the money and everything else is done for him.
“Seems pretty annoying if you ask me,” Donghyuck mutters as he watches Jaemin nearly lose his balance as he reaches for a bag of flour on the very top shelf.
“Nah, he doesn’t mind, I think she reminds him of his grandma.” Jeno sets aside a can of coffee for Jaemin.
“Oh.” Donghyuck blinks as he watches Jaemin smile at her and, yeah it’s genuine. Not like those fake ones he usually saves for annoying customers. Donghyuck thinks it’s nice.
Once Jeno leaves Donghyuck yelps when he’s suddenly pulled under the counter.
“You ok?” Comes Jaemin’s voice.
“He’s fine, he’s just helping me find my contacts!” Renjun yells. He turns to Donghyuck, a sinister grin on his face as he dangles a phone in Donghyuck’s face. Pink case with a cat paw on the back, Jaemin’s .
“Did you find it?” Donghyuck whispers.
Renjun shakes his head and Donghyuck isn’t sure how to feel about it until he shows the younger boy that the message simply doesn’t exist in the chat. Donghyuck quickly pulls out his phone and sighs in relief at the words displayed on the screen.
Message not sent
“Oh thank god,” Donghyuck mutters.
“I think you should send it.”
Donghyuck looks at Renjun. “What and ruin our friendship?” Donghyuck scoffs then pouts when Renjun flicks his forehead.
“You need to stop watching those cheesy romances with me. Just because you confess doesn’t mean things will change. Either he likes you back and you date, or he doesn’t and you stay friends, it’s that simple.”
It is but it also isn’t so Donghyuck chooses not to say anything and continues his pouty ways.
“Are you guys good down there,” Jaemin says, peeking over the counter. “Hey, is that my phone?”
Renjun looks at the object in his hand like it offends him. “This isn’t my phone, what the hell?!”
Jaemin once again just blinks at the boy and snatches it out of his hand. He looks at it, curiously when he sees whose chat is opened. “Why were you looking at our chat?”
Renjun huffs as he stands up, “I don’t know what you mean, I thought that was my phone. Also I better get going,” Renjun starts heading out the doors, long coat and sunglasses still on. “Oh before I go, Donghyuck wanted to ask you something–ok bye!”
Maybe Donghyuck will stay under this counter, it’s kind of cozy.
“Donghyuck?” Jaemin says amused as he takes his place behind the counter. “Are you ok?”
“Peachy.”
“You gonna get up?”
“No.”
“Alright, can’t argue with that.”
“Oh, where did your little boyfriend go, Jaemin?” The older lady says and yeah Donghyuck thinks he’ll just stay under here for the rest of eternity, the only thing up there is suffering.
“Uh, taking a break I guess.”
Ok, Jaemin didn’t deny it. Interesting.
“Well then, here’s some money for you two cuties. Get some snacks for valentines and enjoy them together.”
Donghyuck listens as Jaemin bags her things and then the door jingles once again, leaving them alone.
Jaemin plops down next to Donghyuck with a content sigh. “It does feel nice to sit down, anyways,” he shows Donghyuck the twenty dollar bill with a grin, “Any snack requests?”
🪐
“This is way too much Jaemin,” Donghyuck groans as he eyes all the snacks now laid out on the floor around them.
Jaemin shrugs and begins to dig in, “She said to get snacks, so I did. Open your mouth.”
Donghyuck does without thinking and is surprised to feel Jaemin placing a candy heart in his mouth. He tries to play it cool, but he blushes like crazy and it doesn’t go unnoticed by Jaemin.
“Me next,” Jaemin smirks and then opens his mouth.
So they spend the remainder of his shift talking about anything and everything while feeding each other slightly terrible valentine’s day candy.
“Did you have to buy the shittiest candy your story could possibly have?”
Jaemin’s about to argue, but then grimaces as he swallows. “Yeah it’s pretty terrible.”
“But it was free.”
Jaemin grins, “Exactly.”
Once they finish all the terrible snacks, already accepting their impending doom later when they get stomach aches, Donghyuck waits outside for Jaemin to close up the shop.
“Good?”
“Yep,” Jaemin says, tugging on his hat.
Donghyuck has never seen a boy look so good in a simple black snapback before.
“You get home so late,” Donghyuck mutters as they walk down the dark path in the direction of their respective homes. It’s lit up dimly by street lights but still too dark and dangerous if you ask him.
“It’s not bad honestly, and Jeno usually walks me home.”
“Oh, why didn’t he walk you home this time?”
Jaemin looks at him, lips turning up in the corner. “Because you’re here.”
Donghyuck looks at him confused. He never told Jeno he was going to walk Jaemin home, although Jaemin didn’t even need to ask. Donghyuck naturally waited until Jaemin was done with his shift and the shop was locked up. Maybe Jeno just knew Donghyuck was going to walk him home.
Donghyuck opens his mouth to reply, but is interrupted by a tiny ding .
Jaemin stops and so does Donghyuck. He watches the younger boy fish his phone out of his pocket and unlock it. He stares at the screen for a few seconds before pocketing it and continuing to walk forward.
“You coming?”
“Oh,” Donghyuck nods and runs to catch up.
They walk the rest of the way in comfortable silence until their time together finally comes to an end and they have to part.
“Well, I’m this way,” Donghyuck points in the opposite direction of Jaemin’s place. Jaemin nods and offers him a small smile, but his eyes seem lost in thought. “See you tomorrow?” Donghyuck hopes he sees him tomorrow. He turns around and starts heading home, already wondering what he and Renjun are going to eat before bed. Or maybe he shouldn’t after eating all that Valentine's chocolate. He hears quick footsteps behind him and before he can come to the conclusion that he’s about to be robbed, he hears his name.
“Donghyuck.”
He’s turned around and before he can even think, Jaemin is pulling him forward by the wrist and planting a small kiss on his cheek. He pulls back, a beautiful smile on his face, “I like you too.”
Donghyuck is speechless as he watches Jaemin wave and then jog away until he’s out of sight. He blinks a couple times, brain switching between thinking about the kiss and the confession until Donghyuck realizes he said too, I like you too . He pulls out his phone, staring at the three words that started this all.
I like you
message sent