for lovers who hesitate | taejun

02 | convenience store

Huening Kai was unpredictable like the day. The two started talking about other things like education and work-gossip to be specific. That's when Taehyun found out Kai went to the same school as him but they both confirmed that they've never met each other prior to their job.

It was getting late when Kai got lost in the sea of people dancing to a calm song. "It's my song!" "I don't think you're supposed to dance like that to a ballad."

That didn't stop him apparently and Taehyun just made a mental note to go look for him when it's dawn.

Taehyun was left alone at the counter. Kai's face was shining to catch his eyes a few times but he mostly paid attention to an image flashing in his mind when light permeated his skin.

Flinching, Taehyun took a sip of beer. It's been awhile since he went out to enjoy himself partying. Just the smell of the place reminds him of so many things he thought he already forgot.

"Have you seen Yeonjun? I told him to wait for me so we can leave together," Taehyun's words came out a bit slurred both from the alcohol and the worry.

Beomgyu shrugs. "Your prom date left you alone?"

That was not entirely the case. Taehyun snuck in a bottle of soju and thought it would be fine having a few sips with his friends but his tipsy state didn't help him find his way to the restroom easily in a big venue. Yeonjun asked if he needed to be accompanied but he declined and simply just asked his best friend to wait for him so they could leave together. After all, Yeonjun is Taehyun's date for tonight.

"I'm sure he's just around here. See you next week?" Taehyun bid Beomgyu farewell and he found himself getting drinks from the food aisle.

It was getting a bit frustrating when Yeonjun's still yet to be seen even after thirty minutes and as much as Taehyun wants to leave and rest, he knows Yeonjun well, and he's probably looking for him right now too.

Or maybe that was what he hoped for.

Making a beeline to the less crowded area of the dance floor, Taehyun found the person he's been searching for, only he wasn't alone.

"Uhm," He didn't know how to react. There was nothing in his memory that mentioned Yeonjun having a boyfriend before-or did he? If that's the case, why didn't Taehyun know who he's currently having his lip locked with?

It only confused him more when the sight netted a headache.

Taehyun didn't wait for anything else. Without even a minute later, he was making his way home alone for the first time in months.

That was an odd memory to remember at a moment like this. Especially when it's Huening Kai that reminds Taehyun of it.

"Someone puked on the restroom entrance," Kai appeared in front of him, heaving a sigh. "Someone not me."

He fell over but Taehyun was quick enough to catch him. It was no brainer, Kai was drunk-drunk. He can barely stand!

"Let's go somewhere to sober you up."

-

They're lucky Seoul has convenience stores left and right. Dragging Kai out wasn't too hard of a job when just a few walk from the bar there's an open store where he can buy drinks (non-alcoholic) to help wake his friend up from his daze. Taehyun thought it was stupid of him to not think about the possibilities of Kai getting drunk when he invited him out to ditch work-Taehyun doesn't even know where he lives! For as long as this boy couldn't open his eyes, he's Taehyun's responsibility!

"Wait here. I'll buy you water, okay?" Taehyun didn't wait for a reply-it's not like Kai can anyway-and met the sound of the convenience store cashier greeting him when he entered. "No need for a bag," He said when he went to pay for what he got.

"Your boyfriend is a looker and so are you. You make a perfect couple," The cashier commented and Taehyun could only laugh awkwardly. She was old, not old enough to be his grandma but old enough to be his mother, and she sounded so happy giving them compliments.

Taehyun didn't have the heart to disrupt her smiley state. "Uhm, thank you."

Tending to a drunk Huening Kai was easier than he thought. Taehyun saw him sitting up and staring at the flash of his phone, lighting up to show that someone was calling him, when he got back. Taehyun thought of waiting back for Kai to take it, but before he could, Kai already flipped his phone facing down disregarding the ring.

"Who was that?" Taehyun hands him a bottle of water and he accepts with a polite thank you. Maybe the silent street was taking him back to being reserved because Taehyun was sure this was not the same person who was dancing around in the club without shame, especially when Kai shook his head and a wave of blush appeared on his cheeks.

"Just someone who's been giving me a hard time."

"Do I know this 'someone'?"

Kai finished half of the bottle before answering. "Maybe," He wore a faint smile on his lips. "I just feel sick recently. There's always this thing that's holding me back and I want it to stop."

"So this is why you agreed to drink with me tonight."

"I can't lie about it anymore, right?" He chuckled when his phone finally stopped ringing. "Going out today made me feel great."

"That makes the two of us," Taehyun clinks his water bottle with Kai's, imitating the ones they did with their beer glass earlier. "Dating is great. You're happy then sad then happy again. Even if you want it to be all love between the two of you all the time you still end up fighting-well, we can't always get what we want."

Taehyun saw how Kai was in deep thoughts after that and he didn't ask him any further questions. Just sipping his water, Taehyun waited for him to start a conversation that never came.

It must have been a very big problem.

When the silence started to bore him, Taehyun gave Hueningkai a fond look. "Should I tell you about someone who gave me a hard time?"

It's definitely going to be a long night.