In the Time Spent With You (Junhao)

Chapter One: Lonely, lonely

"Aw come on Minghao! You always skip these staff meet ups after work! I heard Jeonghan would be paying the bill this time and he never pays the dinner bill!"

Minghao huffed at that, picking up the speed he was walking at in hopes of creating a gap between him and the one chasing him, but the huge pile of papers in his hands served as no help. They only added on more weight and slowed him down, his every step followed by whines from the man behind him.

After an agonizing three minutes, the two finally reached Minghao's work desk.

"Minghao come on it's just one night!"

The younger of the two groaned, slamming the large stack of documents on his desk, making the other jump at the loud sound. He turned his head, looking back at the man who followed him all they way across the office just pester him, with a cold glare.

"I already said no Soons and no means no." He opened up a filing cabinet under his desk and started to organize the stack in there before continuing his rejection to the older's offer, "You know I like my alone time....I don't like being with you people out of work hours. Plus, you guys can get pretty weird when you're drunk." He slammed the cabinet door shut and gave him a jarred expression.

Soonyoung pouted, "Hey! We aren't all weird! It's been a year since you've moved into the building and im literally the only one you talk to. Why don't you come out and meet the people you'll be stuck with for the next ten years of your life?" He moved to sit on his friend's desk, "I mean, don't you ever get lonely? Or do you just hate us that much."

"I hate you all that much." Minghao bluntly answered, gathering his things as he saw the clock arms ticking down to his clock-out time. Soonyoung made an offended face, "At least we're nice to you. You know, many of us just want to be friends Minghao."

Minghao scoffed as he shoved his laptop in his bag, "Friends? You grownups still do those things?"

"What do you mean still do those things? I think friendship is a pretty important thing in life. You learn things from people, you have someone to laugh with, someone to-"

"Things like friendship don't last in life Soonyoung." Minghao cut in.

"Family doesn't even last, nor do relationships. We're meant to be alone in this life and I stand by that." He zipped up the black bag in front of him, neatly stacking some notes and powering off the lamp.

Soonyoung hummed, "But that shouldn't stop you from making the most out of it. Come on, let's get you out of that little depressing world and have some fun with us! I'm sure everyone will be happy to see you there!" The older man grabbed onto his arm, standing up to try and drag him to where Jeonghan and the rest of the coworkers waited, but Minghao remained in his spot.

Soonyoung looked back at him, "Why aren't you moving?"

"Because I already said no." Minghao took his arm away and dusted it off, "Enjoy your dinner, but I'm sitting this one out." He turned in the opposite direction, walking down to the exit despite hearing the whines spilling from his coworkers mouth. He knows Soonyoung has to understand at this point.

This was something that happened daily and if you ask the young boy, he'll say he's used to it, but won't give up on persuading Minghao to get drunk with them one night.

It'll never happen Minghao always responds and that's usually the outcome and has been for the past year he's been working here.

Those staff dinners were all bullshit anyways, getting drunk with people you aren't even that close with and embarrassing yourself? No thanks, Minghao thinks. Not too mention how loud these people were already. Everyday at work is a headache for the poor Chinese boy.