are you ready to love? // jaywon ff

the start

it was a friday and the students rushed out of school like a horde of prisoners. jungwon walked leisurely with his peers with a huge smile on his face, hiding his weariness from work.
"should we eat tteokbokki?"
"i'll pass! i have something to do.... you guys can go ahead!"

jungwon swung his bag over his broad shoulder and he exited the school. jay stood far away, watching the backs of jungwon with his friends. there he was, alone, as always.

soon, the night shift ended and they started clearing the expiring products from the shelves.

"hey jay, do you want to eat these?" jungwon said while holding 2 cups of ramen and gimbap. while he tried to play it cool, he was actually flustered and had to muster up the courage just to say these words.

jay agreed and the two sat at the umbrella seats outside the store. silence engulfed them as they ate. jungwon tried to strike a conversation with jay but would be greeted with one-word replies. suddenly, jay spoke up.

"so.... what's your hobby?"
stunned by his sudden question, jungwon was flustered and played with the hem of his hoodie.
"i, i guess i like playing tennis?"
"oh, i see"
the two started talking about their interests and became more comfortable with one another.

this started becoming a daily routine. after work, they would share foods and enjoy the night sky in each other's presence. they became more comfortable with one another and jay was slowly opening up with jungwon. whenever they crossed paths in school, they would make eye contact but the pair never greeted one another.

they decided to commute to their workplace after school together but kept their distance until students from the same school were out of sight. getting coffee from the vending machine at the corner of the convenience store also became a habit of the two. the pair spent their free time studying and joking with one another, plastering bright smiles on their faces that seemed genuine and earnest, freed from all worries.

i should tell him soon jungwon thought to himself as he stared at jay's wide smile.