It was time for me to leave. I'd hoped to get a nap before my shift at the convenience store tonight. I bid the members goodbye, thanking them for a good time. Yoongi-oppa opts to show me out.
We stop to light up outside the back door of the HYBE building. Yoongi-oppa assures me that we won't be seen.
"You're working the full night again, right?" asked Yoongi, taking a puff from his cigarette.
"I always am. Why, you're gonna swing by?" I asked, tapping off the ash.
"Probably. I still got that coffee you got me in the fridge. Thanks, by the way.", he takes another drag. "But I'm almost out," he shows me the nearly empty packet. "I'll probably come by to pick some up at some point, you know you won't be able to get by without your favourite oppa to keep you company," he jokes.
"Hardy har. We really ought to quit, shouldn't we? This plan is failing miserably." I replied, taking the last draw, stubbing mine out and throwing it in the litter.
"Speak for yourself, kid" said Yoongi-oppa, who ruffled my hair before heading back into the building.
"See you later, ahjussi!"
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Around three in the morning, the wind chimes ring to notify me of Yoongi-oppa's presence. He picks up another black americano, while I got his favourite out, already knowing what he's going to get.
"Lotte Black Americano and a packet of Marlboro Reds. That'll be ₩6000."
I ring his purchases up, like I always do.
"Smoke?" He asks.
I get out from behind the counter, this scene so familiar that we didn't even need any verbal confirmation.
We sat down at the table, heaving sighs of exhaustion simultaneously. He pulls out a cig from the fresh packet, and I roll one. A routine we know by heart.
A comfortable silence settles over us as we each smoke our first cigarette. I stub mine out once it's finished, and as he reaches for a second one I pull out a Juul.
"What are you doing?" he asks, curious about this new addition.
"I'm getting back on the Juul. It has to be somewhat better than cigarettes. I'm semi-serious about quitting, you know."
"Hmph", he hums while exhaling. "Does it really work?"
"To an extent," I say, "The flavour is different, it hits different. I can't have it on its own. I long for the warmth and taste of a cigarette."
"Wanna try?" I offered, sticking the device towards him. I take it back for a second to wipe off the mouthpiece with my sleeve, and offer it to him again.
He takes the device, turning it over in his pale, agile hands. He takes a drag, and ends up having a coughing fit.
"What the hell, I-ji?"
"Ah, sorry. I forgot to warn you. You can't inhale like you do with a cig. This shit tickles your throat if it's used the wrong way." I apologised.
He tried another drag, before handing it back to me.
"I'll stick with my Marlboros, thanks." he grimaces.
"Have you never tried a vape before?" I ask him, vaguely surprised.
"Taehyung and Jungkook vape. I just never bothered to try. Why not stick to what I know I like?"
"True," I agree with him. "Do any of the other members smoke?" I ask out of curiosity.
"Taehyung smokes a cig from time to time. Jungkook just sticks to his fucking Lost Mary. Jimin used to, a long time ago, but he quit to improve on his singing. The rest don't really touch nicotine at all, except for when they feel like it at a party or something." he replied.
I hummed.
"We really ought to ask Jimin how he did it, ahjussi." I mused.
"That kid is crazy. He'll do anything to improve his performance. Not really for us, I don't think." He laughs.
"Also true."
The comfortable silence falls again.
YOU ARE READING
Quit Smoking Hotline (Min Yoongi x OC FF)
Cerita PendekI-ji is chasing her dream of becoming a hair colourist, packing up and moving from London for a working-holiday to study at Seoul Beauty School. Happy to begin a new chapter of her life, she is unwilling for others to find out about the past that tr...