𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 | 𝐣𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥

a h o p

mingyu did not prester his older brother more as they got back to his office; instead, he flopped down on the couch and started scrolling through his phone. he opened the calculator, then closed it. He opened the weather app, then closed it. finally, he opened his contacts, then closed it again. with an "ouch," his phone slipped out of his hands and landed on his face. jeonghan, who happened to be looking at him at that exact moment, was trying to hold back laughter. "hyung? aren't you bored?" he asked. the younger man dropped his phone with a huff and stared at the wall. jeonghan cleared his throat and replied, meh, i've been busy the past few days; i'm just trying to finish these things. i'll catch up on the boredom later," not looking up from his work.

"okay," humming, his only way to cure the boredom. "hyung..." he calls out his voice echoes the silent office, "if you were to choose?" mingyu pauses, his hands fiddling in the air, "what would you rather do, forgive to forget or forgetting to forgive?" this caught the attention of the older, this is not about his father and the company. "what are you hinting, mingyu?" jeonghan observes him, his head was on his side as his feet were dangling at the other end of the couch, "just curious, on what would you rather do."

"are you in that situation right now?" the latter asks. "no, just a stupid question." mingyu sat up and turned to face the not-now-busy jeonghan when suddenly his phone began to rang, he picked up, "kim mingyu, come here, right now." the call suddenly ended. mingyu looks at his phone, "he could have said 'hello, where are you, i need you right now,'" mingyu sighed heavily, he has been rejecting everything about the company but when situations occur he is always called, "hyung, guess hows the "talk" goes, if you're right, i'll buy you your favourite coffee and bring seungkwan here." with that, the younger rushes out to the door.

jeonghan worriedly nodded, his eyes follows mingyu, he felt like he need to do something for the younger, yet he doesn't know what and when. he shifted his concentration, he won't be able to finish hisnwork if he keep on thinking about mingyu.

he was so engrossed in his work that he loses track of time, "jeonghan? i'll get going first, okay? i have a friends meeting." his mother called, and bid him goodbye, "okay, have fun" he shouted as his mother slowly walks away. he then started to arrange his things, picked up all the trash, and heads towards the coffee shop. "hey ryunjin, is seungcheol still here?" he asks one of the staff members, looking through the coffee shop, "yeah, he's in the office; i'll call him for you,"

he was anxious, and you can see it. minutes has passed, he sat there waiting, he fixed himself, making himself somewhat presentable. this sucks, "hey jeonghan, i heard you were finding me. sorry for the long wait." seungcheol sat in front of him, jeonghan stood up, "it's all right, i was the one who asked for your presence. thank you for coming."

"no worries, we're friends and after all you're our long-time customer... you should sit first," jeonghan followed what seungcheol told him, the latter was staring at him, gazing his movements as the former felt stiff, he couldn't utter a word, "i...want to ask you a favor."

"yeah, sure. spill me on it." the older let his elbows on the table and rested his chin, "you and mingyu are close right amd everyone can see it, can you, you know, keep it a secret? on how we met?" jeonghan cringes. he can't help but feel like he need this thing be a secret, just this time. "sure. tho it would pique my interest on why but i understand the need for privacy," his gummy smile showed; it was as if reassuring him. "thanks, a lot for this seungcheol, thank you.."

"had you had dinner yet?" seungcheol sighed and changedthe topic, "no, i'll just buy on a nearby convenience store," jeonghan answers, the atmosphere changing, "lets have dinner there then," shocked by the former, "i'm gonna buy and eat it at the park, you in?"

"yeah! also it's already six quarter to seven; i wanna have something new to my palate, wait here." seungcheol rushes to the staff room, "ryunjin whose gonna pick you up here?" seungcheol's voice echoes on the empty coffee shop, "my girlfriend, yeji sir," ryunjin answers after she organized the aprons piling, "all right, i'll get going first, text us when you get home, ok?" he said as he rushes out the staff room again, wearing a long coat.

"let's go," seungcheol pats jeonghans lower back, gesturing for him to move, "are you sure?"

"yeah!" seungcheol presses his keys that made his car beep and light up, indicating that it was unlocked. awkward silence, for him it was, but for the other, he does not know.

"do you usually offer a ride home to your staffs?" jeonghan curiously asks, as seungcheol revvs his engine, "yeah i do, especially staff that closes the shop," he walks out of his car and opened the passenger seat, "let's go" the younger felt overwhelmed, but also grateful for seungcheol's gesture. hesitating momentarily before settling into the passenger seat jeonghan couldn't help but notice the inviting warmth of the car's interior.

as seungcheol started to drive through the neighborhood, going to the nearest convenience store that's open, jeonghan couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and security, something he hadn't felt in a long time.

"do you know what's happening with mingyu right now?" seungcheol opens up, "like any new thing? new partner?" jeonghan gazed at him, he was observing him, contemplating whether he would tell the thing thats concerning him or other situation happening with mingyu.

"well, there is nothing new. you seem to know about the company, and still he won't budge to own it." jeonghan answers, it was the only thing he can say, then as they arrived at a seven-eleven jeonghan stepped out of the car, "do you want me to buy you or are you fonna come with me?" he was unsure, "yeah wait i'll come."

seungcheol steps out of the car, jeonghan started to walk towards the shop, slowly cheollie caught up with hannie. they entered and exited the store with smile on their faces, clearly comfortable and having fun with each others company.

as they bought their food they entered the car ans started to drive to the park, although not too far the time seems to slow down, maybe from having too much fun? they arrived a little later, jeonghan can't seem to think the park is familiar, "hey cheolah, do you have a dog?" hannie asks, his voice seemed too familiar for him,

"i do, her name is kkuma," seungcheol grabs their food, "so that was you huh," jeonghan looks back, "and that's why you're so familiar, aside from the incident." he lowers his voice for the last part. "should we sit here?" seungcheol places their food and grabs something at his car, hannie slowly approaches the chair, he love the scent of fresh air. and maybe also the companion.

"hey, here, let's eat." he calls jeonghan, and seated on the chair, "thanks for the food."