Until Hell Freezes Over

Chapter 6

Midway through December, Jeonghan found himself plunged into a steady routine after much nagging from his parents. He began accompanying his father every day to his factory at eight in the morning and sat adjacent to him in his office until six in the evening.

He was assigned with a simple task of noting the attendance of the workers and the time of their arrivals which Jeonghan thought was extremely insulting considering he was the son of the owner of this factory. When he complained to his father about this, he was shunned by being told that he would eventually be assigned with a pivotal role after he proved himself in these mundane tasks.

His thoughts, like always, crawled back to Seungcheol. Nothing could have prepared Jeonghan for the onslaught of his flirtatious ways now that they were friends. They usually met at Jisoo's studio and hung out with Jisoo and Seokmin after work hours. The four of them had become closer in the last month, always lazing around together at the river or the nearby tavern where they drank until the break of dawn. Although, Jeonghan was yet to witness a drunk Seungcheol. He didn't drink a lot and when Jeonghan asked him the reason, he simply said that there has to be someone to take care of three young, wasted men.

As if meeting Seungcheol almost every evening was not enough, he had showed up one morning to the factory, dressed in the workers' uniform. Jeonghan couldn't move for a whole minute when he spotted Seungcheol from afar, plunging the heavy fabric into the tank of boiling maroon dye.

Jeonghan's gaze may or not have been fixated on the movement of his biceps as he worked sincerely.

He had walked over to him, heart thumping softly in his chest.

"Since when did you know how to dye fabrics?" Jeonghan had said casually, startling Seungcheol, causing some of the hot dye to splash on his face. Jeonghan had moved closer to him, apologising profusely. He grabbed a nearby towel and gently wiped the liquid from his cheeks. Seungcheol's eyes bore into him, making Jeonghan's breath stutter.

They stood like that, Jeonghan's fingers lightly brushing the skin below Seungcheol's eyes, unable to avert his gaze from them. Seungcheol had gently cupped his wrist and lowered his hand, pulling him closer. Jeonghan's pulse raced under the warmth of the other boy's touch. Seungcheol had cradled his wrist so delicately in between their bodies, Jeonghan's entire body was in flames.

Pulling away, Jeonghan cleared his throat.

"What are you doing here?" Seungcheol had asked, ears flushed.

"I own this place."

Seungcheol blanched, blinking repeatedly as if he couldn't believe his ears. Jeonghan laughed then.

"Well, my dad owns the factory which means I'm the next owner."

"Oh, wow," Seungcheol breathed, "I don't know what to say."

Jeonghan shrugged, feeling embarrassed. He really didn't want to rub it in Seungcheol's face like that.

"I just thought you should know," Jeonghan raised his brows. "Don't hesitate to ask for anything."

Seungcheol tilted his head. "Don't you think you are being biased right now?"

Jeonghan rolled his eyes, trying to fight the shy smile threatening to break on his face.

"Get to work, Cheollie."

He was rewarded with a beaming Seungcheol.

Not long after, Jeonghan found himself eating with Seungcheol during the latter's break time. Seungcheol insisted on sharing the lunch his mother packed for him with Jeonghan despite his ardent refusal. Because Seungcheol was a stubborn man who would not be pacified until his demands were met, Jeonghan finally relented and took a bite from the teokbokki, earning a small smile from Seungcheol.