Mischief Managed (Stray Kids Oneshots)

Bookstore Bond | Kim Seungmin

It was a rainy afternoon when you found yourself in your favorite local bookstore, surrounded by the familiar scent of paper and coffee. The quiet hum of the space was soothing, as always, and you were content to browse the aisles, lost in the world of stories. But when you reached the section you were most excited about—new releases—you saw it: the last copy of The Night of Lost Stars, the book you'd been eagerly waiting to read for weeks.

As your fingers brushed against the spine, you heard a voice beside you, soft and polite.

"Sorry, I think I was reaching for that one."

You looked over, surprised to see a guy your age, a little shy but with a warm smile. He had dark, soft eyes that seemed to carry the kind of quiet confidence that made you feel instantly at ease. His gaze flickered to the book in your hand, and there was a brief moment of awkwardness before you both pulled back slightly, as if giving each other the space to claim the book.

"Uh, I guess we both want it," you said with a nervous laugh, holding it up between the two of you.

He chuckled, the sound light and easy. "I promise I'm not trying to steal it from you. I've been waiting for this book to come out for months."

"Same here," you admitted, holding it a little tighter. "But maybe we could both get it and trade it when we're done?"

The suggestion came out half-jokingly, but to your surprise, he smiled even wider. "That's not a bad idea. We could exchange recommendations, too. I'm Seungmin, by the way."

You introduced yourself, and just like that, the ice was broken. Instead of feeling embarrassed about the awkward moment, the two of you quickly found common ground, both eager to talk about books. You began discussing your favorite genres—his love of mystery and thrillers clashing in a delightful way with your preference for fantasy and romance. And as the conversation flowed, it became clear that you both had more than a few authors in common that you admired.

"I've got a whole shelf of The Night of Lost Stars series," Seungmin said, his eyes lighting up. "It's actually the one thing I don't mind collecting. What about you? Any series you're obsessed with?"

You shared a few of your all-time favorites, realizing just how much your tastes overlapped. The more you talked, the easier it became to fall into a rhythm. The initial awkwardness seemed like a distant memory, replaced by an easy camaraderie.

"I've got a ton of books at home," Seungmin added, leaning against a nearby shelf. "I'm actually running out of space. My room's a mini-library."

"Same here," you laughed. "It's kind of embarrassing at this point, but I can't stop buying them."

He nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I get that. It's like each book is its own little world, right? I can never resist."

There was something about the way he talked—so genuine, so passionate—that made you feel like you'd known him much longer than just a few minutes. The more you spoke, the more you found yourself drawn to his thoughtful insights and the way he really listened. It wasn't just a conversation; it felt like a shared experience, a discovery of common ground.

Eventually, you both realized that you'd been talking for over half an hour, and while you'd been so engrossed in the conversation, you hadn't even noticed the time passing. A glance at the clock made you both laugh, realizing the bookstore was getting ready to close.

"I guess I better get this book, huh?" you said, holding it up again.

Seungmin smiled, but there was something else in his eyes—a little hint of mischief. "I'll let you have it, since you suggested the trade. But next time, we can swap recommendations. I know a few that I think you'd love."

You agreed, your heart lighter than when you walked in. "That sounds like a deal."

As you both made your way to the checkout, you exchanged numbers with the promise to keep in touch and meet up for your book swap soon. The shared excitement of new reads and the joy of talking about something you both loved left you with a smile on your face.

The rain had stopped by the time you left the bookstore, the world outside bright and fresh. As you waved goodbye to Seungmin, you couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of something special—a connection that, like a good book, would unfold with time.

You couldn't wait to see where the story would go.