plummet || taegi

02. duct tape

today was a slow day, slower than usual, and taehyung couldn't stop moving around. he needed something to do, he needed movement. nothing was happening. his two coworkers fooled around and enjoyed the lack of business, while taehyung almost screamed out of sheer desperation. he needed customers, and now.

please, anyone, taehyung thought. but in all honesty this was unusual for him. he would have enjoyed the quiet, too. today altogether was an unusual day for him. maybe he was still resentful about having to cover for the manager.

yeah, that was it.

his coworker chanyeol launched his fourteenth paper plane, yelling obnoxiously when he made it past his last mark. why was he so energetic today? why was everything so weird today? the other boy working with him, jimin, stared at chanyeol with a dreamy look on his face, lips playing with the idea of a smile. but then his stomach growled and he frowned. "ugh, lunch time... why did i forget my lunch today?" jimin complained, shoulders slumping. chanyeol crumpled his airplane and tossed it in the bin as he walked to the miserable jimin.

"i have money, i can buy you something," chanyeol suggested. forever the biggest puppy, radiating warmth and friendliness, he saw it upon himself to make sure jimin ate something. but jimin shook his head. "there's that cafe nearby, if you want something sweet. i'm a bit of a regular, and i know everything on the menu."

"money isn't the problem, channy," jimin replied with a pout. "i just don't wanna go out in the rain. i only like rain when i'm not working..." chanyeol deflated but then perked up just as quickly. "what is it?" jimin asked, backing away a little from his excitement.

"dude. uber eats. i have the app." jimin's eyes disappeared as he grinned. "yes! there's that smile!"

taehyung shuddered and walked away from them, settling with tidying up the already pristine shelves.

"boss, do you want something?" chanyeol called, voice dripping with energy. taehyung envied his enthusiasm.

i want you to rub your attitude on me, see if some of it sticks, taehyung thought bitterly, but then opted for a shorter, "no, thanks," to avoid chanyeol's hugs.

he rearranged the sample acrylics, trying to keep to the rainbow sequence as much as he could. the front door's bells chimed and jimin's charming welcome called out, so he knew it was a customer. taehyung felt himself grin as he rushed to the front end, feeling just a bit more optimistic. when his eyes landed on the customer, his smile widened.

"namjoon!" he called, waving when the tall blonde turned around. chanyeol's head whipped toward the entrance, eyes slightly wide and lips pulled to a smile.

the man named namjoon sighed in relief, making his way to him. "taehyung, man, i'm glad you're here! the entire store is rearranged! what happened?" taehyung shrugged, taking out his phone.

"enable airdrop, i'm sending the map of the new layout to you."

namjoon smiled. "thank you, though i'm just looking for the duct tape

"duct tape again?" taehyung inquired with a frown but shook his head dismissively. "they're still in aisle four. go do your thing. i'll wait for you at checkout." he turned on his heel and walked to his cash register, smiling a little more. he wondered what namjoon needed the tape for this time, remembering his last purchase.

who needed twelve canvases for a "small project"?

namjoon kim, of course.

but who was taehyung to judge? he loved art.

namjoon's bulk purchases were always hilarious though.

he sent the image and heard a ping seconds later, then a shout of thanks.

jimin was pretending to sweep the impeccable floor while chanyeol ordered their food, squinting at his phone, cursing the blue light or whatever. taehyung couldn't really care less right now. namjoon returned to the counter with a shopping basket full of different duct tapes, varying in size, pattern, and colour. he raised a brow, but then just laughed, namjoon joining. "i know, it's absurd."

taehyung wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, his laughter subduing. "what are you doing with all these rolls of duct tape?"

"you'll see."

"do i want to?"

namjoon beamed at him. "yes."

with a roll of his eyes, taehyung checked out the tapes, sighing every ten rolls. he looked at the monitor and sighed. "namjoon, are you sure you need one-hundred-sixteen rolls of duct tape?" namjoon just grinned and took his receipt and bag, waving as he exited the store.

"i'll call you when i'm done with the project!" he called out, frowning up at the sky when he turned away from the store. he realised he didn't have his hood on a little too late, and the rain attacked the look he had spent a good half hour preparing. he shoved the bag in the trunk of the car and slid into the driver's seat, starting the ignition after looking at the man sitting next to him on the copilot seat.

"i feel like we haven't bought something important," he admitted. "but i can't really pinpoint what."

yoongi looked toward the store front, frowning at the tall, tanned boy mopping up the rain water from the entrance. namjoon followed his gaze with a confused frown.

"do you need anything from there?"

yoongi shook his head, crossing his arms. "just curious."

"about?" namjoon tried, staring at his friend. yoongi wasn't really one to take interest in a small store like that, unless they sold something he liked. yoongi rolled his eyes and looked up at his tall friend, who was still towering over him despite both of them being seated.

"who in their right mind would let you make such a purchase, that's what."

namjoon laughed but yoongi scowled at the retreating back behind the glass door. he wanted to know why he had been staring at him.

yoongi realised this was all absurd, though. so what a stranger stared at him? people stared at people all the time. it was just a thing that happened, especially if they were tired and zoning out. he shook himself off mentally and decided to throw it away, determined to forget the barista's words. the poor kid was probably just tired and staring off into space.

such a pity considering his body was gorgeous.

he hadn't seen much of his face, but he especially like the tanned skin.

namjoon drove off and hummed. "we should probably get some lunch. oh! that's what we were missing!"

yoongi sunk into the seat and stared out the window. he tried to drive his thoughts away from the boy but his mind was racing now. he knew where he worked. he knew what time he worked. he could just—.

no. absolutely not. forget it. yoongi min was better than that.