how the beautiful die young | l.mh x h.js

chapter 0.1

the fogged glass door pushed open, piercing the quiet with a loud screech, as minho walked through them. a blast of stale air blew his honey hair out of his face as he walked into the dull setting that was Streetside Arts Supplies.

everything was still as the clock hit 11:57 p.m. minho wasn't quite sure why new supplies couldn't wait until morning, or why he didn't think of it until almost midnight.

there was a single worker, who didn't even look at minho when he walked in. his brown hair fell into his face as he sat in between the two front aisles organizing the books of sheet music. jisung heard minho, he even stopped what he was doing to make sure that someone had entered the store. he just didn't care enough.

"where's the felt-tipped pens?" minho asked the boy, who looked way too young to be working in a music and art supply store at midnight on a tuesday.

jisung huffed, "try aisle six." he scooted away from the shelf and stood up, carrying the box -that was still half full- to the back room. his gray converse squeaked against the dingy tile until minho was, once again, blanketed in silence.

minho tsked to himself as he shuffled to the last aisle. he could see the brunette roaming around through the gaps in the shelves. he had cheeks that puffed out naturally, making him look like a squirrel. his eyes were a warm hazelnut color, even through rusty shelves and huddles of art supplies minho could see the beauty he held.

the blonde quickly grabbed a couple of cases of markers, hurrying out of the aisle.

jisung stood near the cash register, drumming his fingers along the peeling countertop in front of him. the only customer in the store had cryptic features. jisung registers the way the boy's track pants swish around his calves but tighten around his thighs. he looked at his arms, decorated with doodles that would stay forever, and how they seemed to glow a honey color in the flickering fluorescent lights above. as he inches closer, he can see his face. perfect skin stretched across faint cheekbones, disrupted by a single freckle on the left side of a sharp nose. his eyes a dark color, he's unable to define what color they actually are, the improper lighting making them seem like a dark abyss.

"is that it for today?" jisung recites his script as he begins to scan the items in front of him.

"yeah, should last me until morning." minho responded. his eyes examined the lackluster uniform upon the short boy in front of him. the gray work vest hung off of him, too big for his body in every way. he tried tying the black string right under his ribs, but it only showcased his small waist and resulted in him looking more feminine- which isn't a bad thing. it suits the worker well. "do you work all night?"

"until closing." jisung responded shortly.

minho nodded, "that's kinda cool. back home i worked at this candy store. i hated working the graveyard shift. who the hell needs gummy bears at midnight?"

who the hell needs five packs of the same felt-tipped markers at midnight? jisung wanted to ask. "yeah," he paused as he finished bagging the items. "your total is $93.51."

minho lazily and dropped his card down in front of him as jisung slid the bag across the counter. and, maybe jisung was jealous that the boy in front of him could so easily pay almost a hundred dollars for markers. annoyed that he didn't even glance at the total, or get fazed by the amount at all. but, jisung didn't voice his thoughts.

dark eyes scanned over jisung once more, trying to stifle the laugh that bubbled up at the name tag that was covered in stickers. "i like your name tag, it's very unique."

jisung looked down at his chest, seeing the gold stars and princess crowns upon it. "thanks, i did it myself."

minho saw a smile rise on the workers face before he returned to his brooding persona. "i'll probably see you again, jisung"

"okay."

jisung was left alone in the store once again. he took out his notebook below his work station, taking a dull pencil out of the cup holder. he pushed in his stool, the screeching sound causing his head to hurt. jisung leaned over a fresh paper, his narrow body casting half shadows. he leaned on his hand and began scribbling, words exiting his mind as soon as they came. words that soon started to describe the beauty he just witnessed.

minho broke a fair amount of traffic laws as he sped home. he muttered a quick thanks to the doorman as he rushed up to his loft. he was one of the lucky ones. one of the few who managed to get signed to a company, and had a promise to debut. he was a young artist, one of the few whom have not - completely - lost their mind.

he laid the crinkly bag on the floor of his studio. He turned his desk towards the window, looking at the eerie skyline of Seoul. the tired boy with pen on his chubby cheeks and bruises on his hands was minho's next masterpiece, could just feel it.

he could see the short boy in an abstract way, with galaxies inside of his chest yet fire in his eyes. 

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sorry for the long wait!! i have just  not had the motivation for anything and with finals approaching i have been so stressed :// i hope that you enjoy this and i am currently working on another minsung fic so stay tuned for that :))

<3 mayflower