In Between Time | Seongjoong

14

"Hongjoong?" A voice snapped the male from his thoughts.

"Hm?" He slowly turned his attention to the person calling his name.

"Are you okay?" His coworker asked placing a hand on the other's shoulder.

"Yeah, just thinking is all." Hongjoong smiled before getting up. Next week would be his brother's death anniversary and Hongjoong was determined to get the device up and running by then.

"I know that it's coming up soon and if you need someone to take a shift for you I will." Minho, Hongjoong's coworker, reassured.

Hongjoong didn't have many friends and Minho was someone he felt he could call a friend despite only hanging out at work. Minho was the only one, besides his boss of course, that knew about the death of his brother and Hongjoong liked to keep it that way.

"We've got another group of customers but I'm helping a family right now, can you see what they need help with?" Minho left to grab some more of stencils to set out. Hongjoong left the back room and went to the front counter where the customers were waiting.

"What can I assist you with today?" Hongjoong greeted with a smile.

"Is it possible to get my own design printed on a shirt here?" The male asked. He looked familiar to Hongjoong but he shrugged it off and just assumed he's saw him around before.

"Is your design on paper or is it digital?"

"Digital, I have my laptop here with me." He pulled at the straps of his bag.

"Great, how many shirts will you be purchasing today?"

"Each of us are paying for our shirts individually and there's 15 of us." The boy rubbed the back of his neck hoping it wasn't too much.

"Will you all be using the same print?"

"Yes."

"These are the prices based off color, white and black are the cheapest. You'll need to buy the shirt first and all custom prints are 15 dollars. To use other stations will be an additional 10 for 30 minutes." Hongjoong informed.

"Okay thank you. Listen up guys," the male went on to share the information with the others in the shop. A particular person caught Hongjoong's attention it was Seonghwa.

"Upload your image to the flash drives and then insert it into the machine. Everything should be set up and the only thing you'll need to do is press print when you've placed your shirt. Please make sure to return each flash drive to the right printer they have corresponding numbers on the side." With that Hongjoong started his way to the counter before getting stopped in his tracks.

"Hey, I didn't know you worked here." Seonghwa was genuinely shocked to see Hongjoong here.

"Ah yeah..." Hongjoong didn't know what to even say to that but the look in Seonghwa's eyes were getting to him.

"Why are you here?" Hongjoong then gestured to the group of people.

"We're taking a trip next week to perform at a theme park. It's something they've done every year so we're getting matching shirts to look like we have our shit together," Seonghwa joked.

"You should come! I can invite a plus one mainly because i'm providing my own transportation and room. I was going to ask to go half on a room with Yeosang, but I don't really want to." Seonghwa got a little quieter as he said the last part.

Hongjoong had never really gotten asked to go on a trip with someone before it was tempting but he still had Seojun to think about.

"How long is the trip?"

"It's 3 days at the park but if you count getting there and coming back it's 5 days."

"I can send you the flyer with all the information on it." Seonghwa was growing excited even if Hongjoong hadn't officially agreed to accompany him.

Hongjoong looked over the flyer and noticed that he'd get back home the day of Seojun's anniversary. It worked out for him and he was sure his parents wouldn't say no. Once they saw Seonghwa they were practically down his throat about him and it hadn't even been long. They wanted to know when he'd be over again even though he had left that morning.

"How much to split a room with you?" After hearing that question Seonghwa's usual smile turned into the biggest one Hongjoong had ever seen. It was cute. Seonghwa was cute.