sweeter than vanilla. ┊namseok

⤹ tre

["cute" : three]

"Oh! Thank you so much for stopping by. mm, that would be $3.75, sir, " Hoseok said with a cheery smile on his face.

The man in front of him-- roughly around his 30's-- gave a chortle to the happy kid in front of him, palms digging into his shorts for the money that Hoseok had asked of him, handing it over.

"Thank you!! have a good one,"

"You too." Then the guy proceeded to walk off, with his blue raspberry ice pop in his hands and it made Hoseok grin. The bells made a ding sound as the customer left the store, and he let out a content sigh.

It was hotter than usual today, and Hoseok saw this as a chance for others to give themselves a treat. He knew the parents and guardians of children would have to get their kids something to keep them cool.

"The business would be booming today, " he thought to himself, tapping his fingers about on the counter, eyes closed. He never cared for the money necessarily, it was more of the joyful faces he loves to see. Kids with big wide puppy dog eyes as they're handed their favorite ice creams, the kindness of others to even give him a tip, lights him up like a lantern.

Foot tapping to the soft, mellow music that played, he heard the bells right above the door make the noise he grew to enjoy hearing, as his eyes darted to the figure walking in with darkened brown hair, shoulders slouched as he sighed out, hands in his pockets..

Hoseok's eyes almost bulged out of his sockets excitingly when he remembered that face, a face he met yesterday and befriended.  Still wearing that signature smile of his, he ogled namjoon up and down, who wore a set of overalls that made him look so adorable, and charming.

"Oh, Namjoon!! New around here??" He questioned with a head tilt, the guy who seemed 6 feet and 9 inches tall to Hoseok, snapping his head up at the sudden loud and cheerful voice he'd heard.

"Hoseok! Aha, yeah.. first time being in this city, too, actually besides yesterday." When Hoseok's ears had picked up on the voice speaking out, he smiled more.

Just as he had remembered: Deep, sort of. if any kind of deep, it was to be the reassuring one. Still had that tinge of kindness whenever he spoke, so soothing and calm.

Snapping out from his staring he said : "ah. Gwangju, eh? Have you been to... Seoul?"

"Yes, I have. Just, never Gwangju."

"Oh, I see. I was born here," the brown head smiled as the peached haired
boy, so petite and tiny across the counter from him, had continued to speak.

Quite louder than yesterday, Namjoon thinks. but he also thought it was unique. "And what about you, hm?"

"Ah. Goyang, South Korea. you know?" Hands propped up on the counter as he learnt over it, he saw the peachy haired boy gasp as his eyes lit up widely at the words spoken.

"Goyang?!! Ilsan?! That's so cool! My friend was born there!!" His voice squeaked out, which he soon covered his lips after he spoke, making the brown haired boy cover his own, but it was no use as a couple giggles left them.

"Sorry. I can be really loud sometimes. Hope it doesn't annoy you-"

"Oh, never. I find it intriguing, actually. I get to know more about you since yesterday barely was enough time to talk with you. You're... cute."

Cute.

After that, Hoseok had asked him how he was feeling since yesterday was rough, and it went like that for 5 minutes more.

They meet eyes with two akin beams that could possibly light up the room if it were dark enough, and Hoseok stargazed into them. those same almond like shaped eyes. And the soft, dark color of brown.

"S-so.. ice cream??" He suddenly remembers his surroundings, snapping the two of them out of their stares, and Hoseok starts to almost regret it when the male in front of him clears his throat and backs away a little.

"Right. Hey, got any vanilla with sprinkles?"

"A classic, and my favorite! Of course I would, it wouldn't be an ice cream parlour without it, eh?"

A blooming chuckle mixed with a light, low one left the boys' mouth, mixing together in the room temperature air.

"3 scoops?" He hears that deep hum and be turns around, quickly scooping the vanilla ice cream, and sprinkling it with a tinge of sprinkles. "Alright ~, that would be 3.25!"

"Can do, sir," the brown head chuckled, digging in his wallet to get out his card, swiping it, and seeing Hoseok check the screen to see if the right amount was given.

"Okay. Looks like we're good here!"

"Yeah, sure does." He pats his jeans, smiling. "I'll see you around then? Hope you'll come back, or I bump into you in the park again,"

"Mm. Wouldn't want to miss that opportunity. See you around, cutie."