Chapter One (1/2)

Jeonghan looked up from his cash register and saw a man.  He stood in the freezer section across the way, looking at him.  He felt uneasy but decided to dismiss it as the man started walking somewhere else.  He would have ignored this man and he should have.  The man has been in the store for two hours, not a single item has gone in his hand.  Not a single bathroom break did this man take.  But he did have a bottle of water that he sipped every now and then. If a customer is here for a while, go over and ask if they need help finding something.  His boss's words echoed in his thoughts.  He looked left to right, seeing no other employees; of course, they're all at school while he's here earning money for his school. He inhaled and inaudibly exhaled.  He removed himself from the spot at the register and walked ever so slowly to the aisle he saw the man walk to.  "E-excuse me, do you need any help finding anything?"  He asked with his arms behind his back and a curious look on his face. "Well.. I uh..  You wouldn't happen to sell confidence here, would you?"  The man asked as he put his hand on his neck. Jeonghan looked at him up and down and turned to the aisle.  "Protein is supposed to help build muscles and helps brain development.  Why not try some vitamins or a different diet?"  He advertised the products on the shelf. The man laughed a bit.  "Thanks.. but that's not what I meant.."  He said shyly.

"Jeonghan!"  Jeonghan turned around when he heard his name being called. He bowed to the man who came up to them.  "Mr. Lee,"  He addressed his boss, "what brings you over here?"  He asked as he raised his head up. Lee smiled and put his arm around the other man's shoulder.  "This is my son, Minhyuk."  He introduced.  "He's a bit shy when it comes to things like this, so I'm just going to help him out." "Dad.."  The male tried getting out of Lee's grip.

Jeonghan, like the past two hours, stood there in confusion as he watched those two small-wrestle.  "Sir?"  His hands went to his sides. "Ahem,"  Lee cleared his throat, "Minhyuk is around your age and he was wondering if you would like to go out on a date with him."  Jeonghan looked at Minhyuk with wide eyes.  "With me?"  He asked, receiving a nod.  "Sir, I.." "It would mean a lot to me if you were to at least go on one date."  Lee said with an honest smile.  "My son came all the way from Gwangju, would you humor him?"

Jeonghan looked at Minhyuk once more, remembering how much the man lingered in the store; he remembered how much the man looked at him and turned away shyly.  He is kinda cute..  He pursed his lips as he looked at Minhyuk's facial features.  His eyes are soft and his jaw is sharp; his hair is a light shade of brown.  "Okay.. how about tomorrow?"  He submitted. "That would be great!" Minhyuk said with a big smile.  "I'll meet you here again tomorrow, okay?"  He reached to hold Jeonghan's hands. Jeonghan slightly backed up with a forced smile.  "Yeah.. don't be late."  Jeonghan tried teasing, which worked since it got Minhyuk smirking and brushing that off. Minhyuk walked out of the store, leaving Lee and Jeonghan alone.  "Thanks for doing this for me, Jeonghan."  Lee said as he put his hand on Jeonghan's shoulder.  "He might be a bit far away, but he'll be good for you."

Jeonghan furrowed his eyebrows.  "He was so quiet in the store for a couple hours, he kinda creeped me out, you know."  Jeonghan said respectfully. "He's just not as confident as some guys are.  He gets it from me."  Lee chuckled.  "Without his mother, I wouldn't have been able to be a manager of anything."

Jeonghan smirked as he knew that his wife can be a bit forceful on him.  "Alright then, I'll be good to him tomorrow."  Jeonghan teased as he went back to the register.  "Thanks.  I'm going to go to my office to arrange the shipments.  Call me if you need anything."  Lee said with a small wave. Jeonghan bowed as he watched the man leave.  He sighed and slowly looked outside.  He sees Minhyuk across the street with a smile.  He then waved.  Jeonghan forced another smile and a small wave.  Watching the other male finally walk off. "Ohh boy.. Mom's going to kill me if she ever finds out about this.."  He held his forehead, knowing how strict his mother can be.  She almost didn't let him get a job.  She almost didn't let him enroll in college.  She almost didn't let him be public schooled, but her nail salon was too important to give up for him.  Secrets.. Minhyuk will be a secret..  He folded his arms.  "I don't see it lasting long anyway.  The guy won't want to drive four hours for each date and there's no way I'm driving that long just to see him."

Jeonghan paused.  "Unless I actually do like him.."  He realized.  The lengths that people will go for love went through his mind in an instant.

He sighed once more as he noticed customers approaching the shop.  He cracked his neck and straightened his back.  That's future Jeonghan's problem.  He decided.

*** Jeonghan stood inside the store.  He looked at the rain falling and pouted when he didn't have an umbrella.  None of his coworkers brought an umbrella that they wanted to share with Jeonghan.  They left the store without him and didn't even offer to buy him one, not that he couldn't afford to buy one.  He took his vest off and hung it up with the other employee vests. He brushed his long, black bangs to the side.  His bob cut neatly fit on his neck.  He walked to the window of the shop and looked at his watch.  One minute late..  He played with the tiles with his covered foot, tracing the pattern as he hears the rain fall. The bell rings, breaking Jeonghan from his small trance.  He looked up and saw his date.  "I'm sorry for being late, Jeonghan."  He closed his umbrella.  "I didn't expect it to rain, but I'm glad I keep an umbrella in my car."

Jeonghan looked him up and down and nodded.  "You still want to go out in this weather?"  He asked in concern. Minhyuk smiles and gets closer.  "I think a small walk in the rain would be romantic, right?"  He suggested.  "Or a warm cup of tea while watching the rainfall in a cafe?"

Jeonghan smiled.  "I love walks."  He said.  "But I don't have an umbrella."  He looked down.

Minhyuk put a cautious arm around Jeonghan's shoulders.  "We could share."  He brought up.  "This way I can hear your voice better." Jeonghan looked down at the floor with blushed cheeks.  "You could hear me if I had my own umbrella too.."  He mumbled.

Minhyuk gently put his fingers through Jeonghan's hair, feeling the silkie locks.  "Your hair is so soft.."  Minhyuk commented. "My mother said if I don't maintain my hair, she's cutting it off.."  Jeonghan replied.  "So my allowance goes to my grooming."  He continued as he looked at his nails. Jeonghan's mother properly shaped them and even put a shiny coat of polish on the nails.  "Why don't we go on that walk?"  Jeonghan suggested as he gets reminded of how rough she is with his nails. "Right, there's a park close by, let's walk there and walk around for a little bit.  Then we can walk back here and I'll drive you to your house."  Minhyuk suggested.