Chapter Ninety-nine (1/1)

Wednesday rolls by.  Hoshi looks at his watch and sees that it's lunch time.  Instead of going to the break room, he walks his way upstairs.  He breathed in and out, knowing that Seungcheol is here today.  He looked at the secretary and bowed. "Hello, is Mr. Choi in a meeting right now?"  He asked, getting a no from the woman. He bowed once more before knocking on the door.  When he heard the good words, he opened the door and looked down at the man sitting at the desk. "Hoshi?"  Seungcheol put his pen down.  "Is there something wrong?"  He asked. "No, there's nothing wrong."  Hoshi put a hand up.  "I just wanted to chat today, that's all."  He smiled. Seungcheol noticed the time and nodded.  He closed his folder and exited out of a program on his computer.  "Let's sit on the couch then."  He motioned. Hoshi followed and noticed the decorations are still up from when Seungcheol first got the office.  Things that he drew and Joshua drew.  Jun liked to draw too, but Wonwoo wasn't into drawing.  However, the little tigers caught his attention.  "You still have up our old drawings."  He commented as Seungcheol took his lunch out of the fridge. Seungcheol looked back.  "Yeah, it feels like home here."  He smiled as he opened the containers of food Mingyu prepared for him. "I remember playing with my toy cars here.."  Hoshi said as he thought back.  "Jeong-dad always liked to bother you while you were working."  He mentioned. Seungcheol chuckled as he picked up some noodles and fed the tiger.  "He would drop Josh off at school and then come by here when he had no errands to run."  He said.  "It always felt better when you guys were napping on the couch."  Hoshi motioned for the adult to eat.  "So what's this about Jeno though?" He changed the topic.  "I thought Eric's nephew was supposed to be hired."  He said. Seungcheol put the chopsticks lower as he chewed on the noodles.  "I'm not complaining about him, Peniel is a good worker too.."  He stated.  "I just don't think he would be good for this job." Hoshi nodded and looked down at his knees.  "Jeno acted young when I was training him.  Like an annoying kid."  He mentioned. "Changmin told me how he was acting unprofessional,"  Seungcheol replied, "so I asked him to act his age when he's working." "I see.."  He scratched his neck.  "..is it okay if I go to Iksan with Jisoo this Saturday?"  He asked. Seungcheol raised an eyebrow.  "What are you two doing in Iksan?"  He asked, sipping on the tea Mingyu packed for him. "Jisoo said that her uncle runs a business there and wants to introduce me."  Hoshi replied.  "It's a small business but they want to get to know about your company and such.."  He answered, taking out the business card Jisoo gave him.

Seungcheol looked at the card.  "A roof repair company?"  He asked. "Yes, they said that they could use some support from a bigger company."  Hoshi said nervously. Seungcheol hummed.  "I'll have to talk to Dongwan about it,"  He said, "are you looking to spend the weekend in Iksan or just the day?"  He asked. "She offered an overnight stay, but I wanted to get your opinion on it."  Hoshi said.  "You know how crazy things can get.. like with Josh and Jae.." Seungcheol nodded.  "How are the sleeping arrangements?  Do you have your own room?"  He asked. "I'll have to ask.."  Hoshi said. "Ask and get back to me."  Seungcheol tasked.  "I'll talk with Jeonghan about it and get his opinion too."  He smiled and patted the boy's head.  Hoshi smiled at the older's dimples.  "Thanks.."  He let Seungcheol feed him.

At the same time, Jeonghan and Jaemin arrive at the cafe.  Jeonghan looks at his black haired child at the counter, putting a slice of lime on his glass.  Ren looked up at them. "Hey, how are things going?"  Jeonghan asked. "My boss told me to come up with some new drinks,"  Ren said, no smile on his features as he puts another slice on for decoration. Jeonghan motions the boy to sit next to him.  "And how's that?"  He asked, looking at the drink Ren is making. "Would you like to try it?"  Ren asked, putting the glass on the counter.

Jeonghan smelled it and smiled.  "It looks good."  He said, picking it up.  Tipping the glass, he drinks the liquid.  Almost instantly, Jeonghan coughed.  "Holy sh- what did you put in this?!"  He asked, putting the glass down with furrowed eyebrows. It felt tangy but sweet.  "I put lime, pineapple, and vanilla extract in it.. Oh, and lemon."  Ren listed the ingredients. "That's.. a unique.. flavor.."  Jeonghan looked down at the drink.  "Jae, why don't you try some?"  He looked at the boy, instantly moving the glass the boy's way. Jaemin raised an eyebrow.  "Can't be any worse than your marshmallow lettuce."  He joked, taking the glass. "Just for that, you're drinking the rest of it."  He pointed at the nearly full glass. Ren folded his arms.  "Is it really that bad?"  He asked. Jaemin took a sip before drinking down half of the glass.  "It's pretty good,"  He said before finishing it all, "can you make another one but put in a few more tablespoons of sugar?  It wasn't sweet enough."  He requested. Ren raised his eyebrows and held his chin.  "It.. had a lot of sugar.. but Josh said that the customer is always right."  He shrugged. "Oh yeah,"  Jaemin gave the glass back, "tell Josh I have some sugar to give him."  He winked.

Ren had an unamused expression.  "Seriously?  I don't see any bags of sugar on you."  He said. Jeonghan sighed.  "You're joking, right?"  He held his forehead, looking at the boy. "I hear that pick-up line daily, Dad."  Ren said with annoyance. "Girls were always as bitter to me as my coffee."  Jaemin nonchalantly added. Jeonghan smirked.  "Let me guess, you like your coffee extra sweet.."  He looked at the boy. "Nah, I like it strong and bitter."  Jaemin replied. "Then why do you want your drink sweet?"  Ren asked in suspicion. Jaemin motioned with his hands.  "Juice is supposed to be sweet; coffee is supposed to be bitter."  He said.  "Just keep adding more sugar until I say stop."  He tasked. Jeonghan chuckled.  "You're paying for it."  He mentioned. "In that case,"  Jaemin thought for a moment.  "go ahead and put more pineapple in it.  Could I have peach too?"  He asked. "..I guess.."  Ren said, looking through the drawer at the other fruits they have. The kitchen door opens and Joshua gives an amused smile.  "Oh?  I thought I heard my sweet boy out here."  He looked at Jaemin lovingly. Jeonghan had a serious expression.  "Today we have no work."  He stated.  "So we're here to play a little game." Joshua laughed and folded his arms.  "A game?  You plan to play with my Jae right in front of me?"  He asked in disbelief. Jeonghan smugly smiles.  "That's right, and it's a Cheol-funded game."  He included.  "We're going to see who can drink the most caffeinated-sugar beverages in three hours."  He explained the game. Joshua face-palmed.  "He must have placed a bet or something."  He sighed.  "He knows Jae would win, he literally runs on coffee and sugar."  He said as he shook his head. "Bring us your strongest, Ren-hyung."  Jaemin said cutely before looking at Joshua with a slight wink. Joshua blushed as Ren went to the machine, muttering an, "oh boy." Jeonghan smirked and nudged the younger.  "I'll win."  He said. Jaemin cracked his neck and looked at Joshua who was just adoring the boy.  "Josh, can I have a kiss of good luck?"  He asked. Joshua looked around before getting off of the wall he was leaning on.  He leaned down and put their lips together.  The kiss was a little serious for being out in public.  It ended with both boys putting their tongues back in their respected mouths.  "I know you'll win this one."  He winked. Jeonghan smirked and looked up at Ren.  "Keep them coming, Ren.  And set a timer."  He instructed. Once the time went off, they started drinking.

*** Seungkwan picked up some boxes and started walking across the stage with them.  Currently evening, Seungkwan wanted to finish up a few more things before headcount.  With a tall stack of boxes, he didn't see the other male who had an elephant prop in his hands. They collided and fell together.  "Sunbae, are you okay?"  Jongho asked as he hovered over the boy. "I-I'm fine.."  Seungkwan said, looking up after the other. Jongho was silent as their faces weren't too far.  In fact, they were only small millimeters away.  "Isn't this a bit cliché?"  He laughed as they could feel their breaths on each other's lips. Seungkwan eased his eyelids and slowly raised his hand.  "Cliché yet right.."  He whispered as he felt his heart beating faster. Jongho peaked at the boy's lips before closing the space.  Seungkwan closes his eyes and puts his hand on the boy's neck, bringing him closer in the small kiss.  Everything stopped in Seungkwan's mind.  He forgot that Jongho is annoying with his small complaints. He forgot about how Jongho is loud and how he's awkward when he can't be uniform with the others when he raises his left hand as opposed to his right hand.  He just focuses on the soft breathing and movements of the boy. His eyes slowly open as Jongho finishes the kiss.  "Sunbae.."  He whispered. "I'm sorry for bumping into you."  He said, standing up properly. Seungkwan saw the hand that was out for him to take.  He accepted the help and stood shorter than the younger male.  "It's.. it's fine."  He chuckled, not knowing why his confidence was missing.  "What did that kiss mean to you?"  He asked nervously. Jongho held his arm. "Perhaps the door to our relationship?"  He suggested.  "Can I open it and hold your heart, Sunbae?"  He asked. Seungkwan smirked and looked the boy up and down.  "When did you get so poetic?"  He asked. Jongho just gave him a sweet smile.  "Fine,"  The diva accepted, "we don't come out to the public until I say."  He said a smirk. "Whatever you say, Sunbae."  He obeyed before picking the elephant up. Seungkwan blushed as the younger left him.  He then picked up the boxes before heading the way he needed to.

Everyone gets home by dinner, and Seungcheol sees Jeonghan holding his stomach and his mouth.  "How did the competition go?"  He asked, stirring his noodles. "Jae.."  He held his mouth, "Jae won.."  He said. Yeosang smirked.  "I told you Jae would win."  He said, casually sipping on the smoothie Mingyu made for him. Seungcheol snapped his finger. "You win,"  He sighed, "have fun taking Woozi to Jeju." He said, handing the boy the tickets. Woozi raises an eyebrow.  "Jeju?  What are we doing there?"  He asked. Yeosang smiles.  "It's not a shock that Jaemin won,"  He said, putting the tickets in his pocket. Jeonghan sighed and put his hair back.  "Seriously, how on earth were you able to drink ten cups of coffee in three hours?"  He asked. Jaemin shrugged.  "I like coffee,"  He said, "it's the bitterness that really gets to me.  That and I love caffeine.  It makes me feel like I'm super powerful and energetic and I could do anything I like."  He said quickly.  Joshua watched with an amused smile.  "And now he's caffeine drunk."  He said. Jaemin made noises as he put the noodles in his mouth.  Woozi poked at the boy beside him again and whispered, "What are we doing on Jeju Island?"  Yeosang held the boy's hand and smiled.  "Don't worry about it, okay?"  He whispered back.  "Just see it as a late honeymoon."  He continued. Woozi looked around the table as the topic was still about caffeine and how it's affecting Jaemin.  "I read the ending to your drama, Seungkwan."  Woozi brought up. Seungkwan looked up from his food, knowing he only finished it on his ride back home.  "What do you think?"  He asked. "It really surprised me, you took a romantic turn."  Woozi said, keeping his left hand on Yeosang's thigh.  "It went from a parent being rude to his daughter's boyfriend to a cliché romance scene." Seungkwan chuckled.  "Sungmin said that the girls liked the ending of the last drama,"  He said, "so I figured it would be good to have a brighter ending to this one too."  He lied in his explanation. Woozi nodded with a hum.  "It's a good ending, they finally are accepted."  He commented.  "I'll make sure to make a romantic song for the end."  He assured. "Thank you.. the couple will really appreciate it."  Seungkwan slightly bowed. Hoshi raised an eyebrow.  "You're talking as if there's a couple in real life."  He commented. "I consider my characters real people,"  Seungkwan started, "if I see them as just characters, where's the realism in that?  I don't want people to feel plastic."  He continued with a smile. Jeonghan smiled and picked up his meat.  "That's very thoughtful of you, Seungkwan."  He smiled.  "Thank you for making the people have a good ending."  He said. Seungkwan smiled at the table.  "Isn't it what we all want..?"  He said, thinking about Jongho and his playful smile. Vernon looked at him with concern.  "I thought you liked tormenting your characters."  He said. "Only when the situation calls for it,"  He put his hand up. "Well I can't wait to see how the boyfriend gets mistreated in this play,"  Jaemin mentioned, "I think we could all learn from it."  He slowly looked at Jeonghan. Jeonghan smiled sarcastically.  "Shut up."  He poked the boy.   

Of course Cheol would place his bet on Jeonghan, he doesn't want to die.

The romance between Jongho and Seungkwan started quickly, and was rather cliché.

Let's see how long they stay a secret.

<3