010.
Two AM and Sungmin is practically passed out in the snacks aisle, fingers dragging as he refills the Peppero. Hyukjae waves cheerfully from the counter.
"Hey, you know--"
Hyukjae's interrupted by someone entering the store, and he plasters on a smile, dipping his head.
"Welcome!" he says, and the person grunts. He ducks into the drinks aisle, grabs three cans of sugar-free Red Bull, then three cans of black coffee, two cans of lattes and then a packet of grape drops, dodging Sungmin.
"These, thanks," he says, and Hyukjae looks up to see one of the older boys in their music class. Coincidence much.
"Here you go," he chirps, annoyingly cheerful, and Sungmin hides a grin. "Please come again!"
The boy ducks out, and Sungmin walks up to the counter.
"Who was it?"
Hyukjae's still staring at the door, frowning.
"Kim Heechul, remember?"
Sungmin sucks in a breath. "God, what a coincidence."
Hyukjae nods, then freezes, before relaxing. "We have something due Monday, remember? He's probably doing some last minute work."
"Right." Sungmin eyes the doors carefully. "Because this is totally the closest store to campus."
Hyukjae considers. "Well, shit. I think we have a stalker on our hands."
Sungmin claps him on the shoulder cheerfully. "Well, since I already have a boyfriend, have fun!"
Hyukjae groans and buries his head in his arms.
"I hate you."
Sunday, Sungmin breaks into the hall for Hyukjae, sighing the whole time.
"What would you do without me?"
"Fail music," he answers promptly, grinning as he sets up the camera and strips off his jumper.
"Ready?" Sungmin asks from the control room, his voice booming, and Hyukjae gives a thumbs up.
He dims the floor lights before raising the stage lights, hitting the music and sitting back as he watches Hyukjae dance. It's something of itself, and though he's a bit grossed out by Hyukjae's abs, his dancing always brings a new level to the music and a whole dimension to everything.
Sungmin watches silently, a bit awed and respectful before Hyukjae finished with a long, sweeping bow, and the music shuts off. He's breathing a bit harder than before, sweaty and a bit smelly, but he's satisfied, and he hops over to the camcorder, replaying it.
"Looks good!" he shouts up to Sungmin.
"Okay, then let's get out of here," Sungmin says, and climbs out of the control box.
"Come on, Mr. Hotshot Dancer."
Hyukjae laughs but carries the camcorder and tripod without protest, happy and satisfied.
On Monday, they all dutifully hand in their assignments, and Hyukjae hands over the tape with some relief.
"Feels good," he says to no one in particular, and someone laughs behind him.
"I'd say," he says, and Hyukjae turns to see Heechul's face, eyes alarmingly bright.
"Did the red bull and coffee help?" Hyukjae asks, laughing, and Heechul grins.
"A bit, but the grape drops were probably the best."
Hyukjae laughs again and Heechul grins.
"You're Hyukjae, right?" Hyukjae nods.
"And Heechul?"
"Yep, nice to meet you."
Hyukjae finds it hard to hide his gums as he smiles.
"You too."
Heechul visits again the next week, buying two large cans of Red Bull and five packets of almond Peppero.
"Another assignment?" Hyukjae asks grinning, but Heechul shakes his head.
"Sister's birthday and she wants me to hand make her a card. Honestly, women." Heechul tosses his hair and Hyukjae can't keep the laughter in.
"Sounds pretty demanding."
"Like you wouldn't believe."
"Come around again next week," Hyukjae says, and Heechul snorts.
"You think I enjoy being up at three a.m.?"
"To enjoy my company, yes!"
Heechul snorts and grabs his bag.
"See you later."
Sungmin emerges from the toiletries aisle, grinning.
"Totally has a crush on you."
"You don't know that.
Singmin tosses his hair, Heechul-like.
"Please, coming here at three? Has to be a reason."
Hyukjae laughs. "Maybe because he really does need to stay up."
Sungmin raises his eyebrows before walking behind the counter and shoving Hyukjae over, sharing the seat.
"An excuse if I ever heard one," he says happily, and Hyukjae accidentally elbows him in the ribs.
"Why do you always come to this store?" Hyukjae asks as he packs the three cans of red bull and eight packs of cinnamon gum.
"You guys are one of the few stores in this stupid area that stocks Red Bull and it's like my drug." Heechul grabs the bag and places down twenty thousand won.
"So if we stopped selling it, you'd stop coming?"
Heechul grins. "Probably, not like I'm paying for the company."
Hyukjae laughs.
"Flatterer."
December and January, they all get some time off and go home, and Hyukjae suddenly misses staying up late on Saturday, chatting to Sungmin and sometimes Heechul. But he enjoys home, enjoys the relaxing atmosphere without needing to think about homework.
But February means going back to school, and he yawns, body unused to it as Sungmin texts on his phone, a stupid grin on.
"Boyfriend?" Hyukjae asks sleepily.
Sungmin nods. "Valentines is in a week, you know."
Hyukjae has his chin propped up on his hand, elbow resting on the counter before it gives way and his chin meets the counter with a dull thud.
"Really?"
"Mmmm," Sungmin replies, distracted.
"Love birds." Hyukjae flings a small plush heart his way. Oh right, that's why they're there.
"Better than being a pathetic loner."
This earns him a handful of hearts and a shove off the chair.
In class, Heechul mainly spends the time brooding or sleeping and Hyukjae feels a sense of pity even though it means he gets why don't you talk to him then? whispered into his ear.
"Shove off," he whispers to Donghae, who just laughs at him.
"You like him, asshole, so just tell him."
Hyukjae blushes. "No thanks."
Donghae's laugh sounds meaner than anything he's heard before.
On Saturday, at midnight, he watches as Sungmin pauses in his awesome box stacking, reach for his phone and flip it open. A grin creeps across his face, and Hyukjae can't help but think that Sungmin, one of the nicest people he knows, deserves this kind of love that makes him happy.
But it still doesn't help that he feels alone as he watches the clock tick by, Valentines mocking him.
At two-forty-five, Heechul, rather than setting off to the drinks aisle as he usually does, walks into the instant noodles aisle, where Hyukjae's refilling packets.
"Hi," Heechul says, looking down at his feet, and Sungmin grins knowingly. Hyukjae looks up before he stands.
"Hey, what's up?"
Heechul keeps his head ducked, hair covering his eyes before he hands over a crisp, white envelope. As soon as Hyukjae has a grip on it, Heechul looks up, smiles cautiously, before saying a soft, see you, and leaving.
"Well that certainly wasn't awkward," Sungmin says loudly as Hyukjae walks to the counter, turning the letter in his hands.
"Open it."
Hyukjae looks up before sliding a finger under the seal, opening it to see a handmade card with a few layers of crisp cardboard, delicate tissue paper and ornate paper. There's ribbon on the shape of a heart on the cover, and he opens it awkwardly, Sungmin watching.
hey hyukjae, it starts, this might be a bit weird, but i'm a bit of a coward. so, um, yeah, i like you, and if you don't like me back, then we can pretend this card never happened, okay?
happy valentines.
-heechul
(remember how i said i was making a card for my sister? well, it was really for you, but i couldn't give it to you, so. this is it.
Sungmin reads it with him, and he covers it with a hand when he's done.
"Well?"
Hyukjae's crying a bit, at all the stupidity, but the relief because yeah, he might like Heechul back.
"I like him too." Hyukjae sniffs loudly, and Sungmin hands him a packet of tissues.
"I bet he's waiting outside for you like in one of those dramas, just waiting for you to run after him and-"
"stop," Hyukjae says, laughing, dabbing at his tears. "I'll see him in class on Monday."
Sungmin looks at him doubtfully, then shrugs.
"Whatever, spend your Valentines alone."
They get off work at five, and Sungmin gives him a hug and a whispered good luck.
"Wait," Hyukjae says desperately. "Do you have his number?"
Sungmin inclines his head before digging out his phone.
"Here, love bird." And he's smirking, the brat, but Hyukjae copies it into his own phone and presses call, eyes squeezed shut.
It's something out of a cheesy drama, as Sungmin watches Hyukjae with a phone pressed to his ear and the sun dawning behind him.
"Hello, Heechul?" Hyukjae's voice catches, and he rushes the next words. "It's Hyukjae."
Sungmin grabs his other hand, both of them just standing in front of the store, and Hyukjae squeezes it tight.
"Yeah, um. I, um, I like you too. I like you, Heechul."
There's a pause, and then breathless laughter, relief making everything light.
"Did you want to meet today? yeah, that sounds good. noon? okay. okay I'll see you soon. bye."
Hyukjae hangs up, eyes glittering with unshed tears, and Sungmin hugs him tight.
"Congrats, you idiot."
Hyukjae laughs again, breathless but so, so happy, and hugs him back.
"Date today, noon at the fountain at the front of the shopping mall."
Sungmin leans back,smiling.
"Excited?"
"Nervous," Hyukjae admits, and Sungmin laughs.
"It'll be worth it, I promise."