Taemin was curled up on the couch, his phone sticked to his ear and his eyes fixed on the corridor. Minho could come out of the bathroom any minute now and he needed an answer quickly.

 

“Come on, Jinki ! Please !”

 

“I’m not in the mood to go shopping with you.”

 

“It won’t get long, I promise ! I already checked out the good shops to see where to go.”

 

Taemin and Minho had met almost two years ago, and Taemin had decided to make their second anniversary the best by offering Minho the ‘best gift ever’. Minho wasn’t that picky, and he would probably have liked anything as long as it came from Taemin. However, the latter wanted to find the perfect gift, and for that, he needed Jinki’s help. He and Minho were childhood friends and they knew each other like the back of their hands, which meant that Jinki would know what gift Minho would like better right away.

 

“Do you know what you’re going to buy him ?”

 

“Well… Not really, but…”

 

“Taemin, I won’t choose for you.”

 

“I know ! I know ! I already have some ideas.”

 

“Like what ?”

 

“He’s been talking about buying a new watch for a while.”

 

“He could like it, depends on the watch.”

 

“Exactly ! Which is why I need you. Badly.”

 

He heard Jinki sigh at the end of the line.

 

“You’ve known each other for almost two years and you still need me to find him a gift ?”

 

“You’ve known him all his life ! You must know what he likes better than me.”

 

“Not for sure, I’m not the one living with him.”

 

“Jinki, please…”

 

He stayed quiet for a few seconds and Taemin could almost hear him think through the phone. He was starting to get nervous when Jinki spoke again.

 

“Alright.”

 

Taemin had to hold back from squealing in joy. Minho was still in the bathroom and even if their apartment was soundproof, he would rather not arouse suspicion.

 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you ! I love you !”

 

“But there is no way I’m following you in a bunch of shops the whole afternoon, understood ?”

 

“I promise, Jinki !” He said, smiling.

 

He quickly bid him goodbye and hung up.

 

He was still smiling widely when Minho came out of the bathroom, with his hair still wet and only a white towel covering his gorgeous tanned body. He noticed Taemin’s smile and couldn’t help but smile in return. Taemin’s good mood had always been contagious.

 

“Why the smiley face ?”

 

“No reason.” Taemin said, shrugging. “I’m just… happy.”

 

“I can see that.” Minho chuckled.

 

Taemin walked closer and slipped his arms around his boyfriend’s neck, biting his lip. Minho instinctively put his arms around his waist.

 

“I should go get dressed…” Minho mumbled, staring at his boyfriend’s plump lips.

 

“Hmm… I’ll help you out with that.”

 

Minho didn’t miss the mischievous glint in Taemin’s eyes.

 

He was so not getting dressed.

 

…………………………

 

When Jinki entered his office that morning, he froze. The small card he had put away at the bottom of his drawer was resting on his desk, like an invitation.

 

He specifically remembered putting it away… Had someone sorted out his papers ? Was it Mrs Park ? She wasn’t allowed to search his things, though...

 

There was a knock on the door and Jinki looked up to see Sohye.

 

“Jinki ? Can I talk to you ?”

 

He frowned but still nodded, putting Key’s business card back in his drawer. Sohye walked to his desk, eyeing Jinki curiously.

 

“That card…” She began, pointing at the drawer. “There’s a number on it.”

 

Jinki’s body stiffened. It was Sohye who had moved the card.

 

“Yes.”

 

“But there’s no name, what kind of business card doesn’t have a name on it ?”

 

Jinki sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.

 

“You called him.”

 

It wasn’t a question, but Sohye still nodded.

 

“Why would Key give you a business card ?”

 

Jinki stayed silent.

 

“What kind of friend would give you a business card ?”

 

Sohye just voiced all of the questions she had been asking herself and Jinki didn’t answer.

None of it made sense. Usually, Jinki warned all of his employees when one of his friends came over so that everything was in order. His friends never stayed for a weekend. He had few friends, he could easily count them on one hand and he never met anyone new because he was too afraid. All of that was already strange, but the others’ behavior was too. At first, Jinki and Key were like strangers to each other. They were so formal to each other.

 

There was just something about Key, Sohye couldn’t quite pinpoint it...

 

He was so different from Jinki. He was so open to others, so friendly. He was an early riser and liked to go out. He dressed in sophisticated and expensive clothes, the type of clothes Sohye usually saw worn by the fashion addict children of rich people. He and Jinki didn’t share much common interests and Key really wasn’t the type of person Jinki was usually friends with.

 

So many things didn’t make sense, and she had finally gathered the courage to ask Jinki. Her curiosity had been eating her alive.

 

“At first, I thought he was a friend of yours, but that’s not the case… is it ? You two didn’t seem to know each other when he came here the first time.”

 

“No. It was the first time I met him.”

 

So Sohye’s instincts were right, after all.

 

“But why would you let a stranger stay here then ?”

 

“It was Minho and Taemin’s idea.”

 

Of course... Jinki could never have done that himself. But Sohye still didn’t understand why they would ask a stranger to come here. Unless that Key was a friend of them and that they had thought he and Jinki could become friends. But Jinki wasn’t the type to make friends easily and he and Key were so different...

 

“Key is…” Jinki trailed off.

 

She waited for him to continue but he kept quiet. A few seconds later, he heaved a loud sigh and spoke again.

 

“He’s an .”

 

A minute went by. They could have heard a pin drop.

 

“An… ?” Sohye repeated with wide eyes.

 

“Yes.”

 

She would never have thought Jinki to be the type of man to hire es. He wasn’t so different from other rich men, in the end. Or maybe he just felt too lonely. Sohye wasn’t blind, she had seen he didn’t like being alone, even if he claimed otherwise.

 

“I… understand.” She finally said.

 

Jinki raised an eyebrow.

 

“You do ?”

 

“Jinki, I won’t point a finger at you. You shouldn’t be ashamed. Everyone has… needs…”

 

Jinki’s face turned pink.

 

“No, it’s not what you think !”

 

“I get that you’re too shy to do it yourself, and it was a good idea to ask your friends to find someone. I have to admit Key is very attractive, I already told-”

 

“No, Sohye. Stop.” Jinki cut off.

 

At least, now she knew everything. It explained a lot. She understood now why Key sometimes dressed in rather racy outfits… And it also explained why Jinki had initiated physical contact with him.  

 

“I never wanted to hire an .” He explained. “Minho and Taemin thought it would be a good idea and did it behind my back.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Jinki heaved a relieved sigh. At least, now he had explained everyth-

 

“But you and Key… you…”

 

“No !” Jinki shouted. “I didn’t have with him.”

 

“...Why not ?” Sohye asked, frowning.

 

Jinki really wanted to go hide in a corner. Why the hell did everyone seem to be so surprised by the fact that he didn’t want to have with him ?!

 

“What do you mean, ‘why not’ ?”

 

“Well Minho and Taemin are not wrong, since you don’t want a serious relationship-”

 

“Here we go again...” Jinki mumbled, sighing.

 

“All I mean to say is that it won’t hurt you to have some good time.”

 

Jinki had been very grumpy before Key arrived and Sohye genuinely thought that having some fun would help him relax.

 

“I can’t have with him !”

 

“Jinki, you know you’re capable of-”

 

“That’s not what I’m talking about !” He blushed.

 

Sohye couldn’t help but smile - a mischievous glint in her eyes - and Jinki sighed for the nth time that day.

 

“I don’t want to have with him.”

 

She seemed perplexed.

 

“...Really ?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

 

“I don’t want to use him that way.” Jinki admitted.

 

“Oh.”

 

So that’s what it was. It was his moral principles that kept him from having that type of relationship with Key… Sohye couldn’t help but find it a bit stupid.

 

“You know, if he does that job it means that he doesn’t mind.”

 

“I know, he told me himself…”

 

“Then what’s keeping you from-”

 

“It’s… complicated.”

 

He couldn’t tell her he and Key were friends, since he didn’t know it himself.

 

“Then… When will he come back ?” Sohye asked after a moment of silence.

 

“Why would he come back ?”

 

“Won’t you call him ? He came here twice, why not a third time ?”

 

“What for ?”

 

“You like to spend time with him.”

 

“It’s not a reason to call him.”

 

“Of course it is !”

 

“I don’t even know if we’re friends…”

 

“Another reason to hire him one more time then. Don’t stay with doubts, ask him.”

 

Jinki didn’t answer and seemed to be thinking. Sohye smiled. She had successfully sowed confusion in his mind and now, he may actually be considering calling Key.

 

Sohye was not born yesterday. She had noticed that Jinki was in a darker mood and she didn’t really know the reason why. What she knew, however, was that Key had something to do with it.

 

She knew bringing Key back could lift his spirits. It didn’t matter that he was an , he had done what nobody had done in years: getting close to Jinki. Jinki was slowly realizing it and Sohye feared that he would shut everyone out again by fear of his feelings.

 

For now, he was starting to get used to the idea of being friends with Key, which was already a big step forward. But Sohye dreaded Jinki’s reaction if he were to find out that their relationship was more than just friendship.

 

……………………………

 

Lying down on a luxury hotel’s bed, Key was staring up at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts. He was struggling not to space out these days. It normally wouldn’t have been a problem, as long as that new habit wasn’t interfering with his work. Except it was. Two of his customers had already pointed it out to him and it was not good for business.

 

He pulled the sheets covering his body away and got up without a sound, careful as not to wake up the customer sleeping beside him. He picked up his silk robe on the floor and slipped it on, tying the belt tightly around his waist. He walked to the bathroom and locked the door behind him. He the tap and leaned over the sink to gently splash his face with cold water before standing straight again. He stared at his own reflection in the mirror and sighed.

 

He really should stop thinking about it. He needed to get a grip ! All of this was starting to affect his job, and his sleep.

 

He had found himself thinking about Jinki several times. Images of the man were haunting him for a while, and sometimes… in rather compromising situations.

 

He hid his face in his hand, embarrassed.

 

He had thought of Jinki while having with one of his customers. His mind had wandered off and all of a sudden, it was like his customer had been Jinki. It had been Jinki’s hands caressing his body, Jinki’s lips against his skin… He had even almost moaned his name.

Fortunately for him, his customer had been completely clueless. He had even left him a - rather generous - tip for his performance. Which only made the situation even more embarrassing.

 

“You need to get your together.” He whispered to himself. “No more spacing out, and no more thinking about Jinki…”

 

He felt a sudden warm and happy feeling in the pit of his stomach when he thought of him.

 

Key tapped his head against the mirror, frustrated.

 

It really was the worst thing that could ever happen to him, to have a crush on one of his customers. Yes, Jinki wasn’t the usual customer type, but he still remained a customer. It was even more stupid. First, it affected his work and was against his number one rule - which consisted in keeping as much distance between his private and professional life -, and second, it was most likely one-sided anyway.

 

It’s just a small crush, he thought. It’ll pass.

 

It wasn’t the first time he had felt attracted to one of his customers, and it had always faded away after some time. However, it was the first time he had ever felt emotionally attracted to one of them. And when feelings were involved, it was rarely a good sign.

 

He knew it would have happened someday. After all, everyone ended up meeting someone sooner or later. But to be honest, he hadn’t expected that. If someone had ever told him he would have feelings for one of his customers - and a paraplegic man - he would have laughed, saying how good of a joke it was.

 

And there he was today, unable to sleep because of all the thoughts keeping his mind reeling. Thoughts that all revolved about Jinki.

 

……………………………

 

“We need to go in that shop ! I heard it was one of the best.”

 

Jinki just followed Taemin around silently. The latter was constantly talking and making big hand gestures because he was excited. Jinki had been forced to go shopping with him to advise him in the choice of Minho’s anniversary gift. They were celebrating their two years together in a few days and Taemin wouldn’t stop talking about it.

 

He had been talking about luxury brands but Jinki hardly knew anything about them. He apparently had seen a bunch of watches but he had thought it would be better if Jinki came with him to buy one of them. Minho being stuck at work to work on an upcoming game, Taemin had immediately rushed to Jinki’s to take him shopping.

 

It was the third shop they went to and Jinki was slowly losing patience. He had already seen a bunch of watches Minho would have liked but Taemin was too picky and wanted the best.

 

“I don’t understand why we have to go in so many shops, Taemin. The watches we saw looked just fine to me.”

 

“Yes but I don’t want a ‘fine’ watch ! I want Minho to look at it and think ‘this watch is perfect’.”

 

“It doesn’t matter what you offer him, he’ll be happy with whatever you give him.”

 

“I know but… He always gives the greatest gifts.” He mumbled, pouting.

 

It was true that Minho had a gift to find the perfect present. Jinki knew it, Minho had always offered him presents he loved. Minho’s presents always made all the other presents look like . When he and Jinki were kids, Minho and his family were invited to Jinki’s mother’s birthday once. Jinki was six at the time, and he had spent hours - or at least it seemed like hours to him - drawing the most beautiful drawing for his mother’s birthday. Minho - who was five then - had surprised everyone by giving Jinki’s mother flowers. He had picked them himself and Jinki’s drawing had looked like a mediocre present next to the beautiful colorful flowers Minho had offered her. They had even argued about of that.

 

With time, Jinki had gotten used to it. But Taemin had known Minho for only two years and Jinki understood how frustrating that could be in the beginning.

 

They entered the jewelry store and were greeted by the saleswoman. She was dressed in an elegant way and her hair was tied in a bun. Her appearance matched the luxurious atmosphere of the shop. Jinki glanced at the jewels on display and he noticed they were no prices. It must have been a high-standing jewelry store.

 

After explaining what he was looking for, the saleswoman showed Taemin where the men watches were displayed and Jinki had to admit they were beautiful. With Jinki’s help, Taemin chose one and the saleswoman told him it was a very good choice. Taemin was busy paying the watch so Jinki went around the shop to look at the jewels on display. He was about to go back to Taemin when something caught his eye.

 

It was a choker. A choker composed of a burgundy red velvet ribbon and a small key-shaped pendant. An image of a silk robe of the same color flashed before his eyes and Jinki stayed frozen in front of the display window.

 

“Wow, are those real diamonds ?” Taemin asked behind him.

 

Jinki noticed the two little diamonds embedded on each side of the key pendant. Taemin had always had an eye for jewels. The saleswoman joined them when she saw them staring at the display. She opened the window and - with gloves, Jinki noticed - gently picked out the choker for them to see it better. Apparently, the diamonds were one carat each and the choker came from a famous brand. It was a lot more expensive than the watch Taemin had bought for Minho.

 

Jinki told himself it was really stupid to want to by a choker on a whim just because it reminded him of someone.

 

He bought it anyway.
 

...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
 

Hi everyone ! :D

So this was the 10th chapter (time is going so fast, omg) ! I hope you liked it ~

Still no Key, huh ? When will he come back ? I miss him, I bet you do too T_T
Any ideas on what will happen next ? Tell me in the comments !

Again, I would like to give a huge thanks to those who comment every time (you guys make my day ♥) and thank you to all the new subscribers ! :D ♥ Votes are highly appreciated, too ! ♥