There's drama in the office that Boxing Day. CFO Heo and Manager Park, who runs the cantine, spent Christmas together and ended up having some sort of quarrel. This is especially gossip worthy because they were dating in absolute secrecy. Such absolute secrecy that everyone from 85-year-old CEO Shim to the Indonesian cleaner with limited Korean has heard about the issue. 

Sunggyu lets it wash over him. Everyone is too concerned with their own or someone else's gossip to care what willfully boring Kim Sunggyu got up to. This is precisely how Sunggy likes it. Naturally, it can't last. 

At around 3 o'clock, Sunggyu takes a trip downstairs to the collection of vending machines outside payroll. (The superior vending machines, as his careful experimentation has led him to theorise). While he's waiting for his americano and choosing a sandwich from the dispenser, a certain pretty brunette appears, as if from no where, at his left shoulder. A certain IT guy - who has become orange-haired at some point over the last two days - springs up at his right. They've been waiting to pounce. They must have followed me, he thinks, a shiver running up his spine.

"Hey, Sunggyu-sshi," Dongwoo greets jovially. (A manner not at all befitting of a stalker, Sunggyu mopes internally).

"We looked for you at lunch, but you'd disappeared," Bora comments as she feeds change into a machine filled with brightly coloured, Japanese chocolates. 

Sunggyu grunts non-committally. Truthfully, he'd skipped out of the office a little early for lunch and scurried down to a jajangmyeon stand a couple of streets away. As much as he told himself he really genuinely truly wanted to try the noodles, he has clearly wanted some time alone to cogitate. That message from a song-writer of his acquaintance has been bugging him. 

He doesn't really think Junhyung's asking for a date. Obviously it's simply two people with similar interests meeting up. But it does sound reminiscent of a date. And Junhyung did kiss him. And Sunggyu did have a lot of fun talking to the man last night... But still, it's definitely not a date. Sunggyu likes being single. He's not even looking. Additionally, if he were looking (which he's not), putting himself out there for a guy he's only met once - once when they were both drunk - doesn't sound remotely like a good idea. Right. Junhyung's not looking for a date. Sunggyu's not looking for a date. The only reason he's hesitating over responding to the man's message is... is... OK, Sunggyu hasn't quite worked that part out yet. Let him get over his hangover and he'll have it all figured out. 

Back to reality, the nice thing about Dongwoo and Bora (ignoring for a moment their stalking tendencies) is that, now that they've decided he's gay, they've become less pushy and also learned some tact. The three of them talk in hushed voices over paper cups of black coffee, instantly switching topic away from Sunggyu's (non-existant) lovelife when anyone from payroll breezes in for their caffeine fix. With some carefully aimed questions from these two, Sunggyu finds himself revealing far more details than he'd intended to. 

Yes, he's starting to think he can really trust these two. They're a couple of good friends he's made. Possibly. 

"So you scored a date."

"With someone in the music biz. Who knew that'd be your type, huh?"

"It's not a date."

"Sure it is." Bora slaps him cutely on the shoulder. "When are you meeting this guy again?" 

Before Sunggyu can finish telling them that he hasn't replied yet and that it isn't a date, Dongwoo butts in, 

"What about that guy? Dishy Chef Guy? I was rooting for you and Dishy Chef Guy." 

"Well, I think I'm meeting him tonight. If he can get away from work. He's been giving me lifts since my car got stolen." 

His coworkers both coo rather too loudly at that. (When did these two get so close? Sunggyu inwardly cringes). 

"Wow, Sunggyu-sshi. Your lovelife sure is something." 

Sunggyu wants to crawl into the space between the coffee machine and the sandwich dispenser and not leave for the rest of the day. How did he think he could trust these two mad people? It's self-evident that he has no such thing as a lovelife. 

~.~

Sunggyu is once again waiting for Woohyun outside a police station. This time, the most untoward person he encountered was an old woman who spread her bags over five chairs and whispered in his ear that, secretly, her name was Jesus, but please don't tell. She reminded Sunggyu a little of his grandma, so he promised he wouldn't and bought her a cup of tea. 

The police updated him on his car. It was found, burned out, some miles outside town. No leads on who stole it - despite the CCTV cameras all over the carpark. Sunggyu realises that it's time to give up and call his insurance company. 

When Woohyun rolls up, he greets Sunggyu with a wide, warm smile that Sunggyu can't help returning. 

"Merry post-Christmas," he sing-songs. 

Sunggyu scoffs, 

"You and all." 

He notices how tired Woohyun looks - grey faced, eye bags, hair and clothes uncharacteristically unkempt. Given how busy Woohyun had said he'd be, Sunggyu hadn't been expecting to see him today. Not until that message this morning. 

"You look wrecked," Sunggyu sympathises. To his utter horror, as soon as the words have slipped out, Sunggyu notices that he's already reaching out to fix Woohyun's collar. He can't conceive of a way to retract his hand without it being excrutiatingly awkward. Therefore, Sunggyu simply rolls with it and tries to convince himself that he isn't blushing like an anthropomorphised stoplight. (If he were able to maintain eye-contact after that, he would have seen that Woohyun smiled stupidly at the gesture). 

The chef explains that it's tough at work right now and that he ended up being severely scolded by the head chef. Much to Sunggyu's pleasure, he suggests they go some place warmer than the police station carpark to eat and chat some more. 

"It's Friday," Sunggyu remarks, biting his chapped lips, "It'll be busy everywhere." He doesn't mind the crowds per se. But Woohyun looks so drained and Sunggyu'd really like to go somewhere quiet and cosy with his friend. Woohyun smirks. 

"Don't worry, Jeonju Man. I know all the best places," he brags, tapping his chest for emphasis. Sunggyu rolls his eyes as he climbs on to the bike, clinging close to Woohyun's back for warmth, fingers curling in his puffy jacket. 

~.~

The best place turns out to be a mid-range shabu shabu restaurant. It's a mite fancier than Sunggyu had been anticipating and is jam packed. When they get inside, steam, incessant noise and the hot and spicy aroma engulfs them. A waiter in a too-small uniform bounces up. 'Bang Cheolyong' his namebadge reads in gold letters. He greets them rather over-enthusiasticly, makes a show of taking their coats, then shoves them towards a booth near the kitchen. Sunggyu blinks dazedly at the strange behaviour. Woohyun just grunts in displeasure, playing with his napkin. 

"Was that another friend of yours?" Sunggyu ventures. 

Woohyun eyes him for a moment then looks away. Sunggyu can't tell if the man's unhappy with the question or simply embarrassed or what. 

"Yeah," Woohyun mutters after a pause, "Cheolyongie's family runs the place. Well, anyway -" Woohyun shakes himself - and now Sunggyu could swear he's blushing, although the man's probably merely flushed from coming in from the cold. "What would you like to eat? I can make recommendations." 

They order a tonkotsu set and everything arrives more quickly than Sunggyu would have foreseen, given how busy the restuarant is. Over the piping hot, comforting food, Sunggyu manages to get Woohyun talking about himself. The man even recounts why the head chef scolded him. The story involves half a dozen french terms that Sunggyu doesn't understand, so all he does is make soothing noises, patting Woohyun's hand across the table.

The chef lightens up considerably after that. His random giggles return and the bags under his eyes appear less prominent. The strange waiter re-appears, hovering about their table. Woohyun growls at him and the man skips away, unperturbed. (Sunggyu concludes that all of Woohyun's friends are odd).

As the meal winds down, Woohyun finds his singing voice again. He's much too loud for a restaurant full of diners, so Sunggyu kicks him under the table. Woohyun apologises with a laugh, switching down a few decibles rather than stopping. And Sunggyu can't help but smile, despite his embarrassment. He likes Woohyun's voice. A lot. He wonders if the chef sings at work. He'd bet Woohyun does, since he can't seem to help himself. He wonders if the head chef scolds him for that too.

"Is that Japanese?" he enquires when it dawns on him that he has no idea what words Woohyun's singing, although the tune is familiar.

"Uh-huh."

"You know Japanese?"

"Ha! No. They've got the lyrics up."

Sunggy looks at him, puzzled, so Woohyun gestures for him to come closer. Sunggyu shuffles around till he's seated beside his friend. From this angle, he can see the TV screen in the corner playing Japanese music videos, volume low, hangeul transcriptions of the lyrics underneath. Woohyun slings an arm around Sunggyu's shoulders.

"Sing with me, My Prince."

Sunggyu guffaws. 

"Don't want to," he pronounces to the greasy smile adorning Woohyun's face.

"Won't you do me the honour, My Prince?" the man implores.

"No, I won't," Sunggyu replies, laughter breaking out.

"Agh. As you wish. Just let me seranade you then."

"You don't even know what you're singing," Sunggyu mumbles. It's a weak protest. The smile doesn't leave his face as Woohyun sings, a soft voice in his ear. Sunggyu's face is bright red and he blames that squarely on the spicy food and the Japanese beer. When the song ends, he stays curled up by Woohyun's side, bereft of any will to move. The chef tightens his hold. He chuckles softly at something obscure, sending vibrations through Sunggyu's heart. 

~.~

"What are you doing this weekend?"

They're leaving the restaurant, now much quieter than it was. The bouncy waiter had returned to get them their coats. He and Woohyun shared a few words when Woohyun went to pay. (The chef was deaf to Sunggyu's arguments that, as the elder, it was shameful for him not to pay). Despite inquisitively watching their expressions from afar - Cheolyong grinning and Woohyun variously smiling and glaring at his friend - Sunggyu was keeping his curiosity  to himself. He resolutely pretended not to notice the winks Cheolyong sent his way as he helped Sunggyu slip his coat back on. 

"Hmm?" Sunggyu hurries to keep up with Woohyun as he marches out of the restaurant, "I've no plans. Or, wait. I might, actually." 

Woohyun looks at him questioningly and Sunggyu feels his tongue tying in knots as he ponders what he wants to say. A blast of freezing air hits them as they step outside. Woohyun takes Sunggyu's arm, immediately tugging him closer. There's still inches between them and Sunggyu gets confused because why does he feel so warm? 

"Might?" Woohyun prompts. 

"Remember I mentioned meeting someone last night?" Sunggyu forces himself to increase the distance between them. As they turn a corner, he shivers, winter wind whipping at his exposed neck. He fishes for his phone and opens Junhyung's message, letting Woohyun read. "He invited me to a gig. I'm not sure I'm in the mood for it." The last part's a lie. Sunggyu's positive it'd be fun. He's not sure why he lied except that he's also not sure why he hasn't replied to Junhyung yet. Why is he even showing this to Woohyun? What is he hoping to accomplish? 

"Is he asking you on a date?" Wohyun enquires, eyebrow arched. 

Oh right. That. Confirmation from another source that Sunggyu might just have to face reality. And there's another thing Sunggyu's neglected - or rather, refused - to confirm. 

"I, er, I'm not sure. Would that be a problem for you?" 

Woohyun looks at him surprised for a moment. A slight smirk slides on to his features. Sunggyu feels himself watching the chef carefully - his expressions, his myriad little actions and ticks. 

"No, not a problem. Are you like to say 'yes'?" 

And now Sunggyu gets the impression that Woohyun's doing the same to him. Watching him. Weighing up and analysing his reactions. Sunggyu wonders why Woohyun would bother doing that. Sunggyu wishes his brain would stop supplying him with questions he doesn't want the answer to. He wants his Seoul life to be quiet and simple. He was content, previously, with quiet and simple and lonely. Somehow he's stopped feeling so content this past week. 

"I think I will," he replies, stubborn to the last, "I have nothing else on." 

Woohyun doesn't say much on their way home. Only a "hold on tight" when Sunggyu's climbing on to his bike. Sunggyu does, cheek pressed between Woohyun's shoulder blades.