Jongin really wanted to say that he was doing his work diligently that day. Really.

He wanted to say, that he was working the whole remaining afternoon after the meeting like he was supposed to, which meant absolutely no slacking off, no breaks, and full concentration on the things that had to be done. Which, in fact, was quite a lot; a thousand of papers to read through, dozen of phone calls to make and also quite a bunch of meetings with other managers to be arranged. It was a busy time for Jongin, after the days off he took, and, more importantly, PKO's scandal.

But no matter how hard he tried, Jongin just couldn't concentrate on it.

He spent the whole day just waiting, instead. Waiting for the so-called co-workers' night out that Haeun proposed (or more like forced on) them, and desperately hoping, that Kyungsoo will decide to show up. When the smaller left the meeting, it seemed like the chances were small.

Jongin still hoped anyway.

God, the things he felt, seeing the smaller male so close, barely an arm-length away. Sitting just across that freaking table, so so close. It took every tiny bit of Jongin's self-control in order not to just let himself jump from his chair, grab Kyungsoo's hand, and run away with him somewhere far. And then just kiss him, kiss all his worries, anger and despair away, and never lose him again. 

But no, he couldn't; Kyungsoo was mad at him. Really mad. So therefore, Jongin had to be patient, and suppress his heart-stopping need to touch and love Kyungsoo until they talk. Really talk their problems out.
So, there he was, waiting for this day to end and for the evening to come. Time seemed to have slowed down, as Jongin sat there, doing nothing

Sat.
Drank a glass of water.
Sat.
Answered a call.
Still sat.

As time passed, his thoughts started to scatter unconsciously. He started to think about Kyungsoo, and as always, memories filled his head with vivid images.

First image came up instantly, a bright one from five years ago. It was April, last year in highschool. Kyungsoo is smiling up to him happily with those heart-shaped lips, as Jongin comes to greet him after his class. Kyungsoo tells him he missed him.

And keeps smiling for the rest of the day.

January, same year. Kyungsoo is hugging his waist tightly, as Jongin sneakily zips up his jacket behind the smaller's back, in order to keep the smaller boy warm and close. The latter laughs, calling him an idiot. How could they move, Kyungsoo asks him, if their bodies are literally molded and tied into one? Jongin doesn't know the answer, but he doesn't really care.
He still remembers the sound of their laughter in the snow.

Then February comes up. It's still snowing heavily from the sky, and Kyungsoo stops walking in order to fix up his clothes. Scolding Jongin for forgetting the mittens. That's nothing new - Jongin forgot all the little clothing pieces, if they weren't made by Kyungsoo or absolutely crucial. It was hopeless to try to get him to carry those around if they weren't. And in the end, Kyungsoo ended up making him a pair of mittens, knowing that's the only way to make sure he doesn't forget them ever again. He couldn't stand seeing Jongin's hands get cold, and he knew well - his own handmade mittens are the only cure.
And they were.

Usually, Jongin would have straight up killed anyone who tried to baby him like that. But it was different, when Kyungsoo. was the one doing it. Jongin wanted to be babied, loved, and sometimes even gently scolded by Kyungsoo.
He could do anything he wanted with Jongin, and the latter wouldn't even complain.

"Jongin ah."

Jongin snapped out of his thoughts instantly, looking up at Kibum, who smiled at him.

"It's almost 8, Jongin ah," the blonde guy told him. "You should probably get going."

Jongin jumped up from the table in the speed of light, and grabbed his briefcase.
"Thanks, hyung," he hastily said to the other as he shoved some documents from the table into his briefcase. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

Before Kibum could answer or even move, Jongin was already out the door, his coat clutched in one hand and briefcase in the other.

Jongin practically broke into the elevator that was about to close, and scared the hell out of two secretaries who just got off work. He bowed and gave them an apologetic smile, knowing well that that one smile will helo them forgive him instantly. And really - the girls started blushing profusely, and began trying to make a conversation with him.
Jongin answered some questions politely, smiling, though really he was just counting the floors as they passed them.

Finally, they reached the lobby. Jongin sighed in relief. As he got off, his heart fluttered in his chest with relief, because he saw Kyungsoo already standing there, and waiting. He was alone, leaning on the wall beside the entrance, and looking lost in his thoughts.

At that moment, Kyungsoo turned his head and noticed him, too

"Have a nice evening, Team leader Kim!" the girls wished him with hopeful smiles on their faces, and Jongin, unable to turn his eyes away from Kyungsoo's, just nodded in response.

"You, too."

He started walking towards Kyungsoo. The latter didn't move his gaze away from the approaching Jongin, which was a bit weird. Why? Earlier in the meeting, Kyungsoo had completely ignored his presence.
And now he was openly staring.

"Scored a date?" the smaller asked nonchalantly, one of his eyebrows raised.

"What date?" Jongin asked back, clueless. "With who?"

Seemingly a bit irritated by that response, Kyungsoo just rolled his eyes.

"Whatever."

Jongin furrowed his eyebrows, confused.

"Are you talking about those girls back there? They're just my co-workers. I don't even know their names."

Kyungsoo laughed.

"You mean you don't even need to know their names."

"That's not what I meant."

Ignoring his words, Kyungsoo stepped away from Jongin at the same moment, signalling that he was done with the conversation. Suddenly feeling annoyed and sick of it all, Jongin was about to grab his wrist again, and stop him from moving away from him, but then he saw Chanyeol and Baekhyun, walking towards them.

"Team leader!" Baekhyun waved at him with that sparkling smile, that even Jongin sometimes couldn't help but admire.

"Baekhyun," he responded with a small smile of his own, and turned to greet Chanyeol. "How are you, Yeollie? Didn't think you would come."

Chanyeol nodded at him sheepishly.
"Baekhyun asked me to," He mumbled, and fiddled with his fingers, looking a bit embarassed.

Jongin didn't fail to notice Baekhyun's smile get even brighter.

"You're all here?" They heard a voice behind them, and saw Haeun standing there, seemingly pleased. "That's great. Really great. I was afraid that some of you might not take your pay too seriously."

She came a bit closer and smiled.

"There's a BBQ restaurant just down the street, and they even have karaoke rooms. I suppose we're heading there with no arguments, right?"

"I'm okay with it," Jongin nodded, throwing a glance at Kyungsoo. "Though I'm not sure if everybody here is that fond of the idea of karaoke."

"It's fine, Jongin ah," Haeun smirked at him. "Once we have a bit of soju, everyone's going to love the idea of karaoke. You just watch."

Kyungsoo didn't seem to be very supportive of the idea, and Jongin was pretty sure he was not agreeing with karaoke in any circumstances. Furthermore, he knew Kyungsoo was more worried about the mentioned alcohol than singing.

Back in highschool, Kyungsoo used to hate drinking, too. When he went to some parties with Jongin, he would never take even a tiniest sip of alcohol, using the excuse of hating the after-effects, or getting irrepairable health damage from it, or even the fear of possible vomiting.
But only Jongin knew the reason of Kyungsoo fearing the alcohol was actually much deeper and sadder than that. It wasn't the vomiting, or hangover, or whatever else the boy said to everybody else.
It was because of his family. The reason, why his parents split.
As Jongin walked, with Baekhyun talking something excitedly to Chanyeol by his side, and Kyungsoo walking up in front, he started thinking about things again. He remembered the night, when an 18-year-old owl-eyed boy confessed to him, about his fear of alcohol. The night when they came back from some heavily alcohol-loaded birthday party being really early, because in first five minutes, Kyungsoo had silently whispered to Jongin he wanted to leave, and the look on the boy's face was enough for Jongin to comply immediately. They came back, and if Kyungsoo's silence the whole ride home wasn't scarying him that much, the boy all of a sudden spilling tears as soon as they reached Jongin's room definitely did. Seeing Kyungsoo tear up, Jongin circled his arms around the smaller's waist in fear and worry, and as he gently held him, rocking Kyungsoo to sides slowly, trying to soothe him with his presence, the boy had told him everything. About his father, who drank, and his mom, who couldn't bear it anymore and left him. Jongin was the first one to know this, besides the boy himself. He was the first one to be trusted that much by Kyungsoo. And that, that one night, and that one sad conversation, was enough to take their relationship to another level. To the level of indescribable trust and loyalty.

That was why Jongin so strongly believed Kyungsoo still loved him, never stopped loving him, no matter what hateful words the other had spat to him the other day or what hateful glares he threw. Their relationship was so much more than just some high school puppy love, that was easy and quick to forget. It was their hearts, their souls themselves bound together tightly as they experienced hurt and joy. It was them, growing up together, sharing pain and happiness as they did, and becoming the adults they now were.

It was impossible to forget, Jongin knew it.

He got mind out of the daze, when Haeun pushed him into the restaurant.

Without Jongin noticing it, the group was all of a sudden already at the right place, where Haeun led them to a closed room with karaoke equipment in it. She seemed to be quite familiar with the staff working there, and Jongin suddenly wondered - how often did she have to take other employees out for a 'co-workers dinner', to have such laid-back chats with the waiter?

Must have been pretty often.

"Sit down, feel comfortable." she encouraged them, not noticing Jongin's stare.

Jongin hurried to take a seat straight in front of Kyungsoo. Even if the shorter noticed it, he didn't show it. Following him, Chanyeol encouraged Baekhyun to take a seat beside Jongin, and he himself took the seat beside Kyungsoo, leaving Haeun to sit at the end of the table.

"I'll go place the order," Haeun told them, hanging her coat. "What do you guys want?"
Everybody told the manager their orders, and she left. Jongin let himself openly stare at the owl-eyed male in front of him, not worrying about his best friend or Baekhyun seeing that.

Pretending to be indifferent, Kyungsoo seemed to choose ignoring Jongin as his best option. He just looked at his fingers, laced on top of the table.

Haeun didn't take much time to come back, and after her trailed a nervous looking waiter. On his tray sat three bottles of soju.

"Make space for some soju, please," Haeun as