YongGuk runs into a sassy, teenage boy named JunHong

YongGuk stretched as far as he could to reach the headphones on the top shelf. He felt his fingertips brush the plastic casing when suddenly the feeling disappeared and he was grasping thin air.

“You looked like you needed some help,” a voice said beside him.

YongGuk turned to see a tall, boy with magenta hair looking down at him and grinning. YongGuk liked to think he was pretty tall but this kid looked like he was thirteen and he was taller than YongGuk.

He handed the headphones to YongGuk who mumbled an embarrassed thanks.

“No problem, hot stuff,” the boy answered.

”Excuse me?” YongGuk asked incredulously.

“What?” the boy asked innocently.

“What did you just say?” YongGuk asked.

“I said no problem, sir,” the boy answered pointedly.

YongGuk narrowed his eyes and the boy suddenly started coughing. YongGuk was absolutely sure that he heard the work ‘y’ thrown in between the coughs.

When the coughing fit ended the boy apologized and smiled innocently.

“You shouldn’t hit on guys that are probably ten years older than you,” YongGuk said. “You could get in trouble.”

“Hit on you?” the boy asked. “Why on earth would I do that?”

“Don’t act like you –”

“Sir, if you’re attracted to me please just come out and say it. Don’t try to insinuate that I have feelings for you.”

YongGuk’s jaw dropped and the boy gave him a sweet eye-smile.

“Have you just received the full impact of my good looks?” the boy asked.

“What – who are you?” YongGuk asked, flustered.

“I thought you’d never ask. I’m JunHong, and you are...”

“Stunned by your audacity,” YongGuk answered.

“And other things as well, I presume,” JunHong said. “Are you so stunned that you’re going to buy those headphones? They really .”

“I’ve been using this brand for years!” YongGuk said defensively.

“Yeah and you keep buying new ones, right? Get those.” JunHong said, pointing to another pair, “They last a lot longer and they have better sound.”

“I write music, you know,” YongGuk said stiffly. “I think I know –”

“You know who else writes music?” JunHong asked. “My 8-year old sister. Just try them. Trust me, they’re so much better.”

YongGuk growled and stormed past they boy to the cashier.

“You’re going to have to buy another pair of those in at least a year,” JunHong said, following him. “Put your raging pride aside and –”

“Look who’s talking about pride,” YongGuk muttered as he threw the headphones down on the counter.

“Sir, don’t cash those!” JunHong said quickly to the surprised middle-aged man manning the counter.

YongGuk glared at JunHong and pushed the headphones towards the man.

“I’m the one paying. Cash it.”

The man hesitantly reached for the headphones and JunHong yelped.

“Are you serious? Those things shouldn’t even be in circulation! The others are better and cheaper! I’m helping you here!” JunHong shouted.

YongGuk’s was about to shout back at the petulant teenager when he took in the boy’s wide eyes and pouting lips.

“F-fine...” YongGuk mumbled. He trudged back to the shelf and exchanged his regular brand for the one JunHong had suggested, or rather demanded.

“Attaboy*!” JunHong said appreciatively as he watched YongGuk buy the headphones.

YongGuk shook his head but couldn’t help but smile at JunHong’s happy grin.

“What are you gonna do now?” JunHong asked as they walked out the store.

“Go try these out,” YongGuk said. “Don’t you have anywhere to be?”

JunHong coloured slightly and looked down.

“Not really...”

“Are all your pubescent friends already past their bedtime?” YongGuk asked.

JunHong laughed and shrugged.

“I dunno, I don’t have that many friends...”

“Oh...”

YongGuk watched as JunHong kicked at a pebble aimlessly. He seemed to have lost a bit of his fervour.

“Do you...want to hang out?” YongGuk asked.

JunHong’s face immediately brightened and his eyes seemed to have that cockiness once more.

“Knew you’d ask,” he said cheekily and winked.

YongGuk blinked. How did this kid just go from the shy, friendless teen to the cocky thing he was now?

“Shall we head to your place?” JunHong asked sweetly.

“Um...no,” YongGuk said flatly.

“What? Why not?” JunHong asked, pouting again.

YongGuk looked away so as not to be overpowered by JunHong’s expression.

“Don’t you need your parents’ permission for that?” YongGuk asked.

JunHong scowled a little and kicked at another pebble.

“No, I don’t. Let’s just go.”

“I think you do...”

“They know I’m out! Geez! How old are you, fifty? Come on!” JunHong exclaimed.

“We’re not going to my house,” YongGuk said firmly. “We can hang out in a coffee shop or something.”

JunHong rolled his eyes.

“You’re so careful. Is it because you’re old?” he asked genuinely.

YongGuk looked to the sky.

“Why am I putting up with you again?” he asked no one in particular

“Because I’m cute, funny and I want to be your friend?” JunHong said tentatively.

YongGuk raised his eyebrows and considered JunHong’s words. Honestly, they were all true.

“Well let’s be friends then,” YongGuk confirmed, “just not at my house.”

“Why?” JunHong whined.

“Maybe if you hadn’t been hitting on me so persistently earlier I’d consider it but I’m not going to take home someone that so obviously wants me,” YongGuk said.

JunHong’s jaw dropped and YongGuk grinned.

“You’re not the only one that can be cheeky,” YongGuk told him.

JunHong grinned back.

“I like it when you’re sassy. Beats your old man attitude any day,” JunHong said brightly.

YongGuk rolled his eyes and realized he would probably be doing that a lot with JunHong around.

“Come on, we’ll go to my favourite coffee place and we can listen to some music.”

“Coffee?” JunHong asked, his face twisted.

“Yes, that’s what we mature people drink.” YongGuk said “We can always put lots of milk in yours if you can’t handle it...”

“Of course I can handle it!” JunHong defended predictably.

“Well, let’s go then,” YongGuk said as he started to head away from the store.

JunHong beamed and quickly fell into step next to YongGuk.

“When do you have to be home?” YongGuk asked.

JunHong immediately scowled again and shook his head.

“You don’t worry about that, sweetheart...”

“JunHong...”

“Fine, I have to be home by ten,” JunHong admitted.

YongGuk looked at his watch and his eyes widened.

“It’s ten right now!”

“Yeah, I know,” JunHong muttered. “And being the responsible person you are...”

“...I’m going to take you home right now,” YongGuk finished.

Despite JunHong’s muttering he followed YongGuk to his car in the near empty lot and climbed into the passenger side. He reluctantly directed YongGuk on the 20-minute journey to his house and pouted cutely when they finally arrived outside his house.

“I guess this it...” JunHong muttered.

YongGuk looked over at the sulky teenager and couldn’t help but smile.

“Why don’t we hang out tomorrow night? I can come get you and that way your parents can meet me too,” YongGuk suggested.

“Really?” JunHong asked.

YongGuk nodded and JunHong’s impish grin reappeared.

“You must really like me, huh?” JunHong asked.

“What? I never said –”

“Bye, hyung! See you tomorrow!” JunHong interrupted.

He dashed out of the car and sprinted into his house leaving YongGuk with his head resting on the dashboard in defeat.

That kid was something else.

*Attaboy: I don't know if people stil use this expression lol so I just thought I'd add a definition. Attaboy is "an informal expression of encouragement or admiration to a man or boy."

I hope you guys will enjoy this while I work on the sequel to Stay! ^^

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