Hi, wow, it really has been almost 4/6 years since I've touched this site, I would really like to apologise to all my previous subscribers, especially those who followed me on my other stories... I definitely did a horrible job by leaving everyone hanging on every single story. I'm coincidentally finishing my college education in a matter of days... so I would like to apologise by finishing up and editing all my previous stories to make them way way better, and you know, in case anyone still reads/follows those and wants a sense of closure. I really really will finish this in a few weeks, it's going to be a two shot, so here's the first edited chapter! Again, I'm really sorry, I'll type out a proper apology soon when I finish my national exams... 

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Kyungsoo is an accountant.

 

It isn’t easy really, being an accountant. There are times when you just stare at the numbers printed on almost every side of the report and your thoughts trace back to the horrible math teacher in 6th grade that just could not remember your name and yet somehow seemed to be prejudiced against you. There was also that horrible economics teacher in college that wouldn’t help you as you struggled with the all the graphs and what not. There are also times when you seem to calculate every single thing till perfection- Kyungsoo remembers when there was once he even counted the number of grains of rice to cook a meal for three (because Sehun was staying over). Occupational hazard, really.

 

But for Kyungsoo, being an accountant was something to be proud of. The awe plastered on someone’s face when he introduced himself as an accountant always seemed to boost his self esteem and after all, the job was well paying. The only issue Kyungsoo (or Baekhyun really) seemed to have with his job was that it made him even more shy than he already was. Sure, the title gave his ego a huge boost, but that didn’t mean it also stole away all social contact he had with people, being stuck in an office looking at numbers each day. He was always poor at communicating feelings, his thoughts mainly technical and he somehow always felt he wasn’t attractive. Baekhyun liked to joke that his best friends were his thick rimmed glasses and calculator (which he had named Steve). Of course, Kyungsoo whacked him on that back of his head and gave him hell for that. He wasn’t going to admit that he was the slightest bit obsessed with Steve. Oh, dear, lovely Steve.

 

“Soo! You need to go out! Are you going to be stuck with Steve forever? The damn thing is going to run out of battery one day and you’ll be all alone and miserable. Anyways, I don’t want to have to see you at eighty still hugging and making love to Steve!” Baekhyun grumbled with his mouth half stuffed with pizza as he chucked a stray pillow at Kyungsoo’s head.

 

Shooting a glare at his actual best friend and house-mate, Kyungsoo bit back irritatedly, ‘Stop being so melodramatic! I should really replace your best friend title, you’re annoying the hell out of me with your incessant desires for my love life and your loud boisterous munching.’

 

Pausing to think, Kyungsoo added, ‘besides, it’s not like anyone will want to date me anyways, come on, you know how people get with how I act and look. At least Steve is reliable, people aren’t.’

 

Baekhyun merely gave Kyungsoo a cheeky smirk, retorting, ‘yeah, replace that title with Steve. Oh Steveeeeee~ You’re so hot, do you know? Maybe we could go to my place and uh... multiply? Mgf-’ Shoving his foot in Baekhyun’s face to shut him up, Kyungsoo proceeded to turn on the television to drown out his best friend’s grumbles and boisterous laughter, sulking in a huff.

 

‘You know soo, you’re really not as unattractive as you think, you just need to get out there.’

 

‘Let it go, Baek. Let’s just... discuss this another time okay?’

 

--

The next time Kyungsoo saw Baekhyun was because the loud, excitable male had dragged him out on a Christmas shopping trip, declaring that the accountant needed to live up to the Christmas spirit and buy gifts for their other friends. Of course, Kyungsoo knew that Baekhyun just wanted an excuse to draw Kyungsoo out of the house, but he hadn’t really done his Christmas shopping yet and remembering how Sehun had practically grumbled that ‘Kyungsoo hyung is stingy’ when he got him only a convenience store bought card the previous year, and Junmyeon had chided him for making the poor maknae sad, he relented.

 

The shopping trip turned out to be Baekhyun buying tons of eyeliner for himself, something about self appreciation, and rushing from shop to shop to end up buying 10 shirts, 2 pairs of shoes, a cap, a new phone case and three planners for the new year. Kyungsoo lagged behind unenthusiastically as he grabbed a plain purple hoodie for Sehun (that little brat better be grateful), an apron with a bunny design for Junmyeon and some other gifts for Jongdae and Xiumin. Well, at least I don’t need to leave my house again for this, Kyungsoo thought to himself. He was also obligated to get this pair of black, ripped skinny jeans completely against his own will as Baekhyun tossed it into his basket just before payment, making Kyungsoo gasp in horror helplessly as the bored, stoic cashier scanned it. (Baekhyun just really wanted to bring Kyungsoo to the club.)

 

The pair proceeded to enter a newly opened cafe that had a fancy sign with the words Unicorn Delights written in chalk at the door as Baekhyun ungraciously dragged Kyungsoo into the shop to grab a drink. Just as the pair entered the shop, Baekhyun’s eyes widened in familiarity, a grin spreading across his features as he yelled, ‘Jongin ah!’

Kyungsoo winced instinctively, hitting Baekhyun with a hushed whisper of ‘Shut up! Everyone’s staring you dumb ’, obviously getting ignored as Baekhyun waddled his way to the counter of the shop, doing a wiggly dance upon reaching in excitement. Sighing in frustration, the accountant merely shuffled behind, huffing in annoyance and embarrassment. Probably one of Baekhyun’s dumb friends again.

 

Little did he expect that upon reaching the counter, he would raise his eyes and be met with a endearing smile and eyes that curved into smiles of their own, crinkling at the edges. Neither did he expect beautifully bronzed skin and fluffy, slightly ruffled hair. In conclusion, this boy, Jongin, was rather attractive in a casual, working student kind of way, endearing and... cute. Not that Kyungsoo would make that known to Baekhyun. Kyungsoo felt his face flushing involuntarily, eyes darting nervously to look at the cakes on display instead, humming to himself in false indifference.

 

‘Jongin ah! It’s you! Since when were you working here?’

‘Baekhyun hyung! Ah... Dad problems, independence and whatnot... Hyung, did you buy more eyeliner again?’ Jongin’s mouth lifted in a slight smirk and teased as he looked at the bag of makeup in Baekhyun’s hands mockingly.

‘Shut up! It’s the new trend, which you are unable to appreciate, with those lowly tastes of yours.’ (Kyungsoo didn’t understand what lowly tastes he was talking about)

‘Anyways hyung, who’s this? I’ve never seen him around before?’ Jongin turned to Kyungsoo, once again crinkling in warmth and ease.

‘Oh! This is Kyungsoo! He’s your hyung by the way, my best friend whom you have never seen before because you’re always too busy to spend time with me!’ Baekhyun whined as Kyungsoo attempted a polite, yet awkward smile.

 

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry okay! You know how dad is!’ Jongin whined before facing the jittery accountant, introducing himself with the same confident ease, ‘Hi hyung! I’m Jongin!’

Hyung?! Kyungsoo wanted to scream as he managed a small, awkward smile.

 

‘Anyways, I got to go, or I’ll get fired again and dad will kill me. By the way, Baek, there’s this guy who works here who is totally your type, you should come back on Friday, he’s on shift then, I’ll introduce you’ Jongin said as he shot a cheeky wink in Baekhyun’s direction, the said boy’s eyes lighting up in interest, nodding agreeably.

 

‘Kyungsoo hyung, come back with Baekhyun hyung too! I’ll see you around!’

 

Needless to say, Kyungsoo’s cheeks flushed a heavy red as a ventured a friendly, yet nervous wave in Jongin’s direction, scampering off after Baekhyun.

 

And for once, Kyungsoo didn’t count how long he spent in the shop.

--

It was exactly 3 days later that Baekhyun stood clad fashionably in a pair of skinny jeans as a casual top, his face made up with the usual touch of eyeliner, reaching for the door, about to leave their house to head for the cafe in the mall to meet with Jongin’s friend. It was also exactly 3 days later that Kyungsoo bit his bottom lip nervously as he thought about Baekhyun heading to that cafe and meeting Jongin’s friend. Jongin had asked him to visit with Baekhyun...but the male simply couldn’t find the courage in himself to invite himself along with Baekhyun to go back; his best friend wouldn’t let it go for months if he found out Kyungsoo had the slightest interest in Jongin.

 

So when Baekhyun paused before opening the door, turning his head back into their living room to question, ‘Soo, actually, didn’t Jongin ask you to come too? Come on, let’s go together, I’ll need the moral support man’, Kyungsoo’s chest felt a sudden relief of tension and anticipation, and the said male almost immediately grasped at the chance. ‘Wear the jeans I got you by the way, you ought to put it to good use.’

 

And although Kyungsoo feigned annoyance and grumbled incomprehensively, he eagerly reached for the too-tight jeans that Baekhyun insisted upon, unable to help the slight nervous skip in his step as he followed the other out. Neither did he however, notice the hints of a mischievous smile on Baekhyun’s lips.

 

--

Honestly though, Kyungsoo didn’t know what he was expecting. He had followed Baekhyun out on a supposed subtly planned blind date, obviously he was going to stick out like a sore thumb, third-wheeling a potential couple to be. Kyungsoo definitely felt ten times more jittery and anxious as he entered Unicorn Delights cafe as he realised he had absolutely nothing to do in the shop but wait for Baekhyun. Well... I guess I could have a cake and find something to do on my phone...

Settling in a table at the corner of the shop as Baekhyun was whisked off by a very pleasant, very endearing Jongin to find a waiter by the name of Chanyeol, Kyungsoo fiddled with his phone aimlessly, though the sweet, delicious taste of the cake filled his mouth.

 

So when Jongin suddenly sat down in at his table, Kyungsoo let out a slight shriek of surprise, resulting in the tan male’s easy laughter at Kyungsoo. ‘Kyungsoo hyung, hello! I’m just here to keep you company since I’m on my break now and Baekhyun hyung told me not to leave you alone since you came to support him. I’m really glad you came back hyung.’ Jongin rambled as he flashed that captivating, bright smile at Kyungsoo.

 

Naturally, Kyungsoo’s cheeks coloured as he stuttered out a nervous ‘hey’ and let out a controlled smile at the other male. Frowning in deep thought, he proceeded to say hesitantly, ‘I wouldn’t want to trouble you Jongin, I don’t want to bother you on your break... I honestly might bore you away...’

 

Surprisingly, he was met with a cheerful ‘it’s fine hyung! I really want to spend my break with you!’ to which he agreed skeptically. After all, it was Jongin, with his easy going charm, and then it was himself, who seemed to only be able to strike up a conversation on accounting and calculation-related topics. Somehow, the younger male had managed to detect a hint of uncertainty on the older’s face, as he flashed a good-natured smile and quickly assured, ‘hyung, don’t worry! I’m very easy to warm up to! I’ll go make you a drink, smoothie?’ as he rushed off excitedly to the kitchen. Kyungsoo could only sigh apprehensively, yes, Jongin, you’re very easy to warm up to... perhaps too easy...

 

On Jongin’s part, he was genuinely excited to talk to the other boy, rushing excitedly to make a smoothie for Kyungsoo as his manager and friend Yixing flashed a curious smile, teasingly questioning, ‘a date? He’s cute.’ The tanned male could only flush as he hummed out a ‘maybe’, eyes shining as he added wistfully, ‘I know right, he’s really cute.’

 

After all, Jongin had been attracted to Kyungsoo when he first saw him; cute and bashfully handsome with a nervous yet determined look set onto his features. The other was exactly his type. He seemed like an easy going introvert, which intrigued Jongin, who was clearly a bumbling extrovert. Kyungsoo had this ‘shy’ thing going for him, and it really just made the tanned male want to find out more about him. In summation, Kyungsoo was interesting. And cute. Jongin’s brain added.

 

“Oh come on,” Jongin whined to himself as the image of Kyungsoo’s heart shaped smile flashed in his mind. Attractive too.

 

As Jongin settled down into a seat opposite the other male, sliding a strawberry smoothie over, he chuckled as he stated, ‘look at those lovebirds, I was right about Chanyeol being Baekhyun’s type. I should totally get a job at a matchmaking agency... don’t you think so hyung?’ causing the accountant to move his gaze to Baekhyun and Chanyeol, watching as Baekhyun giggled (yes, giggle) at something Chanyeol said as the taller male let an extremely wide grin onto his face. The accountant couldn’t help but let out a laugh as well, ‘Who knows, they may be each other faces off next’.

 

The moment the words left his mouth, Kyungsoo screamed internally. Why would you say that Kyungsoo! Now he’s just going to think you are some freak! You just met the guy you don’t just say that!

 

Luckily, Jongin seemed to find that funny as he laughed along, nodding his head in agreement. “So, are you dating Kyungsoo?”

 

The question shocked Kyungsoo, but he could see that Jongin was going with the flow of the conversation and honestly, it made him more nervous than shocked. What if Jongin laughed at him for being single for so long? What a loser, this boy, he may think.

 

Seeing Kyungsoo stunned into silence, Jongin grumbled, ‘well I am hyung, and now that Chanyeol is probably going to go off with Baekhyun, I’m going to be left in the ditch all alone!’ Seeing the pout on the younger’s face, Kyungsoo couldn’t help but let out a loud shout of ‘no!’

 

‘No? So hyung you’re single? Hyung that’s great! We should get to know each other and hang out hyung.’ Jongin’s face lit up almost instantaneously, letting a slight pink hue on his cheeks.

 

Leaving no room for Kyungsoo to reply, Jongin proceeded to inquire, ‘So what do you do? You already know I’m working at a cafe, of course... but I’m also majoring in dance right now!’

 

‘I-I’m an accountant, so I’m constantly cooped up with numbers and less so human interaction, makes me somewhat of a nerd really, so I’m really awkward with people, as you can probably tell, but I love my job so it’s not so bad, but it makes me super uncomfortable with people and it’s really lame so-’ Kyungsoo blurted, rambling on as he fiddled with his hands anxiously.

 

‘Hyung, that’s really cool actually! I really couldn’t tell you were awkward with people!’ Jongin’s soothing voice cut in, and with just a single sentence of affirmation, made Kyungsoo’s cheeks flush even more, the pounding in his chest increasingly in frequency.

 

“T-thanks” Kyungsoo mumbled.

 

‘Hyung, what do you do during your free time?’ Jongin asked, proceeding to steer the conversation in a completely different direction.

--

It was much later that Baekhyun came to Kyungsoo’s table with a wide smile as he said cheerfully, “Soo! We should go!”

 

Kyungsoo, tore himself away from the engaging and lighthearted conversation with Jongin regretfully as he smiled and waved goodbye, clutching his phone in his hand, treating it as if it was his prized possession after getting Jongin’s number stored.

 

“Hyung! I’ll text you! Let’s go out next time!”  Jongin flashed a stunning grin as he left to return to a clearly happy Chanyeol.

 

“Hmm... were you so interested in Jongin you lost track of time? You’re usually the one who tells me it’s time to leave!” Baekhyun teased the other as he smirked at him.

 

“N-no baek! Stop talking rubbish!”

 

“Whatever you say!” Baekhyun trailed in a singsong manner with a cheeky grin before rambling on about his wonderful time with Chanyeol.

 

Did I really lose track of time again because of Jongin? Kyungsoo wondered, a smile still imprinted on his features.

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