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It happens on a sweet and slow autumn morning — the day Juntae’s dream comes true.
In ways more than one.
Passingly, he thinks it’d be wrong to call it that. The thought could apply to the entirety of this week, practically. It still makes his head feel light and heart giddy when he thinks of it. He had finally published his book that he had taken over half a year to write. It was a children’s book, and his very first one. From a very young age, Juntae was fond of the fantasy genre — both as a reader, and later as a writer. And now, it has finally happened.
His heart was practically jumping from excitement. He felt like a five-year old. But he didn’t mind — this satisfaction was well-deserved, after all his hard work.
Right now, he was on the way to the bookstore in which he had a fansign event for today. He was a bit early, but it was fine. He crossed the narrow street with a skip in his step and a wide grin on his face.
This was going to be fun.
By the time Juntae reached the store, it still wasn’t time.
빛, the large store spoke, light. He chose this one particularly because he had come here ever since he was five, ever since he fell in love with the world of books. He entered and greeted the old Miss Jang sitting at the main desk, who showed him the corner arranged for his own fansign.
His heart warmed at the sight — copies of his books neatly arranged in two rows beside the desk, chairs across from each other, and small little adornments here and there. He chuckled a little at the cute design — Miss Jang really knew him well. Exhaling slowly, he unpacked near to the chair meant for him and sat down, looking around a bit til it was time.
It had been about ten minutes when his phone dinged.
sieunnie ^_^ !!!
hey
i’m so sorry juntaeyah
i don’t think i’ll be able to make it today
His heart dropped. But why?
me
but why? everything ok?
sieunnie ^_^ !!!
yeah
me and suho have to take his grandma to the doctor
she’s sick ..
me
oh no! pls take care you guys!
it’s fine really you dont have to be sorry .. go ahead ,, i hope halmeoni is fine soon :)
youngi will be there anyways so no issues !
sieunnie ^_^ !!!
she said she felt a little under the weather
suho was worried so figured we’ll go visit once
have fun & good luck ! :)
me
thanks! take care, you all.
Juntae let out a little sigh. He hoped Suho’s grandma would be fine soon. He couldn’t help the slight tinge of disappointment though it made him feel guilty, because Suho and Sieun weren’t coming. It was fine, though. Yeong-a would be there!
It’d been well past twelve though, when a small frown made its way up to his lips. About twenty minutes. Why hasn't anyone come in yet? No little kids, or their parents, or anyone, really. Yeong-a, too, was nowhere to be seen. Juntae was fiddling with the shiny pen in his hand, his heart dropping a little. He dropped the pen and called Yeongi, and the other picked up on the next ring.
“Hey, Juntae-ah. I was just about to call you. I wanted to tell you I can’t be there today. I’m so sorry.” The voice spoke through the phone, and Juntae’s frown deepened a bit. He saw the genuinety in her apology — but why?
“Why?” He muttered, and cringed immediately, thinking he sounded like a whiny kid.
He heard a long sigh through the phone. “My scooter died.” Yeongi said, and the frustration was well-evident in her tone. “How? I don’t even know. It took me like, half an hour to find a shop that could help and now these idiots say it’ll take up another hour. Like what the fuck? I gotta go support my celebrity friend, man!” As Yeongi rapped her frustration through, he felt a smile fighting the frown on his lips. Celebrity friend. He really was so lucky having friends like that who support him through everything he does. It was fine though, if she couldn’t come. There would still be the children, the fans. He still had hope and anticipation in his heart.
It was right forty-five minutes after his arrival that Miss Jang brought in some instant ramen and snacks for him and herself, seeing no one had come.
Fifty minutes in, they chatted about life and everything else. Juntae was grateful she was nice enough to not bring up the current situation.
An hour in, and the store was just as empty as it was when he came, only graced with the presence of a teen who came looking for a new manga and left as soon, though not before giving him a weird look. Juntae’s ears burned from embarrassment. He probably looked like a joke sitting there with the books beside him and the pen twirling between his fingers.
But Miss Jang, being the angel she was, passed him a reassuring smile.
It was seventy minutes after, that the reality of the situation started to creep up on Juntae. His heart felt heavy in his chest and his head hurt a little.
At this point, he was blowing out small puffs of air, trying not to cry. Had really no one come? Juntae thought that his book had gotten a rather positive response. But then again, there was no one here. The store was silent and void, save for the afternoon sunlight through the windows. Juntae felt this silence was mocking him, and his face twisted into sadness, chest growing taut. He shouldn’t cry over something like this — after all, he was an adult, not a baby. But he couldn’t help feeling heartbroken over it. He tried not to cry, swallowing hard.
It has been over an hour now. Juntae packed his things up, planning to cry over this later in the day, when suddenly the chimes above the store’s door let out a soft, tinkling sound, and Juntae’s hopeful heart grew erratic at the tune. A tall, muscular guy in a white hoodie — probably around his age — with a reddened face and heaving chest searched frantically around the bookstore, as if looking for something. “Um,” He tried to catch his breath and speak at the same time, clearly failing as he coughed. “S-Seo Juntae?” He said to the lady before him, who magically produced a glass of water from somewhere in her desk. If Juntae wasn’t so overwhelmed right now, he’d chuckle at the hilarity of the situation.
“Yes. Writer Seo Juntae is right there,” she remarked with a raised eyebrow and gestured to the corner he sat in, “and he’s not going anywhere! So calm your horses down, young man. Drink some water. Chill.” She finished getting back to her book, not before flashing Juntae a thumbs up, getting a bright smile in return.
Before her, the young man was astounded and overwhelmed, especially at the choice of words of the apparent ahjumma. As he caught his breath, he approached the corner Juntae was sitting in, a bright smile on his face that looked like relief.
Through this sudden chain of events, Juntae found breath again. He was overjoyed. Someone had finally come! Not to mention that he was handsome. Which was just an observation made by him, obviously. Nothing creepy or excessive. Right.
Juntae tried his level best to tell himself that as the man walked towards him. Why he felt his confidence and his resolve slowly falling loose and leaving his body and he stood in front of him, he couldn’t tell.
“Thank lord you’re still here! I thought you’d have left by now so I ran as fast as possible.” He said, and bowed a little, which Juntae returned.
“Oh, no. You’re actually right, I was just about to leave. I’d been waiting for a long time and no one had come, so I was gonna go, haha …” Juntae felt embarrassed sharing it, but the words just tumbled out of his mouth like water anyways. The tip of his ears grew red at the admission.
“Oh?” The other seemed surprised at what he said. Juntae looked up at him again, eyes wide.
“No, it’s just that, my younger sister told me that Juntae-oppa was so famous and a great writer, and that I’d have to wait in line for long. She really loves you.” He said, through big gestures by his hands, making Juntae smile, and he bit his inner cheek, trying to keep from grinning too much.
“Oh, right. I’m so sorry. I never introduced myself! I’m Go Hyuntak, I’m 23.” He said, and held out his hand, which Juntae noted passively, was soft and warm.
“Seo Juntae, as you might know. I’m 23, too!” He said, smiling wide now. His heart stuttered as he noted passively how warm Hyuntak’s hands were. “Please, sit down.”
“Ah,” Hyuntak muttered as he sat down. “I forgot to bring the book.” He let out a small noise through his teeth, and Juntae let out a tinkling giggle.
Hyuntak’s ears perked at the noise, and he looked at the boy in front of him — realising only now how pretty he was. His mirth made even himself grin stupidly.
Cute.
“It’s fine, Hyuntak-ah. Here, I’ll sign one for you to take to your sister. What’s her name?”
“Go Harin,” he responded, eyes going soft at the adorable boy before him. He really shouldn’t be having such thoughts but he couldn’t help himself— writer Seo Juntae was so adorable. Juntae nodded and signed a book from the many beside him — the sadness of no one showing up now forgotten.
Warmth had settled in his chest finally.
“Here,” He said, giving the book to him, “You should’ve brought her here too” Juntae remarked, scrunching his nose a bit, making the taller smile.
“Oh, I really would’ve. But she’s a little sick.” Hyuntak replied, biting his lips.
“Oh no! I hope she gets ok soon. Please take care.” Juntae replied, grinning again.
“Yeah.” Hyuntak shot a smile back, getting up. “I’ll go now, then. Thanks a lot, writer Juntae-ssi” he said, bowing a little again, though there was a playful expression dancing on his face now.
“Ah, of course,” the smaller of the two replied, cheeks colouring scarlet. His heart sank a little at him leaving, but deciding feeling that so soon was ridiculous, he just nodded and bowed.
Just as he was about to go, though, Hyuntak turned back, surprising Juntae. The latter stood up again, undoubtedly a little happy at him turning back.
He couldn’t just walk away.
“Did you forget something?”
“Ah, no … it’s just that —” Hyuntak hesitated, scratching the back of his head. Would it really be okay to be so forward?
Well, screw it.
“Could I have your number, Juntae-ssi, if it’s okay?” He asked, lips pressing into a thin line out of nervousness.
Before him, Juntae’s face flushed a deeper shade of red, trying to recover from the sudden shift of events as he scrambled for his phone and passed it to Hyuntak.
“Also, you don’t have to be so formal, we’re the same age. all.” He mumbled small, looking to the now very interesting floor. The latter beamed at that, quickly adding the contact to his phone and rushing out with a bow and a small smile . . .
. . . leaving Juntae speechless and smiling like an idiot. At the other end of the shop, he caught Miss Jang’s gaze.
“He’s hot. Nice catch.” She mouthed, eliciting a shy giggle out of him as he covered his rapidly reddening face. But the warmth in his heart was spreading even faster, taking over him whole, possessing him insanely fast.
And when later, Hyuntak messaged him to ask of his plans that weekend, Juntae knew from his stuttering heart that he wasn’t getting rid of this warmth or Go Hyuntak anytime soon.