Chapter Text
The pencil in JB's hand snaps.
Unaware that he had even been applying pressure onto the poor thing, JB merely looks up from his notes with a mix of mild surprise and annoyance.
Tossing the halves into the trash can, JB grabs a new one to write, but only manages one word before he starts absentmindedly bending the new pencil.
A few more words are written, but then immediately crossed out.
He starts doodling — a simple flower, a cat that does not quite look like one, an ice cream cone.
Ah, ice cream.
He makes a mental note to get one when he steps out.
Scribbling and striking out more words, he sighs and glances at the cuckoo clock that hung above the main door of his apartment. It had been there when he moved in, and he never bothered taking it down.
Five more minutes till midnight, he notes.
He stares at it for a while, watching the seconds tick by while wondering where he should have his dinner.
His day had been highly unproductive, on a personal note.
Career-wise, he was in a comfortable place.
His photography skills were always sought after, and if he was not out shooting with a client, he was in the comfort of his home, post-processing photos or liaising for other projects.
Today marked the end of a major project, and that allowed him some time to work on his little hobby of songwriting. It was not going too well, though, as he glances at the notebook with messy scribbles.
I've barely finished the second verse, he thought. So much for trying to get the chorus done as well.
At midnight, the clock chimes and JB gets up from his chair.
He had a rather bad habit of working till midnight. It was not required of him, but he would stay at home till midnight in case any of his clients needed some files. Those cases rarely happened, but when they did, his clients had nothing but words of thanks and praises for him. Personally, it also was an excuse for himself to spend more time on songwriting.
It had rained earlier, JB notes, so he grabs his black leather jacket before stepping out into the hallway of the apartment complex. He contemplates for a moment before taking the stairs.
The last time he tried the elevator, he was stuck with someone he assumed was his neighbour for seven floors of awkward silence. Or maybe it was just awkward for him, since she seemed to be enjoying her view of him very much. Shuddering at the memory of being stared up and down by a stranger who happened to live in the same building, JB silently thanks the existence of staircases.
Tapping his card on the scanner, he pushes the glass door open and steps into the chilly night air. The smell of rain still hung in the air despite the streets already drying up. Zipping up his jacket, he puts on his Night Stroll playlist before slipping his earphones into his ears.
Waving to the old man at the hot dog stand next to the apartment building, he turned right onto a busier street. Usually, he would just grab a few hot dogs, but he decided that having them four days in a row for supper was probably not for the best.
Not that his next choice would be any better, though.
The small convenience store he visited every other month was right where he remembered it to be, wedged between a cafe and a laundromat. He had stumbled upon it the very night he moved to his current place. Frustrated after a long day of moving and handling a picky client, he was more than happy to see it during his walk and went in to buy a pack of beer.
JB ended up staying to chat with the owner of the store, Mr. Park, while downing a few bottles of beer on the house. Since then, Triple A had been his go to convenience store.
Mr. Park was not at the counter tonight, JB noticed, as soon he stepped into the shop. The bell chimed, and a boy he did not recognize was sitting behind the cash register where the owner usually did.
Chestnut brown eyes looked at him while he stared back, his gaze then moving lower to take in the boy's jacket.
It was the same leather jacket he was wearing.
JB was not one to mind wearing the same clothes with others, in fact, he did not mind now—but he had never seen anyone else wear this jacket - his favourite jacket - something he had since his college days that he treasured a little bit more than the other things in his wardrobe.
Moving between the aisles, JB tried not to continue staring—but he could not help himself.
The boy probably noticed that they donned the same jacket, and moved to take it off, revealing a maroon shirt with the words FLY written across the chest.
JB makes sure he is hidden from view before unzipping his jacket to reveal the exact shirt underneath.
It was too much of a coincidence for JB to shrug off, but he did not know what to make of it all.
Zipping his jacket up again, he grabbed his usual choice of beer and a cup of instant noodles. He remembers his craving for ice cream, but decides against it and heads over to the cashier.
JB tries hard to not let his interest show when he sees a familiar earring on the boy's ear. He was pretty sure he was wearing the exact one right then: the same silver ring, the same size, and on his left ear as well.
Wordlessly, the boy scans his items and signals to the price. JB wonders if he should make small talk or introduce himself while fumbling with his wallet and feeling silly.
If Jinyoung saw him now, he would be laughing so hard. The chic bachelor JB losing his cool in a convenience store, in front of a boy whose name he did not know.
After his change is handed to him, JB grabs the plastic bag and pauses for a moment when his fingers brush the boy's.
His heart races unwillingly when he sees the boy bite his lower lip and look elsewhere. JB is pretty sure that the pink glow on the boy's cheeks is not from the neon light outside.
Neither of them make a move, and the boy looks back at JB as if daring him to do something, his brown eyes drowning JB in waves of excitement and soft allure.
"Thanks." JB finally manages to say, pulling the plastic bag to him and trying not to trip over his own feet as he makes his way to the exit.
"Nice jacket." A fruity voice reaches his ears, and JB stops in his steps and turns to see the boy smile at him shyly.
He almost wants to pull him into a hug.
He thinks his curiosity and interested in the boy is ridiculous.
He thinks he should just wave back in response and head home.
Yet he finds himself walking back to the cashier and extending his hand. "I'm JB."
"Youngjae." The boy slowly reaches out to return his handshake, a small smile still on his face.
Satisfied, JB grins in reply and leaves after saying "see you around" and groans inwardly after, wondering what possessed him to say it. He can almost hear Jinyoung's voice telling him that it was super uncool.
The walk back home is a blur of night lights and tickling breezes.
JB does not remember if he walked up seven flights of stairs or took the elevator when he is boiling water for the instant noodles.
He does not remember eating the noodles when he opens his last can of beer.
What he does know is—when he is in bed and almost asleep—that he, for once, actually finished writing a song in one night.