A Not So Unrequited Love
khw
Kihyun volunteers every year to be one of Santa's gift wrapping helpers at a toy store just because his neighbor (and long time crush)'s dad owns the store and his son helps out during the festive season. It doesn't hurt that he can spend every winter break with him.
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Kihyun's "reason" is that he likes to see kids happy and he has nothing better to do.
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Minhyuk settled himself on the stool opposite Kihyun, sipping on his coffee "You're volunteering again aren't you?" his tone a little short of unimpressed.
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Feeling like it's too early for this conversation, Kihyun groaned "not this again"
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Completely unswayed, " your helpless state makes me want to butt in and save you from your misery"
Kihyun knows his current situation isn't the best but to be called helpless is a bit extreme isn't it? slightly defensive he raised an eyebrow "excuse me?"
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Minhyuk continued "every year you volunteer to help Hyungwon at his dad's shop during your Christmas break instead of actually asking him out like normal people do, WHY sign up for extra work during your BREAK?"
Kihyun hates to overthink, especially reasons for any action he takes that's related to a certain neighbour..so he shrugged "I like seeing kids happy... and Hyungwon's a good friend, he needs extra hands at the store this year"
Slamming a hand on the table in exasperation "you can't even call him a friend! Greeting each other and small talk at the toy store isn't friendship! It's just the Christmas edition of Yoo Kihyun's Unrequited Love Story"
Done with Minhyuk's roasting "alright" he quips"time for you to leave. I'm done listening and I have to get ready for work".
Getting up from the table, Minhyuk picked up his bag and shrugged "don't complain to me about your sad love life if you won't listen" before leaving.
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Leaving one of the staff changing rooms, Kihyun took out his phone to tweet before checking his other notifications.
He didn't realize someone was watching him by the door until he heard a voice startle him "I don't know, I thought you looked cute in the elf outfit last year" Hyungwon smiled at his own screen and liked the tweet.
Kihyun jumped in his place, not sure if it's the surprise of a sudden voice or if it's the words spoken which he realized were Hyungwon's.
Looking up,"H-Hyungwon, you scared me".
Chuckling as he adjusts the hood of his own reindeer outfit, Hyungwon suggested "why don't you post a picture of our outfits AND our faces instead of a cropped selfie?" He moved towards where Kihyun was sitting in the room and occupied the empty space next to him.
After taking a quick selfie together, Hyungwon grabbed the phone from Kihyun and tweeted:
Returning the phone to a silent Kihyun, "Thanks for volunteering to help out this year too Ki, It's been getting busier and busier" chuckling and looking down at his hands on his lap "Don't think I'd have survived this year alone"
"Of course! what are neighbors for? Your dad deserves a break, he's been running this store for years without a christmas break, he needs time off and i'm more than happy to take up more work"
Still unconvinced, "You sure this isn't a burden?" looking up with slight worry in his voice "I see how you work long hours all year long and for you to spend your break like this..."
Kihyun was exasperated because little does Hyungwon know how he looks forward to spending more time with him every winter, so cuts him off "I'm fine! Besides, seeing the kids happy and running around the store makes it feel a lot more like Christmas." smiling he places a reassuring hand on Hyungwon's, "It sure beats staying at home alone"
Hyungwon suddenly switches topics as if he suddenly remembered something "Talking about home...we've been neighbors for how long?"
Kihyun takes a few seconds to pretending to think of the answer "4 years?" and 3 months, he thought.
Hyungwon continues inquisitively "And I've never been invited over because?"
He's not sure where this is coming from, Hyungwon never asked? He never seemed so interested? Kihyun was too scared to be a bother, there are so many reasons but he settles on "I- I don't know?"
Seeing that Hyungwon is not satisfied with the answer and is still waiting, he sighed "to be honest, we never talked much outside of the festive season when I volunteer," playing with his own fingers, he mumbles " didn't want to impose or anything..." looking up to clarify "BUT you can come over!" wincing at his sudden loudness he lowered his tone again "If you'd like I mean...NOT TODAY but you know... some other time, we can watch a movie or have dinner or something" God why is he talking so much.
Hyungwon's sitting there with the widest smile, god knows what a fool he thinks Kihyun is .
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Kihyun rubs his forehead in frustration "I promise you i'm not that talkative, and I almost never make a fool of myself but i don't know why i got nervous"
Hyungwon hesitantly touched Kihyun's hand and brought it away from his face, a smile playing on his lips "so cute"
Kihyun mumbled "stuttering and rambling on is not cute"
"I meant you, you're so cute"
At that Kihyun froze, his heart is beating so fast he bets the whole store can hear it.
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Hyungwon getting no response for a while, removed his hand "I uh think I misunderstood, I- thought you liked me- I mean liked to spend time with me" chuckling to himself , he started getting up to leave
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Kihyun bolts up seeing as he was about to lose his chance "wait! I like you a-and I like to spend time with you...a lot" he finishes as his cheeks turn red.
"by like, you mean?" Hyungwon takes a step closer towards Kihyun.
Since he's already at this point Kihyun might as well be honest "As in I'm not the saint you think I am wanting to spend time with kids... you're more of the reason I spend my Christmas here" looking Hyungwon straight in the eyes "As in, I'm into you and want to spend more time with you, and not just on our Christmas breaks"
Hyungwon took one more step and then pinched the sides of Kihyun's costume to bring him closer, with a smile so wide he asks "so...do I have to wait for a first date or find a mistletoe or can I kiss you? Because I really really want to"
Kihyun didn't respond instead, he reached on his toes and softly closed the gap between their lips. The moment their lips touched Kihyun broke into a smile, after parting, with eyes still trained on Hyungwon's lips, he asked "does this answer your question?"
Hyungwon answered this by diving back in for a deeper kiss that's sure to leave both of them with swollen lips breathless.
This is definitely a christmas Kihyun is more than happy to spend at the store.
