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"Welcome to Wonhae Manhi Candy where―" Min Yoongi paused his greeting to take in Hoseok's hollow, pale appearance. His face had thinned considerably since Yoongi last laid eyes on his favorite customer. "Wow, you look terrible."

It took Hoseok a moment to realize that the employee was, in fact, talking to him because he's never heard Yoongi speak to a customer informally before. Hoseok scratched the back of his neck, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in an awkward half-grin. "Y-Yeah..." Hoseok raised his eyebrows as he scanned Yoongi from head to toe. Hair a bit tousled, a tiny hint of stubble on his chin and around his mouth, bloodshot eyes with dark circles from hell, Yoongi looked like his nights have been rough. "Well-well, yuh don' l-look hand-handsome l-like usual." It was a meaningless comment, or so Hoseok thought. He became a little worried when he saw the shorter male's face flush.

Yoongi fanned himself, suddenly feeling hot. "Yeah, um, so anyway... Do you need help finding anything, sir?" Yoongi was desperate to change the subject and thanked the heavens when Hoseok didn't question his behavior.

Hoseok stared off into space for a moment before muttering, "Sum'n f-foreign."

"Well, the exotic candies are located here on these shelves," Yoongi said with his customer-winning grin, gesturing towards the white shelves in the middle of the store. His lips curved down into a frown when Hoseok shook his head with a pout on his face.

"N-n-no. I-I need yuh." Hoseok paused to point at Yoongi, accidentally poking the older male's arm. Yoongi's eyes were automatically drawn towards the slender finger on his arm. "Yuh gotsta help, m-m-me. C-can't, uh...um." Yoongi trailed his focus up the customer's arm to lock eyes with the taller male who was struggling to get words off his tongue. "My, uh, b-brain wo-won't dec-cide w'thout yuh, Y..." Hoseok squinted at the man's name tag before finishing his statement. "Yoongi."

This man who rarely speaks suddenly decided to open his mouth and take Yoongi by surprise. It wasn't normal, but he wasn't complaining by any means. "Alright, well, we just got some new chocolates from Sweetzerland. Want to try that?" Hoseok nodded vigorously and walked with heavy steps to the cash register while Yoongi headed into the back of the store to grab the new chocolate candy (He was kind of breaking the rules since the candy wasn't even out on the shelves, yet...). While Yoongi was gone, Hoseok made a move to pull his wallet from his back pocket but found it empty.

"Wh-what the..." Idiot. "Sh-sh-shaddup," Hoseok hissed, sliding his other hand in the opposite back pocket. Empty. He froze, both hands in either of his blue jeans' back pockets, as Yoongi stepped behind the register with the candy in hand. He noticed Hoseok's distressed expression. The employee already knew what was up.

Yoongi got the store keys and unlocked the drawer behind the counter, pulling out a worn leather wallet. The employee smirked and held it up. "Looking for this, sir?" Hoseok stood like a statue, lost in a trance, making Yoongi roll his eyes. "Hey," Yoongi poked Hoseok's sternum with the wallet, causing him to jump. "Were you looking for this?"

Hoseok stared at the wallet in bewilderment. "Uh... th-thanksh," he muttered, taking it cautiously and carefully inspecting its contents. He extracted some paper bills from the large fold and gave it to the cashier.

"See you tomorrow, sir," Yoongi said with a smile as he gave Hoseok the Swiss chocolate. Hoseok nodded and waved before exiting the store. Yoongi leaned forward, elbows on the counter, and watched the man leave and then spent way too long gazing at the door.

The worker couldn't get Hoseok's words out of his mind. Focusing became a struggle because all Yoongi can think is does he really think I'm handsome? Although it was rather difficult, Yoongi forced himself to stay on task throughout the rest of his shift, and by the end of the day, he had completely forgotten Hoseok's existence.

Yoongi switched off the store lights and closed up shop. Right as he began counting his steps, somebody grabbed his shoulder. Yoongi's heart froze and his head whipped around so quickly that it was a miracle he didn't get whiplash. The short male let out the breath he was holding and relaxed his fist once he caught sight of the familiar face.

"H-Hey," Hoseok whispered, voice calm and less slurred than usual. Yoongi swore this man was staring into his soul as they gazed into each other's eyes.

"Um, g-get..." Stop talking to this man! You don't know him! Ignoring the cranky Voice, Hoseok continued to speak. "...Get some, some sleep t'night, 'kay?" Hoseok... "Eyebags, don', uh, s-suit yuh." Hoseok was so going to be in trouble tonight.

"O-okay," Yoongi nodded, internally questioning why was feeling nervous.

"Oh! A-also, Sweetzerland..." A cheeky grin spread across Hoseok's features. "That's a, uh, a cute'n."

"Ah, yes," Yoongi said with a smug shrug, feeling the blush creeping up his neck. "I try."

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The next day, Hoseok once again greeted the employee with a mindless sort-of-compliment. "Oh... yuh don' l-look ug-ugly t'day."

"Why thank you, Hoseok." Yoongi wanted to return the compliment, he really did, but Hoseok looked worse than he did yesterday. "Hey, uh, when's the last time you ate?"

Hoseok was a bit taken aback. "Um..." Lie, the irritated Voice commanded. "Earlier," he said stiffly. Yoongi nodded slowly, not quite sure as to whether or not he should believe Hoseok. It's not really any of Yoongi's business, so he shrugged it off.

"Okay. What can this sweet employee help you out with today, sir?"

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The next day, Hoseok was unable to fool Yoongi.

"Thank you! Come again, ma'am," Yoongi said, sending a wink in the direction of the woman in front of his register. The lady giggled and bid him goodbye. Yoongi caught sight of a certain strange customer in his peripheral vision. "Welcome to Wonhae Manhi Candy where the employee is sweeter than the sweets!" Silence. "Really," Yoongi muttered, making his way over to the spaced-out man.

A hand on his back shook Hoseok from his thoughts and he blurted out, "How... How come yuh don' w-wink at m-m-me?"

Yoongi was once again dumbstruck. "Well―" Without a single warning, the man standing before him suddenly collapsed. "H-Hoseok?! Ah, shit." Yoongi dug his phone out of his pocket and dialed the number of his co-worker, who picked up on the second ring. "Hey, Taehyung. Listen, something came up so can you cover my shift for the rest of the day? It's urgent."

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"Yo, Hyung! Consider yourself lucky that I was on this side of town―oh dang," Taehyung stopped in front of the two men on the floor. His hyung was dabbing a damp, balled up paper towel on a stranger's forehead. The unfamiliar man was out cold. "The heck happened to that guy?"

"I don't know, but here," Yoongi stood up and took off his red apron with the store's name printed on the front, and handed it to the younger employee.

After he had the apron tied into place, Taehyung changed his demeanor. Puffing out his chest, he crossed his arms and began tapping his foot. "Soooo since I'm boss of the shop now, I'm gonna have to ask you to get that guy off the floor and get out," Taehyung said in the most serious voice he could muster.

Kim Taehyung. 22. Chatterbox twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
The boy refuses to grow up, so he lives carefree with the wits of a kid. He believes that he was put on Earth to enjoy living, so nothing can bring this guy down.

"Boss or not, you still have to call me hyung," Yoongi said, throwing the wet paper towel like a basketball into the trash bin. "Oh, hey will you watch him while I go buy lunch real quick? Okay, thanks." And with that, Taehyung was alone in the shop with the unconscious man.

Taehyung sighed and sat down beside the unknown guy. "Y'know, I've never seen Yoongi-hyung get all worried about somebody before. He didn't even pay me attention when I broke my nose!" Taehyung is completely aware that he's talking to someone that can't hear him, but he doesn't care, and plus, talking passes the time quicker. "Dunno man. Hyung doesn't really get close to people. I've tried being his bud for, like, ever, but he just pulls away. It's kinda annoying. It's pretty obvious that he's lonely as heck. We're co-workers for flip's sake! Hyung and I could totally be friends someday if he'd quit being all stubborn and crap."

"Who are you calling stubborn," Yoongi questioned as he walked into Wonhae Manhi Candy with a two wrapped up burgers―one under his arm and the other in his hand. "I hope he eats meat..."

Taehyung nudged the man on the floor, "Look! Now he's even buying you food! Outrageous."

"Huh?"

Taehyung quickly stood up and nodded at his hyung. "So he's up now."

"I see that. Thanks," Yoongi said dismissively, immediately going to crouch by Hoseok. He slowly sat up, keeping a hand on his swimming head and groaned. "Hoseok, when's the last time you ate?"

Hoseok thought about it for a moment. Lie. "I... I c-can't r'membuh..."

"Okay, well, we're gonna eat right now," Yoongi said matter-of-factly as he straightened up and held a hand out for Hoseok to take. Hoseok looked up at him, resembling a lost puppy. "C'mon, you're chasing off the customers being on the floor like this."

Hoseok gave in and grasped Yoongi's hand and Yoongi had to literally pull the grown man off the floor. Hoseok leaned majority of his weight on Yoongi's side as they hobbled out the door.

"How about you actually buy something next time you drop in," Taehyung yelled after the duo before the door shut behind them.

Yoongi and the dizzy man hobbled through the parking lot to Yoongi's SUV. The tail lights flashed as he unlocked the vehicle. He pressed a button under the handle of the back door, making it lift automatically. Since Yoongi usually kept the back-back seats down beneath the floorboard, they had a lot of room to sit. Hoseok crawled into the back on all fours and leaned on Yoongi's shoulder once he was settled in, too.

"I hope you like burgers," Yoongi said, handing one of them to the man beside him. "There's nothing special on them. Just cheese and lettuce. Is that okay?"

The too-thin male nodded as he unwrapped the burger and brought it up to his lips. Stop. Hoseok paused, mouth already parted in preparation to take a bite. Did I not tell you that you're not allowed to eat as long as you're talking to that fool? "I-I forgot," Hoseok mumbled to himself. Yoongi paid no mind to him. After all, Hoseok talking to himself is normal. Give it back right this instant. "Here." Hoseok held the burger out in front of Yoongi.

Yoongi rolled his eyes. "It's yours," he said curtly. When Hoseok didn't retract the food, Yoongi leaned forward and took a bite of the sandwich, then pushed it away. "Your turn."

Jung Hoseok isn't the type to eat after others, so he just raised his eyebrow as he eyed the small bite missing from his burger.

"Oh my God, you're on my nerves," Yoongi grouched. He sat the hamburger on its wrapper on the other side of him, then turned to Hoseok. Yoongi snatched the burger out of Hoseok's hand and aggressively grabbed his jaw, yanked it open, impatiently shoved the burger into his mouth and then shut it.

Hoseok didn't even fight as he was being manhandled. On one hand, he felt the urge to hit Yoongi and run, but on the other hand, he sort of liked being given attention by someone who seems to care. "Now be a good boy and eat the rest of your damn lunch!" Hoseok hummed in response as he chewed the greasy sandwich. The men ate the rest of their meal in a comfortable silence and then went their separate ways.

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It wasn't until after Hoseok returned home that he realized he completely forgot about Jimin's candy. Guilt fueled his motivation to double up on the drugs that evening. Rather than seven, he downed 14 and was praised by the female Voice. The female Voice tried to coax him into taking an even larger amount, and he would have if it weren't for the sight of his reflection that distracted him.

Hoseok's long fingers traced over the small, light bruises on either side of his jawline. The young man decided that he won't give into the female Voice's wish―his death―not now at least. He wants to see Min Yoongi again first.