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━━━  " 📂 " ‍..⃗. ༉

𝙍 𝙀 𝙈 𝙀 𝘿 𝙔

! chapter six ─── ʚĭɞ

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"I'm guessing that you'll be wanting a strawberry matcha latte?" Seojun's words were greeted by a nod, not moving from punching the details into the machine as Miyeon leaned over and straightened out his collar and pulled the cap on his head towards the front.

"There." The Hwang girl retracted her arm, head tilted as she examined her adjustments. "You were all wonky." She added as an explanation. "And yes please, but in a takeaway cup?"

"Right." Seojun nodded and got to work, Miyeon slipping away from the counter and sitting down on the nearest empty table by it.

Following the several hours of intense dance practise, Miyeon had showered and cleaned herself up, changing into the casual wear she had worn to the meeting earlier - it wasn't quite suitable for dancing at the extent they were, and so workout clothes had been fetched from their locker and worn.

Then, once deeming herself a little more suitable to go out in public she had done just that, skipping down the front steps of the Move Entertainment building and waving goodbye to Mr Baek, ending up just down the street at the nearest bus stop.

From there, she returned to an area that a teenage her had frequented as well as lived, taking a moment to check everything in her apartment was alright before walking down to the café in which her best friend worked (shaking her head at the recognisable motorcycle in the nearby alleyway).

And now, Seojun was placing her forever favourite drink in front of her, glancing at the lack of queue and other customers in the shop before sliding into the seat opposite.

"So, did you get my message?" Miyeon asked, raising the black straw to her lips and taking a sip. Seojun looked confused for a moment, so she continued. "My voicemail, I left you one about.. forty five minutes ago."

"Oh yes, I did." Seojun nodded, a smile covering his lips as he shook his head. "If you hadn't said anything about practise and I didn't know any better - Miyeon you should watch who you're telling that you're sweaty."

"Han Seojun you are disgusting." Miyeon rolled her eyes as the boy laughed. "We graduated years ago now - and you're still telling jokes about that?"

"It's Chorong's influence."

"Sure it is." Another sip of her drink followed, and her dark eyes slid over to the clock on the wall. It was nearing five o'clock. "How long until your shift's over?"

"Ten minutes." Seojun replied, having checked the clock seconds later. "It's one of my last, you know. With the meeting this morning and the amount of preparation we have to do in the next couple months - or just one for you - I don't think there's any chance that I can work as well."

"And what did your boss say about that?" Miyeon was now using the straw to mix the drink together, plastic scraping against plastic and the two cringing.

"She understands - or at least she had to. I'm working the rest of the shifts I have planned this week and next, and then I'm done." Seojun looked almost uncomfortable at this - he had been working not only so he could have money, but also so he could help his mom as well.

"You know.." Miyeon swallowed, knowing that it wasn't exactly an approachable subject at the best of times. "I could always help with anything, if you need it."

"God Miyeon - no way can I agree to you doing that." Seojun wasn't particularly annoyed at her suggestion, but his pride couldn't exactly take it. "Besides, hopefully the company isn't one of those that refuse to pay us for months on end and I'll get something from that."

"Hopefully" Miyeon nodded, taking another sip. "I don't think Heekyung would fuck us over with this sort of stuff. Either way, if anyone really needs help, I'm here." She always was, always would be.

"Oh shit - a customer." The Han boy stood up from his seat, adjusting his apron that had crumbled with relaxtion. "If you can believe it, my job doesn't just involve talking to you, so I have to go and actually do some work."

"Would you believe that?" Miyeon called after him, a smile on her face as he disappeared behind the counter, acquiring a rather unnatural looking friendly expression. Well not so unnatural to the customer, but more to the Hwang girl.

And as it turned out, she hadn't just come to the café to hang out with Seojun like a high school student, but was actually there to meet up with him before going elsewhere.

Elsewhere was Eunjoo's apartment, which was still in the exact same place as it had been when she did attend Saebom High. And Eunjoo still did work for the Hwang family, but rather than looking after the cold empty house that Kwon Yujin had once joined them in, she now worked at keeping Miyeon's mostly unused apartment, and Sangwon's new house that wasn't too far from where the old house was, but enough to help them forget about the bad memories in it.

And since Miyeon became a trainee and moved into the dorms, Eunjoo barely saw her. And as someone who cared deeply for the girl, it had been agreed that they would come for dinner at her house at least once a month - hopefully twice.

At some point, Seojun had joined in when Eunjoo noticed him joining Hyunwoo in getting something from his old home. She had also invited the latter, but the Song boy had only joined once or twice.

And now, Miyeon and Seojun turned up outside of Eunjoo's aparment once or twice a month, sometimes managing to see her inbetween if it was the second option, but if it was the first they were usually incredibly busy.

This month, this would be the only visit, and the next few months would be similar - if any at all. Eunjoo understood, of course, but could only hope that she would see the two more.

Tonight's dinner promised to be particularly exciting - Eunjoo had been waiting patiently to hear when Move Entertainment would deem the two groups ready to debut, and if she had known before, there would be no doubt that she would have managed to celebrate this news.

"We should get her flowers." Miyeon suggested as Seojun joined her in leaving the café. His shift had finished and had changed out of his uniform, making sure his boss wasn't look and making himself a coffee and bringing it with him.

"Good idea. We can walk, right?" Seojun continued as they approached the alleyway in which he had stashed his motorbike. Miyeon simply nodded and pulled him past it. "There's a flower shop just a couple streets away, if we hurry we'll get there before they close."

"How do you know that?" Miyeon's question was a given - he wasn't exactly a flower person.

"It's where I got your graduation flowers from. And the ones that I give you for your birthday." Seojun grumbled, following a short pause.

"Really?" Miyeon's eyes widened and seemed to become almost puppy-like. "They're always really pretty - it's perfect!"

Seojun was lucky it was dark and she couldn't see the pink tips of his ears, and his face was too shadowed to properly see the expression upon it. "It is, isn't it?"

Miyeon's look only continued to grow even fuller of happiness and excitement as they arrived at the shop. It was so incredibly pretty and fit the bouquets that she had been given from there - if that made any sense at all.

"Han Seojun!" A middle age woman was already outside the shop when they stopped by it. "Whose birthday is it this time? I'm sure that you came by only a few months ago for that girl who you always take extra care in-"

"Hyunjang - so nice to see you." Seojun quickly interrupted her. "This is Miyeon." The woman's eyes widened as she offered her hand to Miyeon, the Hwang girl shaking it.

"Oh have I heard so much about you. And I see him maybe... three times a year?" Hyunjang smiled, eyebrows raised as she took in the girl's appearance under the glow of streetlamps. "I must say that you are so much prettier in real life than your photos."

"Oh." Miyeon blushed at the implications of her works. "Thank you - your flowers are always incredible and so beautiful."

"Thank you." Hyunjang nodded, turning her gaze towards Seojun. "I just closed up for the night, but I suppose if it's quick then I can unlock the doors very quickly - there are some freshly made-up bouquets to pick from."

"Thank you so much." Seojun nodded, and they waited as the woman unlocked the doors again, following her inside and letting Miyeon explain what they needed the flowers more.

And approximately seven minutes later they left the shop again, a bouquet of creamy-coloured flowers tucked into Miyeon's album. They expressed their gratitude to Hyunjang again, as she turned back around to face them from locking up once more.

"I'll see you at Christmas, or perhaps sometime before?" Hyunjang smiled. "And Seojun - you are a very lucky guy."

Before they could correct her, Hyunjang had disappeared down the streets. And with the flowers secured and blushes lingering on each of their cheeks, they set off towards Eunjoo's apartment once again.