Chapter Text
On gloomy days during his shifts at the convenience store, Junhui would often pass the time by idly mulling over the different ways he could end up on the streets. He always imagined that it would somehow involve his inability to afford the rent on his measly salary as a cashier. Either that or his landlord evicting him after finding out that Junhui’s the one who feeds the stray cats behind the dumpsters (it wouldn’t be worthy of eviction if it weren’t for the fact that the older man is highly allergic to cat hairs and sneezes up a storm every time he comes to collect rent).
So imagine Junhui’s shock when he returns from a shift at the corner store down the block, to see his apartment building on fire.
He stops dead in his track, eyes round and jaw slack, as he stares at the huge billows of black smoke curling out of the windows, bright orange flames licking up the walls, a sharp contrast to the night sky. A large crowd has already gathered on the streets, kept away from the scene by police barriers in order to give the fire department room to work. Brave and competent as the firemen may be, it’s clear to see that they won’t be able to salvage the old building. It’ll be lucky enough that it won’t collapse into a pile of rumble.
Now not only does Junhui find himself homeless, he’s also lost all of his possessions. Granted, he didn’t have that much to begin with, but now he really does only have the clothes on his back, along with his phone. Fortunately for him, Junhui had the foresight of keeping all of his important paperwork and identification documents on his person at all times. (It’s always best to be cautious when he lives at a place where the locks are only for show.) So at least he’s managed to save himself trips to the appropriate federal offices to request copies and replacements.
For now, though…
Sighing, Junhui trudges back the way he came, heading for the park. Good thing it’s not raining tonight, he thinks, trying to cheer himself up. With it being past dinnertime on a cold autumn day, the area is naturally quite deserted. He finds an empty bench right away and swings his backpack onto his lap to sit. There are a million thoughts swirling in his mind right now, demanding his attention, but he needs to focus on the most pressing matter first. He can worry about the logistics and consequences of losing his apartment in a fire after he’s figured out where he’ll spend the night.
He’s just pulled out his phone to search for the nearest internet cafe with a 24/7 operating schedule, when a text message from Soonyoung flashes across the screen.
Hoshi 🐯
look! i made dinner!
doesn’t it look delicious?
Junhui scrolls down to the picture and winces.
🌙 Junnie~
hoshi…
those eggs are still raw 😣
Hoshi~ 🐯
nuh-uh!
the bottom is all brown and crispy!
some parts are even black!
it’s totally cooked!
(｀ε´)
🌙 Junnie~
bc you had the heat on too high
if you eat those eggs, you’ll get sick! 😰
Hoshi~ 🐯
fine! then come over and cook for me
i’ll pay with you w love~
and food lol
ur shift is over by now right?
🌙 Junnie~
yeah, i’m done for the night
but well…
as tempting as that sounds
um… my apt kinda caught on fire 😓
Hoshi~ 🐯
WHAT
AJKHDFJKJKHFJKHDJKFHJKD
Junhui’s thumbs hover over the keys, ready to explain further, but Soonyoung calls. He slides his finger over the screen, picking up. Only to get his eardrum blown out by Soonyoung’s shriek. In his panic, Junhui fumbles with the phone and nearly drops the device on the ground.
“Hoshi!” he cries, curling up his shoulders and rubbing his ear. “Calm down. Please, lower your voice!”
A homeless man on the bench down the trail scowls at him for disturbing his sleep, and Junhui quickly mouths an apology, bowing his head. The man grumbles before turning away.
“How can I calm down?” Soonyoung continues to scream.
Pulling the phone away, he lowers the volume.
“What happened? Are you okay? Where are you now?”
“I’m fine, really. I’m sitting in the park. I was looking up internet cafes when you started texting me your undercooked sunny-side-up eggs.”
Completely ignoring Junhui’s attempt at humor, Soonyoung says, “Come live with me! I have room, and I won’t even ask you to share rent!”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, come on, Junnie. What kind of friend would I be if I let you stay in an internet cafe after your place burns down? What if someone creepy sneaks up on you while you sleep? No! You’re coming over, right now!”
“A-are you sure? Won’t it be troublesome?”
“Moon Junnie. What nonsense are you spouting to me, huh?”
Junhui stays mute.
On the other end, Soonyoung sighs. “Okay, fine. Just stay with me until you can find another place, how’s that?”
Touched and feeling like the weight of the world has been lifted from his shoulders, Junhui smiles into the receiver. As spazzy as Soonyoung is, he’s Junhui’s best friend for a reason. “Don’t I get any say in the matter?” he kids, already gathering his backpack and standing up.
“No!”
Junhui giggles, and Soonyoung does the same on the other line. “Thank you, Hoshi.”
“Anything for you, babe. Now about those eggs. Are they really no good?”
Junhui laughs, swinging his backpack over his shoulders. “Just get the pan washed and plates ready. I’ll cook us something that won’t lead to food poisoning.”
• ° ───── ٠ ♡ ٠ ───── °•
Three months have passed since he’s started living with Soonyoung, and so far, he’s had no luck in finding a higher paying job, and by extension, no closer to moving out. The job offers that do pay a higher salary demand an insane CV consisting of a list of work experience that Junhui would have had to begin accumulating after entering elementary school, so those led nowhere. He did consider applying as a waiter; however, not only was the hourly wage not much higher than at his current job, it’d also require him to take three buses just to get to the restaurant. Last week, he came upon a secretary position that sounded too good to be true, and when he showed up for the interview, he realized why: the boss is a total creep!
Sadly, every opportunity he had reached for all turned into either failures or disappointments. He’s been stuck at his cashier job as a result.
At this rate, he’ll never be able to afford a new place.
Which, all things considered, is the least of his worries. Even though he doesn’t like relying on Soonyoung too much, he knows that his best friend will always be there to support him. If he were to tell Soonyoung that he wants to live with him forever, he would receive nothing but cheers and an enthusiastic agreement. So housing isn’t what concerns him the most. It’s the debt he still has to repay, and the sky-high interests that come along with it.
He’s been able to save a bit more this past month, thanks to Soonyoung refusing to accept rent. On the other hand, though, he’s also had to spend part of his paychecks on buying quite a few things since he’s moved in. Mainly necessities which he’s lost in the fire or suffered from water and smoke damages. Those spendings, he had planned for. What he didn’t expect was having to buy cooking utensils and dishware. Apparently, Soonyoung lived off of plastic spoons, disposable chopsticks, and paper plates. He didn’t even own a cup, drinking everything out of the can or bottle. There was also only one small pot in the entire apartment, which Soonyoung uses for everything (no wonder his eggs always turned out burnt and raw).
Junhui really has no idea how Soonyoung survived on his own for so long…
At least the discovery meant that Junhui was able to repay his friend’s kindness in some way—by buying proper utensils and kitchenware to cook for the both of them.
As such, while he’s been able to make regular payments to the debt collector, the debt is still very, very, very far away from shrinking.
• ° ───── ٠ ♡ ٠ ───── °•
“I don’t see why you need to find a new place,” Soonyoung tells him one night after dinner.
The boys are lounging on the couch, some historical drama playing on tv, which they only partly pay attention to.
“Because,” Junhui replies, “I can’t mooch off of you forever.” He’s kept his debt a secret from Soonyoung, knowing the latter would try to help. Soonyoung’s done more than enough. Junhui needs to handle this on his own. He uses the excuse of finding his own place as the reason why he’s job hunting with so much vigor. Which isn’t a total lie. “You won’t even let me pay half the rent or utilities.”
“It’s not like you’re home that much anyway,” Soonyoung points out. “Besides, I wouldn’t have invited you to stay if I couldn’t afford it.” He slides down to lay along the length of the couch, head pillowed on Junhui’s lap and feet dangling off the armrest.
“Which reminds me.” Turning his attention away from the screen, Junhui looks down at Soonyoung. Automatically, Junhui reaches for the boy’s tummy and scratches it. Soonyoung smiles contently. “Where do you even work?”
Instead of answering, Soonyoung gives him an impish little grin and puts a finger over his lips. “Secret. I work for very important people.”
Junhui arches a brow, wondering if his friend is messing with him again. He’s itching to ask, but Soonyoung normally tells him everything—sometimes, even too much—so if he’s keeping this job private, it must be for a good reason. Deciding not to give his friend a hard time, Junhui shrugs it off. “Okay, James Bond. I won’t ask. Don’t want you to have to kill me for knowing too much.”
Soonyoung cackles and pats his knee. Once the commercial break starts, Soonyoung asks, “Why do you want to move out so badly, anyway? Don’t you like living with me?” he pouts exaggeratedly over his shoulder.
Junhui giggles and pokes his cheek. “You know that’s not true.”
“Do I?” He continues to pout.
Laughing again, Junhui rubs his tummy. “I just…” He chews on his bottom lip, thinking of the right words to say to express himself. “I want a place that can be home. A real home, not something temporary, not just where I sleep and eat. I want to wake up and think, ‘Ah, yes. This is where I belong.’”
When he glances down, Soonyoung is watching him. Understanding gentles his expression as he nods. “Yeah, I get it.”
“I think… our college apartment was the closest thing to home.”
Soonyoung agrees with a hum. “Yeah, it was.”
They settle down after that, thoughts drifting a bit. He has no idea what Soonyoung is thinking about, but Junhui reminisces about their old apartment. It was so tiny and cramped, not a week passed without one of them banging their elbows or toes on the cheap furniture. The hot water always ran out, and the sink clogged every other day. The heater barely worked, the walls were paper thin, and the tiles were cracked.
But it had been home for them, and they were happy despite the misfortune.
So lost in thought, Junhui startles slightly when Soonyoung speaks up again. “You know, if you’re really intent on abandoning me—”
Junhui snorts and swats him, prompting the other boy to laugh, turning around so he can see him properly.
“As I was saying. I know someone looking to hire a bodyguard.”
Incredulous, Junhui lifts his brows. “Bodyguard?” he repeats. “I’m not qualified for that.”
“Why not?” Soonyoung sits up. “You’re tall and responsible, you know wushu, and you look really hot in a suit.” He winks.
The other rolls his eyes, cheeks a little warm from the compliments. “Thanks. But in all seriousness, I really don’t think I’m qualified.”
“What, is there a bodyguard school you need to graduate from?”
“Uh… I don’t know?” Junhui scratches his hair. “But wouldn’t I need some sort of certification? Or a license? At least references and experience. People who need bodyguards aren’t usually regular folks.”
Soonyoung’s mouth twists to the side as he contemplates the statements. “I guess. But nah, don’t worry. I’ll be your reference! The guy is an old friend of mine. Besides, you’re an actor, aren’t you? Just act like a good bodyguard applicant.”
Giving him a look, Junhui reminds him, “I was a films major, Hoshi. It’s completely different.”
“You were in our drama club!”
“That’s not the same! And even if I were a real actor, there’s a very big difference between acting and actually being.”
“Well, whatever,” Soonyoung dismisses the issue. “I think you’re overthinking it. If you want to try out for the job, just say the word I’ll set up an interview for you. It doesn’t hurt to try, right?”
Truth be told, Junhui is very reluctant. He’s never even considered such a career, and now he has the choice of trying out for the position? He knows nothing about being a bodyguard, except that he’ll have to face dangerous situations and ensure his client is safe. But there has to be more to the job, expectations and skills he doesn’t have. Like how to carry a weapon, most likely.
And he’s scared, too.
People who hire bodyguards are important. They wouldn’t need one if their lives were peaceful. They’re surrounded by threats. Junhui isn’t afraid of dying as much as getting severely injured and having to live the rest of his life with some permanent disability or illness. What if it’s bad enough that he turns into a vegetable?
“Your salary is gonna be five times more—no, wait, maybe closer to ten?” Soonyoung shrugs, sitting up to grab his soda. “I’m not sure. Dude’s got more money than he knows what do with it. After a year a two, you could probably buy your own dream house. Paid in full. And I mean a real house, not some shoe closet in a sketchy neighborhood.”
Junhui’s eyes widen. Buy his own house in one go? After only two years maximum? That would mean his debt could be paid off quite rapidly, too. Who is this acquaintance of Soonyoung’s? He supposes it doesn’t really matter. If the man is that wealthy, it makes sense for him to want someone to protect him. More importantly, if Junhui can buy a house, then he won’t ever be afraid of losing his home. He could settle down, adopt a cat, sleep peacefully without fearing that someone can break down his door with a single shove. He could take Soonyoung with him and repay him for all he’s done for Junhui all these years.
With those hopeful images swimming in front of his vision, Junhui clenches the couch cushions under his palms. He swallows. “O-okay.”
“Huh?” Soonyoung looks over. He’s been distracted by a commercial about tiger-themed bedsheets.
“O-okay. Please set up an interview for me.”
Mouth forming an O, Soonyoung stares at him for a second, before he jolts and whoops loud enough to make Junhui’s ears ring. “Yeah! I got you, babe!”