[Super]Hot À† Minsung 08 ; Health Insurance .ᐟˎˊ˗

“But, no progress.”

“Not much. But Minho is going to check that ID and see what he can find. Another person being there is a strong lead to start with,” Jisung was clung to Seungmin’s heels, trailing after the guy as close as possible to not get lost in the ocean of the crowds on that shopping street during the weekend, “I’ll follow up with him soon.”

The hitman had to spend the following day catching Seungmin up to what happened the previous night. Hustling after the man’s quickened pace as if his legs were ten feet long and Jisung was nothing more than an ant trying to keep up with the giant. Nearly tripping, stumbling, fumbling over his own feet as he jogged after the relaxed pace of his boss headed to one destination. One destination locked down on his radar during this time on the weekends, a simple person with a simple one-track mind that couldn’t be veered off of even if he wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him out of the hypnosis his unbeatable caffeine addiction had him spinning within. Tumbling endlessly through the void of caffeine. Seungmin needed help off of the caffeine. ASAP. He’s also a slight alcoholic these days but that’s another problem to tackle entirely.

Seungmin needed his damn medium Americano before he handled the bullshit Jisung brought him. His usual café he visited for the same drink because their brews were the best in the city according to him, and Jisung was along for a hot chocolate again. Plus a slice of carrot cake. Seungmin promised him carrot cake this time for the troubles he’s been going through concerning the drama with Seo Changbin.

That same barista was there at the counter. The same one Seungmin “flirted with” so many days ago (That was borderline harassment if you ask Jisung but who’s he to really say). Same uniform to match the pastel purple and rich black of the café’s theme. Same comfortable height, about the same height as Seungmin but certainly a few inches taller then Jisung himself. Wavy unkempt black hair that sat gently against his sharper features, though today he pulled some of the hair back into a small ponytail that sat politely in curls behind his head. Those same those feline eyes too, a bit of glitter on the underside of his eye to fake how much wider they truly were. Though today he seemed a bit… Out of it? His hand was clutching his shoulder as he sort of stared down at the counter, clearly wanting to be elsewhere than the café.

Truthfully, even from a few paces back they both clued into the weird behavior, Jisung and Seungmin exchanging a brief glance between themselves. The hitman attempting to plead to him through his gaze alone to leave the poor boy alone just for today. He… Honestly he doubted it was only glitter causing his deadened eyes to shimmer underneath the lights.

And hey, Seungmin is an asshole but he’s not an asshole. He’s an asshole. That much Jisung is sure of. He’s a dickhead, his worst enemy, he’d gouge out Seungmin’s eyes if he could, he irritates him to no end, he’s a mushroom that collects spores in the darkest, musty pits of the underworld, and yet Seungmin isn’t an asshole. That much was clear to Jisung too. That much was clear, and it wasn’t a surprise that he approached the poor barista at the counter quietly, without the same dramatics and bombastic behavior he usually had about him, simply keeping himself as mild as possible as the barista didn’t look up at him. Only taking his order down into the register until the point Seungmin set his card down on the counter. From over his shoulder, Jisung saw him purposefully avoiding the black card he flashed off the time before.

The barista, Hyunjin, he plucked the fairly normal credit card from off the counter. He must’ve clued in that it was still one of those reward metal made credit cards that wealthy people have, because the poor guy took one good look at it. Then finally glanced up to acknowledge Seungmin. An anger instantly twisting his features up as they made eye contact.

Hyunjin slammed the credit card back down on the counter.

“What’s with you.”

Seungmin’s eyes went wide. He subtly leaned away, “Sorry?”

The Barista’s words were filled with venom as his hands gripped like claws onto the counter of the café. Hunching his head low as his body filled with rage that his muscles couldn’t hold up. Falling with narrowed eyes, he kept his words quiet enough to not be heard by anyone else, but grating enough to rip into both Seungmin and Jisung’s ears, “What’s with you. With people like you. Another asshole wanting to show off his mild success to me because surely, I don’t make that much money, and I look like someone’s who’s desperate for some cashー”

“What?”

“Well I’m not. So stop it, and leave me alone.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you!” Hyunjin outright barked the words at him. He scooped the credit card up from the counter and lightly chucked it back at Seungmin, his boss narrowly managing to catch the card against his chest as they both stood in the pathway of the poor man’s fury. As they both stood unable to do anything else beside stare stunned as the “glitter” on the inside of his lower eyes broke free into liquid, flowing freely as tears poured down his cheeks and he seethed with a wrath that Jisung had never seen someone so young carry all on their own before, “Fucking entrepreneurs, and CEOS, and bastard investors, success stories, all of you, upper class, wealthy, desensitized ASSHOLES who stomp on people and kill for fun, well, try working a day in service like the rest of us! Andー”

“What did you say to him?” Jisung leaned into Seungmin, the man’s expensive cologne invading his nostrils and burning his eyes as he whispered the question to him.

His boss hushed back to him with a shock palpable on his wide eyes, “I didn’t say anything to him this time, he went off by himself.”

“ーI don’t care how much money you make, I’m tired of people like you hitting on me because you think I’m interested in your money! That I’m desperate for it! I’m not! And no I won’t slー”

“Woah, woah, woah, hold on, slow your roll. I upset you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. Let me get a few things straight, no, I’m not a businessman or CEO, I’m a compliance officer for the federal government and I hate my job, it’s not something I ever brag about,” Seungmin swiftly cut the barista off in the middle of his non-stop rant to two people who really didn’t know what the hell he was going off about to them. He gently set the credit card back down on the counter, using the moment of silence from Hyunjin to keep explaining in what Jisung guessed was Seungmin’s attempt to calm him from his tears and the trembling in his shoulders trying to uselessly pull him back together, “I didn’t assume anything about your income, I never did. I get it, I used to work as a waiter when I was in highschool, I know it’s tough. I didn’t think you were interested in my money. I was flirting with you because I like the mole under your eye. It’s cute.”

That seemed to catch his attention at last.

Well, sort of. At the very least, Hyunjin’s mouth went from wide open with metaphorical fangs hissing at them as if to defend himself like a wild animal to his lips pressed flat together. Though Jisung couldn’t tell exactly what he was thinking because there were still tears streaming down his face like confetti at a soiled birthday party (Accidentally dragging some of the make-up he was wearing along with the tears as they created rivers in his foundation), some of the tension seemed to escape from him; The trembling of his shoulders lessening as he sucked in a pained breath, his hands against the counter loosening up as he softly brought his fingers to touch the mole Seungmin had been referring to. A cute little dot right under his lower eyelashes that even the foundation couldn’t hide. Even less so now that he was crying.

“But also I did it to bother this guy,” Seungmin gave Hyunjin a weak smile as he mindlessly reached out and hit Jisung square in the chest, the small gesture seeming to ease the upset barista little bit by little bit. Though Jisung coughed up a protest of being smacked like it was nobody’s business, his boss kept going in what must’ve been the softest voice Jisung had ever heard from him. Not even he got this gentle behavior from Seungmin when he cried as badly as Hyunjin was, “I struck a nerve and I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. Sincerely, I didn’t mean to offend you or hurt you in any way. If you’d like, I’ll leave the cafe if you’re not comfortable with me being in front of you.”

The barista sniffled a few times, his nose already bright red from crying in the way he was. Trying to straighten himself up from his defeated posture before. He started to wipe his tears away with the back of his hands as he just whimpered the whisper of, “I’m sorry I had a really bad day.”

It’s probably the fact he’s a teacher, but seeing people cry was a weakness of his these days. Parental instinct maybe? Working with the kids seems to have made him more parent-like, was this a consequence now? That every time someone cried he’d want to cry with them and care for them even if they’re older than him? Ew. Jisung quickly looked around for someone that could help them, a coworker or something? Only to find Hyunjin the only one available on staff at the moment. What about tissues? Tissues? Jisung spun over his heel a few times, spotting the closest table with napkins as he rushed over to snag the dispenser before jogging back over.

“We all have them. That’s not your fault,” He heard Seungmin saying to Hyunjin, again, so tenderly and so softly he could’ve been convinced that someone had replaced the Seungmin he knew with a newer, better version of Seungmin. No it wasn’t the first time he’s seen him be this worried for someone, or care for someone, or try to care about someone’s well-being but everytime was like a fucking flashbang because whenever Jisung had problems Seungmin gave him a band-aid and a lollipop. Clapped him on the back. Said ‘Youre fine. Suck it up’. Force him to off again (But not before seriously taking care of him if he did have physical injuries). Still, he set the little tissue dispenser down next to Seungmin’s elbow and his boss immediately yanked a handful free. Handing them off to Hyunjin, “Maybe you should ask for the rest of your shift off?”

“I didn’t want to work today but my coworker is sick and there’s no one to cover for me,” Hyunjin plucked the issues from his hand and started wiping ad much of his tears away. Sniffling and wiping as much as possible, he bundled up the used tissues in his hand as he again wiped his tears off on his sleeve. He turned back to the machine, taking the credit card Seungmin had set down to finish the transaction, “A compliance officer? What… Is that?”

Distracting himself to calm himself down fully. The tissues still in his hand as he kept dabbing the new tears away. The glitter that once framed his eye nearly completely washed from his corners down his cheeks. The shaking in his shoulders lessened. The tension in his hands loose. To Jisung, he still seemed frustrated and furious, but more than that he felt defeated. The poor guy seemed utterly and completely defeated. But, hey at least he wasn’t on the verge of mental collapse like he was four minutes ago. That’s a win in Jisung’s book.

“It’s not a, big job or anything, just… You know, I check businesses and individuals that deal, make sure their practices are in compliance with federal laws and regulations, especially about risk management. Occupation laws, health laws, standards, that’s all my responsibility.”

“It sounds complicated. Do you enjoy it?”

“No. I hate it. But the benefits are good. 401k retirement plan, dental and vision insurance, student loan forgiveness, and uh… You know. Health insurance.”

He paused. Hyunjin’s interest seeming to be piqued as he repeated, “Health insurance?”

“Yeah. Health insurance. My health insurance plan is, very extensive, as a government employee. It’s um… I pay for two people to be covered with my health insurance because that’s the minimum, but, I don’t have anyone else’s name to put down,” His boss retold him the same thing he had told Jisung about five years ago now. Bragging about employee benefits. Fuck off. Government workers. Jisung would’ve scoffed and spat at the back of his head if it wasn’t for the scene he’d be causing. And if it wasn’t for the fact Seungmin leaned his elbows on the counter, smiling up at Hyunjin as he lightly joked, “You seemed interested? Maybe you and I could get coffee some time. Maybe if it goes well we can talk about adding you to my health insurance plan.”

Hyunjin stared at Seungmin for only a second as his features went slack. Dumbfounded as if he couldn’t believe he heard Seungmin correctly. Before he suddenly bursted into a melodic laughter. The sound still a little weak, still a little wet from his tears, but nonetheless relaxed from the previous rigidity tensing him up. The hand that clutched onto the bundled mess of damp tissues he’d been using coming to cover up his grin as he kept giggling, “I’ve been approached in a lot of different and unique ways from a lot of different people, but I have to admit health insurance is a first.”

“Thank you, I try to be creative. I’m glad you’re smiling again,” Seungmin told. He pressed himself up from the counter again as he looked around, “Hey, Hyunjin, do you have a manager on staff at the moment? Do you mind if I talk to them really fast?”

Clearly puzzled, Hyunjin offered a fast nod to Seungmin and a uttered ‘Give me a few seconds’. He wiped the last of his tears away as he punched in the last of their order. Already getting started on whipping up their Americano and Hot Chocolate. Not to mention Jisung’s carrot cake. The cute little porcelain plate with a bunny face on the corner, he took his tasty treat and sat down at the nearest empty table available. Keeping an empty eye trained on Seungmin’s back as he waited at the counter, his boss seeming to be occupied in his own mind while Hyunjin went off to get his manager while waiting for the milk for the hot chocolate to finish heating up.

This guy… Why does he do these things for strangers?  I can’t understand him.

Jisung picked away at the carrot cake with his fork. Dragging the prongs over the cream cheese icing while he watched as Hyunjin brought his manager over and Seungmin began talking with him. The barista going off to finish the last of the hot chocolate.

He flashes his badge, gives a charming smile.

Seungmin’s lips tugged into that charasmatic smile he was known for. His hand reaching for his wallet as he flipped it open and, as Jisung predicted, showed the manager his federal badge.

Claps a hand against their shoulder, and shakes their hand.

Like mimicry, Seungmin patted the manager’s shoulder and shook his hand as he chuckled at something the man said.

Somehow it convinces everyone to listen to every word he says.

Jisung returned back to his carrot cake with a blank feeling to his chest and an fuzziness to his eyes.

I know it trapped me too.

As he finished up the last few bites (Not that he was a quick eater, but Seungmin was taking so long at this point he wanted to eat his slice, get his hot chocolate and go home), voices graced his ears. Forcing his attention back from wherever the hell he dissociated to while he was eating onto Seungmin and Hyunjin walking to their table. Hyunjin’s apron off and folded over his folded arms, while Jisung’s boss spoke to him with their drinks clutched tightly in his hand, “Call me if they keep giving you a hard time. It’s one thing if you’re skipping shift, it’s another if you’re not feeling physically or mentally well enough to work like you are. Even if you feel you have some sort of pride or duty to help them, you need to protect yourself too. It’s not worth it to stay working somewhere that doesn’t protect you.”

“Thank you…?” Hyunjin tilted his head a bit, as if seeing him from a different angle would help him to understand why a complete stranger acted as a guardian only this once.

Seungmin set his Americano and the hot chocolate down on the table, heading off to the restroom judging by the way he pointed to the back corner of the restaurant wordlessly. But first, he pulled his phone from his pocket and clicked the screen on to flash the new added contact to Jisung, whispering as he passed by, “Irresistible~”

Jisung stuck his leg out and tried to trip him. Murmuring underneath his breath, “Dickhead.”

Luckily, by then Hyunjin had already turned around to leave the café. Oblivious to the interaction that happened between Seungmin and Jisung.

Though, something odd caught his eye.

On the side of his neck, where his collar shifted down without the apron disturbing the lay of his clothes, a red mark was on his skin.

A mosquito bite?

Jisung grabbed up a spoon from the little spoon holder, still inspecting the spot on his neck. Reddish? Sort of… No it almost looked bruised. Like a bruised mosquito bite. But smaller. Bigger? Oval shaped.

That’s a bit dark for a mosquito bite. A hickey?

Before he could go too far, Jisung called out to him, gesturing to the spot on his own neck when Hyunjin turned over his shoulder to see, “Hey, on your neck…”

Hyunjin went pale.

His eyes shooting wide as he looked like he wanted to burst into tears all over again, his hand covering the spot as he practically dashed out of the café.

He watched his back, until he had completely disappeared.

Weird.

Jisung scooped the whipped cream off the top of his hot chocolate, making sure to lick the spoon clean before going for another mouthful.

▄︻デ ══━一ᝰ.ᐟˎˊ˗