Seong Beau

Hyungwon laughed at the face Beau made, wondering if he should tell him the truth. Well, Beau was going to find out one way or another, so… He might as well. “It’s fine, I don’t actually handle spicy food well. But this restaurant does shrimp really well. It’s my favorite food, you know! Even if it’s a bit spicy, the grilled shrimp is amazing! The lowest spice level is perfect for me.” 

Hyungwon paused when he realized just how excited he was getting over food and he coughed, hurriedly shuffling into the restaurant and getting them a table. He pushed the menu over to Beau, willing his cheeks to cool down. “I mean, you can still die from the spicy food if you want. I won’t take care of your sorry ass if you do, but, yeah. I know what I’m gonna order.”

Beau continued to listen to Hyungwon speak with a boisterous smile as eyes fluttered over the two handsome men taking their seats in the restaurant. For Beau he wanted it to appear as if this was a date between him and his dance teacher. The idea of possible rumors made his head swell with arrogance. His fellow classmates were defiantly gonna be jealous of him when they find out and he was going to soak in all of the attention it would get him. Imagine if he could get Hyungwon alone for a night.

“Awh you don’t mean that. I know you would love to baby me.” He looked over him with a coy smile as he took the menu to look over. “Why else would you stay after for over an hour to perfect my steps for the past two weeks.” He chuckled as the waitress came over to their table. She greeted them warmly asking what brought the two out here tonight and Beau couldn’t seem to stop his mouth before he could think or care to stop. 

“I just told you to get your mind out of the gutter, kid. Either way, by the time I’m done with you, you’ll be too tired to keep running that mouth anyway.” Hyungwon snickered, not minding the look he was getting. He part-timed as a model, after all. If he couldn’t handle one thirsty kid, he’d never survive on the job. So besides a small blush, Hyungwon was more amused by how direct Beau was than anything else. For a moment, Hyungwon wondered how the other would react if he showed him some of his photoshoots. Would he actually lose the flirting and genuinely compliment him? …Nah, flirting seemed to be what defined Beau.

He picked up his bag from where he left it before the showcase, walking over to the open door. Hyungwon moved past Beau, rolling his eyes. “I swear, I be nice one time and it’s already a date. Keep it up and this’ll be the last time I treat you.” Glancing down the street, he started heading left, down to a busier street. “There’s a spicy seafood place nearby. That sound good to you?”

“We’ll see about that.” The boy softly chuckled following Hyungwon down the street. When the word spicy was mentioned Beau’s lips screwed in a slight disgust. Spicy didn’t get along with his taste buds very well, but he couldn’t act too terribly picky when Hyungwon was treating him. “I never pegged you as the spicy type, but then again..” His eyes loomed over the man with a questionable smirk just to tease him. 

“Ugh, you are the worst person I know. I can’t believe–” Hyungwon stopped himself, running a hand through his hair with a sigh. There was a grin on his face though, clearly showing how he’d given up on the angry facade. Maybe that was just one of Beau’s charms. Through the one-on-one coaching, extra time that he now knew was most likely a completely unnecessary thing for Beau, he got to learn that his student had a penchant for harmless flirting every chance he got. If Hyungwon was honest with himself, it was kind of cute, mostly playing it off as nothing serious. Even now, Hyungwon let out a small grin and gave Beau’s shoulder a shove. “Get your head out of the gutter already, it’s just gonna be like what we’ve been doing so far. Though, since you’re asking for it… I guess I should come up with something hard enough to leave you gasping on the floor. We can make lessons three nights a week, whatever fits your schedule. As long as it’s night, I’ll probably be here anyway,” he joked. “For now, wanna grab dinner? My treat, for blowing my mind at the showcase.”

“Gasping on the floor?” He repeated with a flash of a small smile. It could have been his naughty thoughts running away with him, but Beau could swear this might be Hyungwon’s style of flirting. “Wow. You really wanna work me don’t you?” His eyes loomed over the man with a bite to his bottom lip thinking he wouldn’t mind gasping for him. Well he wouldn’t mind that, and many other things that Hyungwon could make him do. “Dinner, and you’re buying?” The young man perked up all the more. 

with a shake of her head she laughed. “i mean, i dunno, i’d say close to double.” she shrugged. “you’ve just gotta know how to talk to people. and i like to think that maybe i’m just actually good at my job, and that it’s not just because i’m a girl.” she smirked as she walked with him to the noodle shop. she entered and and the duo had taken their seats together. she quickly ordered, already knowing that what she had really wanted was a drink.

yoona dug into her food and quickly downed a drink. she served everyone else drinks all day, it was relaxing to get drinks for a change. her smile faded as he made a joke about how being in a relationship clearly didn’t matter to her. she hated how her past decisions that were made out of loneliness and hurt, were assumed to be traits of her actual character. it wasn’t like she was happy about cheating on her past girlfriend. she understood that beau was reckless and didn’t give a shit about most, but it till felt like an insensitive blow. letting out a breath she shook her head. “ah, no. no. things were stomped out after that, ah, that night.” explanation of what night wasn’t necessary. “i think it’s probably better to keep away from dating for awhile.” she explained as she finished her drink. “what about you?” she doubted beau would have anyone. he was too reckless to be kept captive in a relationship, and she felt sorry for anyone who actually may one day. he was fun, and exciting, but a lot to handle. “you find anyone to settle down with?”

Beau slurped down the rest of his noodles as he listen to Yoona speak of her now ex-girlfriend. From what little she had mentioned of her before and during their affair, Beau grasped the idea of what this Sungkyung was like. He wasn’t the least bit surprised things fell to pieces soon after getting caught in the act. What did strike his eye when he looked over to Yoona to see a sadness caught behind her eyes. After all the fun Beau didn’t seem to realize until now how it affected her. It wasn’t that he could understand losing a love, but he just never considered it. He never considered what his friend was going through.

“Oh Beau I don’t know,” Bomi eyes him wearily while rubbing her neck anxiously. “Maybe we should just stay home and watch movies. Or - or, maybe we could just go out and eat!”

Usually Bomi is all over trying new things. Circe admonishes her for it routinely but she does like her own curious heart. Yet today she can’t seem to push away her nerves. She told Beau about her (many) failed dates as a conversation piece and Beau had offered to be her wingman jokingly. Or she thought he had been joking anyway because she definitely wanted to go to the club but she hadn’t thought it would be to pick up guys.

So here Bomi is watching Beau excitedly pick through her closet and complete her outfit on her small twin bed. She looks at the outfit a beat longer before offering him a wary smile, “I mean it’s nice. I definitely trust your fashion sense but I don’t know. I don’t really want to hook up with anyone maybe make out but that’s debatable.” She splays out on the bed dramatically, ruffling the dress and displacing the jewelry, “If anything it’s going to be mandatory that we pre-game. My nerves can’t take this sober.”

“Awh boo you’re no fun. What’s the point of getting to know somebody when you have just a little fun with somebody.” He sighed flopping back against the bed along side Bomi. He couldn’t possibly understand what it was like wanting to share your heart with another person. To him it felt like an entrapment. He was hoping he could get Bomi some action tonight to her how his lifestyle made him feel free, but if chemistry was what she was looking for instead Beau figured he could suck it up and give his friend what she wanted. 

“Ooooooh now you’re talking.” Beau cracked a smile sitting up. “Numbing the jitters with some drinks is the way to go!” He was gonna drink anyway but pre-gaming with her was a fan-fucking-tastic idea. He’d never seen Bomi drunk before and she was already pretty entertaining. This had to happen now.

“Yeah. What the hell, Beau.” Hyungwon hadn’t meant to cause a scene. He didn’t mean to elicit the class’s teasing response at his earlier words, really. He just had resting bitch face or whatever, and he forgot to move his mouth into something pleasant like a smile or something. And, okay, he was a little mad, but it wasn’t for anything serious. It was just that, as he watched the showcase, it was clear that Beau was not in the right class. Why did the idiot take a beginner’s course? “You lied to me,” he began, brows furrowed. He was going to get his little revenge and scare Beau for a bit. “I can’t believe you’d do this to me, you’re the worst…” Hyungwon made a show of dropping his head in disappointment, but a second later he picked it up with a grin. “That wasn’t how a newbie moves their body. You got something to say? Or do I have to force you into private lessons with me?”

Beau couldn’t seem to wipe that usual shit eating grin off his face as soon as Hyungwon tore into him. Just like a child getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar Beau had two options. Either accept whatever punishment coming his way or see if he could talk his way out of it. “Okay I might have slightly bent the truth saying I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I was only trying get extra lessons from one of the best dance instructors I know.” He smiled thinking flattery might ease the tension. 

yoona felt a grin spread across her features as she heard the old nickname that he had given her back when they were in high school. “wow,” she shook her head still in some shock. imagining beau in an office environment was… strange. “you actually tried the basic nine to five kinda shit?” he was far too hyperactive and mischievous to do well there. “what did you even do?” she asked incredulously as she started to put on her jacket. she wasn’t a fan of cold weather. 

as she untucked her hair from the collar of the jacket she thought more on his explanation. “of course you had some big realizing your destiny kinda moment. wanna know how I chose bartending? I saw an ad online for cheap bartending classes and I remembered how jealous we’d get watching the bartenders collect their tips at the end of the night.” it was a silly reason, but her reason none the less. 

yoona looked to him questionably as he bit his lip and teased. when it had dawned on her what she meant, and immediate blush spread across her face. she hadn’t thought about it, but the whole cheating incident had started because she had asked to hang out after work. and here she was… asking to hang out after her shift- though this time her intention was not at the same place that it was that one weak-willed night. “wait, no, no” she scoffed out and shook her head as she rose a fist to playfully punch his shoulder. raising a cautionary finger she continued. “that is not what i was implying okay?” she laughed out. “i meant for like, ya know. to catch up. like actually catch up.” she said as she came around the bar and started to head toward the exit with him. “oh is it safe to assume you’d like to stop at the noodle shop across the street?”

With the sudden punch of her playful hand the young man couldn’t hold his laughter in any longer. To be fair she seriously did ask an almost similar question that started their wrongful intentions. “Ow that kinda hurt.” He still chuckled as his hand tended the stinging in pinch on his arm delivered by her punch. “And oh okay sure well see how it goes knowing you.” He teased following her toward the exit. “You bet! I’ve been craving some beer and noodles all damn day.” Beau graciously for his old companion allowing her to step out before him. 

yoona smirked as she witnessed beau’s signature shit eating grin spread across his face. of course he was so coy. he always had been though. always ready to make a game out of all that he did. he always knew how to have fun, and he truly was. yoona couldn’t remember ever not having fun with him. besides getting caught of course.

“i’ve been here for about a year now, i think. and no actually.” she gestured to the area behind the bar. “i’m bar tending now.” she smiled. “waitressing was fun and all, but the tips are so much better behind this bar.” she teased as she propped herself against the bar. “what about you?” she gestured to his instrument. “how long have you been working music gigs now?” yoona had always known beau to play music, but last time they had spoken it had only been a hobby of his though. “is it something new or have you been doing music for work for a while?”

yoona did honestly miss beau. he was fun, and always had ways of entertaining- even when their friendship was without the benefits. she had thought about reaching out after things had settled, but she had lost his number from switching phones, and there was always something more intimidating about reaching out online. “are you doing anything tonight? i’m off in a few minutes. if you’re free would you wanna do something?”

“Oooooh. You’re a bartender now? Fancy shmancy.” The crooked boy flashed his typical crooked smiled as he nudged Yoona playfully with his elbow. “Damn Yunie what else has changed since we last tangoed?” He chuckled. “Uh. Well.” He sighed mimicking her movement to rest up against the bar along side her. “To be honest I actually tried out the undeniably and utterly boring world of business. My Dad convinced me for a second to go, but I nearly died of actual boredom.” He knew that Yoona had an idea what his parents were like and could only imagine the hell they put him through for not being the perfect son they wanted.

“Well to answer that question I’ll tell ya a sweet an short story. I was out at the park on day strumming along on this bad boy here and people began putting money in my case and I was like why hell can’t I do this for a living? So here I am preforming at Red Light and here you are bar-tending.” He smiled thinking how he hadn’t realized he missed spending time with her until now.

@seongbeauxkr

the club was filled with people and music, but yoona felt utterly bored and very ready to get home. it had been a pretty busy, which had made the night go by fast but she still had the aching feeling of wanting to be at home. thankfully the music that had been playing was actually more to her taste. it had more acoustic vibes and was soothing in a way. it was the only nice part of this night as she saw it. 

yoona’s eyes gazed over the performer, and felt a small smile curve her lips. it had been awhile since she had seen beau last. it was kind of strange seeing him here, actually working apparently. of course after all this time they ended up being coworkers again, unknowingly. 

things between them had always been… complicated. well, not to them. just complicated to describe. whether they were high schoolers indulging in a rebellious fling. he had comforted her after her mother passed by being a no strings attached distraction and partner in crime. she also thought over how a few years later when she had felt some second thoughts about her and sungkyung’s relationship- beau was there to be that comforting shoulder to cry into… that then lead her into infidelity. their affair didn’t last long. they were caught a couple weeks after it had started and that was its abrupt end.

it was strange to see him after all the dust was now settled. she couldn’t blame him for everything that had happened. she was really to blame for it all. she shouldn’t have cheated, and she shouldn’t have used beau to cheat with. that’s what it all boiled down to. once he left stage and started to exit by the bar she spoke up to get his attention. “hey.” she called out to him. “long time no see.” she smiled. “you work here now, huh?”

Beau’s fingers strummed along his guitar in a fluid like manor filling the club with a chill acoustic tune. Eyes gazed upon him as he preformed causing to full his ego all the more. He took a moment for himself to cast his eyes among the crowd of his so called admirers when suddenly the certain sly smile that was all too familiar to him caught his attention. “Sup, kid.” He returned her with a wink and a teasing grin. “I could be saying the same to you.” 

It had been sometime since the two last tangled under the sheets or even went out on a school night breaking into abandoned buildings conducting parties of their own. He missed those days. It seemed as though their rebellious outlook on the world was merely simple. Their relationship was simple then as well, but after getting caught in the act it was hard to deny the tension was still lingering there. Did she hate him now for what they had done? He couldn’t blame her. After all he used her. Maybe it was to fill that same dreading void he felt when he was younger?For all it was worth, Beau didn’t regret a single second spent with Yoona.