#juminxv

Another day, another pile of paperwork. Jumin sighed softly as he placed a file to the “done” pile. In three minutes and twenty Assistant Kang should come knocking at the door to pick the signed files up. He placed his pen neatly down the table, exactly 38.7 centimeters from the right edge of the desk. It was the perfect placement as it allows him to get the pen at 0.18 seconds faster than it was at 38.6 centimeters and 0.12 seconds faster than at 38.5 centimeters. It must be due to how his arm is usually positioned on the desk, which is important to consider since it is the relative distance. He took out his phone to check for messages and found zero notifications—a little disheartening as he was hoping to hear from V after not having talked to him for more than a week now. V has told him that he was going to fly overseas again for a project, so it will take him a week to be back. Although he’s used to V not being around often because of his work, Jumin couldn’t help but feel a little less enthusiastic about his days. He would always appreciate wine nights with him, talking about whatever crossed their minds. No matter. V should arrive soon enough, with tales from his adventures. Then that meant he should be ready to receive him. When he gets home, he will pick out from his collection one of his best wines and then order the best snack pairing for it. Although V doesn’t really snack much, it is courtesy to at least leave some for the guests, no matter who they are.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. ‘It must be Assistant Kang’. Checking his watch, she was… two minutes late. ‘Hm. This is unusual.‘ She better has a reason for being late. The door swung open to reveal the brunette, her eyebrows furrowed slightly. Jumin waited for her to explain, slightly wondering himself why she is wearing such an expression.

“Mr. Han,” Jaehee said. “V is in the lobby. He said he wanted to see you.”

Jumin’s features lit up. V? He’s here? Why didn’t he message him first? Suddenly remembering that he has work, he nodded at her. “I’ve finished signing these documents.  I will meet with V shortly.” He stood up from his seat, sliding his phone in his pocket.

“But you have a meeting in a couple minutes, Mr. Han,” She proceeded to take the pile of folders and paper work on Jumnin’s desk. “I can tell V to return in the evening, when you’re most free.”

“No need, I’m sure our meeting won’t take long.” Jumin walked out of his office and took the elevator ride down. It felt a little longer than usual, even if it barely stopped at any floor. He counted that it only stopped twice, which meant that the it shouldn’t have taken him so much time to get down. ‘Weird,’ He thought. ‘Then again, time is relative.’

A soft ding signaled that he has reached the ground floor. He strode out of the elevator, his steps seemingly quicker than usual. He couldn’t afford to waste time—there is a meeting in a couple minutes and it will be rude to be late for it. He wanted to see V, however. And usually, V comes up to his office if he has anything important to say. Why stay in the lobby now? He shrugged the thought off. He will find out when they see each other soon.

It didn’t take him long to reach the lobby and see V. His mint-colored hair has always stood out from the crowd. It was admittedly a unique color, one that most often than not earned him stares whenever he was out. It suited him, though. Although it remains a puzzle to him how such hair color came to be.

“V, you’re—” Jumin was about to greet V when he realized that V was wearing… a costume? He raised his eyebrow at V. He was wearing what seems to be an animal suit of sorts. Was it called a onesie? He was dumbfounded, unsure of how to react.

“Jumin,” V stood up from the sofa and turned to Jumin, his lips pulled to a smile. “You’re here. Happy Halloween!” He was beaming, and Jumin stood paralyzed in confusion as he tried to understand the situation. ‘Halloween? Is this what this is?’

“Let’s go trick or treating.” V showed him an orange plastic container that resembles a pumpkin and has a face drawn on it. It had nothing inside.

Jumin stared at V for a full five seconds, his lips slightly parted in surprise. He closed his eyes and took a short exhale. “V, you do realize I have work today right?” he crossed his arms, exhaling again. “And these are for children.”

“But we are children, Jumin,” V smiled brightly. “And we should make the most out of the opportunity to have fun together.”

Jumin’s brows knit together. 'Children? What ever does he—’ He looked around to check and saw that he was back in his old mansion. It was as he remembered it. Elegant wooden furniture and glass chandeliers hanging in the high ceiling. Lavish carpets, heavy drapery—his house had made their wealth apparent. He returned to V with wide eyes, who was now standing in their front door, a carefree smile in his face. They were both young again.

“Let’s go, Jumin,” V turned and went down the steps of their porch. “We might run out of the good candy.”

Jumin huffed, his lips pulled to one side. He followed the mint-haired boy and left the front door. “Why do we have to do this? We could easily buy the candies we wanted.”

“I figured we should experience this at least once.” He was leading Jumin down the streets of their neighborhood. The moonlight shone down on them, and the fluorescent glow from the lamps lit their path. They came across other groups of children in costumes, their loot bags equally empty. They left their homes just in time.

They stopped in front of a simple house. It had modest decorations, obviously bought from dollar stores--or at least, the Korean equivalent of it. Looking at it, one could wonder how a family could possibly fit in such a cramped space. Perhaps the tenant lived alone.

“This is pointless.” Jumin said, mildly annoyed. They could've simply ask their fathers for the candies they're interested in and ultimately save themselves the trouble. To Jumin, it was a waste of energy and time.

V either did not hear him or ignored him, as he didn't respond to Jumin’s complaint. He reached out and pressed at he doorbell, a soft ding song breaking the silence of the night.

Jumin sighed, and waited with V for the door to open. He stepped to stand beside V and took a short glance to look at his expression. His face was bubbling with excitement; his lips were upturned and his eyes sparkled in anticipation. ‘He really is into it.’

He sighed. The door swung open to reveal a figure. Jumin estimated that they were in the mid to late 30s. Like her home, she looked pretty ordinary.

“Happy Halloween!” V greeted. He held out his bag to the lady.

The lady smiled. “Happy Halloween.” She took a bowl full of candies and picked up a handful to give to V. Jumin stared, but held out his bag as well. She gave him a handful of candies before closing the door.

V chuckled, making Jumin stare at him blankly. “What?”

“You looked like you were demanding her to give you some.”

“It is only normal to demand equal treatment. If she is going to give you candies, then she should give me as well, or it will be a preference bias, and is therefore a questionable method of handing out candies.”

V walked away from the house chuckling softly. “Jumin, you’re taking it a little too seriously.”

Jumin snorted lightly. He saw no reason not to look at it in such perspective.

They went to other houses--some giving them candy, others shooing them off. There were also those that recognized them and refused to give them any, which didn't come as a surprise to both of them. As sons of wealthy families, it's even questionable that they bothered to go trick or treating. They did heir best to avoid the other groups of children--they didn't want to get caught up with them or for them to recognize who they were.

They got home an hour or two before midnight--they ended it pretty early as Jumin has been complaining at how long they've been walking. V turned to his best friend and smiled. “We did it.”

Jumin sighed. He still doesn't see the point to it--it honestly felt like they were begging for things they can easily acquire. To top it off, his feet and legs are sore.

He was about to complain again, but V started speaking again before he could. “It was nice to spend the evening with you.”

“We could've just stayed at home and played games,” Jumin said, mildly peeved at V’s apparent enthusiasm. “Instead we wasted hours and effort for useless and unhealthy things.”

“I’m sorry you think that way, Jumin,” V looked away from him. “But I personally think it was fun that we had a new experience together.”

‘A new experience…’ Jumin’s eyes widened slightly at the sudden realization. He wasn't the most sentimental person but he understood what V meant. Sure, it was pointless and they wasted so much effort, but it's not always that they got to spend time like this together. Thinking that, Jumin realized that maybe it wasn't so bad. Maybe he shouldn't be mad at V for dragging him around like this.

“Alright,” Jumin looked down at the stash of candy he got. V certainly had more, as he was the one doing the greeting. He was more of an afterthought. “Do you want to… try some of them out?”

V chuckled. “You don't have to force yourself. I'm sure your nutritionist told you not to eat too much sweets.”

“I'll… make an exception. For new experiences.”

Jumin woke up and found himself asleep in his office chair. ‘What… time is it?’ He took a glance at his watch and found that it was only three in the afternoon. ‘Right.’ He let out a small exhale, and stood from his seat to get a glass of water. A knock from his door made him turn to it. He half expected for Assistant Kang to come in and deliver files to him, but he only heard more knocks when he didn't answer it. Raising his brow, he decided to answer the door and open it himself. His eyes went wide when he realized it was V, and he was wearing a costume.