Chapter Text
Yuta usually spends his nights like this in the host club: thousands of won on his belt and another fifty thousand in his boot while he sings and dances on the small stage.
It’s crowded and loud tonight. Most of the patrons are usually young women trying to have fun. In his innocent youth, Yuta would hope that there’s some kind of saviour from a music agency just sleazing around in this club, hears his voice, and then asks him to join their agency. Now, he understands who his audience is.
Yuta does his usual routine—making eye contact with everyone and making sure that they feel seen—and lands his gaze on one man who’s been watching him intently. The man is probably around his age, and he stands out with his dimpled face shining bright against the dark suit that he’s wearing. Interestingly, when Yuta meets his eyes and winks, the man shyly looks away, coughing. Satisfied that his charms still work, Yuta moves to another target.
Tonight’s show is a success. He pockets the money people threw at him that fell on the stage and slips some of it to the fellow DJ, Jaemin, who winks at him as he continues to play the next set. Hopping off the stage, Yuta’s gaze lands on the one person who’s been watching his stage since day one, and he claps his shoulder with a grin.
“Taeyongie,” Yuta sing-songs, causing the man to turn his head to him.
Taeyong frowns before realising that Yuta’s outstretched hand is flashing the papers of wons. He shakes his head with a scoff. “Keep it.”
“But it’s your share,” Yuta sings. “Twenty percent goes to you, right?”
Taeyong stares at him like he just said something funny. “You’re one of my longest hosts. I’d rather see it go to you instead of me.”
Being the lead manager in Club Neo Center for so long, Taeyong has understood how to get around the ropes surrounding SM, their holding company. When Yuta first worked under him, Taeyong practically ran the club like a navy, giving the members rigid schedules and breaks to increase their exposure to visitors, but now, he’s gotten a bit more relaxed.
Yuta shrugs. “Alright,” he says, although not unhappily, slipping the rest of the money into his pocket and patting it down securely. He won’t say no to extra coins.
He almost starts to go when Taeyong grabs his arm, stopping him. “Put it in your jar,” he says, his voice low like whenever he turns serious. “You’ll need every penny.”
The sincerity in Taeyong’s voice, along with the fact that he always remembers Yuta’s jar, touches his heart. “Thanks,” he says, squeezing Taeyong’s arm fondly before going through the swarm of bodies to his room.
There’s no one else in the room right now. The other hosts must be with their patrons or performing. He looks at the whiteboard where they usually write their current jobs right now—Yuta, performing; Jungwoo, room 109. Yuta erases the job next to his name and changes it to REST, before stretching his limbs out. Finally, he has some time to rest.
He takes off his jacket and looks in the mirror. His hair is medium length right now, its dark black shade a great contrast against his face. Taeyong says that he should return the flashy red he had on two years ago, but Yuta always wants to experiment and break the bounds. Besides, that hair belongs to a different Yuta right now.
He lies down on the couch with a sigh, ready to catch a few winks before he returns to his patrons. A gentle rap on his door makes him recenter his thoughts. “Come in,” says Yuta.
The door opens, and a slim, blonde man enters. His feline eyes shine under the dim lights of Yuta’s dressing room, and his one cheek bulges from the candy that he’s eating. He takes the candy from his mouth with a pop and grins. “Have you taken off your makeup yet?”
“Almost,” Yuta replies. “What’s up, Ten?”
Ten practically throws himself to the couch, resting his legs on Yuta’s lap leisurely. By now they’re close enough to do whatever they want with each other. He’s the main dancer of Neo Center, though he originally belongs to WayV, another club belonging to SM. Ten, with his cute accent whenever he speaks Korean, a strong dancer body and killer visuals, always gets a lot of people in line to watch him.
“I’ve got something for you if you’re not done for tonight,” says Ten.
Yuta hums, his interest piqued. “Like what?”
“Private party of three,” says Ten, eyes twinkling. “You want it, hyung?”
Legally, they’re not supposed to do more than talk with visitors to the club, but under the table, there are always customers who are willing to do more to get into fourth base with them. Every host in the club knows this, yet some actively do it to get more coins, including Ten. While it should be illegal, Yuta’s seen enough cops in the crowd to know that they’re mostly in Taeyong’s pocket, too.
A ‘private party’ is much more rewarding than simply dancing for tips, but nowadays, Yuta is more selective. “Who’s buying?”
“You know,” Ten says leisurely, “my usual customer.”
There’s only one usual customer that makes Ten all giddy and buzzing like this: Johnny, the tall Korean-American man who’s a music producer. He’s a regular here, and since the first night he’s laid his eyes on Ten, he’s never hung out with anyone else. Yuta knows better to keep away from another’s regular client, and he, in turn, manages to keep his round of regulars as well.
“Daddy big dick again?” asks Yuta, remembering Ten’s affectionate nickname for his favourite client.
“Ey, he has a name,” Ten says, slapping Yuta’s elbow lightly. “But yeah, it’s Johnny.”
“He wants a threesome?” Yuta asks, surprised. “Don’t tell me he got bored with you.”
“As if,” Ten says, with an eye roll. “He’s bringing some friends with him today. He told me to bring someone fun.”
Yuta smirks. He can do fun. “Anyone else you wanna bring?”
“I’m thinking of bringing Donghyuck as well. I was going to ask Jungwoo, but he’s already with another client, and Johnny only asked for another two anyway. So, we’ll split it into thirds.”
“Fourth,” Yuta says, and Ten furrows his eyebrows. “What about Taeyong?”
“He already got his share separately,” Ten says, waving his hand. “Johnny and Taeyong are friends. Besides, Johnny’s rich.” Ten’s eyes turn into crescent moons as he grins. “In return, he expects the highest service.”
“How much?”
“One and a half million a night,” Ten says. “And that’s your share already, not the total.”
Damn. That could cover Yuta’s rent for a month. No wonder Ten always dolls up whenever he meets this one. But there’s a lot to think through when it’s a new client he hasn’t served before, and there’s usually more on the table when he gets paid this much.
“I don’t want anything too extreme,” Yuta presses. “You know my limits.”
“Chill. Johnny knows the rules,” Ten answers. “Taeyong would kill him if anything happens to us.”
Ten usually has really high standards, so Yuta doesn’t think he has any other option than to trust him. “Fine,” he sighs. “What room?”
A wide grin shows up on Ten’s face, and he cheers. “Yes! Room 127. Johnny’s arriving in fifteen minutes, so just get ready. You won’t regret it, I promise.”
He gives a quick peck to Yuta’s cheek and waves goodbye, and closes the door with a hum. Yuta chuckles to himself and goes to touch up his makeup. It looks like his rest tonight just got delayed.
//
Room 127 is deluxe, often reserved for the highest-paying clients. Its walls are padded with the thickest, soundproof material known to man, and it’s big enough to fit ten people. Perfect for some special private parties.
Out front, Ten meets him, his highlighter making him gleam. Next to him is Donghyuck, who’s wearing a sheer dark shirt that flows easily with his movements.
“Hey, hyung,” Donghyuck says, squeezing Yuta’s arm. “How are you?”
“Good,” Yuta says, squeezing Donghyuck’s hand back. Donghyuck is still a baby in his eyes, and he’s one of the people Yuta thinks can do a lot better than being here, but alas, here they are. “You ready, Haechan?”
“Yup,” Donghyuck grins. He’s slipping into his ‘Haechan’ mode, a touchy-feely flirt at everything with legs and can move. “Let’s go.”
The door to the room opens, and immediately, Yuta switches into showtime mode. Three people look up from their seats, and their eyes land on Yuta, Ten, and Haechan, watching them intently. By now Yuta is used to it, and so, he puts on his best, seductive look as he returns their clients one by one.
The tallest guy approaches them with a confident swag, and he gives Ten a peck on the cheek. “Hey, beautiful. These your friends?”
Ten nods, pushing Yuta and Haechan in front of him to show them off better. “This is Haechan. He’s our baby, so don’t be too hard on him.”
Haechan waves and gives a showbiz smile. “Hey.”
“And this is Yuta.”
Yuta makes eye contact with everyone in the room. He doesn’t say hi in a friendly way like Haechan. Usually, his clients like the way he shows his cool demeanour, because when he does smile, it makes his seemingly cold exterior break down satisfyingly, making them feel like they’re the ones who have succeeded in breaking Yuta’s walls and not because Yuta himself let his shields down.
The tall one looks up and down, inspecting Yuta, and he smiles agreeingly. He’s handsome, with blonde highlights adorning the edges of his short hair that exposes his forehead. “I’m Johnny,” he says, shaking their hands. “I’m here with my coworkers. This is Mark.”
Mark—the guy is probably as young as Haechan, Yuta realises—waves politely with a soft smile. He looks like a polite kid, although his eyes are watching them with full interest.
Finally, Johnny introduces the other guy. “This is Jaehyun.”
Yuta recognises him as the man he made eye contact with during his show earlier. This man is conventionally handsome. Pale skin with eyes that crinkle as he smiles, and dimples as deep as rivers are carved into his face. The slight nervousness in his eyes makes Yuta think that this isn’t just his first time in a club like this, but it’s also his first time interacting with someone like Yuta, ever.
“Hey,” Jaehyun says, waving his hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Yuta says.
“I’m Doyoung,” says the last one with a polite smile, before he crosses his arms again. Although he introduces himself kindly, he stares at them all with a strange look.
“I haven’t introduced you yet,” Johnny says.
Doyoung raises an eyebrow. “What, I can’t introduce myself on my own?”
“I didn’t say that,” Johnny replies with a grin. “I just said that I haven’t introduced you yet.”
Doyoung rolls his eyes and raises a hand at Johnny like he’s about to slap him, and Johnny quickly avoids with a laugh. Yuta can sense that they’re probably the closest pairing out of the four.
Ten clears his throat. “Johnny-oppa, what’s the special occasion?” he asks, tilting his head sweetly.
“It’s Mark’s birthday, so we brought him here to celebrate,” Johnny grins, ruffling Mark’s hair lovingly. “Mark just turned twenty-three.”
“Birthday boy, huh?” Haechan says with a grin, leaning forward so now he’s only a few centimetres away from Mark. “Here for your special performance, then?”
“Uh—” Mark glances at Johnny before nodding. “Yeah, I guess.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Ten grins. “Sit down. Let us give you a special gift.”
They stand and go to the centre. When it comes to their performances, Yuta, Ten, and Donghyuck have their own roles. Ten shows off his dance moves, Donghyuck showcases his vocals, and Yuta is handed the part of riling up the audience. They find that this particular combination of members and positions usually gets them the most tips, and so, they try to do it as much as they can.
Ten sets up the microphone at the little stage up front, and he nods at both Haechan and Yuta as they all take positions. “Ready?” he whispers.
Yuta nods. The beats of the music start to come in, and he shakes his hips, following the beat. He doesn’t miss the way a few eyes look at him, and he smiles, ready to blow their mind. “Everyone, are you ready?” he screams into the microphone in English.
The four men cheer in return. They start to clap along the beat, Johnny and Mark cheering with the club-rent rebanas as Jaehyun bobs his head along, while Doyoung merely watches as he drinks.
Yuta always loves performing, even when in front of a small audience like now. In a big crowd, he can rile everyone up and feed on their energy, but in a small one, he can play with his clients’ emotions and become intimate in a way they’d never expect. He does it tonight too, winking at everyone as he sways his body along to the music, playing with their desires as much as he can.
In the corner of his eyes, he sees Mark slipping a little cash into Haechan’s belt, and Johnny’s eyes keep moving back and forth between Ten and Yuta, licking his lips whenever they’re near each other. At times Yuta goes to Jaehyun’s section too, smiling as he sings close to him, feeling Jaehyun’s eyes leering on his hips as he moves. He doesn’t forget Doyoung, too, who keeps flinching away with a nervous laugh whenever Yuta tries to rile him up. Not too keen, then. He was probably dragged here by his friends. Yuta can respect that.
Finally, the song finishes. Ten grabs Yuta and Donghyuck’s hands, and together, they cross their legs and bow. “Thank you!” Haechan laughs as their clients clap in appreciation.
Amidst their performance, their clients have moved slightly from their original positions. Because of that, Ten confidently sits next to Johnny, and Haechan unshockingly claims his position on Mark’s lap. The two of them have already set their own targets tonight. Yuta slots himself into the spot between Johnny and Jaehyun, who immediately gives room for Yuta to sit.
“Hey,” Yuta says.
“Hi,” Jaehyun replies kindly. “That was really good.”
“Yeah?” Yuta grins. Being praised always makes him feel enthused. “Thanks.”
Jaehyun nods, like a silent welcome. “And not just this one, too,” he adds enthusiastically. “The one you did out there on the main stage was really good. It’s like you were born to perform.”
The way he says it makes Yuta think that he’s being earnest, and not just for the sake of compliments that clients usually give him just so they can get into Yuta’s pants as soon as possible without any guilt. Whenever he smiles, his eyes become crescent-shaped, and his dimples become more prominent.
Yuta grabs a bottle of champagne from the table and pours one into a glass. “Maybe I can give you a private one later,” Yuta says, his voice light and coquettish as he gives the glass to Jaehyun, deliberately letting their fingers brush.
Jaehyun’s eyes dart towards Yuta’s hands, and he licks his lips. “Really?”
“Depends if you’re good tonight or not,” Yuta says. He clinks his glass with Jaehyun’s and winks.
“So it depends on me?”
Yuta grins. “You’re in control, baby.”
As Jaehyun takes a sip out of his drink, he doesn’t take his eyes off Yuta. Looks like Yuta has found his match for tonight.
“I have a question for y’all,” Mark suddenly says. Previously they were all enthralled in their own private conversations, and Mark’s question brings the focus to the whole group once more. “Was that a pre-rehearsed performance or something?”
“Yeah,” answers Donghyuck. “Taeyong—our manager you probably met out front—makes us practice daily. He practically runs this club like a navy.”
“Woah,” Mark says, earnestly. “But all of our tips go to you, right? What about taxes?” When everyone bursts out laughing, Mark blinks, puzzled. “What?”
“I’ve never seen someone going to a host club and asking about the business side of it,” says Ten with a grin.
“That’s Mark,” Johnny says. “He likes to know about everything, so you can show him everything. And by that, I mean everything.” He enunciates the last word differently, adding multiple connotations.
On Mark’s lap, Haechan runs a hand over Mark’s chest with a sly smirk. “Oppa, you have me on your lap and you’re talking about taxes?” He lowers his voice into a soft whisper. “Maybe you’re not distracted enough.”
It’s a bold claim, but the way Mark’s ears turn red, there’s probably truth in it. Mark lets out a curse under his breath, looking up at Haechan, intrigued. Clearly, this is his first rodeo with someone like them. It’ll be fun to play with him, and Yuta knows that Haechan’s specialty is breaking these new studs.
“Wh—What are you going to do about it?” Mark asks.
Haechan’s smirk grows. “Come here,” he says, and then stands, not letting go of Mark’s hand.
Mark quickly downs his whole drink in one gulp, and then he follows Haechan as his hyungs let out a low ooh. They disappear into the special door separated by a curtain of beads, and Yuta gets the feeling that he won’t be seeing Haechan until the night ends. “There he goes,” he says with a sly grin.
“And then there were five,” Johnny announces the obvious.
“Or four,” Doyoung says, standing up. He gathers his jacket that has been thrown onto the couch. “I’m going home.”
“Aw, Doie, don’t,” Johnny groans. “You said you didn’t want one!”
The way he says one like he’s talking about an object sends an uncomfortable feeling in Yuta’s stomach, but he tells himself to focus.
Doyoung sighs. “I’ve got work to do. And so do you, by the way.”
“It doesn’t have to be done tonight,” Johnny whines. “Come on. If you want, Ten can set someone up for you, too.”
“No need,” Doyoung says, shaking his head. He gives a serious look to Johnny. “Remember, this is just for tonight.”
“I know, mommy,” Johnny says in a light tone, and Doyoung rolls his eyes, leaving the room with the door shut.
“Ignore him,” Johnny sighs. “He’s been kind of tense lately. We have to come up with some tracks for an idol group this week.”
Ten punches Johnny lightly on the shoulder. “Playing here in the club when you’ve got a deadline? Naughty boy.”
Before Ten can hit him, Johnny catches his wrist with a grin. “I just miss you, babe,” he says, leaning forward as he presses a kiss below Ten’s ear, who giggles. Johnny turns the other way to face Yuta and smiles.
“And you,” he says. “You were magnificent, too. Right, Jaehyun?”
On Yuta’s other side, Jaehyun nods. “Yeah,” he agrees, spreading his arms on the back of the couch, the tips of his fingers just slightly touching Yuta’s back.
Yuta resists the urge to raise an eyebrow. He had thought that Johnny had an exclusive kind of thing with Ten, but it looks like Johnny wants to be opportunistic tonight now that he has Yuta, too. While Yuta usually doesn’t like to chase after others’ clients, it’s a different situation when the client themselves approaches him.
Johnny tilts Yuta’s chin up with his finger. Compared to Jaehyun’s approach, Johnny definitely knows his way around. As Johnny runs a finger up Yuta’s jawline, a particular spot makes Yuta feel ticklish, and he lets out a small giggle. The reaction seems to satisfy Johnny, who grins.
“You’re very pretty,” Johnny says. He looks between Ten and Yuta with a wicked grin. “Pretty people should kiss each other. Don’t you think so, Jaehyun?”
Yuta already knows where this is going. Next to him, Jaehyun shifts on his seat. “I mean, if they want,” he says, his voice low.
Now that was a surprise. Looks like he wants to see it too, then. As Yuta thought, all of his clients are the same.
Yuta turns to Ten, who’s been licking his lips. He knows that this is all just for show anyway. In the end, it’s the results that matter.
Ten does a quick glance at Johnny, who silently nods. With that, he grabs Yuta’s head and closes the gap between them.
It’s not their first time doing this in front of a client. When Ten presses their lips together, Yuta follows, tilting his head to make space for Ten to take every breath out of him. Ten’s hands make way onto the sides of Yuta’s head, and Yuta deliberately lets out a soft moan as Ten bites his lower lip, causing his lips to part.
With an opening like that, Ten pushes his tongue inside Yuta’s mouth, and the hand on Yuta’s head moves to the back, pulling it just hard enough to entice a whine out of him. He can feel that Ten wants to make a show. Yuta kisses just as passionately back, panting slightly with each peck.
When they pull away for a slight breather, Yuta can’t help but chuckle at Ten’s grin. They know they did a good performance. He takes a glance at Johnny, who’s been silent this whole time while biting his lower lip. Somehow, Yuta wishes that Jaehyun were between him and Ten, too, just so he can see Jaehyun’s reaction. Judging from the silence that has been engulfing them for the past few minutes, Jaehyun has been watching intently.
“Damn,” Johnny says, breaking the silence. “Maybe it’s my birthday too. And Jaehyun’s.”
Behind him, Yuta feels Jaehyun’s gaze on him, and he turns his head to see. The man has the most visible blush on his cheeks, and his gaze on Yuta is intoxicating.
Ten tilts his head. “Satisfied?”
Johnny licks his lips. “I think,” he says, circling an arm around Ten’s waist, “it’s better to experience it than just seeing you do it with someone else.”
Ten raises his eyebrow at Johnny. “What, are you jealous?”
Johnny’s chuckle is soft, yet it scratches Yuta’s ear the wrong way. “Don't you think that I should be the one who’s asking you that?”
The smallest anger flashes in Ten’s eyes, though only people who knew him as long as Yuta did would see. “What do you think?”
“Aww, baby,” Johnny says, flicking Ten’s ear. “Don’t tell me you really are jealous. He’s gone home already.”
Immediately, Yuta thinks about Doyoung who left just a few minutes ago. He wonders what the exact history between Johnny, Ten, and Doyoung is. Johnny’s words seem like they’ve riled up Ten more, because the Thai finally grabs Johnny’s bicep.
“Come on,” he says, pulling him to stand.
“Finally,” Johnny says, relaxedly. He winks at Yuta. “Thanks, doll. Take care of Jae for me, will you?” He grins at Jaehyun, following Ten as the smaller man drags him into another private room.
Besides him, Jaehyun exhales. “Well,” he says.
“Well,” Yuta repeats.
“So, in those rooms, are they all—”
“Fucking?” Yuta chuckles. “Yeah. Or on the way to that.”
Jaehyun’s cheeks flush slightly. “Good to know,” he says, probably realising something about his friends.
Yuta can’t help but smile. It’s always fun to see someone’s innocence being brought down in one night. He looks Jaehyun up and down, admiring the lines of his face. It’s like he was specifically carved by a divine being. He would remember Jaehyun if he had visited here before. “Is this your first time here?”
“Yeah,” Jaehyun confirms, nodding enthusiastically. “I don’t usually go to these kinds of places.”
As if. And Yuta likes all of his clients the same, too. But Yuta doesn’t say his disbelief out loud, of course. Instead, he puts up a sultry smile. “I bet it is,” he says instead. “With that face, you don’t need to go to a club like this.”
Jaehyun chuckles. “Is that what you say to everyone?”
“Are you saying that people don’t tell you you’re hot?” Yuta returns, raising an eyebrow. He can hardly believe that.
“Not to my face.”
“Bullshit,” Yuta says, leaning closer and putting a hand on Jaehyun’s thigh. “You’re like, the most handsome person in Seoul right now.”
Jaehyun chuckles again, covering his mouth with a hand as he giggles. Good. Looks like the easiest pick-up lines can make him laugh. Either Yuta’s humour is more attuned to Jaehyun than he thought, or Jaehyun is just really easily flustered. “You’re really good at this,” Jaehyun says with a smile.
Yuta grins. “Wanna know what other things I’m good at?”
“What?”
With that, he moves, going to straddle Jaehyun in one swift move. Yuta puts his hands on Jaehyun’s shoulders, and the man looks up at him with his mouth slightly open, surprised.
“You really never went to a place like this before?” asks Yuta again, making sure as he brushes Jaehyun’s hair backwards. This guy really is conventionally handsome, even with his hair all up. It’s bleached into a perfect shade of silver blonde, and yet, Jaehyun’s hair is still so soft to his touch. Maybe Yuta should be the one asking him for tips.
“Y-Yeah,” Jaehyun replies. “It’s my first time.”
This is going to be fun. Yuta leans over to grab the speaker remote and presses a button, and soft thumping music is heard around the room. It’s perfect. “Well, here, we usually do this,” Yuta says, and then he starts rolling his hips in circles, rocking alongside the music.
“Oh,” Jaehyun says, eyes locked onto Yuta’s hips, understanding immediately. A visual learner.
Yuta musters the urge to giggle. It turns out Jaehyun’s just as impressionable as any other newbie here. Yet, his earnestness is strangely refreshing, and Yuta wonders what else he can do to blow his mind.
Slowly, Yuta rolls his body around Jaehyun, grinding on his lap and following the beats to the music. The tips of his fingers grab onto the hem of his shirt, and he rolls his shirt upwards and throws it away.
Jaehyun’s eyes practically bore into Yuta’s body as he moves, capturing each of Yuta’s tattoos one by one. The heat in his eyes scorches every inch of Yuta’s skin, and it gives Yuta the motivation to do better. He lifts from Jaehyun’s lap, and then skillfully takes his pants off, revealing his clad body except for the hip-hugging boxers.
“Shit,” he hears Jaehyun whisper under his breath when he sits down on Jaehyun’s lap again, now facing away. Yuta can’t help but crook a grin.
He keeps moving in circles, now fixing his hands on Jaehyun’s knees. The beats to the music have changed into a faster-paced one, and he follows the tune, making sure every inch of his body is pressed against his client’s.
Jaehyun’s thighs are strong and toned under his hands. His muscles tighten with each brush of Yuta’s clad shorts against Jaehyun’s pants. Behind him, Jaehyun’s breath hitches, the way Yuta is so close to him sucking all the air out of him.
The song finishes, and Yuta lifts himself off, turning his head to face Jaehyun once more. Under the dim lights, Jaehyun’s face is redder than before. The effect of Yuta’s actions is very visible on his crotch. Not so subtly, Jaehyun clears his throat, quickly crossing his legs to hide his hard-on.
Yuta tilts his head, amused. “You’ll cut off the blood flow if you do that, you know.”
Jaehyun’s cheeks flush once more, and he bites his lip. “Sorry,” he stutters, but he uncrosses his legs anyway.
Yuta grins. Kneeling down in front of Jaehyun, he slots himself between Jaehyun’s legs, who looks down at him with a sense of wonder. “Don’t worry,” he whispers. “I can help with that.”
Jaehyun’s eyes widen. “Seriously?”
It really is his first time here. “Honey, you’re VIPs,” Yuta reminds him. “You got the whole package.”
Although he doesn’t show it outright, Jaehyun’s eyes practically beam like a kid in a candy store. “I see,” he murmurs.
Yuta chuckles again. Why is it that everything Jaehyun says is so adorable to him? He’s ready to do the next stage when all of a sudden, Jaehyun grabs him by the hair, tilting his head upwards, and kisses him.
The kiss is so sudden that Yuta doesn’t even get to close his eyes. Jaehyun kisses him so eagerly, chased by the remaining duration of their night. It’s different from the performative kiss Ten gave him—this is much more passionate, like actual foreplay.
But it’s not what Yuta’s here for, and he quickly pulls away. As Jaehyun looks at him confusedly, Yuta presses a finger to his lips.
“Sorry,” he says, “the whole package doesn’t include that.”
Jaehyun blinks for a few moments before widening his eyes in realisation. “Oh,” he says, shoulders slumping. “Sorry.”
Yuta shakes his head. He can’t say he’s not used to it—new clients often don’t understand the line between a host and themselves. While some hosts may give what Jaehyun wants, Yuta would rather keep his boundaries fixed. It makes it less complicated down the line. “It’s not you. I’d just rather not kiss.”
Jaehyun’s disappointment is almost endearing, if not for the soft smile he puts up. “Right,” he chuckles, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I got too carried away.”
“It’s okay,” Yuta says, rubbing Jaehyun’s shoulder. “If you want, I can call someone else.” He knows that Jungwoo likes to be more of a boyfriend type.
“No,” Jaehyun says, shaking his head. “I only want you.”
The firmness of his voice nearly makes Yuta shudder. “Alright.”
He looks around and pulls the top drawer from next to the couch, searching around. When he finds it, he pulls the wrapper and shows it to Jaehyun with a smile. “See?”
Jaehyun’s cheeks redden once more as he sees the condom in Yuta’s hand. “Yeah,” he says.
Yuta looks at Jaehyun’s crotch and back to the M-sized wrapper with a squint. “I think this is too small,” he thinks out loud, knowing that most clients like it when he jokes around.
Apparently, it includes Jaehyun, because he lets out a choked laugh. As Yuta grabs a bigger one, Jaehyun nods. “That one’s good,” he confirms.
Confident in his size, then. Yuta feels thankful that he doesn’t have to let out his oooh, you’re so big moans tonight. Somehow, Jaehyun ticks all of the criteria of a perfect client.
He starts by racking up Jaehyun’s shirt, revealing the hair that makes a happy trail down to his crotch. Jaehyun’s bulge is tucked neatly under his jeans, and so, Yuta leans in, pressing some kisses down Jaehyun’s stomach. When his teeth make contact with the zipper on Jaehyun’s jeans, he bites it and drags it down, looking up at Jaehyun, who hasn’t blinked the whole time.
Jaehyun has been so compliant with whatever Yuta does with him, so Yuta continues. Jaehyun still doesn’t make a sound when Yuta takes his length out, exposing it to the air. It’s when Yuta puts the condom on him that Jaehyun starts to let go. Biting his lower lip, Jaehyun closes his eyes, thighs trembling as he moves his hips along the motions of Yuta’s hand.
“Good?” Yuta checks, and Jaehyun frantically nods.
When Yuta puts his mouth on him, Jaehyun lets out a low moan. Yuta swallows him down until his mouth is at the base, and he looks up to see Jaehyun’s expression. Jaeyun’s mouth is parted and his eyes are half-open, and yet, his hands are turned into fists on his side, like he’s trying hard to control himself.
Yuta pulls off, but he doesn’t stop moving his hand. “You can touch me,” he whispers. “I don’t mind.”
“Yeah?” Jaehyun breathes out. “But no kiss?”
Yuta smiles. “You’re a quick learner.”
Jaehyun seems to be thinking about it before finally nodding. “Okay.”
Immediately, Jaehyun runs his hand through Yuta’s hair. He’s so gentle with it, even though Yuta practically gave him the free rein to do anything. Yuta musters the urge to roll his eyes and swallows him in one go instead.
“Fuck,” Jaehyun swears in that husky voice of his, and Yuta would be lying if that isn’t one of the hottest things he’s ever heard in some time. “This feels so good.”
Yuta hums at that. He works Jaehyun’s length even more intensely, relishing the way Jaehyun gasps and moans under him, letting Yuta take care of him as he takes him in deeper.
“Ahh,” Jaehyun hisses when Yuta’s tongue touches a sensitive spot. “Yuta. Can I—Can I fuck your mouth?”
Yuta pulls off with a hum. Usually, he’d say yes immediately to get his money quicker, but for some reason, he wants to play around with Jaehyun a little longer. “Maybe,” he says, in a teasing mood. “What do you say if you want something from someone?”
Jaehyun licks his lips. “Please?” he whispers, hips moving desperately up into Yuta’s hand.
“Is that all you can do, Jaehyunnie?”
Jaehyun’s breaths are getting louder. “Please, Yuta,” he whispers. “Let me fuck your mouth. I need it.”
The way he says it so pleadingly makes Yuta want to tease him out more, but he gets the feeling that poor Jaehyun will probably lose his mind if he does. “Alright, babe,” he says, and he takes Jaehyun again in his mouth.
Closing his eyes, Yuta takes it in as Jaehyun’s hips move instinctually, trying to get his cock deeper in Yuta’s mouth. His grip on Yuta’s hair grows tight and intense. Jaehyun hisses when Yuta’s teeth graze him lightly, but he doesn’t let go, rutting into Yuta’s mouth with a curse.
“God,” he says when Yuta looks up at him, “you look so hot on your knees.”
The praise, along with how low Jaehyun’s voice goes, sends a little shiver down Yuta’s spine. He can’t lie, he likes it when he gets a little praise. It makes him feel like the work he’s doing is truly being valued. With that, Yuta hollows his cheeks and swallows deeper.
Jaehyun’s hips almost cants up, fucking deeper into Yuta’s throat, but he manages to control himself. He throws his head back with a deep moan, making the lines on his neck show up. “Ahh, god,” he moans, and surprisingly, swipes Yuta’s hair back so he can see Yuta’s face more.
It’s strangely intimate. It’s as though Jaehyun sees him more than just a hole to fuck into. Yuta can’t lie, seeing someone as hot as Jaehyun in the throes of pleasure due to Yuta’s action is doing something for him. Yuta keeps sucking, licking every inch of Jaehyun’s cock, watching the man enjoy with every bated breath and lip bitten. He doesn’t care about the saliva escaping his mouth, using his hand to engulf the base of Jaehyun’s dick that he can’t swallow, focusing entirely on Jaehyun’s pleasure.
“I’m—close,” Jaehyun warns, suddenly, and he throws his head back when Yuta doesn’t let up. His grip on Yuta’s hand tightens suddenly, and finally, Jaehyun lets out a choked sound as he shudders through his climax.
This time, Yuta doesn’t even have to fake a small moan, the sight of Jaehyun biting his lip under the effect of Yuta’s spell is so enchanting to him. Yuta pulls off Jaehyun with a gasp, letting him catch his breath as Yuta pulls off the condom, tying it and throwing it away.
When Jaehyun merely stares at him, boneless, Yuta can’t help but chuckle. “Earth to Jaehyun?”
Jaehyun runs a hand through his face and shakes his head. “Give me a minute. You just blew my mind.”
Yuta giggles. Looks like they’re done for the night, then. He helps Jaehyun tidy himself up, and in return, Jaehyun helps him zip the tight vest he had been wearing, and when his hands linger for more than they should, Yuta lets him.
When Jaehyun turns Yuta to face him, he looks like he’s about to say something until someone knocks. Their time must be up, then. “Wait here,” Yuta says. He goes to open the door and finds Taeyong leaning on the door with his arms crossed.
“Everything good there?” he asks. “You’re overtime by five minutes.”
Taeyong can be strict and his corporal training shines through, but he only does it for the good of his members. Some clients can be too handsy or take too long for their own good, and hosts, new or old, might not know what to do. This is where Taeyong comes in, and Yuta is grateful to have a caring boss like him.
“Yeah,” Yuta says, giving Taeyong a calming smile. “Give us a sec.”
Taeyong nods, and Yuta closes the door with a dramatic sigh. “Sadly, our time has gone so quickly,” he says. “I bet your friends have finished too.”
Jaehyun nods. “I’ve had a great time,” he says. “I’d really like to see you again.”
Yuta chuckles. “If you come back here again, just ask for me.”
Jaehyun’s eyes light up, and he smiles, his dimples showing up like a dam. “Thanks, Yuta.”
He leans in. Just when Yuta is about to flinch away, this time, Jaehyun grabs his hand and squeezes it. Gently, he lets go of Yuta’s hand, and with that, he leaves without much ruckus.
//
Yuta comes out of the private room dressed again with a sated feeling. He sees Ten coming out from the room next to him in a similarly debauched state, his hair falling off his head. Unlike Yuta, Ten has a serious expression on his face that he only wears whenever he hears some bad news. When he makes eye contact with Yuta, however, he relaxes.
“Oh, hey,” Ten says. “Finished already?”
Yuta nods. “So was he,” he grins.
Usually Ten would laugh at his crude jokes, but this time, Ten only nods. “Cool,” he says. “Johnny said that he’s already wired the money to Taeyongie, by the way.”
“Thanks,” Yuta replies. He watches Ten for a moment. “You okay?”
The intensity in Ten’s expression melts, and he smiles, although Yuta can see that it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m fine,” he says. “Thanks again, hyung.”
He walks by Yuta in the direction of his room. Yuta can tell that something is clearly bothering Ten. But if Ten doesn’t want to talk about whatever’s going on with him, then he’ll let it go until he absolutely has to step in.
Yuta comes inside his room again to rest. It’ll be a couple of hours until trains start running again, so he can’t go home just yet. He’s ready to make use of the only couch in the room, until he sees a familiar, tall-faced poodle on it. He’s sleeping and looks so adorable, and Yuta can’t help but pull out his phone to take a picture of the person sprawled over the couch. Sadly, just as he’s about to take another picture, he opens his eyes.
“Aah, hyung,” Jungwoo mumbles cutely, swatting Yuta’s hand away. “Don’t do it.”
Yuta grins. He can’t help it—sometimes Jungwoo is too adorable for his own good. He adores Jungwoo like a brother. He got into Neo Center two years after Yuta debuted there, and Yuta was the one who showed him the ropes around the club when Jungwoo was still so shy. Now, Jungwoo is famous in the club for his puppy-like persona and his ability to rock someone’s world at the same time.
“How was your sleep, little prince?” Yuta asks.
Jungwoo rubs his eyes with a yawn. “It was doing well until hyung interrupted,” he sighs. “Where were you?”
“Room 127,” Yuta says, sitting down next to Jungwoo.
“Private party?” When Yuta nods, Jungwoo lets out a little ah. “That sounds cool.”
The wanton in his voice makes Yuta’s heart wrench a little. A spot in room 127 always means big bucks, and being left out would make anyone pout. He ruffles Jungwoo’s hair. “Maybe next time. There’s someone that was single, you could’ve been with him if he didn’t go home,” he says, thinking about Doyoung who left first.
“Ah, don’t worry about me, hyung,” Jungwoo says, waving him off. “How much did you get?”
Yuta rolls his eyes. “It’s not polite to talk about money.”
“Ey, don’t be like that with me,” Jungwoo clicks his tongue, shoving Yuta’s arm softly. “How much?”
Yuta musters a chuckle. He leans closer and whispers the nominal to Jungwoo, who in return, widens his eyes and jumps with a pop. “Whoa!” he exclaims. “That’s insane! For one night?”
“Yup.”
Jungwoo’s eyes shine. “Oh, you’ve got to put me in next. Please, hyung?”
“Alright, alright. I’ll put in a word for you to Ten.”
“Yes!” Jungwoo cheers, stretching his arms cutely as he beams. “So, big money today. What are you going to spend it on?”
Yuta shrugs. Whenever he gets a large amount of money, he doesn’t immediately go on a big splurge. He likes to save it somewhere. In his jar, possibly. “I don’t know just yet.”
“Here’s a suggestion: treat me out for some food?”
Yuta rolls his eyes. “You wish.”
//
Every day, Yuta arrives at the club at 5 PM, helps Taeyong to set up the club until Taeyong tells him to sit back because all he does is make a mess instead of cleaning up, and then performs and attends to clients.
Some nights it’s just a curious group of friends wanting to have fun, and a simple drink and dance for them will have them tip generously into Yuta’s belt. These are the ones that Yuta prefers. It’s different when it’s a group of older men with ‘exotic preferences’, trying to hide from their wives or just getting off from overpowering a man because they can’t get any satisfaction from their work. But at the end of the day, it’s his job.
On a quiet night, Yuta takes off his boots and lets his toes wiggle around as he rests in his room. There haven't been any private clients for today, and Yuta enjoys this momentary time of rest. On the sound of the door opening, he raises his head to see Jungwoo.
“Hey,” Jungwoo sighs, visibly bored. “Hyung, are you free? Let’s go somewhere.”
“Now? Our shift doesn't end until an hour.”
“Now since when do you bend down to the rules? Besides, Taeyong-hyung already said okay. We can leave early.” Jungwoo looks contemplative. “It’s Chuseok today.”
Well, that’s understandable. No wonder there weren’t lots of people coming into the club today. “Okay,” Yuta says, rising from his seat. “Let’s go grab something to eat.”
Jungwoo beams. “Finally!”
Yuta, being a lazy loyalist, just brings Jungwoo to the only place he knows that will be open at this day and time. At the end of the street in Gapjeu-dong is Jaejoong’s restaurant that never closes, especially now. The owner hardly looks surprised when they come into his restaurant this late at night.
“Welcome,” Jaejoong says. When he sees that it’s Yuta and Jungwoo, he puts his hands on his hips. “Well, well. This is early for you guys. You want the usual?”
“You know it,” Yuta grins, sitting down. “We still get that discount, right?”
There’s a special reason why he often goes to Jaejoong. Being a former employee of Club East—one of SM’s old clubs—Jaejoong knows almost all about the system himself. It all ended when Jaejoong decided that he was sick of the industry and wanted to open a restaurant instead. Yuta respects him greatly for that.
“Ey, when have you ever paid the full price anyway?” Jaejoong asks, playfully swatting Yuta’s head. “Have a seat there.”
Yuta grins and sits in his usual spot. “Jungwoo-ah, you want something?”
“Just the rice and soup like always,” Jungwoo says cheerfully. “Thanks, Jaejoong-hyung!”
Jungwoo disappears into the kitchen. Meanwhile, in his seat, Jungwoo leans back on his seat and lets out a huge sigh. “Jeez. I’ve been taking up so many shifts lately that I forgot that it’s Chuseok.”
Yuta frowns. “Are you alright? You can tell Taeyong to take some load off you if you’d like.”
“Ah, no, I’m fine,” Jungwoo says, waving his hand goodbye. “Just—normally people would be with their families right now.” He grabs a jug of tea from the table and pours himself a glass. “Obviously, I’m not.”
“So you don’t think of me as your family?” Yuta teases.
Jungwoo kicks him lightly in the shin. “Aish. You’re my aniki,” he grins. “But hyung, I’m curious. You never really talk about your home.”
Yuta shrugs. He rarely thinks about it nowadays. “I haven’t gone back home in almost ten years.”
“Really?” Jungwoo’s eyes widen. “But don’t you miss it?”
Yuta considers this question. “Sometimes.”
Jungwoo leans forward and scrunches his face. “Then,” he says quietly, “you’re really thinking about moving back to Japan one day?”
It’s not a huge secret what Yuta has been saving up for. Other hosts send half their money to their families, and those with families who reject their ways of work save it for themselves or splurge. Yuta, however, saves it for one purpose: to go home.
It’s not that he can’t already. What he has is already enough to buy a plane ticket tenfold. It’s his family’s reaction that he can’t put a price on. When Yuta rebelled and left home at 16, his father told him to never come back until he became a successful man. But Yuta doesn’t think that being a host would count as being successful in his father’s eyes.
But it’s pointless to mull about it. Home is wherever he is right now, and now, he’s in Seoul, working under Taeyong and SM and going to work with Jungwoo, Ten, Donghyuck, and the others. He puts on his soft smile—not the same as the one he gives his clients—and pats Jungwoo’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry,” Yuta says. “I’m not going anywhere.”
A relieved expression comes across Jungwoo’s face, and he beams once more. “Good,” he says. “You’re our pillar, hyung. I hope you know that.”
Jungwoo’s smile is too kind for someone like Yuta. In an attempt to defuse the sudden lump in his throat, Yuta grabs the jug only to find it empty. “I’ll get a refill,” Yuta says, and goes to refill it at the drink station.
It’s simple enough to do. There’s not a lot of other people in the restaurant, so Yuta pours another jug, just in case. When he’s about to turn back to Jungwoo, however, he’s surprised to bump into someone.
“Oops,” says the guy. Taller, stronger, smells like alcohol, and somehow familiar at once. “I knew it was you, Yuta.”
Yuta frowns, and he looks up to see who he’s talking to. Does he know this guy? Clearly, this guy knew him, but he honestly can’t say the same. But he puts on a smile anyway and nods politely. “Sorry,” he says, “I don’t remember you.”
The person tilts his head. There’s a dangerous glint in his eyes that Yuta doesn’t like to see in anyone. “Seriously?” he scoffs. “You don’t really have good after-sales service, do you?”
Yuta should’ve known from the obnoxious way he carries himself and the alcohol in his breath that this guy means trouble. Belatedly, Yuta realises that this person must be a former client. Some clients think that the one time that they can be with Yuta extends to other times as well. Yuta doesn’t work that way.
Yuta exhales. “Sorry, mate,” he says. “I serve a lot of people. Don’t take it personally.”
The former client squints. “Who are you sitting with? Is that your boyfriend?”
“No,” Yuta says flatly, putting his guards up at the mention of Jungwoo. “It’s none of your business.”
“Hey,” the guy says, and this time, Yuta tenses under the unwelcome grip on his arm. “Come on. One night with me, yeah?”
“I’m not working right now.”
“How much is it? I can pay.”
Yuta scoffs. He’s really not in the mood today. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you to never ask that to someone?”
The client snorts. “What do you know about my mother?” he says. “At least mine doesn’t have a whore son.”
Now Yuta really isn’t in the mood. “You have five seconds to let go of me,” he growls.
“Or what?” the client snarls, tightening his grip on Yuta’s arm so tightly that Yuta has to hide his wince.
“Is something the matter?”
The sound of another voice makes Yuta turn his head, and he freezes at the sight of one client he actually recognises. Jaehyun, the guy from the other night, is somehow here today. His face is filled with anger towards the former client, and his voice isn’t exactly the nicest tone either.
“Walk away, pretty boy,” the client growls.
“I’m not walking away without refilling my jug,” Jaehyun says calmly. “You’re in my way.”
It’s at that point Yuta sees the empty jug in Jaehyun’s hand. In any other circumstances, it would be funny, but right now, the hand of this jackass on Yuta’s arm makes it anything but. “We’re talking right now. Go away.”
“From what I’m seeing, you’re not talking, you were threatening this man,” Jaehyun says.
“We weren’t talking,” Yuta confirms, glaring at the other guy. “Let go of me.”
“You’ve heard him,” Jaehyun supports. “Let him go, or you’ll be kicked out.”
“You’re not the owner of this restaurant.”
“Oh, but I am,” says another voice. This time, Jaejoong enters the room with a murderous gaze. “Now do you want to let my favourite customer go, or do you want me to call the police on you and handcuff you first?”
The client swallows, and without further ado, finally, lets go of Yuta’s arm. “Fuckers,” he says, before stomping out of the room.
“Yuta, you okay?” Jaehyun asks with a frown, his voice deep and familiar.
Yuta nods. “Yeah,” he says slowly, trying to stave off the shakiness in his voice. He’s used to having rowdy customers who think that they own him, but having it done to him outside the club when Yuta is not working is strangely more violating than he ever thought it could be.
Yuta tries to ignore the red marks on his arm and the way they slightly sting. To be at the centre of this incident is so humiliating that all he wants to do is crawl away and go home.
Jaejoong’s hand softly touches Yuta’s back. “Are you really okay?” he asks, his voice laced with worry. “Just because he tips big, he thinks that he’s the hot shit. That’s it. From now on, he’s banned.”
Yuta shakes his head. So someone can lose their income because of him? He won’t forgive himself. “You don’t have to do that,” he says. “Jaejoong-nii, it’s fine.”
“I’ll lose more customers if I keep letting him in. That’s not the first time he’s caused a commotion,” Jaejoong sighs. He turns to Jaehyun and bows slightly. “I’m sorry for that, sir. Do you need anything?”
The way Jaejoong addresses Jaehyun formally, unlike any other of his regulars makes Yuta think that Jaehyun must’ve rarely come here. Jaehyun gives that dimpled smile. “It’s alright,” he says. “I’m fine. I was just here to refill my jug when I saw that man making a ruckus.”
Jaejoong nods, understanding. “I’ll fill it for you in no time and bring it to your table. Yuta, let me walk you to your table.”
“Okay,” Yuta says. He glances at Jaehyun, who hasn’t left his gaze from Yuta this whole time. Yuta doesn’t know how to address him. It’s not like he’s in the club anyway, and if he acts like he already knows Jaehyun, then Jaejoong might ask something unwanted. In the end, Yuta nods politely. “Thank you, sir.”
The surprise on Jaehyun’s mask goes unmasked, and guilt comes up Yuta—just slightly. Yuta clears his throat and exits the room.
When Jungwoo sees Yuta again, he’s halfway upstairs too. “What happened?” he asks. “You guys took so long. Someone drunk just stormed out of here. And—” His eyes widen at the red marks on Yuta’s arm. “Hyung, what happened?”
“You should see the other guy,” Yuta jokes.
Nobody laughs. Instead, Jaejoong lets out a deep sigh and leans down, putting his elbows on the table. “Was he a former client of yours, Yuta?” he asks.
“Who?” Jungwoo asks.
“Some bastard put their hands on Yuta,” Jaejoong grumbles. “Think he owns him, or something.”
Jungwoo gasps. “Hyung, are you okay?” he asks, hurriedly inspecting Yuta’s arm to look at the extent of his injuries. “Hey, this jackass really did a number on you!”
“I’m fine. Really,” says Yuta. “Don’t worry about me.”
Jaejoong exhales. “It’s good there was that other guy.”
“Who?” asks Jungwoo.
“Some other customer that likes to come here,” Jaejoong says. “He was already there when I arrived. I forgot his name—Jaekyung? Jaehyun?”
“He didn’t have to do that,” Yuta says, grabbing a plate of banchan. “Come on. That guy has already left, right? There’s no use fussing about it now.”
Jungwoo and Jaejoong share a look. “Alright,” Jaejoong says. “You just eat until you’re full, alright? Call me if you need anything.”
He leaves Yuta and Jungwoo alone. Yuta knows that Jungwoo and Jaejoong are worried about him, and they don’t deserve to be snapped at, but still. How would they understand? It was bad enough to have to be saved by someone else, lest a former client. Having Jaehyun see him at his vulnerable moment makes him want to shrink or run somewhere. Yuta’s supposed to be invincible in front of his clients, not some damsel in distress. Besides, would Jaehyun even step in if he didn’t know Yuta?
The rest of the dinner goes by without a hitch, although Jungwoo keeps sending Yuta concerned glances between each bite. Yuta downs in his own food, minding his own business, when he sees Jaehyun coming up from behind. He half thinks that Jaehyun is about to go to the cashier next to him—until Jaehyun actually arrives at his table.
“Hey,” Jaehyun says.
Yuta blinks. “Hi,” he says, putting up a smile.
Jaehyun runs a hand through his hair. “Uh,” he says, putting much thought behind his words, “are you okay?”
Yuta puts up a smile, even though his whole body tenses. “Yeah,” he says. “I’m good. Thanks for that, by the way.”
Jaehyun nods. “No problem,” he says.
Silence. When no one says anything, Jaehyun sends a glance to Jungwoo, who nods eagerly at him. “Well, I won’t bother you and your friend,” Jaehyun says finally. “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye,” Yuta says, and then watches as Jaehyun turns back, exiting the restaurant and disappearing around the corner.
“Hyung, was that the guy who stepped in?” Jungwoo whispers when Jaehyun goes to pay. “Hey, why did you act so cold towards him? You should totally talk to him. With that face, he could be an idol.”
Little does Jungwoo know that Yuta has already talked with Jaehyun and done more. He sees Jaehyun smiling at the cashier, polite and kindly, before going outside. Suddenly, Yuta feels shitty about how dismissive he was. Maybe there are still good people in this world. Perhaps Yuta has been in the business for so long and engaging with people that clearly only want one thing from him. Without saying anything, he stands and follows Jaehyun outside.
The man is already quite far away when Yuta’s outside, so Yuta quickly runs to catch up to him. The chilly October air whiffs past him as he runs, but Yuta pays it no mind. “Jae!” he shouts.
Jaehyun turns and raises his eyebrows in surprise. “Yuta?”
Yuta exhales, catching his breath. “Hey,” he says, stopping in his tracks suddenly. What is he about to say? In the end, he looks into Jaehyun’s eyes. “Sorry,” he says. “I didn’t expect to see you outside the club, that’s all.”
Jaehyun chuckles. “It’s fine,” he says, putting his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t know you were with someone, too.”
The tone in Jaehyun’s voice is slightly dejected. Suddenly, Yuta realises that Jaehyun probably thinks that Jungwoo is with him. Quickly, Yuta shakes his head. “Jungwoo’s from the club. He works with me.”
“Oh, I see,” Jaehyun says. Yuta doesn’t miss the way he visibly relaxes.
“Do you come to Jaejoong-hyung’s restaurant a lot?” asks Yuta.
“Sometimes, when nothing else is open,” Jaehyun chuckles. “I’m working on a track right now. My studio’s nearby.”
“Really? That’s neat.”
Jaehyun looks at him for a while. “I thought you didn’t remember me at first,” he says softly. “You acted like you didn’t know me.”
So he noticed, then. “Sorry,” Yuta says, scratching the back of his head. “I usually don’t say hello to clients outside of work.”
“Why?”
“Because of what I do,” Yuta explains. “I don’t want to say the wrong thing in front of someone. Once I said hello to a former client, and it turns out he was there with his wife, of all people.” Yuta learnt his lesson after that.
“Well, crap,” Jaehyun chuckles. “But, Yu. In the future, you can say hello when you see me.”
“Really?”
“Yuta, you’ve had my dick in your mouth. You can definitely say hello.”
The candidness in Jaehyun’s tone makes Yuta guffaw. “Alright,” he says, folding his arms to guard himself from the chilly air. “When I see you again, I’ll say hi.”
Jaehyun nods, satisfied. “Good,” he says. He looks contemplative for one moment before continuing. “You know, we’re having a listening party for Mark’s new album this week,” he says. “Do you want to come to the studio as my guest?”
“Wait, really?” Yuta asks. When Jaehyun nods, Yuta’s mouth drops open. “Where’s your studio?”
Jaehyun pulls something from the inner pocket of his jacket, and he gives Yuta a white card. Yuta reads it carefully: Jeong Jaehyun, music producer, Beer Studios. Below his name, the studio address is written. As Jaehyun said, it’s not far away.
“Do you just give this card to everyone you meet?” Yuta asks, inspecting the card carefully.
“Only the pretty ones,” Jaehyun says, his dimples showing through.
There he goes again. Yuta can’t help but feel intrigued, however. Jaehyun is a world-class flirt, and he’s one of those rare clients who can match Yuta at his own game. But Yuta is a professional through and through, and so, he must maintain expectations. “I’ve got to ask,” he says. “Are you inviting me as a guest, or are you expecting my services?”
Thankfully, Jaehyun doesn’t seem to be offended and only chuckles. “If I hire you, will the chances of you coming increase?”
“It’ll be certain,” Yuta says, “especially after I hear the number.”
Jaehyunhums. “Two and a half million. How’s that?”
Sweet mother. Do all music producers also deal with money printing on the side? It makes Yuta want to see just how much he can press against Jaehyun. “Three and a half,” he tries.
“Three, and I will pay for all your meals with me.”
“Three and a quarter.”
Jaehyun smiles. “Deal.”
Well, that was easy. Maybe Yuta should’ve gone slightly higher. “You’re not going to put me on a leash and drag me around the street, aren’t you?” he asks jokingly.
Maybe he shouldn’t have, because the shock on Jaehyun’s face is downright hilarious. “My god. Do people do that?”
“If they want,” Yuta shrugs. Rarely do people pay the amount Jaehyun just offered him without having some special requests.
“I—No,” Jaehyun says hurriedly. “I’m not into that stuff, Yuta. I just want you to be with me.”
He says it so sweetly. “When’s the party again?” Yuta asks, trying to distract himself with something tangible.
“Saturday.”
“Then I’ll be with you on Sunday,” Yuta says, and when Jaehyun frowns, Yuta adds, “Sunday, twelve in the morning. Basically Saturday night.”
Jaehyun chuckles once more, his dimples as deep as a dam. “Got it,” he says. “It’s really good to see you, Yuta.”
He squeezes Yuta softly on the elbow and gives him a wave, turning his back to Yuta silently as he watches him leave.
//
On the day of Mark’s listening party, Yuta cleans the makeup from his face except for his eyeliner. He punches out early and is almost about to leave when he meets Ten again by the door.
“Leaving early, hyung?” Ten asks with a grin. He’s almost ready to go on stage again.
“Early night, yeah,” Yuta chuckles.
“Nice. Where are you going?”
“You remember one of Johnny’s friends, Jaehyun? He invited me to one of their parties. It’s Mark’s album listening party.”
Ten’s smile drops. “What?”
Realising that Ten should’ve been leaving too if he was invited by Johnny, Yuta frowns. “Wait, are you…” He trails off, unsure whether he’s saying the right thing. “Are you still working tonight?”
Ten’s eyes turn sharp. “Yeah,” he says. “I’m on stage in five. But no matter,” Ten sighs. “Well, someone has to stay here. Right?”
Yuta nods. “It’s on your hands, Tennie,” he says.
Ten exhales. The rumble of the crowd being rallied by Taeyong can be heard from here, and he looks to the direction of the stage. “Well, have fun,” Ten says. “Give my hi to Jo—everyone, alright?”
“I will,” Yuta says, mercifully not pointing out his slip. “Good luck.”
It doesn’t take long for him to arrive at Beer Studios. The studio is on the second floor, and the sign on the front says it takes up four floors of the medium-sized building. Yuta can’t help but take a double look at every inch of the studio, taking in all the decorations and awards hanging on the wall. And that’s even before he met with the security guard up front.
“Name?” The guard asks.
Yuta swallows and hopes that he wasn’t pranked. “Yuta,” he says.
The guard checks something on his tablet and then thankfully, nods. “Guest of Jaehyun-nim. You can come in.”
Exhaling in relief, Yuta comes inside and is immediately met with whole bodies dancing against each other with the beats of music blaring through the speakers. Deep down, he regrets not pushing Ten to come with him, too. Being alone like this makes him feel like a fish out of water. It doesn’t help that the other guests look like top celebs he sometimes can see on the ads on the train, too.
He can see Mark sitting in one of the white couches, looking slightly drunk, dazedly nodding at his conversation partner. For a moment, Yuta hesitates, not sure whether Mark remembers him. But he reminds himself that Jaehyun invited him, so that must’ve counted for something.
He comes up to Mark with a grin. “Hey, Mark,” he says. “Congrats on the album, yeah?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, man, thanks for coming,” Mark says with a grin. He’s probably saying that exact sentence the whole night. If he doesn’t remember Yuta, he doesn’t show it. A good and polite kid, no doubt.
“Any chance you’ve seen Jaehyun?”
Mark points behind him. “Yeah, he should be around here.”
Yuta moves through the crowd silently. He’s slowly becoming worried. What if Jaehyun inviting him here was a joke? What if he wasn’t supposed to be here?
His worries are broken, though, when he finally sees who he’s been looking for. Jaehyun is talking to some other person in a serious and slow kind of tone, using English, too. Once he sees Yuta, however, his smile grows.
“Hey, Yuta!” Jaehyun says. “You came! Come in, come in. Excuse me.”
He says it so openly too, not after looking around to see if anyone else has heard him or not. Yuta moves through the crowd with excuse mes, careful to not bump to a body when Jaehyun finally wraps an arm around Yuta’s neck.
“Thought you’d never come,” Jaehyun says with a grin. He looks much more relaxed here than he is at the club, compared to Yuta, who’s like an octopus on sand. It’s like they’ve switched places.
“I wouldn’t miss it, Jae,” Yuta replies. “Did I interrupt something?”
“No, you saved me, actually,” Jaehyun chuckles. “Here, lemme just—can I—thanks,” he says, grabbing a glass from one of the waiters passing by with a tray full of water and passing it to Yuta after almost spilling over his jacket. “How are you?”
“Good, good,” Yuta says, relaxing his legs. “All these people—Are they all your producer friends?”
“Yeah,” Jaehyun says. His arm has travelled down Yuta’s back, like it always belonged there. “Well, me and Johnny and Mark, of course.”
“How long have you been doing this if you’ve got this many friends?” Yuta asks, amazed at the number of guests filling the whole studio. It’s like a packed night at the club. This is only the second floor out of four, too.
“Counting the years before our debut? I’d say eleven years,” Jaehyun says. “We all went to the same music college in the US, and we came back to Korea as a trio who liked to produce music together. Doyoung-hyung—our manager—was a friend who joined us along the way. We’ve produced over fifteen albums for other musicians and idols ever since. But this is the first time Mark rapped and sang on his own album, though.” Jaehyun takes a sip of his own drink. “Have you listened to Mark’s album?”
Oops. Yuta masks his panic at the question and smooths his shirt. “Yeah, it was good,” he says.
Jaehyun only looks at him with a chuckle. “Right,” he says. “What’s your favorite track?”
“The one with the—drums and electric guitar.”
“Ah, you mean 1999.”
“Right. That’s the one.”
Jaehyun’s grin grows. “There is no electric guitar used in 1999, Yuta.”
Realizing Yuta has been duped, he acquiesces to his lie. “My bad,” he says, raising his glass to his mouth. “I’ve been swamped at work.” And his Spotify premium expired, so he hasn’t been able to skip the ads and only got to play his favorite playlist that’s already downloaded to his phone, but Jaehyun doesn’t need to know that.
“What kind of music do you usually listen to, Yuta?” Jaehyun asks.
“Mostly rock,” Yuta admits. “Sometimes there are ballads on the side, but rock is the one. What kind of music do you usually produce?”
“R&B with a hint of jazz, soul, all that,” Jaehyun says, leaning against the guardrail. “I grew up listening to the artists in that genre.”
Yuta hums. It’s so different from what he’s used to, but somehow that genre fits Jaehyun perfectly. “Do you sing on your own tracks, too?”
Jaehyun chuckles deeply, his dimples showing up on his face. “Not exactly,” he says. “But maybe in the future, I will.”
“I think you should,” Yuta says. “I mean, you’ve got a nice voice. And you do make quite the nicest sounds.” He puts his hand on top of Jaehyun’s, to make sure the other man truly gets what he means, in case he doesn’t.
“When did I—Oh. Oh,” Jaehyun’s gaze drops to where their hands are joined, slowly realising. He lets out a low chuckle, just as nervous as the day they first met at the Neo Center club. “You really think so?” he asks softly, so that Yuta almost can’t catch him through the music.
There’s something about having a really handsome man blush with just your words. Yuta rests his chin on his hand. “Mhmm,” he says, putting up a seductive smile on his face.
Jaehyun coughs slightly. Yuta doesn’t miss the way his ears turn red. He doesn’t move away from Yuta, only glancing around. When he sees Mark from far away, he raises a glass at him, and the younger man makes another gesture at him that Yuta doesn’t quite catch.
But Yuta already knows it’s only a matter of time. Finally, Jaehyun returns to Yuta’s side with a smile.
“You know,” he says lowly, “I’ve got some records of the music I listen to back home.”
“Really now?” Yuta asks, rhetorically.
Jaehyun nods, biting his lower lip. “So,” he says, “wanna come back to my place?”