"Mr. Kim, I'm sorry.. I just, I really need something with better pay and I give this store so much time.. you know I love working for you, but business hasn't been great.. I have a family, I need stability" the young lady who's been working for him for nearly a year turns in her notice.

He was expecting it, truly.

Doesn't make him feel any better though, the realization that come two weeks from now he's down another staff member.

Can't afford higher wages to keep the ones that are worth it, he hardly has time with Eujin as it is because he has to invest his time where he can't invest his money.

Things are hard, life is really hard.

Especially in Autumn. When leaves are falling and people are doing anything in the world other than buying books.

A small glimmer of hope shines in though, in the form of a black fitted cap and grey sweats. It shouldn't look good. It should look tacky, unappealing, lazy...oh but it looks godly on the man who enters Taehyung's shop with a sheepish grin on his face.

If this is going to be a weekly occurrence, he doesn't mind. Not one bit. "Hello Jeongguk"

"hi, hey, um—it's so nice outside, went for a jog.. exercise y'know?"

Taehyung laughs at the way Jeongguk flexed a tiny bit, this guy.

"whatcha in for today?"

"looking to buy some books for my moms kindergarten class.. she needs them and uh yeah support the arts.." he smiles, it's awkward. God Taehyung adores how much he tries.

"Children's section is this way" he smiles, watches as Jeongguk glances over the entire book case, nodding before he sighs.

"I'll take all of them"

Taehyung's eyes widen, surely he can't be serious..

"why would you buy so many?"

"I can't decide, ugh too many great options. Really Taehyung-ssi must you sell such great books?!" he sighs "I'll be back in half an hour with my car to load them up, that'll give you time to ring em all up right?"

Taehyung nods, in disbelief really.. that's so many books, so much money. He hasn't sold that much in the last month.

"see you!" Jeongguk says with a bright smile, having no idea the way Taehyung cried once he left.

.•*

"Hyung, I need a bookcase, a large one"

"what for Gukkie?"

"imaybejustboughtanentirebookcaseofbooksfromtaehyungtodonatetomymomsnonexistentkindergartenclass" he's out of breath from his run to his apartment.

Phone nearly slipping from his wet fingers "there's some empty ones at Joonie's firm, I'll have him snag one—you, sir, are very whipped. how much money did you just drop?"

"don't know yet, god probably my entire months salary i don't know, don't care—it's worth it"

"y'know if you want to impress the guy, buy him a coffee or flowers or idk ask him on a date!"

Jeongguk scoffs, he's got this.

.•*

Taehyung's eyes stare at the screen in disbelief. Jeongguk is not buying this many books.

Didn't even realize how quickly children's books add up, as he scans the last one and sees the total stop at 1505940 Won.

He nearly falls over, some of those books have been sitting on that shelf for over a year untouched. All of them sold, in the blink of an eye.

Now he has to find more. Isn't a problem he saw himself having anytime soon, not at the rate the shop has been declining.

"I'm back!" Jeongguk shouts from the doorway, Taehyung immediately hurrying over to him

"Jeongguk.. I don't know if you realize—" but there's a card placed in his hand, the metal is heavy.

One of those cards you have to be invited to, just who is this guy? Taehyung shakes his head as he swipes it.

Guides Jeongguk to the multiple carts with boxes and boxes of books loaded on them. He still can't believe this.

"Jeongguk-ssi.. thank you so much, you have no idea what your purchase is doing for my shop right now." hes gnawing on his lip trying to bite back the ridiculous smile.

Eujin's birthday is in a few weeks, Taehyung is excited for the first time in the last six months to be able to spoil his baby. Even just a little.

"I don't know how to repay you.. I really.." he shakes his head and Jeongguk gets brave for only a moment

"go out with me"

but he quickly panics "like a friend, a friend date. a frate"

Taehyung curls over in laughter this guy. "a frate? and when will this frate be?"

"whenever. i mean, i'm available. open. schedule is flexible." it's not. not at all. but he'll make it flexible.

"how does Sunday evening sound? I close up early then."

Jeongguk's smile is radiant as he closes the hatchback on his car "I'll pick you up then, from here?"

Taehyung nods, prays his hyung's won't mind if he indulges on one outing that doesn't involve work.

"see you then"