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hopekook | 2.3k words | and they were roommates, the beginning of that anyway, slice of life

“You’re one of the city’s most eligible bachelors…”

Hoseok does his best to keep his expression blank, as the interviewer starts with a question that was definitely not on the approved list. He hears a throat clear, though, his lips twitching in an effort not to smile at what he knows is his assistant— Kim Namjoon — giving the interviewer a warning. Said interviewer gives Hoseok an awkward smile before taking a deep breath and quickly moving on to a different question.

The rest of the interview thankfully goes quickly, and Hoseok is soon striding out of the green room after changing and wiping off his makeup.

Namjoon is close behind, but while he usually does a casual debrief, he’s instead frowning down at his phone as they walk out of the building and into the car. Hoseok gives him a moment, waiting until the drivers pulled into the street before reaching out to tap his best friend’s arm.

“Everything okay?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, sorry.” Namjoon gives him an apologetic smile as he lifts his head from his phone and locks the screen. “I just got a message from an old friend. It’s been about…. ten years? We’ve spoken off and on and he moved overseas for a while, but I guess he’s on his way back and desperately needs a place to stay.” Namjoon then grimaces. “That’s not important right now though, let’s talk about how that interviewer—”

Hoseok laughs. “Joon-ah, we can always talk about the interviewer. This seems more important, though. If there’s any way that I can help…”

Namjoon blinks, then tilts his head in thought. “Well. I was going to have him stay with us, but… would you be open to hosting him?”

Hoseok internally grimaces at the thought of Namjoon hosting his friend. Namjoon lives with his boyfriend, Park Jimin, but they also just recently adopted twins. They were still adjusting, even after Namjoon came back from paternity leave, and having a guest might not be the best idea right now.

“How long would he need a place for?”

Namjoon checks his phone. “Only for a few weeks, until he finds a place to stay. He’s also looking for work but he said he’d be prioritizing finding a place first so that he’s not a burden to anyone.”

“What does he do?”

“He’s a food critic,” Namjoon answers, beaming with pride for his old friend. “I’m pretty sure he just finished doing a series where he was.”

Hoseok hums, glancing out the window as they pull through the gate to his building. “I wouldn’t mind hosting him, I have the space anyway.”

It’s a cold truth that he faces every day, as he does moments later after leaving the car and entering his building. He takes the elevator all the way to the top floor after pressing the code that only he and Namjoon know. The doors slide open after the elevators ding pierces the quiet, and Hoseok steps out, slowly heading down to the singular door at the end of the hall.

Stepping into his home is the same — being met with complete silence and darkness. He touches the pad on the left, lights flickering on in the apartment, and another swipe activates the blinds to lower over the large windows in the living room and kitchen overlooking the city. After toeing off his shoes and neatly placing them on the rack next to the door, he shuffles through the apartment, heading for the kitchen first.