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Perfect Reservation (1) — hoonsuk!
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first, meet the boys.
"WELCOME TO THE RADCLIFFE HOTEL," greeted a man by the welcome mat, lowering his head at the entrance of two elderlys through the spinning door. Sewing a pleasurable smile on his lips with shoulders tight back, he gently conducted their direction with his flat palm. "Please, the front desk is this way."
The elderlys simpered and made their way inside the lobby. He then looked at the doorman man that trailed behind the ancient ladies, dragging their suitcases with his two lanky hands and a slouched back. Letting out a strict cough was enough to catch the amateure doorman's attention, with the manager's sharp glare. Without hesitation, he straightened his spine, toughened his arms, and stitched a cheek to cheek grin on his face.
Nodding, he turned around and strode back inside, fully satisfied.
It wasn't enough to count his short almost five years of experience to be called fully proficient in his field. But managing this hotel so far has been quite the excitement, and he had always been an expert at the few skills he had. So, no wonder at such a young age, he was contracted as the new manager of the hotel, even with such little experience. He had gained much of the owner's trust, to the point where he was welcome to call it his own. His life had always been about offering the best service, giving all his effort to reach their expectations and risk his all. He enjoyed all that, he was made for all that. Being a manager meant more than just a job for him, it meant his whole life.
Choi Hyunsuk strided over to the front counter, where he found the receptionist handing the ladies from before their keys with her two polite hands. After giving them a small bow, she turned around to the manager and excused herself for a jiffy, needing to grab a few files from behind. Hyunsuk assured her that he would be watching over, and she thanked him, before dashing off, quick yet amiably.
He glided his hand on the neat red striped necktie, fixing it to fit his white blouse that firm around his neck. His dark grey attire was aptly worn and it still had the scent of a warm iron cloth in the early brick of dawn. Paired with his most sterile dress jetblack shoe, a proud oval shaped badge clinged on the left side of his chest, gleaming with the it's golden plate everytime under the lavish chandelier of the Radcliffe's cavernous lobby. Hyunsuk stepped behind the counter, checking over the computer's binded data.
For a good minute, he didn't realise the young lad that had crouched down under the mahogany desk. Hyunsuk flinched off his feet, before composing himself back, hunching down under. There, the boy had pulled his knees to his chest, slipping his petite body at the very back corner. He had his face buried in his arms, but seemed to realise someone had stared at him rather bewildered. Lifting up his chin, the boy silently gasped and fluttered a small wave with his bitty palm.
"Hey, little boy. What are you doing—"
"Hi mister! Can you lower your voice a little?" He blubbered his whisper, pressing a finger on his lips, "I need to hide from my brother."
He can't be a guest, right?
Hyunsuk raised a confused brow, "Um, I'm sorry little boy but—"
"Someone, stop that kid!"
Jaehyuk's frantic shout blasted through the foyer, springing Hyunsuk up from under the desk. The bellboy was clutching on his round stiff red hat, while racing with his long strides, chasing after what looked like a runaway bellcart. But it wasn't empty. A young male was in it, driving the cart with the golden rails, looking back at the bellboy that never seemed to catch up with his ride. Almost mockingly, he spurted the most joyous laughter while his pace sped up. He then turned a quick corner, getting a hold of the breaks with his foot, as if it was a skateboard at an arena, parking right in front of the manager.
Hyunsuk had never been more glad that no customers were around.
The bellcart boy hopped off, pulling up the straps of his backpack and walked towards Hyunsuk, who was still standing behind the desk, head all muddled. Everything happened like lightning, even without a blink of an eye. It was all too quick.
"Oh, hi mister!" The boy with slight tanned skin waved at him, bemused. He had auburn dark hair and sharp eyes, similar to a wolf. He looked up at the man with a giddy smile, as if the previous event had never happened, "Have you seen my lil bro? Skinny, with a red backpack, around," He lifted his hand just right below under his shoulder, "Maybe this height?"
Hyunsuk's head shuddered, and caressed his temple before pointing a finger below. The boy applied a smirk on his face and dipped to his knees, sneaking his way behind the furniture.
"Hah! Try harder next time Junghwan!" He blared, slapping the younger's knee and folding his arms with pride.
Junghwan crawled from under the desk, "What, no fair! You always get me!"
"Well, you're just terrible at hiding." Snorted the other, "Now, let's get going. Can't be late for the first day of school."
The pair fixed up their bags, while Junghwan's older brother helped him tuck in his shirt neatly back inside the pair of pants. They then linked their arms, elbow to elbow , ready to head out, only to be frozen at the tourmentig figure that stood in front of them. The bellboy had wasted most of his energy for the day to chase the runaway cart, had his hands on his hips, pursing his lips and creasing his brows. Junghwan's older brother rubbed his nape, nervously stuttering out a cluck.
"Jaehyuk, get back to work," Hyunsuk cut in, tilting his head at the bellcart. The bellboy grunted under his teeth, shooting one last ferocious look at the young lad, before pushing away the cart with him.
Hyunsuk sighed, shaking his head. He lowered his sight on the two boys, as they turned around with their floppy bags on their backs. Junghwan was quite lost, while his brother overwhelmingly stroked his chest.
The manager's shoulder stiffen, folding his arms together, "Boys, I don't know why you're here, but in my lobby we will always have safety as number one. Please don't use our trolleys as racing cars, this is not a playground." He lectured, raising an eye.
Like two wilting daisies, the pair sunken their heads, chin dipped in their well prepped uniform, while the youngest rubbed his hands together timidly. "We're really sorry mister," Mumbled the taller, barely audible from his upset lips, "But please, don't tell our Papa!"
Maybe they are guests? Hyunsuk continued to ponder.
Being the weak person he was, Hyunsuk bent down to the younger boys level and peeped his head, to have their mellow eyes meet his, "Okay, I will forgive you two this time." Hyunsuk's smile surfaced, softening out the atmosphere between them.
The life in them bloomed, as the misery from their eyes sparkled to twinkling stars, with Junghwan clapping tunefully. "Wow, thank you so much mister!"
"Of course. Now, what are your names?"
"I'm Jeongwoo, and that's Junghwan!" The taller beamed, swaying their connected elbows with the rock of his body.
"Nice to meet you two!" He chuckled at Jeongwoo's merry tone, "How did you two end up in my lobby? Your parents are staying here?"
Junghwan gaily shook his head, "Papa said this is our new home!" He gushed, "He got a job as a performer here."
Of course, it finally clicked in him. "Oh," He muttered, "You're the sons of...Park Jihoon?"
His few days of absence had him really behind, and Hyunsuk didn't realise that. The manager completely forgot they had a few new entertainers for the hotel, mainly for the night restaurants that had just opened on their first floor.
The two deludedly nodded.
"Well, since this is your new home, there are certain rules you have to follow alright." Hyunsuk conceded, hands on his knees while peering an affable look at the boys, "That means not doing things that can get anyone injured, especially in the lobby. You know, everyday we have so many guests coming in and out, it would be dangerous. You don't want to hurt anyone, would you?"
The kids shook their heads.
Hyunsuk chortled, "Great. Is that clear?"
Jeongwoo fiddled with his fingers, slightly shaking his chin. "We understand." He muttered, "We're sorry for that racus earlier, sir."
Hyunsuk's heart after all was so weak, even a petal from a fallen rose can ache him, "Thank you so much boys, that means a lot to me." He grinned, ruffling their locks of dark hair. Hyunsuk then slipped a hand in his pocket, prodding out two layers of bills at them, "How about grabbing a snack before getting on the bus?"
Jeongwoo's overgrown eyes stared at money, to which Hyunsuk placed them in his palms, "Oh wow, really?" The manager nodded, "Oh my, thank you so much! Thank you mister...um..."
"Call me Sukkie,"
"Thank you so much, Sukkie!" The brothers chirped together. "We promise to never hurt your lobby again."
Hyunsuk giggled at the Park siblings, as Jeongwoo took Junghwan's hold in his, leading out to the entrance. When they slipped through the spinning doors, the younger made sure to turn around for a split second and wave his tiny arm, with a blare of joy on his face, shining with the morning sun.
The manager couldn't help but pick up his palm, and fluttered a small wave back at the little boy.
to be continued . . .
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A/N:
This is still 1/5 parts,, I'll be uploading all today! And yes, I reposted this both in twitter and ao3 ;;
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