Archive of Our Own ^beta

Beomgyu had a lot to think about. 

First, he had to think of how he was going to share his predicament later with his best friend, Yeonjun, without sounding like a complete idiot. Then, he had to figure out just how many more days he was going to be stuck making grilled cheese sandwiches in the ‘Goldeun Chijeu’ to buy back all his equipment. His current priority, though, was having to rack his brains in order to remember everything he was just taught ten minutes ago, whilst in the middle of a lunch rush – all while mentally kicking himself for getting into this situation in the first place.

“Beomgyu-yah!”

Beomgyu snapped his head in the direction of the poor co-worker in charge of him, praying the panic on his face didn’t look TOO embarrassing.

“The last customer complained that his sandwich tasted cold when he received it. Try to get them ready to serve the minute you get them off the stove, or else your tips might get worse!”

Beomgyu smiled meekly before turning back to the food with a scowl.

As if the bread currently burning on the stove top wasn’t enough to remind him of how much his life stunk right now.

- - -

Contrary to what he’s told every customer he’s had to deal with since arriving, Beomgyu never intended to work at the Goldeun Chijeu during his gap year. Well, actually he did - just not the kind of work where he’d be struggling to cook various types of grilled cheese sandwiches.

About two weeks ago, he heard about the restaurant being in need of a live band as some sort of ‘image remodeling.’ The owner, renowned chef Kim Seokjin, was branching out into having a variety of restaurants with primary focus on a single food for each location to share his favorite recipes with the public. The Goldeun Chijeu was one of the few successful spots and it wished to welcome in a larger crowd through more entertaining means. And to Beomgyu, it seemed like the perfect promotion his band needed.

He got in touch with the owner, talking his ass off about how amazing his band was through emails and that it could be just the thing to bring in a younger demographic to his restaurant. Once the owner had responded, Beomgyu also sent in a few videos of his band practice which led to them getting offered a spot! Beomgyu was overjoyed! How could this possibly go wrong?! 

Several. Several ways this had gone wrong.

First came his so-called ‘band’ - or rather, the downfall of it. He shared the news with the members, expecting them to be just as pumped as he was, only to be VERY confused when they appeared annoyed by the announcement. Apparently, they had no interest in pursuing anything serious with their group and assumed that they were just doing this for fun and not for a purpose. No matter how much convincing he had in him, none of them wished to join Beomgyu in achieving the first gig that could’ve, if all went well, led to the start of a stable career for him.

Now, with no band, does Beomgyu quit? Of course he doesn’t - he packs up and prepares for a long five hour travel out of town to the restaurant. So what if he only had himself? He could always play a one-man show and find potential musicians to join him once he arrived in town. He wasn’t going to worry about it yet and instead was going to enjoy the road trip with his best friend, Yeonjun.

Then Yeonjun bailed on him.

Okay, well, not really - he asked the older about needing a ride way too late and forgot that he was in a whole other city until he was being yelled at on the other end of the phone. Beomgyu could at least take fault for that. Still, the point stood, he had no way to get there.

So what could he do? Easy: he hitchhiked.

Now, Beomgyu is WELL AWARE of the dangers in taking this route, but honestly, his broke ass is desperate. It’s exactly what he tells Yeonjun when the older asked if he had gone crazy after he shared the idea. 

So he waited on the side of the road, thumb high in the air until a nice young man in a truck stopped for him and asked where he needed to go. It’s almost like angels were singing when the man shared that he’s actually heading the same direction. Beomgyu packed up all his band equipment in the man’s truck, hopped in the front, and stayed on full alert as they made their long drive to Goldeun Chijeu.

After a long five hours of bad radio music and awkward conversation (in which Beomgyu shared that he was ‘a foreigner named Ben who’s just graduated and was looking to make his music dreams a reality’), they’d finally arrived. 

The man, who simply called himself ‘Gi,’ offered to watch Beomgyu’s equipment for him while he went inside to double check with the owner and Beomgyu accepted it proudly. Things finally felt like they were turning around when he walked in and introduced himself to the owner before leading him out to where his instruments were packed.

…Which also led to Beomgyu learning a valuable lesson: never let a stranger, who you’ve spoken to for only five hours, watch your precious, and EXPENSIVE belongings.

Words couldn’t describe the sinking feeling in Beomgyu’s stomach when he went outside and found no truck, no man, and no band equipment in sight. Kim Seokjin was kind enough to let him call and report the incident, but the police were the complete opposite when he had no info to really give.

How was he supposed to know that  ‘Gi’ wasn’t a valid enough name to report?

Now Beomgyu was not only broke, but he was broke, equipment-less, stranded, and on the brink of a breakdown that would lead to baldness if he had the access to a razor. There wasn’t really an easy way out of this situation. He had half a mind left to beg the owner to show him enough mercy to get a train home at the least.

Thankfully he didn’t have to… because Kim Seokjin had another offer for him.

- - -

“So let me get this straight,” Beomgyu’s co-worker, Myung Eunho, slumps over the counter and points a sad, soggy french fry in his direction. “Kim Seokjin is letting you stay in one of the apartments above the restaurant AND is willing to help you get new band equipment as long as you work to pay off the debts?”

Beomgyu nods.

“I would’ve asked him to run me over instead.”

There’s a loud smack and Eunho screeches as a mop slides down the wall next to the counter.

“Leave the poor boy alone,” Ahn Heeyeon, an older coworker, says as she pulls back on the mop and starts cleaning up the small puddle it left. “It’s not like he’s the only one working here to pay off debts.”

“No, but he’s the only one who could’ve avoided it if he didn’t leave his belongings with a strange man,” Eunho shrugs and Beomgyu rubs his temples at his words.

The previous rush hour had calmed down and everyone was trying to clean up while the place was a bit empty. Eunho was the one to ask Beomgyu if he was really taking a gap year just to work at the Goldeun Chijeu, leading to the older telling him (and his eavesdropping coworkers) about his predicament as they tidied up the fry station. He had hoped that telling someone he wasn’t too close to would make it easier to tell Yeonjun on the phone later that night - but now he was just getting ridiculed by more than one person.

“He could’ve avoided it sooner if he didn’t hitchhike at all,” Na Goeun, another coworker,  slightly older than Beomgyu, shares as she fixes the condiments on the counter. “Or, you know, just called it quits once his band chickened out - but what do I know?”

Beomgyu groans as he slumps onto an empty stool next to the fryer. He hates how much they sound like Yeonjun - Goeun especially at the moment. Which means he knows they’re all right, he fucked up; now there was no turning back. This was his new life until he had enough money to pay it all off.

“Ah, you made him sad.” 

Beomgyu looks up at Heeyeon’s voice and grimaces as she ruffles his hair. If Goeun shared the same remarks as Yeonjun, then Heeyeon was the one who showed affection similarly as his friend. He can’t really complain - he needed the slight doting at the moment.

“Maybe counting the tips you’ve gotten so far will cheer you up,” the older says as she continues mopping.

It’s only been half a day, but given how hectic his first day was, Beomgyu was desperate for some sort of boost. He quickly hops off the stool and makes his way to the counter towards the large tips jars. Each jar adorned a worker’s name so customers could tip whoever took their order based on their nametags. Goeun, who had the most tips so far, pushes the jar with Beomgyu’s name scrawled on the front towards him. He wastes no time tipping it over and spills its contents onto the surface.

All that tumbles out are a few coins, bills, and a note.

Goeun reaches for the note and reads out: “Learn to cook before my next note is signed by my doctor after treating me for food poisoning.” She grimaces and folds it back up as if holding it any longer would give her a disease. “Maybe switch name tags with Eunho for a bit so you have something to smile about at the end of your shifts… and to avoid more threats.”

Beomgyu deflates and takes back the note to crumple it up. Great, he was never leaving this place.

- - -

Another rush, another ten complaints, and one quick cry in the freezer. That’s all Beomgyu had to endure as he wrapped up his first day of work. He just had to survive the last fifteen minutes so he could go to his single-room apartment and sob for sympathy from Yeonjun over the phone. At the very least, he didn’t have much to stress about as the restaurant was currently empty, allowing him and Heeyeon to grumble about their job freely.

“That last lady who complained about you was full of bullshit,” Heeyeon says as Beomgyu lifts up the tip jar so she can wipe down the counter. “She always has something to say about her food - ESPECIALLY the fries. Don’t pay her any mind next time she comes, alright?”

Beomgyu nods, the corners of his mouth tugging up in a smile. He was worried earlier when both Goeun and Eunho had gone home for the day - he wasn’t sure how he and Heeyeon would get along without the other two around to contribute to the conversation. Fortunately, Heeyeon was really easy to talk to despite the age gap between them; she spoke with a cheeky malice that Beomgyu found amusing and even shared a few stories about their coworkers’ own first days at the job to cheer him up. Her bluntness, ironically, was exactly what Beomgyu needed at the moment.

“The stoves are all cleaned,” Beomgyu announces when Heeyeon walks into the kitchen with the store keys in hand.

She carefully inspects the silver surface, smiling at her own reflection before straightening her posture. “Perfect, I think we just need to mop back here and we’ll be done by closing time.” Heeyeon ruffles Beomgyu’s hair then while noting, “You’re a better cleaner than a cook.”

Beomgyu pushes her hand away, mock glare on his face and ready to rebuttal.

Then the bell rings.

Heeyeon’s eyes snap towards the front, peeking around the corner before her shoulders drop. “Oh no…” she whines, a small stomp accommodating the child-like protest she was presenting. “I was hoping he wasn’t going to come today.”

Beomgyu tilts his head at his coworker’s back, stepping next to her to peer around the corner as well. The sight doesn’t do much to explain Heeyeon’s reaction - there was just a guy in a school uniform standing there. He didn’t look aggressive, his features were sharp, sure, but he was short and seemed roughly around Beomgyu’s age. He appeared like a harmless, hungry customer - at least from where the two stood hidden by a wall.

“Don’t let his appearance fool you, Gyu,” Heeyeon mutters, almost as if reading Beomgyu’s thoughts. “If there’s anything I can teach you, it’s that closers are demons sent by the devil himself - ESPECIALLY if they’re up-tight, prestigious students from the college down the street.” She steps back from the corner and waits until Beomgyu follows, staring at the younger boy. “Taehyun is his best working servant in this case.”

Beomgyu can’t help but shake his head at her words, finding them comedic while watching the boy, Taehyun, look around the restaurant with large eyes whilst fidgeting with the tie on his uniform. “How bad could he possibly be?”

He whips his head back towards Heeyeon when she lets out a scoff. “As if deciding to enter a restaurant right before they’re meant to close and KNOWING SO wasn’t bad enough, he’s INCREDIBLY picky for someone who chose to enter a fast-food restaurant.” Her eyes glide back over to the boy behind them and she narrows them for a moment. “So picky that he never tips more than $3 - Goeun is the only one who’s gotten that much from him. It’s the main reason we gave her ‘best in customer service’ award.”

She looks behind her and Beomgyu follows her gaze, eyes landing on the small framed photo of their coworker giving a thumbs up as the words ‘best in customer service’ are written beneath it. It’s surprising that he hadn’t seen the frame before tonight.

“Hello?”

Heeyeon and Beomgyu look back as their closer’s voice, which sounded mildly annoyed, echoes throughout the empty restaurant.

“I know you’re still open - you still have ten minutes!”

Beomgyu glances back at Heeyeon as she rolls her eyes, “Let’s just get this over with. Watch and learn.” She clears her throat and rubs her face for a few seconds before plastering on a fake smile. With a quick nod, she steps out into the open and stands behind the cashier. “Welcome to the Goldeun Chijeu - how may I help you?”

Hiding from the corner, Beomgyu widens his eyes watching this Taehyun guy roll his own at her words. “I’ve been standing here, waiting, for five minutes,” he says unabashedly. “Are you really that busy this late into your shift that you couldn’t have gotten to me sooner?”

Heeyeon holds her hands against her back and clenches them into fists. “I deeply apologize, we were in the midst of cleaning the kitchen seeing that we’re meant to close soon.” The last few words sound as if they were shared through gritted teeth and Beomgyu has to suppress a laugh. He can imagine the wide smile on Heeyeon’s face shaking slightly, similarly to how it did when she struggled to calm down an older, angry man from earlier in the day.

Taehyun remains unphased, merely blinking at her before letting out a tired sigh. “I assume you already know my order, but in case you don’t,” the condescending tone makes Heeyeon clench her fist tighter as she reaches for her pen and notepad under the counter, “I’ll have mozzarella with grilled chicken, lettuce, and tomato on wheat bread. Regular fries and ketchup on the side.” He waits until Heeyeon finishes writing to give her a pointed stare. “Will that take you long to make?”

There’s a pause, the back of Heeyeon’s shoulders rises up and down before she replies, “I’ll have it ready as soon as I can.”

Beomgyu watches as Taehyun pulls his lips in a tight line before nodding. He was astonished by how unashamed this guy was. Entering a restaurant right before closing was one thing, but to behave so cold and unsympathetic towards the workers who have to stay for you? Then proceeding to hold them to such high standards afterwards? He’d expect such behavior from their older customers, but not from someone who looked as young as Taehyun appeared - unless he was secretly a fifty year old man with an insane skin care routine.

Judging from the expensive school uniform though, that didn’t seem too likely.

“I can’t stand that brat,” Heeyeon huffs when she rejoins Beomgyu in the back. “If I had less class, I’d spit in that boy’s food.”

“Yah-” Beomgyu starts to scold, but stops when a notification sounds from Heeyeon’s apron. He waits as she quickly checks it - only to let out a laugh that was void of any glee.

“And to add to the happiness of the night, I’m gonna be late to my virtual audition!” She lets her hand fall to her side while stressing a hand through her hair.

“Virtual audition?” Beomgyu tilts his head. He’s heard the term before, Yeonjun would often talk about them whenever there was a role he was hoping to play for a drama or even a show in their town theater. He wasn’t sure if it was the same for Heeyeon though.

His coworker nods, playing with her bottom lip as she stares at the notepad in her hand. “I had sent in a tape reciting a monologue for this upcoming movie and they wanted me to read lines from the actual script over video call tonight, but now...” She takes a deep breath, then looks up with the same smile she greeted the customers with. “I guess it’ll be fine, it wasn’t for a big role or anything.”

Her words make Beomgyu frown. It might not have been a big role, but it must be important to Heeyeon for her to be affected like this. He knew opportunities like that were hard to come by - that’s how it was when he struggled to find gigs for his band. Heeyeon may be trying to be fine with missing it, but if it were Beomgyu, he'd be devastated.

Which is probably why he easily takes the notepad from her hands and says, “You go ahead, I’ll close up for the night.”

Heeyeon blinks, then shakes her head. “No- Beomgyu-yah I-” she starts to laugh but Beomgyu quickly shushes her. 

“A role is still a role. You helped me a lot today, let me help you now.” He then brings her bag and jacket to her, patting her arm with finality. “I’ll handle ‘the terrible’ Taehyun and lock up once he leaves, you just pass the audition for me.” He gives Heeyeon a smile, shaking the notepad in his hand.

Heeyeon appears at a loss for words, looking down at the items in her hands then back up at Beomgyu. “Are you sure? Beca-”

“YAH!” He shouts, already pushing her out through the back door of the kitchen. “Less talking, more mentally preparing for her audition. I want the next word out of you to be ‘goodnight’ or nothing!” He huffs when he manages to get Heeyeon out, the older woman still holding the door and staring at the younger. He waits, expecting another argument or even just a nod before she finally leaves.

Instead, Heeyeon smiles softly and says in a shaky voice, “Thank you, Beomgyu-yah.”

Beomgyu reciprocates her smile, nodding his head before gesturing for her to leave. Eventually she lets the door close and he takes a deep breath. He glances back down at the notepad, the terrible closer’s order suddenly looking very big on the page, before his gaze travels back to the just cleaned stove.

He was going to be here for a while.

-

In hindsight, maybe Beomgyu had overestimated his newfound cooking skills. After the slight stress of realizing he actually had to cook WITHOUT supervision, he quickly started to hype himself up. He already worked a full day, he was taught what to do, what not to do, and it was only one sandwich - surely this wouldn’t be that difficult.

Cut to much, MUCH later - one bread is burnt, the other is slightly soggy due to the placement of tomatoes (how was Beomgyu supposed to remember it was a ‘between’ ingredient, he just wanted to avoid it altogether), the cheese wasn’t completely melted, and the chicken was in an uncomfortable state of being not ice cold but also not completely warm either. And you’d think; ‘at least there’s still the fries!’ Wrong. Because Beomgyu realized a moment too late that they were well past their cooking time, crunching loudly between his teeth as he took a taste test.

If Taehyun had thought his past meals were bad, then maybe this would make him appreciate the others’ cooking more.

“Hello?!”

Beomgyu grimaces at the shout. No matter how little confidence he has in his creation, he’s kept the closer waiting for too long. So with bated breath, he lifts the tray and makes his way back to the counter.

Taehyun is faced away from him, looking down at the phone in his hand while shaking his head. In the spare moments he has, Beomgyu makes a silent prayer to whatever God was watching him to grant him mercy as he clears his throat.

The act brings a sigh out of Taehyun just as he turns around. “What the hell took-” The complaint seems to get caught in his throat, a look of surprise washing over the closer once he makes eye contact with Beomgyu.

Being in front of the closer, Beomgyu could see how much sharper his features were past the corner he hid behind. From the slope of his nose to the line of his jaw, paired with thick black eyebrows that matched his hair; it made him mildly more intimidating to be stared at by him. The only saving graces that didn’t make Beomgyu fall victim to his daunting aura was the large eyes gaping at him.

“Uhm-” The closer blinks, his eyes tearing away from Beomgyu to the tray in his hands. It's then that Beomgyu realizes his confusion - he was expecting a shorter, older woman! Of course he’s stunned by the sudden appearance of the taller boy!

“I’m sorry!” Beomgyu starts off with a laugh, making Taehyun look back up at him. “Heeyeon-nim had an emergency, so I took over your order.” He carefully sets down the tray on the counter, straightening himself with a smile before another thought dawns on him. “I’m Choi Beomgyu, I just started today - I hope it’s no trouble!”

Taehyun blinks at him, opening and closing his mouth before he directs his attention back to his meal. His eyes suddenly narrow, a piece from the tomatoes sliding down the crust makes Beomgyu suddenly very self-conscious of his work. Yet he can’t do anything to fix nor take it back, half of the sandwich already being held in the closer’s hands and slowly being brought towards his mouth.

He takes a small bite (the crunch bringing out a wince from Beomgyu), chewing carefully while staring down at the food. He stops, then swallows, his prominent Adam's apple bobbing up and down too visibly for the taller to ignore.

Beomgyu prepares himself for the scolding, hoping that him being new brings some bout of mercy from the so-called demonic closer.

However, Taehyun simply looks at him and says, “Good. Thank you.”

Before he could process his words, the bell rings and the restaurant is empty. Beomgyu blinks a few times, feeling as though he was just lost in a daydream while rubbing his eyes. When he looks down at the tray he finds nothing but a few stray crumbs from the sandwich.

‘Good. Thank you.’

Frankly, it was the nicest thing he’s heard from a customer today. He lets the little compliment fuel his energy as he cleans the kitchen once more and finishes it with a brief mopping of the floor. Beomgyu reaches the front to put away the tray when his eyes stop on the jars, primarily the one with his name.

What peeks over his letters is a corner of a bill - the number ‘20’ staring back at him.

—

“No he didn’t.”

Beomgyu scowls at Goeun’s refusal. “Why would you say that?”

“I’m not trying to insult you, Beomgyu-yah,” Goeun says, handing him a sandwich to cut as she flips another, “but I find it hard to believe that THE closer Taehyun tipped more than $3 - let alone thanked you for a meal you cooked.”

“You could share your disbelief in a nicer way, Goeun-ah,” Heeyeon shakes her head while placing another order in front of the two. 

“You don’t believe me either, do you?” Beomgyu pouts as the older woman walks past them to the fry station.

There’s a long pause before Heeyeon waves her hands around sheepishly. “It just doesn’t sound like the guy!”

Beomgyu narrows his eyes at her words right as the back door opens. “What doesn’t sound like who?” Eunho asks as he hangs up his coat and hat.

“Closer Taehyun complimenting Beomgyu’s cooking and tipping him $20,” Goeun says as she places another sandwich in front of Beomgyu. She walks over to the door, taking her own jacket off the rack and opening the back door. “See you all tomorrow!”

The shutting of the door echoes throughout the kitchen as Eunho blinks in Beomgyu’s direction. “Was she telling the truth? Or is this the ‘newbie’ prank you guys decided to pull this time?”

“If it was, then we’d be lying to Beomgyu,” Heeyeon rolls her eyes as the bell at the front rings loudly. “This is all on the newbie,” she says before returning to the front.

Beomgyu whines, “It isn’t a prank! I swear it happened!” He throws the knife onto the table with a huff just as Eunho shakes his head.

“Nope, I refuse to fall for it.” He ties on his apron and rushes over to the stove, eyes focused on the order that Beomgyu had yet to start on. “A large tip is one thing, but to also compliment your sandwich?”

“He just said, ‘Good. Thank you.’” Beomgyu puffs his chest a bit proudly reciting the closer’s words. Seeing that bill paired with the closer’s behavior changed his energy regarding his situation, he even felt less terrified talking to Yeonjun about it over the phone later that night (though he did embellish a tad bit). He’d be lying if repeating the closer’s words to himself weren’t the reason for this newfound confidence in him.

Eunho tsks though, dropping the cheddar and ham melt onto the stove with a loud sizzle. “Now that has to be bullshit - your cooking and ‘good’ would never be in the same sentence said by a pretentious-ass student.”

“Yah! I’m improving!” Beomgyu grumbles, walking over to the fries and setting the curly ones to cook in the oil. “You should be glad - proud even!”

“I can’t be proud of my coworker when he can lose his own name tag in cooking oil so easily.”

“What do-”

Beomgyu reaches for the plate, usually attached to the left strap of his apron, only to not find it there. He whips his head back to the fry station, gaze dimming as his name stares back at him under the bubbles. He groans loudly, feeling a hand pat his shoulder. 

“Do you blame me for doubting you now?” Eunho muses, looking down at the fries.

Although he couldn’t blame his coworkers’ skepticism, Beomgyu still can’t find it in him to follow along. Even if it were just a one-off thing, a sheer stroke of luck, he still found comfort in that interaction. Still, he hopes it can happen again, selfishly wanting to prove it not only to them but to himself as well.

“Gyu-yah! Are those curly fries ready?!”

For now though, he’ll let them win this argument given the evidence working against him at the moment.

---

Surprisingly, Beomgyu’s dream of history repeating itself comes a lot sooner than expected. It’s his second closing shift and he’s in the middle of being explained how to properly close the cashier by Goeun (because he, well, forgot to do that last time) when the bell rings. Both workers quickly look up, Goeun furrowing her eyebrows at the customer whereas Beomgyu waves happily once he sees the familiar closer frozen at the door. “Good evening, Taehyun-ssi!”

Taehyun looks a bit caught off-guard by the greeting, only snapping out of his daze when the door behind him shuts loudly. He flinches at the sound and quickly walks up to the counter, the tips of his ears a slight pink as he meets Beomgyu’s gaze. “Good evening uh-” His eyes travel to the left of taller’s apron strap - only to squint when he sees his name scribbled on receipt paper taped to the spot.

Beomgyu follows his gaze and gasps, “Right! There was a slight accident with my name tag yesterday-” He nudges Goeun when she lets out a snort, which seems to make Taehyun aware of her presence - “so I have to make do with this until Heeyeon-nim can get me a replacement.”

The explanation is a bit long-winded, but the closer simply nods at the taller. A moment of silence passes before Goeun suddenly coughs. “What can we get you?” She smiles, making Taehyun widen his eyes.

“Ah- I’ll have wheat with uhm-” The closer’s eyes travel towards Beomgyu, who only nods before hastily grabbing the notepad on the counter. A brief puff of air escapes from the shorter’s lips as he scratches his neck nervously - an action that makes Goeun raise an eyebrow at the customer. “Wheat with cheese, chicken, lettuce, and tomatoes.”

Beomgyu scribbles the order on the notepad, awe-ing loudly when it’s familiar. “It’s the same as what I last served you, right?”

When Beomgyu looks back at him, Taehyun inhales sharply before he nods quickly.

“I’m sorry-” Both boys look at Goeun, who stares at the shorter one with a pointed stare. “You didn’t specify which cheese… or whether you’d want fries along with it.”

The statement makes Taehyun sputter a bit, but falls silent when Beomgyu scoffs. “He just said it was the same as last time - mozzarella and regular fries with ketchup.” He looks back over to the closer, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed he admitted to remembering the order after only making it once, but smiles when Taehyun just nods. Maybe having the moment replaying in his mind was proving to be quite useful now.

Goeun sighs, “Alright, then let's not keep him waiting.” She turns to Taehyun with a smile, “We’ll be right out with your order.”

Unsurprisingly, Taehyun simply takes a deep breath and turns away unapologetically. It only takes a second for Goeun’s face to drop, sneering at the back of his head while Beomgyu goes back to the kitchen. “As if it isn’t weird enough he’s earlier than usual, but he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to more than one worker,” she scoffs once she joins him in the kitchen. “Good luck trying to get another generous tip from him this time,” 

The statement does nothing to waver him though - Beomgyu was sure to get it right again.

-

Beomgyu doesn’t waste any time in preparing the meal, wanting to at least improve from the last time he attempted it. He allowed Goeun to handle the fries to give him less stress, putting his full focus on the main portion - the sandwich.

By the time he’s done, he’s a tad bit more confident this time around - yet that diminishes completely when he takes the sandwich off the stove and finds the bottom burnt black.

Maybe he miscalculated his mistakes from last time.

“Are you sure you want to serve… that?” Goeun’s face twists in distress as Beomgyu struggles to cut through the last piece. “At least replace that side with a different bread.”

“I can’t, there’s only one slice left,” he frowns, then looks at his coworker sheepishly, “and I may have dropped it on the ground earlier.”

Goeun pinches the bridge of her nose and exhales deeply. “It’s your funeral, have at it.”

Beomgyu huffs then firmly grabs the tray. He might as well get this over with.

The two walk to the register and Taehyun meets Beomgyu’s gaze when they do. The taller places the tray, struggling to smile when the closer stares at the sandwich for a moment too long. He almost wishes for the guy to hurry up and complain, walk out without paying, ANYTHING-

“Did you make it again?”

Beomgyu blinks. “Uh, yes I did.”

Taehyun hums, reaching for the sandwich, bringing it towards his mouth. The bite elicits an even louder crunch than before - Goeun even looks away from the scene, possibly out of respect for her coworker. Beomgyu doesn’t even want to see the look on the customer’s face, staring at the uncleaned floor in preparation for his breakdown later.

“It’s good, thank you.”

Beomgyu’s head whips up just as Taehyun turns around with his lunch in hand. He gapes at his back, not tearing his eyes away until the bell rings and he disappears into the night. His eyes immediately go to Goeun, but he’s puzzled to find her staring elsewhere with a shocked expression. He follows her gaze - only to match her expression when he sees another $20 sticking up from his tip jar.

“There’s no way-” Goeun starts to argue, but Beomgyu shushes her immediately while he grabs the bill, holding it close to his chest. She shakes her head, “He can say more than just critiques? AND pay more than a measly $3?!” She faces Beomgyu then, grabbing him by the shoulders dramatically, “What did you do?! How did you do it?!”

“Nothing!” Beomgyu pushes her hands off and steps away, staring down at the bill in his hands. He was sure Taehyun would have complaints this time, perhaps even demand for his money back. Yet, in his hands, he holds another generous tip - another sign he was going to get home soon.

“I don’t understand,” Goeun sighs and Beomgyu looks up to see her staring at the door with a scowl.

Feeling bad, he pats her shoulder in comfort. “I’m sure this won’t happen every time,” he says, glancing at the bill before pocketing it. “I think it’s only because I’m new - I mentioned it the first time I served him.” He brings back out the money bag, smiling up at Goeun and feeling satisfied when she reciprocates it. “Let’s just close up now that we can.”

As he helps to clean and close up the restaurant, Beomgyu can’t help but believe his own words. Maybe Taehyun was only taking pity on Beomgyu for the time being - even pretentious people can be forced to succumb to their conscience. He pats the pocket where the tip lies, opting to cherish what he has right now before it’s taken away from him. Taehyun could suddenly decide to hate Beomgyu’s cooking the next time they meet.

---

A week passes, then two, then a month, and of all the customers who have some complaint about Beomgyu’s cooking, Taehyun never becomes one of them.

Almost every closing shift he has, Beomgyu finds himself greeting an awkward Taehyun, taking his order, stressing over making it, then feeling relieved when all he receives is a ‘good’ and a tip. Sure there was a part of him that wanted to know more about the so-called cold closer, but he was scared to ruin the current rhythm they had going on. Who knows how much longer it would last?

Despite Taehyun’s sympathy towards Beomgyu, the same can’t be said about his coworkers. The first few times they’d close without him, they’d complain and whine over how cold the closer was to them the night before, begging for Beomgyu to share his secret with them (namely Goeun). Then the complaints stop, Eunho only briefly mentioning Taehyun asking when Beomgyu worked closing since ‘he was the only one who could make his meal correctly.’ Everyone brushed it off, thinking the guy was bluffing - until it was only during Beomgyu’s shifts that Taehyun would turn up.

“There’s something going on,” Heeyeon hums after the daily lunch rush.

Wordlessly, Beomgyu looks around the empty restaurant from the front of the counter. “There’s actually nothing going on,” he says, continuing to sweep while staring at the older. “We’re free until the dinner rush, noona.”

Heeyeon rolls her eyes, “I was talking about your closer-admirer.”

‘Closer-admirer’ is what his coworkers started to refer to Taehyun as. Beomgyu would be lying if he said the name didn’t make him embarrassed  (and a bit proud).

“In that case - I agree!” Goeun storms into the main area, yanking the ugly yellow cleaning gloves off her hands. “I’ve worked here for ages, tons of customer service experience under my belt, yet he’s never said as much as a ‘please’ to me,” she huffs, leaning over the counter with a hand under her chin. “Feels rather misogynistic if you ask me.”

“If that were the case then I would’ve gotten a bigger tip than you by now,” Eunho says, placing a plate of sandwiches onto one of the dining booths. The other three are quick to crowd him, taking a half for themselves while he continues. “I don’t see why you’re all so worried about this. It just means he’s Gyu-yah’s problem now.”

Beomgyu furrows his eyebrows at the statement, “Don’t say that, he’s no problem at all.”

“Yeah, for you,” Goeun mumbles, mouth filled with some flatbread provolone melt.

Beomgyu rolls his eyes, but ignores her. “He’s not that bad, maybe you guys have just caught him on off days.”

“Oh please” Eunho argues, though his attention is more focused on the ‘Cheesy BLT’ in his hand. “You said it yourself that you barely say more than two sentences to him - and that’s just to take his order.” He winces suddenly, glaring at Heeyeon and rubbing the spot she’s pinched on his arm as he takes another bite of his sandwich.

“Clearly Beomgyu-yah is just protective of his favorite customer,” she says nonchalantly, bringing ‘The Pumperjack’ sandwich towards her mouth as Beomgyu feels his neck grow warm at her words. “As long as he’s not giving anyone trouble, there’s no harm being done.”

“My reputation is being harmed, unnie,” Goeun whines and Beomgyu snorts at her behavior.

He supposes he can’t blame her - he thought it was unusual how easily Taehyun was to handle during his shifts. He couldn’t be bothered by it though, especially when his tips have been making things slightly easier for Beomgyu. He finally had extra cash to spend on himself - though for now it felt wrong to do so. Still, it was nice to know he was getting to that point. Maybe he feels like he owes it to the closer, even if he didn’t know how much his visits were helping Beomgyu.

“Well that sucks for you, noona,” Eunho says, crumbling up his wrapper, “I, on the other hand, have never felt more stress-free in my life.”

Beomgyu laughs loudly as Goeun chucks her own wrapper at the younger just as Heeyeon scolds them to behave like adults

---

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?” Eunho asks, standing in the doorway of the exit and purposefully trying to make his voice shaky. “It’s very dark outside, do you really need no company?”

Beomgyu shakes his head at his coworker’s antics. “I’ve closed up by myself before, I just have to put away the deposit plus- I live above the restaurant! Just go home already!”

In a dramatic fashion, Eunho clutches his chest while hanging onto the doorframe. “You really want me gone that bad?”

“More than anything,” Beomgyu deadpans, though he doesn’t really mean it with any malice.

Eunho thankfully chuckles, waving goodbye to the older as the bell signifies his exit.

It didn't take long after for Beomgyu to finish up his to-dos before he was pulling the keys out from his pocket. The last customer had left quickly and they had finished tidying up quite fast. Beomgyu had even told Eunho to get home early as the younger lived further away from the restaurant. Despite how calm the night was, he keeps thinking the ease had to do with one big missing piece - Taehyun.

Normally, the closer would show up at least twenty minutes before the end of his shift. Once that window passed and there was no sign of him, Beomgyu wondered where he was - he’d gotten so used to seeing Taehyun during his closing shifts that him not showing up made him feel empty in some way. It was as if the day wasn’t really over until he’s made his order and heard him say ‘Good, thank you’ at least once.

Except now the day had ended without that and he still had a restaurant to close.

The air is cold once Beomgyu steps out and he subconsciously pulls his coat tighter around him. The streetlights down the road are dimmer tonight, but it makes the atmosphere a bit cozy in his eyes. He wonders if that’s just what happens when fall reaches its end in this town, taking the glow with it to make room for the festivities that are yet to come.

The thought makes him a bit homesick, remembering how his hometown would start putting up subtle Christmas decorations even months before the holiday season. Would they do the same here once Halloween passes? Would the Goldeun Chijeu want to celebrate the holidays yet to come?

Would he be able to go home before then?

Beomgyu shakes his head, ridding himself of the sad thoughts before locking up the front. He can cry about it once he gets to his room, using the excuse of the sad movie Heeyeon rented for him a few days ago. He begins to walk away from the restaurant, pulling out his phone to send a quick text to Yeonjun. Maybe he could convince the older to drive up here to visit or even pay for a train ticket back home if he loved the younger enough. He can think more about the guilt tripping once he gets someplace warm.

However, he only gets to the gate leading to the stairs on the side of the building when the sound of rapid footsteps gets closer. Beomgyu is puzzled - who the hell would jog this late in the night? He turns around, trying to stay within the shadows in fear that this person could be someone dangerous. What he sees only makes his confusion grow more.

There stood Taehyun, panting with his hands on his knees as he glared at the entrance of the Goldeun Chijeu. His hair was a mess, the bag hanging on his shoulder was half open, and he was uncharacteristically disheveled. Beomgyu continues watching him, unsure what to do when he sees the usually pristine closer struggling to open the door. His eyes then widen in surprise when the shorter boy shouts “Shit!” before kicking the door, huffing and running a hand through his hair before pacing in place. He’s seen the guy behave rudely sure, but it didn’t seem like Taehyun to throw a fit like this even in private.

Well, he’s not really in private though - and that realization begins to make Beomgyu feel guilty enough to step away from the dark.

“Are you alright?”

Taehyun turns sharply at the voice and Beomgyu puts his hands up, almost to say that he wasn’t in any danger. His chest continues to rise and fall rapidly while he stares at the taller in shock. “B-Beomgyu-ssi?”

Beomgyu bites his lip when he hears the stutter, not wanting to embarrass the boy any further. “I had heard footsteps before I went up and I saw you…” He trails off when he notices the other’s ears turning pink then shakes his head. “I wanted to ask if you were okay? You didn’t come by today so I was a little worried.”

Taehyun blinks. “You noticed?”

The reaction makes Beomgyu laugh loudly, astonished by this guy’s obliviousness. “I don’t get many people showing up right before closing - nor people who tip as generously as you.”

“Ah,” Taehyun nods, scratching his neck while averting his gaze from the taller. The flustered behavior was endearing to Beomgyu, he wasn’t used to seeing it from the closer. “I stayed later at school and…” He begins to trail off, looking reluctant to say anymore. The dismayed look in his typically determined eyes worried Beomgyu - until the silence was broken by a loud growl.

Taehyun’s eyes widen, flush creeping up his neck before he clutches his stomach. It takes everything in Beomgyu to suppress the snort threatening to come out. He could tell the closer was already having a difficult time and he didn’t want to make it any worse.

Which is why he finds it easy to get the keys from his pocket and start to open up the restaurant.

“W-What are you doing?” Beomgyu looks over his shoulder, grinning when he sees a panicked look on Taehyun’s face.

“Well, I have to feed you of course,” he replies, pushing the door open and turning on the lights. “Take a seat wherever you’d like and I’ll bring out your order - it’ll be on the house.” He only makes it to the counter when he feels a tug on his jacket. Beomgyu stops, turning to face Taehyun.

“This is nonsense, Beomgyu-ssi,” He states, the first time he’s ever used such a serious tone towards Beomgyu. “You can’t keep a restaurant open past closing for me.”

Beomgyu blinks, “We’ve always kept the place open past closing for you though. What’s the difference this time?”

Taehyun opens his mouth - then shuts it. The struggle is evident on his face, wrinkles forming on his forehead while he continues to gape at Beomgyu.

Carefully, Beomgyu gets out of his coat until it’s all Taehyun has in his grasp. “I’ll get to work on your mozzarella on wheat with chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and regular fries.” He pauses on his way to the kitchen, turning back to face the still frozen closer. “With ketchup of course.”

Taehyun remains silent as Beomgyu disappears into the kitchen.

-

“Here you are,” Beomgyu announces while setting a plate with a sandwich and fries onto the table. He slides into the opposite side of Taehyun, holding a plate of curly fries for himself. “I figured it’d be rude if I let you eat on your own.”

Taehyun continued to not say a word, keeping his eyes on the sandwich. Perhaps he was taking notice of Beomgyu’s improvement, as he had finally avoided burning either bread and managed to get the cheese to its perfect melted form. He couldn’t not feel a bit proud of his progress - he only hopes the closer doesn’t notice the different temperatures in the chicken nor how the tomatoes were beginning to soak the bottom bread.

Note to self - remember it’s an in-between ingredient for once.

Finally, Taehyun grabs a half of the meal and takes a careful bite, avoiding Beomgyu’s eyes all the while.

“Is it alright?” Beomgyu asks, hoping the other can taste the difference.

Taehyun just nods, “Good. Thank you.” He takes another bite, eyes glued to the table.

His behavior makes Beomgyu frown. He’s spent several shifts witnessing this guy in the restaurant and he’s never looked as uncomfortable as he did right now. Granted, the circumstances were a bit unconventional, but he wanted the closer to enjoy his meal.

Beomgyu watches him take another bite of his sandwich. A piece of tomato slowly falls to the plate and he can’t help but grimace.

“How can you eat that?”

Finally, Taehyun looks up at him. “What?”

He gestures towards the cursed ingredient, scrunching his nose in disgust. “I understand wanting to get all the main nutrients of the food pyramid, but you could’ve asked for a better…” Beomgyu tilts his head, eyes wandering as he tries to figure out what to possibly call the damn thing.

“Fruit?” Beomgyu’s eyes snap to Taehyun, his own widening a bit when they meet. “I mean, that’s what it is.”

“But you wouldn’t put grapes into your sandwich, would you?” Beomgyu narrows his eyes, the thought of such a decision making him grimace.

Taehyun shrugs, “People put bananas in peanut butter sandwiches.”

“That’s different!”

Beomgyu playfully bangs the table with a pout on his face to make a point. He’s surprised though when Taehyun starts to laugh at him. It’s the first time he’s ever seen something other than disinterest on his face, the first he’s ever heard something other than his order or ‘good, thank you’ come from his lips.

Personally, Beomgyu thinks it’s the best thing he’s ever heard since he’s arrived here.

They quickly fall silent again, but Taehyun looks a bit more at ease than before. It makes Beomgyu feel better - yet he can’t help but wonder what brought Taehyun to this moment. To where he was eating in the restaurant later than usual after being embarrassed at getting caught kicking and cursing at a door, stomach rumbling loudly and refusing to take up time in Beomgyu’s night. The image of him outside, hair a mess while his large eyes looked a mixture of tiredness and stress staring back at him, prompts Beomgyu to speak up again.

“What was it that kept you at your school so late?”

Taehyun stops chewing to stare at Beomgyu. The uneasiness seems to trickle back in then, the younger grimacing as he swallows the food in his mouth. “Uhm, it was just school things.” He waves it off, averting his gaze once more as he focuses on his fries.

Though he tries to pass it off as nothing, Beomgyu finds himself frowning at the reply. He didn’t know Taehyun well, but the way he was staring at his fries with a tenseness in his eyes made him believe that he was avoiding whatever it was making him upset. Perhaps he just didn’t feel comfortable sharing it with Beomgyu, he was only a customer.

So maybe Beomgyu should be one to open up first.

“I never wanted to work at the Goldeun Chijeu.”

Taehyun tears his eyes away from his plate, eyebrows furrowed as Beomgyu continues.

“I mean- I did want to, but not like this.” He sighs, slumping in his seat as he looks out the front window, remembering his first day stepping into the place. “I wanted to perform here, be part of a live band for the restaurant. The owner, Kim Seokjin, invited me for one gig and I was so excited, but that was it - I was the only one excited in my band.” He frowns when the image of his ex-members staring at him with confused expressions, before they morphed into ones of disgust, flashed in mind. “None of them wanted to do it, they didn’t want this to be anything serious I guess. But I wanted to, so I hitchhiked my ass over here.”

He turns when he hears Taehyun make a sound, but the closer shakes his head and beckons for him to continue. He can tell from the bewildered look on his face though that he was about to make the same comments his coworkers made when he first shared the story.

“I know it was dumb - but I really didn’t want to pass up this opportunity. It would’ve made me feel more like a real musician in a way.” He bites his bottom lip, remembering the words teachers and older friends would tell him whenever he’d say he wanted to pursue music seriously. “A lot of people didn’t think I was capable of making a living from it. I just wanted to prove them wrong.” He exhales slowly, ending with a groan, “But because of that desperation, I trusted some stranger to watch my things the second I got here and returned to the spot with everything gone.” He straightens himself up and reaches for a fry, turning it over in his fingers before finishing, “So now I’m stuck here until I can pay off the debt that is Kim Seokjin’s kindness.”

It’s quiet when Beomgyu is done. He almost feels like he’s shared too much with the semi-stranger in front of him. Maybe he’s just made the other more uncomfortable by forcing him to listen to his sad life story.

As he brings the fry to his mouth though, Taehyun speaks. “I guess I’m somewhat in the same predicament.”

Beomgyu meets his eyes and Taehyun quickly looks away.

“Don’t get me wrong, I did choose to go to this school, but sometimes it feels like it’s… not what I envisioned?” His eyes crinkle as his own words and Beomgyu makes an effort to nod in order to show he understands. It seems to motivate Taehyun to go on, “My parents were always encouraging me to be a good student and that carried on once I entered college, and though I appreciate it, it feels that there’s not much else for me to achieve other than high scores.” He pulls his lips into a tight line, fingers playing with the tomato piece on his plate.

It makes Beomgyu grimace, but he tries to focus on Taehyun’s words.

“I want to do other things, but it’s hard to find enjoyment in being someone other than a studious student.” His shoulders slump as he continues. “I was always taught to reach for success, but I don’t even know what that success looks like without picturing a number. I spend so much time being at the top of all my classes that I don’t know what I enjoy outside of my curriculum. I don’t know how to be a real person in a way.” Beomgyu frowns at his words, wanting to reach out to provide some sort of comfort towards the other but also not wanting to cross any boundaries. “Then earlier today, I had somehow fallen asleep while studying because I don’t get enough of that at night and- I knew that it was only a matter of time to get here before you guys closed and… really my visits here are the only times I ever felt human, like I wasn’t just a number, you know?”

He looks up at Beomgyu and the taller nods, beckoning for him to go on.

Taehyun lets out a sigh, “Then when I saw the door closed, it felt like I had missed my one visit in reality and… I got angry because how pathetic is that? Some fast food restaurant being the one place you felt like a person and not being able to go there after a burn out makes your world crumble?” 

He lets out a laugh, but it sounds dry and void of any joy as his face slowly twists. Beomgyu notices tears pricking at the corner of Taehyun’s eyes and pushes the napkins towards the other. He only stares at them for a moment, then takes one to dab his eyes.

“Sorry,” he starts, “I know the way I’ve been acting towards your workers probably also doesn’t make me the most likable person either.” Taehyun takes a deep breath once he finishes, looking down at the wet napkin in his hands. “It’s just exhausting really, wanting an escape from something you chose to do and then not knowing how to experience the freedom once you have a bit of time to get away…”

The words hang heavy in the air between them. They hit close to Beomgyu, recalling how badly he wanted to escape from the judgment and doubt of those around him only to struggle when he finally did so. The difference with Taehyun was that Beomgyu had people to help; He had Seokjin offer him a place and a job, his coworkers show him how to handle things, Yeonjun who was checking up on him over the phone from time to time- even Taehyun had unknowingly helped him by being so kind despite the cold reputation he was known for among the workers. 

Taehyun, on the other hand, didn’t seem like he had that help; his behavior showing that this has been bottling up for too long. He deserved that help, to be treated like the person he so wished to live as.

“What year were you born?”

Taehyun looks puzzled at Beomgyu’s question. He nods for him to reply though, waiting until he shares. “My birthday is February 5th, 2002.”

Beomgyu smiles, “Then you can call me hyung. You now have something else that makes you feel like a person.”

The confusion only seems to etch deeper onto Taehyun’s face.

“Other than you being the only late customer I have who gives me big tips, I also remember you as the one person who seems to not hate my sandwiches,” Beomgyu admits, suddenly feeling embarrassed by the vulnerability. “I only ever got complaints from them and it just made my situation worse. You helped me gain confidence though… so let me repay you.”

Beomgyu reaches his hand out towards the younger and Taehyun just stares at his open palm. It takes a moment, but slowly he grabs onto it, fingers carefully wrapping around him as their thumbs slot comfortably together. Beomgyu suppresses a giggle at how Taehyun’s cheeks grow pink once they touch.

“There, now it’s official,” he smiles, giving him a firm shake. “We are now more than worker and customer - Choi Beomgyu is now your friend.”

There’s a pause.

Then Taehyun laughs for the second time that night and Beomgyu feels his heart grow warm at the sound.

“Okay… then Kang Taehyun is now yours as well.”

---

“Is it really-”

“No… maybe he has a twin?”

“Or God has decided to punish us before the sun sets now.”

Beomgyu looks up from the stove, frowning when he sees all three of his coworkers crowding around the corner to stare at the front. He expected this from Eunho and Goeun, but even Heeyeon? Maybe professionalism was truly dead.

Alas, he does feel a bit left out from the peering...

“Why aren’t you guys working?” Beomgyu wipes his hands on his apron and approaches the trio. Heeyeon beckons for him to come next to her and nods her head to the front. Once Beomgyu does, he begins to understand his coworkers’ behaviors.

“Do you happen to know why THE closer, Taehyun, is here in the middle of the day?” Goeun whispers harshly.

Actually, Beomgyu did know.

. . .

“Do you really only have free time this late in the night?”

Taehyun looks over at Beomgyu as he pulls on his bag. “Well, it’s the time I feel most comfortable not studying.”

Beomgyu frowns, rechecking everything before they make their way towards the exit. They’ve made it a habit to have a late-night meal together whenever Beomgyu worked a closing shift. Although he’s grown to love their meet-ups, he wished it didn’t have to happen so late.

“Why don’t you come during lunch?” He finds himself suggesting as they leave the restaurant, holding the door until Taehyun comes through.

The suggestion, a simple one might he add, seems to baffle the younger. “Take a break midday?” He says, sputtering while Beomgyu locks up. “As if your coworkers seeing me at night doesn’t sound bad enough.”

“You make it sound like they despise you.”

“Do they not? I’ve been kinda horrible to them.”

“Tyun,” Beomgyu sighs, “you don’t have to be so studious every day. It’s healthy to cut it down-” He turns to face the younger, only to find him gaping at the older. “What?”

“You said, ‘Tyun,’” Taehyun says quietly, almost like he was saying it to himself.

The astounded reaction makes Beomgyu giggle. “Yeah, Tyun. Maybe next time I’ll switch it up and call you Tyunnie.”

The teasing makes Taehyun roll his eyes, but Beomgyu notices how his ears turn red by the comment. “Just Tyun is fine, Beomgyu hyung.”

Beomgyu shakes his head at the heavy emphasis on his name, then quickly cools his expression. “Seriously though, couldn’t you have more free time in the middle of the day?” He pouts then nudges the younger in a childish manner to further persuade him. “We could bump this friendship to the lunch buddy level~”

Taehyun rolls his eyes again, but he has a smile while doing so. “I’ll think about it,” he settles on, “since you want to see me earlier so badly.”

“It’s more beneficial seeing me earlier,” Beomgyu smiles. “I look more handsome without the extra hours of working.”

He was expecting a rebuttal, maybe a ‘so just handsome?’ before avoiding Beomgyu’s hits. Yet, Taehyun looks at Beomgyu with a soft smile, eyes practically matching the streetlights adoring the streets. “I don’t think that’s possible, hyung.”

Maybe he meant it as an insult, but the way his gaze sparkles slightly while meeting Beomgyu’s makes him feel a bit choked up. Even as the cold air blows around them, he’s never felt warmer than this moment - silently looking at Taehyun with a strange feeling in his chest before the younger coughs suddenly.

“Alright, Goodnight Gyu-hyung!”

Beomgyu barely has time to say goodbye when he processes his words. It’s in the middle of waving to Taehyun’s retreating figure that he then realizes what the younger had just called him.

. . .

To be honest, Beomgyu had expected the younger to brush off his suggestion. Now, seeing him wait at the front in the familiar uniform with actual customers around him, he feels weirdly giddy.

“Are you going to take his order then or are you just going to stare at him?” Beomgyu glares at Eunho, nudging him and making him stagger a bit.

He turns back to the front and takes a deep breath. He’s seen Taehyun at night with no one else but them in the restaurant, this should be even easier. All he had to do was go behind the counter.

“...Gyu-yah, not to be a parrot but ARE you going to take his order?” Heeyeon gives him a bit of a shake and he snaps out of his head. “Should I give you a push?”

“No!” Beomgyu protests. Then he stops, thinks, then slumps his shoulders. “Actually, a gentle one please.”

Heeyeon rolls her eyes, but drags the younger towards the cashier with her. Once they stop behind the cash register, Taehyun looks up - a smile spreading across his face when he sees Beomgyu.

“Hyung!” he greets kindly before taking notice of Heeyeon. The older woman is already expecting a cold stare, maybe a simple ‘hello’ if she were lucky.

Instead, Taehyun keeps the smile on his face and nods his head towards her. “Good afternoon, Heeyeon-ssi.”

Beomgyu gapes at the younger, then looks over at his coworker to find her equally surprised. From behind he could hear startled whispers before a loud crash is heard throughout the restaurant. He, along with many of the customers, turned towards the sound - just to catch both Eunho and Goeun scurrying further in the back.

Embarrassed enough, Beomgyu sighs and meets Taehyun’s gaze once more - the giddiness from before beginning to return. “You’re here in the daytime!” He announces, unable to keep the smile off his face when Taehyun begins to grin back at him.

“You seemed desperate to see me,” Taehyun shrugs, unaware of the way his ears were turning pink.

Beomgyu rolls his eyes, but still giggles at the younger’s behavior. Beside him, Heeyeon grabs onto a notepad and pen from under the counter, handing it to her younger worker. He gasps, realizing they still had a line to go through and turns to Taehyun. “Sorry- your order- wait I know your order-”

Beomgyu’s panic seems to entertain the younger, eliciting a laugh from him that makes Heeyeon look between the two in surprise. “Same as always, please,” Taehyun nods, which makes Beomgyu calm down a bit. “And I’ll take another sandwich with fries as well - you can choose it for yourself.”

“Alri-” Beomgyu stops writing and furrows his eyebrows at Taehyun. “Wait, you’re not paying for me.”

“You can’t deny me my order,” Taehyun argues.

Before Beomgyu can think of what to say next, Heeyeon asks, “Shouldn’t you ask if you’re allowed to take your lunch break now?”

Both boys exchange panicked glances, realizing neither had thought this far into the plan.

Suddenly Heeyeon chuckles, “I’m kidding. Beomgyu-yah was due for a break anyways - he’ll bring your orders to you.” She proceeds to wave to the person behind Taehyun and steps further off to the side to take the rest of the customers orders.

They both look at each other, letting out relieved chuckles. “I’ll go get your order ready then,” Beomgyu says, thumb pointed towards the kitchen as he begins to walk backwards. Taehyun nods, mumbles that he’ll sit at their booth - then laughs loudly when the older hits a wall.

Face bright pink, Beomgyu scurries around the corner and exhales loudly. When he raises his eyes, he sees Eunho and Goeun on the ground, struggling to clean up spilled cooking oil.

“Do you mind telling us what we missed after Goeun knocked over the pot,” Eunho asks, shooting the older a glare to which she ignores.

Beomgyu smiles, unable to find it in himself to tease his coworkers when his chest feels as light as it does. “I’m gonna make lunch for him and then eat with him for my break.” He walks past them towards the stove, preparing the sandwiches he needs while a million thoughts run through his mind.

“How does he keep doing this?” He hears Goeun say quietly, disbelief heavy in her voice before Eunho tells her to keep helping him.

If he were to tell the truth, Beomgyu had no clue either.

---

After another month of working passes, Beomgyu makes a big decision. 

At first, he was against it, kept pushing it to the back of his mind and averted his eyes if he ever came across it. Then he gradually improved at work, his charm finally starting to win over the picky customers who, in turn, started giving him more tips - as well as the ones Taehyun kept insisting he gave the older despite his protests. So he took a leap- nay, he took a dive and finally did it.

“A guitar?” Taehyun tilts his head when Beomgyu tells him the news, practically bouncing in his seat while doing so. “I never thought that that was something too expensive.”

“Of course you didn’t,” Beomgyu rolls his eyes, stealing a fry from the other’s plate, “rich people like you don’t think about how expensive many things are.”

“I told you, my family’s comfortable.”

“Which is just rich people’s way of trying to sound humble.”

Taehyun breathes out slowly before pushing his plate towards Beomgyu, the older eating more fries from it proudly. “So you bought a guitar.”

The topic makes Beomgyu grin and he scooches forward in his seat. “It’s so pretty! Sure my other one was special and I still feel bad about it being stolen, but playing this one felt… so amazing.” He feels excited remembering how the feeling of strings under his fingers still felt comfortable after all this time, leading him to play well into the night and only stopping when he started to see the sun creeping through the blinds. He lets out a sigh, eyes focusing back onto Taehyun, who’s just watching him with a look the older can’t really describe.

“You sound happy just talking about it,” Taehyun says softly and Beomgyu looks down, feeling a bit embarrassed. There’s a pause, the only sound being the chatter of the few customers in the restaurant and the other workers moving around. Then- “Can you show me?”

Beomgyu’s eyes snap up, unable to contain his smile. “Really?”

Taehyun nods, eyes practically forming crescents as he mimics the older’s enthusiasm. “It sounds cool when you talk about it. Maybe you could bring it to the restaurant and show it to me before closing?”

Before Beomgyu can say a word, a third voice suddenly suggests, “Why don’t you go see it now?”

They turn to see Heeyeon, picking up their tray before looking down at the two - primarily Beomgyu. “You have a few minutes of your break left and before the rush is meant to come. I can cover for you until then.”

Beomgyu looks over to Taehyun, his eyes just as wide as his. “Are you sure?” he looks back at Heeyeon, feeling guilty for leaving even if it won’t be for too long.

“Yes it’s fine,” she shrugs. “Go enjoy your mini-date.”

Whatever words of gratitude Beomgyu was about to share gets stuck in his throat, sending him into a coughing fit while Taehyun struggles to help him with a crimson face.

-

The stairs to the small rooms above the restaurant are not the most stable, but they haven’t broken under Beomgyu yet. They were just a bit too shaky with multiple people going up at the same time. It’s what he tries to reassure Taehyun with when the younger clutches onto his jacket a bit too tight.

“You do this every day?” Taehyun breathes out, eyes glued to the steps as if they’ll disappear if he doesn’t. 

“In comparison to dealing with rude customers every day, it’s not that bad.” Beomgyu chuckles, pulling him by the wrist as they get to the top. “It was the easiest thing I got used to here.”

His room was only two doors down, adorned with an orange three just above the peephole. After unlocking it, he takes a quick peek just to make sure there wasn’t anything he had to hide out of embarrassment then welcomes the younger in. The room itself was small - the only door in the place being the bathroom - but Beomgyu didn’t mind the space. Judging by the look on Taehyun’s face, it was quite a bit to take in for a guy with his background.

“It looked worse before I moved in,” Beomgyu tries to defend the space as he closes the door.

Taehyun waves his hands around sheepishly before he can continue, “It’s not bad! It’s… cozy.” Beomgyu blinks at him, face unamused until the younger adds, “It sounds like I’m lying but I’m being genuine here. It’s nothing like the stairs we took up here.”

At that, Beomgyu lets out a laugh. He guides the younger over to where the new object of his infatuation stood - the guitar resting against the foot of the bed practically greeting him as they approach. He’ll admit it wasn’t anything too unique; it had a tan body with dark brown sides like every other guitar - but it was his reminder for his love of music, the entire reason he was in this room in the first place.

He watches as Taehyun carefully glides a finger over the fretboard, a sound of awe escaping from his lips. He’s completely taken off guard though when the younger turns suddenly and asks, “Can you play me something?”

“Uhhhh,” Beomgyu wracked his brain for an excuse, hoping that maybe he’ll suddenly be needed back down in the restaurant.

But then Taehyun pouts slightly and his eyes sparkle as he pleads. “Looking at an instrument is one thing, but I want to know how it sounds. Just one small song, or even just a verse… please, hyung?”

He doesn’t know just what dark magic Taehyun holds in that aura of his, but Beomgyu finds himself nodding almost immediately. He doesn’t get a chance to regret it either once the younger smiles, not wanting to be the reason it disappears. He gestures for the younger to sit down on the bed while he grabs the guitar, double checking to make sure it was in tune.

“Do you have any requests?” Beomgyu says, sitting across from Taehyun while adjusting the instrument.

Taehyun shakes his head, “Play whatever you’re most comfortable with.”

A song almost instantly pops into his head once Taehyun finishes and Beomgyu lets his fingers glide over the fretboard. His fingertips were still a bit sensitive from playing the previous night, but the pain is practically nonexistent as he plays the notes from the first song he’d ever learned thanks to his dad. The notes come naturally to him thanks to the muscle memory and he lets his eyes shut, easily getting lost in the song while humming along to the melody. It was almost like he was back home in his room.

Beomgyu doesn’t realize he’s gone through the whole song - nor that he was performing for someone - until he’s about to reach the end. Once he does he lets his eyes open slowly, smiling when he sees how Taehyun was looking at him. The younger was swaying along, a slight grin on his face when he met Beomgyu’s gaze. He doesn’t shy away like usual, the smile on his face only growing when the attention is on him. Even when Beomgyu strums the final chord, his gaze never falters - and Beomgyu was conflicted about it.

On one hand, his stare sometimes made him feel nervous. Not like he could be in danger, but more so in that he worried what it did to his heart. It seemed to happen a lot more lately where Taehyun would do something and Beomgyu could feel his heartbeat start to rapidly increase in his chest. How the younger would compliment something of his nonchalantly and whatever words he was going to follow up with got caught in his throat. It was unpredictable, but not necessarily scary.

That was because there was the other hand, where this very stare comforted Beomgyu on most days. He could be going on a tangent or get lost in a retelling of a story, and he’d see Taehyun staring at him with that gaze, making him feel like there was nothing the younger wouldn’t listen to from him. Or even now, after just playing a song so important to Beomgyu, Taehyun looks at him with so much awe - so much warmth - that he doesn’t even care about how fast his heart is beating.

It was hard to tear his gaze from him when this was how the younger looked just staring at him. If the Goldeun Chijeu made Taehyun feel like a person, then Taehyun made Beomgyu feel so much more than that. He made Beomgyu feel like a cloud, the sea, and wind all at once. It was something that the older was starting to come to terms with the more he realized how much he wanted to stay in this moment, where the coldness outside never got to them and they could continue to pass the time with only each other’s company.

“BEOMGYU-YAHHHHHHHH!”

Goeun’s shouts, on the other hand, didn’t seem to get the memo.

Both boys quickly snap out of whatever trance they were in, taking notice just how close they had gotten and sputtering a series of apologies as they quickly stood up. Beomgyu finds himself cooling his face with his hand when Taehyun turns away from him, then shoving his hands into his pocket when he faces him again.

“Uh,” the younger starts, his face a soft pink and mouth agape while he seems to struggle with his words. “That was amazing, you’re amazing, we should-”

“Do this again?”

“...I meant we should go down to the restaurant.”

Beomgyu pulls his lips into a straight line, his neck growing warm the longer he stays silent. “Right, you’re- yeah let's go.”

He grabs onto Taehyun’s hand and guides him out - only realizing ‘oh god I’m holding his hand’ when they reach the bottom. There’s more people in the restaurant than before, the line nearly coming out the front when they two peer inside. When they look away, Beomgyu gives the younger’s hand a quick shake, “Get to school safe.”

Taehyun nods, also shaking their hands while saying, “Finish work safe.”

Beomgyu nods, giving the other a small squeeze before letting go. As he starts to turn he silently prays that no one can notice how pink he felt his cheeks were, already planning to book it to the kitchen with his face down.

“Gyu-hyung!” Beomgyu turns back to face Taehyun, who grins when he quickly adds, “I also think we should do this again!”

If Beomgyu had thought that his face was just pink before, then there’s definitely a chance now that, even with his face down, a few customers took notice of the red glow around it when he finally went inside. 

-

“What do you think happened?”

“Well he hasn’t stopped smiling since he got back… do you think they-”

“Kissed? Confessed? Arranged a business deal?”

“Eunho-yah what fucking business deals are you making that makes you think looking like that afterwards is normal?”

“Oh! Do you think they realized they like each other?”

“Oooh, that's-”

“Do you two know Beomgyu can totally hear you talk about him?”

Beomgyu shakes his head and chuckles softly when he hears rapid footsteps fade away in different directions, followed by Heeyeon tsking loudly. “Thank you, noona.”

“Any time,” she says, handing him another loaf of bread to slice before falling silent for a moment. “...But seriously, what happened between you two up there?”

He side-eyes the older woman, who’s only defense is a shrug. As he thinks about her question, remembering how he felt looking back at Taehyun as he finished playing guitar, he lets out a sigh.

“I came to terms with why my chest always feels so light around him,” he says, refocusing on cutting the loaf in front of him into slices.

There’s a long silence when he shares his words.

“I’m getting too old to understand how you kids describe feelings,” is all Heeyeon says before walking away.

---

A week later, Beomgyu finds himself running late for lunch. He mentally curses himself for assuming he’d be able to run from the new bakery a few blocks away and make it back in time before his break was supposed to actually start. He supposes he can blame the new sap in him for this predicament at least - and they said love could do no harm.

Ah, maybe love was too strong for now. Though he knew his feelings for Taehyun were growing bigger by the day, Beomgyu was still hesitant to label it as anything serious. Sure, he sprinted four blocks to buy a small strawberry and banana cake to repay the younger for always paying for his lunches, and yeah maybe he also figured it could work as an incentive if he HAPPENED to find himself asking Taehyun out - but he didn’t think it was too big of a deal!

Oh, who was he kidding - Beomgyu could be a floor mat for Taehyun to wipe the dirt off his shoes with how down he was for the guy.

It’s scary to think about just how far Beomgyu had fallen for the once rude closer in such a short amount of time. Normally, feelings like this were things he had to stew in for awhile, but it felt like the realization had hit him like a truck before he could even process it. The scarier thing about it was the want - the NEED to do something about it.

That’s just the thing stopping him though: the fear.

Beomgyu wants to believe Taehyun feels somewhat the same for him, assuming the way he looked at the older was something more akin to intimate than platonic. Yet there was that darker, negative voice in his head telling him otherwise and reminding him the origin of their whole friendship. Beomgyu made his lunch, he was an unlucky musician, and more importantly, he lived NOTHING like the lifestyle Taehyun was accustomed to. Even if there was an inkling of hope that the younger felt romantic feelings for him, who’s to say Beomgyu would be able to live up to any potential expectations he may have?

Not to mention that Taehyun was usually an outspoken person - if he had liked Beomgyu the way Beomgyu liked him, then he would’ve said something about it.

These thoughts busied the poor worker as he finally arrived at the Goldeun Chijeu. Seeing that the back of the restaurant would be easier to get to than walking all the way around to the front, Beomgyu immediately hops the small fence and opens the backdoor in a haste. He pants heavily, the long run finally catching up to his body as Heeyeon enters the kitchen with a notepad in hand. She only gave Beomgyu a mildly concerned glance as she draped his apron over his shoulder.

“That took longer than you said it’d take,” she tsks, a playful smile on her face telling Beomgyu that she wasn’t too upset with him. “I almost thought I’d have to tell poor Taehyun that you disappeared.

At this Beomgyu perks up, “Tyunnie’s here already?!”

“Relax,” Heeyeon chuckles, air-patting his shoulders as he places the bag with the cake onto the small table next to him and shimmies himself out of his jacket. “I told him that you would be back for your lunch date. I saved his order for you to prepare.” She makes an act of patting the paper next to the stove, ingredients already laid out for him. “I would’ve gotten it started, but I’m scared my involvement will ruin your closer miracle skills.”

It’s a small gesture, but it warms Beomgyu’s heart as he makes his way towards the stove, tying the string of his aprons while looking over the order. It makes his heart beat quickly when he reads, ‘he won’t stop looking around for Beomgyu TT,’ off to the side. “Thank you, noona,” He says softly, placing the bread onto the hot surface and turning it on.

Heeyeon tips her cap, “Always happy to assist young love.”

The innocent comment makes Beomgyu’s face heat up, but soon his stomach starts to turn the more he thinks about his thoughts on the way here. He lets out a deep sigh, carefully stacking the second slice of bread atop of the ingredients. His sudden mood change must have been too loud as he senses Heeyeon quickly moving to his side.

“What’s wrong? Did you forget where to put the tomatoes again?” She ruffles his hair with a teasing tone in her voice.

“No-” Beomgyu starts to say, but stops when he takes another glance at the sandwich. “Okay well, now I realize that I did - but that’s not it.”

He hesitates, wondering if he really wants to emotion-dump on his coworker this very moment just before serving the object of his troubles. Heeyeon nudges him to go on though, then pats the spot as if to comfort him. “You know regardless of what it is, I still get paid to listen to you as long as I’m clocked in.”

Beomgyu laughs at the comment, feeling less nervous as he fidgets with the order in his hands. “It’s Taehyun…” He trails off and Heeyeon lets out an ‘ahh’ before he goes on. “I think I like him- no, I know I like him. I like him a lot.”

“Well that isn’t hard to see,” the older woman chuckles.

“But it’s hard to deal with,” Beomgyu scrunches his nose. “I like Taehyun so much, but I’m worried.” He hangs his head back and stares at the ceiling, making his thoughts flow a bit easier. “Part of me is telling me ‘he seems to like you too’ and wants to do something about it - to tell him or ask him out - but then there’s that louder part of me who keeps saying ‘remember when you came here on several different whims?’” He breathes in slowly and shuts his eyes, remembering the sinking feeling in his stomach when his band had bailed on him before and then seeing all his things gone. “I don’t want the hope behind the first part to ruin anything between us - especially when I’m not entirely sure.”

Heeyeon is quiet and Beomgyu cracks open an eye to look at her. Her mouth was downturned in a frown and her eyebrows were furrowed, as if deep in thought. “Why do you say you’re not entirely sure though?”

Beomgyu lifts his head back up. “Tyun would’ve said something. He always says what's on his mind, you know? Like before, when you guys would serve him, or when I would say something absurd.” He tries to think of all their previous interactions, only finding a few harmless comments here and there that do nothing to reassure him. “He’s not one to hide his feelings, noona.”

There’s a long silence, save for the sizzling of the stove, before Heeyeon asks, “You think he’s not?”

Beomgyu nods then pouts as another thought comes to mind. “What if he only thinks of me as a good sandwich making friend?”

He doesn’t expect the comment to hold that much weight, staring at Heeyeon in confusion when she begins to massage her temples with shut eyes. She lets out a long sigh, “Gyu-yah… first finish his sandwich, alright?” She opens her eyes and waits until Beomgyu nods. “Then, I want you to leave without the sandwich - preferably entering through the front and out of uniform.”

Beomgyu furrows his eyebrows, “But-”

“I will bring it out once the fries are done. Just-” she puts a hand on his shoulder and looks at him with a very serious expression, “trust me on this.”

What Heeyeon was asking of him made no sense and frankly seemed like a waste of energy after all that sprinting he did. Yet with the way the older woman was looking at him, face filled with determination and confidence, Beomgyu finds himself agreeing. Heeyeon smiles then pats his back before she turns away towards the fry station. “Also, are you forgetting to do something?”

Beomgyu tilts his head - then his nose scrunches up once he catches the whiff of something burni-

The sandwich. It was the sandwich burning.

So much for improved cooking skills.

-

True to his word, Beomgyu enters the restaurant once again through the front. All it really cost him was the struggle of removing his apron again and running into a confused Eunho on the way out (“Is this a prank on me?” “No, noona just told me to do this-” “Oh now I KNOW it’s a prank!”). When he enters he quickly scans the place until his eyes land on Taehyun, who immediately looks at the door once the bell rings out and smiles when they’re gazes meet.

Be cool. Be chill. Be not-so-in-love with your customer turned friend.

“Hyung! Heeyeon noona told me you went out to get something,” Taehyun says as Beomgyu takes the seat across from him. “I thought you weren’t going to be able to make it.”

The younger pouts as he speaks the last sentence and Beomgyu struggles to not find the expression endearing. “Sorry, I was actually out to get you a surprise.” He places the brown bag in front of him and Taehyun tilts his head at it. “It’s from the new bakery you mentioned a few days ago.”

Taehyun gasps, but before he could say anything more Heeyeon approaches them with a tray in her hands. She carefully places two plates in front of the boys - one with Beomgyu’s order (Heeyeon had basically memorized it over time) and the other with Taehyun’s, made by the older. They both nod a thank you as she turns to leave, sending a wink Beomgyu’s way before heading to the kitchen.

Beomgyu frowns, confused by the action, but quickly shakes it away as he redirects his attention to Taehyun as the younger takes a tentative bite from his sandwich. “It was a pretty long run - which is probably why I look like a mess - but they had-” He stops in the middle of his sentence when he sees Taehyun’s face.

The younger’s lips twist in a scowl before he puts down his sandwich. He then quickly tries to cool his expression, but freezes when he already catches Beomgyu staring at him. “Hmm? You were talking about the bakery?”

“I was… but is everything alright?” Beomgyu scooches forward in his seat, pushing the brown bag to the side so he could focus on Taehyun.

At first, Taehyun stays silent. Then after another second of silence, he hesitantly whines, “It’s the sandwich.”

Beomgyu’s eyebrows furrow as the younger brings it to his face. “Not only is one side burnt, but she put the tomatoes right on top so the other side is soggy. Then the cheese- I don’t know how, but it’s somehow not as melted as I would’ve thought. And the chicken…” Taehyun shakes his head before putting the sandwich back down. “Heeyeon noona is great, don’t get me wrong, but… it’s nothing like how you make them.”

Beomgyu stares at him, eyes unblinking once he finishes. “It’s nothing like how I make them?”

“It’s not! Because this one-”

“Was actually made by me.”

“...huh?”

Beomgyu stares at Taehyun, the other’s mouth agape as his face begins to turn red. It’s Taehyun who breaks the gaze, coughing into his fist before grabbing the sandwich again. “I’m- it’s not that bad now that I’ve thought about it a bit more. Sorry-”

Taehyun stops when Beomgyu reaches out, preventing him from bringing the sandwich closer towards him. “Tyun… do you not like my sandwiches?”

Nervously, Taehyun chuckles and pushes Beomgyu’s hand away. “I do like them! I-”

“This is almost identical to the first one I made for you- were you lying ?”

“No! I-”

“Taehyun-”

“YAH! FINE I LIED!” Taehyun shouts, making Beomgyu flinch back in surprise. “YOUR SANDWICHES AREN’T GOOD, I’M SORRY! IT'S JUST- THE FIRST DAY I SAW YOU I THOUGHT YOU WERE CUTE AND IT MADE MY DAY BETTER SO I PANICKED AND SAID IT WAS GOOD AND THEN AFTER THAT NIGHT YOU REOPENED TO LET ME EAT AND OFFERED TO BE MY FRIEND I STARTED TO LIKE YOU A BIT MORE THAN JUST A SILLY CRUSH AND WE KEPT GROWING CLOSER AND- I COULDN’T JUST COME CLEAN ABOUT THE SANDWICHES BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT YOU TO HATE ME!”

He finishes with a huff, hands hitting the table loudly and making the table shake slightly, making them both cringe when they remember where they are. Everyone in the restaurant turns to look at the two after the loud outburst and Taehyun puts a hand over his face. Beomgyu tries to send them an apologetic smile, catching sight of his coworkers peering around the corner and narrowing his eyes until he sees their shadows disappear.

Eventually, everyone begins to turn away and once they do, he redirects his attention back to the younger, carefully prying his hands away from his face.

Taehyun doesn’t look at him, face completely red while his eyes stay glued to the table in shame. “Hyung,” he says in a quiet, trembling voice, “I’m really sorry. Please don’t hate me.”

Beomgyu frowns, that very thought not even coming close to what he was upset about. “I could never hate you Tyunnie,” He says softly, tapping the younger’s fingers in reassurance. “I really, REALLY like you too much to ever hate you over something like that.”

At this, Taehyun lifts his head with wide eyes. “Like- you mean like as in-”

“Romantically yes, but that’s not important,” Beomgyu says quickly, waving off his confession as if he hadn’t spent the past two hours panicking over it on the way here. “I’d rather be upset over the fact you were FORCING yourself to eat my bad cooking all this time?!”

Taehyun blinks. “Uhm- what-”

“Taehyun-ah, be honest… Did you eat anything else before or after getting your meals here?”

A pause. Then, sheepishly, Taehyun shakes his head.

Beomgyu proceeds to collapse on the table, prompting even more people to stare at them. “Tyunnieeeeeee” he whines loudly, dragging his hands down his cheeks in despair. “This entire time you weren’t eating well! And it was because of ME!”

“Hyung-” Taehyun tries to pry the older’s hands away from his face, but then Beomgyu just lets out another pained groan.

“I was letting you STARVE! Oh my-”

“Beomgyu hyung please!” Beomgyu watches as Taehyun stands up and walks over to his side, sitting down next to him as he holds the older’s hands. “You’re entertaining everyone in a BAD way!” He says in a hushed voice, face close to the other and forcing him to lift his head to look at the younger.

Peering over Taehyun’s shoulder, Beomgyu realizes he was right. Thankfully, though, once they see him staring back, they return to their own business. At least he wasn’t the only one feeling shame right now.

“Hyung,” Beomgyu looks back at Taehyun and flinches a bit when he sees how close he was, but doesn’t attempt to move back. “You didn’t ‘starve’ me or anything like that, okay? You don’t have to feel bad or guilty about anything.” He gives Beomgyu’s hands a small shake, waiting for him to agree.

Although he finds himself not wanting to, Beomgyu nods which makes Taehyun breathe a sigh of relief. Until- “I still think I owe you something.”

Now it was Taehyun’s turn to frown. “You don’t-”

“You have to let me take you out to eat.”

Taehyun stares at the older, who just begins to smile slowly when he stays quiet. “Like… a date?”

“Obviously,” Beomgyu rolls his eyes with a small scoff. “I didn’t just confess to you, nor did you spend months choking through my cooking to spare my feelings, for us to NOT go on a date with each other.”

His words bring out a light laugh from the younger and Beomgyu can’t help but giggle along with him, resting his forehead against the other’s despite the slight wince the impact brings. “Okay, I’d really like that,” Taehyun smiles, then adds, “but you’re not paying for me. Let me cook for you for once.”

“You know how to cook?” Beomgyu widens his eyes as the younger nods.

“Maybe I can teach you how to not burn your bread while we’re at it.”

Beomgyu immediately pushes Taehyun away, scowling while he laughs loudly. Still, it’s hard for him to not smile at the sound. The way it seems to brighten the atmosphere before he stops to look at Beomgyu, eyes glowing even brighter than the first time they met, is what leads the older to agree to the change.

To be honest, it was easy to convince Beomgyu to make Taehyun happy.

---

Beomgyu had a lot to do.

First, he had to change out the oil from the fry station without making the same mess he made the last time he attempted the damn chore. Once done with that, he had to help Eunho prepare a large order for some party - he has no idea when they started catering, but money is money. Speaking of such, he still had to figure out how much of his savings he could use to buy a microphone whilst still maintaining enough for his date with Taehyun later in the week. Then, obviously, he had to find a way to tell Yeonjun about the change in his relationship with the ‘cold closer’ he went from ‘befriending’ to dating. Before he could do any of that though, Beomgyu had to focus on the greatest task at hand - finish sweeping before his lunch break.

“Beomgyu-yah!”

Beomgyu snaps his head in the direction of his saint of a coworker, praying he wasn’t given yet another task to do before he’s even started his list.

“Don’t look that terrified,” Heeyeon sighs. “Just come back here, Eunho can finish sweeping for you.”

Near the front, Eunho lets out a whine just as Beomgyu hands him the broom, smiling smugly while doing so. “Maybe try to not call the next film she’s in ‘lame’,” Beomgyu says, making his way to the back of the restaurant.

Part of Beomgyu is hoping that this was that raise discussion Heeyeon had discussed with him last week, seeing that he was the one who took up most of her hours when she was busy filming for the role she auditioned for all that time ago. Not that he wanted to sound too greedy, but he could really use more ‘freebie money’ to take his boyfriend somewhere nice without having to split the bill with him.

He’s still not used to that - Taehyun being his boyfriend, that is. It wasn’t a bad thing, Beomgyu really couldn’t be happier. Ever since their first date he’s found himself constantly wanting to be around the younger, even if it meant having to sit in silence with him while he studied for his new classes. He was even happier when it seemed like Taehyun felt the same. He was always asking to visit Beomgyu at work, to finish his school work in his room, and once even missing a class because he wasn’t ready to leave him yet.

Some may call him a bad influence for that last one, but Beomgyu couldn’t be happier when Taehyun simply hit snooze on his alarm without another thought and laid his head back on the older’s shoulder to continue their nap.

It only makes sense for Beomgyu to want to spoil his boyfriend for how much progress he’s made in taking better care of himself - he just needs that raise in his paycheck to do it easily!

However, once he walks into the kitchen and sees Heeyeon wasn’t alone, Beomgyu becomes puzzled.

“Kim Seokjin?”

The man in question smiles, “Beomgyu-yah! It’s been awhile, how are you doing?”

Beomgyu struggles to figure out a response, not entirely sure if he was pulled away from his work for an overdue check-in. “I’ve been alright… and you?”

“Never better,” Seokjin says brightly, looking over at Heeyeon for a brief moment while she shakes her head at his enthusiasm. “But I assume you know that’s not why I called you in here for.”

Beomgyu didn’t know anything, but he nods in agreement nonetheless. 

Seokjin then pulls out his phone, scrolling through it while he speaks, “You’ve been working here for nearly six months and, although I was concerned when checking your progress for the first few months…” Beomgyu coughs awkwardly, memories of crying out of frustration in the freezer haunting the back of his brain. “You’ve made a lot of great progress lately - EXCEPTIONALLY well!”

He turns the phone around, showing a graph Beomgyu couldn’t really understand, but figured the long line moving upwards was meant to depict his improvement. “Thank you, sir,” Beomgyu bows, “but I can’t take all the credit. I had a lot of help from your own workers.” He meets Heeyeon’s gaze and smiles, the older mirroring his expression.

“Well, I know how to hire good help,” Seokjin boasts, thus wiping the happy expression from Heeyeon’s face and making her roll her eyes. “Still I’m very impressed by your improvement. You’ve practically tripled your daily tips!”

Beomgyu puffs chest proudly, his ego feeling fed greatly the more his boss speaks.

“Which is why I’d like for you to go back home.”

For a moment, Beomgyu doubts he heard correctly. Then when Seokjin continues to stare at him, smile unwavering, he realizes he was right. “What? What do you mean? Am I fired?” He can’t help how his voice shakes, he had grown too attached to the Goldeun Chijeu- he was JUST about to get his picture next to Goeun’s!

“Woah, woah, calm down,” Seokjin reaches out a hand and pats Beomgyu’s shoulder until the younger is able to breathe normally. “I’m not firing you - I’m making you an offer out of the goodness of my heart!” Beomgyu looks puzzled just as his boss swipes left on his phone screen, showing him a familiar building he remembers seeing once during a long drive with Yeonjun years ago. “I’m opening another restaurant - dessert focused, primarily cupcakes - and seeing that it’s much closer to your town…” He trails off, wiggling his eyebrows at the younger while Beomgyu stares at him.

“Yah!” Heeyeon groans, making the two look over at her. “You explained it normally to me, why can’t you do it the same way with him?”

This time it’s Seokjin who rolls his eyes at her, but complies easily. “Basically, I’ll kindly cut your debt in half so your room and such would already be paid off. Then to help gather more money to replace your equipment, you could work at my new cupcake shop and head home early!”

Beomgyu stares at the older man, having trouble believing his words. “I could just… go?”

Seokjin nods, then holds out a finger, “But only if you want to. You would, however, still have to pay rent and work here.” He pauses then and shrugs while adding, “Granted, I might still make it cheaper seeing that either way you’ll still be working for me.”

The offer sounds too good to be true. Sure, he’d have to start back at square one, but at the same time Beomgyu could go home like he wanted his first day here.

The thing was… did he still want to go home?

As Beomgyu thinks through his options, the bell suddenly rings. He doesn’t have to move far to peer out, simply leaning back a bit to look around the corner to see the front. He finds Goeun at the front, waving towards the entrance and pointing back at the kitchen before leaving - revealing Taehyun smiling in her direction before sitting down.

It’s then that his decision seems to come naturally.

“Thank you, Seokjin-nim,” Beomgyu says, clutching his hands together while looking at the older man.

“It’s nothing,” Seokjin chuckles. “Really I am just that kind-”

“But I don’t think I can take the offer.”

Both Heeyeon and Seokjin’s jaw’s drop. Behind him, Beomgyu can hear something fall and he turns to find Goeun picking the spatula, grumbling about having to clean it now.

“You’re what?” Beomgyu turns back to face the older man, whose mouth keeps opening and closing like a fish. “Again, it's a cupcake shop, Beomgyu-yah.”

“I don’t think that’s the biggest benefit from your offer, Seokjin-ah,” Heeyeon whispers, but still loud enough for Beomgyu to hear her.

“Can you let me manage my own employees?” Seokjin whispers back.

“This is literally the first time in ages that you’ve been here, if anything I manage them more than you.”

Seokjin raises his hand and closes it like a puppet, making Heeyeon shake her head in annoyance. She just redirects her attention to Beomgyu, “Gyu-yah, are you sure about this? I don’t want you to end up regretting this an hour later in your shift and have to hear you begging me to bring Seokjin-ah back here.”

Her words make Beomgyu think deeply. He first came here worried about what he was meant to do, taking up this offer and doing whatever it took to make him a real musician. He was constantly worried about his next move, how long he would be stuck here, and feeling like he’s ruined everything for himself.

Now though, Beomgyu wasn’t that worried about that anymore. He eventually got better at the thing that made him the most stressed - though it was still aggravating some days, he felt proud of how much he’s capable of doing now in comparison to before. Not only that, but that spontaneous decision brought him to Taehyun, someone who made him feel as if he had done something right.

Knowing that, he feels more confident as he nods towards the two. “I’m sure.” He looks at Seokjin, who’s expression was unreadable at the moment, and holds his hands together. “Thank you so much, Seokjin-nim. I do greatly appreciate your help - but I think my presence is better suited here for the time being.”

It takes a few seconds before Seokjin lets out a sigh. “I guess I can accept that - thank you for your continuous help, Beomgyu-yah.”

He gestures for him to move on out, which Beomgyu does so eagerly. He wastes no time going out to the dining area, making his way to his boyfriend at their designated booth.

“There you are,” Taehyun smiles, reaching for Beomgyu’s hand as he takes a seat across from him. “Where were you?”

“Oh, uh,” he absentmindedly points back at the kitchen just as Goeun places their food in front of them, “I was just stuck back there for a bit.”

Taehyun nods, but the look on his face tells Beomgyu that he doesn’t entirely believe him. “Alright, are you okay then?”

Beomgyu thought about that for a moment, now that he completely made his decision to be here longer. He missed home, he wasn’t going to deny that, but now, as he looks at Taehyun, his fingers tapping lightly against his own while staring at him with a warm gaze, Beomgyu couldn’t find it in him to regret any of the decisions that brought him here to this moment.

So he smiles, clasping Taehyun’s hand in his and making the younger smile softly. “I’ve never been better.”

---

“I just don’t get it, noona,” Seokjin sighs, watching Beomgyu sit across Taehyun from behind the counter. “I gave him nearly everything you begged me to offer - yet he refused! Not to mention the cupcakes-”

“Yah, enough about the cupcakes,” Heeyeon sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. Here she thought listening to his new venture over the phone was bad enough - maybe she should’ve told him to stick to savory foods.

“Well, I for one am a bit peeved,” Goeun grumbles and she leans against the front of the counter. “I used my charm and persuasion skills all for what? To STILL have to end up sharing my award wall with him?!”

“I gave you guys a reward wall?” Seokjin looks over to Heeyeon in confusion, but the older just waves him off, still looking at the two boys at their booth.

“I don’t get it either though,” Eunho says as he rests the broom against the counter. He then gestures wildly around the restaurant, exclaiming, “Why would he want to keep working at this hell of a place? He could at least be closer to his home working at the other one!”

“Hey! What are you calling ‘hell’ in front of your employer?!”

The panicked arguing soon becomes white noise as Heeyeon slowly tunes them out. She can’t help wondering as well - sure, she enjoyed the people she’s met because of this job and she’ll miss it when she eventually does leave, but why wouldn’t Beomgyu take the chance to get away sooner?

Then she watches as Taehyun, the closer she thought impossible to satisfy, reaches over to feed Beomgyu a fry, making him cheer dramatically and bouncing in his seat before the two fall into easy laughter.

It clicks then for her why he’d decide such a thing - and strangely enough, it makes her smile.

“I think,” she starts softly, making the three look at her, “if you’re with the right person, you’d decide to be wherever they were closest no matter how bad it was.”

Her words make them fall silent at first, following her gaze towards the two boys who managed to help one another in their own ways.

It’s Goeun who breaks the silence with a loud laugh, her next words eliciting a loud groan from everyone and making them all walk away from her:

“Now THAT’S what I call, ‘cheesy.’”