(for coupdeplume) reaching out (to you)
❊ for: coupdeplume
❊ title: reaching out (to you)
❊ pairings: kai/d.o
❊ rating: g
❊ word count: 5,499
❊ summary: It's impossible for Kyungsoo and Jongin to consider each other as insignificant. For Kyungsoo, it's because he needs Jongin everyday. For Jongin, it's because Kyungsoo is Kyungsoo.
❊ a/n: Because I love you, here's a second fic for you. To make up for the first fic maybe? hehehe
The sun isnít even high and mass amounts of people and vehicles on the streets arenít there yet, but thatís just how Kyungsoo likes it. Itís pretty early but heís already in the kitchen at the back of the bakery heís working at. The kitchen and the sidewalk outside are separated by a wall thatís about waist height with glass on the upper half of it. Many people stop there to see the process of making breads, cakes and cookies. Some just take it for light entertainment during their walk from work, some get invited to actually go inside and buy something.
Do Kyungsoo is the Head Chef there, mostly in charge of supervising other chefs so that they will do well, but heís also very active in the kitchen and the workers are glad to have him as the Head Chef. Heís quiet most of the time, but also very humble and kind to everyone.
Even though itís only 6.30 in the morning, Kyungsoo is readying himself to make a shitload of macarons he promised Junmyeon because their shop has been out of stock. 15 years experience of cooking and yet he still considers macarons one of the hardest things to make. Kyungsoo is already dressed in his chef coat and toque, which are always white and fresh. Heís wearing black dress pants and a waist apron.
After making sure that the table heís going to work on is clean and shiny, he takes out the ingredients and places them on the table. He rubs his hands together to wipe off the flour he got there when he was grabbing the flour bag, and puts his hands on his waist before sighing in exasperation.
Craning his neck, he gives the upper cupboard a deep, tired stare. In all 5 years heís spent working here, not even once has he been able to reach them. He doesnít understand why those cupboards have to be that high. Usually, the taller workers there like Jongin, one of the chefs or Chanyeol, whoís the cashier guy, would grab things for the chefs. This morning is different, though, because Kyungsoo is alone and he doesnít know how to start baking if he canít get the tools.
ìShould I call Jongin?î he asks to himself as he reaches the pocket of his apron to get his phone.
ìNo need to, Iím already here!î
Kyungsoo jumps in surprise and he nearly throw the device away. He turns on his feet to see Jongin standing behind him, a wide grin on his face. Actually heís about to throw one of his shoes at Jonginís face, but heís relieved that the younger chef is already here.
ìYou scared me,î Kyungsoo hisses, and Jongin only chuckles in return.
ìGood morning, Kyungsoo-nim!î
ìGood morning, Jongin-ah,î Kyungsoo greets back as his shoulders slumped down. He stops a bit and scans Jongin from head to toe. ìDidnít you come home from work with those exact same clothes yesterday?î
ìHuh?î Jongin looks down to his own body and giggles sheepishly. ìI slept at Sehunís last night. I have taken a shower, so worry not!î
ìAnd isnít it too early for you? I thought you wouldnít bother waking up at this time.î
ìAh, that...î Jongin unzips his jacket and grabs the buckle of his belt as a habit of which its origin is mysterious, and Kyungsoo tries not to get caught as he averts his eyes from there at the speed of light. ìActually I drank too early yesterday, I woke up at 4 this morning with a hangover and my house is too far so I went here after taking a shower.î
ìSure, sure. Go change and help me after youíre done.î
ìYes, sir!î
If thereís one thing thatís no longer a secret between the workers in the bakery, itís that Kim Jongin has a huge, fat crush on Kyungsoo. Heís been showing it almost a year now, but the Head Chef is too stoic and unassertive to actually respond to Jonginís continuous teasing and flirting.
ìHyungnim,î Jongin calls after heís done changing. Kyungsoo only glances from his peripheral vision that Jongin is wearing the uniform as usualóthe sleeves are rolled up to his elbows and heís not wearing his toque. Honestly, Jongin is the most good-looking chef here and he draws the most attention from the customers and even passerbys.
ìCan you, um,î Kyungsoo stutters, he points to the upper cupboard in where most of his tools are placed. ìCan you help me get out the tools?î
ìOf course! What do you need?î
Unlike Kyungsoo, Jongin doesnít even need to tiptoe to reach the cupboard. Heís only half a head taller than Kyungsoo, but his arms are a lot longer than his and even though he wonít admit it, he envies Jongin so much. The younger chef is tall, handsome, physically active and has a nice body. Those are everything Kyungsoo doesnít have, but he knows he canít say those things to him.
Jongin gets all the tools Kyungsoo tells him to take, and he closes the cupboard after taking the whisk.
ìHere you are,î he says with a smile, itís so bright that Kyungsoo is afraid he might go blind sometime soon.
ìThanks.î Kyungsoo accepts the whisk and puts it on the table.
ìAnytime, Hyungnim.î Jongin winks at him and Kyungsoo nearly loses his sanity because even though he acts like he doesnít care about Jonginís endless flirting with him, it actually makes him feel fuzzy inside. He bites his lip as the butterflies in his stomach go crazy, at the same time trying to fight the blush thatís threatening to creep to his cheeks.
Kyungsoo doesnít remember exactly when the last time he felt this kind of feeling. He remembered coming to this bakery 6 years ago, when he was still a college student. His days were spent studying and working so he had no time for relationships, even his last boyfriend dumped him because he was too career-driven. After graduating, he started working full-time and got promoted to Head Chef in only 6 months.
He doesnít even have friends outside the bakery except Baekhyun, who was his classmate in high school. Being in a relationship might be the last thing on his to-do-list, and he doesnít really bother looking for a crush. Chanyeolís tried to drag him to night clubs and group dates, but nothing worked. At least I have kind friends around me. I get to wake up and go to work every morning. Thatís what he thinks.
ìYo! Kyungsoo!!î
For the second time that day, the Head Chef jumps, hands on his chest to prevent his heart from leaping through his rib cage. He turns around to see Chanyeol grinning widely at him. The guyís still in his oversized hoodie, and Kyungsoo can tell that he hasnít washed it since last month, but it doesnít make his smile less shiny.
ìYou scared me,î Kyungsoo grumbles at him. Jongin, whoís in the other side of the room, stops mixing the batter when he hears that familiar sentence.
ìYou said the same thing to me this morning!î Jongin giggles, shoulders shaking and eyes turning to crescents.
ìThatís because he gets surprised easily, Jongin-ah,î Chanyeol quickly agrees, and he backs away when Kyungsoo tries to kick him. The three of them laugh when Kyungsoo finally manages to land a punch on Chanyeolís upper arm. ìDonít you, Kyungsoo?î
ìHeís adorable,î Jongin says, face looking dreamy. Chanyeol quickly clamps his lips shut, he knows whatís coming next. Kyungsoo glares at the younger chef and the tips of his ears turn red.
ìDonít call me adorable!î he shouts as he lifts a spatula. Jongin laughs, he immediately hugs the bowl of batter and tries to avoid the attack.
Itís a daily routine for Kyungsoo to be teased by his co-workers, and he knows at the end of the day they will be smiling together as Kyungsoo locks the front door. He never hits them hard since heís not one with extra strength. They donít take Kyungsooís scolds seriously, either. Chanyeol will lift the flour sack for him when itís too heavy and Jongin will take the bowls from the upper cupboard when asked.
Kyungsoo gets the macarons ready today, and Junmyeon thanks him when he sees the fresh batch on the display rack. Jongin is busy with the breakfast muffins people buy a lot in the mornings. Jongdae and Minseok are concentrating on making and decorating cakes.
Days always go like this, sound of endless ticks from the oven and tins clattering filling the room. Itís the smell of baked soufflÈ and warm chocolate that keeps them alive.
ìBut donít you think Kyungsoo is hard to love?î Chanyeol asks during lunch break. Theyíre sitting on the bench outside the bakery since thereís no customer inside, slowly sipping the coffee Minseokís made for them.
ìNo?î Jongin smiles to himself, hands playing with the paper cup. ìBut he doesnít have much dating experience, does he?î
ìThe last time he dated was in college!î Chanyeol confirms, voice sounds a bit sorry for his friend. ìBut he was everyoneís sweetheart during high school, you know? Many guys wanted to date him and his locker was always full with chocolate bars from the girls on Valentineís Day.î
Itís the first time Jongin hears this, so he fixes his sitting position, clearly interested. ìOh? I didnít know he was that popular?î
ìYeah. He was hella shy too, so he turned down most of them. He dated some for a while, but they didnít work out well. He became really careful about relationships since then, and now look at him.î Chanyeol turns his head to the window that shows the kitchen from the outside, Jongin following his line of sight. The Head Chef is standing in front of the oven, waiting for the last batch of cheese bread for the day. ìHe doesnít bother being in a relationship anymore.î
Jongin sips the last drop of his coffee before standing up. ìHeís still cute, though.î
ìListen, Jongin-ah.î Chanyeolís tone changes and it isnít his usual cheery demeanour. He looks so serious that he no longer looks like their bakery cashier who usually pulls jokes out of nowhere. ìHeís actually scared. If you want to date him, you need to reassure him that youíre serious. I told you, he was a cutie, everyoneís sweetheart. People teased him for nothing, and if you continue on being like this, he canít tell if you really like him or not.î
Jonginís about to say something, but a lady with her daughter walks towards the bakeryís door and Chanyeol quickly opens it for them, a friendly but polite welcome! escapes his mouth. He only sighs and follows Chanyeol inside the bakery.
When he enters the kitchen, the tin full of cheese breads is already on the table. There are also two tins of cookies beside it. The chef smiles when he sees Kyungsoo tiptoe to reach the jars on the top of the cabinet. He takes quick strides there and takes the jars for him.
ìYou shouldíve called me, Hyungnim.î Jongin hands him the third jar, watching as Kyungsoo fiddles with it. He ruffles Kyungsooís head, but he gets a pinch on his waist in return. ìOw! What was that for?!î
ìIím not a child, you punk.î Kyungsoo hugs the jar with one arm and holds the lid with his free hand to unscrew it. Jongin only smiles at him, and sneakily steals one of the cookies Kyungsooís just made. This doesnít go unnoticed and the first thing that Kyungsoo does is throw the lid at the younger. ìHey! No stealing!î
ìDonít throw things, Hyungnim~î Jongin laughs, he bends to pick the lid. He laughs even harder when he sees Kyungsoo pout while shoving the cookies into the jar. ìI canít eat the cookies if youíve put it on the rack...î
ìYou canít eat them even if they arenít on the rack.î Kyungsoo takes the lid from Jonginís hand, closes the jar and takes another one to be filled up.
ìI was the one who made the batter,î Jongin suddenly says, and Kyungsoo stops moving. The younger chef doesnít even try to fight back his grin, he knows he almost wins. ìYou know, just saying.î
ìFine. Here, take one. But no more after this.î Kyungsoo takes one cookie and holds it in front of Jonginís face, but he doesnít make any move to take it. Dealing with Jongin, though sometimes fun, is still tiring. ìJongin-ah...î
Instead of taking the cookie from Kyungsooís hand, Jongin takes Kyungsooís wrist instead, guiding the cookie to his mouth. Kyungsoo is too surprised to react, his stomach is going crazy again. He hesitantly pushes the cookie past Jonginís lips, but Jongin pulls his hand closer and kisses his fingers slightly. The move sends a jolt up to Kyungsooís spine, a tint of pink is spreading on his cheeks.
ìWhat theóî
ìYou baked the cookie well, Hyungnim!î Jongin says after letting go of Kyungsooís hand, and he immediately takes a step back. Kyungsoo would usually hurt him physically (but not really) when he teases him, but the Head Chef is stiff in his place, mouth agape and limbs frozen.
ìJongin-aaaah, are the cheese breads done?î Jongdae calls as he enters the kitchen, stopping on his second step because he sensed the awkward atmosphere.
ìAh, yes. Coming!î Jongin lifts the tin and brings them to the bakery. Jongdae watches as he leaves, then chuckles at Kyungsoo who looks like a boiled shrimp now, hands busy with the cookies and jars.
ìJongin was at it again, eh, Kyungsoo?î Jongdae teases, not even feeling sorry. His laugh is annoying, but Kyungsoo doesnít really have it in him to chide him. He fills the third jar, pouring the remaining cookies and closes the lid. Jongdae stacks the empty tins and sets them aside. ìOnly three jars?î
ìThe jar supplier hasnít contacted Junmyeon hyung. This is all we have right now.î Kyungsoo puts the lid back and closes the jar.
ìDo you want me to put them in the bakery?î
ìYeah, thanks.î
ìAnytime for you, Kyungsoo hyungnim.î Jongdae winks as he imitates the way Jongin calls Kyungsoo. He laughs again when Kyungsoo groans, arms gathering the jars.
ìNot you too, Jongdae. Go now before I hit you,î Kyungsoo warns, and Jongdae immediately makes a beeline for the bakery, fits of laughter roaring past his lips in process. The Head Chef sighs tiredly as he cleans the table, because he didnít sign up for this. Heíd never expected to be flirted with all day like this, because heís been living for 25 years yet he doesnít know which part of him is worth liking.
Not to mention that today Jonginís flirting intensifies by 150%, because he usually doesnít do skinship. Kyungsoo lifts his right hand and stares at it. Jongin even kissed his fingers! What the hell was he thinking!!
ìKyungsoo-ya?î Junmyeon calls, thereís fear in his eyes. Kyungsoo stops clutching his head and wipes his palms on his apron, trying to act as if he wasnít about to be possessed by some drunk spirit. The manager walks to him, and Kyungsoo gulps as he sees nothing but concern in his eyes. ìAre you okay? Do you want me to take you to the hospital? I mean, Yifan is a psychiatrist andóî
ìHyung!!î
---
Kyungsoo is alone again in the kitchen the next day because their bakeryís got an order of 500 chocolate breads that needs to be filled before the afternoon. Heís put the tools and ingredients he needs on the counter, so he doesnít have to wait for Jongin or Chanyeol to come.
Bowl after bowl of dough, Kyungsooís already done 6 tins of breads in the first half an hour. After the breads are cool enough, he puts them in the rack. Heíll leave the packaging to Jongdae later.
When heís putting the tenth tin into the oven, the sunís already high. Itís been an hour since he started baking and his co-workers should be here soon. He decides to take a rest until this batchís done, since almost half of the breads are ready.
Kyungsoo sits on an empty counter across the ovens, and he takes out his phone to check the weather today since he hasnít watched television this morning. Heís still busy scrolling through local weather news when the oven heís using starts letting out noises. Confused, he hops off the counter, leaves his phone there and approaches the oven.
He feels nervous because this is too sudden, so he grabs the handle and tries to open the oven, but it doesnít work. Heís still trying to open it when the noise gets louder and there are sparks inside the oven. The sparks are similar to fireworks, and he doesnít realize how dangerous the situation is until the sparks get bigger.
ìOh shit shit shit!î
Thereís an explosion and Kyungsoo ducks, hands covering his head. When he looks up, the inside of the oven is burning and the fire spreads to the outside of the machine. Thick smoke starts to fill the kitchen and he pushes the table away from the oven. Heís never handled fire by himself before, and heís all but panicked. He knows that their bakery has 2 fire extinguishers, but he doesnít even know how to use them.
The fire alarm goes off and he bites his lip because the sprinklers which were installed above the ovens donít set off. Apparently the ceiling is too high and the fire canít reach them. Knees shaking, he makes his way to the door. He can see that people outside have stopped in front of the kitchen because of the alarm and they can see the smoke from outside. Kyungsoo nearly cries. He canít do this alone.
Thatís when someone comes in and Kyungsoo gasps because itís Jongin. The younger chef already has a fire extinguisher in his hands, one hand pulling the pin out and he readies himself, fingers gripping the handles.
ìHyung, stay away from the fire!î he hollers, and Kyungsoo immediately runs to the corner. Jongin squeezes the handles, his aim is precise as the white substance spurts out and the fire slowly dies down.
The kitchen is now a mess, white and black mixed where the fire was a few minutes ago. Jongin is panting, but the way he breathes already sounds like a sigh of relief. He quickly exits the kitchen to turn off the fire alarm. He also goes outside to reassure everyone that everythingís already okay inside and that they donít have to call fire fighters.
When he walks back into the kitchen, Kyungsoo is still sitting in the exact same place as before Jongin left the room, all pale and shaking. Jongin approaches him and holds his arms, making sure heís okay.
ìAre you hurt anywhere? You didnít get burnt, right?î Jongin asks. He brings up a hand to brush Kyungsooís bangs off of his forehead because itís sweaty.
ìNo, no... Iím okay...î Kyungsoo answers quietly. Jongin knows Kyungsoo doesnít want him to be worried, but he canít miss the way his fingers tremble.
ìThen... can you stand?î Jongin tries again, and he watches as Kyungsoo moves a bit, trying to at least lift his body. He doesnít go far, because the next second, he slumps back down and lowers his head.
ìNo...î the reply comes as a whisper when Kyungsoo feels how weak his legs are at the moment. ìSorry, I donít know how to handle fire by myself...î Kyungsoo concedes bashfully. ìI was just surprised, thatís it.î
Kyungsoo isnít ready when Jongin pulls him into his embrace, a hand making its way to stroke Kyungsooís hair in a soothing way. He hesitantly hugs Jongin back, fingers clutching at the youngerís tee. He buries his face in Jonginís shoulder, savouring the warmth he offers.
ìDonít be sorry,î Jongin whispers softly. ìIím glad youíre okay.î
Jongin feels like crying at how Kyungsoo still trembles even in his arms, and he realizes that Kyungsoo never really relies on anyone else (except when he asks him or Chanyeol to get things from the upper cupboard because he canít reach for them himself). He feels guilty because all this time, he just teased Kyungsoo rather than actually paying attention to him.
ìItís okay, Hyung... Iím here...î Jongin says as he nuzzles his nose into Kyungsooís hair, at the same time hugging him tighter. Kyungsoo isnít saying anything because it feels so weird, he doesnít even remember the last time someone hugged him like this. He doesnít recall getting this much affection from someone, so he tries to make himself comfortable while it lasts.
Itís not even an hour later that everyoneís gathered in the kitchen, and Junmyeon is still out of breath because he just ran all the way from the station.
ìIím really sorry,î Kyungsoo says, and Jongin falls silent at how steady his voice is. Heís bowing in front of Junmyeon, refusing to lift his head. ìIím the one whoís at fault. Itís my responsibility.î
Because of the fire incident, they still canít open the bakery. There are no freshly baked breads either other than the ones Kyungsooís made, since the oven is in a mess. They canít start working unless the kitchen is clean, and that will take more time.
Chanyeol, Jongdae and Minseok keep exchanging worried glances. This is the first time someone caused a problem this big, and they canít even tell what Junmyeoníd do. Kyungsoo is the Head Chef, so Junmyeon canít just punish him or something.
ìItís okay, Kyungsoo-ya. Lift your head.î Junmyeon puts a hand on Kyungsooís shoulder, and the younger looks up at him. ìNo, donít look at me like that. Stop bowing.î
Kyungsoo finally straightens his back, but he lowers his gaze and stares at his shoes instead of Junmyeon. The atmosphere is tense, no one dares to say even a word. Junmyeon purses his lips and give Kyungsooís shoulder a comforting squeeze.
ìListen to me, Kyungsoo,î Junmyeon starts. His tone is friendly as usual and it puts Kyungsooís heart at ease. ìThe ovens here are quite old, so Iím actually not surprised that it malfunctioned. So itís definitely not your fault, okay? Donít push the blame onto yourself.î
ìYes, Hyung. Thank you.î Kyungsoo bows again, but this time he doesnít hesitate to lift his head. Heís so relieved now.
ìDid you put out the fire?î Junmyeon points his finger at Kyungsoo, but the Head Chef is quick to shake his head, so Junmyeon shifts his finger to Jongin.
ìYeah, it was me,î Jongin confirms, and Junmyeon smiles at him proudly.
ìThank you, Jongin.î Junmyeon ruffles Jonginís hair, and the younger only smiles shyly in return. ìAnyway, we only have one oven right now, so you canít bake many breads today. Iíll get us new ovens next week. Case closed, okay? And Kyungsoo, donít even feel guilty. You guys always work hard, so keep up the good work.î
The chaotic morning ends just like that and the day goes as usual. Though the chefs arenít as busy because they only have one oven and thereís nothing much to do. Many customers are disappointed with the lack of breads they have today, and Kyungsoo can only stare at the bakery sadly. His co-workers try to cheer him, though. Pats on the back and supporting smiles are quite enough to comfort Kyungsoo. He works hard to finish the chocolate breads on time, the 500th bread is done before their lunch break.
When they call it a day, Kyungsoo feels really tired mentally. He dazes off a lot and canít stay focused. Jongdae notices this and snatches the keys from Kyungsooís hand when the Head Chef looks confused as heís about to lock the bakery.
ìLeave it to me,î Jongdae sighs, putting a hand on Kyungsooís shoulder. ìSomeone needs to take you home.î
ìWhy?? Iím completely okay,î Kyungsoo pouts like a child and Jongin whoís standing beside him has to resist the urge to hug him tight because heís really cute.
ìSee! You look like youíre drunk!î Jongdae groans because Kyungsoo isnít one to act cute. Kyungsoo is cute, but personality-wise heís really manly and mature, unlike his appearance. ìAnd by someone, I mean you, Jongin-ah.î
Kyungsoo and Jongin look at each other, and Jongin smiles fondly at the Head Chef. ìLetís take a walk first, Hyungnim. You need to relax.î
The scene of Jongin hugging him plays in Kyungsooís mind, and he feels his face getting warmer. They didnít talk much today because he was too busy helping Jongdae with the packaging. Even though it might be an awkward night, he nods and lets Jongin put an arm around his shoulder. Jongdae bids them goodbye and asks Jongin to take care of Kyungsoo.
Theyíre walking side by side, Jonginís arm still around Kyungsooís shoulders. Kyungsoo doesnít know how to react to the contact, because heís never walked this close with Jongin before.
ìAre you okay?î Jongin asks after a while, his voice is nothing but concerned.
ìYeah... Iím just tired, thatís all.î
ìWeíll get new ovens, donít worry.î
ìI know.î Kyungsoo lowers his head, and he feels guilty because Jongin is terribly kind to him, even when Kyungsoo has scolded or hit him. He lifts his head to look at Jongin this time, and Jongin immediately turns his head toward Kyungsoo. ìI... thank you, Jongin-ah.î
Jongin lifts his eyebrows at this. ìWhat for?î
ìI havenít said thank you this morning when you helped me... I donít think I wouldíve survived that fire if you hadnít come. Thank you.î Jongin smiles at Kyungsooís sincere words, but he doesnít say anything. ìIíll treat you. Is there anything you want to eat?î
ìReally?î Jonginís eyes twinkle at the offer, and he gives it a thought for a while before answering. ìIce cream!î
ìIce... cream? You donít want to have a meal?î
ìNope. Thereís this ice cream shop I really like, letís go there!î
The ice cream shop turns out to be quite big, but itís in the area of the station that Kyungsooís never been to, so he doesnít know about this shop. He lets Jongin buy anything he wants for them. Even though itís Kyungsooís treat, Jongin only orders his favourite, which turns out to be quite cheap. Kyungsooís lips stretches into a heart as Jongin hands him his ice cream, using ëitís sweet, like you,í as the reason why he chose that flavour.
Even though Kyungsoo feels better, Jongin still insists on walking him home. The walk isnít as quiet now that the ice cream has brought up their mood. Jongin dominates the conversation as usual, and Kyungsoo only talks when heís asked, but both of them enjoy the time they share with each other.
Their ice cream is gone when they reach Kyungsooís apartment, the fire incident long forgotten and Jongin is glad that the smile etched on the maleís face is a lot wider now. Heís glad that heís the one who put it there.
ìThank you, Jongin-ah. You helped me a lot today.î Kyungsoo smiles to Jongin, his voice is somehow euphonious.
Jongin shrugs in response, heís always glad to help Kyungsoo. ìIt was fun, no problem. We should do this again.î
ìSure, but youíre paying next time.î Kyungsoo sticks out his tongue, and Jongin laughs at that. ìWell, then? Itís late, you should go home. Good nióî
The older male doesnít get to finish his sentence because the next second, Jongin is pressing his lips against Kyungsooís. Itís a simple and innocent kiss, and Jongin pulls away as fast as he leaned down. Kyungsoo canít believe that Jongin did it, so he only stares at Jongin in disbelief.
ìI like you, Hyung. A lot,î Jongin confesses for the first time. Itís actually not a secret, everyone in the bakery, even Kyungsoo knows about it. But Jonginís never said it out loud, and Kyungsoo didnít think heíd be surprised even when he already knows. Jongin caresses Kyungsooís cheek gently, his thumb sliding over Kyungsooís lower lip. He starts to lean down again. ìC-can I?î
This isnít right, Kyungsoo thinks as he gulps. But seeing how close Jonginís face with his, or how his breath ghosts over his face, he knows he canít run from this. He finds himself nodding and closes his eyes as Jongin presses their lips together.
Maybe the kiss isnít the best that Kyungsooís ever had, and he knows the way he clutches Jonginís shirt is awkward, but at this moment, itís perfect. He likes the way Jongin runs his fingers through his hair, and the way Jongin tilts his head to get a better angle. An arm circles Kyungsooís waist, and he finally kisses Jongin back.
They share a few more kisses until Jongin stops, but he keeps their lips touching. He readies himself for whatever answer Kyungsoo will give him, but he wonít give up. Their faces are really close to each other and Jongin is trying hard to stay focused on Kyungsooís eyes.
ìGo out with me?î
Seconds pass without an answer, but when Kyungsoo leans in to kiss Jongin, he already knows the answer.
---
Jongdae replaces the empty tin in the bakery with the new one which is full of freshly baked muffins. A girl approaches him shyly and he smiles kindly at her.
ìCan I help you?î he asks.
ìUh, just wondering... do you make cakes by order?î she asks back, voice hesitant and bashful.
ìOh, I do! Just tell me what kind of cake you want. Iíll make it for you.î
ìThen... Iíll go here again with my friend later...î
ìSure thing! This is my name if you need me, okay?î Jongdae taps his nametag on his chest, and the girl nods at him. She bows at him before exiting the bakery, and Jongdae walks back to the kitchen to put back the empty tin. He furrows his eyebrows when he sees Chanyeol standing near the door leading to the kitchen, arms crossed, face confused. ìHey, Yeol!î he calls and the tall cashier turns his head at him. ìWhy arenít you behind the cashier?î
ìBecause of them.î Chanyeol nonchalantly points at the kitchen, and Jongdae follows his line of sight.
In the kitchen are Jongin and Kyungsoo, standing behind the table together. Both of them are filling the dough with cream, but what makes it unusual is theyíre standing too close to each other. They look like theyíre having a sweet conversation, judging from the way they keep smiling while talking. Jongdae smiles in amusement, and he accidentally elbows Chanyeol.
ìDid something happen last night? I shouldnít have gone home earlier.î Chanyeol eyes Jongdae in suspicion, but the older male shakes his head.
ìI have no idea. Jongin walked Kyungsoo home last night, anything couldíve happened.î Jongdaeís answer doesnít convince Chanyeol, but both of them look weird today. Jongdae steps closer to the kitchenís door, he hollers but not loud enough for the customers in the bakery to hear. ìHey, you dudes! Are you finally dating now?î
Both Kyungsoo and Jongin look surprised by the question, and Jongdaeís expected that Kyungsoo doesnít want to answer. The Head Chef continues on filling the dough with cream, clearly ignoring him. Jongin, however, grins widely and puts a thumb up. This time, itís Jongdae and Chanyeol who are surprised. Jongdae looks over his shoulder to see Chanyeolís dumbfounded expression.
---
Kyungsoo is alone in the kitchen again as usual, since heís always the one who arrives at the bakery first. Heís about to take off his bag, but he spots an unfamiliar thing near the counter. Itís a stool, but heís never seen it in the kitchen before. Squinting, he takes a good look at the stool, only to realize that thereís something engraved on the surface.
There are hearts everywhere, also a messy scratch of hangul that says his name on it. He looks at it ridiculously, trying to think about where this thing came from. His phone rings and he sighs when he sees that itís Jongin, quickly connecting the line.
ìWhat?î he greets not-so-friendly, but Jongin only chuckles at him.
ìBehind you,î Jongin says from the other line, and Kyungsoo turns around to find him standing behind the glass, still outside the bakery. His phone is on his ear, a wide grin painted across his face. ìDo you like it?î
ìOh God, I figured this was from you.î Kyungsoo rolls his eyes, but heís also smiling because he canít deny that Kim Jongin is really sweet sometimes.
ìI canít always get things from the cupboard for you, so that should help a bit.î
ìThanks, you punk.î
ìYou love this punk.î
ìI hate you.î
Jongin grins even wider, shoulders shaking a bit as he giggles. He finds it cute when Kyungsoo doesnít know how to handle his cheesiness.
ìI love you too.î
❊ title: reaching out (to you)
❊ pairings: kai/d.o
❊ rating: g
❊ word count: 5,499
❊ summary: It's impossible for Kyungsoo and Jongin to consider each other as insignificant. For Kyungsoo, it's because he needs Jongin everyday. For Jongin, it's because Kyungsoo is Kyungsoo.
❊ a/n: Because I love you, here's a second fic for you. To make up for the first fic maybe? hehehe
The sun isnít even high and mass amounts of people and vehicles on the streets arenít there yet, but thatís just how Kyungsoo likes it. Itís pretty early but heís already in the kitchen at the back of the bakery heís working at. The kitchen and the sidewalk outside are separated by a wall thatís about waist height with glass on the upper half of it. Many people stop there to see the process of making breads, cakes and cookies. Some just take it for light entertainment during their walk from work, some get invited to actually go inside and buy something.
Do Kyungsoo is the Head Chef there, mostly in charge of supervising other chefs so that they will do well, but heís also very active in the kitchen and the workers are glad to have him as the Head Chef. Heís quiet most of the time, but also very humble and kind to everyone.
Even though itís only 6.30 in the morning, Kyungsoo is readying himself to make a shitload of macarons he promised Junmyeon because their shop has been out of stock. 15 years experience of cooking and yet he still considers macarons one of the hardest things to make. Kyungsoo is already dressed in his chef coat and toque, which are always white and fresh. Heís wearing black dress pants and a waist apron.
After making sure that the table heís going to work on is clean and shiny, he takes out the ingredients and places them on the table. He rubs his hands together to wipe off the flour he got there when he was grabbing the flour bag, and puts his hands on his waist before sighing in exasperation.
Craning his neck, he gives the upper cupboard a deep, tired stare. In all 5 years heís spent working here, not even once has he been able to reach them. He doesnít understand why those cupboards have to be that high. Usually, the taller workers there like Jongin, one of the chefs or Chanyeol, whoís the cashier guy, would grab things for the chefs. This morning is different, though, because Kyungsoo is alone and he doesnít know how to start baking if he canít get the tools.
ìShould I call Jongin?î he asks to himself as he reaches the pocket of his apron to get his phone.
ìNo need to, Iím already here!î
Kyungsoo jumps in surprise and he nearly throw the device away. He turns on his feet to see Jongin standing behind him, a wide grin on his face. Actually heís about to throw one of his shoes at Jonginís face, but heís relieved that the younger chef is already here.
ìYou scared me,î Kyungsoo hisses, and Jongin only chuckles in return.
ìGood morning, Kyungsoo-nim!î
ìGood morning, Jongin-ah,î Kyungsoo greets back as his shoulders slumped down. He stops a bit and scans Jongin from head to toe. ìDidnít you come home from work with those exact same clothes yesterday?î
ìHuh?î Jongin looks down to his own body and giggles sheepishly. ìI slept at Sehunís last night. I have taken a shower, so worry not!î
ìAnd isnít it too early for you? I thought you wouldnít bother waking up at this time.î
ìAh, that...î Jongin unzips his jacket and grabs the buckle of his belt as a habit of which its origin is mysterious, and Kyungsoo tries not to get caught as he averts his eyes from there at the speed of light. ìActually I drank too early yesterday, I woke up at 4 this morning with a hangover and my house is too far so I went here after taking a shower.î
ìSure, sure. Go change and help me after youíre done.î
ìYes, sir!î
If thereís one thing thatís no longer a secret between the workers in the bakery, itís that Kim Jongin has a huge, fat crush on Kyungsoo. Heís been showing it almost a year now, but the Head Chef is too stoic and unassertive to actually respond to Jonginís continuous teasing and flirting.
ìHyungnim,î Jongin calls after heís done changing. Kyungsoo only glances from his peripheral vision that Jongin is wearing the uniform as usualóthe sleeves are rolled up to his elbows and heís not wearing his toque. Honestly, Jongin is the most good-looking chef here and he draws the most attention from the customers and even passerbys.
ìCan you, um,î Kyungsoo stutters, he points to the upper cupboard in where most of his tools are placed. ìCan you help me get out the tools?î
ìOf course! What do you need?î
Unlike Kyungsoo, Jongin doesnít even need to tiptoe to reach the cupboard. Heís only half a head taller than Kyungsoo, but his arms are a lot longer than his and even though he wonít admit it, he envies Jongin so much. The younger chef is tall, handsome, physically active and has a nice body. Those are everything Kyungsoo doesnít have, but he knows he canít say those things to him.
Jongin gets all the tools Kyungsoo tells him to take, and he closes the cupboard after taking the whisk.
ìHere you are,î he says with a smile, itís so bright that Kyungsoo is afraid he might go blind sometime soon.
ìThanks.î Kyungsoo accepts the whisk and puts it on the table.
ìAnytime, Hyungnim.î Jongin winks at him and Kyungsoo nearly loses his sanity because even though he acts like he doesnít care about Jonginís endless flirting with him, it actually makes him feel fuzzy inside. He bites his lip as the butterflies in his stomach go crazy, at the same time trying to fight the blush thatís threatening to creep to his cheeks.
Kyungsoo doesnít remember exactly when the last time he felt this kind of feeling. He remembered coming to this bakery 6 years ago, when he was still a college student. His days were spent studying and working so he had no time for relationships, even his last boyfriend dumped him because he was too career-driven. After graduating, he started working full-time and got promoted to Head Chef in only 6 months.
He doesnít even have friends outside the bakery except Baekhyun, who was his classmate in high school. Being in a relationship might be the last thing on his to-do-list, and he doesnít really bother looking for a crush. Chanyeolís tried to drag him to night clubs and group dates, but nothing worked. At least I have kind friends around me. I get to wake up and go to work every morning. Thatís what he thinks.
ìYo! Kyungsoo!!î
For the second time that day, the Head Chef jumps, hands on his chest to prevent his heart from leaping through his rib cage. He turns around to see Chanyeol grinning widely at him. The guyís still in his oversized hoodie, and Kyungsoo can tell that he hasnít washed it since last month, but it doesnít make his smile less shiny.
ìYou scared me,î Kyungsoo grumbles at him. Jongin, whoís in the other side of the room, stops mixing the batter when he hears that familiar sentence.
ìYou said the same thing to me this morning!î Jongin giggles, shoulders shaking and eyes turning to crescents.
ìThatís because he gets surprised easily, Jongin-ah,î Chanyeol quickly agrees, and he backs away when Kyungsoo tries to kick him. The three of them laugh when Kyungsoo finally manages to land a punch on Chanyeolís upper arm. ìDonít you, Kyungsoo?î
ìHeís adorable,î Jongin says, face looking dreamy. Chanyeol quickly clamps his lips shut, he knows whatís coming next. Kyungsoo glares at the younger chef and the tips of his ears turn red.
ìDonít call me adorable!î he shouts as he lifts a spatula. Jongin laughs, he immediately hugs the bowl of batter and tries to avoid the attack.
Itís a daily routine for Kyungsoo to be teased by his co-workers, and he knows at the end of the day they will be smiling together as Kyungsoo locks the front door. He never hits them hard since heís not one with extra strength. They donít take Kyungsooís scolds seriously, either. Chanyeol will lift the flour sack for him when itís too heavy and Jongin will take the bowls from the upper cupboard when asked.
Kyungsoo gets the macarons ready today, and Junmyeon thanks him when he sees the fresh batch on the display rack. Jongin is busy with the breakfast muffins people buy a lot in the mornings. Jongdae and Minseok are concentrating on making and decorating cakes.
Days always go like this, sound of endless ticks from the oven and tins clattering filling the room. Itís the smell of baked soufflÈ and warm chocolate that keeps them alive.
ìBut donít you think Kyungsoo is hard to love?î Chanyeol asks during lunch break. Theyíre sitting on the bench outside the bakery since thereís no customer inside, slowly sipping the coffee Minseokís made for them.
ìNo?î Jongin smiles to himself, hands playing with the paper cup. ìBut he doesnít have much dating experience, does he?î
ìThe last time he dated was in college!î Chanyeol confirms, voice sounds a bit sorry for his friend. ìBut he was everyoneís sweetheart during high school, you know? Many guys wanted to date him and his locker was always full with chocolate bars from the girls on Valentineís Day.î
Itís the first time Jongin hears this, so he fixes his sitting position, clearly interested. ìOh? I didnít know he was that popular?î
ìYeah. He was hella shy too, so he turned down most of them. He dated some for a while, but they didnít work out well. He became really careful about relationships since then, and now look at him.î Chanyeol turns his head to the window that shows the kitchen from the outside, Jongin following his line of sight. The Head Chef is standing in front of the oven, waiting for the last batch of cheese bread for the day. ìHe doesnít bother being in a relationship anymore.î
Jongin sips the last drop of his coffee before standing up. ìHeís still cute, though.î
ìListen, Jongin-ah.î Chanyeolís tone changes and it isnít his usual cheery demeanour. He looks so serious that he no longer looks like their bakery cashier who usually pulls jokes out of nowhere. ìHeís actually scared. If you want to date him, you need to reassure him that youíre serious. I told you, he was a cutie, everyoneís sweetheart. People teased him for nothing, and if you continue on being like this, he canít tell if you really like him or not.î
Jonginís about to say something, but a lady with her daughter walks towards the bakeryís door and Chanyeol quickly opens it for them, a friendly but polite welcome! escapes his mouth. He only sighs and follows Chanyeol inside the bakery.
When he enters the kitchen, the tin full of cheese breads is already on the table. There are also two tins of cookies beside it. The chef smiles when he sees Kyungsoo tiptoe to reach the jars on the top of the cabinet. He takes quick strides there and takes the jars for him.
ìYou shouldíve called me, Hyungnim.î Jongin hands him the third jar, watching as Kyungsoo fiddles with it. He ruffles Kyungsooís head, but he gets a pinch on his waist in return. ìOw! What was that for?!î
ìIím not a child, you punk.î Kyungsoo hugs the jar with one arm and holds the lid with his free hand to unscrew it. Jongin only smiles at him, and sneakily steals one of the cookies Kyungsooís just made. This doesnít go unnoticed and the first thing that Kyungsoo does is throw the lid at the younger. ìHey! No stealing!î
ìDonít throw things, Hyungnim~î Jongin laughs, he bends to pick the lid. He laughs even harder when he sees Kyungsoo pout while shoving the cookies into the jar. ìI canít eat the cookies if youíve put it on the rack...î
ìYou canít eat them even if they arenít on the rack.î Kyungsoo takes the lid from Jonginís hand, closes the jar and takes another one to be filled up.
ìI was the one who made the batter,î Jongin suddenly says, and Kyungsoo stops moving. The younger chef doesnít even try to fight back his grin, he knows he almost wins. ìYou know, just saying.î
ìFine. Here, take one. But no more after this.î Kyungsoo takes one cookie and holds it in front of Jonginís face, but he doesnít make any move to take it. Dealing with Jongin, though sometimes fun, is still tiring. ìJongin-ah...î
Instead of taking the cookie from Kyungsooís hand, Jongin takes Kyungsooís wrist instead, guiding the cookie to his mouth. Kyungsoo is too surprised to react, his stomach is going crazy again. He hesitantly pushes the cookie past Jonginís lips, but Jongin pulls his hand closer and kisses his fingers slightly. The move sends a jolt up to Kyungsooís spine, a tint of pink is spreading on his cheeks.
ìWhat theóî
ìYou baked the cookie well, Hyungnim!î Jongin says after letting go of Kyungsooís hand, and he immediately takes a step back. Kyungsoo would usually hurt him physically (but not really) when he teases him, but the Head Chef is stiff in his place, mouth agape and limbs frozen.
ìJongin-aaaah, are the cheese breads done?î Jongdae calls as he enters the kitchen, stopping on his second step because he sensed the awkward atmosphere.
ìAh, yes. Coming!î Jongin lifts the tin and brings them to the bakery. Jongdae watches as he leaves, then chuckles at Kyungsoo who looks like a boiled shrimp now, hands busy with the cookies and jars.
ìJongin was at it again, eh, Kyungsoo?î Jongdae teases, not even feeling sorry. His laugh is annoying, but Kyungsoo doesnít really have it in him to chide him. He fills the third jar, pouring the remaining cookies and closes the lid. Jongdae stacks the empty tins and sets them aside. ìOnly three jars?î
ìThe jar supplier hasnít contacted Junmyeon hyung. This is all we have right now.î Kyungsoo puts the lid back and closes the jar.
ìDo you want me to put them in the bakery?î
ìYeah, thanks.î
ìAnytime for you, Kyungsoo hyungnim.î Jongdae winks as he imitates the way Jongin calls Kyungsoo. He laughs again when Kyungsoo groans, arms gathering the jars.
ìNot you too, Jongdae. Go now before I hit you,î Kyungsoo warns, and Jongdae immediately makes a beeline for the bakery, fits of laughter roaring past his lips in process. The Head Chef sighs tiredly as he cleans the table, because he didnít sign up for this. Heíd never expected to be flirted with all day like this, because heís been living for 25 years yet he doesnít know which part of him is worth liking.
Not to mention that today Jonginís flirting intensifies by 150%, because he usually doesnít do skinship. Kyungsoo lifts his right hand and stares at it. Jongin even kissed his fingers! What the hell was he thinking!!
ìKyungsoo-ya?î Junmyeon calls, thereís fear in his eyes. Kyungsoo stops clutching his head and wipes his palms on his apron, trying to act as if he wasnít about to be possessed by some drunk spirit. The manager walks to him, and Kyungsoo gulps as he sees nothing but concern in his eyes. ìAre you okay? Do you want me to take you to the hospital? I mean, Yifan is a psychiatrist andóî
ìHyung!!î
---
Kyungsoo is alone again in the kitchen the next day because their bakeryís got an order of 500 chocolate breads that needs to be filled before the afternoon. Heís put the tools and ingredients he needs on the counter, so he doesnít have to wait for Jongin or Chanyeol to come.
Bowl after bowl of dough, Kyungsooís already done 6 tins of breads in the first half an hour. After the breads are cool enough, he puts them in the rack. Heíll leave the packaging to Jongdae later.
When heís putting the tenth tin into the oven, the sunís already high. Itís been an hour since he started baking and his co-workers should be here soon. He decides to take a rest until this batchís done, since almost half of the breads are ready.
Kyungsoo sits on an empty counter across the ovens, and he takes out his phone to check the weather today since he hasnít watched television this morning. Heís still busy scrolling through local weather news when the oven heís using starts letting out noises. Confused, he hops off the counter, leaves his phone there and approaches the oven.
He feels nervous because this is too sudden, so he grabs the handle and tries to open the oven, but it doesnít work. Heís still trying to open it when the noise gets louder and there are sparks inside the oven. The sparks are similar to fireworks, and he doesnít realize how dangerous the situation is until the sparks get bigger.
ìOh shit shit shit!î
Thereís an explosion and Kyungsoo ducks, hands covering his head. When he looks up, the inside of the oven is burning and the fire spreads to the outside of the machine. Thick smoke starts to fill the kitchen and he pushes the table away from the oven. Heís never handled fire by himself before, and heís all but panicked. He knows that their bakery has 2 fire extinguishers, but he doesnít even know how to use them.
The fire alarm goes off and he bites his lip because the sprinklers which were installed above the ovens donít set off. Apparently the ceiling is too high and the fire canít reach them. Knees shaking, he makes his way to the door. He can see that people outside have stopped in front of the kitchen because of the alarm and they can see the smoke from outside. Kyungsoo nearly cries. He canít do this alone.
Thatís when someone comes in and Kyungsoo gasps because itís Jongin. The younger chef already has a fire extinguisher in his hands, one hand pulling the pin out and he readies himself, fingers gripping the handles.
ìHyung, stay away from the fire!î he hollers, and Kyungsoo immediately runs to the corner. Jongin squeezes the handles, his aim is precise as the white substance spurts out and the fire slowly dies down.
The kitchen is now a mess, white and black mixed where the fire was a few minutes ago. Jongin is panting, but the way he breathes already sounds like a sigh of relief. He quickly exits the kitchen to turn off the fire alarm. He also goes outside to reassure everyone that everythingís already okay inside and that they donít have to call fire fighters.
When he walks back into the kitchen, Kyungsoo is still sitting in the exact same place as before Jongin left the room, all pale and shaking. Jongin approaches him and holds his arms, making sure heís okay.
ìAre you hurt anywhere? You didnít get burnt, right?î Jongin asks. He brings up a hand to brush Kyungsooís bangs off of his forehead because itís sweaty.
ìNo, no... Iím okay...î Kyungsoo answers quietly. Jongin knows Kyungsoo doesnít want him to be worried, but he canít miss the way his fingers tremble.
ìThen... can you stand?î Jongin tries again, and he watches as Kyungsoo moves a bit, trying to at least lift his body. He doesnít go far, because the next second, he slumps back down and lowers his head.
ìNo...î the reply comes as a whisper when Kyungsoo feels how weak his legs are at the moment. ìSorry, I donít know how to handle fire by myself...î Kyungsoo concedes bashfully. ìI was just surprised, thatís it.î
Kyungsoo isnít ready when Jongin pulls him into his embrace, a hand making its way to stroke Kyungsooís hair in a soothing way. He hesitantly hugs Jongin back, fingers clutching at the youngerís tee. He buries his face in Jonginís shoulder, savouring the warmth he offers.
ìDonít be sorry,î Jongin whispers softly. ìIím glad youíre okay.î
Jongin feels like crying at how Kyungsoo still trembles even in his arms, and he realizes that Kyungsoo never really relies on anyone else (except when he asks him or Chanyeol to get things from the upper cupboard because he canít reach for them himself). He feels guilty because all this time, he just teased Kyungsoo rather than actually paying attention to him.
ìItís okay, Hyung... Iím here...î Jongin says as he nuzzles his nose into Kyungsooís hair, at the same time hugging him tighter. Kyungsoo isnít saying anything because it feels so weird, he doesnít even remember the last time someone hugged him like this. He doesnít recall getting this much affection from someone, so he tries to make himself comfortable while it lasts.
Itís not even an hour later that everyoneís gathered in the kitchen, and Junmyeon is still out of breath because he just ran all the way from the station.
ìIím really sorry,î Kyungsoo says, and Jongin falls silent at how steady his voice is. Heís bowing in front of Junmyeon, refusing to lift his head. ìIím the one whoís at fault. Itís my responsibility.î
Because of the fire incident, they still canít open the bakery. There are no freshly baked breads either other than the ones Kyungsooís made, since the oven is in a mess. They canít start working unless the kitchen is clean, and that will take more time.
Chanyeol, Jongdae and Minseok keep exchanging worried glances. This is the first time someone caused a problem this big, and they canít even tell what Junmyeoníd do. Kyungsoo is the Head Chef, so Junmyeon canít just punish him or something.
ìItís okay, Kyungsoo-ya. Lift your head.î Junmyeon puts a hand on Kyungsooís shoulder, and the younger looks up at him. ìNo, donít look at me like that. Stop bowing.î
Kyungsoo finally straightens his back, but he lowers his gaze and stares at his shoes instead of Junmyeon. The atmosphere is tense, no one dares to say even a word. Junmyeon purses his lips and give Kyungsooís shoulder a comforting squeeze.
ìListen to me, Kyungsoo,î Junmyeon starts. His tone is friendly as usual and it puts Kyungsooís heart at ease. ìThe ovens here are quite old, so Iím actually not surprised that it malfunctioned. So itís definitely not your fault, okay? Donít push the blame onto yourself.î
ìYes, Hyung. Thank you.î Kyungsoo bows again, but this time he doesnít hesitate to lift his head. Heís so relieved now.
ìDid you put out the fire?î Junmyeon points his finger at Kyungsoo, but the Head Chef is quick to shake his head, so Junmyeon shifts his finger to Jongin.
ìYeah, it was me,î Jongin confirms, and Junmyeon smiles at him proudly.
ìThank you, Jongin.î Junmyeon ruffles Jonginís hair, and the younger only smiles shyly in return. ìAnyway, we only have one oven right now, so you canít bake many breads today. Iíll get us new ovens next week. Case closed, okay? And Kyungsoo, donít even feel guilty. You guys always work hard, so keep up the good work.î
The chaotic morning ends just like that and the day goes as usual. Though the chefs arenít as busy because they only have one oven and thereís nothing much to do. Many customers are disappointed with the lack of breads they have today, and Kyungsoo can only stare at the bakery sadly. His co-workers try to cheer him, though. Pats on the back and supporting smiles are quite enough to comfort Kyungsoo. He works hard to finish the chocolate breads on time, the 500th bread is done before their lunch break.
When they call it a day, Kyungsoo feels really tired mentally. He dazes off a lot and canít stay focused. Jongdae notices this and snatches the keys from Kyungsooís hand when the Head Chef looks confused as heís about to lock the bakery.
ìLeave it to me,î Jongdae sighs, putting a hand on Kyungsooís shoulder. ìSomeone needs to take you home.î
ìWhy?? Iím completely okay,î Kyungsoo pouts like a child and Jongin whoís standing beside him has to resist the urge to hug him tight because heís really cute.
ìSee! You look like youíre drunk!î Jongdae groans because Kyungsoo isnít one to act cute. Kyungsoo is cute, but personality-wise heís really manly and mature, unlike his appearance. ìAnd by someone, I mean you, Jongin-ah.î
Kyungsoo and Jongin look at each other, and Jongin smiles fondly at the Head Chef. ìLetís take a walk first, Hyungnim. You need to relax.î
The scene of Jongin hugging him plays in Kyungsooís mind, and he feels his face getting warmer. They didnít talk much today because he was too busy helping Jongdae with the packaging. Even though it might be an awkward night, he nods and lets Jongin put an arm around his shoulder. Jongdae bids them goodbye and asks Jongin to take care of Kyungsoo.
Theyíre walking side by side, Jonginís arm still around Kyungsooís shoulders. Kyungsoo doesnít know how to react to the contact, because heís never walked this close with Jongin before.
ìAre you okay?î Jongin asks after a while, his voice is nothing but concerned.
ìYeah... Iím just tired, thatís all.î
ìWeíll get new ovens, donít worry.î
ìI know.î Kyungsoo lowers his head, and he feels guilty because Jongin is terribly kind to him, even when Kyungsoo has scolded or hit him. He lifts his head to look at Jongin this time, and Jongin immediately turns his head toward Kyungsoo. ìI... thank you, Jongin-ah.î
Jongin lifts his eyebrows at this. ìWhat for?î
ìI havenít said thank you this morning when you helped me... I donít think I wouldíve survived that fire if you hadnít come. Thank you.î Jongin smiles at Kyungsooís sincere words, but he doesnít say anything. ìIíll treat you. Is there anything you want to eat?î
ìReally?î Jonginís eyes twinkle at the offer, and he gives it a thought for a while before answering. ìIce cream!î
ìIce... cream? You donít want to have a meal?î
ìNope. Thereís this ice cream shop I really like, letís go there!î
The ice cream shop turns out to be quite big, but itís in the area of the station that Kyungsooís never been to, so he doesnít know about this shop. He lets Jongin buy anything he wants for them. Even though itís Kyungsooís treat, Jongin only orders his favourite, which turns out to be quite cheap. Kyungsooís lips stretches into a heart as Jongin hands him his ice cream, using ëitís sweet, like you,í as the reason why he chose that flavour.
Even though Kyungsoo feels better, Jongin still insists on walking him home. The walk isnít as quiet now that the ice cream has brought up their mood. Jongin dominates the conversation as usual, and Kyungsoo only talks when heís asked, but both of them enjoy the time they share with each other.
Their ice cream is gone when they reach Kyungsooís apartment, the fire incident long forgotten and Jongin is glad that the smile etched on the maleís face is a lot wider now. Heís glad that heís the one who put it there.
ìThank you, Jongin-ah. You helped me a lot today.î Kyungsoo smiles to Jongin, his voice is somehow euphonious.
Jongin shrugs in response, heís always glad to help Kyungsoo. ìIt was fun, no problem. We should do this again.î
ìSure, but youíre paying next time.î Kyungsoo sticks out his tongue, and Jongin laughs at that. ìWell, then? Itís late, you should go home. Good nióî
The older male doesnít get to finish his sentence because the next second, Jongin is pressing his lips against Kyungsooís. Itís a simple and innocent kiss, and Jongin pulls away as fast as he leaned down. Kyungsoo canít believe that Jongin did it, so he only stares at Jongin in disbelief.
ìI like you, Hyung. A lot,î Jongin confesses for the first time. Itís actually not a secret, everyone in the bakery, even Kyungsoo knows about it. But Jonginís never said it out loud, and Kyungsoo didnít think heíd be surprised even when he already knows. Jongin caresses Kyungsooís cheek gently, his thumb sliding over Kyungsooís lower lip. He starts to lean down again. ìC-can I?î
This isnít right, Kyungsoo thinks as he gulps. But seeing how close Jonginís face with his, or how his breath ghosts over his face, he knows he canít run from this. He finds himself nodding and closes his eyes as Jongin presses their lips together.
Maybe the kiss isnít the best that Kyungsooís ever had, and he knows the way he clutches Jonginís shirt is awkward, but at this moment, itís perfect. He likes the way Jongin runs his fingers through his hair, and the way Jongin tilts his head to get a better angle. An arm circles Kyungsooís waist, and he finally kisses Jongin back.
They share a few more kisses until Jongin stops, but he keeps their lips touching. He readies himself for whatever answer Kyungsoo will give him, but he wonít give up. Their faces are really close to each other and Jongin is trying hard to stay focused on Kyungsooís eyes.
ìGo out with me?î
Seconds pass without an answer, but when Kyungsoo leans in to kiss Jongin, he already knows the answer.
---
Jongdae replaces the empty tin in the bakery with the new one which is full of freshly baked muffins. A girl approaches him shyly and he smiles kindly at her.
ìCan I help you?î he asks.
ìUh, just wondering... do you make cakes by order?î she asks back, voice hesitant and bashful.
ìOh, I do! Just tell me what kind of cake you want. Iíll make it for you.î
ìThen... Iíll go here again with my friend later...î
ìSure thing! This is my name if you need me, okay?î Jongdae taps his nametag on his chest, and the girl nods at him. She bows at him before exiting the bakery, and Jongdae walks back to the kitchen to put back the empty tin. He furrows his eyebrows when he sees Chanyeol standing near the door leading to the kitchen, arms crossed, face confused. ìHey, Yeol!î he calls and the tall cashier turns his head at him. ìWhy arenít you behind the cashier?î
ìBecause of them.î Chanyeol nonchalantly points at the kitchen, and Jongdae follows his line of sight.
In the kitchen are Jongin and Kyungsoo, standing behind the table together. Both of them are filling the dough with cream, but what makes it unusual is theyíre standing too close to each other. They look like theyíre having a sweet conversation, judging from the way they keep smiling while talking. Jongdae smiles in amusement, and he accidentally elbows Chanyeol.
ìDid something happen last night? I shouldnít have gone home earlier.î Chanyeol eyes Jongdae in suspicion, but the older male shakes his head.
ìI have no idea. Jongin walked Kyungsoo home last night, anything couldíve happened.î Jongdaeís answer doesnít convince Chanyeol, but both of them look weird today. Jongdae steps closer to the kitchenís door, he hollers but not loud enough for the customers in the bakery to hear. ìHey, you dudes! Are you finally dating now?î
Both Kyungsoo and Jongin look surprised by the question, and Jongdaeís expected that Kyungsoo doesnít want to answer. The Head Chef continues on filling the dough with cream, clearly ignoring him. Jongin, however, grins widely and puts a thumb up. This time, itís Jongdae and Chanyeol who are surprised. Jongdae looks over his shoulder to see Chanyeolís dumbfounded expression.
---
Kyungsoo is alone in the kitchen again as usual, since heís always the one who arrives at the bakery first. Heís about to take off his bag, but he spots an unfamiliar thing near the counter. Itís a stool, but heís never seen it in the kitchen before. Squinting, he takes a good look at the stool, only to realize that thereís something engraved on the surface.
There are hearts everywhere, also a messy scratch of hangul that says his name on it. He looks at it ridiculously, trying to think about where this thing came from. His phone rings and he sighs when he sees that itís Jongin, quickly connecting the line.
ìWhat?î he greets not-so-friendly, but Jongin only chuckles at him.
ìBehind you,î Jongin says from the other line, and Kyungsoo turns around to find him standing behind the glass, still outside the bakery. His phone is on his ear, a wide grin painted across his face. ìDo you like it?î
ìOh God, I figured this was from you.î Kyungsoo rolls his eyes, but heís also smiling because he canít deny that Kim Jongin is really sweet sometimes.
ìI canít always get things from the cupboard for you, so that should help a bit.î
ìThanks, you punk.î
ìYou love this punk.î
ìI hate you.î
Jongin grins even wider, shoulders shaking a bit as he giggles. He finds it cute when Kyungsoo doesnít know how to handle his cheesiness.
ìI love you too.î