Room for Dessert? [2/2]
When Chanyeol said their next dinner date would be at a surprise location, Baekhyun hardly expected to get out of the taxi in front of a modest apartment building. He double checks the address on his phone before ringing Chanyeol.
“Come on up!” It sounds like Chanyeol is struggling to balance the phone while he moves around, “Apartment 513, I’ll buzz you in.”
Chanyeol’s apartment is much like Baekhyun imagined it, humble and clean -- unflashy in every way, yet still welcoming. There’s a wooden dining table off to the side of the kitchen, and plants and family photos scattered around the living room.
Immediately, Baekhyun is ushered towards the table as Chanyeol moves about, bringing banchan dishes from the kitchen and placing them in an organized circle around the center of the table. He then brings out a mini gas range, followed by a pot of something that smells delicious.
“Dalbaeksu?” Following his nose, Baekhyun can’t resist peeking into the pot as Chanyeol turns on the flame.
“Yup, with neungi mushrooms.” Baekhyun almost gasps -- those aren’t exactly cheap produce.
“It smells delicious,” He praises, eyes still fixated on the pot as he rubs his hands together in anticipation.
“Hopefully the taste can live up to the smell, then.”
And live up to the smell it does. Chanyeol added a touch of perilla with chives and it compliments the chicken perfectly. The broth is just thick enough, and the chicken is cooked perfectly. Baekhyun might be in heaven.
Baekhyun tries not to look like a complete glutton as he scoops a generous second helping.
“This was a dish my mother taught me to make,” Chanyeol eyes Baekhyun’s lips as he smacks his lips after a particularly flavorful bite.
“I would ask for the recipe, but I’d probably butcher it beyond identification.”
Baekhyun’s heart goes into overdrive when Chanyeol smiles up at him to confidently assure, “That’s okay. You can leave the cooking to me.”
Dinner is followed by wine on Chanyeol’s couch, and Baekhyun doesn’t hesitate to snuggle a little closer to Chanyeol as he tells him about his day at work. It’s different than snuggling with Jongdae, a new kind of comfort. Baekhyun relishes in the way Chanyeol’s eyes react to everything he says -- no matter how mundane it may be -- and the way Chanyeol’s hand rubs mindless patterns against his knee.
Before he even realizes it, it’s 10:30pm and he groans because he has an early morning at work the next day. He doesn’t want to leave just yet, but he still pries himself away from the couch and Chanyeol’s warmth. Chanyeol willingly lets him go, but not without a look of disappointment.
It’s as Baekhyun is pushing his arm through his coat sleeve that Chanyeol tentatively reaches out to brush his fingers along Baekhyun’s cheek.
“Thanks for coming over for dinner,” He says quietly.
“I think I should be thanking you for cooking such a delicious meal,” Baekhyun counters, equally delicately. He doesn’t miss the way Chanyeol’s eyes are focused on his lips, nor the way his hand has stopped at the junction of his neck and shoulder and his thumb rubs small circles in the exposed flesh.
Chanyeol leans in first, but Baekhyun meets him halfway. Once their lips meet, he threads his fingers through Chanyeol’s hair and tugs him even closer. It’s nothing like their first kiss, though there’s still an element of apprehension in the way they mold their lips against each other.
When Chanyeol’s hand settles on the curve of Baekhyun’s waist, he really, really thinks he could do this all night; enjoy the way Chanyeol’s lips play against his own, the quiet moans he lets out when Baekhyun bites down on his bottom lip.
Their kiss tastes a little like red wine, and a lot like bliss and Baekhyun wants to stay, keep going, maybe let his hands wander. But he knows he should go. He has work, he has to sleep. Nonetheless, he allows the kiss to continue for a few more moments before gently placing his hand against Chanyeol’s chest and -- not without a great deal of effort -- pushing himself away.
Chanyeol’s lips follow him until he’s mouthing at air, then the man opens his eyes. His pupils are blown and he has a lazy, dazed expression on his face and all Baekhyun wants to do is lean back in.
Instead, he closes his eyes and rests his head against Chanyeol’s chest as he regulates his breathing. With his eyes still shut, he rolls his lips between his teeth to linger in the aftertaste of the kiss for a just moment longer.
“I really have to go,” he repeats in a whisper and Chanyeol’s chest bounces as the man lets out a deep, quiet chuckle.
“I understand,” Chanyeol’s hand squeezes Baekhyun’s waist one final time before he feels the same fingers tracing along his cheek and into his hairline.
Once he pulls his face away from Chanyeol’s chest -- and the very inviting scent of the man’s cologne -- Baekhyun knows he probably has the silliest look on his face. But he’s happy. His reluctance to leave only testifies to that fact.
“So I’ll see you soon then?”
“Of course,” Chanyeol leans down to quickly place a kiss to Baekhyun’s forehead, and somehow that’s even sweeter than all the kisses they just shared.
With one final wave and a “Thank you for dinner,” Baekhyun exits the apartment.
Baekhyun wakes up late, not because from the grape depression of the wine, but because of the daze he’s still in from the kiss the evening before. Everything feels fluffy and warm and all he wants to do is daydream in his bed about Chanyeol’s delicious cooking and his equally delicious lips. But his alarm has other priorities.
The happy daze lingers after he’s pulled himself from bed and as begins to ready for work; causing him to put his shirt on inside out on his first attempt and accidentally choose a brown belt to wear with black loafers. As he’s lacing his shoes, he reminds himself to text Jongdae -- maybe even Kyungsoo -- to thank him for introducing him to Chanyeol. (Yes, he’s in that good of a mood that an admission of the sorts won’t even damage his pride.)
Due his morning forgetfulness, Baekhyun has to dash to his apartment to retrieve his briefcase from his coffee table and run back to his office before his lunch break ends. He splurges on a cab knowing that it will cut a good 15 minutes off the commute. He’s just paid the cabbie and is throwing himself out of the car when a familiar patch of brown hair catches his eye through the glass window of the coffee shop below his apartment.
He freezes on the sidewalk, staring into the little coffee shop on the ground floor. There, in a window seat sits Chanyeol, with that oh so charming smile on his face as he reaches across the table to playfully jab at his companion. But that’s not what has Baekhyun frozen in place.
Chanyeol’s companion is none other than Kyungsoo, who is doing his best signature scowl at the taller man before his lips break into a wide smile.
Baekhyun isn’t sure if he’s more shocked by the smile or the way that the pair look at each other. Jongdae said they were friends, but there’s more than friendliness in that gaze. There’s something akin to fondness, familiarity, like they’ve done this hundreds of times. A grim feeling hits Baekhyun like a ton of bricks.
A loud honk startles him, reminding him that he’s still standing there, half out of the cab and holding up the cabbie’s departure. More importantly, he’s in a rush himself.
As he darts up to his apartment, he can’t wipe Kyungsoo’s smile from his mind. He runs out of the building minutes later, briefcase in-hand, and makes it a point to walk in the direction opposite the small shop to hail a cab.
He doesn’t know why he’s so bothered, but he knows he doesn’t want to happen across Chanyeol and Kyungsoo together again. He knew they knew each other, but a small part of him wonders why Kyungsoo is everywhere; why he’s somehow close with everyone he considers dear. At this rate, he wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Kyungsoo has been a member of Luhan and Minseok’s soccer club all this time. He knows it’s a bit irrational, but he can’t help it.
It’s only once he’s safely in the backseat, pulling away from his block that he is able to message Jongdae.
To: Jongdae
How do Kyungsoo and Chanyeol know each other again?
From: Jongdae
Oh, I never told you?
They used to date. Long time ago.
Baekhyun tries to ignore the tight feeling in his chest as he rushes back into his office.
Later that evening, all Baekhyun wants is to distract himself from sulking. He enters Jongdae’s apartment without a knock, as usual and his happy to spot his best friend alone.
“Honestly?” Baekhyun comments as he sets his eyes on Jongdae on the couch, headset on, fingers moving furiously across his keyboard.
Jongdae’s eyes remain fixated on the screen, but he does manage to grunt out, “Hey Baek,” before a series of lingo-laden profanities spill from his lips.
“You’re twenty-seven years old and spending your Friday night playing League of Legends.”
“Yup,” Jongdae is shameless. “And what about you?” He teases a bit dramatically, even for Jongdae. “No hot date with Chanyeol tonight?”
Chanyeol. Baekhyun scowls involuntarily. He has no right to be bitter, but he still feels lied to and maybe a little teeny bit jealous. He’s only had a few hours to digest the information, afterall.
He releases a showy huff as he plops himself next to Jongdae.
“Huh. You know I only go out with him for the food, Jongdae, please.” It’s petty and he knows he doesn’t mean it as soon as the words leave his mouth, but he figures he’s allowed to be a little immature every once in awhile, especially to Jongdae who won’t take his harsh words to heart.
But, instead of laughing, Jongdae’s eyes go wide as he stares at his laptop screen. “Uh, right. Uh…”
Baekhyun has no interest in watching Jongdae furiously bang keys and shout obscenities into his headset for the evening -- and he also doesn’t want to keep thinking about Chanyeol -- so he rolls his eyes one final time before raising himself from the couch. He supposes he’ll spend the evening in his apartment, drowning himself in dramas and the few snack foods he keeps handy.
“You’re boring. I’m going to go back to my place. Call me if you want to watch a movie or something.”
He overlooks Jongdae’s odd silence, and the way his friend is guiltily worrying his lip between his teeth as he exits.
After a few days to process the new information -- that Chanyeol and Kyungsoo were once an item -- Baekhyun kind of comes to terms with it. So they dated. But they aren’t dating now, and Chanyeol kissed Baekhyun. Twice. That has to mean something.
He knows that, deep down, it has nothing to do with Chanyeol, and everything to do with his own pre-existing insecurities surrounding Kyungsoo and his gradual encroachment into his friendship circle.
So, after days of silence he shoots Chanyeol a quick text, finally setting his sites on the burger place he wanted to visit with Jongdae before Chanyeol and his delicious meals distracted him.
Only, for the first time, there’s no response from Chanyeol before he falls into a fitful sleep.
To: ChAnniekkuma
There’s a new burger place in Hongdae. You free Wednesday evening?
To: ChAnniekkuma
How was your day?
To: ChAnniekkuma
There’s an international food fair in Itaewon next weekend. Wanna go together?
To: Chanyeol?
Hello?
Baekhyun’s back on Jongdae’s couch. He’s in a foul mood. So foul that even a little snuggling with his best friend won’t remedy his anxious thoughts. At least Kyungsoo is out for the night.
Though he hasn’t said anything, Jongdae knows something is up. Baekhyun didn’t even check the fridge when he walked in the apartment. He never forgets to check the fridge.
They sit in silence for a while -- Baekhyun nuzzled against Jongdae’s thigh as his friend grades papers -- before Baekhyun finally speaks.
“Hey, wanna check out that burger place I mentioned in Hongdae? I haven’t gone yet.”
“What happened to asking Chanyeol?” Jongdae looks perplexed as he pulls his attention away from the test in his hand.
“I did... but he hasn’t been responding to my messages,” Baekhyun sulks, twiddling his thumbs and pouting. “Maybe he’s busy, but I haven’t heard back from him all week.”
Jongdae sets down his red pen and worries his lip for a moment. Jongdae only bites his lip like that when he feels guilty about something, and suddenly Baekhyun’s heart beats with worry.
“Listen, Baek…”
“What?” Baekhyun lifts himself from Jongdae’s thigh to sit up properly. He doesn’t like the way Jongdae’s eyes nervously look anywhere but him.
“You know last week, when you barged in while I was gaming...?”
“Yeah?”
“Well… uh… remember how I had a headset on? And I was teasing you about Chanyeol and you said that you only go out with him for the food?”
Oh no, Baekhyun has a sinking feeling he knows exactly where this is going.
Jongdae’s lips tug into a proper frown before he reluctantly admits, “... Chanyeol was in the battle with me… and on the headset.”
“And he... heard?” Baekhyun ventures to ask, though he already knows the answer.
His heart sinks when Jongdae nods solemnly.
“Crap, crap, crap, crap.”
It only takes a little pulling of Jongdae’s leg to get Kyungsoo to share the address of Chanyeol’s restaurant. He knew Chanyeol worked somewhere fancy, but nothing prepared him for exactly how high-class the restaurant is. Had he given any thought to his plan aside from: find restaurant, apologize, confess, (apologize again if necessary), he might be dressed a little more appropriately.
The hostess greets him almost as soon as he walks through the doors -- before he’s had a chance to properly take in the swanky decor -- asking him if he has a reservation.
“Uh, no. Actually, I’m not here to dine,” He thinks it should be rather obvious, given that he’s dressed in his ‘comfort’ jeans and his favorite hoodie. He'd essentially darted out of his apartment as soon as he received the text from Jongdae forty five minutes ago, his outfit the last thing on his mind.
“Oh,” She seems a bit put-off by his presence, “Then how can I help you?”
“May I speak with Chanyeol?” Baekhyun uses his most polite and formal voice, still overwhelmed by the fanciness of it all. “I think he’s part of the kitchen staff?” He adds.
Baekhyun watches as one of her eyebrows darts incredulously halfway up her forehead. “Our sous chef, Park Chanyeol?”
Baekhyun sputters in place. Chanyeol said he worked in the kitchen, he never mentioned being the prestigious restaurant’s sous chef. Though, the five-star cooking maybe should have given that fact away.
“I guess so?” He finally answers moments later, after the realization has fully digested.
“Uh, he’s probably busy right now, it’s peak hour. But I can pass a message to him and maybe he’ll come out and meet you when he has a moment. Can I get your name?” She offers, her wary -- but formal -- smile in place as she measures up Baekhyun with her eyes.
Baekhyun agrees quickly, “Sure, that’ll be fine. And Baekhyun. You can tell him Baekhyun is here. I’ll just… take a seat at the bar?”
“Right this way, sir.”
Thirty minutes later and there’s no sign of Chanyeol. Instead, Baekhyun peers into his empty wine glass, wondering if it’s worth his time to order another or if he should just take the hint and leave. The restaurant is busy after all, and Baekhyun doesn’t necessarily have any business interrupting Chanyeol at work. It’s not like he’s his official boyfriend or anything.
He decides to stay for one more glass, and if Chanyeol hasn’t arrived by the time it’s finished, he’ll take the hint and leave quietly.
Baekhyun takes his time on the second glass, thinking back on how much he genuinely enjoys spending time with Chanyeol. He likes his laugh, and his stupid puns, and the way that he looks at him like he’s more than a self-centered jerk who likes food more than he likes people....
But, much sooner than Baekhyun would like, the wine is gone and he dejectedly asks the bartender for his bill.
The wine is incredibly overpriced and handing over his credit card to pay stings almost as bad as the feeling rejection he hasn’t experienced in a long time. He ponders if this is the same feeling all his “dinner dates” experienced when he disappeared.
The hostess throws him a sad, knowing look as he makes his exit.
Karma’s finally come to kick him in the ass.
The next night, Baekhyun mopes into Jongdae’s apartment. He opens the front door to find Kyungsoo alone on the couch, quietly talking on the phone. Figures Jongdae wouldn’t be home when Baekhyun needs him the most, and Kyungsoo -- of all people -- would be.
“Alright, I’ll see you then. Feel better.” Kyungsoo says into his cell phone, apparently unaware of Baekhyun’s presence. Baekhyun gently shuts the door as Kyungsoo ends the call.
“Was that Chanyeol?” Baekhyun asks before he can stop himself. His voice startles Kyungsoo, who turns to him with wide eyes, hand smacking against his chest.
Blame it on the rejection, maybe a little bit of the lingering jealousy, but the thought of Chanyeol chatting away with Kyungsoo while he's been ignoring Baekhyun just adds to the dull ache in his heart.
“I really need to remember to lock that door,” Kyungsoo peers at Baekhyun seriously as ever once his breathing returns to normal. “And yes, it was.”
Baekhyun nods somberly before seating himself on the couch, a cushion’s distance from Kyungsoo.
“I fucked up,” he mumbles to himself more than Kyungsoo.
“Yes, you did.” He sounds nervous having Baekhyun in such close proximity, and Baekhyun doesn’t really blame him. He’s not sure they’ve ever properly been alone together -- and, a mopey Baekhyun is probably the last thing he wants to deal with.
But Baekhyun needs to vent, and if Jongdae isn’t home, Kyungsoo will have to deal with his dejected ramblings. Just this once.
“I didn’t mean it,” He can feel Kyungsoo’s eyes boring wary holes into his face, it’s more than a little unnerving. “I know I said I only go out with him for the free food, but it wasn’t true. Hell, I paid for half of those meals! I was just bitter and… maybe a bit jealous.” The last part is said in a mumble in the hopes Kyungsoo won’t catch it. But as Baekhyun glances over he sees a small, knowing smile on Kyungsoo’s lips -- and he knows he heard it all.
“Jealous?” Kyungsoo echoes, and Baekhyun immediately regrets everything he just let slip through his lips.
He draws a deep breath. “You already get to be my best friend’s roommate, he adores you. Since you’ve moved in, everything has been ‘Kyungsoo this’ and ‘Kyungsoo that’ and maybe I’m a bit afraid that I’m… being replaced. As if that isn’t enough already, I finally meet a guy that I really, really like and I find out you dated him first. And you two look so comfortable together. Just like the way you and Jongdae are so comfortable with each other. And… ugh,” Baekhyun buries his face in his hands. “Why are you everywhere?”
There’s a long silence and Baekhyun looks up from his palms to see Kyungsoo’s brows knitted in concentration. “I see where you’re coming from,” he says calmly. “I mean, I’ve always known part of the reason you didn’t like me had to do with my being so close with Jongdae. But, I’m not you, Baekhyun. I’ll never be able to replace what you are to him, ever. Jongdae and I have our own friendship, and it’s great as it is. Trust me, I’m not looking to be Baekhyun 2.0, I have no desire to get text messages about his sexual escapades or bowel movements.”
Baekhyun attempts a feeble laugh.
“As for Chanyeol…. Yes, we did date. But it was ages ago. First semester of college, and it barely lasted a couple months. We stayed friends because that’s essentially what we were all along. Besides, I’m not the one he likes.”
At this point, Baekhyun’s made himself quite comfortable in the cradle of shame that’s made up of his own palms. As if it isn’t pathetic enough to be spilling his heart to his arch enemy, his arch enemy is also said man’s ex, and -- most frustratingly -- everything he’s saying is so rational… and kind.
“I just want to tell him that I like him too, just him. Not the food. But I already showed up at his work and he blew me off. I’ve tried calling and texting, but he ignores me. I have only a small shred of dignity left and I refuse to go to his apartment and talk to a closed door hoping he’s listening on the other side.”
The words come out mumbled, but he’s pretty sure Kyungsoo catches them all -- Kyungsoo never misses anything.
There’s a long silence before Kyungsoo inhales deeply and turns to Baekhyun, who's peeking out at Kyungsoo from the crack between his fingers. Kyungsoo examines Baekhyun’s pitiful state before nodding to himself in some sort of resolution.
“I might be able to help you out,” His tone is far from warm, but there is a gentle edge to it that he’s never used with Baekhyun before.
Baekhyun looks up, suddenly hopeful. “Really?”
“Really.” Kyungsoo confirms, face stern as ever. “You’re not a horrible guy, a bit self-centered ninety percent of the time, but from what I know as his friend, Chanyeol likes you. If you’re serious about this -- about him -- I can help you.”
Despite the heart to heart, it still feels a bit like making a deal with the devil, but Baekhyun is willing to try just about anything at this point.
“Okay, what do I have to do?”
It's Friday night and for the first time in many years, Baekhyun is slaving away in the kitchen -- Jongdae and Kyungsoo’s kitchen -- re-acquainting himself with cooking wares he hasn't touched in ages.
“Kyungsoo, couldn’t you just help me with the salad?” Baekhyun pleads from the kitchen island.
“Nope. I’ve already done my part to help you,” Kyungsoo hollers from his comfortable perch on the couch. “The rest is up to you.”
Baekhyun takes his anger out on the cherry tomatoes in the salad greens, while he scowls and silently mimics Kyungsoo.
“And you only have about… 20 minutes.”
Baekhyun contemplates throwing the tongs at Kyungsoo’s unsuspecting head.
He’s decided that vegetable stew is his safest bet, since he doesn’t trust himself to properly prepare meat just yet. But vegetables, vegetables he can trust. His chopping is sloppy and slow and he might have mixed up the salt and sugar measurements, but he thinks he’s at least got about half the recipe right. Plus, it’s the gesture that counts. (At least, that’s what he keeps telling himself as he watches another questionable vegetable roll in the boiling broth.)
A knock to the door startles him out of his cooking frenzy, and his hands involuntarily begin to shake with nerves. This is the moment.
“Hey, Chanyeol,” he hears Kyungsoo greet the guest as soon as the door opens. “Come on in, have a seat.”
Baekhyun stands frozen in the kitchen, knowing that in only a few seconds, Chanyeol is going to realize he’s there too -- that Kyungsoo tricked him. He’s terrified Chanyeol is going to ignore him just like had at the restaurant, and stomp off.
As Chanyeol moves towards the couch, he inevitably passes by the open kitchen. He stops in his tracks once he spots Baekhyun.
“Hi,” Baekhyun waves the salad tongs in his right hand in greeting before realizing what he’s doing and grimacing to himself.
“Uh, Kyungsoo?” Chanyeol looks so confused. His brows furrow even more when he realizes Kyungsoo is putting on his coat and moving towards the door.
“Well, my work here is done,” Kyungsoo smiles reassuringly at Baekhyun, and if that isn’t scary enough, he’s also reaching for the doorknob, “Have a good dinner you two.” And with that, he exits the apartment, locking the door behind him.
“Um…” Chanyeol’s eyes are busy looking anywhere but at Baekhyun. “What’s this about?” He cautiously eyes the pot on the stove and the tomato bits scattered across the abandoned cutting board.
“I made you -- us -- dinner. All of it. From scratch,” Baekhyun is doing his best not to ramble just yet. “Except, the kimchi. Kyungsoo made the kimchi.”
“Why?” The sharpness of Chanyeol’s tone stings, but Baekhyun has to stay strong.
“Why don’t you have a seat, and then we’ll talk?” Baekhyun offers, lips curling into a nervous -- but hopefully inviting -- smile. He so badly wants Chanyeol agree, and he hopes his eyes don’t look too pleading.
He almost wants to jump for joy when Chanyeol gives a small shrug before moving himself over to the dining room table -- taking in the lit candles and small floral centerpiece along the way -- and pulling out a chair. He folds his palms into his lap, waiting patiently for further instruction.
Baekhyun tries to mimic Chanyeol’s gestures from the last dinner they shared as he sets the dishes on the table. It’s a modest meal, only a salad, some kimchi and the stew, but he hopes it’s enough.
He seats himself across from Chanyeol, who’s glancing nervously at the food.
“Well, dinner is served,” Baekhyun says as cheerily as he can, folding his napkin in his lap and waiting for Chanyeol to dig in.
Three minutes into the meal -- not that Baekhyun is counting -- and Chanyeol still hasn’t said a word. He has, however, taken a few bites of salad. No look of disgust has crossed his face yet, so Baekhyun can rejoice at that small victory. But, he realizes he’s going to have to take the reigns on the conversation he knows they need to have.
“So, you’re the sous chef at Chez Marie?” Baekhyun inquires, overly polite and awkward. He watches as Chanyeol sticks out his tongue to test the broth before he commits to a full spoonful. He must deem it edible enough, and Baekhyun nearly sighs aloud.
“Why are you so curious now?” Chanyeol combats as soon as he’s done chewing.
Baekhyun sets down his spoon. He was hoping dinner would be a bit further along -- maybe a glass of wine further to be exact -- before he got to the confession part. But, oh well.
“Look Chanyeol. What you heard on the headset with Jongdae…. I didn’t mean that.”
“Oh really? You sounded pretty confident. That’s your thing, right? Jongdae warned me before he set us up that you had this habit of going out to dinner, purposely making yourself unavailable, then eventually disappearing. But I thought it was worth a shot anyway because Kyungsoo said I’d like you. Then when you willingly asked me out a second time, I thought maybe I was... special. Must have just been wishful thinking.”
Chanyeol’s tone remains cold and distant, unaffected even. His words sting -- both for how true and how untrue they are. Yes, that was his thing up until he met Chanyeol. But Chanyeol wasn’t, and isn’t one of his Tinder dates that he uses as a means to an end. Chanyeol is special, and perhaps it’s Baekhyun’s own wishful thinking that the other man could see that.
Baekhyun draws another deep breath. “I’m not going to try and say that I haven’t done that in the past. But with you it was... different.” Chanyeol huffs out a bitter laugh Baekhyun does his best to not be deterred.
“When Jongdae set me up with you, I didn’t go into it looking for a free meal. My motives with you were never about getting you to buy me dinner and disappearing. Granted, I wasn’t exactly expecting to hit it off with you either, but I did. Because you’re charming, and funny in your own way, and you can talk about food in a way that makes it sound better than sex.
“I know what I said to Jongdae on the headset was cruel, and petty, but please believe that I really, really didn’t mean it. I had a bad day, and I didn’t want Jongdae to tease me about you because… I just … really like spending time with you.”
He knows his words aren’t exactly as coherent as he’d like, but Chanyeol’s gaze is locked on him, and his features seem to soften with every jumbled admittance.
“So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that, without an agenda for free food or any other ulterior motives, I have a small, polite, and very genuine crush on you and I’d like to keep seeing you.. if you can forgive me for being an ass.” He finishes, folding his hands into his lap and looking at Chanyeol hopefully.
Chanyeol continues to sit in silence, and with each passing second Baekhyun grows closer and closer to darting out of the apartment, leaving his heart behind in Jongdae’s kitchen chair.
“I see,” Chanyeol finally speaks. “Maybe some of this is my fault too, since I cut straight to ignoring you instead of giving you a chance to explain -- ”
“No,” Baekhyun cuts in, “It was all entirely my fault, my insecurities, that caused the misunderstanding in the first place. I would have done the same thing in your shoes.”
Chanyeol laughs bitterly, “Truth be told, I thought that if what you said was true, that it would be better to beat you at your own game. Cut off all ties before you ran away with any more of my heart than you already had. Maybe the sense of vindication would make it hurt less. Because, admittedly, I also have a bit more than a very polite crush on you.”
“Really?” Baekhyun smiles nervously.
“Really. I’m sorry, too. And... I forgive you,” Baekhyun’s heart feels lighter than it has in weeks when one side of Chanyeol’s mouth curves into a fond smile. “So, what do you say we put this small misunderstanding behind us and continue as we were?”
Baekhyun doesn’t -- can’t -- wait a millisecond before proclaiming, “I’d like that,” with a tad too much enthusiasm.
Soon, they’re back in the same rhythm they’ve always been in: eating, and laughing at each other between bites; Chanyeol’s feet reaching under the table to play with Baekhyun’s all the while.
“You know that you’re supposed to take the bay leaves out of the stew before serving it, right?” Chanyeol asks with a smirk, halfway through the meal.
“You’re not supposed to leave them in?” Baekhyun’s eyes widen at his own mistake.
“Well, technically bay leaves are poisonous.”
Great.First he’s a jerk, and then he inadvertently tries to poison Chanyeol. Splendid.
“Also, they’re sharp and nearly impossible to chew. Great for flavor, but yes, you should definitely remove them before serving.” Chanyeol chuckles as he shakes his head, pulling another sharp, green leaf from his tongue.
“I didn’t know…” Baekhyun whispers, focusing on his hands. He chances a look up through his lashes to see Chanyeol smiling at him, just the way he had when they first met; eyes twinkling with a fondness that makes Baekhyun’s jaw drop a little.
His heart goes haywire when Chanyeol wraps his own legs around Baekhyun’s under the table to comfort him.
“It’s okay. I already told you, you can leave all the cooking to me.”
And with that simple promise, Baekhyun’s certain that he’s fallen head over spoon.
A/N
I chose this prompt because i wanted to write something fun and light... and about food.
Technically, bay leaves aren't poisonous, it's a common misconception -- even one an experienced chef like Chanyeol could have. But they are sharp and not meant to be eaten. So, he's still right.
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