Chester cupped his cheeks, leaning closer to the waiter. “What do you want to drink?” he asked.

Sebastian—caught off guard—blinked. “What?”

“You’re buying me cake and gonna be listening to my rambling, the least you deserve is a drink,” Chester stirred his coffee slowly, making clinking sounds as the spoon rattled against the cup.

Sebastian wasn’t sure how to react. He couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed by Chester’s unpredictable actions. “No—no, you don’t have to.”

The salaryman scrunched his eyebrows before turning his head to the cashier where the owner was standing. “Owner!” he called, gaining the owner’s attention. He used his thumb to point at the young waiter, saying, “Give whatever this kid can drink.”

The owner pursed his lips in a funny way, as though suppressing his laughter. “Sure, sure,” he answered teasingly. “You’re really fond of him, huh?”

“Shut the fuck up or you’re losing your income source,” Chester hissed, glaring menacingly like a Chihuahua dog.

Caleb waved a hand as his response, whistling and working on an easy drink for his own part-timer. He spoiled Chester too much, perhaps, and he didn’t mind. It was like having his own child—even though their ages weren’t too far off.

Chester darted his attention back to the Alpha. “So,” he began, leaning forward while glaring at the part-timer. “Listen to me. I’m hella tired. Like, fricking tired. These Alpha superiors are acting like they are the hotshot and all, even though they’re just smelly old men who depend on an Omega to do all their works.”

And he proceeded to dump everything that had happened that day. Apparently, right after he clocked in, he was called because one of the clients had filed a complain and Chester got blamed even though the problem didn’t involve Chester in any way. Chester tried to reason his way out, saying that he didn’t understand anything since he wasn’t involved in said project, but his Alpha superior got even angrier instead, saying that it was still Chester’s responsibility.

“So, yeah, I spent my whole morning savoring that old hag’s yapping like a dinner buffet,” Chester sighed at the end of his first nagging—which was a perfect timing, as Caleb finally came with a drink for his own waiter. Chester found it amusing to see the owner giving his own worker free drink. He giggled. “Ohh, thank you, the generous one.”

“My pleasure, arsehole,” Caleb bowed mockingly, snickering.

Sebastian was silent as he wasn’t sure what he should do. Would it be weird to thank Caleb for giving him the drink? Everything was so sudden it got Sebastian utterly confused.

Chester pushed a cup of coffee similar to his own to his company, though his attention treaded to the owner. “Where’s Ray? I haven’t seen him today.”

“You don’t know what day it is?” Caleb scoffed defensively. “He’s with Quentin.”

“Really?” Chester furrowed his eyebrows, utterly confused. He snatched his phone from the table, turning the screen on. “Oh my, look at the date.”

Caleb put one free hand on his hip, while the other holding an empty tray. “You’re kidding,” he huffed. “Don’t you forget it again. I don’t want to take care of you like that time.”

Chester sealed his lips into an apologetic thin smile. “I know,” he whispered. Then, with his normal voice and a smile on his face, added, “Anyway, thanks for this.”

Caleb raised his eyebrows as an answer, spinning around and going back to the counter, leaving the pair with their business.

Stirring his coffee again, the office worker fell silent. His gaze was fixated at his coffee for a second. Sebastian, on the other hand, watched him while wondering what he could do for him. He was concerned—yet, he couldn’t help. Even now that he was supposed to listen to Chester’s complain, he couldn’t. All because Chester fell entirely silent.

As the two of them stayed silent for quite a while, Sebastian couldn’t take it anymore. He picked up the small fork on the cake plate, cutting a little piece of cake. “You know, you’re the one that told me to listen to you. And now you’re silent. I can’t listen to you this way,” he sighed, supporting his head using his free hand with elbow on table. He pushed the piece of cake right in front of the office worker. “Now, cheer up.”

Such bold move—Chester was surprised. Though, after looking at the fork and the man who fed him, Chester decided to take a bite. The chocolate cake had the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. Of course, Blue Rose offered quality dessert too, after all. Munching down, Chester couldn’t help but smile. This guy—he tried so hard to lift Chester’s mood. Even as far as using such embarrassing method. He could see a tinge of red on his cheeks, indicating his embarrassment.

Well, his effort was appreciated.

“Well, then, I’ll take that as an offer,” Chester grinned, continuing his one week’s worth of nagging, while Sebastian sat there, immersing every nonsense his fated pair spouted all the while admiring him.

He didn’t know how long it took, but Chester finally ended his complaints. He looked relieved, as though the weight on his shoulders had been lifted. Seeing Chester was no longer down, Sebastian couldn’t help but feeling proud—as he was the one supporting Chester.

“Thank you for listening to me,” the office worker said finally, grinning ear to ear. His cheeks were blushing, either from joy or from relief—or both, perhaps.

Sebastian reciprocated the smile. “Sure, anytime,” he said. “Whenever you’re feeling down, call me, okay?”

Chester chuckled. This guy was definitely hitting on him—and well, he didn’t mind. At least, he was a decent man. “Sure,” he noted. “Go back to work.”

“You too, finish the lunch quick,” Sebastian stated. “Also, don’t force yourself. Your face is red. Are you having a fever?”

Being asked like that, Chester touched his cheeks instinctively. Well—perhaps, it was time. “Nah, I’m alright,” Chester decided to answer, waving his hand as to dismiss the waiter. “Now, shoo, go back to work or Papa Caleb will get angry.”

“Yeah,” Sebastian agreed. He stood up, picking the empty cake plate and his own glass with him.

Though, before Sebastian could leave, Chester stopped him. “Ah, I want to ask you one thing.”

Sebastian stopped on track.

“What cologne are you wearing? It smells so sweet,” Chester asked; his nose sniffing.

The part-timer scrunched his eyebrows. “Cologne?” he questioned, sniffing himself. “I don’t wear cologne.”

Chester tilted his head to the side. “Then, what is this—Oh,” as realization seeped in, he clasped his mouth. Glancing at the part-timer, he whispered, “I’m sorry if I sound inappropriate but... does anyone ever tell you that your pheromone is leaking too much?”

Sebastian tapped his chin, confused. As far as he knew, he wasn’t a dominant Alpha. Which meant, his pheromone shouldn’t be strong and extremely noticeable if he didn’t emit it himself. He had a few Omega friends, and no one ever complained about his pheromone. His Alpha friends had never told him about it, too. “What...?” was the only thing he managed to say.

Chester buried his face on his palm, embarrassed. What was he thinking, questioning things like that? He waved his hand, dismissing the waiter away. “Nah, forget it,” he begged, embarrassed. “I didn’t say anything, okay?”

As much as he was confused, Sebastian decided to not think too much and leave the conversation as it was.