Chapter-19 🌻
And for the first time in years~
Yun found himself genuinely looking forward to tomorrow.
That night, Lee Yun fell asleep feeling unusually happy.
The next morning~
Yun woke up with more energy than usual, and for the first time in several days, he didn't feel completely exhausted the moment he opened his eyes.
He quickly got out of bed, took a shower, and carefully chose the clothes he and Tae had bought together during their shopping trip, and even something as simple as wearing those clothes made a small smile appear on his face without him realizing it.
After getting ready, Yun quietly prepared breakfast for himself, using the leftover rice from the night before to make kimchi fried rice before sitting alone inside his small apartment and eating quietly.
Before leaving for work, he stopped by a nearby convenience store and bought his favorite strawberry milk, carrying it carefully in one hand as he made his way toward the café.
The moment Yun stepped inside~
“YUNNNNN-ahh!”
Someone suddenly rushed toward him.
Minhoo wrapped both arms around Yun from the side, practically hanging onto him like an excited puppy that had finally found its owner again.
“Yun…”
“You know how much I missed you last week, I was so bored without you.”
Yun sighed softly while trying to push him away.
“Ha… ha…”
“I missed you too.”
“Now let me go change.”
He gently pushed Minhoo away before heading toward the storage room to change into his work clothes.
After entering the room, Yun took his phone from his pocket and looked at the screen for a moment before calling Tae, and the moment the call connected, he quietly told him that he had arrived at the café and reminded him to come around one o'clock in the afternoon.
After a brief conversation, the call ended.
Yun lowered his phone and held it lightly against his chest.
He didn't understand why, but whenever he talked to Tae or even stood close to him, his heart seemed to beat faster than usual, while his cheeks and ears became warm almost immediately, as though his body reacted before his mind could even understand what was happening.
After changing his clothes, Yun stepped out of the storage room.
Minhoo immediately became suspicious when he noticed how long Yun had been inside, especially because Yun was still looking down with a faint smile on his face.
Yun walked toward the counter and stood beside Minhoo while they waited for the first customers to arrive. Minhoo glanced at him again. Then he noticed something.
Yun's cheeks were slightly red.
So were his ears.
Minhoo immediately raised his hand and placed it against Yun's forehead.
“Yun-ah…”
“Did you have a fever?”
Yun blinked before touching his own cheek.
“It's…”
“It's just a little hot.”
“That's all.”
Minhoo looked around suspiciously before glancing toward the air conditioner. The café was already cool. Yet Yun's face was still red.
Minhoo narrowed his eyes slightly but decided not to question him any further.
A few moments later, customers began filling the café, and soon both Yun and Minhoo became busy preparing drinks, cleaning tables, carrying orders, and moving constantly between the counter and the kitchen.
Before either of them realized it, the morning had disappeared and one o'clock had already arrived.
Minhoo suddenly leaned dramatically against the counter.
“Yunnnn…”
“Hm?”
“You're going to study later, right?”
“Yes.”
Minhoo immediately pouted.
“But I'll get bored if you leave.”
“Can't you and your friend study here instead?”
Yun smiled awkwardly.
“I'm sorry.”
“We already made plans.”
“We'll study at the café next time.”
Minhoo continued pouting as though Yun had personally betrayed him.
“Don't forget about me.”
Yun couldn't help smiling.
“I won't forget you.”
The moment Minhoo saw that smile~
His entire body froze.
Something strange raced through his chest, and his heart suddenly began beating much faster than it had a second earlier. He quickly lowered his head onto the counter and stared downward, trying to hide his expression.
“Yun…”
“What should I do?”
Before Yun could respond, The café door suddenly opened. The bell above it rang softly. Everyone inside instinctively looked toward the entrance.
Han Tae had arrived.
Even wearing simple black clothes, his presence immediately stood out among everyone else, and the moment Yun noticed him, his fingers unconsciously tightened around the cup he was holding.
The atmosphere around him suddenly felt different. Minhoo glanced between Tae and Yun. His eyes narrowed slightly.
“What the fuck is going on between them?”
For some reason, an unfamiliar irritation settled inside his chest.
He had never liked Han Tae from the moment they first met, and seeing Yun react differently whenever Tae appeared only made that feeling worse.
Minhoo looked toward Yun.
“Are you two close?”
Yun hesitated briefly.
He lowered his eyes before answering honestly.
“Hm…”
“I don't know.”
Then, after thinking for another second, he quietly looked toward Minhoo.
“Maybe we are.”
Minhoo blinked in surprise. Before he could say anything else, Tae had already walked toward them.
“Are you finished?”
Yun nodded.
“My work is finished.”
“I just need to change my clothes.”
“Okay.”
Yun quietly headed toward the storage room. The moment he disappeared from sight, Tae and Minhoo remained standing across from each other.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them spoke.
The atmosphere between them suddenly became strangely tense. After a few seconds, Tae turned toward the counter and ordered his usual drink.
“Iced Americano.”
“Extra sugar.”
“And whipped cream.”
Minhoo's eyebrows immediately rose. He looked genuinely surprised. Tae didn't look like the kind of person who enjoyed sweet drinks.
A few minutes later, Yun returned after changing his clothes. The moment Tae looked at him, his eyes immediately noticed what Yun was wearing. The clothes Tae had bought for him during their outing.
A faint smile crossed Tae's lips before he quickly hid it.
Yun walked toward him. His eyes landed on the iced Americano sitting on the counter. For a second, he looked surprised as well. The drink was far sweeter than he had expected Tae to order. Tae simply picked it up.
“Let's go.”
Yun nodded.
Before stepping outside, Yun turned around and gave Minhoo a bright smile.
“Bye!”
Minhoo forced a smile in return.
“Bye, Yun.”
But the moment Yun and Tae disappeared through the door, Minhoo's expression slowly changed.
He stared toward the entrance for several seconds.
Something about the two of them bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
---
Tae opened the passenger door for Yun first.
Yun quietly sat beside the driver's seat while Tae walked around the car and entered from the other side.
Soon, the engine started, and the car slowly moved through the evening streets.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence inside the car wasn't uncomfortable, though. It had already become strangely familiar. After several minutes, Tae finally broke the silence.
“Are you uncomfortable going to my house?”
Yun looked outside the window for a moment before answering honestly.
“No…”
He hesitated before lightly catching the edge of his shirt between his fingers.
“I've never been to a friend's house before.”
“This is the first time.”
For some reason, hearing those words made Tae strangely happy. He glanced toward Yun briefly before returning his eyes to the road.
After another few minutes, Tae casually asked,
“Are you close with Minhoo?”
Yun blinked.
He didn't understand why Tae was suddenly asking about Minhoo.
“Um…”
“I guess we're friends.”
Tae didn't respond immediately. His expression remained calm, but something inside him suddenly felt unpleasant. A strange heaviness settled in his chest. He didn't understand why. He simply didn't like hearing Yun talk about another person so casually.
The car became quiet again.
Yun, however, didn't notice the change in Tae's expression and continued looking peacefully out the window.
After some time, the car finally arrived at Tae's house.
The moment Yun looked outside~
His eyes widened. The house was enormous. Much larger than anything he had ever seen before. For a moment, he simply stared at it in disbelief.
But the moment Tae stepped out of the car~
His eyebrows immediately furrowed.
The front doors were wide open.
“…What the hell?”
Tae looked toward the entrance again. Yun followed his gaze.
Both of them quickly walked inside.
The moment Tae entered the house~
His voice echoed through the entire living room.
“What the fuck are you two doing with the doors open?”
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