cherry

“stop staring” you says as you put your shoes on turning around to face her once you were done. she smiles at you “dont forget the details” she says, sending you a flying kiss which you avoids then walk out of your shared home.

ping!

a message from someone, you unlock your phone thinking it was taesan since he’s the only one who you texted with personally.

i miss you

the message reads. you sighs before immediately blocking the number knowing too damn well who texted you even thought it was an unknown number because who would text you like that if its not him?

its shin junghwan, a faceless man who you only remember about was his presence. you’re sure there’s more to know about this man and why your hatred to him is way too strong for someone who you dont fully remember about.

however, since this is the day that you’re looking forward to— kinda, you’re not going to let it get into your head and just enjoy your day.

taesan restlessly waits for you to arrive at your promised spot— at the playground of your apartment complex. it was also a surprise to you when he revealed that he lived not so far away from you when he walked you back home that day.

“taesan!” he hears a voice called for him. he immediately turns around to face you— cringed a little from how transparent his emotions is when it comes to you— crossed fingers you wont notice it at all.

he shows you a little smile with a wave of his right hand. you mirrors his gesture with even a wider smile than him. “did you wait for long?” you asks him as soon as you reach him— though its more like he walks toward your direction and met when the both of you were safely close enough to each other— not too far and not too close, just right.

“i just arrived a few minutes ago” he says taking out his wired earphones then rolls it before shoving it into his black large capacity shoulder bag.

you take in his appearance and outfits. he’s surely has such different styles from you. while he dressed like trendy young male with just right oversized clothes paired with baggy pants plus branded sneakers and adorned in many silver jewelleries, you on the other hand, dressed like a business woman on her way to the meeting with a client. a dark blue asymmetrical long sleeve wrap blouse paired with loose white pant plus black matte loafers and a few simple piece jewellery like singular white pearl necklaces paired with pearl earrings.

“our style is so different dont you think?” taesan says with a little chuckle as he open his arms showing off his outfits. he’s surely has a lot of love for jewellery.

“yes” you laughs nodding at his statement “totally opposite” hearing your laugh taesan feels giddy inside and proud of himself for being able to make you laugh.

“let’s go?” he asks tilting his head. you swear your heart skips a beat at his gesture. you nods at him. with that the both of you head to your next location, you leading him.

“have you even been to this cafe?” you ask him as you walk inside, taesan holding the door just for you. he shakes his head, indicating he’s never been to this place.

“is that so?” you asks more he nodded following you to the secluded side of the cafe, away from public eyes. “im not really a fan of going to the cafe” he answers sitting down in front of you.

“i see, then what did you do usually? im quite curious because its so rare to see you around our uni” you stares at him with curious eyes while taesan is looking everywhere but your face. suddenly finding the framed picture behind you quite interesting.

“usually im at my studio working on song or art project, you could say i rarely—“ his words were cuts off by your ringtone, signalling new message just delivered. you ignore the message by turning your phone screen to the table, not forgetting to push the ring/silent switch to silent your phone.

“sorry” you smiles at him. he nodded with a small smile just like earlier. “yeah i rarely go outside lately unless my friends want to meet up for a hang out, or when i have class” he continues his words from earlier.

“you must have a lot of song right? i heard you’re good at it too!” you says with excitement laced into your words. taesan subtly beam at your praise— almost like a cat perking up at the mention of their favourite things.

“not really, im just average” he says trying to keep his cool which he kind of fails. “i heard a lot about you from belle now that i realise, she said you were always praised by your professor while she on the other hand…” you trails off. taesan nods understanding your words about belle. he sighs

“the professor, he’s very picky. i dont know what is his problem with belle but its very annoying when he compared us. belle is great songwriter and producer but we have a very different style just like our outfits now, i guess the professor is not a fan of belle’s style.” he explains you nodded then chuckles at his end remarks

“thats so unprofessional of him” you says as you raise your hand to call the waiter walking pass your table to ask for menu— though you dont really need that, but you asks anyways since this is taesan’s first time here.

“it is very unprofessional of him” he agrees with your statement. there’s silence between the two of you before the waiter came with a menu. the waiter smiles at you before handing taesan and you the menu.

“it have been so long since you last came to our cafe” she says smiling at you while eyeing the male in front of you, totally curious about the young lad that is not gyuvin, ricky and leehan. you see the waiter that is serving you now is one of the owner of the cafe.

she has been working here even before you became their number 1 regular for the past 5 years. she knew your circle of friends and what kind of order you will always avoids.

“i’ve been a bit busy with both study and works” you tells her with a subtle pout and puppy eyes. she just laugh at your cute charms before pointing at the menu “you should order now before the big boss catch me slacking again” she says. you just nodded then turn your attention to taesan whose eyes has been on you since the waiter arrived.

god he’s undeniably gorgeous

“uh- oh” you stammers looking everywhere but him then to the menu inching just a little closer so you can guide him through it— taesan was amused by your reaction and finds it very cute.

“so tell me what do you prefer” you coughs collecting your composure. taesan chuckles before telling you his preference, how he dont really like something too sweets, coffee and something not too heavy. you ended up recommending him nyang nyang ham cheese bread with refreshing orangeade. he agreed with little to no disagreement. while you pick your usual order of strawberry cake and strawberry milk.

“thats all?” asks the waiter, you nods and she smiles at the both of you before turning her heels away to make your order

“did you know her?” taesan asks, you nods at his question “how so?” he adds. you smiles at him looking around the cafe, that question really brings back memories of you and your friends.

“i found this cafe about 5 years ago, maybe?” taesan nods at your answer then you continue “it was totally on accident, i was running away from my parents— hey dont look at me like that! every child have their own rebellious phase” you points your index finger at him, causing him to cover his open mouth from the information you shared a while ago.

“anyways, i kind of had a fight with my parents then i ran away from them— i was 17 at that time. then i sort of hang out in the cafe until it was dark and im finally have a piece of mind then i walk back home— its not that far away from my parents’ house, only 45 minutes walk— why are you looking at me like that?” you squint your eyes at his disbelieve face.

“only 45 minutes walk?” he asks you nods as if it was nothing “listen it might sounds tiring but i love walking, it helps to empty your mind” taesan chuckles

hell even his chuckle sounds so heavenly— wait what am i thinking right now??

“i dont judge you, dont worry. beside its a good way to stay healthy without straining yourself” he says you agrees “even my doctor recommend that!” you says, but before you could say anything, the waiter— this time a male, probably a new worker.

“here’s your order” he smiles, only to you. taesan just looks at him with judgemental eyes. while you just nods at him. its quite uncomfortable with him acting like taesan doesn’t exist.

“thank you” you says, still smiling he nods his head to you— obviously ignoring taesan who is in front of you, and next to him.

taesan is not going to lie, but he’s quite pissed off by the waiter attitude and mostly he’s jealous because the waiter is obviously shooting his shot while he still stuck at just being a friend stage with you.

“my love, are you staying at my place after this? i miss you” taesan says with a smile and a slight poit. he dont have any idea what kind of food he eats today or maybe he’s on something, but he’s suddenly has a boost of confidence— hell he even has his hand intertwine with your hand, thumb rubbing circles on the back of your hand. you cant blame him, you totally look uncomfortable because of that stubborn waiter who keeps trying to have a conversation with you.

“i am, and i miss you too its been a while since we have time for each other” you smiles at him as if you’re in love with him, hoping the waiter would take a hint when you purposely put a stress on the word time. which he dont. “is he your boyfriend?” he asks boldly. you nods looking at taesan fondly “he is my boyfriend” the waiter just nods before looking at taesan then you

“if you ever drop him, just hit me up” he says with a boyish grin before walking away. you scoffs at his arrogant attitude

“how dare he?” you let go of taesan’s hand before you start complaining about him— not so loud that he can hear you.

meanwhile, taesan still in trance after the little stunt he pulled, he totally didnt expect you to play along so easily. his heart surely beating loudly that he’s afraid you might hear it.

“—i hate that kind of guy the most, being arrogant like that won't make you attractive. hell, does he not know his face looks like something god accidentally created when he’s bored and feeling creative? yeah, that creativity clearly fails.” your last remarks cause taesan to laugh. “im gonna tell the owner about this” you say quite angrily before having a sip of your strawberry milk

“you play along so well, might as well be an actress” he says, and has a taste of the food you ordered for him. you roll your eyes “this happens a lot, gyuvin and ricky always pretend to be my boyfriend when this thing happens” you simply explain he nods his head while munching on his food.

“oh right, how did you know donghyun?” he asks once he swallows his food. you tilt your head at him “did he not tell you?” somehow, that question brings a sense of deja vu to him— he shakes his head “no he did not” you nod

“we’re sort of like cousins? but we dont have any blood relation like 0%” you explains then perks up “step-cousin for a better word” taesan nods quite relieved by the answer

“i understand” he says before the two of you continue to eat your food in silence, sometimes asking each other questions.

its very obvious he’s in a good mood since you revealed that your relationship with leehan wasnt like what he’s thinking.

the both of you continue to talk even after you finish your food as you find so many things in common. beside, he’s very comfortable to talk to despite your first impression of him being he’s very closed off and prefer not to talk to others. he’s a warm person really— a contrast to his cold image.

“just a question” you starts he look at you, silently signalling you to continue “did you look what inside my sketchbook? im quite curious” taesan stay silent for a while thinking if he’s gonna be honest or he’s gonna lie, and he chooses the latter one knowing that it might make you feel awkward

“no” he says, you look at him, obviously did not believe him, and its not hard to catch on that “really! i mean— i have my own sketchbooks myself, and i really hate it when people look through it without permission. so i make sure i dont look through others' sketchbooks without permission. like my mothers said— treat others like how you want to be treated.” he rambles, trying to convince you, and seems like he’s succeeded at it.

“i see then” you smile, satisfied by his explanation. then you look at the time. its already 05:00 pm, causing you to gasps “times surely flies faster when you’re having fun” you says and taesan agrees.

“do you want to go home now?” he asks you ponder for a while before nodding at him, since he’s also an introvert, you’re sure he’s running out of battery from socialising with you and your headache are coming back you dont know how bad it will be if you let it be.

“then lets go” he says, helping you to stack the plates to help the waiter clean up. you nod. the both of you walk to the counter and meet with the female waiter from earlier

“finally going home?” she asks, you nod again before searching for your wallet in your handbag. however, before you can fish your wallet out, taesan hands her his card to pay for both of your orders.

“thank you, and here’s your receipt” she says, handing him the receipt while you look at him with betrayed looks.

“i thought its on me today?? didn't we agree about it??” your tone laced with betrayal almost as if he’s a knight who fought beside you in a war, won and ended up betraying you at the end to claim the credit of ending the whole war.

“next time! i’ll let you pay next time” he says with a smile. while you still looking at him like he killed your bloodline. he pats your head before bidding a goodbye to the cashier and leads you out of the cafe because there’s another customer behind you who is waiting for their turn to pay.

while you walk back to your apartment complex, still giving him the silent treatment— you dont even know why did you do it. taesan gives you one of his airpods to maybe lift up your mood.

you also dont know why he feels so familiar to you, as if you met him in the past and have known him for a long time.

all of a sudden, your headache hits you like lightning from the sky, causing you to lose your balance. you end up holding to taesan’s arm, trying to balance yourself.

“are you okay?” taesan asks as his hand holds your waist to help you stand up better. you nod at him “just my headache” you say. he slowly guide you to a bench near the both of you and you swear when you look across the street and locked your eyes with him, you headache got even worse that you cant even hear whatever han taesan is talking about.

you look across the street again just to find that he’s gone. you clutch on taesan’s arm tightening as you hiss at the headache. “can you hear—“ that's the last thing you hear before your whole vision goes black and leaves taesan to deal with it.

a/n: took me the whole day to complete this. i ran out of brain juice.

taglist: taglist: @astrae4 @miyawwn @sirenla @dimplewonie @nujeskz @onlyhyunjin @tkooooop @txtbrainrot @ch2won

likes, reblog, and comments were very appreciated.