however, every day feels like a soft balance between joy and torment. the small restaurant is always filled with the scent of sizzling meats and fresh herbs, a cozy spot tucked away in a jeonju neighborhood.

yeonjoo handles the kitchen with an effortless grace you're jealous of, the way her hands moved like poetry over chopping boards and steaming pots. she's always so kind to you.... smiling softly when you help her prep ingredients, her fingers brushing yours as she passes you a knife or a bowl.

"woah y/n, its like you're a natural at this," she says one afternoon, her voice warm like honey. your heart stuttered.

you love being close to her, inhaling the faint floral perfume she wears, feeling the heat from the stove hit your face.

beomwoo, as the self-appointed manager since something that happened between him and yeonjoo before you arrived, gives instructions from the front of the small place.

to you, you think beomwoo is still pretending that he is at his old executive director role at hansang.

he's efficient, almost intimidating at first, but you've seen the softer side... aka the way he compliments your handling of difficult customers.

"you've got this weird thing for turning complaints into compliments," he tells you once.

"how is that weird?" you smirk, leaning against the counter as beomwoo displays a grin, "it's not weird, it is impressive."

you blush, mumbling thanks. inside, you're drawn to him too. even after he got fired from hansang, he still has this inner confidence. the way he takes charge makes you feel safe.

yet, when you catch him and yeonjoo sharing a laugh over a botched order, that pit in your stomach opens up.

on the inside you hate how you jealousy coils tight, making your eyes sting.

they're both just-- just so perfect.

yeonjoo with her culinary magic, beomwoo with his business mastery.

you?

you think that you're just a newcomer with decent customer service skills. you feel small, unworthy, blinded by insecurities that whisper you're not enough for either of them.

what you don't see is how they yearn for you.

beomwoo watches you from afar, his heart aching in ways he can't fully grasp. he likes yeonjoo, has for weeks with her sweetness, her resilience in the kitchen.

you?

you're a revelation.

you're too calm under pressure, it scares him and even yeonjoo sometimes. it is the way you solve problems without failure, like rerouting a delivery mix-up or soothing a fussy patron.

he finds himself staring at your focused expression, imagining pulling you close, claiming you as his alongside yeonjoo.

you're his women, he thinks in quiet moments.

the thought is both thrilling and confusing.

he's never felt this pull toward two people. it's there though, insistent.

yeonjoo feels it too, though it terrifies her.

she's always been straight-laced, raised in a world where feelings like this don't fit. with you, it's different. your gentle touches in the kitche and the way you laugh at her jokes sparks something forbidden to her.

yeonjoo catches herself glancing at your lips, wondering what they'd feel like, then pushes it down with guilt.

she's not supposed to feel this way about another woman, the chef believes.

yet, when beomwoo's around, the three of you together feel right.

she yearns for you both, but the confusion makes her agitated, snapping at beomwoo more than usual when he flirts subtly with you.

the misunderstandings build like storm clouds over jungjae.

beomwoo gets jealous when yeonjoo lingers too long with you, thinking she's pulling away from him. yeonjoo misreads your distant stares as disinterest, her own insecurities flaring.

you? you cry alone at night, confused by wanting them both.

it's not normal, you tell yourself.

polyamory?

feelings for a woman?

it all feels wrong, yet so achingly right.

one morning, it becomes too much.

you call yeonjoo, your voice shaky over the phone.

"i'm not feeling well," you lie, curled up in bed with a headache born of emotional exhaustion, "I think I might need the day off."

the chef's concern is immediate, wrapping around you like a hug from across the phone it feels like.

"oh no, are you okay? do you need anything? i can come over after beomwoo gets here. wait let me bring some soup or medicine. take care of you."

your heart races at the offer, imagining her at your doorstep, tending to you with that gentle touch.

unfortunately, it would only confuse you more.

"no its okay! really.... just focus on the restaurant. i'll be fine."

yeonjoo hesitates, then sighs.

"alright, but call if you need me. rest well."

you hang up, guilt in your gut. you're not sick, not physically. you just need space to untangle this mess of feelings. however, jealousy flares when you picture them working together without you.

yeonjoo smiling at beomwoo's jokes, him leaning in too close.

you crave them both, want to be sandwiched between their warmth.

it's maddening.

after hours of pacing your apartment, you decide on a walk to clear your head. the august air is warm, streets bustling with midday crowds.

you wander aimlessly, lost in thought, until a familiar voice cuts through.

"y/n?"

you freeze, turning to see beomwoo standing outside a coffee shop, holding a takeout cup. his eyes widen in surprise, then narrow in concern.

"what are you doing out here? yeonjoo said you were sick."

panic rises.

"i… uh…"

he steps closer, his ex-executive poise cracking into worry.

"are you okay? huh-wait? you look fine... y/n, are you faking sick?"

the lie crumbles.

"i'm not physically sick, beomwoo," you confess, "I just… needed a day."

he's confused, brow furrowing.

"why lie? what's going on?"

you can't do this here, not on the street.

"I think we need to go to jungjae. now."

he doesn't argue, just nods and follows you to the restaurant that happens to be a couple of blocks away. the walk is tense, silent, your mind racing.

inside, yeonjoo looks up from wiping counters, her face lighting with relief that shifts to confusion.

"y/n? what are you doing here? i thought you were sick."

you stay quiet, sinking into a chair at an empty table.

they're both staring, concern etching their features.

this isn't like you. the kind, problem-solving y/n they know.

yeonjoo approaches first, her hand slipping into yours in a comforting squeeze. the woman's skin is soft and that spark ignites, sending electricity up your arm.

your breath hitches audibly, chest tightening.

"what's wrong?" beomwoo asks, moving closer too.

they're both so near now. yeonjoo on your left, her thumb stroking your knuckles with beomwoo on your right, his presence grounding.

you can smell yeonjoo's floral scent mixed with beomwoo's clean cologne, feel the heat radiating from their bodies.

it's overwhelming, their faces inches away, eyes searching yours with such intensity it nearly tips you into panic.

you hold on, drawing strength from their proximity.

"i love you both," you blurt out, the words tumbling free like a dam breaking.

beomwoo blinks, confused.

however, yeonjoo giggles lightly... misunderstanding since she did not believe that you love her back romantically.

"aw, we love you too, y/n. you're like family here."

"no," you say, voice firmer.

"yeonjoo, i love you both. like, i love you… the both of you… romantically."

silence falls, heavy.

yeonjoo stares, processing, her hand still in yours but grip loosening slightly.

beomwoo, though.... relief flickers in his eyes.

you look at him, questioning.

he exhales, a small smile tugging his lips.

"i feel the same. for both of you."

yeonjoo's eyes widen, darting between you.

she pulls her hand back, folding her arms as if to shield herself.

"wait… what?"

beomwoo and you give her a nervous look, as if yeonjoo might run away from you both.

after a few seconds, yeonjoo collects herself.

"fine... i… i do feel something. for both of you. it's been confusing me for weeks. but…" she trails off, voice trembling, "you're a woman, y/n. and a three-way thing? i've never even thought about that until now. it's scary. what if it's wrong? what if people judge?"

the chef's words echo your own fears.

its the fear of experiencing homophobia that's scared you besides the polyamory.

you've questioned your attraction to yeonjoo, wondering if it's a phase or something to suppress.however, hearing her soft voice makes you understand that this being a phase was not a possibility.

you sit there, quiet, heart pounding.

beomwoo moves then, his hand sliding to the back of your neck, fingers steady.

it's possessive yet tender, keeping you calm.

"there's nothing to be afraid of," he says softly, his thumb brushing your skin.

"we love you. even if she won't say it right away." he teases yeonjoo with a wink, lightening the mood.

she huffs, playfully swatting him with her cleaning rag.

"hey! i just did say it. sort of." yeonjoo's eyes soften, vulnerability coming through.

you take a breath, voicing your insecurities.

"I tried to take the day off to clear my head because... well... 've been so jealous seeing you two together. you both seem so perfect. yeonjoo, your cooking is amazing, and beomwoo, your experience… i feel like i'm nothing compared to you both, like i don't deserve either of you or jungjae."

they exchange glances, then yeonjoo leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead without saying anything.

yeonjoo;s lips are soft, lingering, and you can tell that it is taking her so much strength to do this.

the woman's lips sending warmth spreading through you.

"you're everything to us," she whispers against your head, "your charm and the way you handle everything with such grace… I think we can say that we're whipped, y/n."

once yeonjoo pulls away beomwoo kisses your temple, his hand still on your neck.

"you're not lower than us. your problem-solving saved that big order last week, remember? and your service is what keeps this place alive. we yearn for you, both of us."

you melt under their touches, tears pricking your eyes.

"will this change things at the restaurant?"

"let's see how it progresses," beomwoo says, his voice reassuring, "no rush. we're in this together."

as the afternoon fades all three of you stay at the restaurant, talking it out.

beomwoo looks at the both of you with a spark in his eye, his mind painting futures where he holds his women close.