Chapter Text
Taehyun swiftly moves the black rag around the silver countertops, being careful with the coffee machine. He turns on his phone once he deems the countertops clean enough to check the time, 1:50pm. Ten more minutes and his mother would come to take over him and he’ll be able to leave with his daughter.
A smile forms on his face as he stares at his lockscreen, it’s Nari sleeping sideways, hugging a teddy bear while wearing a brown knitted hat and long sleeve shirt with a small white blanket covering her legs. His mom decided to knit it for her as a small gift when they moved in back with them. He can’t believe how much time has passed since then. Nari was only 6 months old and now she’s about to turn 2 years old.
He heads to the back to pick up a tray of cookies and fruit tart mini cakes to restock in the front. The trays are placed on the countertop, swiftly removing the empty ones from the display and placing the new ones inside. His father isn’t there when he goes to the back, probably on his break, so he washes the trays and anything else that needs to be washed. The store is always empty around this time plus he’ll hear the bell ding if a customer comes in.
Drying his hands with a towel he heads back to the front looking at the time – 1:58pm. His mom should be coming anytime now. The bell dings as the door opens, right on time.
“Hi mo–” The words die out in his throat as he sees him. His heart pounds hard against his ribcage, so loud in his ears he wonders if others can hear it too. His whole body stiffens, mouth slightly ajar, throat dry, and he feels the air knocked out of his lungs when the other person smirks at him.
A clap snaps him out of his daze, his eyes dart to the sound and Beomgyu is standing right there, smiling at him. “HiHi, missed me?”
“Oh,” he doesn’t know what to feel. He should feel happy that his best friend is back but the man next to him makes it impossible for him to concentrate. It feels like his mind hasn’t caught up to what’s happening.
Beomgyu opens his arms, and Taehyun leans over the counter awkwardly to hug him across the register. The other person remains silent, staring at Taehyun, who feels sweat dripping down his neck and his palms becoming clammy. He notices Beomgyu’s lips moving, but no words are reaching his ears.
Before he can ask him to repeat himself, the bell rings as the door opens and Taehyun feels his heart sink. His mother walks in carrying Nari, who has her face tucked in her neck probably sleeping. His tongue feels heavy inside his mouth. The heaviness in his chest intensifies, as though an imaginary brick is pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
He wants to speak up, to ask his mother to hand over Nari, but his lips refuse to cooperate. It's as if they're sewn shut, trapping the words inside. His brain screams at his body to move, to do something, anything, but it's as if he's paralyzed and he just might cry.
“Hi auntie– oh whose kid is this? Is it yours?” Beomgyu asks, looking back and forth between his mom and Nari. His mom laughs while shaking her head. “No, this is my beautiful granddaughter.” The silence that follows is dreadful. Beomgyu quickly glances at him but Taehyun doesn’t bother looking at him.
“Oh! I didn’t know Taehyunie had a baby,” The comment was made in general but he knows that Beomgyu is asking himself a billion questions inside his head.
"What’s her name?" Beomgyu's question cuts through the tense air, directed at Taehyun this time. His throat constricts, feeling as parched as a desert. Swallowing hard, he tries to alleviate the dryness. "N-Nari," he manages to stammer out, his voice barely above a whisper. His hands tremble uncontrollably, so he steadies them by gripping the edge of the counter. He feels eyes boring into his face but he pays him absolutely no mind.
“Nari,” Repeats Yeonjun, the name carrying a soft melody. “It’s cute.” And Taehyun can only nod while looking at his mom. His mom looks at Taehyun then at Yeonjun, “Hello Mrs. Kang, sorry for the late introduction but I’m Yeonjun.” He smiles politely at the older woman, who returns the smile.
“No worries. I haven’t met you before. Are you one of my son’s friends?” His mom’s gaze shifts to him, her expression is unreadable. Taehyun can almost hear the gears turning in her head as she pieces things together. With his daughter basically looking like her father, there’s no doubt that she would make the connection.
"Uh – yeah, something like that," Yeonjun responds awkwardly, his smile feeling forced as he exchanges glances with Taehyun’s mother. Taehyun’s lips part open, ready to tell his mom that he’s leaving, but Nari begins to stir. She starts moving her head, groaning softly as her eyes finally open. She stares at her grandmother then at Beomgyu and Yeonjun.
Her small pouty lips tremble into a frown, eyes brimming with tears as she lets out a cry. “Uh-oh,” Taehyun’s mother starts rocking her back and forth while Taehyun quickly removes his apron, going to the back to drop his apron, grabbing his coat and finally leaving.
“She starts to act like this when she senses Taehyun around but can’t see him.” His mother says to the other two while gently rocking Nari side to side.
“Mom, can you hand her over,” His mother gently hands over Nari and she’s quick to wrap her arms around Taeyun’s neck, her cries simmering down.
His mom excuses herself to get ready for work and the silence that follows is deathly awkward. Taehyun hasn’t even made eye contact with Yeonjun, the tension is too high between them.
“Taehyunie I’ve missed you so much.” Beomgyu says breaking the silence. He stands up to give Taehyun a hug once again. “Did you change your number? I’ve been blowing up your phone telling you that I’m coming back but haven’t received any response.” He pouts, looking like a kicked puppy.
“No, I haven’t. I’m sorry but I don’t really check my phone since I’m busy either working or taking care of her.” Replied Taehyun, looking a bit apologetic for not noticing Beomgyu’s text.
“Oh no, don’t worry about it. But now that I’m here we definitely need to go out to eat or something.” Taehyun nods agreement, ready to say goodbye and hopefully never see Yeonjun again. But clearly nothing wants to go his way.
“I’ll be right back, my dad’s calling.” Beomgyu said, voice trailing off as he walked towards the front door.
Before Taehyun even has the chance to run out right behind Beomgyu, the smell of coffee beans invades his nose. “Hi cutie,” Yeonjun cheekily said. His smile widens when Taehyun finally looks at him.
“Don’t call me that.”
His smile drops, turning into a pout. “I’m sad that you never texted me.” Taehyun’s brows furrow with confusion, “What?”
“I’m sorry that I didn’t stay until you woke up, trust me I really wanted to but I was called in for something important at my job. But I did leave my contact information on top of the nightstand.” Yeonjun trails off, staring at Taehyun.
“What? No, you didn’t.”
“Yes, I did.”
“No, you didn– look, I’m not about to do this here.” From the corner of his eye he notices his mom looking at them. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” Taehyun whispers, looking right past Yeonjun.
Nari starts moving around until she’s staring at Taehyun. She lifts up her right hand to touch his nose, lips, and cheeks. Taehyun pries her hand away, kissing it gently and looking at her completely unaware of the fond gaze they were receiving.
“I know it is,” Yeonjun starts off making Taehyun turn to look at him. “But can’t I have your number? We can be friends or does your alpha not allow you?” He makes a face and Taehyun just wants to tell him, ‘I don’t have an alpha and this baby is yours.’
Suppressed emotions are bubbling their way up, ready to explode like a volcano. He thought he had gotten over this, overcame it, and believed that he wouldn’t never meet Yeonjun. And if he did, he wouldn’t tell him about Nari. But having said man in front of him was making him think differently.
Nari deserves to have two parental figures in her life, she deserves everything in the world. But that looming thought of Yeonjun rejecting her breaks his heart and snaps his head out of any stupid thoughts. Those words ready to erupt and leave his mouth, simmer down until it eventually dissolves.
He doesn’t miss the fond gaze Yeonjun holds when staring at Nari, the little girl having no clue in the world just enjoying playing with Taehyun’s jacket zipper. Once Yeonjun notices his eyes on him, he clears his throat, “So, friends? Or alpha doesn’t let you?” There’s an underlying tone Yeonjun says the word alpha with that Taehyun can’t make out and is too tired to.
A sigh. “I don’t have an alpha–” The words slip out faster than intended, and he closes his mouth shut as if those words scorched his tongue. He avoids Yeonjun’s face at all costs. That was the last thing he wanted to admit, especially to Yeonjun. He takes a quick peek at Yeonjun just to see him staring at Nari. Eyes slightly wide, mouth agape, brows furrow as he stares at the little girl in front of him.
Nari stretches out her arm, her body also moving forward but stopped by the hand pressed on her back. As if in a trace, Yeonjun takes a small step forward but Taehyun steps back, and puts down Nari’s arm. She stretches it out again, talking gibberish as she tries to extend herself to reach Yeonjun.
He brings her arm down again. This time keeping his hand on top of her arm so she doesn’t raise it again. Yeonjun looks at him, confusion written all over his face, “Taehyun.” He shakes his head. Nari tries to free herself, making disgruntled noises while trying to do so until she realizes that Taehyun has a tight grip on her. Tears start forming and she wails as she tries to free herself and reach out for Yeonjun.
He takes a step forward again, his lips are moving but Taehyun doesn’t hear. He wants to get out of there, needs to get out of there. He takes a step back, quickly moving to the right and rushing to the front door. Beomgyu comes in, almost bumping into each other. “Woah, hey, you okay?” Taehyun doesn’t reply, slips right by him and rushes home. Ignoring the calls of his name while Nari cries loudly in his arms.