Chapter Text
Sangwon noticed Leo was stopping by Baustelle more and more frequently. The first time was a shock.
He had not seen the elder in months, much less talked to him unless it was a brief message on instagram. But when Sangwon saw him walk in, shaggy hair framing his face, a confident swagger, and a recognizable keychain dangling from his pants the wave of nostalgia almost bowled him over.
Sangwon stood there in shock. Partially unsure of how to greet someone he once knew so deeply, and partially hoping another barista would step in. OR perhaps even that the ground would swallow him whole. He was not so fortunate.
Leo greeted him with a calm smile, “Hello Sangwon, could I get a flat white please.”
Ever the Australian, Sangwon thought to himself.
Sangwon could not fight the blush that crep up his neck as he busied himself ringing up the order and steaming milk.
Leo kept a close watch on Sangwon as he made his drink, almost as if he was studying the younger man.
Sangwon set the finished drink on the counter with a little too much force and the liquid threatened to slosh out the rim.
“Here you go Leo hyung,” The name slipped out before he could stop it. The two men regarded each other with an easy familiarity before Leo broke the silence.
“Um. Do you have a second to chat?”
Sangwon took a cursory glance around the cafe. No customers were waiting to be served and there was another barista on duty.
“Sure.”
Sangwon informed the other barista he was taking his break and turned to follow Leo outside. Sangwon had the growing suspicion this was not just an attempt to reconnect or catch up.
They took a seat at the tables outside the cafe. Shoppers were strolling by and buisnessmen headed back to work from their lunch break.
For a moment they sat in silence soaking up the spring sun. Again, Leo broke the silence.
“Do you ever miss what we had?”
Sangwon is stunned but tries to keep his face neutral. Did he miss what they had? Their lives were intertwined. They were meant to debut together. They would spend nights talking until they fell asleep and then waking hours training and traveling together. His hidden feelings and hoping for the universe to shift so that Leo would feel the same way and that they could be together.
Leo leaving the group was devastating. When Trainee A fell apart it was sad but Sangwon also found it a welcome break from such a grueling work schedule.
Sangwon must have been silent for a moment too long, as Leo took the opportunity to clarify.
“You know, performing and all that.”
“Oh yes.” Of course that’s what he meant. It wouldn’t be anything that happened between them. Sangwon pushed those feelings down in exchange for other nostalgia pangs. “I do miss it sometimes. But I’m also not sure I could handle those hours again.”
“You do know they’re auditioning for another season of Boys II Planet again?”
Sangwon nodded. He had an agent still. He never fully left the life.
“Yes. But I’m not sure I would make it past the preliminary auditions now. We’re older, you know.”
Leo had a look in his eye that if Sagwon weren’t so wrapped up in his own thoughts could have been interpreted as wistfulness. He set down his now empty cup and cleared his throat.
“Audition with me. This could be our last shot.”
The two men’s eyes met. Leo leaned in even closer. Sangwon could feel his breath.
“There’s no one else I’d want to do this with but you.”
It was like the street noise disappeared. Suddenly, they were several years younger, inches away from eachother in the dorm. Sharing secrets.
And then they weren’t. Out of the corner of his eye Sangwon could see the other barista looking for him.
Leo sat back in his chair exhaling.
Sangwon glanced at his coworker who had turned to help a line of customers. He considered his current life. It wasn’t bad, but here he was being tempted with everything he wanted or the promise of everything he could want.
Sangwon rose up from the table preparing to leave, but felt the older man’s hand lightly rest on his.
Sangwon glanced around to make sure no one saw. Not that anyone was. Not that anyone was watching them anymore.
“Please,” was all Leo said.
“Okay.”
There was no one else he would do this with either.