Afternoon Delight. [Navi] [3/3]
Fandom: VIXX (au)
Pairing: Navi
Word Count: 4,909
Rating: PG.
Summary: The upcoming anniversary of Hakyeon and Wonshik's small bakery isn't as smooth as they would hope.
| Part 1|| Part 2|
Wonshik was sitting across from Hakyeon at the dinner table. The stew Hakyeon made needed more salt and the potatoes had been cooked for too long. Wonshik also wondered if Hakyeon knew just how long he’d been sitting there, spoon held halfway to his mouth, gaze lowered as he was lost in thought.
“Hey,” Wonshik finally piped up, curious to see how Hakyeon would respond. “Are you gonna eat or just sit there?”
The spoon slipped from Hakyeon’s fingers as he was jolted back to reality, hitting the table with a slight noise and spilling the cold bite of food that he had been holding.
“I’m not hungry.” He answered quietly. Hakyeon hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what possible scenarios could have happened between Taekwoon and Wonshik. Was Taekwoon laying dead in a ditch somewhere? Had Wonshik told Taekwoon he was going to break up with him? Wonshik hadn’t said a word since he had gotten home until now.
Getting up from his seat, Hakyeon went over to the counter to grab a paper towel and wipe up the mess he had made, biting his lip nervously as he was unable to resist not asking any longer, “What...what did Taekwoon say to you?” His gaze lifted to meet briefly with Wonshik’s before sliding away, staring at the soiled, crumpled paper towel in his hand.
Gaping for a moment, like a fish out of water, Wonshik already came to his decision, how he was going to bring it up was the issue. Suddenly being confronted with it, he realized very quickly how he hadn’t figured that part out yet.
“He told me he had kissed you,” Wonshik started, raising his brown eyes to Hakyeon, even if he couldn’t meet his yet. “But that it wasn’t provoked by anything in particular. He’d just been grabbing onto hope for so long that he finally cracked.”
So Taekwoon had told Wonshik. Hakyeon had expected that he would but to hear it actually confirmed made his heart clench in a painful reminder of his betrayal. Wonshik remembered the expression in which Taekwoon shared this. Although he felt zero empathy, still bitter that Taekwoon would even drag Hakyeon into a scenario that would hurt him, he did feel pity. He always knew Taekwoon had feelings for Hakyeon and for them to linger on this long without any reciprocation must’ve been heartbreaking. But it still left no excuse for Taekwoon to do what he did.
Taking a deep breath due to his anger rising again, Wonshik reminded himself he was entering this conversation with a peace of mind. Wonshik concluded earlier that it was pointless to throw a punch to Taekwoon’s face, despite how much he really wanted to see him fly. This hatred he had was draining him more than it should; without Hakyeon’s constant touches and those smiles full of love, Wonshik was a different man. He was void of his usual energy and love of life--his love for baking felt so empty today. Hakyeon didn’t know whether he should say something, whether it was appropriate to say something. And what even could he say? He had already told Wonshik it had meant nothing and he couldn’t place more blame on Taekwoon that he already had. Should he tell Wonshik it was his fault for even asking Taekwoon to help, that this all could have been avoided?
“He also said that I should stop being upset and should forgive you,” Wonshik let his words hang in the air, for Hakyeon to lace his fingers around and hold onto.
Hakyeon felt the guilt making itself at home in the pit of his stomach again. It was a nasty combination of feeling bad that Taekwoon had had to ask that of Wonshik knowing full well how hard that had to have been considering his feelings, blended together with the stabbing pain that he was feeling this with Wonshik merely feet away from him.
“I’m sorry…for being angry with you. I’m sorry for pushing you away. I’m sorry for not forgiving you the moment you told me it meant nothing.”
Tears were falling down Hakyeon’s face before the apology had fully set in, his body processing the words before his mind had a chance to fully grasp them. In a few steps he was at Wonshik, kneeling down beside his chair and clutching him around the waist. His body shook as he cried, head tucked against Wonshik’s stomach. All the fear Hakyeon had built up around the possibility of Wonshik breaking up with him had come crumbling down so sharply as if it were made of glass, piercing his heart and causing him to bleed out. Wonshik immediately wrapped his arms around Hakyeon's shoulders, squeezing him the best he could. Seeing the tears fall from Hakyeon's beautiful face only caused him to cling harder; he always hated seeing his lover cry, Hakyeon always too bright of a person to be wrenched in sobs.
“I’m sorry too. I’m so sorry you had to go through that...that this...ever happened. I never wanted to hurt you, Shikie...never...” Hakyeon managed to choke out an apology of his own, his arms holding tighter in case this was all just a dream and he was going to wake up in his bed with an empty space beside him. The last day had felt like months. He and Wonshik had never had a fight like this before, blessed more than most couples in that regard; some couples probably wouldn’t have considered this much of a fight at all, really. When he felt Hakyeon calm down, Wonshik began to ease him away from, peering down with what he hoped was only love in his eyes. "I have something for you, Hakyeonie," he used the informality only for special occasions, it made him feel that much closer to Hakyeon.
“Something for me?” Hakyeon lifted his eyes, feeling his heart warm to see Wonshik gazing at him in that way, curiosity immediately piqued. As much as he disliked not knowing about something he did love surprises and it had to be something big for Wonshik to address him by that nickname.
Slowly standing up, Wonshik helped Hakyeon sit on the chair in his place. "Be right back," he lifted a finger to signal he needed to hold on just a moment longer. There was vivid excitement in his eyes as he hurried off. Hakyeon sat anxiously in the seat, leg twitching and foot tapping against the wooden floor; he couldn’t even imagine what sort of something he was about to get. The excitement he saw in Wonshik as he had rushed off only made Hakyeon's mind spin more as there were so many things Wonshik could be excited about: a new dessert recipe to try, a fun movie for them to watch, five thousand won he had stuffed into his jacket pocket weeks ago and now just found again. Wonshik knew Hakyeon would love what he was going to present to him. After he realized how much he didn't want to lose Hakyeon, that life without his cutest and sweetest pastry chef felt bland, he became more resolved in his decision.
Returning to the kitchen, he saw Hakyeon sitting there, looking absolutely stunning with his flushed cheeks and slightly red eyes. Clearing his throat about a hundred times, licking at his lips that kept drying up, Wonshik nervously approached him. Hakyeon had been drumming his fingers on the table while he waited, chin perched in his other hand as his elbow rested on the table as well. He jumped when he heard Wonshik return, shifting in his seat to face him. His brows scrunched together as Hakyeon could notice the change in Wonshik’s demeanor: the excessive throat clearing and lip-licking, how he was fidgeting from side to side, and the fact he was clearly hiding something behind his back and his handsome face was shifting expressions at a rapid rate.
“Shikie...what is it? Are you ok?” Hakyeon has never seen him so nervous before, wondering if there needed to be cause for him to worry.
Without saying another word, terrified he would ruin the monumental moment, all at once Wonshik slowly lowered onto one knee and held up the velvet square case.
“Wonshik…” Hakyeon started, an almost warning tone to his voice. He had seen scenes like this play out far too often in all the romantic comedies he made Wonshik watch with him, knowing Wonshik secretly loved them just as much as he did, to not know what was coming next. He was quickly cut off.
"Hakyeonie," Wonshik began, "I never want to lose you. You've been my sweetest inspiration since we met. Without you, everything is flavorless and boring."
Wonshik watched the transformation in Hakyeon's features as he listened to him. Hakyeon was a sap, an emotional ball of, well, emotions. To say Hakyeon hadn’t envisioned his dream proposal would be a lie. He had concocted all sorts of crazy ideas ranging from a proposal on top of the Eiffel Tower with the city lit up at night beneath them to a tropical island getaway during the sunrise. But they weren’t all that extravagant, Hakyeon actually preferring something simpler, like maybe Wonshik presenting him with his favorite cupcake, red velvet, with the ring placed delicately atop the frosting as he woke up one morning. Something like this moment had never even crossed his mind, but then again he had never expected to have a fight with Wonshik. One thing all his daydreams and this moment had in common though was that Hakyeon knew he would cry. Even though it felt like he had cried everything out from the relief that Wonshik had forgiven him, there were droplets running silently down his cheeks again.
Pulling the box gently open, his hands unsteady as his mind blanked, Wonshik gazed right up into Hakyeon's watery brown eyes, "Will you marry me?"
Hakyeon didn’t consider himself a pretty crier. His eyes always got all red and puffy and his nose tended to run, but Wonshik had told him he always looked pretty, even when he was crying. He had never felt this overwhelmed before as he stared wide-eyed and open mouthed at the ring. It was a simple silver band with a small white diamond set in the middle of it. Catching the light it seemed to give the illusion of holding a rainbow, colors reflecting off the jewel and swirling together inside. Wonshik had picked it because it reminded him of his Hakyeon, simple but still so full of color.
“Y-you’re...so stupid.” Hakyeon stuttered with a small chuckle as he used his long shirt sleeve to wipe at his running nose, forgoing the ring for now to grasp Wonshik’s face and pull him in for a passionate kiss. Hakyeon was used to his morning kisses, his goodnight kisses, and the uncountable number of kisses he received in between. It had only been a day since Hakyeon had last been able to kiss Wonshik but the fervor with which he kissed him made it feel as if they had been separated for years. Their lips melding together with barely space to breath, his tongue breaking the boundary into Wonshik’s mouth and savoring the sweet taste he had missed so much. Wonshik only returned the urgency behind the kiss. How hard he fumed in his anger and hurt only prevented him from pulling Hakyeon close and whisking him into the usual kisses. Now to indulge and to bask in feeling those warm lips embraced against his was everything Wonshik wanted in the world. When Hakyeon finally pulled back just enough to be able to speak, he kept his forehead pressed to Wonshik’s and smiled, eyes shining with love and adoration, “Do you think I would just let all my hard work of winning you over go to waste? Of course I’ll marry you.”
A laugh pressed from Wonshik, all of his nerves flying out in a breathy exhale. The ends of his lips curled up, showing his delight. "Hyung, I was hoping you would say that."
Wonshik picked Hakyeon up, right off the floor and twirled him around in the kitchen. Laughter filled the apartment. It was a vision worthy of a story book, meant for the eyes of anyone who wanted hope in the world. As they tucked themselves into bed that night, Wonshik stroked the ring on Hakyeon's finger. A smile stayed on both of their lips as they murmured steady "I love you"s. Curled up in one another's arms, their fingers linked and love blanketed them with more warmth than any covers could do.
-☆--☆--☆-
It was the day of the big celebration. For the first time, Wonshik woke up with an early start, jumping out of bed and rushing to get ready. There was a miraculous amount of time still left, Hakyeon showing his surprise as he handed him his coffee as they walked out the door. Hakyeon had his arm through Wonshik’s blabbering on in his excitement about the day. They didn't make it far though, in fact just to the elevator, before Wonshik had his fiancé pinned to the lift wall; he was kissing along the row of Hakyeon's tan knuckles, saving his ring finger for last.
“Shikie!” Hakyeon’s face immediately turned bright red once he felt himself trapped, eyes glancing nervously at the camera in the corner of the elevator, “S-someone...is going to see us…” His words didn’t seem very concerned though, each light touch of Wonshik’s lips was enough to make him shiver, biting into his lower lip. The fact they were now engaged made everything that had already been perfect even better: their hugs, their kisses, their late night baking, their talks in bed and of course the love making that followed. In just one night Hakyeon felt the overwhelming difference. Hakyeon wouldn’t let Wonshik get away without giving him a proper kiss, putting on quite the show for the camera as he weaved his hands into Wonshik’s blonde locks and kissed him deeply until the ding of the elevator sounded they had arrived at the ground floor.
At the bakery Hakyeon's decorations made the store so vibrant and wonderful. The stars hanging down glimmered while the display cases had little firework tags with the names of their specials: Comet Cream Puff, Twinkling Twilight Tart, Neptune's Five Ring Cake, Milky Way Macaron and so forth. Wonshik liked the sign drapped outside of the store most: Starlight Bakery's One Year Celebration! It was such a simple sign but it made him soar inside when he thought about how he spent the last 12 months running this bakery with Hakyeon. When they first started, they were a fretting mess, constantly worried their treats were awful and that's why no one came. But it was a gradual process, not one of those fairy tale miracles where a movie star came in and tried their pastries. Their love life was already a fairy tale. Instead, over time people started spreading that word that their baked goods were the best in the area. From there, they had earned regulars who enjoyed the treat of seeing them as much as eating their creations. It was a year that ended up flying by. Wonshik wouldn't have asked to do this with anyone else in the world.
Hakyeon was wrapped around Wonshik’s middle as they conversed with a young couple who was visiting the store for the first time, his head resting under the arm Wonshik had hung loosely around his shoulders. Their real relationship was no longer a "secret". Hakyeon had been clinging to his fiancé since they left their apartment, making their morning preparations a little more difficult than usual; Wonshik had an equally hard time keeping his hands off Hakyeon as well. The couple was inquiring about whether the bakery would be able to cater cupcakes for their wedding reception next month, Hakyeon more than eager to accept the offer, thoughts of his and Wonshik’s own wedding already swimming in his mind. He wanted nothing more than to shout out their engagement to the world but after a little batter mishap earlier that morning Hakyeon wasn’t allowed to wear his engagement ring while working now.
“Helping someone with their wedding will give us some great ideas for ours, Shikie!” He whispered in Wonshik's ear.
Wonshik's cheeks dusted faintly in a red color, smiling awkwardly at the young couple as they waved goodbye. Hakyeon had been insisting since the moment he slipped the ring on his finger that they plan out every detail on their own. Wonshik wasn’t sure they’d be able to undertake such a large project with just the two of them. Despite the grand celebration and the steady business all morning, it had slowed a little for the afternoon. They were in the back fixing more desserts, Hakyeon decorating and frosting the pastries Wonshik pulled from the ovens; it was the first time they had been physically apart all day.
“I can’t believe we’re getting married!” Hakyeon sang as he skipped over to Wonshik’s side, their separation not lasting long as his arms slid around Wonshik's neck as he planted a multitude of sweet kisses along his jaw whispering, “My Wonshik, my love, my fiancé.”
Saying the word “fiancé” out loud made his lips tingle, his heart somersault Hakyeon never thought he’d be happier than the day that Wonshik had finally agreed to a date with him but being engaged made him feel like he was flying through a sunny, rainbow-filled, cloud-free sky. He only knew his happiest moment would be when he was saying his “I do”s to Wonshik. Wonshik in turn had the goofiest of grins, letting the word repeat in his mind in Hakyeon's voice. Although Wonshik imagined standing at the end of the aisle with a woman gracefully making her way towards him in a classic white gown, he could settle with the image of Hakyeon in one. A snicker left him as he knew saying this aloud would earn him a chastising slap on the arm. The chiming of the doorbell pulled Hakyeon away, leaving one more peck to the tip of Wonshik’s nose, before returning to the lobby, “Welcome to Starlight Bakery’s one year-Taekwoonie?!”
Taekwoon had spent hours during his shift trying to work up the courage to go over to the bakery and now here he stood just inside the door, still in his work uniform, with a cup from the cafe in each hand. He felt stupid, seeing the look of surprise on Hakyeon’s face.
“C-Congra...tulations," Taekwoon mumbled softly having noticed the sign hanging outside the store, his voice shaking from nerves; his heart still raced upon seeing Hakyeon again. Thankfully, despite the shock, Hakyeon didn’t seem upset to see him; he had that glow about him that Taekwoon had grown to love and he only hoped that him and Wonshik hadn’t broken up. His hope was confirmed as Wonshik, having heard Hakyeon’s sudden outburst, strolled out from the back. His arm immediately caught Hakyeon around the waist possessively and pulled him close. He steadied his gaze on Taekwoon, as if daring him to say something wrong.
“It’s nice to see you, Taekwoonie.” Hakyeon broke the silence before the tension could thicken, praying Wonshik would be civilized for the sake of the special occasion.
“T-these….are for you.” Taekwoon set the coffees down on the table near him before turning to leave. It had taken all his courage just to walk through the door, he didn’t know if he could handle staying especially given the angry feelings he was certain Wonshik harbored towards him. And it was just in that serendipitous moment that the door flew open and a very charismatic figure stepped inside, arms flung out and voice booming, "Congratulations to the cutest couple around here!"
The newcomer gasped in feigned shock, a devilish look to his eyes. "Oops. Was I not supposed to say that out loud?"
Thankfully there was only Hakyeon and Wonshik in the bakery--and Taekwoon. The smiling man's eyes landed on the dark-haired barista who had a perturbed expression.Taekwoon was undeniably handsome to him but the hunched shoulders and the lowered gaze definitely didn't do him any favors.
"Jaehwan!" Hakyeon was jumping up and down by Wonshik, grinning in radiance and clapping like Jaehwan just did some trick. Although Taekwoon looked like he was about to sidestep Jaehwan and leave, Jaehwan slipped his arm into Taekwoon's and turned him right around, "It's a party, you can't leave so soon," he smiled over at Taekwoon. For all he knew, Taekwoon could've been there for hours already. Taekwoon didn’t like Jaehwan already. It hadn’t even been thirty seconds and this stranger was already invading his personal space, something Taekwoon valued immensely. There wasn’t much he could do though and just let out an exasperated sigh.
Wonshik stood back as Hakyeon left him again for the sake of pummeling Jaehwan with hugs and wet kisses to the cheek. He glanced at Taekwoon who was also dispatched to the side. They shared a look, and after a long moment of neither of them blinking, Wonshik finally nodded. Taekwoon's eyebrows raised for a slight moment, but he curtly nodded back. This was some animal kingdom acknowledgment that despite their feud, they could become friends--or at least acquaintances that didn't avoid one another's presence. Wonshik even reached for the coffee Taekwoon brought, noting how this was the first time he ever gave one to him. He took a sip and to his begrudging surprise, it was tasty with the right amount of sweetness that didn't mask the flavor of the coffee. Maybe Taekwoon wasn't too bad of a person.
"Wonbie!" There was a hand on Wonshik's shoulder and he saw Jaehwan standing there, waiting for his reply. Wonbie was a nickname given to him because he apparently worked better through the night and Jaehwan felt Wonbie sounded like a bat name.
"Hey, hyung," he simply greeted, pulling him in for a brief hug. "Glad you could make it."
"How could I ever miss the anniversary of the two best people in the world?" Jaehwan had a knack for saying embarrassing comments. As he saw Hakyeon slide right up against Wonshik's side again, he further said, "After all, I had to make sure the couple I helped get together was still doing well."
Wonshik snorted, for it was common for Jaehwan to proclaim he was the reason they dated. It might've been true in the sense Jaehwan's failed attempt to win Hakyeon's heart made him realize he didn't want anyone else monopolizing Hakyeon's time. However, it was mainly due to Hakyeon's natural charm that finally won Wonshik's heart.
“Oh I would have won this stubborn guy over eventually. I was far too cute for him to ignore forever!” Hakyeon laughed as he nuzzled Wonshik’s shoulder before adding happily, “It’s nice to see you doing well too, Jaehwanie! I can’t believe you’re a wedding cake designer now!”
Despite all the mishaps Jaehwan had had with the actual cooking parts in pastry school, his artistic flair for decorating had allowed him to scrape by with a passing grade. Hakyeon had heard all about and seen the extravagant designs Jaehwan had drawn up for hundreds of couples already. Hakyeon had called Jaehwan that morning about their engagement, knowing how busy he was, and was shocked to hear that Jaehwan had already had a design for their cake, “I’ve had it waiting for almost two years!” He had told Hakyeon, “I knew from the first day you guys started dating you’d end up married.” Hakyeon had told Wonshik that Jaehwan was already booked; he didn’t want to spoil the surprise.
"And who is this handsome fellow?" Jaehwan turned his eyes onto Taekwoon. "Don't tell me you two make him witness your gross canoodling all day long. He doesn't work here, right?"
Taekwoon had had his eyes on Hakyeon, pleased to see how happy him and Wonshik were together but unable to fight off the small twinge in his heart. Hearing Jaehwan address him and feeling three pairs of eyes on him now, Taekwoon immediately looked down at his feet, his chin dipping to his chest. He felt the color rising into his cheeks at the blunt remark from Jaehwan, praying to whatever gods there were that he could turn invisible, or even drop dead, this very moment. Taekwoon knew he wasn’t unfortunate looking but it always unnerved him whenever anyone mentioned something about his looks. Hakyeon rolled his eyes as he chuckled at their old friend, “Ah Jaehwanie, we’re not that bad!”
When it was clear Taekwoon wasn’t going to answer, Hakyeon stepped in for him, “Taekwoonie works at the cafe across the street! He makes the best lattes you’ve ever tasted! ...And he’s single," Hakyeon added as an afterthought. Taekwoon loved Hakyeon but he swore he was going to kill him.
The reunion was short-lived as customers began to file into the shop again, Wonshik excusing himself after one more hug with Jaehwan to head back into the kitchen.
“We’ve got to get back to work but we’ll be slow again in a couple hours. Here…” Hakyeon took one of Jaehwan's and one of Taekwoon’s wrists in each hand, leading them over to one of the tables and sitting them down across from each other, “You two get acquainted. If you can’t find anything to talk about you can always talk about me.” He winked before fetching them a few cream puffs, green tea for Taekwoon and strawberry for Jaehwan, then hugged each of them and finally disappeared to restock the display.
Hakyeon stole glances at the pair in between customers while he worked. For the first hour Taekwoon looked like he was in his own personal hell, head still down, refusing to look at Jaehwan who just bombarded him with questions and made up his own answers if he didn’t get a response. When there was a lull while an ajumma was deciding what she wanted to order, Hakyeon was about to go over and try to encourage Taekwoon into speaking after seeing him say virtually nothing for an hour. But then he saw the faintest tug on the corner of the barista’s lips and heard a light sound released with a puff of air; Jaehwan actually made Taekwoon laugh, or what he counted as a laugh for the silent man. Hakyeon didn’t want to ruin this precious moment, Jaehwan already causing Taekwoon’s cheeks to redden by calling him loudly out on the smile.
Wonshik had finished his last batch of the day and already cleaned the countertops in the back, the dishes soaking in the dishwasher. He came out to see what was going on in the front, spotting Hakyeon right there, staring at the only two people now left in the shop. Quietly Wonshik slipped up behind him, hands covering Hakyeon's eyes as he murmured in his ear, "Guess who." Wonshik wasn't trying to disguise his voice at all, the deep mellow tone carrying nothing but love.
"My fiancé who isn't sneaky at all," Hakyeon twirled around with ease, breaking Wonshik's hand barrier. When they faced each other, Wonshik immediately scooped him into a hug as if he were a dob of whipped cream.
"How's it feel?" Wonshik asked, linking his fingers at the small of Hakyeon's back.
“Those two?” Hakyeon questioned back, glancing over his shoulder at Jaehwan and Taekwoon. It had been a few hours and Taekwoon was speaking openly with Jaehwan now, his natural voice so soft compared to Jaehwan’s which echoed through the entire store, “It feels nice to finally have something to hold over Jaehwanie’s head now, setting those two up.” Hakyeon smiled, already looking forward to the moment he could gloat--it would come later that year when the two of them showed up to his and Wonshik’s wedding together.
“I’m glad I can see Taekwoonie happy, and that Jaehwanie seems to have found someone he can talk to freely without worrying about interruptions. They both look really happy.” It truly warmed Hakyeon's heart to see his two closest friends hitting it off despite a rocky start. Wonshik glanced at the mentioned pair, quietly chuckling. "Yeah, now I don't gotta worry about anymore competition." His eyes went back to Hakyeon, his smile infectious, "But I meant how do you feel about calling me your fiancé?"
It was clear that their friends were paying them no attention, so Hakyeon brought his hands up to cup Wonshik’s face, thumbs brushing his cheeks, “I feel like the luckiest man in the world.” He answered before pressing his lips lightly to Wonshik’s, a brief kiss before rubbing the tips of their noses together, “My life couldn’t be any more perfect. I love you, Kim Wonshik.”
Yes, it was corny, but there wasn’t anything more Hakyeon could think to say. While he had never quite envisioned his future including a husband and a bakery, it all changed the first day of class when he had laid eyes on the person who had gone from his classroom baking partner to his partner for life. Wonshik still smiled, enriched in the moment before a glint caught his eyes and he lowered his voice, "Does this mean you'll finally wear thigh high socks and a skirt for me?"
-☆--☆--☆-
a/n: All finished! We know you guys love your Neo but we hoped you enjoyed this as well ^^ We hope to write more for other pairings also!
Pairing: Navi
Word Count: 4,909
Rating: PG.
Summary: The upcoming anniversary of Hakyeon and Wonshik's small bakery isn't as smooth as they would hope.
| Part 1|| Part 2|
Wonshik was sitting across from Hakyeon at the dinner table. The stew Hakyeon made needed more salt and the potatoes had been cooked for too long. Wonshik also wondered if Hakyeon knew just how long he’d been sitting there, spoon held halfway to his mouth, gaze lowered as he was lost in thought.
“Hey,” Wonshik finally piped up, curious to see how Hakyeon would respond. “Are you gonna eat or just sit there?”
The spoon slipped from Hakyeon’s fingers as he was jolted back to reality, hitting the table with a slight noise and spilling the cold bite of food that he had been holding.
“I’m not hungry.” He answered quietly. Hakyeon hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what possible scenarios could have happened between Taekwoon and Wonshik. Was Taekwoon laying dead in a ditch somewhere? Had Wonshik told Taekwoon he was going to break up with him? Wonshik hadn’t said a word since he had gotten home until now.
Getting up from his seat, Hakyeon went over to the counter to grab a paper towel and wipe up the mess he had made, biting his lip nervously as he was unable to resist not asking any longer, “What...what did Taekwoon say to you?” His gaze lifted to meet briefly with Wonshik’s before sliding away, staring at the soiled, crumpled paper towel in his hand.
Gaping for a moment, like a fish out of water, Wonshik already came to his decision, how he was going to bring it up was the issue. Suddenly being confronted with it, he realized very quickly how he hadn’t figured that part out yet.
“He told me he had kissed you,” Wonshik started, raising his brown eyes to Hakyeon, even if he couldn’t meet his yet. “But that it wasn’t provoked by anything in particular. He’d just been grabbing onto hope for so long that he finally cracked.”
So Taekwoon had told Wonshik. Hakyeon had expected that he would but to hear it actually confirmed made his heart clench in a painful reminder of his betrayal. Wonshik remembered the expression in which Taekwoon shared this. Although he felt zero empathy, still bitter that Taekwoon would even drag Hakyeon into a scenario that would hurt him, he did feel pity. He always knew Taekwoon had feelings for Hakyeon and for them to linger on this long without any reciprocation must’ve been heartbreaking. But it still left no excuse for Taekwoon to do what he did.
Taking a deep breath due to his anger rising again, Wonshik reminded himself he was entering this conversation with a peace of mind. Wonshik concluded earlier that it was pointless to throw a punch to Taekwoon’s face, despite how much he really wanted to see him fly. This hatred he had was draining him more than it should; without Hakyeon’s constant touches and those smiles full of love, Wonshik was a different man. He was void of his usual energy and love of life--his love for baking felt so empty today. Hakyeon didn’t know whether he should say something, whether it was appropriate to say something. And what even could he say? He had already told Wonshik it had meant nothing and he couldn’t place more blame on Taekwoon that he already had. Should he tell Wonshik it was his fault for even asking Taekwoon to help, that this all could have been avoided?
“He also said that I should stop being upset and should forgive you,” Wonshik let his words hang in the air, for Hakyeon to lace his fingers around and hold onto.
Hakyeon felt the guilt making itself at home in the pit of his stomach again. It was a nasty combination of feeling bad that Taekwoon had had to ask that of Wonshik knowing full well how hard that had to have been considering his feelings, blended together with the stabbing pain that he was feeling this with Wonshik merely feet away from him.
“I’m sorry…for being angry with you. I’m sorry for pushing you away. I’m sorry for not forgiving you the moment you told me it meant nothing.”
Tears were falling down Hakyeon’s face before the apology had fully set in, his body processing the words before his mind had a chance to fully grasp them. In a few steps he was at Wonshik, kneeling down beside his chair and clutching him around the waist. His body shook as he cried, head tucked against Wonshik’s stomach. All the fear Hakyeon had built up around the possibility of Wonshik breaking up with him had come crumbling down so sharply as if it were made of glass, piercing his heart and causing him to bleed out. Wonshik immediately wrapped his arms around Hakyeon's shoulders, squeezing him the best he could. Seeing the tears fall from Hakyeon's beautiful face only caused him to cling harder; he always hated seeing his lover cry, Hakyeon always too bright of a person to be wrenched in sobs.
“I’m sorry too. I’m so sorry you had to go through that...that this...ever happened. I never wanted to hurt you, Shikie...never...” Hakyeon managed to choke out an apology of his own, his arms holding tighter in case this was all just a dream and he was going to wake up in his bed with an empty space beside him. The last day had felt like months. He and Wonshik had never had a fight like this before, blessed more than most couples in that regard; some couples probably wouldn’t have considered this much of a fight at all, really. When he felt Hakyeon calm down, Wonshik began to ease him away from, peering down with what he hoped was only love in his eyes. "I have something for you, Hakyeonie," he used the informality only for special occasions, it made him feel that much closer to Hakyeon.
“Something for me?” Hakyeon lifted his eyes, feeling his heart warm to see Wonshik gazing at him in that way, curiosity immediately piqued. As much as he disliked not knowing about something he did love surprises and it had to be something big for Wonshik to address him by that nickname.
Slowly standing up, Wonshik helped Hakyeon sit on the chair in his place. "Be right back," he lifted a finger to signal he needed to hold on just a moment longer. There was vivid excitement in his eyes as he hurried off. Hakyeon sat anxiously in the seat, leg twitching and foot tapping against the wooden floor; he couldn’t even imagine what sort of something he was about to get. The excitement he saw in Wonshik as he had rushed off only made Hakyeon's mind spin more as there were so many things Wonshik could be excited about: a new dessert recipe to try, a fun movie for them to watch, five thousand won he had stuffed into his jacket pocket weeks ago and now just found again. Wonshik knew Hakyeon would love what he was going to present to him. After he realized how much he didn't want to lose Hakyeon, that life without his cutest and sweetest pastry chef felt bland, he became more resolved in his decision.
Returning to the kitchen, he saw Hakyeon sitting there, looking absolutely stunning with his flushed cheeks and slightly red eyes. Clearing his throat about a hundred times, licking at his lips that kept drying up, Wonshik nervously approached him. Hakyeon had been drumming his fingers on the table while he waited, chin perched in his other hand as his elbow rested on the table as well. He jumped when he heard Wonshik return, shifting in his seat to face him. His brows scrunched together as Hakyeon could notice the change in Wonshik’s demeanor: the excessive throat clearing and lip-licking, how he was fidgeting from side to side, and the fact he was clearly hiding something behind his back and his handsome face was shifting expressions at a rapid rate.
“Shikie...what is it? Are you ok?” Hakyeon has never seen him so nervous before, wondering if there needed to be cause for him to worry.
Without saying another word, terrified he would ruin the monumental moment, all at once Wonshik slowly lowered onto one knee and held up the velvet square case.
“Wonshik…” Hakyeon started, an almost warning tone to his voice. He had seen scenes like this play out far too often in all the romantic comedies he made Wonshik watch with him, knowing Wonshik secretly loved them just as much as he did, to not know what was coming next. He was quickly cut off.
"Hakyeonie," Wonshik began, "I never want to lose you. You've been my sweetest inspiration since we met. Without you, everything is flavorless and boring."
Wonshik watched the transformation in Hakyeon's features as he listened to him. Hakyeon was a sap, an emotional ball of, well, emotions. To say Hakyeon hadn’t envisioned his dream proposal would be a lie. He had concocted all sorts of crazy ideas ranging from a proposal on top of the Eiffel Tower with the city lit up at night beneath them to a tropical island getaway during the sunrise. But they weren’t all that extravagant, Hakyeon actually preferring something simpler, like maybe Wonshik presenting him with his favorite cupcake, red velvet, with the ring placed delicately atop the frosting as he woke up one morning. Something like this moment had never even crossed his mind, but then again he had never expected to have a fight with Wonshik. One thing all his daydreams and this moment had in common though was that Hakyeon knew he would cry. Even though it felt like he had cried everything out from the relief that Wonshik had forgiven him, there were droplets running silently down his cheeks again.
Pulling the box gently open, his hands unsteady as his mind blanked, Wonshik gazed right up into Hakyeon's watery brown eyes, "Will you marry me?"
Hakyeon didn’t consider himself a pretty crier. His eyes always got all red and puffy and his nose tended to run, but Wonshik had told him he always looked pretty, even when he was crying. He had never felt this overwhelmed before as he stared wide-eyed and open mouthed at the ring. It was a simple silver band with a small white diamond set in the middle of it. Catching the light it seemed to give the illusion of holding a rainbow, colors reflecting off the jewel and swirling together inside. Wonshik had picked it because it reminded him of his Hakyeon, simple but still so full of color.
“Y-you’re...so stupid.” Hakyeon stuttered with a small chuckle as he used his long shirt sleeve to wipe at his running nose, forgoing the ring for now to grasp Wonshik’s face and pull him in for a passionate kiss. Hakyeon was used to his morning kisses, his goodnight kisses, and the uncountable number of kisses he received in between. It had only been a day since Hakyeon had last been able to kiss Wonshik but the fervor with which he kissed him made it feel as if they had been separated for years. Their lips melding together with barely space to breath, his tongue breaking the boundary into Wonshik’s mouth and savoring the sweet taste he had missed so much. Wonshik only returned the urgency behind the kiss. How hard he fumed in his anger and hurt only prevented him from pulling Hakyeon close and whisking him into the usual kisses. Now to indulge and to bask in feeling those warm lips embraced against his was everything Wonshik wanted in the world. When Hakyeon finally pulled back just enough to be able to speak, he kept his forehead pressed to Wonshik’s and smiled, eyes shining with love and adoration, “Do you think I would just let all my hard work of winning you over go to waste? Of course I’ll marry you.”
A laugh pressed from Wonshik, all of his nerves flying out in a breathy exhale. The ends of his lips curled up, showing his delight. "Hyung, I was hoping you would say that."
Wonshik picked Hakyeon up, right off the floor and twirled him around in the kitchen. Laughter filled the apartment. It was a vision worthy of a story book, meant for the eyes of anyone who wanted hope in the world. As they tucked themselves into bed that night, Wonshik stroked the ring on Hakyeon's finger. A smile stayed on both of their lips as they murmured steady "I love you"s. Curled up in one another's arms, their fingers linked and love blanketed them with more warmth than any covers could do.
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It was the day of the big celebration. For the first time, Wonshik woke up with an early start, jumping out of bed and rushing to get ready. There was a miraculous amount of time still left, Hakyeon showing his surprise as he handed him his coffee as they walked out the door. Hakyeon had his arm through Wonshik’s blabbering on in his excitement about the day. They didn't make it far though, in fact just to the elevator, before Wonshik had his fiancé pinned to the lift wall; he was kissing along the row of Hakyeon's tan knuckles, saving his ring finger for last.
“Shikie!” Hakyeon’s face immediately turned bright red once he felt himself trapped, eyes glancing nervously at the camera in the corner of the elevator, “S-someone...is going to see us…” His words didn’t seem very concerned though, each light touch of Wonshik’s lips was enough to make him shiver, biting into his lower lip. The fact they were now engaged made everything that had already been perfect even better: their hugs, their kisses, their late night baking, their talks in bed and of course the love making that followed. In just one night Hakyeon felt the overwhelming difference. Hakyeon wouldn’t let Wonshik get away without giving him a proper kiss, putting on quite the show for the camera as he weaved his hands into Wonshik’s blonde locks and kissed him deeply until the ding of the elevator sounded they had arrived at the ground floor.
At the bakery Hakyeon's decorations made the store so vibrant and wonderful. The stars hanging down glimmered while the display cases had little firework tags with the names of their specials: Comet Cream Puff, Twinkling Twilight Tart, Neptune's Five Ring Cake, Milky Way Macaron and so forth. Wonshik liked the sign drapped outside of the store most: Starlight Bakery's One Year Celebration! It was such a simple sign but it made him soar inside when he thought about how he spent the last 12 months running this bakery with Hakyeon. When they first started, they were a fretting mess, constantly worried their treats were awful and that's why no one came. But it was a gradual process, not one of those fairy tale miracles where a movie star came in and tried their pastries. Their love life was already a fairy tale. Instead, over time people started spreading that word that their baked goods were the best in the area. From there, they had earned regulars who enjoyed the treat of seeing them as much as eating their creations. It was a year that ended up flying by. Wonshik wouldn't have asked to do this with anyone else in the world.
Hakyeon was wrapped around Wonshik’s middle as they conversed with a young couple who was visiting the store for the first time, his head resting under the arm Wonshik had hung loosely around his shoulders. Their real relationship was no longer a "secret". Hakyeon had been clinging to his fiancé since they left their apartment, making their morning preparations a little more difficult than usual; Wonshik had an equally hard time keeping his hands off Hakyeon as well. The couple was inquiring about whether the bakery would be able to cater cupcakes for their wedding reception next month, Hakyeon more than eager to accept the offer, thoughts of his and Wonshik’s own wedding already swimming in his mind. He wanted nothing more than to shout out their engagement to the world but after a little batter mishap earlier that morning Hakyeon wasn’t allowed to wear his engagement ring while working now.
“Helping someone with their wedding will give us some great ideas for ours, Shikie!” He whispered in Wonshik's ear.
Wonshik's cheeks dusted faintly in a red color, smiling awkwardly at the young couple as they waved goodbye. Hakyeon had been insisting since the moment he slipped the ring on his finger that they plan out every detail on their own. Wonshik wasn’t sure they’d be able to undertake such a large project with just the two of them. Despite the grand celebration and the steady business all morning, it had slowed a little for the afternoon. They were in the back fixing more desserts, Hakyeon decorating and frosting the pastries Wonshik pulled from the ovens; it was the first time they had been physically apart all day.
“I can’t believe we’re getting married!” Hakyeon sang as he skipped over to Wonshik’s side, their separation not lasting long as his arms slid around Wonshik's neck as he planted a multitude of sweet kisses along his jaw whispering, “My Wonshik, my love, my fiancé.”
Saying the word “fiancé” out loud made his lips tingle, his heart somersault Hakyeon never thought he’d be happier than the day that Wonshik had finally agreed to a date with him but being engaged made him feel like he was flying through a sunny, rainbow-filled, cloud-free sky. He only knew his happiest moment would be when he was saying his “I do”s to Wonshik. Wonshik in turn had the goofiest of grins, letting the word repeat in his mind in Hakyeon's voice. Although Wonshik imagined standing at the end of the aisle with a woman gracefully making her way towards him in a classic white gown, he could settle with the image of Hakyeon in one. A snicker left him as he knew saying this aloud would earn him a chastising slap on the arm. The chiming of the doorbell pulled Hakyeon away, leaving one more peck to the tip of Wonshik’s nose, before returning to the lobby, “Welcome to Starlight Bakery’s one year-Taekwoonie?!”
Taekwoon had spent hours during his shift trying to work up the courage to go over to the bakery and now here he stood just inside the door, still in his work uniform, with a cup from the cafe in each hand. He felt stupid, seeing the look of surprise on Hakyeon’s face.
“C-Congra...tulations," Taekwoon mumbled softly having noticed the sign hanging outside the store, his voice shaking from nerves; his heart still raced upon seeing Hakyeon again. Thankfully, despite the shock, Hakyeon didn’t seem upset to see him; he had that glow about him that Taekwoon had grown to love and he only hoped that him and Wonshik hadn’t broken up. His hope was confirmed as Wonshik, having heard Hakyeon’s sudden outburst, strolled out from the back. His arm immediately caught Hakyeon around the waist possessively and pulled him close. He steadied his gaze on Taekwoon, as if daring him to say something wrong.
“It’s nice to see you, Taekwoonie.” Hakyeon broke the silence before the tension could thicken, praying Wonshik would be civilized for the sake of the special occasion.
“T-these….are for you.” Taekwoon set the coffees down on the table near him before turning to leave. It had taken all his courage just to walk through the door, he didn’t know if he could handle staying especially given the angry feelings he was certain Wonshik harbored towards him. And it was just in that serendipitous moment that the door flew open and a very charismatic figure stepped inside, arms flung out and voice booming, "Congratulations to the cutest couple around here!"
The newcomer gasped in feigned shock, a devilish look to his eyes. "Oops. Was I not supposed to say that out loud?"
Thankfully there was only Hakyeon and Wonshik in the bakery--and Taekwoon. The smiling man's eyes landed on the dark-haired barista who had a perturbed expression.Taekwoon was undeniably handsome to him but the hunched shoulders and the lowered gaze definitely didn't do him any favors.
"Jaehwan!" Hakyeon was jumping up and down by Wonshik, grinning in radiance and clapping like Jaehwan just did some trick. Although Taekwoon looked like he was about to sidestep Jaehwan and leave, Jaehwan slipped his arm into Taekwoon's and turned him right around, "It's a party, you can't leave so soon," he smiled over at Taekwoon. For all he knew, Taekwoon could've been there for hours already. Taekwoon didn’t like Jaehwan already. It hadn’t even been thirty seconds and this stranger was already invading his personal space, something Taekwoon valued immensely. There wasn’t much he could do though and just let out an exasperated sigh.
Wonshik stood back as Hakyeon left him again for the sake of pummeling Jaehwan with hugs and wet kisses to the cheek. He glanced at Taekwoon who was also dispatched to the side. They shared a look, and after a long moment of neither of them blinking, Wonshik finally nodded. Taekwoon's eyebrows raised for a slight moment, but he curtly nodded back. This was some animal kingdom acknowledgment that despite their feud, they could become friends--or at least acquaintances that didn't avoid one another's presence. Wonshik even reached for the coffee Taekwoon brought, noting how this was the first time he ever gave one to him. He took a sip and to his begrudging surprise, it was tasty with the right amount of sweetness that didn't mask the flavor of the coffee. Maybe Taekwoon wasn't too bad of a person.
"Wonbie!" There was a hand on Wonshik's shoulder and he saw Jaehwan standing there, waiting for his reply. Wonbie was a nickname given to him because he apparently worked better through the night and Jaehwan felt Wonbie sounded like a bat name.
"Hey, hyung," he simply greeted, pulling him in for a brief hug. "Glad you could make it."
"How could I ever miss the anniversary of the two best people in the world?" Jaehwan had a knack for saying embarrassing comments. As he saw Hakyeon slide right up against Wonshik's side again, he further said, "After all, I had to make sure the couple I helped get together was still doing well."
Wonshik snorted, for it was common for Jaehwan to proclaim he was the reason they dated. It might've been true in the sense Jaehwan's failed attempt to win Hakyeon's heart made him realize he didn't want anyone else monopolizing Hakyeon's time. However, it was mainly due to Hakyeon's natural charm that finally won Wonshik's heart.
“Oh I would have won this stubborn guy over eventually. I was far too cute for him to ignore forever!” Hakyeon laughed as he nuzzled Wonshik’s shoulder before adding happily, “It’s nice to see you doing well too, Jaehwanie! I can’t believe you’re a wedding cake designer now!”
Despite all the mishaps Jaehwan had had with the actual cooking parts in pastry school, his artistic flair for decorating had allowed him to scrape by with a passing grade. Hakyeon had heard all about and seen the extravagant designs Jaehwan had drawn up for hundreds of couples already. Hakyeon had called Jaehwan that morning about their engagement, knowing how busy he was, and was shocked to hear that Jaehwan had already had a design for their cake, “I’ve had it waiting for almost two years!” He had told Hakyeon, “I knew from the first day you guys started dating you’d end up married.” Hakyeon had told Wonshik that Jaehwan was already booked; he didn’t want to spoil the surprise.
"And who is this handsome fellow?" Jaehwan turned his eyes onto Taekwoon. "Don't tell me you two make him witness your gross canoodling all day long. He doesn't work here, right?"
Taekwoon had had his eyes on Hakyeon, pleased to see how happy him and Wonshik were together but unable to fight off the small twinge in his heart. Hearing Jaehwan address him and feeling three pairs of eyes on him now, Taekwoon immediately looked down at his feet, his chin dipping to his chest. He felt the color rising into his cheeks at the blunt remark from Jaehwan, praying to whatever gods there were that he could turn invisible, or even drop dead, this very moment. Taekwoon knew he wasn’t unfortunate looking but it always unnerved him whenever anyone mentioned something about his looks. Hakyeon rolled his eyes as he chuckled at their old friend, “Ah Jaehwanie, we’re not that bad!”
When it was clear Taekwoon wasn’t going to answer, Hakyeon stepped in for him, “Taekwoonie works at the cafe across the street! He makes the best lattes you’ve ever tasted! ...And he’s single," Hakyeon added as an afterthought. Taekwoon loved Hakyeon but he swore he was going to kill him.
The reunion was short-lived as customers began to file into the shop again, Wonshik excusing himself after one more hug with Jaehwan to head back into the kitchen.
“We’ve got to get back to work but we’ll be slow again in a couple hours. Here…” Hakyeon took one of Jaehwan's and one of Taekwoon’s wrists in each hand, leading them over to one of the tables and sitting them down across from each other, “You two get acquainted. If you can’t find anything to talk about you can always talk about me.” He winked before fetching them a few cream puffs, green tea for Taekwoon and strawberry for Jaehwan, then hugged each of them and finally disappeared to restock the display.
Hakyeon stole glances at the pair in between customers while he worked. For the first hour Taekwoon looked like he was in his own personal hell, head still down, refusing to look at Jaehwan who just bombarded him with questions and made up his own answers if he didn’t get a response. When there was a lull while an ajumma was deciding what she wanted to order, Hakyeon was about to go over and try to encourage Taekwoon into speaking after seeing him say virtually nothing for an hour. But then he saw the faintest tug on the corner of the barista’s lips and heard a light sound released with a puff of air; Jaehwan actually made Taekwoon laugh, or what he counted as a laugh for the silent man. Hakyeon didn’t want to ruin this precious moment, Jaehwan already causing Taekwoon’s cheeks to redden by calling him loudly out on the smile.
Wonshik had finished his last batch of the day and already cleaned the countertops in the back, the dishes soaking in the dishwasher. He came out to see what was going on in the front, spotting Hakyeon right there, staring at the only two people now left in the shop. Quietly Wonshik slipped up behind him, hands covering Hakyeon's eyes as he murmured in his ear, "Guess who." Wonshik wasn't trying to disguise his voice at all, the deep mellow tone carrying nothing but love.
"My fiancé who isn't sneaky at all," Hakyeon twirled around with ease, breaking Wonshik's hand barrier. When they faced each other, Wonshik immediately scooped him into a hug as if he were a dob of whipped cream.
"How's it feel?" Wonshik asked, linking his fingers at the small of Hakyeon's back.
“Those two?” Hakyeon questioned back, glancing over his shoulder at Jaehwan and Taekwoon. It had been a few hours and Taekwoon was speaking openly with Jaehwan now, his natural voice so soft compared to Jaehwan’s which echoed through the entire store, “It feels nice to finally have something to hold over Jaehwanie’s head now, setting those two up.” Hakyeon smiled, already looking forward to the moment he could gloat--it would come later that year when the two of them showed up to his and Wonshik’s wedding together.
“I’m glad I can see Taekwoonie happy, and that Jaehwanie seems to have found someone he can talk to freely without worrying about interruptions. They both look really happy.” It truly warmed Hakyeon's heart to see his two closest friends hitting it off despite a rocky start. Wonshik glanced at the mentioned pair, quietly chuckling. "Yeah, now I don't gotta worry about anymore competition." His eyes went back to Hakyeon, his smile infectious, "But I meant how do you feel about calling me your fiancé?"
It was clear that their friends were paying them no attention, so Hakyeon brought his hands up to cup Wonshik’s face, thumbs brushing his cheeks, “I feel like the luckiest man in the world.” He answered before pressing his lips lightly to Wonshik’s, a brief kiss before rubbing the tips of their noses together, “My life couldn’t be any more perfect. I love you, Kim Wonshik.”
Yes, it was corny, but there wasn’t anything more Hakyeon could think to say. While he had never quite envisioned his future including a husband and a bakery, it all changed the first day of class when he had laid eyes on the person who had gone from his classroom baking partner to his partner for life. Wonshik still smiled, enriched in the moment before a glint caught his eyes and he lowered his voice, "Does this mean you'll finally wear thigh high socks and a skirt for me?"
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a/n: All finished! We know you guys love your Neo but we hoped you enjoyed this as well ^^ We hope to write more for other pairings also!