Maybe it’s true (I’m caught up on you) - 11/?
masterpost
‘Soon’ turned out to be a whole month before Chanyeol visited next. Baekri won’t admit, not even at gunpoint, to have been expecting the smartly dressed, overgrown puppy to start showing up every day for lunch. She feels her self pep talks to endure his teasing and kindergarten-style flirting going to waste, not to mention being inexplicably miffed at the radio silence on Chanyeol’s side, since he, surprisingly enough, hasn’t texted or called Baekri once in the time he and his friends have had her number.
Baekri knew the young man’s apparent disappearance was suspicious. She also knew the more relaxed environment as of lately was too good to be true: there she is, the head server, barking orders left and right for an immaculate service in sight of Very Important Guests coming over, demanding even more care in cooking, cleaning and attending since earlier that morning. Every tinkle of the entrance bell startles the waiters, wrung up in suspense for who these V.I.G. could possibly be to turn their humble restaurant in the barracks from Full Metal Jacket.
...Turns out Chanyeol & friends are the reason behind today’s transformation of the head server into a Lieutenant, and reason number whatever for Baekri to hate rich bitchasses. The brunette finds out only now that the brooding Kyungsoo, who mostly nodded along and barely bared his teeth in a smile only after a bottle of soju or three the night their groups got acquainted, is the spawn of the family at the head of the South Korean food industry. This is all the leverage the guys need (and then some) to hint at the desire for a chef treatment: table set up elegantly in a corner of the kitchen, they’ll be served and worshipped by a personal waiter, who’ll bring them cornucopias of freshly made delicacies and liters of their finest wines while wearing a white tunic and slave sandals.
(If that wasn’t clear already, Baekri has a penchant for exaggerations.)
With all the Michelin starred restaurants in the city, did they really need to come to this modest one? Baekri thinks bitterly as she stands in line with the other waiters, waiting to be executed-- I mean, to know who’ll have the honor to serve the almighty Do Kyungsoo and his equally important guests.
In retrospect, Baekri should’ve imagined Chanyeol would come back with a bang as none other than a V.I.G.. Now that the thorn in her side is here, however, she wishes he weren’t, the smidge of worry and curiosity over his vanishing going straight out of the window. The asshole brought out the big guns, damn him.
Doing her darnest to keep her face straight in front of the disgustingly servile tone their leader is showing, Baekri finds herself locking eyes with Chanyeol & co.--Chanyeol’s amused face, Sera’s bored expression, Jongin’s almost apologetic one, and the inscrutable Kyungsoo who occasionally interacts with the Mastiff--until an elbow in the ribs snaps the waitress’ attention back on Mrs Choi, who’s looking at her with owlish eyes while nodding subtly in the guests’ direction.
“As I was saying,” the head server repeats with a warning tone that doesn’t go unnoticed to anyone present, “Baekri will be more than glad to assist you, as you requested--”
(Why didn’t I pay attention, damn it, Baekri muses bitterly. Did they seriously single me out?)
“I wish you an enjoyable meal at Emilia’s,” the older woman concludes with a deep bow, before herding everyone but Baekri back to their workstations.
‘Ew, woman, don’t you have some self respect? The owners wouldn’t have been such bootlickers. Why did they have to be on some business trip today, of all days?’ the girl thinks, almost disgusted. Knowing she’d get her ass fired if she doesn’t do her damn job, Baekri turns affably to the four brats, pretending not to be acquainted with them and throwing every resentment for their bank accounts behind herself.
“Welcome to Emilia’s. I’m Baekri, your waitress. Today’s specials are a delicious risotto al nero di seppia…”
Every now and again a stage-whispered “Baekri!” would resonate from the table in the kitchen corner, from none other than Chanyeol, the human embodiment of a tail-wagging Labrador. Well, there it goes Baekri’s pretense of not knowing them; she should’ve expected it, for the heir to constantly beckon her over for the most inane things: from a refill of breadsticks, that the waitress was pretty sure no one at the table ate but they still disappeared in thin air, to a change of cutlery for supposed smudges that their busser would pop a vein over, knowing how anal about cleanliness he is.
Eventually, some time between the secondo and the dessert, Sera kicks Chanyeol in Kyungsoo’s stead, the heir visibly deflating with a sheepish expression on his face under the shorter guy’s glare.
Baekri feels her facial muscles completely frozen in the most forced smile you can think of. All through the meal she bit her tongue to avoid saying what she really wanted to, keeping herself sane by imagining to lean on the table in front of Chanyeol and with a flirty quirk of her lips whisper,
‘You and your musketeers can kindly go the fuck off.’
The four plates of tiramisù in front of Baekri make her mouth water, but she keeps strong, knowing that her shift is almost over and that the source of all her struggles will be gone by then as well; she’ll finally be able to savor every single spoonful of it as a well deserved reward for keeping her tongue on a leash during service. The waitress brings the desserts to their Very Important Guests and with a more chipper, ‘Enjoy,’ is about to leave when Kyungsoo (!!!he talks!!!) stops her, even inviting her to sit down with them. They both automatically turn towards The Mastiff, who has been watching their exchange but mostly Baekri like a hawk, and Kyungsoo very pointedly tugs Baekri’s wrist down, never breaking eye contact with Mrs Choi as if to dare her to butt in. Once they’re sure they won’t be interrupted, and after the serious looking guest insisted Baekri grabbed a dish of tiramisù for herself as well (“It’s on me, don’t worry.”), the five of them sit down for a chat--or, as Chanyeol called it, an intervention.
“First of all, I’d like to apologize for my behavior,” the heir starts, hands joined in remorse and sincerity.
“Again,” Sera sing-songs around her bite of dessert. Baekri absentmindedly notes the younger girl’s pleased noises, making sure to report to Seunghwan for another successful dish.
“Second,” Chanyeol continues, as if he hasn’t been interrupted, determined to spill what he wanted to say since their second encounter at the bar, “I hope we can start over, put our first meeting and my mischievousness behind ourselves. I find you very interesting, Baekri, and I wish you’ll give me a chance to become more acquainted. All I ask for is one date, and if it’ll turn out really awful for you I’ll step aside and leave you alone. Pinky promise.”
Baekri is left speechless by Chanyeol’s earnestness and the underlying insecurity beneath an uncharacteristically bashful smile. She locks eyes with him, as if trying to find the littlest trace of insincerity that will give her an excuse to bail on him, but all Baekri sees is a child at heart with too long limbs clad in fancy clothes, and soon enough she finds her lips pull up in an exasperated yet approving smile. But Byun Baekri doesn’t go down without a fight.
“Fine! I’ll go out with you!” she agrees in the most standoffish tone she can muster. Too bad it doesn’t reflect on her still smiling face, that makes Chanyeol’s grin turn broader.
“Tell me when and where, I’ll be there,” he states, eyes sparkling in barely contained excitement. He wrings his hands tighter, fighting the urge to reach out for Baekri. The waitress exhales, raking her mind to think of an ideal time and place, when she remembers the following afternoon she’s free.
“My classes end at 2 PM tomorrow. I go to Kyunghee University, see you there?” Baekri eventually reveals, sporting a challenging smirk. Her intentions to fluster the tall boy evaporate in front of his dazzling, enthusiastic smile.
“Of course!”
(At the same table, completely ignored for the past five minutes, Kyungsoo, Jongin and Sera have silently enjoyed their tiramisù like they would popcorn in front of a rom-com.
Only one thought crossed their mind: Finally.)
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