↱SACCHARINE↲ ⇾woojoong⇽

cherry

[ ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧₊˚ ]

__

Wooyoung didn't hear the news until he had already arrived at work, bright and early with the intention of starting up the coffee machines in the back and wiping down the front counter before opening.

The place was a mess and Wooyoung was fully prepared to blame Hongjoong once he arrived, knowing well that the boy had been distracting him all night by launching paper airplanes past his head and drumming his knuckles against the register when he should have been cleaning.

And Wooyoung wasn't keen on getting fired, so he set to work quickly, wiping tables and straightening chairs until the place was spotless and he was heading to the back to start the ovens.

He only stopped when his phone vibrated against his thigh and the silence of the cafe finally grew deafening against his ears, eyes lifting in bewilderment.

It was close to opening and yet the restaurant remained empty.

It wasn't uncommon for Wooyoung to be the first to arrive, sometimes even opening while on his own like he was now, able to maintain the slow flow of customers until the other employees arrived along with Mr. Park.

But it was usually something that was discussed, something expected rather than something for Wooyoung to go into blind.

He was the longest lasting worker by far, employed at only seventeen, and even though he hadn't managed to become one of his boss' favorite people, he was respected and dependable without fault.

But the sun was hot and pouring through the windows in stretching rays of blinding light and the kitchen remained humid and empty, doors locked and dishes clean.

Something was wrong.

He fumbled for his pocket with numbing fingers, clawing out his phone while turning off every machine and appliance.

Wooyoung was having a hard time catching his breath once he retreated back to the front desk, checking the time and staring persistently past the entrance all while tapping his device rapidly.

"Where are you?" Wooyoung asked worriedly, melting against the counter with heat flaring in his cheeks, both embarrassed and concerned.

He wasn't sure why the other's hadn't shown up yet, and the possibility that he had made a mistake was an unwelcoming fear in his mind.

"I'm on my way but- did you... did you hear what happened?" Hongjoong hesitated oddly, soft voice trailing and drifting with uncertainty, a weary sort of apprehension that he only ever seemed to reveal with Wooyoung.

When he didn't want to see the Wooyoung's smile fall or eyes flicker with anything short of childish amusement and wondrous delight, but Wooyoung was sitting up now and his grip on the phone tightened.

"No, what happened? Where is everyone?"

"There was an email sent out to all the employee's last night. I think it was sent by Seonghwa-ssi." He shifted on the other end, causing the speaker to ring loudly, and Wooyoung winced at the same time Hongjoong took a steadying breath.