✓ IF YOU STAY | HEESEUNG

33 - Dog-Shaped Chocolates

"Girl, you're not hiding your excitement." Harin scoffed as she sipped her coffee, sitting across from Y/N at their favorite café the following week. After three hours of shopping and walking around the bustling streets of the city, they finally found a cozy corner in the café to take a break. It was definitely their favorite thing to do with all the catch-up and gossiping sessions and an occasional shopping spree thrown in for good measure.

Y/N couldn't help but grin as she stirred her latte. "Well, it's not every day that someone confesses they had a crush on you from high school. Heeseung is just... interesting, you know?"

"Interesting or dreamy?" Harin's eyes twinkled mischievously. "You know I can always see through you. You look like a lovestruck teenager."

She sighed, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. "Okay, fine, he's a little dreamy. But, like, in a realistic, adult kind of way. He has a son for goodness' sake, I can't keep on fantasizing about him."

"Oh, but a responsible, dreamy, adult with a child? That's like the whole package right there. Hear me out. You dreamt of him and now he's real and all, isn't this the world finally listening to your wishes?"

"You're enjoying this a bit too much, aren't you?" Y/N chuckled and playfully rolled her eyes. Quality time with Harin made her forget her worries and made everything feel lighter. She was comforted by the way she smiled, the way her wild hair seemed to have a life of its own and the way she could effortlessly bring a spark of joy into her life. It was exactly what Y/N needed. "Well, Heeseung is indeed not just a pretty face. I can tell he's very responsible and he cares about those around around him. It's refreshing, you know? But if we're being real, it's not like we can rush into anything. He's a single dad and I have my job and everything. There's also Haejun who I really like spending time with." 

"Haejun likes you, Y/N. Literally, everyone around you can see it. He's head over heels for you," Harin pointed out, sipping on her now lukewarm coffee. "But he's a grown-up, and I'm sure he knows that life is complicated. If he's interested, he'll be patient and understanding. And if not, well, that's just how things sometimes go."

"Right." It wasn't so much a matter of who she would choose. Y/N wasn't planning on dating anyone soon so she just wanted to have fun and get to know both Heeseung and Haejun better. "Should I get a gift for Minjae?"

"You sound like a mom right now. You're only twenty-three, Y/N, not forty-three," She chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "But if you want to make a good impression, sure, a little gift couldn't hurt. Maybe something fun and age-appropriate, like a toy or a coloring book. I've never had a kid before- damn, Y/N, you're making me a nervous wreck just thinking about it."

"It's not like I'm becoming a mom overnight, Harin. I just want Minjae to know I like him too. He likes me a lot, actually, he even calls me the pretty Noona next door." She smiled, raising her eyebrows in excitement while Harin chuckled. "I'm already developing a little fan club over there."

"You're incorrigible. Well, at least you're having fun with it." And that's how the rest of the day went; with the two friends walking through the streets of the city with their shopping bags in hand, occasionally stopping in front of a store just for Harin to drag Y/N away and tell her she bought enough clothes for one day.

She had the day off so when she arrived home, an idea struck her. Y/N decided to bring Minjae a little surprise so she quickly looked up recipes on how to make homemade chocolate. Ever since the day she gave him the chocolates with hazelnuts, which had resulted in his allergy reaction and a hospital visit, she had been determined to make it up to him. 

Once the chocolate had set, Y/N placed them into a small box and tied a pretty ribbon around it, making it look as appealing as possible. Then she looked at the mirror and applied a touch of lip gloss, just to feel a little more put-together for her surprise visit. She wanted to make a good impression on Minjae but she also wanted Heeseung to know that she genuinely cared about his son.

So, with a final deep breath, she stood in front of their door. When she knocked on the door, Minjae was the one who answered it, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw her. "Y/N Noona! Hi!" His face lit up, and he opened the door wider to let her in. "Daddy! Noona is here!"

Heeseung came into the living room, a curious smile on his face, and he paused when he saw Y/N standing there. It almost looked like he'd been caught off guard. He was wearing a sweater and sweatpants and Y/N had to admit he looked so freaking handsome.

"I brought something for Minjae." She couched down in front of the kid, revealing the chocolate she spent the whole afternoon making. Minjae's eyes widened with delight as he saw the chocolate dog-shaped treats. 

"Wow! Like Danbi!" That earned him a chuckle from Y/N who ruffled his hair and looked back at Heeseung who looked like he was enjoying the scene in front of him. His strong arms were crossed casually while he leaned against the wall, making her forget how to breathe. The man could just stand there, and it was enough to make her heart race.

"They don't have hazelnuts or anything. I think I'm finally safe from causing any allergic reactions," She said and watched Heeseung's lips curl into a warm smile. "Would you like to try it?" Y/N held one for him to take but he just approached her and leaned down, his lips wrapping around the chocolate as he took a bite. Her breath caught as she watched him, and when his eyes locked with hers, it felt incredibly intimate. Almost like they were the only two people in the world at that moment, the rest of the world fading into the background.

The moment stretched, and for a brief second, Y/N wondered if he would say something more, express something deeper. But instead, he straightened up, a gentle smile still playing on his lips, and looked at Minjae. "What do you say, Minjae? Do we have a chocolate-making expert in the making?"

"Yes, daddy! Noona is the best!" His response made her cheeks flush and she reached out to wipe the chocolate from the corner of Minjae's mouth with a soft laugh. "I like Noona a lot."

"I'm glad to hear that. I like you a lot, too, and Danbi loves playing with you." She gave Minjae's cheek a gentle pinch, making him giggle. "

"Actually, Y/N, I was working on the dress I took your measurements for. If you don't mind, can I check the fitting quickly?" Y/N's heart skipped a beat at his request but she nodded and let him lead her into the living room where he had set up a small workplace with his sewing machine and fabrics. "I have no one to stay with Minjae so I'm working from home these days. Here's the dress."

As he helped her put on the dress, he meticulously checked the fit, making a few small adjustments to ensure it draped perfectly on her frame. It fit like a dream, and Y/N couldn't help but be impressed by Heeseung's attention to detail and his dedication to his craft. But the disappointment for it not being for her always lingered in the back of her mind. She admired the dress, the exquisite craftsmanship and the way he worked with such care, but a part of her couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to wear a dress he'd made for her personally.

"It's perfect." She muttered, watching him as he sat on his chair and fixed a few final details on the dress. When he glanced up and met her gaze, his fingers tracing the fabric as if it were an extension of her skin, she felt a shiver run down her spine.

"You make it look perfect, you know?" Then he smiled and all she wanted to do was hold his face in her hands and kiss him, but she held back, her longing masked by a soft laugh. And yet, his hand gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, his touch lingering on her skin. "Thank you for the chocolates, Y/N. Thank you for being here, for Minjae, and for everything.