𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 | 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐤𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐳, 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐳

.𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐.

☁︎𝟑𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

----

Gyuvin leaned against the counter of his newly opened café, White Delight Cafe, watching the world outside. It had been a month since he left Seoul and his cousin Gunwook, a month since Yujin's passing. Tokyo was bustling, a stark contrast to the somber memories he had left behind. The city was alive, a vibrant tapestry of neon lights, endless crowds, and a ceaseless hum that became the soundtrack of his days and nights.

The bell above the door chimed, and Gyuvin glanced up to see Ricky walking in. Ricky, with his red hair, piercing eyes, and an air of nonchalance that drew people in effortlessly. Ricky had become a regular at White Delight Cafe, always ordering the same thing: a black coffee, no sugar, and a chocolate croissant.

"Morning, Ricky," Gyuvin greeted, his heart doing the now-familiar flutter.

"Hey, Gyuvin," Ricky replied with a smile that made Gyuvin's heart skip a beat. "The usual, please."

Gyuvin nodded and started preparing Ricky's order. As he worked, he stole glances at Ricky, who was casually flipping through a magazine. There was something about Ricky that was magnetic, a presence that Gyuvin found hard to resist. Despite Ricky's frequent visits, getting close to him had proven to be a challenge. Ricky was friendly but guarded, like he kept a part of himself locked away.

"Here you go," Gyuvin said, placing the coffee and croissant in front of Ricky.

"Thanks," Ricky said, looking up from his magazine. He took a sip of the coffee, his eyes never leaving Gyuvin's. "You're really good at this, you know. The coffee here is the best I've had in Tokyo."

"Thanks," Gyuvin replied, feeling a warmth spread through him at the compliment. "I'm glad you like it."

There was a pause, a moment of silence that seemed to stretch on forever. Gyuvin's mind raced with a thousand thoughts, a thousand things he wanted to say but couldn't find the words for. Finally, Ricky broke the silence.

"So, I've been thinking," Ricky began, his voice casual but his eyes intense. "Would you like to go out with me tomorrow? Like, a date?"

Gyuvin's heart skipped a beat. "A date?"

"Yeah, a date," Ricky repeated, a small smile playing on his lips. "What do you say?"

"Uh, yeah," Gyuvin stammered, trying to keep his composure. "I'd like that."

"Great," Ricky said, his smile widening. "I'll pick you up at seven. We can go somewhere nice."

"Sounds good," Gyuvin managed to say, his mind still reeling. As Ricky finished his coffee and left the café, Gyuvin couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. Ricky had asked him out. Ricky, his enigmatic and captivating neighbor who had been a constant presence in his thoughts.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Gyuvin went through the motions of running the café, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept replaying the conversation with Ricky, the way he had asked him out so casually yet so sincerely. By the time he closed the café for the night, Gyuvin was exhausted but couldn't wait for tomorrow.

----

The next day came with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Gyuvin spent the day at the café, trying to focus on work but constantly glancing at the clock. As the afternoon turned into evening, he closed the café early and went home to get ready.

At exactly seven, there was a knock on his door. Gyuvin took a deep breath and opened it to find Ricky standing there, looking effortlessly handsome in a simple yet stylish outfit.

"Ready to go?" Ricky asked, his eyes sparkling.

"Yeah, let's go," Gyuvin replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

They walked to a nearby restaurant, a cozy little place with dim lighting and an intimate atmosphere. They were seated at a corner table, away from the hustle and bustle of the main dining area.

"This place is nice," Gyuvin remarked, looking around.

"Yeah, I come here often," Ricky said. "The food is great, and it's not too crowded."

They ordered their food and settled into a comfortable conversation. Ricky talked about his work, his interests, and his experiences in Tokyo. Gyuvin listened, fascinated by Ricky's stories and the way he spoke with such ease and confidence. He found himself opening up as well, sharing his own experiences, his reasons for moving to Tokyo, and his dreams for the future.

"You've been through a lot," Ricky said softly, his eyes filled with understanding. "It's not easy to start over in a new city."

"Yeah, it's been tough," Gyuvin admitted. "But opening the café has helped. It gives me something to focus on."

"You're doing great," Ricky said, reaching across the table to squeeze Gyuvin's hand. "You're strong, Gyuvin. Don't forget that."

Gyuvin felt a surge of warmth at Ricky's words. "Thanks, Ricky. That means a lot."

They finished their meal and left the restaurant, walking through the quiet streets of Tokyo. The night was cool and calm, a stark contrast to the bustling day. They walked in comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company.

As they reached Gyuvin's apartment, Ricky turned to him, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I had a great time tonight, Gyuvin. Thanks for saying yes."

"Me too," Gyuvin replied, feeling a mix of emotions. "Thanks for asking me."

Ricky smiled and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Gyuvin's cheek. "Goodnight, Gyuvin."

"Goodnight, Ricky," Gyuvin said, his heart pounding as he watched Ricky walk away.

As he entered his apartment and closed the door behind him, Gyuvin felt a sense of hope and excitement. He didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was moving in the right direction. Ricky was a mystery, but one that Gyuvin was determined to unravel, one date at a time.

☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓☓

i want this to be slow burn , but it's moving kind of fast 😫 i'm probably gonna hold off on shimkongz and focus on mattparkz ..

- AMERICA 🇺🇸 ‼️