Stay - Yang Jungwon 양 정원

𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐀𝐘 𝐘𝐄𝐒

Before you guys start reading, I just want to preface that this is a non-idol AU... kind of. This is what I think Chaeri's life would have been if she never got casted for Bighit! But Jungwon is still part of Enhypen! This is inspired by the XO mv where they're all like doing smth romantic with Chloe. So enjoy!

Early 2023

The soft chime of the bell rung as Chaeri opened the door to the cafe.  Her cafe. Opening her own cafe has been her dream since she helped her grandmother fold croissant dough back in Marseille.  Chaeri hadn't known anything else but the sweet smell of her family's cafe.

It had been difficult to open the bakery right after she graduated, but thanks to her parents help, her dream had come true.  Of course they were hesitant of letting their only daughter jump straight into work rather than university.  But Chaeri (and her grandmother) convinced them you didn't need a degree to open a cafe.  Just lots of love.

Her phone buzzed as Chaeri closed the door, it wasn't opening time just yet, but Chaeri wanted to get everything ready even before her two employees come in.

Miyeon: Morning Rin Sooyun and I will be at work later than we planned Soo's taking forever to get ready smh

Chaeri chuckled. Miyeon and Sooyun were the two employees that she hired when the cafe first opened.  Who were really her two best friends.  They were more than happy to help out at the bakery.

Lights flickered on as Chaeri went to the back. She held back a yawn, still getting used to the early schedule. Most of the time she woke up earlier than she did for school. It was still dark out, the outside streets lamp giving a romance vibe on the empty streets.

The early hours of the morning past by as Chaeri hurried to prepare all the cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and tarts.  As well as the coffee and drinks that they serviced.  When Miyeon and Sooyun came in, the three of them took their first coffee out of their daily six.  By seven a.m. all the treats were on display and ready to be ordered.  Soft instrumental music hummed through the bakery as Miyeon took down the chairs and started wiping down the tables. 

Chaeri walked over to the front of the bakery, organizing the little decorations she personally bought when they first started.  Once everything looked nice and neat, she reached for the small cord behind the bookshelf and clicked the little button. 

The LED light sign on the feature wall of the bakery flickered pink. 

SWEET SONG CAFE

"Yeon! Can you get more of the raspberry tarts?  They're in the fridge," Chaeri shouted over her shoulder as another customer ordered the last of the ones in the display.  It was fun, watching a different pastry become a customer favorite of the day.  The day before it was the cookies and cream cookies.  Today it was the raspberry tart.  Which just happened to be Sooyun's favorites. 

"At this rate I won't have any to take home," Sooyun joked sadly as she passed Chaeri to make a customer's drink.

"Don't worry, I saved part of a batch for you," Chaeri promised her, earning a bright smile. 

The bell on the door chimed as customers came in. Chaeri's eyebrows shot up slightly in surprise when a larger group of boys, very tall boys, walked into the cafe, squeezing through the door. 

"Wah... they're tall..." Miyeon whispered as she placed the tarts in the display. 

"Jealous, Yeon?" Sooyun teased.