raspberries and mocha | heejake

4

The quiet hum of the kitchen filled the small apartment, the soft clinking of dishes providing a steady rhythm as Heeseung stood by the sink. His arms were submerged in soapy water, scrubbing away at plates and glasses that had piled up throughout the day. It had been an exhausting shift at the restaurant, one of those days that dragged on longer than usual, leaving him drained, with an aching back and a mind ready to shut down. The thought of finishing the last of the dishes and collapsing into bed was the only thing keeping him going.

He wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, his movements slowing as his thoughts drifted to how things used to be quieter before Riki became a rising star. The apartment used to feel bigger back then, the days simpler. Yet, despite all the changes, something about Riki never changed.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, the peace of the evening was shattered by the sound of hurried footsteps. Heeseung barely had time to react before a familiar voice rang out, loud and cheerful.

"Heeseung!" Riki's energetic voice broke through the stillness, and within seconds, the younger boy had bounded into the kitchen. Before Heeseung could turn around, he felt a pair of hands latch onto his shoulders, fingers gripping tightly as Riki began bouncing up and down on his heels.

Heeseung chuckled softly, shaking his head without turning around. "What's all this about?" he asked, already knowing Riki had something exciting to share.

Riki continued bouncing, his grip on Heeseung's shoulders never loosening. "Guess what? I hit two million followers on Instagram today!"

The words hung in the air for a moment as Heeseung processed what Riki had said. He wasn't surprised—Riki had been skyrocketing in popularity lately, his follower count climbing faster than Heeseung could keep up with. But hearing it like this, the boy practically vibrating with excitement, made it feel more real.

"Two million, huh?" Heeseung turned slightly, raising an eyebrow in amusement. He let out a small, approving whistle. "That's impressive, kid. You're really making a name for yourself, huh?"

Riki beamed, his chest puffing out as if he'd just been handed a trophy. "I know, right? Two million! It's insane!"

Heeseung grinned at his enthusiasm. No matter how big Riki got online, to him, he'd always be that kid he'd met in Japan, full of life and mischief. "Congrats, big shot," Heeseung teased, turning back to the dishes with a soft chuckle. "So, what's the plan? Gonna throw a party or something?"

Riki's eyes lit up at the question. "Actually, yeah! Me and the guys are going out tomorrow night. You'll never guess where."

Heeseung turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder. "Where?"

Riki flashed a playful grin, clearly enjoying the build-up. "We're going to the restaurant where you work!"

Heeseung blinked, the dish in his hand slipping slightly in the soapy water. "The restaurant I work at?"

Riki nodded eagerly, still gripping Heeseung's shoulders as if he hadn't already delivered the big news. "Yeah! We thought, what better place to celebrate than a fancy place like that? It's perfect."

For a moment, Heeseung wasn't sure how to react. I mean, he DID work at an extremely expensive 5-star restaurant only the richest in the country could afford. Maybe it was the way Riki was grinning from ear to ear, or maybe it was the exhaustion from the long day clouding his thoughts. Either way, he found himself at a loss for words.

Heeseung shrugged, turning back to the dishes. "Alright, just don't cause too much trouble."

Riki let out a laugh, his hands finally releasing Heeseung's shoulders as he stepped back, still buzzing with excitement. "Me? Trouble? Never."

Heeseung shook his head, smiling to himself as he rinsed off the last dish. It was always like this with Riki—no matter how many followers he gained or how much attention he got, he still found ways to annoy Heeseung in the most endearing way. No matter how much he grew, to Heeseung, he was still that same kid who would bounce around the apartment, full of energy, with an unstoppable enthusiasm for life.

Riki took a step back, rocking on his heels as if he was preparing for another announcement. But instead, he just grinned. "Alright, I'm heading to bed. It's late."

Heeseung glanced over his shoulder again, nodding. "Yeah, you should. It's been a long day."

Riki turned, ready to head to his room, but then paused for a second. "Oh, and dad?"

"Mm?" Heeseung asked, drying his hands with a towel.

"Thanks. For everything."

The unexpected sincerity in Riki's voice made Heeseung pause. He looked over at the boy, now standing in the doorway of the kitchen, his usual playful expression replaced with something softer. Heeseung felt a small warmth spread through his chest but kept his response casual.

"Aight," he said, throwing the towel over his shoulder. "Goodnight."

Riki grinned one last time before disappearing down the hallway to his room, leaving Heeseung standing in the quiet kitchen. Heeseung shook his head, a small smile still lingering on his face. He wasn't entirely sure why Riki had felt the need to give him a heads-up about his plans for the restaurant, but it didn't seem like anything to worry about. Probably just Riki being Riki.

But as Heeseung turned off the kitchen light and made his way to his own room, a small part of him couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, there was more to it than that.