raspberries and mocha | heejake ✔

7

The dining area was filled with the usual hum of voices and the clinking of silverware. Heeseung, though exhausted from the rush, took a deep breath as he approached Riki's table, forcing himself to appear composed. Riki and his friends were in the middle of a lively conversation, laughter bubbling from the group as Heeseung neared.

As soon as Riki spotted him, his face lit up with an excited grin. "Hey, Hee—uh, Dad," he whispered dramatically, drawing out the word with a playful smirk.

Heeseung shot him a look, trying to keep it professional despite Riki's antics. "Stop that," he mumbled under his breath, but the small smile on his lips gave him away.

Riki didn't seem deterred. He leaned in, his voice a little louder but still teasing. "So, what are the specials today, Dad?" he asked, eyes twinkling mischievously.

Heeseung sighed, shaking his head. He was about to rattle off the usual list when it hit him—that scent.

It was like time itself froze. The familiar, intoxicating aroma of raspberries washed over him, flooding his senses. His breath hitched, and for a moment, everything around him became a blur. The soft laughter from the table faded into the background, and all he could focus on was the scent—the same one that had haunted him since that night when Riki stumbled home.

His eyes flicked instinctively toward the stranger at the table. They were sitting there, casually sipping their drink, looking completely unaware of the chaos they were stirring inside him. The scent of raspberries clung to them like an invisible cloud, as undeniable as the pull Heeseung felt towards them.

What is this?

Heeseung's hands trembled slightly as he struggled to regain control. He didn't want to let it show, but the way his pulse quickened, the way his heart pounded in his chest—it was too much. He felt like the air had been sucked out of his lungs, as if the raspberries had surrounded him, drowning him.

"Hello? Earth to Heeseung? Dad?" Riki's voice cut through the haze, and Heeseung snapped back to reality. He blinked, realizing Riki had been waiting for him to take the order.

"S-sorry," Heeseung stammered, desperately trying to compose himself. He managed to scribble down Riki's order, catching the others in bits and pieces, but every time he glanced back at the stranger, the scent intensified.

Before he knew it, he was backing away from the table, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He needed to get out of there—now. He quickly mumbled something about getting their food ready and practically ran back into the kitchen, his heart still racing.

Once he was behind the safety of the kitchen doors, Heeseung collapsed against the counter, panting like he had just run a marathon. His hands gripped the edge of the counter, knuckles turning white as he tried to catch his breath. His head was spinning, thoughts swirling around the stranger and the maddening scent of raspberries.

"Dude, are you okay?" Jay's voice jolted him from his thoughts. He turned to see his friend staring at him, one brow raised in concern. Sunghoon, completely oblivious, was busy on the other side of the kitchen, probably looking at someone or god knows what.

Heeseung swallowed hard, still panting as he met Jay's confused gaze. "The scent..." he managed to get out, the words almost breathless.

Jay frowned, walking over to him. "What scent? What are you talking about?"

Heeseung leaned against the counter, his chest still heaving as he tried to explain. "It's them...the stranger at Riki's table. It's—it's them. The raspberry scent, it's coming from them. I smelled it before...when Riki came home drunk. I thought it was one of his friends, but it's not. It's them, Jay. Every time I'm near them, it's like...I can't fucking breathe."

Jay's eyes widened as Heeseung's words sank in. "Wait, you mean that person sitting with him? They're the one causing you to freak out like this?" he asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

Heeseung nodded, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "It's more than just the fucking scent. There's something about them, Jay. It's like they're...dangerous, but I don't even know why. Every time I catch that smell, I just—" Heeseung paused, searching for the right words. "I feel like I'm being pulled toward them, like I'm losing control."

Jay's expression shifted from stunned to thoughtful, and he let out a low whistle. "Damn...that's intense. You've never acted like this before. You are the last person I'd know to believe in love. Are you sure it's not just...I don't know, you being tired from the rush or something?"

Heeseung shot him a look. "This isn't about being tired. It's real, Jongseong. I'm telling you, it's them."

Jay let out a sigh, crossing his arms. "Well, it sounds like you're in deep, man. But what are you gonna do? You can't just avoid them if Riki's friends with them."

Heeseung groaned, leaning his head back against the wall. "I don't know. I just...I feel like something's going to happen. Something I can't control."

Jay patted him on the back, his tone trying to be reassuring, though his voice carried a note of unease. "Look, maybe it's not as bad as you think. Just try to stay cool, okay? If this person really is dangerous...well, we'll figure it out. But for now, don't lose your head over it. Just take a breath."

Heeseung nodded, though deep down, he wasn't sure if he could take Jay's advice. Every time he smelled that raspberry scent, his mind went blank, his instincts screamed at him to run—or worse, to get closer.

But for now, all he could do was take a breath and hope that whatever this was, he could keep it under control.