raspberries and mocha | heejake ✔

8

Heeseung steadied himself as he approached Riki's table with their food. His hands were only slightly shaking, but that damn raspberry scent was still lingering in the air. As he neared the group, he stole a glance toward the stranger.

And then—holy fuck.

His breath hitched in his throat. The stranger, who'd been the source of that intoxicating scent, was now fully in view. Dark hair fell softly over their forehead, those big, innocent eyes focused on the phone in their hand. Their face—Heeseung swore it was almost puppy-like, so sweet, so delicate. Absolutely fucking adorable. Heeseung's heart pounded against his chest, as if it was about to break free.

Thank God they're not looking at me, he thought, nearly shivering from the overwhelming wave of emotions rushing through him. If those big eyes had looked up and locked onto his, Heeseung was sure he'd have melted on the spot. The stranger seemed blissfully unaware, still scrolling through their phone as Heeseung placed the dishes in front of them. His gaze lingered a bit too long, and he forced himself to look away before anyone noticed.

He hurriedly finished serving the rest of the table and congratulated Riki, who giggled with the friends sitting opposite him. "Thank you, Heeseung, or should I say Dad?" Riki whispered with a wink, earning a playful glare from Heeseung.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Heeseung muttered before turning on his heel and making a quick exit back to the kitchen. His heart was still hammering in his chest, and his head felt light from the intensity of the moment. As he returned to the kitchen, he found Jay and Sunghoon standing near the doorway, both of them staring intently in the direction of Riki's table.

He furrowed his brows, catching the two idiots zoning out. "What are you two staring at?"

Jay turned first, blinking as if he'd been caught in the middle of something. Sunghoon didn't even budge, still staring in the same direction with a goofy grin on his face. Jay shrugged, glancing back at the table, then back at Heeseung with a knowing look.

"Dude, we've been eye-fucking those two sitting with Riki," Jay whispered, lips curling into a smirk.

Heeseung rolled his eyes but couldn't help his curiosity. "Which ones?"

Jay nodded toward the two people sitting opposite the stranger. Heeseung glanced in their direction and immediately recognized them—Riki's long-time friends, Sunoo and Jungwon. Sunoo had a bright blonde head of hair and an infectious smile that Heeseung always found charming, while Jungwon, with his darker hair and sharp features, exuded a quiet but undeniable confidence. They had both been good friends with Riki ever since he'd moved to Korea with Heeseung.

"Oh, them?" Heeseung let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah, they've been hanging around Riki for years. You're both late."

But Jay was grinning like an idiot. "Yeah, but Heeseung, you do not understand. they're fucking hot."

Sunghoon finally snapped out of his trance, nodding fervently. "Fuck yeah. Especially the blonde one, Sunoo, right? Damn."

Heeseung raised a brow, amused by how flustered both of his friends seemed to be. "I mean, considering how gay you two are, I'm not surprised they're probably eyeing you back."

Jay laughed, nudging Heeseung's shoulder. "Nah, man, it's serious. We might have a chance with these two. Have you seen how Jungwon looks at me? He looks like I'm practically undressing him with my eyes."

"Right, and Sunoo's been grinning at me all night, fuck," Sunghoon added, crossing his arms, pride in his voice.

Heeseung shook his head, laughing softly. "Well, considering how hard it's been for you guys to find anyone you vibe with, this is a big thing."

Still, as he watched Sunghoon and Jay babble on about their potential crushes, Heeseung's thoughts drifted back to the stranger—the one who'd captivated his attention with nothing but a scent and a glance. He looked back toward the table, and there they were, still focused on their phone, oblivious to the storm brewing inside him. Heeseung didn't know what it meant yet, but one thing was certain—this was no ordinary attraction. There was something dangerous about them, something he couldn't shake.

He had a feeling this wasn't over, not by a long shot.