raspberries and mocha | heejake ✔

18

Heeseung was barely holding it together, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins from the non-stop rush hour madness. The clock struck 5pm, signaling the start of the chaos, and he'd been running back and forth like a track star, managing orders and dodging between crowded tables, plates, and impatient customers. His legs were burning, his breath ragged as he finally managed to get every table full. He barely had time to calm down before he was about to retreat to the staff room to catch his breath.

Just as he was about to cross the threshold, something—or rather, someone—caught his attention. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar face approaching quickly, and he whipped his head around.

Jake.

Heeseung blinked in surprise as Jake rushed up to him, a wide grin spread across his face. The next thing he knew, Jake had practically thrown himself at Heeseung, jumping into his arms. Heeseung, on instinct, quickly caught him, barely managing to steady himself against the sudden weight. But instead of letting go, Jake only snuggled further into him, arms locked around Heeseung's neck.

Jake's face was buried in the crook of Heeseung's neck, and then Heeseung felt it—the unmistakable sensation of Jake sniffing him. Heeseung furrowed his brows in confusion, wondering what Jake was doing, but before he could ask, Jake finally pulled back just a little, still holding on tight.

"You smell like freshly made mocha," Jake murmured, his voice muffled by Heeseung's shoulder, his breath warm against Heeseung's skin. "All warm and cuddly."

Heeseung let out a soft chuckle. "Well, considering I've been making that stuff nonstop since like 4:30, that's probably why," he said, his lips twitching in amusement. He was exhausted, sure, but Jake's random affection had caught him off guard in a way that made him feel surprisingly light.

They stayed like that for a moment, Jake clinging to him like a koala, Heeseung just holding him close, feeling the warmth between them. The restaurant's chaos buzzed in the background, but in that instant, it felt like they were in their own world.

And then, Jake lifted his head, their faces so close that Heeseung could feel the younger boy's breath against his skin. Jake's dark eyes glimmered with something mischievous yet soft, a look that made Heeseung's heart skip. He swallowed hard, feeling the heat rise between them.

"Someone's needy." Heeseung grinned proudly.

"Ugh, you're so annoying." Jake rolled his eyes before going back into Heeseung's shoulder.

Heeseung only chuckled at Jake's adorable behavior. He was the cutest thing when angry or pissed off. All pouty and shit.

"Come on, we all know you like it." Heeseung smoothly remarked. Jake only lifted his head again to look at Heeseung with an unamused glare. Heeseung only raised his head further, pulling Jake in closer.

To think they weren't dating.

"So," Heeseung moved his head back down to look at Jake, "What brings you here?"

"Mm, I just wanted to see you." Jake admitted, covering his face.

"To see me?" Heeseung scoffed. "I'm the luckiest man alive." He dramatically remarked.

"Shut the fuck up." Jake hit Heeseung's biceps before hiding his face even further.

"I was only kidding." Heeseung laughed, stroking Jake's hair.

"Mmph." was the only thing Jake could mumble before looking up again.

Heeseung chuckled softly, feeling Jake's breath against his neck as the younger boy hid his face deeper into his chest. The sound of Jake's muffled "Mmph" only made Heeseung smile more. He let his hand slide gently through Jake's soft hair, his fingers brushing the strands as he stroked his head.

"Don't be shy now," Heeseung teased, leaning down a little so he could meet Jake's eyes. "You show up here, jump on me like a koala, and now you're hiding?"

Jake peeked up at him, eyes wide but sparkling with amusement. "Shut up," he muttered again, his cheeks dusted pink from the sudden attention. "You like it," he added, though quieter, almost as if he was trying to convince himself.

Heeseung raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk tugging at his lips. "I didn't say I didn't," he replied smoothly. His voice was low, almost a whisper, and Jake's breath seemed to catch in response.

For a moment, the noise of the busy restaurant faded away. It was just the two of them standing there, locked in their own little world.

"So...you just came here to see me, huh?" Heeseung repeated, leaning closer until their noses almost touched. "Nothing else?"

Jake bit his lip, eyes flicking up and down Heeseung's face. His pulse quickened, and Heeseung could tell by the way Jake's arms tightened around him. "Maybe I also wanted coffee," Jake finally said, trying to play it cool but failing miserably.

"Uh-huh," Heeseung hummed, unconvinced. "You sure you didn't get that by continuously sniffing me already?" He let his hand fall from Jake's hair, moving down to rest on the small of his back, pulling him just a bit closer.

Jake's heart thudded in his chest, and Heeseung could feel it. He could feel the tension growing between them, the unspoken words lingering in the air. Their proximity felt dangerous but thrilling at the same time.

Jake blinked, swallowing hard. "Okay, fine," he muttered, looking up at Heeseung through his lashes. "Maybe I just missed you."

"Good," Heeseung said, his voice still low, a playful glint in his eyes. "Because I missed you too."

Heeseung grinned, his chest tightening at Jake's admission. He didn't say anything, just leaned down a little closer. Their lips hovered dangerously near, and Jake's breath hitched once more. Heeseung quickly closed the gap and gave Jake what he truly wanted.

"Satisfied now?" Heeseung smiled at him, their foreheads still connected.
"Mm." Jake nodded continually, pecking Heeseung's lips once more.

Jake's eyes softened, his lips parting as he let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. Before he could say anything, though, a sudden rush of noise from the kitchen startled them both. It was the loud clatter of dishes, and Heeseung realized he still had 30 minutes left on his shift.

"Damn," Heeseung muttered, glancing toward the staff room. "I've still got work to finish."

Jake pouted a little but didn't let go. "Then hurry up," he said, his voice taking on a playful tone. "I'll wait."

Heeseung gave him one last squeeze before reluctantly pulling away. "I'll be back soon," he promised, his eyes lingering on Jake a little longer than they should have.

Jake nodded, his gaze locked on Heeseung as the older boy turned and walked back to the kitchen. As soon as Heeseung was out of sight, Jake exhaled heavily, feeling the heat rise to his face again. He wasn't sure what had just happened, but he knew one thing for sure—he couldn't wait for Heeseung to come back.