"what is love?" (zhang hao)

chapter ten

on the very next day, hyuck decided to bring his younger siblings to their aunt's newly opened cafe. the warm autumn breeze ruffled his hair as he guided them down the familiar streets of their neighborhood. his younger brother, yujin, was bouncing with excitement while is younger sister, yurim, skipped along beside him, humming a tune to herself. taesan, his other younger brother was happily talking to his twin, rambling on and on about the different things that happened in his school.

"hyung, do you think auntie's cafe has cake?" yujin asked, his eyes wide with anticipation.

hyuck chuckled, ruffling yujin's hair. "of course. auntie wouldn't open a café without your favorite sweets."

as they rounded the corner, the cozy little café came into view. its fresh, mint-green exterior and large windows radiated charm, with a small sign hanging above the door that read "tokki's cafe." a few tables were set up outside, with soft cushions on the chairs, inviting people to sit and enjoy their treats in the crisp morning air.

yurim tugged on hyuck's sleeve. "it looks so cute! can we sit outside later, oppa?"

"sure, but let's see what auntie has in store for us inside first," hyuck replied, smiling at how excited they both were.

they pushed open the café door, greeted by the scent of freshly baked goods and the soft murmur of gentle music playing in the background. the interior was just as inviting as the outside—warm, pastel colors, comfortable seating, and the soft glow of fairy lights strung along the walls. there were shelves filled with potted plants and delicate teacups, adding a homey touch.

"hyuckie! yurim! yujin! dongmin!" their aunt called out from behind the counter, beaming at the sight of them. she wiped her hands on her apron and hurried over to give them each a hug. "you came on the perfect day—we just finished baking fresh pastries!"

yujin's face lit up. "do you have cake too?" he asked eagerly.

their aunt laughed, nodding. "of course, we have cake! go ahead and take a seat. i'll bring you a little of everything to try."

hyuck led his siblings to a cozy corner by the window, where they settled into the plush seats. yurim was already admiring the little decorations on the table, while yujin was practically vibrating with excitement for the food, bouncing at his seat. on the other hand, taesan was calmly examining the different decorations around the cafe, just like his twin.

as they waited, hyuck glanced around the café, feeling proud of his aunt's achievement. the place was beautiful, and the steady stream of regular customers seemed to agree. it felt like a little slice of comfort, a place where anyone could come to relax and enjoy something sweet, or study for upcoming exams.

a few minutes later, their aunt returned with a tray loaded with pastries, cookies, and a slice of cake just for yujin. his eyes widened as he reached for the plate.

"thank you, auntie!" yujin said, immediately digging in.

"this is so pretty," yurim added, admiring the delicate pastries in front of her before taking a small bite. taesan nodded in agreement as she munched on his cookie, feeling on cloud nine.

hyuck smiled, taking in the peaceful atmosphere around them. "everything looks amazing, auntie. i'm so happy for you."

"thank you, hyuckie," she said warmly, patting his arm. "i've worked so hard to make this place feel like home, and it means so much to have you all here on the first day."

as his siblings enjoyed their treats, hyuck leaned back in his chair, feeling content. it was a simple morning, just a visit to a new café, but moments like this—spending time with family—made everything feel just right.

as his siblings happily skipped their way home, laughing and chattering about the treats they had at the café, hyuck couldn't help but smile to himself. watching yujin and the twin's carefree joy made all the stress of the past few weeks melt away. he walked a few steps behind them, hands in his pockets, feeling a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a while.

"it was indeed a good choice to take a leave," he thought, his heart light. work had been exhausting, but seeing his siblings this happy made everything worth it.

----------

hello my favourite species on earth (aka my readerss)!!
this chapter made me wish that i had a older sibling for some reason (cries in older sibling stress?)
enough of kinda trauma dumping, their relationship is so wholesome im so darn envious ugh
also yuhyuck will be called hyuck in all the chapters bc its his given nickname sooo
anyways, dont forget to vote and follow me!!
(and also, happy ten chapters!!)