Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
The next day at Café Étoile, the atmosphere was charged with an awkwardness that was becoming all too familiar for Hao. After that brief but intense encounter in the storage room, he felt a mix of confusion and irritation toward Hanbin, who had been uncharacteristically distant since their last exchange.
Hao spent the morning serving customers with a forced smile, all the while keeping an eye out for Hanbin. When he finally arrived, he strolled in with that trademark swagger, as if nothing had happened between them.
"Morning, dongsaeng," Hanbin called out, his voice light, the teasing glint back in his eyes. Hao felt his heart race involuntarily, but he quickly masked it with a scowl.
"Can you not call me that all the time?" Hao shot back, trying to sound irritated but failing to suppress a hint of nervousness in his tone.
Hanbin just laughed, leaning casually against the counter. "But it suits you. Besides, you seem to enjoy it." His gaze flickered with mischief, and Hao was reminded of that kiss—of how confusing and infuriating Hanbin could be.
As they worked through the morning rush, the energy in the café buzzed, but it was hard for Hao to focus. The memory of Hanbin’s lips against his, along with the constant teasing, kept nagging at him. It was like a splinter in his mind that he couldn't dislodge.
---
When they finally had a moment to breathe, Hao decided it was time to confront Hanbin again. He found him in the back, pouring himself a cup of coffee, the steam swirling up in lazy tendrils.
"Hyung," Hao said, his voice firm but slightly hesitant. "Can we talk?"
Hanbin turned, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "About what?"
Hao took a deep breath, steeling himself. "About the other day. You know… the kiss. And what you said afterward."
Hanbin raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "What about it? You know I’m not gay, right?"
Hao felt a surge of frustration. "You keep saying that, but you kissed me twice now, and it doesn’t seem like you mean it."
Hanbin shrugged nonchalantly, leaning against the wall with an air of casual confidence. "Maybe I’m just playing around. You’re fun to tease."
"That’s not fair," Hao snapped, taking a step closer. "You can’t just toy with my feelings like that."
"Why not?" Hanbin shot back, crossing his arms. "You’re the one who’s making this into a big deal."
Hao felt his face flush, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. It was like every time he tried to confront Hanbin, he just ended up feeling more frustrated and confused. "I don’t want to be a game to you. I don’t want this back and forth."
