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It was another busy afternoon at Café Étoile. The lunch rush had kicked in, and the café was filled with the chatter of customers, the clinking of plates, and the hum of the espresso machine. Hao, stationed at the cashier, kept his focus on processing orders with his usual efficiency, while Hanbin moved effortlessly through the tables, balancing trays and flashing his confident, easy-going smile at customers. It was a well-oiled routine, and despite their constant teasing, the two had found a comfortable rhythm working together.
But today, something felt off.
Hao glanced over at Hanbin, curious to see how he was handling the crowd. He noticed Hanbin was lingering longer than usual at one of the tables near the window. A girl sat there, blonde and bubbly, laughing a bit too loudly at something Hanbin said. She leaned in closer, her hand lightly brushing his arm, her eyes locked on his with a clear sense of intent.
Hao’s stomach tightened.
It’s nothing. Customers flirt sometimes. It’s part of the job. But as he watched Hanbin respond with his usual charm—smirking, nodding, and keeping the conversation going—Hao felt a twinge of something he hadn’t expected.
Jealousy.
What’s wrong with me? he wondered, his heart starting to race. It wasn’t like Hanbin was his boyfriend. They were still figuring things out, and he had no right to feel this possessive. But that didn’t stop the surge of frustration rising inside him as he watched the girl laugh at every word that fell from Hanbin’s lips.
Unable to ignore it any longer, Hao abandoned his station and made his way toward Hanbin, pretending to check on the tables. As he got closer, the conversation between Hanbin and the girl became clearer.
“So, are you single?” she asked boldly, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. “Because a guy like you must have girls lined up.”
Hanbin chuckled, his smirk widening. “I wouldn’t say that. I’m pretty low-key.”
Low-key my foot. Hao bit back a groan as he neared the table. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but the sight of them talking so casually, so intimately, was starting to get under his skin.
Just as the girl was about to speak again, Hanbin noticed Hao approaching. His smirk faltered for a second, and his gaze met Hao’s with a flicker of surprise. “Oh, hey, Hao,” Hanbin said, his voice a little too casual. “Everything good up front?”
Hao’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Yeah, just thought I’d check in on how things were going here.” He glanced at the girl, who was now eyeing him curiously, clearly not expecting the interruption.
