just pretend.

26.

Jisung woke up to an empty bed, blinking groggily as he tried to make sense of the quiet room. For a moment, he wondered if he’d dreamed the entire night, if Minho’s warmth beside him had been nothing more than a fantasy. He rubbed his eyes, forcing himself out of bed, and the faint scent of Minho’s cologne lingered in the air. The traces of his presence were scattered around the room – his clothes were all over the floor. Jisung bent down, picking up his shirt from the corner, and noticed something behind his shelf. Curiosity piqued, he reached for the small piece of paper. “Oh, fuck”, he muttered as he recognized the hastily scrawled digits – Minho’s number, the one he had never called. “Shit”, he whispered to himself, regret pricking at him as he grabbed his phone, finally saving the number he had avoided dialing for so long. As he got ready for work, he couldn’t shake the sense of calm that had settled over him after last night. Falling asleep next to Minho had felt like breathing fresh air after a storm, giving him a quiet kind of strength he hadn’t felt in a long time. He didn’t dare hope they would reconcile fully; too much had happened for things to magically be perfect. But he realized that simply being around Minho was enough, for now. They could take things one day at a time. He took a quick shower, feeling the cool water wash away the last remnants of sleep. After pulling on his clothes, he grabbed the container of leftovers Jeongin had packed and dashed out the door. His stomach rumbled, so he opened the box, grinning at the miniature croissant nestled among the other treats. Popping it into his mouth, he chewed happily, the buttery flakiness bringing a moment of simple joy. The smell of fresh bread hit him as he stepped into the restaurant, a comforting, familiar scent. As he walked into the kitchen, he saw his colleague absolutely covered in flour, and he couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “You know the flour belongs in the dough, right?”, he teased, tying his apron behind his back. She rolled her eyes, dusting flour off her clothes with a sigh. “I dropped the bag.. it’s the last time I’ll help in the kitchen”, she grumbled, disappearing into the locker room to clean up. Jisung laughed, washing his hands as he turned to gather the ingredients he needed. Today, he had a plan: chocolate brownies for the morning rush and a new cheesecake recipe he wanted to try out. As he worked, he let the mixer whirl the brownie batter into a silky smooth texture, turning his focus to the cheesecake filling. He added a little twist, sprinkling in fizzy powder he’d found in the pantry during his last shift – a playful addition he thought kids might love. Just as he was putting the finishing touches on the batter, his boss appeared, raising an eyebrow. “What are you up to, Ji?”, his boss asked. “Don’t fire me, but I had an idea for a new cheesecake”, he said, smiling nervously as he handed her a spoon. He watched as she took a cautious bite, her eyes widening in surprise as the fizzy sweetness hit her taste buds. She hummed with approval, laughing. “Fire you? I’m giving you a raise! Fizzy powder in the batter is brilliant. I already know kids will love it!” He beamed, feeling a swell of pride. “Can I take a few slices home?”, he asked, his mind already racing with the thought of dropping off a piece for Minho. “Absolutely, but only if you make enough to sell it as a special edition”, she said with a wink, already walking out of the kitchen. “Oh, and think of a name!” Jisung smiled, rolling up his sleeves with renewed energy.

Jisung wrapped up his shift with a satisfied sigh, glad to have made enough of his new cheesecake to last the restaurant for the day. His colleague helped him pack a few slices into a small box, tucking it neatly so he could carry it home. “Thanks, have a nice Sunday”, he called, waving as he left the restaurant, heading into the late morning sunlight. As he walked, he fished his phone out of his pocket and hesitated for a moment before opening a new chat with Minho. The contact was saved, staring back at him like a half-written invitation. He typed quickly, thumbs moving over the screen as he sent, “Hi, it’s Han. I forgot you gave me your number, sorry. Do you have five minutes for me later?” He felt his heart race slightly as he slipped his phone back into his pocket and picked up his pace toward home, hoping Minho might answer soon. Once back at his building, he stopped at Changbin’s door, knocking lightly. After a moment, he heard a muffled, grumpy voice call from the other side, “I was taking a nap.” Jisung chuckled as Changbin opened the door, his hair mussed and a slightly irritated frown on his face. “Let me apologize with cake”, Jisung said brightly, holding up the box. Changbin’s expression softened instantly, his lips curving into a sleepy smile. “Apology accepted”, he muttered, letting Jisung follow him into the kitchen. Changbin handed him a plate, and Jisung carefully slid a slice onto it. As Changbin took a bite, he gave Jisung a sideways glance, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Felix told me about you and Minho”, he said with no shame, taking a forkful of the cake. The instant the fizzy powder hit his mouth, his eyes widened in surprise. “What is that?” Jisung giggled, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. “It’s my newest creation”, he said proudly, watching Changbin process the strange, popping sensation. “It’s also my only creation, so far, but you didn’t hear that from me”, he added with a grin. Changbin laughed, shaking his head as he took another bite. “It’s good. A little surprise on the inside – who doesn’t like that?” He gave Jisung a pointed look. “So.. you’re gonna tell me what happened with Minho, or should I just assume?” Jisung rolled his eyes, letting out a groan. “Yes, he stayed the night. But nothing happened”, he added quickly, hoping to get Changbin off his back. Changbin didn’t miss a beat, lifting his fork to point at Jisung’s neck with a sly grin. “Your new hickey says otherwise.” Jisung felt heat rush to his face as he instinctively touched the small bruise on his neck, laughing in defeat. “Okay, fine, we made out a little”, he admitted, shaking his head. “But he sneaked out before I woke up.” Changbin raised an eyebrow, tilting his head. “Maybe he realized how bad of an idea it was?”, Jisung’s voice sounded bitter, and he immediately regretted letting it show. Changbin shook his head, still munching on his cake, the fizziness crackling slightly as he spoke. “Or maybe he just got shy. Or needed to leave for work – he told me he’s been behind on finances. You need to stop thinking the worst”, he scolded gently. Jisung sighed, nodding, though he still couldn’t shake the ache of doubt in his chest. He glanced at his phone, disappointment flickering when he saw no new messages from Minho. Turning his attention back to Changbin, he tried to steer the conversation in a lighter direction, forcing a small smile as he asked, “So, you and Felix?” The smile that broke across Changbin’s face was undeniable, warmth and excitement brightening his eyes. “I finally asked him out”, he said, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. Jisung couldn’t help but grin. “Took you long enough.”