Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
The next morning, as the usual buzz of the café settled into a steady rhythm, the door chimed, and a small boy, maybe seven years old, wandered in, his wide eyes scanning the place nervously. He looked out of place among the crowd of customers and had a faint smudge of dirt on his cheek. Hanbin, who was carrying a tray of freshly baked pastries, noticed him right away and felt an instinctive pang of concern.
Hao glanced over from the counter, his own brow furrowing as he took in the little boy’s disheveled appearance. He set aside the coffee he was making and approached, exchanging a quick, concerned look with Hanbin.
“Hey there, buddy,” Hao said, crouching down to meet the boy’s eye level, his voice gentle. “Are you okay? Are you lost?”
The boy nodded slowly, looking around nervously before speaking in a small, trembling voice. “I… I got kidnapped, but… I ran away. This was the closest safe place I could find.”
Hanbin’s eyes widened, and he knelt down beside Hao, his hand gently resting on the boy’s shoulder. “You’re safe now. Do you remember where your home is, or your parents’ names?”
The boy shook his head, clearly shaken. Hao’s heart ached at how scared he looked, and he knew they needed to tread carefully to make him feel safe.
“Do you have a name?” Hao asked softly.
The boy nodded again. “Y-Yujin.”
“Yujin, that’s a nice name,” Hao said with a reassuring smile. “How about we get you something warm to drink and maybe a snack? Would that be okay?”
Yujin’s eyes softened a little, and he nodded, a hint of trust beginning to replace the fear in his gaze. Hanbin rose to his feet and led him to one of the cozy booths near the counter, grabbing a cup of warm milk and a muffin for him.
As Yujin sat down, Hanbin kept a watchful eye on him, making sure he felt safe. “We’re here to help, okay?” he said gently. “And if you need anything, you just let us know.”
As Yujin was sipping his warm milk, he looked up at Hao and Hanbin, curiosity shining in his wide eyes. After a moment, he tilted his head and asked, “Are you guys best friends?”
Hanbin glanced over at Hao, clearly waiting for him to answer. Hao could see the hint of playfulness in Hanbin’s expression—he knew what their real relationship was, but he also knew Yujin was too young to fully understand something as complicated as dating or LGBTQ relationships.
So Hao simply smiled and nodded, reaching over to gently pat Yujin’s hand. “Yeah, we’re best friends,” he replied warmly. “We look out for each other, just like best friends do.”
