this is cringeyy
byeol's pov:
he seemed to shift uncomfortably.
"oh," i snapped back, "sorry. i was just thinking."
"um, is it okay if i leave now? my mother will be worried about me."
"but you haven't even eaten anyhing yet."
"o-oh, it's okay. i should leave now."
"wait here." i said and rushed to the counter.
i came back with a small bag.
"what is that?" he asked.
"it's called gateau au coco."
he cocked his head curiously.
"coconut cake. it's one of my favourites."
i handed it to him and he took the bag delicately, as if it may break any second. his eyes lit up.
"thank you. thank you so much." he bowed, tears willing to drop.
i laughed and surprised myself by patting his head.
"you don't need to be so formal. we're friends, did you forget?"
he raised his head.
"friends?"
"yes. friends."
"i-i haven't had a friend in a long time." he thought about it for a while. "will you be here next sunday?"
he looked so frail and hopeful.
"yes, i'll be here next sunday and every day if you need me to." i reached out and hugged him. my eyes burned.
he flinched slightly then hugged me back.
"do you promise to be here next sunday, and every other sunday?"
"i promise. don't worry, you can trust me."
"c-can i call you star?"
i sniffled and nodded.
"star, why are you crying?"
"i-i don't know."
he reached out his hand and hesitatively hovered it over my face.
"is this okay?"
i nodded and he wiped the tears off of my face.
"i really have to go."
"i know."
he stayed.
"then why aren't you leaving?"
"i lost many friends, star. please stay with me, okay?"
he walked away and i almost felt like going after him; protecting him.
i watched him walk down the sidewalk through the glass windows of the cafe. i saw him bend down and i went closer to the window. there was a stray mother cat and her kittens mewling sadly inside of a box.
he opened the bag and broke off a few pieces of the cake. he delicately placed them into the box and the mother cat licked his face happily. he laughed blissfully.
the way i saw people look at him like he was some kind of weird bug made me hate mankind. how could people treat others so badly?
the way his aura positively glowed when he saw the cafe, as if he hadn't been anywhere like that before. the way he lit up when he saw the cake i bought him. the way he thanked me like i saved his life. the way he wanted to comfort me when i was crying.
i had only met him, but i already knew that he had such a kind and caring heart. he didn't deserve any of this.
