Jongdae might not be watching, but Chanyeol is.
Chanyeol finds himself looking over at Baekhyun while he's taking orders. It doesn't work like this. He doesn't get distracted on the job, and he doesn't let his classic toothpaste smile (as Jongdae would call it) slip off.
It doesn't make sense, because it's not like Chanyeol has any right to Baekhyun. In fact, Baekhyun probably still thinks that he makes Chanyeol uncomfortable when he gets too close.
So Chanyeol tries not to watch the way a pretty brunette sneaks her hand up Baekhyun's wrist or how an innocent blonde blushes easily at Baekhyun's charming smile. At some point or another, all of them look at Baekhyun in a certain way. Hungry, some of them, eyes roving over his jaw and his slender neck or the exposed hints of smooth skin through the rips in his skintight jeans, but it's not like Chanyeol's never been guilty of doing the same.
Except they're the right kind of people for Baekhyun, because every one of them is attractive and interesting and Chanyeol is-well, he's kind of clumsy and names his instruments weird things.
When Baekhyun makes eye contact with Chanyeol from a few tables away, Chanyeol still smiles and flashes a thumbs-up.
It's not like Chanyeol is affected or anything. He grins at the customers when he greets them; he purposefully smacks Jongdae with an empty tray as he passes; he laughs when Yifan tries out his unconventional flirting tactics.
But it's not really the same as much as Chanyeol tries to convince himself it is. Baekhyun doesn't rest his head casually on Chanyeol's shoulder when they both have a break and whenever Chanyeol turns, he expects Baekhyun's sharp retort which never comes. It's good to get used to it now, he tells himself optimistically. For when Baekhyun really dates someone.
What Chanyeol doesn't notice is that Baekhyun is watching him too, even while the girls leave him their numbers.
As soon as the last customer leaves, Baekhyun orders everyone to gather around the counter. He fishes around in the pocket of his apron and dumps out a handful of napkins and receipts. Each paper slip has a phone number scrawled across it, usually accompanied by a winky face and a name. He looks over triumphantly at Jongdae.
"Respect, man." Jongdae shakes his head in awe. "I can't believe all those girls were willing to get with you and you stick with this..." Jongdae scrunches his nose at Chanyeol, "tall drink of something."
Baekhyun laughs.
Chanyeol avoids eye contact and looks down at the counter instead.
His eyes land on the curlicued signatures of Minhees and Jias and Seoyeons but it's when he sees a napkin signed by a Jihoon that his heart stops a little and maybe it wouldn't be completely hopeless if Baekhyun wasn't so easy liked by everyone, if he couldn't get anyone he wanted. Which is clearly not the case. He's aware of Jongdae watching his reaction and looking uncharacteristically solemn all at once.
When Chanyeol's left alone with Jongdae, he sidles up to Chanyeol and begins to speak.
"Chanyeol, you can be pretty stupid," Jongdae states seriously. "But Baekhyun would be infinitely stupider to ignore you."
Chanyeol looks up in surprise and readies himself to respond.
Just then, Jongdae takes a step back and squints at Chanyeol's face. "I wouldn't go so far as to say you're a total catch, but you're something, definitely. Maybe an octopus."
Chanyeol swats at Jongdae's head but predictably, Jongdae ducks. He pops up again; smug grin fixed as he slings an arm around Chanyeol.
"I would thank you," Chanyeol says, "but I'm not sure any of that was a compliment."
"Hey, that was all from the bottom of my heart." Jongdae frowns. "Anyway," he adds lowly, "If he turns out to be a prick, I wouldn't mind kicking Byun's perky ass for you."
Chanyeol knows that Jongdae's not usually the type to get sappy or do much other than fire insults at him. The gesture makes him feel a little lighter. He grins back teasingly. "I knew you cared about me."
Jongdae punches Chanyeol's arm. "None of this happened."
