from afar | baekyeon

Chapter 4

"P-please don't laugh at me," her hesitant plea hung in the air.

Unable to contain himself, a chuckle escaped him. He found her earnestness endearing.

Moving to the fridge with a purpose, he remarked, "Right." The target of his search didn't elude him for long. Retrieving the desired item, he turned back to her.

"You don't have to search my name, some of those aren't true. Pizza, my favorite," he informed her, his tone light with amusement.

With the pizza dough now resting on the table, he gathered the accompanying ingredients. A sudden realization struck him, this wasn't his own home. He paused, hesitating, before offering, "Oh, I'm sorry, can I—"

"Sure. No problem. You can get anything," she interjected with an amiable smile.

An unexpected warmth coursed through him, his heart inexplicably racing at her gesture. Her smiles were directed at him, and the realization held a significance that wasn't lost on him. This was an encounter that seemed charged with unspoken meaning.

He found himself stealing a moment to appreciate the impressive kitchen before him. The thought of her boyfriend being a skilled cook briefly soured his genuine smile, causing it to fade imperceptibly. He was grateful for his back shielding his reaction from her view.

Out of nowhere, a presence materialized beside him. She handed him something, a soft touch against his palm. It took a moment for him to realize it was an apron.

Her apron was already in place, a soft lavender hue. Meanwhile, the one in his hand was a sober gray. A touch of awkwardness accompanied his gratitude as he accepted it and draped it over himself, his jacket removed to reveal a simple white shirt.

As she took charge of his jacket, hanging it neatly in its rightful spot, her gaze grazed over him before darting away. An unspoken connection seemed to crackle between them, a connection that his sudden shyness couldn't help but reinforce.

"Can I... help?" she inquired, the uncertainty in her voice evident.

A reassuring smile curved his lips. "Of course. What's your favorite pizza?" he asked, curiosity tinging his words. Observing her, he had noticed a preference for sweets rather than savory treats like pizza. Yet, her willingness to participate was endearing.

"I don't have a preference though. I haven't tried pizza for a long time," she admitted truthfully.His curiosity piqued, he prodded gently, "When's the last time?"

"Uhm..." Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she was delving into her memories to retrieve a specific moment. "I think 5 years ago? During the 'Lion Heart' music video shoot." She nodded with certainty, confirming the time frame.

A bittersweet pang struck him. Five years ago. A time when they were still together.His once wide smile contracted into a more subdued expression, his inner turmoil hidden from her. He was aware that concealing his emotions wasn't his strong suit, but he desperately hoped she wouldn't discern the depth of his feelings.

"Y-You should try it again, I'm making Hawaiian pizza. Good thing you have pineapples in your fridge," he offered, shifting his focus to the dough and the array of toppings.

He calculated that one pizza would suffice for the three of them. Aware of the dietary restrictions common among idols, he took that into account as well.

As they worked in silence, laying out the toppings with a quiet intensity, a trace of awkwardness tugged at him. Yet, he noticed that she seemed comfortable in the moment, engrossed in the task at hand, particularly when she added the mozzarella cheese with a certain precision.