It was a regular night at Produce Café, a busy night for Kiwon and his lone worker Sunghyuk. For some reasons, the breeze was quite different, Kiwon noted until a man, around 180cm tall, wearing a grey sweater, walked in the café. He was halfly disheveled, with his hair flying everywhere, “Hi! I’m sorry but can I ask you a few question?” the man said, “Yeah sure?” Kiwon replied. “Have you seen a guy like around this tall, wearing glasses and would probably go around saying ‘ddeungddeong?” the man asked, Kiwon thought for a while but he couldn’t think of anyone, “I remember people more on what they ordered than what they looked like,” he said politely. The man released an exasperated sigh, “Ah! I think we ordered an Americano with glazed donuts,” he said to Kiwon, “were there chocolate sprinkles,” the latter asked and the other one nodded. “Ah! That friend! Yeah! He came around here like last night ordering a two mocha latte frappucino, two bagel sandwiches and a chocolate cake, why?” Kiwon said, “He must’ve been hungry,” the man commented to himself, “No, even for a guy that would be way too much, he ordered it for his boyfriend, well if I assume it was his boyfriend since they were basically feeding each other with that cake…” Kiwon began to mumble but the latter didn’t pay any attention, it was just a moment when Kiwon realized the man slammed the door outside of the café. Sunghyuk stared at Kiwon with large eyes asking what happened and what had Kiwon done for this situation to occur but the latter shook his head and went back to work.

It was around after five minutes when the man went back inside and took his things that he left before he stormed out; he sat down and ordered a honey lemon tea to soothe his nerves. Sunghyuk was about to serve the tea but Kiwon stopped him saying he’d be the one to serve the young lad. It wasn’t usual that someone has caught Kiwon’s eyes but there was something he needed to figure out. “Here’s your tea,” Kiwon said as he served the tea along with a cup of ice cream that wouldn’t really match the tea. “I didn’t order any ice cream,” the man said, “I know, but it’s on me so even though it doesn’t really match the tea, I think you need this,” Kiwon answered, the customer smiled forcedly.

Five minutes before closing time, the lad was still there in deep thoughts. “Hyung, shouldn’t you be kicking him out already?” Sunghyuk asked, changed out of his uniform, Kiwon shook his head and answered “I’ll keep him company, go home before your mom scolds me for overworking you, that also means Seongri scolding me more than your mom,” Kiwon laughed. “Ey hyung~~” Sunghyuk cooed before he went out and wave at Kiwon.

“Need company?” the owner asked, “Ah no, I was about to leave anyways, it’s already your closing time,” the man said, fixing his thing. “You can stay as much as you want, I know you don’t want to go home yet and neither do I. I’m Kiwon by the way,” he said, for the first time of the day he say the latter smile sincerely. “Eunki,” he said shortly

The duo began talking, having Eunki being apologetic for making Kiwon stay pass his shift but the latter kept saying it was okay. They talked about different things such as how dancing to IOI’s Very Very Very could be exciting to Kiwon’s friend and how singing to Charlie Puth’s song eases the owner. It was time when Eunki went silent and looked at the window. “Everything has a reason, right?” he asked, “Nope, sometimes there are no reasons at all, even if you try to look for one, there would be no answer,” Kiwon replied. “But there must be a reason right?” Eunki asked again, looking at Kiwon with tears close to falling. Kiwon stood up and took three desert filled plates. “You know the thing about running a café and loving food too much is that everynight it’s hard to let go of these. Every night, the cheesecakes and chocolate cakes are finished. Almost finished apple pies and there’s this blueberry pie left untouched,” Kiwon explained throwing the apple pie, “What’s wrong with the blueberry pie? Why didn’t anyone wants to eat it?” Eunki asked, “There’s nothing wrong with the blueberry pie, it’s just that people make other choices,” Kiwon said.

Eunki was awestruck with this saying but he can’t help but be confused. Kiwon motioned to throw the Blueberry pie away but Eunki protested, “I want one,” he said, Kiwon looked at him with a smile, “With ice cream on the side?” he asked. “Yes,” Kiwon stood up again and went to serve the blueberry pie. Just like that, the two of them spent their night at the café.

-

The second night, Eunki came again, staying until it was closing time. Sunghyuk gave Kiwon a questioning look but the latter just smiled cheekily and ushered him outside the café. “Need company?” Kiwon asked, Eunki looked up to him, “company with blueberry pie please,” Eunki said. As like how he treats his customers, Kiwon served the said pie with ice cream on the side and sat in front of Eunki. The latter began to eat slowly until his tears began to fall, “Why?” Kiwon asked without much emotion. “The pie tastes great, I’m moved to tears,” he lied.
“It’s okay, I know I’m a great baker no need to be emotional,” Kiwon said jokingly even though he knows it wasn’t really about the pie. Eunki took another bite and wiped his tears stained face, “My boyfriend cheated on me,” he said. The owner went silent and looked at Eunki with curiosity in his eyes but he never dared to ask it directly. He listened.

“His name was Daehyeon, the one with the glasses and would probably go around saying ‘ddeungddeong’. He was cute really,” Eunki shared, taking another bite of the pie and another wipe of his tears, “He suddenly stopped contacting me for a week, I got worried so I came to this place because it was our favorite spot. When you told me he was with another person, I called him and confronted him about it. It was true and I couldn’t believe it,” he said, another bite. “I went to his apartment but before I could even go to his floor, I already saw him and his boyfriend by the window, being cute, adorable and domestic,” Kiwon took a cup of water and place it on the table. “I was hurt so much I walked away, taking the longest route to home,” he said, trembling with tears on his face, Eunki gulped down the last piece of the pie. “Ah~ I look miserable right now,” Eunki said laughing how stupid he looks while crying, Kiwon passed him a box of tissue. “It’s okay, if you need someone to talk to, the café is open for you 24/7,” Kiwon said, smiling.

-

Everynight, Eunki would come up to the café and stay up until closing time. Order the same blueberry pie and share stories with Kiwon. Reminiscing his memories with Daehyeon, crying once in a while with Kiwon comforting him with a hug or another slice of pie. It was like that for around two weeks until one time, Eunki came in late, half drunk. Kiwon still served him his usual pie, regardless being half drunk, Eunki managed to finish the pie and slept after finishing it. Kiwon slowly cleaned the plate and table, trying his best not to stir Eunki awake. He sat down on his usual seat, in front of Eunki and stared at the ethereal being.

Kiwon wouldn’t admit it but he already had garnered feelings for the latter, much to what Sunghyuk nags him about staying up late at the café for just one customer. Kiwon tried not to look like a stalker or creepy watcher as he looked at Eunki’s features. His eyes that looks peaceful when it’s closed, his tall nose, and his lips…

Kiwon thought for a while when he stared at Eunki’s lips, it is slightly chapped but soft, like it invites him. He was flustered with the thought until he noticed the vanilla ice cream messily placed on his lips. He was about to reach for a tissue but his body decides against it when he found himself leaning in to those soft chapped lips. Kiwon thought about it again, he was just a millimeter away from closing the gap, he wonder if he should really do this or not. He could already feel Eunki’s stable breathing. Kiwon didn’t think much when he leaned in closing the gap and feeling Eunki’s lips which tasted like vanilla and blueberry. He pulled away, cleaning the ice cream off Eunki’s lips, flustered with what he did. He stood up and went to the rest room and splashed water in his face. “Ah! Lee Kiwon, why are you not thinking?” he said and tapped his head. Little did he know, Eunki smiled after it happened.

­-

It was probably the last night Eunki was seen in their neighborhood. Kiwon was confused and exasperated. He wasn’t being himself at all, getting all the orders wrong, baking the wrong recipe, mixing up names and whatsoever. Sunghyuk was worried and made Wontak replace Kiwon for a week until he fixed himself as what the younger stated.

Kiwon didn’t knew why, but it feel like it was his fault Eunki disappeared like that. He was convinced he will get a Hanahaki disease sooner or later as he was suffering an unrequited crush to which now can’t be found. Sunghyuk suddenly called him in saying he had a mail and he rushed down to see who it was.

It was a letter for Eunki, explaining where he was and what he wants to do. Kiwon was slightly disappointed when Eunki said he wanted to do it alone. Out of respect, Kiwon obliged and went back to his daily routine as an owner.

-

A year had passed since Eunki left and Kiwon had went back to his usual self. “Yah! Kim Sunwoo stop flirting and get back to work,” Sunghyuk scolded and glared at Haknyeon who was sort of distracting Sunwoo. Kiwon laughed at the scenery, “Sunghyuk-ah! Stop acting like you’re the boss~” Kiwon sung, earning a giggle from Sunwoo which then got hit by Sunghyuk. The day passed on as usual, until a familiar figure opened the door with a big smile, “Welcome to Produce Café!” Sunwoo greeted, Sunghyuk saw the familiar image and called Kiwon.

Kiwon was in awe, he was shocked and startled. “Get me a blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream on the side,” he said quite inaudible but Sunghyuk knew why. The familiar image sat on his usual sit and stared at the window with a smile. Kiwon served the pie quietly, thinking Eunki must’ve already forgotten about him since he stopped sending letters four months ago. Kiwon was in fact scared as of the moment,

“Kiwon…” Eunki called out when he was about to leave. “Sit,” he said politely and Kiwon followed. There was a minute of awkward silence until Sunghyuk said he and Sunwoo will clock out early. The café was suddenly deserted, like it gave the duo their personal time.

Kiwon watched Eunki as he gobbled down every piece of the pie. When Eunki was done, Kiwon took the plate and cleaned it up. He came back to a very similar scenario of Eunki falling asleep. He sat in front as usual and stared at Eunki’s sleeping face. It was all too familiar, nothing changed other than Eunki growing much more handsome since the last time Kiwon saw him. He was still in love but he will never admit.

Another familiar note is that Eunki’s lips were still stained with vanilla ice cream. Kiwon took all the strength he could get to resist Eunki’s lips but he failed miserably as he found himself slowly leaning in. He thought again the way he did a year ago, but he disobeyed his mind again, closing the gap. Eunki’s lips were softer, moisturized unlike those chapped lips before. The familiar taste of blueberry and vanilla was still there and Kiwon felt euphoric with this situation. It felt all too familiar and he wanted to stop time even though how much it sounds cheesy. He pulled away only to be meet by a smiling Eunki. “So it was you,” he said. Kiwon felt all his blood flushing out. He pulled away more but Eunki held his neck and kept him in place and kissed him again.

There were no words, just emotions pouring out.

-END-