Jeongguk didn't go to the company the next day, something that surprised his hyungs greatly. He had never said he was tired and wanted to rest, but he did that day. He had only slept for two hours give or take. He couldn't risk making another mistake, so he decided to stay home since he wasn't in the mood to work, anyway.

He stayed home all day doing nothing much. And yes, his mind often traveled back to yesterday's events.

Taehyung went for his shift as usual, and he couldn't understand what was happening. Inguk was rather quiet and moody compared to other days. And when he asked him again what happened with Jeongguk, he snapped at him and disappeared to the kitchen.

He was waiting for the young CEO to come for his takeout, but he never did. He thought that it was just a coincidence and he would talk to him tomorrow. To be honest, he was kind of worried about him. As he said to Inguk yesterday, he had never seen Jeongguk like that before.

Baekhyun called him to ask if they could meet, but Taehyung wasn't in a good mood with everything. So he said that he was busy with work, which wasn't entirely an excuse since they still had a lot of customers and he was tired at all times.

The next day, Jeongguk didn't appear at the cafe. Same goes for the next day. And the next day after that. Just like that, a week went by, and Jeongguk still hadn't appeared at all.

🥀

Taehyung had made an appointment with the doctor for his leg since he was supposed to take off the cast now. The doctor said he could take it off, but he had to wear a splint for another two weeks. But at least, wearing a splint would be easier since he would be able to put weight on his leg and walk properly.

He proudly paid the doctor for his services as he had just enough money to spend and walked out of the hospital at an unhurried pace. It felt weird walking again without the crutches, but damn, it felt extremely good as well.

He went to the cafe as it was almost time for his shift and beamed at Inguk once he saw him. "Hyung, look! I'm walking," he chirped, and it was the first time in a week that Taehyung heard the older's laugh.

"I'm happy for you, Tae," he said with a warm smile as he engulfed him into a hug.

Taehyung fastened his arms around him and rested his chin on his shoulder. "Thank you, hyung. For everything."

Inguk chuckled as he drew back and cupped his cheeks. "You're too precious for this world, Tae."

"I'm not."

"You are. More than you think." He patted his back and headed to the kitchen since his pager buzzed.

Taehyung let out a faint sigh as he went to change his clothes, and then he started his shift. Everything rolled by smoothly for the first two hours, with a ton of customers as it was usual for some time now.

"Hi."

A familiar voice was heard then, and Taehyung took a second to remember what the boy's name was. "Oh! Namjoon, right?"

"Yes."

"What can I do for you?"

"I want one bottle of soju and one portion of samgyeopsal to go."

"Okay, let me give your order to Inguk," Taehyung said and trod to the kitchen to pass the order. "Namjoon's here," he informed before returning outside.

Namjoon paid for his order, not forgetting to leave a tip, and sat on a stool as he waited for his food.

"How come you're not at the company?" Taehyung asked, hesitant, as he had a moment to rest.

"Honestly? I didn't want to be there anymore," he said, a dry chuckle passing through his lips at last. "Things are... a bit off right now," he continued after he detected the questioning look on his face.

"Oh. I don't understand, but I won't pry into your personal business."

"You're a good, smart kid," he teased, eliciting a snort from him.

Taehyung rose to his feet once he saw a customer approach. After he served the drinks the boy wanted, he returned to his seat. He glanced at Namjoon multiple times as he chewed on his bottom lip, and at the end, he was caught. He noticed the other raising his brows, a wordless question in his eyes.

"I was just wondering," Taehyung murmured, eyes roaming all over the counter. "Because it's been some time now and... I just find it weird. Not that I care though. Maybe it's nothing anyway—"

"You're taking too long to say something you don't care about."

Taehyung released a rather awkward laugh and scratched the back of his neck as he peeped at him. "Is Jeongguk okay?"

His question evoked a deep sigh from him as he lowered his gaze. "He's been better."

"I haven't seen him around, that's why I asked."

"Yeah, maybe we're in the same company, but I don't see him around either." A sad smile bloomed on Namjoon's lips.

"What happened to him?"

"What happened to I don't want to pry into your personal business?"

"It's not actually your business though," Taehyung mumbled as he tossed his head down.

And Namjoon could only chuckle at his words. "You're smart indeed. But I can't talk about it with you."

"It was worth the try." He lifted a shoulder in a faint shrug.

"You don't care anyway, right?"

"Right," Taehyung tittered, but his laugh piped down as fast as it escaped his mouth.

"Hey, Namjoon." Inguk made an appearance then. "Everything good?"

"Not really. Do you have a moment to talk now?"

Inguk threw a glace at Taehyung before he fixed his gaze on him. "I don't have a lot of time so hurry." He walked around the bar and strolled off with Namjoon trailing behind him.

Taehyung crossed his arms as he stared at the two boys walking away, another pout sweeping across his face. Why didn't they want to talk in front of him? He didn't like that at all, and he was awfully curious to know what this was all about.

"What now?" Inguk asked with a sigh.

"Hyung. Don't you think it's gotten a little too far?"

"I'm still mad."

"I seriously don't care anymore. Whatever you said to him made him a completely different person. He's not talking, he's always spaced out, he's not attending meetings, and he was absent for two days from the company."

"It's not me," Inguk muttered and ran a hand down his face in frustration.

"What do you mean?"

"It's not me who changed him. It's about that damn money, isn't it?"

"What money? What are you talking about?"

"He even stopped ordering from here."

"I know. What I don't know is why, and I can't return to a company with a mute, spaced-out Jeongguk. He's like a ghost, and I'm really worried. It's been a week."

"Why don't you just tell him to come here all together and eat dinner?"

"You think I haven't tried that? Every day we tell him to go out or just get together, but he says no."

"Tell him that I said to come here and that I'll help him."

Namjoon flickered an eyelid in confusion, his brows drawn together. "With what?"

"Just tell him that." He felt his pager buzz then. "Come on, your food is ready." They strode back to the bar, and Inguk went to the kitchen to take his package.

"Are you really not gonna tell me anything about Jeongguk?" Taehyung asked as he set his gaze on him, his pout unfaltering.

"Sorry, I don't actually know you," Namjoon said with a slight shrug, making the other huff at his words. "And you don't care anyway."

"I... care."

"What?"

The black-haired boy shook his head as he heaved a sigh. "Nothing." He slouched off to grab a bottle of soju for him.

"There you go." Inguk handed the package to him, and Taehyung placed the soju inside the bag.

"Thank you, bye."

"So what did you guys talk about?" Taehyung questioned the moment Namjoon left, even though he was sure he wouldn't tell him.

"Nothing much," he answered, indifferent, and retreated to the kitchen.

You don't even have an order to prepare right now, Taehyung thought as he clicked his tongue with an eye roll.

He still had two hours before his shift would end, and just then a golden blonde-haired boy made his way inside the cafe, surprising him.

"Hey, Taehyung!" the boy said with a grin as he perched on a stool.

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

"You were too busy to see me so I came here instead," Baekhyun said yet with another smile as he leaned against the counter.

"But I'm working." He pouted, his eyes becoming rounder.

"You're cute. I don't mind, I just wanted to see you."

"Well, I'm happy you came. It's good to see you. What should I get you?"

"A beer. Will you drink one with me?"

"I can't and you know it."

"Tae, have a beer, I don't mind," Inguk chimed in since he heard their conversation.

"But I'm working."

"Are you gonna get drunk with one beer?"

"No."

"Then drink a beer with?" he trailed off as he looked at the boy and extended his hand for a handshake.

"Baekhyun, nice to meet you." He accepted the handshake with a beam.

"I'm Inguk, Taehyung's boss and hyung. Have fun." He smirked, making Taehyung glance around bashfully, and disappeared to the kitchen again.

"You're really cute when you're shy," Baekhyun commented, something alluring coating his voice.

"Then I guess I'm cute all the time," Taehyung said as he grabbed two beers from the fridge.

"You are. I see you can walk properly now."

"Yeah, I took the cast off today."

"That's good. I'm sure you're excited to walk again without crutches."

"You have no idea."

"I have broken my leg too, I know how it is."

"Did you have to go to work too?"

"Hmm, no, I was a kid."

"Then it's not the same," Taehyung said in a playful manner, both smiling warmly.

They continued chatting and learning things about each other, although Taehyung had to get up from time to time to serve customers.

He was laughing at the story Baekhyun was saying, completely unaware of the stare of a certain dark brown-haired boy who just entered with his hyungs.

"Wow, I wouldn't know what to do if I were you," Taehyung said in awe and cracked up again.

"Customers are rude a lot of times and I had enough that day. I didn't know where I found the courage to actually spill the whole bottle of water over her head."

Taehyung's laugh silenced when he caught a figure in front of the bar with the corner of his eye and sprang up from his seat, but he froze throughout the moment he met his gaze. "Jeong—"

"Inguk?"

Taehyung's jaw went slack, taken aback by his behavior. The last time Jeongguk was there, he had greeted him like a normal person, and now he ignored him completely again. "In the kitchen," he mumbled as he glanced away.

"Then call him." His tone was cold and strict, something that bothered Taehyung a ton. "Or are you too busy to do so?"

He arched his brows at his incendiary question. "I can't believe I was worried about you," he tossed off, his bitterness was evident in his voice.

"Yeah, you seem quite worried," the younger said with a taunting chuckle.

"What's your problem?"

"My problem is that I have to see Inguk and you're not calling him."

"Obviously he's busy!"

"Tae, you're yelling," Baekhyun pointed out mildly, drawing their gazes to him. Taehyung's scowl mellowed upon looking at him while Jeongguk's eyes only darkened at the sight of that boy smiling at Taehyung.

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