Work Text:
Ring
Seokjin looks up and greets the customer with a smile as he hears the bells ring upon his enter. A man, looking not much younger than him walks towards the counter wearing black flannel under a black shirt and black ripped jeans that contrast his pale white legs underneath. The man looks a little stressed? no, tired? as he peeks through the glass, viewing the cake displays inside.
"Good Afternoon, Sir, is there anything you are searching for in particular?"
The man looks up and Seokjin meets his eyes for the first time. Round almond eyes, a beautiful brown shade with pure black pupils framed by long lashes Seokjin can stare at and count for hours.
"Well, uhm, is it possible to have a taste of a few flavors?" The man shrugs, "Just so, you know? I have an idea of my options?"
Lost in his eyes, luckily Seokjin quickly recovers and nods. "Sure thing just pick one and I'll hand you a small portion to taste."
The man picks out a few flavors and Seokjin makes sure to smile before heading to the back to get a small plate and tiny portions of said flavors.
Seokjin watches the man as his eyes light up for a few seconds everytime he takes a bite of each flavor. It certainly amuses Seokjin to see someone so enthralled while eating cake.
"This chocolate cake-" The younger looks at Seokjin's tag then back to his eyes. "-Seokjin-ssi, how much is it?"
Seokjin smiles. "18,000 won. I see you like the classics...."
"Yoongi." The man replies, and Seokjin thinks its quite a pretty name. "Min Yoongi."
"-Yoongi-ssi. Well, I, as well personally like that cake as it was made with pure cacao from Trinidad. "
Yoongi's eyes widen at the remark and Seokjin reassures him with a laugh.
"Not to worry, Yoongi-ssi, I am telling the truth and yes it is real cacao. But it was a gift from my uncle so I had put the cake on sale."
Yoongi's eyes furrowed in confusion as stared at Seokjin. He raised a finger and pointed at Seokjin, making him flinch. "You."
"M-me?" Seokjin mumbled, pointing a finger at himself now as well.
"Yes, you." Yoongi confirmed, leaning over the counter and Seokjin loses track of everything as he sees Yoongi's features more clear with him being just inches away from his face. "You baked these?"
Seokjin nods and Yoongi looks him up and down, intimidating Seokjin with his intanse stare. But as Yoongi pulls back, his mouth form a smile displaying his teeth and gums out in the open and Seokjin swears he's never seen a smile prettier than his.
"You must be so talented for all of these cakes I've tried to taste amazing!"
Seokjin looks at Yoongi and tries not to physically melt, his heart racing at the comment and he feels his blush creeping from his neck to his cheeks and up to his own two ears.
"I-i-Well, uhm, thank you, Yoongi-ssi." Seokjin smiles, trying to hide the excitement in his voice. "I'm very glad you liked it."
Before, Seokjin could get lost in Yoongi's smiles this time, he gestures towards the cakes."So would you be getting the chocolate cake then?"
Yoongi's smile slightly faints as he nods. And as Seokjin is about to get the cake from the display below, Yoongi suddenly speaks.
"Wait! uhm, actually if you don't mind is it possible to get a taste of this one too?"
Seokjin glances and follows Yoongi's fingers to see it pointing towards the mango cake just 3 cakes beside the chocolate one. Seokjin gently places the cake back to its stand and closes the display. "Of course, Yoongi-ssi, anything for a customer."
"Thank you." Yoongi says as he watches Seokjin run to the back again.
Seokjin returns to see Yoongi gently tapping his fingers on the counter (which he finds very endearing), he gives Yoongi the small piece and unlike any other reaction just a while ago, Yoongi's whole face lights up and as he smiles while chewing the small piece.
Seokjin observes Yoongi's face gleaming under the lights, white glass skin all over, pink tinted cheeks and he even notices the pretty little moles painted across his skin. It isn't until Yoongi speaks when Seokjin can take his mind out off Yoongi's small, delicate features.
"How much for the mango cake?" Yoongi asks, and Seokjin swears there is light in Yoongi's eyes as he speaks.
Seokjin smiles. "25,000 won for that one."
Unlike Seokjin's expectations, Yoongi frowns.
Just for a moment Yoongi frowns and the light that was once in his eyes went dark. But again, Yoongi smiles. He smiles ever so quickly that Seokjin wonder whether what he saw earlier were just a figment of his imagination.
"You know what, I'll just get the chocolate instead."
Seokjin tries to fool himself that there wasn't anything more to those words but he couldn't. Seokjin felt the hurt in his voice, he heard it there and then. "Are you sure, Yoongi-ssi?"
Yoongi smiles. He smiles and yet Seokjin could tell it was fake.
"Yeah. Mother wouldn't mind a chocolate cake, don't worry about it Seokjin-ssi."
Seokjin blinks and freezes for a moment. "Mother?"
Yoongi looks at Seokjin and doesn't say anything which makes Seokjin quickly realise he shouldn't have said that.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Seokjin apologises.
Yoongi chuckles and shakes his head."No, no, it's alright. I mean I did mention her first."
Seokjin hears Yoongi take a breath before answering. "It's her birthday today and I wanted to buy her a cake."
Seokjin looks at Yoongi and sees him smiling. And this time it doesn't look fake. He's genuinely smiling, but in contrast to that, his eyes tell a different story. His eyes look like they've been through so much and Seokjin wants to comfort him. Tell him it's gonna be okay.
"I'll wrap your order and you can wait over there, okay?" Seokjin points to the chair near the window and Yoongi nods and sits where Seokjin pointed.
Seokjin thinks. If he could make Yoongi smile even just for a little bit then it would make his boring life worth a while.
If he could ease his pain, and make a stranger smile, he'd do it.
He takes the mango cake instead of the chocolate one and luckily Yoongi is busy looking out of the window for him to notice. He also takes a slice of the chocolate cake and places a note inside before wrapping it.
He walks to Yoongi and places the big and smaller box in front of him, making Yoongi look at him confusingly.
"What's this?" Yoongi asks.
Seokjin smiles. "Your order."
Yoongi shakes his head and takes another good look at the boxes and the cakes inside."No- uhm-there must be a mistake, I said a chocolate cake and-"
"And I said-" Seokjin cuts Yoongi off. "This is your order."
'B-but, I-i can't let you pay for this, I don't need your pity." Yoongi retorts. "I don't want to be indebted to you."
Seokjin feels a pang in his heart but still, he smiles. "Then, think of this as a gift instead."
"A gift?"
"A gift!" Seokjin repeats again. "A gift from me to you and your mother."
Yoongi shakes his head once again. "I am still indebted to you then, Seokjin-ssi."
"If you give me a gift, then it only means that I should return the favor by giving you one as well." Yoongi explains.
"Then give me one as well, Yoongi-ssi, simple as that."
Yoongi's mouth parts as he stares at Seokjin.
Seokjin laughs as he pulls out a pink business card out of his pocket and puts in into Yoongi's. "That's my card, and here's my bakery. When you have the money, buy me coffee sometime. Then we're even. Is that a deal?"
Yoongi sighs before he smiles and reaches his arm out.
"It's a deal." He says as Seokjin shakes his arm and just before Seokjin could let go of his hand, he's pulled in hug by Yoongi. It sends shivers down his spine to feel Yoongi's hot breath on his ears that are probably red by now.
"Thank you hyung." He whispers.
Yoongi pulls away and gets his cake before he leaves. "Goodbye, Seokjin-ssi"
"Goodbye Yoongichi!" Seokjin shouts and immediately apologises for the slip of the nickname and Yoongi lets him.
Yoongi stares at the pink card "KSJ Sweets' written in white cursive letters on the top.
~~~
As he walks homes he finds himself smiling at the card, truly grateful for the kind man he had met just a few minutes prior. He also opens the note Seokjin had left in one of the boxes earlier where it read:
"Smile more Yoongichi! Wouldn't it'd be a waste if no one else sees those pretty gums of yours? -KSJ"
Yoongi rolls his eyes before giggling, the nickname wasn't an accident after all.
~~~
When he arrives home, he's greeted by his mother who embraces him tightly. "Happy Birthday, Eomma."
His mother kisses him on the cheek and Yoongi missed his mother's warmth. "Oh darling, you bought a cake. You could've just bought yourself new clothes instead."
"Eomma, let me buy you this okay? You've raised me until now so this time it's my turn now that you're sick."
His mother hugs him again. "Oh darling, what did I do to deserve you."
"You raised me, Eomma, I know how tough that was." Yoongi jokes.
His mother sits down on the table and Yoongi follows after. "Still, you were the biggest gift ever given to me."
Yoongi smiles then smirks. "Say, Eomma, what about a son-in-law as a gift this time?"