Chapter Text
His gaze wandered towards the window making his work almost untouched. The azure blue sky he was constantly looking at was the most beautiful shade of blue he has ever seen and since the perfect weather has been persisting for the last few days, he could enjoy this view every day.
The air in Seoul felt different for him, like it was much more fresh and soothing. Maybe the reason of that was the quiet neighborhood in which he lived or the peaceful way of life that he chose when he decided to leave his hometown months ago.
Bangkok seemed to be more vibrant and dynamic for him, also definitely much more chaotic but in a good meaning, like there was always something happening around him. Most of the time he didn’t mind it. However, there was that constant fear slowly growing inside him which was a reminder that there is always something he might miss out on and won’t be able to catch up with, especially while being far from home.
So maybe that was it, the worry of being forgotten and left out was taking him over more than he thought at first. That’s why he couldn’t ensure himself that he’s fine.
He’s fine, safe and loved. No matter where he is.
But that uncomfortable loneliness was playing with his mind more and more.
Before leaving Thailand, he thought that the temporary journey to another country is going to be a matter easy to carry. After all, Seoul wasn’t going to be his forever place. His presence in foreign country is going to last only for a short period of time and will be over after he will have finished his business there.
The first time Build had entered the café was 3 months earlier. The specific smell of coffee and pastries was much more intense than in the ones he used to visit in Thailand.
When he looked around, he could notice how casual but warm was the atmosphere inside; students sitting with their laptops working on their assignments, businessmen sipping drinks with their new potential clients or high school couples having fun on their awkward dates filled with puppy love.
As Build has quickly became a regular client, he immediately noticed that he wasn’t the only one coming to that place almost daily. In fact, everyone there knew each other - not by neither their first names nor surnames but by the their daily routines or assumed jobs. Still, whenever someone’s eyes met, they tended to look away instantly, rarely flashing smiles at each other.
His contemplating was interrupted when he heard welcoming sound from the entrance. ‘Oh, right’, the noise was the iconic soft sound of wind chimes hanging outside the café shop that he liked a lot.
‘Orders, that’s what I’ve been doing.’ He looked at his iPad screen seeing list of orders he was supposed to check and confirm so that they could be sent to the buyers soon.
‘Hia-‘ After few minutes, his work was suddenly interrupted again when he heard someone at the table next to him. He heard someone swearing quietly. In Thai.
He looked at the guy sitting at the table next to him, also working on something on his laptop. He sighed, visibly frustrated, however, he didn’t stop whatever he was doing.
Did he mishear?
No, there was no option he could get confused by his native language.
Build took the chance and quietly gathered his things and moved to the table the other guy was sitting at. He has already came closer when the other boy looked up at him, at first visibly lost because why, why would some random person approach him just like that?
Then Build sent him a soft smile, warm and sweet, the one that made his dimples shown. The latter was still staring at him, he couldn’t really tell if he was now even more confused or rather curious about what Build was trying to do.
‘Excuse me-‘ He started, his Korean still not very fluent but definitely mastered enough to be able to flawlessly start simple conversation. ‘Do you mind if I sit here?’
The guy looked tender now when Build has finally explained himself and his doing. ‘No, not at all. Please, sit.’ He did his best to mirror the soft smile on his own face and his gaze came back again to the screen of his laptop continuing his work.
Build put his things on the table and rested on the chair so that he was sitting just in front of the latter. He was pretending taking care of his own piece of work as well but his mind was already occupied with ideas how to start the conversation with the stranger. His confidence was slowly disappearing and heartbeat increasing when after taking a closer look at the boy, he started to feel highly intimidated. Not even mentioning that the feeling of guilty started to taking him over when he realizes he has interrupted his work.
‘You are also Thai, right?’ Eventually, he put his thoughts in a simple and direct question forming his words in his mother language.
‘What? How do you know that?’ The stranger immediately looked up at him, clearly surprised once again, but also already answering for Build’s question in Thai language that was starting to shape naturally in his next sentences. ‘Oh.’ The realization hit him almost instantly. ‘You heard me, uh- you know. I’m so sorry for that. Not a really good way to greet someone, right?’ Shy smile started to form on his lips.
‘Don’t worry about that.’ Build laughed quietly. ‘By the way, I’m Build Jakapan Puttha.’
‘Bible Wichapas Sumettikul. Nice to meet you.’ The nervousness seemed to be disappearing from his face. Not really sure if it was caused by the apparent closeness between them that happened to show up when they got to know each other’s names or was it because of Build’s endearing smile and soft attitude that put the latter at ease.
‘Oh, right, I distracted you from your work, didn’t I?’ He added quickly.
‘Don’t worry about it.’ Bible seemed to think about something for a second. ‘But do you mind if I- you know.’ He finally said, a bit hesitant how to form his question to not to seem rude to the just met guy.
‘Continue? Go on.’ Build answered immediately. ‘And I'll try to not bother you too much.’
Bible looked up, also feeling more confident again, and sent him a soft smile. ‘Sure.’ Sudden drifting into English left Build speechless for a moment.
The small details started to feel more than impressing.