memories || stray kids

forty-four

"so what you're trying to tell me," changbin mumbles, eyes still on the road, "you felt like someone has already told you that cheesy confession before?"

jaeyeon silently nods and sinks further down the seat of his car, "I can't take it anymore, I keep remembering small details lately but I never know what it is."

"are you sure it's just not something that asshole has told you?"

"that asshole wasn't creative and never told me such corny things," jaeyeon scoffs, making changbin grin as she calls her past boyfriend with the same nickname.

"I don't know, jae, like jisung said, I doubt you had something going on with anyone at all."

she nods again without saying anything this time. when the car ride eventually comes to a stop, he shows her a small smile, "don't beat yourself up too much about it, maybe you're just imagining things."

"yeah, maybe that's just it," she sighs, "thanks for the ride, bin."

• • •

it's been a few days since jaeyeon went to the café, now once again finding herself seated in a corner of it. just like the past few visits, she's shaking in anxiety, afraid of how things will turn out. part of her considers just waiting there until one of the workers offers her a menu while another part of her considers just straight out ask them if minho is around again.

"oh, it's you again."

startled, instinctively thinking it's minho, jaeyeon shoots her head up, only to see the guy she remembers as daniel to stand by her table.

"sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he chuckles and hands her a menu, "you seem awfully nervous, are you okay?"

"and you seem awfully friendly," jaeyeon inwardly says before answering him with a small smile, "yeah, just- peachy."

"just peachy?" daniel raises an eyebrow, amused by the answer as he hands her the menu, "sounds fake but okay, does miss want to order something and calm down?"

she's close to scoffing at his attempt of attracting customers but holds it back, "what does sir here recommend?"

daniel laughs at how jaeyeon actually plays along with the lame act before looking her up and down, scrutinizing her only to soon snap his finger, "I know the exactly right for you!"

watching him disappear off behind counter to prepare whatever surprise he has in mind, jaeyeon can only chuckle, appreciating how the interaction has distracted her a bit from the anxiety, if even just the slightest.

"I'm sorry to break it to you but prince charming isn't here today either," daniel chuckles as soon as he comes back while placing the surprise in front of her, "a slice of classic strawberry shortcake and a cup of earl gray, perfect for de-stress!"

now, truth be told, berries and tea helping with de-stressing are just random things daniel has heard or read about but really just hopes for the placebo effect to kick in on her.

"why, thank you," jaeyeon smiles up at him before questioning, "and what is that supposed to mean?"

shaking his head, daniel can only laugh, "you're looking around the whole café like some suspicious spy, it's pretty clear that you're looking for your boyfriend."

"he's not my boyfriend though..."

"whatever you say," he answers, "may I sit down?"

jaeyeon isn't sure how comfortable she is with his overwhelming friendliness and asks, "aren't you working?"

"it's fine, there aren't a lot of customers at this hour," he answers and sits down on the chair in front of her, "I'm curious, what's with you searching for prince charming?"

"it's nothing, really..."

"that's not what it looks like though," daniel chuckles, satisfied upon seeing how jaeyeon takes a bite of the cake, seemingly enjoying it.

jaeyeon mumbles before taking another bite, "then stop looking."

"I'm just curious."

"didn't curiosity kill the cat?"

"but I'm alive."

jaeyeon stops midways of taking a third piece of her cake and cocks an eyebrow at him, not the slightest bit impressed by his countering, "very funny, daniel... there's something I want to talk to him about but he refuses hearing me out."

"is that why he's so off lately?"

"... what do you mean?"

daniel purses his lips and scratches the back of his neck as he answers, "well... the past few days he seems really stressed and all. when we ask with about it, he says it's nothing but everyone can tell he's lying."

"..."

"he can be stubborn sometimes but if it has to do with whatever you need to talk about, you should reach out to him as soon as possible."

"yeah, I'll try," jaeyeon answers, although secretly not sure herself how much she can trust her own words.

"anyway, I think I should get back to work before my boss scolds me," daniel chuckles and gets up, "by the way, what's your name?"

"it's jaeyeon."

"jaeyeon, hmm... a pretty name for a pretty lady." winking at her, jaeyeon just rolls her eyes back at him.

"hey, daniel?"

"yeah?"

"can you promise you won't tell minho that you talked to me about this?"

"why? afraid he'll get jealous?" sure!"

as jaeyeon pinches the bridge of her nose, daniel laughs again. "daniel, who? I only know a flirt."

• • •

operation: find stray kids

04.43 pm:

dad:
> did you meet
him?

> i met a flirt

dad:
> what did you
just say

bean:
> calm down dad

bean:
> now what was
that about meeting
a flirt?

> his name is daniel
and he works there

> when he found out that i wanted to talk to minho
daniel told me he's been
stressed lately and suspects
it has to do with me

> and recommended i
should talk to him as
soon as possible

bean:
> well he's not
wrong

> but what if it
isn't that??

dad:
> pfft

dad:
> minho is the type
to stress about
something for like
six weeks afterwards
or smth

bean:
> ^

dad:
> just keep going
there, you should
find him sooner or
later

> yeee

> have you found
anything about woojin
or seungmin?

bean:
> nope

dad:
> no ://

> oh

> it's okay

> anyway gtg i'm hungry,
smelly and tired and i
gotta do smth about that

> adios