Chapter 11

Gyuyeon’s limited-edition wristwatch was already pointing at nine.

Being the boss, there was no set time he had to show up, but having his schedule thrown off still grated on him. His jaw clenched, teeth gnashing as he counted in a low, threatening voice. A few days of living together had taught him one useful thing: Naru was strangely afraid of numbers.

“I told you to drop it. One, two…”

“Wanna come with me?”

“That’s you talking down to me.”

“W-what’s ‘talking down’ supposed to mean?”

Shameless. Boldfaced. Pretending not to know when it was clear he did. Earlier, when shown how to use a knife, he’d looked clueless; now he was lying smoothly, confidently.

Then Naru, still clutching his leg, tilted up wide, bright eyes and even rubbed his face against Gyuyeon’s thigh like some needy pet.

That sly little brat—was he insane?

Gyuyeon pressed a forefinger to his forehead and shoved him back, peeling him off. Naru, lighter and weaker, stumbled back without resistance.

“Go inside.”

“I’m not going in.”

“I told you nicely twice already.”

“I won’t.”

And now with the informal speech again. Whenever things didn’t go his way, Naru flipped into casual tone as if to declare: ‘I won’t lose to you, either.’

The longer they went back and forth, the more ridiculous it got. He refused to go in, paced the shoe rack as though ready to bolt out the door—his talent for driving people mad was uncanny.

Gyuyeon was the first to break. If he wasted more time here, his entire morning would unravel.

“I’ll give you five minutes. Change your clothes and come out.”

“…”

“I’ll take you with me.”

“…while you’re still holding the doorknob.”

“Ha. Haha. Fuck. Fine. Let go. Happy now?”

Naru narrowed his eyes suspiciously, watching like a guard dog. To prove it, Gyuyeon took his hand off the knob. His irritation leaked into his voice, sharper than ever.

Only then did Naru dart back into the room. He changed in record time, all the while peeking out to make sure Gyuyeon hadn’t left without him.

“Ugh, exhausting.”

“Heh…”

“You laughing?”

“I’m not laughing.”

Of course he was. Getting his way always lit him up inside, and now his smile was barely contained. Daylight meant no shady clubs—he could be excited about going outside without fear.

Starting the car, Gyuyeon frowned at the soft laugh. Someone had drained him dry already this morning, while someone else giggled like a child. Infuriating.

“Don’t touch the window. You’ll leave marks.”

“Yesss.”

“…”

“Wow, that building looks weird!”

Not five seconds later, Naru’s palm was flat on the glass, leaving a fresh print. He answered obediently, but never meant to listen.

Kids at least listened sometimes. He wasn’t even sure this one qualified as human.

Resigned, Gyuyeon pressed the accelerator harder. He wanted to swing by the café, check things, deposit salaries, then finish with a car wash.

By the time they pulled up, the passenger window was smeared with handprints, cheek marks, and even lip stains from Naru pressing his face to it. A glossy sports car defiled in less than ten minutes.

Dragging him along by the wrist, Gyuyeon parked in front of his café. Naru kept glancing everywhere, hand trailing uselessly.

“Look where you’re going.”

“What’s that?”

“I should just dump you here and leave.”

“I wasn’t distracted!”

At the threat, Naru quickly snapped to attention. But the spot they stopped at made his eyes widen.

This was the place. The one he’d seen the first time he came into this world—the warm, rich scent of bread wafting in the air. He’d once wished he could eat every loaf in sight. Now, suddenly, it was within reach.

Naru poked his head toward the door, sniffing like a pup.

‘Sniff, sniff. Ah, sweet… so delicious.’

Watching the ridiculous display, Gyuyeon’s lip curled. A nouveau riche brat sniffing at the air like that—pathetic. He clamped a hand on the back of Naru’s neck.

“Don’t embarrass me. Get in.”

“O-oh, can I go in? I’ll get scolded.”

“Who’s going to scold you? It’s my shop.”

“…!”

‘‘Ding.’’

The bell above the door chimed as he pulled Naru inside by the neck, gripping him firmly so he wouldn’t wander and ruin a display.

Seoyeon, carefully arranging lemon madeleines, looked up in shock. It was the first time Gyuyeon had ever brought someone in.

“Boss, who’s that with you…?”

“None of your business. Keep working.”

What a rude boss.

Seoyeon cursed him silently but couldn’t stop her eyes from drifting to Naru. Pale skin, delicate features—pretty in a way opposite to Gyuyeon’s sharpness. She’d never seen a boy like that in her life.

‘Why is someone like him with the boss?’

As she finished setting the tray, she sneaked another glance. Docile, innocent, totally unlike Gyuyeon. The contrast gnawed at her.

Meanwhile, Naru wandered, eyes wide, taking in the café: the glass cases gleaming with desserts, the classical music, the customers sipping tea beneath chandeliers. His chest swelled.

All of this belonged to Gyuyeon. Amazing. He really was unbelievably rich.

Naru looked at him with quiet admiration, wanting to say something. With desserts right there, not eating them felt like torture. But Gyuyeon was already flipping open his laptop, focused on work.

“Boss, here’s an Americano.”

“Why are you doing things you never do?”

“I always do! And this—” she set down a macaron, “do you like them?”

“Who said you could give those away?”

Seoyeon seized her chance, setting down coffee and macarons. Normally, she never did unless told. Her eyes flicked to Naru as she pushed them forward.

“I paid for these.”

“C-can I eat this…?”

“Yes. They’re really good.”

Naru’s eyes lit up. He unwrapped the pale pink macaron, its color as sweet as its scent, and took a bite. Heaven. Soft shells, strawberry cream, tangy homemade jam. He popped the rest into his mouth whole.

“It’s delicious!”

“My god, the pound cake is good too. And this—”

“Is he a stray puppy? Why are you desperate to feed him? Go work.”

The mood shattered. Naru pouted—he might have tasted the pound cake too if not for Gyuyeon’s interference. Still, one macaron remained.

It was sky blue. He nibbled slowly, but crumbs tumbled everywhere—on his lips, his chin, his clothes.

Seoyeon, suppressing her squeal, handed him a wet wipe. When their eyes met, her heart thumped.

‘Too cute. Like mochi. Why is he stuck with that bastard? I should steal him away.’

Naru accepted the wipe and instinctively held it out to Gyuyeon.

“What?”

“Mouth…”

“Mouth what?”

“It’s on your mouth.”

Gyuyeon touched his own lips before realizing. He meant his. No—his. No, wait. Damn it. He wanted ‘him’ to wipe his mouth again.

Ridiculous.

Naru tilted forward, eyes closed, silently ordering him to hurry.

The wipe landed with a plop on his thigh instead. He blinked his eyes open.

“Who are you asking? Wipe it yourself.”

Cheeks puffing at the cold dismissal, Naru reluctantly took the wipe back. But instead of wiping properly, he smeared the crumbs across his clothes, dye spreading.

“Are you insane?”

“Why?”

“Every time. Are you doing this on purpose? You have to be.”

“It’s not on purpose. It’s because Gyuyeon wouldn’t wipe it…”

Blaming him again. Of course.

With a curse, Gyuyeon grabbed the wipe and scrubbed his mouth clean himself. Astonishing—how could someone eat one macaron and look like they’d bathed in it?

“Kyaa!”

Seoyeon’s shriek rang out. She’d been watching—and seeing Gyuyeon, of all people, wipe someone’s mouth gently nearly made her drop her tray.

All heads turned. Customers stared. Naru babbled nonsense. Seoyeon peppered them with questions.

Gyuyeon cursed his morning. He’d known it would go wrong.

“You. Go home. Now.”

“N-no, I don’t—”

“Now. Go. Home.”

“…I don’t know the way.”

Snapping a piece of paper, he scribbled clear directions—simple enough for a child. He shoved it at him.

Expelled, Naru clutched the note, dragging his feet. At every step he turned, looking back pitifully at Gyuyeon.

“Walk properly. Don’t pull any half-assed tricks.”

“Tch…”

The bell chimed as the door shut. Outside, Naru lingered by the big window, staring in like a lost dog.

For a second, Gyuyeon almost beckoned him back. Almost. Instead, he waved him away cruelly.

‘Damn shame. Almost let him in again.’

Naru finally trudged off, hands in pockets. The bus stop wasn’t far. His fingers fiddled nervously with the card Gyuyeon had given him.

‘‘Thunk!’’

“Ouch…!”

“You should watch where you’re going.”

Counting the sidewalk bricks as he walked, he collided with a stranger. The man caught him before he fell, his tone smug.