=͟͟͞͞ ✯ 6

                                    

                                          
for the first time in a while, soonyoung was anticipating going to work today. soonyoung received a text from jeonghan the night before that he would be training chan the following day, and the idea of spending some time with the younger boy excited soonyoung.
it was a requirement for all servers to shadow soonyoung for a day, which he loved doing because, more often than not, he got pushed around during rush hours when he was more than likely not to blame. soonyoung almost always insisted that if something was wrong, it was the chef's fault. and now that mingyu was the head chef, soonyoung had no problem putting the blame on the younger boy.
the thought of chan following behind soonyoung for the day brought a pep to the older boy's step. he hasn't had many opportunities to chat with chan since the younger boy was hired as a server a few days ago. they would often exchange polite smiles and quick words when soonyoung was handing chan's trainer some plates of food. 
and soonyoung was aware the younger boy was avoiding him. he wasn't stupid. even a fool, like himself, could sense the tension between the two of them. and soonyoung knew he was to blame, but he didn't want to dwell on the past. he wanted to be mature and just move on.
and sure, soonyoung could have been more tactful. he could have possibly given more of an explanation when he broke up with chan over three years ago. he knew that. he'd heard it from literally every single person he recounted the tale to. 
maybe soonyoung could have done a better job than to shoot the younger boy a text and block him on all social media. maybe. 
but, again, there was no need to dwell on the past. he knew his reasons, and he still stood by them.
soonyoung didn't deny that he was happy to see chan again. he assumed he would never see the younger boy again. it was something he had to accept, considering he brought it onto himself. 
he didn't feel like he was allowed to complain about it. not when seokmin waited over fifteen years to see myungho again. now that felt like destiny. and chan was just someone he had a great relationship with in college. nowhere near as intense as his best friend. 
soonyoung knew he would have to work to be chan's friend again. he knew he didn't deserve the younger boy's friendship, but he was still willing to try. as long as chan wanted him around.
as soonyoung walked into the back door of the restaurant building, he blinked in surprise when he heard junhui and mingyu bickering about that day's special menu item. soonyoung just sighed as he pushed past them and clocked in for work. 
soonyoung placed his drinks inside of the fridge under the counter as he looked around the kitchen. he usually had to get there first, along with the managers and cooks, so he spent an hour or so doing food prep. he always finished early, so he would spend the next forty minutes goofing around. the servers would come in eventually and set up the front of the restaurant, so in the meantime, he would just start on his opening tasks while he waited for chan to arrive.
soonyoung hummed along silently to a song mingyu was playing on one of the line cook's speakers, swaying slightly as he chopped up some veggies. he didn't expect someone to come up behind him and gently tap him on the shoulder. he jumped slightly as he quickly turned around, his knife held up high in the air as he let out a shout.
the culprit was none other than chan. the younger boy jumped back, yelping loudly as he shielded himself with his arms and screwed his eyes shut. 
soonyoung's eyes widened once he fully registered what he was doing. he carefully stored the knife away and chuckled awkwardly, wiping his hands on his sweatpants as he said, "sorry, chan. i didn't think you would be here for another half hour." he reached over and gently pried the younger boy's arms down, chuckling at the expression on chan's face.