To Bell the Cat
Leo/Ken | PG-13 | 6748 w | Taekwoon likes cats, and Jaehwan likes him. | originally written for forvixx
Today starts like any other day. Jaehwan wakes up with a jump as his alarm goes off thirty minutes too late, last night’s music composition homework sticking to his face and his sleeve wet with a bit of drool. He trips over his backpack on his way to take a five minute shower, gets soap in his eyes as he rinses off, brushes his teeth at lightning speed and sprays Febreze at just the right angle to assure his clothes don’t feel too wet or cold when he shrugs them on.
His studio apartment is small, but that’s pushing it. Wonshik jokes that it’s surprising that Jaehwan can even fit inside, nose and all. It’s not a big nose: it just has character (or so Jaehwan always tells him). He climbs over the bed to grab a bottle of juice from his mini fridge and a Pop-Tart from the cabinet.
Jaehwan’s building is thankfully only five minutes away from the bus stop but he gets there in four, running maniacally with the Pop-Tart shoved between his teeth and hands constantly pulling up his jeans because he keeps forgetting to buy a belt.
The bus should arrive in approximately five minutes, Jaehwan calculates, collapsing onto the bus bench. He can tell without looking at his watch because Wonshik and Hongbin are crossing the road right now. Lucky bastards. Wonshik and Hongbin are roommates, blessed with living directly above a little bakery and right across the street from the bus stop. The former looks beyond grumpy, only partially sated by a chocolate croissant he’s unceremoniously stuffing into his face. Hongbin waves to Jaehwan, however.
“Good morning,” he says quietly, sinking into the open space next to Jaehwan. Wonshik continues to stand, eyes closed and munching slowly.
“Hello hello hello. Nothing for me?” Hongbin shakes his head and points at the bottle of juice in Jaehwan’s hands. “Oh. So? Can’t you treat your elder to some coffee? Kindergartner.” Jaehwan pouts for good measure. Pouting has a ninety percent success rate, especially with Wonshik; he would try, but he’s a little concerned the boy is sleeping while standing. And eating. Typical.
Hongbin only yawns in response, closing his eyes. It’s nine am, it’s not even that early but Hongbin and Wonshik stay up till four in the morning doing god knows what. Usually either playing horrifically violent video games or watching old romantic comedies from the nineties (the classics, Wonshik always argues). Jaehwan sighs; they’re honestly the worst friends ever.
He lets them nap (eat?) for two minutes in peace, until he sees the bus rounding the corner and taps on on Hongbin’s thigh and tugs at Wonshik’s hand. “C’mon kiddos, wakey-wakey. The bus is here. Get up or I’m leaving you here.”
Jaehwan and Hongbin have to guide Wonshik into the bus so he doesn’t trip over his feet. The bus is poorly ventilated, crowded full of university students and a few out of place business men, and a mean bus driver who huffs when Jaehwan takes an extra five seconds to pull his bus pass out of his wallet. They finally push their way in settling somewhere in the middle of bus, Jaehwan cramped between Wonshik and the window.
“Hyung?” Hongbin starts, leaning over Wonshik so Jaehwan can hear him. “You do know that cat cafe below your place also has a coffee shop too though, right?”
“Why would you wait until now to tell me?”
“I don’t know, just thought of it.”
“Wah, you really don’t want to buy your hyung coffee, do you?” Jaehwan switches his voice to something high pitched and nasally. “Bad dongsaeng.”
Hongbin makes that face: the one where he can’t believe how dumb Jaehwan is. The usual. “No, I’ll buy you coffee, okay.” He lets out an exasperated sigh, but he’s not mad. “We should all go there one day after classes though. The cat cafe that is.”
“Okay.”
“Midterms are killing me. Cats are good for stress.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Midterm week should be renamed Hell week. Not only do they have to suffer through two hour examinations, they also still have to keep up with regular tortuous assignments like online theory homework and vocal lessons and chapters upon chapters of required reading. Jaehwan has taken to taping a list of definitions and terms to the outside of the shower door to study while he washes off, letting the hot water mull over his feelings of unpreparedness and incompetence.
Jaehwan is the type who can - and will - study for ten hours straight, fighting off sleep and fatigue with coffee cup after coffee cup and his own essay-fueled tears. He is currently squashed into a cozy armchair in the depths of the school library, sipping on an energy drink that’s 80% pure sugar, and clacking at his keyboard, desperately trying to memorize Schenkerian harmonic theories.
Hongbin is slumped over a nearby table, camera roll open and negatives lying out. Wonshik is actually awake this time, scribbling furiously in his notebook. They trade off; Wonshik sleeps in the morning and Hongbin sleeps in the evening and Jaehwan sleeps... well, almost never, really. Being a music student is harder than it seems, okay.
Jaehwan is in his second year of university, a music composition major, and rightfully stressed. His dream is to be a singer, and has been since he was a child. He doesn’t care much for the technical stuff, he’s not even that great at it for that matter. That’s Wonshik’s forte. But when it comes to his voice, he knows he has it.
It’s 1:43 am and now Wonshik is snoring lightly next to Hongbin but Jaehwan has abandoned his laptop to mark up a six-part score. His fingers are cramping up and his back hurts a little from being hunched over but it’s all kind of worth it.
Maybe he’ll take Hongbin’s suggestion seriously.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
This day is chillier than the last, and Jaehwan waits at the stoop of his building, wrapped up tightly in a jacket and wool scarf. Hongbin and Wonshik are walking quickly towards him, huddled close together with their hands in their pockets and heads bowed. “Why did we pick the coldest day of the year to go to the stupid cat cafe?” Wonshik mutters once they’ve reached the stoop. Jaehwan doesn’t grace him with a reply, just leads them a few steps to the left towards the entrance.
He’s lived over this cat cafe for a year now - he spent his first year of school living on campus - but he’s never actually been inside, which he thinks is kind of weird. It’s not that he hasn’t thought about it. It’s popular among the university students around exam time, when stressed and drained students are in need of a little much deserved pet therapy but somehow Jaehwan has never ended up there.
The entrance leads into a wide hallway, painted bright yellow, with shiny white lockers lining up the sides and a counter and a set of glass doors at the very end. The boy at the counter is lazily blowing some bubblegum and playing a game on his phone when the boys step up.
“Hello!” Jaehwan greets him cheerfully. The boy looks up, a little surprised (he’s wearing headphones too), and quickly puts down his phone, yanking out the headphones in the process.
“Good morning! I’m Sanghyuk, how can I help you today? Can I interest you in our Kitty Package, two hours with a free drink from the Coffee Cat?”
“Um, sure. The Kitty Package please.”
“Okay, that will be 21,000 won.” Sanghyuk shuffles around the desk while Jaehwan pulls out his wallet and comes back with a multicolored ink pad and a set of stamps. He takes the money from Jaehwan’s hand, pulling out the correct change. “Can you hold out your hand please?”
Sanghyuk pulls out one stamp, presses it into the red section on the ink pad and then onto the back of Jaehwan’s hand. “You can just show that at the Coffee Cat counter. Food is not included. And I’ll open up one of these lockers for you if you want to put away your coat and other things while you’re inside!”
“Okay, okay, thank you.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
This is easily one of the coolest places Jaehwan has ever stepped into: bright natural light, cozy couches and stuffy armchairs, a few booths lining up the sides, kitty houses and scratching posts, even little shelves fixed onto the wall for the cats to jump onto. And cats! Cats, cats, cats, everywhere.
“CATS!” Jaehwan finally shouts aloud. He looks pretty stupid right now, standing halfway into the threshold with a stupid grin and saying the most stupid and obvious thing one could say in a cat cafe. Wonshik and Hongbin have already left him to crouch near a tabby cat and coo at it as it licks its paws. They turn to look at him simultaneously, with matching faces of embarrassment, and turn back around to the cat at the exact same time.
Wonshik and Hongbin have some creepy connection that Jaehwan will never understand and will never want to understand. They were probably conjoined twins in a past life. Jaehwan rolls his eyes at them. Worst friends ever. There aren’t many other people here at this time; there a few university students scattered here and there. One of them is even sitting in a booth annotating a text book as a cat curls up in her lap.
To the very left of the room is The Coffee Cat. Jaehwan hadn’t taken much notice of it when he first entered but he can’t understand how he possibly missed it. For one, a sign in the shape of a cat’s head, reading “The Coffee Cat” in cute cursive, hangs above the hardwood counter, and a big display case shows off colorful macarons, cakes and breads. Behind the counter are a bunch of coffee making machines, jars of coffee beans and bottles of syrups, neatly stacked cups and mugs and most importantly, the cutest barista Jaehwan has ever seen.
He tries not to gawk too much and quickly turns to Wonshik and Ravi who are now making (not so subtle) meows at the cat in front of them. “Hey, I’ll get your guys’ drinks, what do you want?” He doesn’t wait for them to respond, striding off towards the counter with the best Sexy, Free and Single face he can muster.
He ends up tripping over a discarded ball of yarn on the ground (he doesn’t fall, thank god, but he almost steps on a cat in the process) and is breathing a bit too loudly once he reaches the counter. “Hi, Jaehwan I am- I, I’m Jaehwan?” Smooth.
The barista, Taekwoon his nametag says, nods faintly. “How can I help you?” Jaehwan can barely hear him, he talks so quietly. It’s kind of cute though. It doesn’t match his appearance.
“Um, hi, Taekwoon?” He points to the nametag and laughs a little to avoid looking like too much of a creep. He still only gets a nod. Well. “Um I’ll have a large vanilla latte with you- I mean, two. Two percent milk.”
Taekwoon nods again, “Is this with the Kitty Package or?”
“Uh yeah, it is.” Jaehwan raises his hand with the stamp on it to show it to Taekwoon, who only nods. Again. “So, do you-”
“Taekwoon, you can take the floor now!” Another boy walks behind the counter and nudges at Taekwoon. “Also Sprinkles knocked over a customer’s blueberry mousse cake at table three, take a replacement for them please!” Taekwoon, unsurprisingly, nods at him and turns away from Jaehwan to take something out of the display case. Damn, even his side profile is beautiful. A straight long nose, sharp jawline, soft-looking cheeks, soft-looking lips, soft-looking skin, soft, soft soft-
Jaehwan jumps a little when someone waves a hand in front of his face.
“What?” He’s a little surprised and looks up to see the new boy staring back at him questioningly.
“Your order, sir?” Jaehwan had been too busy staring at Taekwoon to notice.
“Oh, vanilla latte with two percent milk.”
“Coming right up!” This boy (Hakyeon, his nametag says) is the complete opposite of Taekwoon, very smiley and at least ten decibels louder, although that doesn’t seem like it would be a very hard feat considering how softly Taekwoon had spoken to him.
“Is he always that quiet?” Jaehwan asks, eyes following Taekwoon as he walks towards the table. Hakyeon perks up from near the latte machine.
“Who, Taekwoon? Always.” He pours the steamed milk into a mug and looks at Jaehwan keenly. “Why?”
“Um, no reason. Just, you know, wondering.”
Hakyeon places the mug in front of Jaehwan with a shit-eating grin. “Okay, if you say so.”
“What?” Jaehwan half pouts, half whines.
“Nothing, nothing. See you around, enjoy your visit.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Hongbin and Wonshik have migrated to a booth while he was away and Jaehwan slips in across from them, setting down his mug dramatically. “Men, we have An Issue. Mandatory bro talk session commences now.”
“Can’t you just say you have something important to tell us like a normal person?” Hongbin asks.
“Men, we are living in grave and serious times. Bro talk-”
“Please don’t call it bro talk.”
“Bro. Talk. Anyway,” Jaehwan scrunches up his face like he’s about to cry. “So I saw a really cute boy. Like, really cute. We are talking cuter than the cats cute.”
“Wait, you didn’t even get my green tea latte,” Wonshik interrupts.
“Wonshik please focus this is a Problem.”
“No it’s not, just do what you did with Daehyun and there you go.”
“Do you even remember how that went?”
“You prepped for five minutes, missed, he asked you to leave and you’re still a virgin?” The two cackle, high-fiving each other and somehow bang heads in the process and laugh some more. So fucking weird; Jaehwan needs to find new friends.
“Okay okay shut up kindergartners that was three years ago. Just, just? Okay? Just, look at him? The tall cute one. With the apron.” Jaehwan points vaguely behind him where Taekwoon is picking up discarded toys.
“He doesn’t look like your type,” Wonshik says after some careful deliberation. “He looks too smart and sophisticated for you. Also he has a flat ass.”
“Well I’m not an ass-man anyway okay Wonshik? Focus on things other than people’s butts you pervert.”
“Yeah, Wonshik, he’s not an ass-man, he’s a take-it-in-the-ass-man,” Hongbin chortles out and they do that stupid high-five-head-bang-laugh thing and Jaehwan really really needs new friends.
“You guys suck, I am your hyung, and you guys suck.”
“Do we? Or do you?” Wonshik counters, barely suppressing a laugh behind his palm.
“Yeah, yeah keep it coming. Let’s all poke fun at the gay guy.” Jaehwan rolls his eyes dramatically. “I’m leaving you two.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
In hindsight, just walking up to Taekwoon was the dumbest idea Jaehwan had had that day. Jaehwan aims for cool and suave, and instead, ends up being anything but. He trips, again (Taekwoon does a horrible job of picking up toys), and unfortunately this time, actually does fall. He catches his fall on his hands, but his left hand falls onto the tail of a sleeping cat. Fuck.
Jaehwan feels nothing but sheer embarrassment when everyone in the cafe, even gorgeous perfect Adonis did he mention perfect Taekwoon, turns to stare at him. Even some of the cats are staring at him.
But it seems just a little bit worth it when Taekwoon is the first person to step towards him, asking “Are you okay?” in the quietest, sweetest voice.
Jaehwan is just about to smile widely, with a “Yes, yes, I am now,” when Taekwoon steps past him and picks up the cat he nearly fell over. Oh.
“Is Waffles hurt?” Taekwoon coos softly, rubbing his finger on the bridge of the cat’s nose. This is definitely not the outcome Jaehwan had been hoping for.
“So the cat’s name is Waffles?” he asks, trying to ignore the little sting. Taekwoon looks down at him and raises an eyebrow. Jaehwan is still on the floor. Dammit. “Um, can you help me up?”
Taekwoon reaches out a hand, a big strong warm hand Jaehwan notes, and pulls Jaehwan up. Well, this is progress. “So as I was asking, is the cat’s name Waffles?”
Taekwoon nods with an almost imperceptible smile and strokes the cat behind its ear.
“Is Waffles your favorite cat?”
Taekwoon shrugs.
“What does that mean?”
“He’s very cute,” (Is Taekwoon speaking or an angel?), “but he’s also very noisy when he’s awake.”
“Ah, like me?” Taekwoon gives Jaehwan an unreadable look for a few seconds and shrugs again.
“Would you like to hold him?” he says instead.
“Sure? Yeah!” Progress, progress, progress!
A bit of a zing! shoots up Jaehwan’s arm when his fingers brush against Taekwoon’s again.
Waffles is an extremely adorable cat, with long golden fur, all fluffed up and soft to the touch. Jaehwan nuzzles his face against his briefly, “You’re right, he’s very cute- Oh.”
Jaehwan sighs pitifully. Taekwoon is walking towards the other end of the room. Away. “Well, Waffles, I guess it’s just you and me buddy.” No progress, no progress, no progress.
Waffles jumps out of Jaehwan’s arms.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
“I have to go back there,” Jaehwan announces first thing the next morning, squishing himself in between Hongbin and Wonshik on the bus stop bench. It had taken copious amounts of whining, Nilla Wafers, a mug of hot chocolate and hours of children’s cartoons before Jaehwan could come to terms with being outright ignored like that. And somewhere between watching the coyote being pulverized by his boulder trap and being mercilessly teased by the roadrunner afterwards, Jaehwan realized that he can’t give up. Did Wile E. Coyote ever give up? No. He never killed the roadrunner either but that’s not the point. Lee Jaehwan never gives up. (Except with Park Kyungri in grade eight, because (a) she is so unbelievably out of his league and (b) he realized he swings the other way after a rather embarrassing but eye-opening - and pant-tightening - moment in P.E. class, but that’s a whole other story).
“Good luck man,” Wonshik offers, patting Jaehwan on the shoulder.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Jaehwan comes by the cat cafe again after his classes are over for the day. Sanghyuk is lounging behind the counter with his feet up, engrossed in some magna or the other.
“Hello Sanghyuk!” Sanghyuk jumps in response.
“Oh, hello, err, guy from yesterday?”
“Jaehwan.”
“Hello Jaehwan, can I interest you in our Meow Monday special? One hour paid and a free cookie!”
“Do you have a special for everyday?”
“Meow Monday, Tabby Tuesday, Whiskers Wednesday, Tomcat Thursday, Feline Friday, Saturday is CineCat Theater- we play cat movies that day. This weekend we’ll be showing The Aristocats and Sunday we have the Kitty Package.”
“The weekend kinda ruined that whole same letter thing you had going on, huh?”
“Hakyeon hyung says the shared love and appreciation for cats should overpower our uncreative specials’ names. But he’s also the one who came up with them, so.”
“Oh I see, and yes I’ll do the Meow Monday special. Thank you Sanghyuk.” The stamp is blue this time.
It’s around two in the afternoon, and the inside of the cat cafe is more crowded than last time. It’s not hard to spot Taekwoon, though. Not when he’s sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, holding an adorable ginger kitten, speaking animatedly to a little kid. Is? Is he smiling? Fuck.
Jaehwan smoothes down his hair as best he can and clears his throat.
Taekwoon doesn’t even notice Jaehwan when sits down next to him and the kid. “-this kitten was born only two weeks ago.”
The girl holds up four fingers. “I was born four years ago!”
“Ah really? Cute~” Taekwoon’s face softens - so adorable - and he sets the kitten down in front of him. “Would you like to pet Trey? I named him after one of my favorite singers.”
“Trey Songz?!” Jaehwan interrupts. And finally, finally, Taekwoon notices him.
“Uh, yeah. How did you-?”
“-He’s one of my favorites too!”
Taekwoon sends a soft smile in Jaehwan’s direction. “He’s really good isn’t he?”
“Definitely, what other music do you like?”
“I like all music.” It’s not much to work with but at least he’s responding with full sentences rather than nods and shrugs. The little girl waddles back towards her mother while Jaehwan works out what he should say next, and quick, because so far Taekwoon has a habit of disappearing.
“Me too!” Smooth. Good one Jaehwan. “Um, I’m a music composition major at Jelpi. Second year.”
Taekwoon nods his slightly. “I go there too, veterinary science. Fourth year.”
“Ooh, is that why you work here? Do you like cats?” Smoother. Even better one Jaehwan. “Wait, that’s a dumb question. Of course you must like cats… What cats do you like? Do you like dogs too? Well I guess you would though, right? Because, duh, veterinary science. Unless you’re doing it for big animals? Do you like horses? Oh my god, I’m talking a lot, sorry, by the way my name is-”
“Jaehwan,” Taekwoon says simply and he’s laughing. Jaehwan is going to die; his name sounds so pleasant coming from Taekwoon’s mouth. “You told me yesterday. And yes, yes, I like all of them, yes, no, but yes.”
Progress!
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Okay, so Taekwoon got up three minutes later after their big breakthrough to clean up the strawberry smoothie Sprinkles had so graciously knocked over but at least now he knows Jaehwan’s name, his age, what he studies and that he’s a singer and if that’s not progress then Jaehwan doesn’t know what is. He considers issuing another round of bro talk later that night.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
It is Monday night and it’s not like Wonshik and Hongbin ever do anything productive, like studying, in their dorm, so Jaehwan doesn’t think they would mind if he visited. They gave him the extra key anyway.
Wonshik and Hongbin live on the fifth floor of their elevator-less apartment building, a fact which Jaehwan is painfully reminded of as he wheezes up the cramped stairwell. Jaehwan on the other hand is blessed with living on the second floor. Even if his entire flat is the size of a large closet, it’s barely much of a walk to get to.
Room 1206. He doesn’t bother knocking, just barges his way in. Wonshik is lounging on their dirty couch in his boxers with a bottle of beer and a box of pizza while Legally Blonde plays on their small television.
“Seriously Wonshik?”
“It’s 2014 and I am a grown ass man who can watch Legally Blonde if I want to.”
“I was gonna say your dick is peeking out of the slit of your boxers but okay.” Wonshik pulls a pillow over his lap.
“Shut up.”
“Where’s Hongbin?” Jaehwan calls out from the kitchen, reaching into their refrigerator for a beer.
“He should be getting out of the shower now.” And said person pokes out of the bathroom door at that moment, a towel rung around his neck and another wrapped around his waist.
“Ah, at least one of you guys cares about hygiene,” Jaehwan laughs, jumping onto the couch. “Hongbin hurry up and get dressed. Bro talk time!”
“Yeah just give me a minute hyung!” Hongbin calls out before disappearing into his room.
He’s back in three, but Jaehwan refuses to speak until he’s sure he has their undivided attention.
“Men, I’ve done the impossible,” he starts solemnly. “I’ve-”
“Why do you call use men but then call it bro talk, shouldn’t you call us bros?”
“This is no time for your kindergartner questions! Men. Anyway, as I was saying, I’ve done the impossible. I’ve quote ‘belled the cat’ unquote.”
“What does that mean?”
“I talked to Taekwoon today, the cute boy from the cat cafe.”
“Oh cool, when’s your date?”
“Um, there isn’t one? Yet.”
“You made me pause Legally Blonde just to tell us that you didn’t ask him out? It was just getting to the good part!” Wonshik whines, sloppily shoving a pizza slice into his mouth.
“I will, okay. Soon.”
“Are you going to go back?”
“Everyday if I must,” Jaehwan intones all too seriously.
“I thought I went to extreme measures to get laid but you’re literally paying to see him and risking a cat fur infestation in your wardrobe.”
“And it’s worth it. Also, Wonshik, you dressed up in speedo shorts to school to ask a girl out, okay? So, just? Okay? It’s 2014 and I’m a grown ass man, I can do what I want.” Worst friends. Mostly Wonshik.
“Hyung, you do know that Wonshik was on the swim team, right? He had a competition that day. And she had said yes.” Okay, also Hongbin.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
“Is this your favorite cat?” Jaehwan follows Taekwoon around as he makes his rounds, pointing to every cat they pass by.
“Maybe,” Taekwoon humors him.
“What’s its name?”
“Her name is Cupcake.” Taekwoon crouches down to pet Cupcake and Jaehwan follows suit, shamelessly lets his hand brush against Taekwoon’s in his attempt to stroke behind Cupcake’s ear.
“Cupcake is very cute.” The cat in question purrs softly, nuzzling her head into Jaehwan’s palm.
“You say that about all the cats, Jaehwan.”
“But they’re all so cute!”
He gets an eyeroll in response. “Well, yes, I guess they are.”
“But not as cute as me, right Taekwoon hyung?”
Taekwoon studies Jaehwan intently, the corners of his lips lifting up slightly, and he shakes his head. “You’re not cute at all,” he says.
“Liar. You’re just saying that so Cupcake doesn’t get jealous,” Jaehwan playfully punches Taekwoon’s arm but immediately retracts his hand back when the taller male glares at him. “Oopsie?” Taekwoon is scary (yeah, scary cute).
(=^・ｪ･^=)
It’s Saturday morning, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the street outside Jaehwan’s building is humming with life and Jaehwan should be fucking asleep. No self-respecting university student would be caught dead awake at 10 am on a Saturday morning. But Jaehwan is, bleary-eyed and lethargic, combing down his mussed hair until it looks at least somewhat presentable and rummaging through his closet for something decent and washed to wear.
Today is CineCat Theater Saturday, and if Jaehwan plays his cards right, his first date with Taekwoon. Except Taekwoon doesn’t know that yet.
It’s 10:15 am and Jaehwan wants to punch himself as he trudges down the staircase. Spending more and more time at the cat cafe has inevitably led to a change in Jaehwan’s study and homework habits. What he used to start in the afternoon and work on into the evening, he’s doing instead well into the early morning, until his hands are covered in ink stains and his eyes are strained red. Saturday has always been the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the perfect morning to sleep in, and get some much deserved rest.
However, it’s 10:18 am and Jaehwan is walking out of his apartment into the cold November air.
But then it’s 10:19 am and Jaehwan is standing on his stoop and he sees the person he wants to see most crossing the street.
“Taekwoon!” Jaehwan calls out, waving his arm wildly to gather the man’s attention. He gets an eyebrow raise in response.
“You’re here before me?” he asks once he’s close enough to Jaehwan that he doesn’t need to raise his voice.
“Oh, yeah. I actually live just up there,” Jaehwan explains, pointing to the window with the blue blinds.
“Huh, that’s convenient. I have to walk three blocks.”
“Oh, and in this cold.” Jaehwan frowns at Taekwoon. “You must be cold right now, let’s head in?” He walks in front of Taekwoon so he can hold open the door for him. “After you.”
“Thank you.”
Sanghyuk is unsurprisingly slacking off behind the counter, hunched forward and aggressively tapping his fingers at his phone screen.
Taekwoon knocks Sanghyuk’s head a couple times as he passes by as a form of greeting and Sanghyuk only just manages out a “Good morning to you too Taekwoon hyung” before Taekwoon’s walked through the doors.
“Hello Sanghyukie!”
“Hi Jaehwan hyung. Are you here for the movie?”
“Who the hell watches a movie at 10:30 in the morning? But... yes, actually.”
“Really this movie thing is more for bored housewives and their toddlers but the more the merrier. Hakyeon hyung will be very happy.”
“Stamp me kiddo.”
The stamp is purple this time. It matches Taekwoon’s shirt today.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
The room has been appropriately altered to accommodate today. A projection screen is pushed up against the back wall of the room and the blinds are all drawn to dim the light inside. A few blankets are thrown around the ground for patrons to sit on if they choose to and a slightly ancient-looking popcorn machine hogs the counter of the Coffee Cat.
Sanghyuk was right, it’s mostly children and their moms, setting camp in the booths and sofas and floor. Jaehwan picks up one of the blankets and lays it out towards the back of the room.
He spots Taekwoon after a few seconds, fidgeting with the projector to start it up. Jaehwan has no clue how he’s going to make this work. He actually didn’t plan this out at all.
A pair of jean-clad legs blocks Jaehwan’s view and he looks up to see that it is Hakyeon, holding a tray of popcorn bags. “Popcorn?”
“Yes, please.” Jaehwan takes the offered bag and sets it on the ground shakingly.
Hakyeon furrows his brow. “Hey, you okay?”
“Mhm,” No I’m stupid and I’m gonna die alone with my three cats and vintage collection of Marvel comics. “I’m fine.”
Jaehwan sneaks a wistful peek at Taekwoon again, unaware that Hakyeon is still watching him, and literally jumps when Hakyeon walks up to him and kicks over the bag of popcorn, letting the contents spill over the blanket and floor.
Okay, what the fuck was that?
Hakyeon spins on his heel with a smug look on his face and raises his voice a bit. “Taekwoon, hurry up and finish that. Sprinkles knocked over Jaehwan’s popcorn. Clean it up, will you? And then you can sit and enjoy the movie.”
Oh. Oh.
Hakyeon is a god. Jaehwan mouths a “thank you” to Hakeyon the next chance he gets.
Taekwoon comes by in the next two minutes with a brush and dustpan. Jaehwan does his best to gather the spilled popcorn with his hands to make it easier for him. “Thank you Taekwoon.”
“Sorry about Sprinkles, he does this more than we would like.” He straightens up, pausing to brush off his knees with one hand.
Just as Taekwoon is about to head back, Jaehwan tugs lightly on his pant leg. It earns him an inquisitive look, but Taekwoon doesn’t look very mad. “Hey Taekwoon? Could you maybe get me a new bag of popcorn?” Jaehwan asks, his voice laced with the slightest bit of nervousness.
“Uh, sure. Give me a second.”
Jaehwan takes a deep breath. This might actually work. Hopefully.
Taekwoon comes back a few seconds later with a fresh bag of popcorn and a few paper napkins. “Too buttery,” he gives as an explanation when Jaehwan eyes the napkins.
Jaehwan grabs Taekwoon by the forearm as he sets down the napkins. “Sit with me?” Taekwoon purses his lips like he’s about to think about it. “Come on! Hakyeon hyung said you could sit after cleaning up the popcorn anyway. Plus, I’ve never seen The Aristocats, you’re gonna have to explain to me what’s going on.” It came out a little whinier than Jaehwan would have wanted.
Taekwoon snorts, but sits down next to Jaehwan nonetheless. “You need help understanding a children’s movie?”
“Look mister it’s 10:30 in the morning, I’m only at about 23% functioning capacity, be nice to me.” Jaehwan pouts before unceremoniously shoveling some popcorn into his mouth.
“Then why come?” He’s looking at Jaehwan like he’s an idiot. But then again, Taekwoon always looks at him like that. But in a nice way. Like Jaehwan is an idiot, but an endearing idiot. Good enough.
“I told you! I’ve never seen The Aristocats! Isn’t that like a classic?”
Taekwoon shrugs. “I don’t know, I usually sleep during our movie days, truth be told.”
“Well, I don’t blame you. But, you can’t fall asleep today okay.” Taekwoon rolls his eyes playfully.
“We’ll see.”
“No ‘we’ll see!’ Pinky promise!” Jaehwan holds out his pinky expectantly. “Pinky promise you’ll not fall asleep during the movie?”
The older male exhales in cute annoyance. “Okay, okay.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Jaehwan feels groggy and something is poking his cheek relentlessly. He tries to slap it away but it just slaps him right back. “What the-” Jaehwan blinks his eyes open slowly, bringing up a balled up hand to rub at his eyes.
It’s too bright wherever he is and he can only squint into the light blinding him. Jaehwan feels like he just skipped over five years of his life; he’s so confused. “What is going on?” he whines, closing his eyes again. He seems to be sitting up but there’s something solid and warm to his left and he scooches closer, nuzzling his face into it. “Just five more minutes.”
“Jaehwan?” Poke.
“Quit it!”
“Jaehwan.” Poke, poke, poke.
“Ugh, what?” Jaehwan picks up two octaves with a horrible whine.
“Wake up.”
“Whyyyy.”
“The movie is over.” The warm and solid thing to his left moves suddenly, jostling Jaehwan. He ungracefully falls over onto his side.
This time Jaehwan forces himself to open his eyes completely. It’s still too fucking bright but he’s starting to recognize his surroundings. There’s the bright yellow walls, open windows, furry cats, and Taekwoon looking like he’s trying not to laugh.
“What happened?” Jaehwan asks, rubbing his side.
“You fell asleep five minutes into the movie.” Taekwoon says simply, huffing through his nose like he’s amused by all this. Jaehwan on the other hand is not amused by this at all. His face crumples up into one of defeat and horrible embarrassment. He can feel his ears burning red.
“Are you serious?” Jaehwan frowns deeply; it doesn’t suit his face at all.
“Yes, you drooled on my shirt the whole time.” Jaehwan perks up a little at this tidbit. At least there was that. But it’s too bad he couldn’t enjoy it, because he was, obviously, asleep.
“This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.” Jaehwan whispers, thinking aloud. His whisper still isn’t all that quiet though and Taekwoon studies him carefully.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Um…” Jaehwan is stuck. Should he tell the truth, should he lie, should he just ignore it? “I don’t know.” Close enough.
Taekwoon continues to study him, looking slightly confused (and very cute if Jaehwan might add). “Oh… okay?”
Jaehwan tries to smile reassuringly, but ends up looking awkward. Taekwoon doesn’t say much after that, just nods and takes it as his cue to finally stand up and get back to work behind the Coffee Cat counter.
Jaehwan sits on the ground glumly, basking in his own failure and incompetence. He couldn’t even stay awake for longer than five minutes for his almost-but-not-really date with Taekwoon. This was definitely not how he had planned it to go. There was no hushed words hidden behind palms, no giggling, no brushing Taekwoon’s hand with his own when they both reached for popcorn at the same time, no anything.
Sprinkles strolls up to Jaehwan a few minutes later, jumping into his lap before he even has a chance to act. He rubs his thumb behind her ear briefly and whispers, “I’m sorry you were used as a scapegoat and your name tarnished. Especially since I still don’t have a date with him.”
He laughs pitifully, carding his fingers through her soft white fur. She purrs in his lap, arching her back into his palm. The action brings a little smile onto Jaehwan’s face. At least Sprinkles likes him.
Jaehwan peers up as discreetly as he can, trying to catch a glimpse of Taekwoon behind the counter and Jaehwan is surprised to see that he’s looking right back at him. Taekwoon face colors the slightest bit pink when he realizes Jaehwan caught him looking and he turns quickly. Hakyeon is behind the counter too and he lets out a high pitched laugh, earning a glare and light slap to the arm from Taekwoon.
He sticks his tongue out at Taekwoon childishly. “Jaehwan, would you like a coffee to wake you up from your nap?” Hakyeon asks from across the room. Jaehwan doesn’t answer, just looks down at Sprinkles as if she could answer for him. In a way, this is the perfect opportunity for a do-over. Although, it’s also the perfect opportunity to fail once again.
But then Sprinkles leans up at just that moment and taps her nose against Jaehwan’s and he takes it as a sign. He urges Sprinkles out of his lap gently and stands up abruptly. “I’ll have the same thing as the first day.” He inches towards the counter with Sprinkles following at his feet. “Do you still remember what I ordered? It was a vanilla latte, with-”
“-two percent milk,” Taekwoon finishes.
“Yes, exactly.” Jaehwan takes a deep breath; this is it. “Do you remember when I actually ordered it for the first time and I slipped up and said something before two?” Taekwoon pauses and shakes his head. “I said you? It was dumb but I accidentally said I wanted a vanilla latte with you? Remember? Well… I meant it? Like, um. Would you like to? I don’t know, like go somewhere with me one day?”
Taekwoon’s face, which up until now had been calm and collected, is now tinged pink and he’s biting his lip. “Uhm.”
“Oh my god this is embarrassing I know. I know I talk a lot and you talk very little and that I like really sweet coffee while you don’t and you want to be a veterinarian and I want to be a singer but we both like cats and I like you? And I think you like me? But I know you like Sprinkles and the poor kitty’s name was tarnished in this whole ordeal so at least for Sprinkles will you maybe go out on a date with me?” Jaehwan is beyond flustered, and he’s breathing loudly now after rushing all that out in one breath.
“Um, yeah. Okay.”
Jaehwan blinks several times. “What?”
“I said okay, yes.”
“Oh, okay then. Good.” Jaehwan beams and tries to calm down the butterflies fluttering- no, kittens tumbling in his tummy.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
“Oh my god, is he going to try to kill the kittens?” Jaehwan latches onto Taekwoon’s side and digs his fingers into his arm. “Are you telling me this is a beloved children’s movie?”
“Just keep watching Jaehwan.” Taekwoon squirms his arm out of Jaehwan’s death grip and slings it around Jaehwan’s shoulder instead, pulling him in a little closer. It’s already a tight squeeze, since Jaehwan’s apartment only allows for a full size bed and Sprinkles has taken over half of the bed to herself (Jaehwan had begged Taekwoon to bring her along for this) while she naps, but it’s nice like this. Jaehwan snuggles his head into the crook of Taekwoon’s neck and watches the scene unfold on his laptop screen.
It takes them a few weeks to get around to re-doing their first unofficial date. Jaehwan waits outside on his stoop for Taekwoon to come out after his shift, brandishing a copy of The Aristocats with a cheeky grin. Taekwoon sulks at first, having seen this movie more times that he can count, but agrees when Jaehwan promises Chinese takeout.
“And anyway Taekwoon, I like you and you like me and we like cats so what more do you need?”
Notes: "To bell the cat" is an idiom meaning to do the impossible, for anyone who isn't clear on that. Thank you to my beta who helped me out so much, I couldn't have finished this without you! Special shout out to cupcake the cat! ♥
Today starts like any other day. Jaehwan wakes up with a jump as his alarm goes off thirty minutes too late, last night’s music composition homework sticking to his face and his sleeve wet with a bit of drool. He trips over his backpack on his way to take a five minute shower, gets soap in his eyes as he rinses off, brushes his teeth at lightning speed and sprays Febreze at just the right angle to assure his clothes don’t feel too wet or cold when he shrugs them on.
His studio apartment is small, but that’s pushing it. Wonshik jokes that it’s surprising that Jaehwan can even fit inside, nose and all. It’s not a big nose: it just has character (or so Jaehwan always tells him). He climbs over the bed to grab a bottle of juice from his mini fridge and a Pop-Tart from the cabinet.
Jaehwan’s building is thankfully only five minutes away from the bus stop but he gets there in four, running maniacally with the Pop-Tart shoved between his teeth and hands constantly pulling up his jeans because he keeps forgetting to buy a belt.
The bus should arrive in approximately five minutes, Jaehwan calculates, collapsing onto the bus bench. He can tell without looking at his watch because Wonshik and Hongbin are crossing the road right now. Lucky bastards. Wonshik and Hongbin are roommates, blessed with living directly above a little bakery and right across the street from the bus stop. The former looks beyond grumpy, only partially sated by a chocolate croissant he’s unceremoniously stuffing into his face. Hongbin waves to Jaehwan, however.
“Good morning,” he says quietly, sinking into the open space next to Jaehwan. Wonshik continues to stand, eyes closed and munching slowly.
“Hello hello hello. Nothing for me?” Hongbin shakes his head and points at the bottle of juice in Jaehwan’s hands. “Oh. So? Can’t you treat your elder to some coffee? Kindergartner.” Jaehwan pouts for good measure. Pouting has a ninety percent success rate, especially with Wonshik; he would try, but he’s a little concerned the boy is sleeping while standing. And eating. Typical.
Hongbin only yawns in response, closing his eyes. It’s nine am, it’s not even that early but Hongbin and Wonshik stay up till four in the morning doing god knows what. Usually either playing horrifically violent video games or watching old romantic comedies from the nineties (the classics, Wonshik always argues). Jaehwan sighs; they’re honestly the worst friends ever.
He lets them nap (eat?) for two minutes in peace, until he sees the bus rounding the corner and taps on on Hongbin’s thigh and tugs at Wonshik’s hand. “C’mon kiddos, wakey-wakey. The bus is here. Get up or I’m leaving you here.”
Jaehwan and Hongbin have to guide Wonshik into the bus so he doesn’t trip over his feet. The bus is poorly ventilated, crowded full of university students and a few out of place business men, and a mean bus driver who huffs when Jaehwan takes an extra five seconds to pull his bus pass out of his wallet. They finally push their way in settling somewhere in the middle of bus, Jaehwan cramped between Wonshik and the window.
“Hyung?” Hongbin starts, leaning over Wonshik so Jaehwan can hear him. “You do know that cat cafe below your place also has a coffee shop too though, right?”
“Why would you wait until now to tell me?”
“I don’t know, just thought of it.”
“Wah, you really don’t want to buy your hyung coffee, do you?” Jaehwan switches his voice to something high pitched and nasally. “Bad dongsaeng.”
Hongbin makes that face: the one where he can’t believe how dumb Jaehwan is. The usual. “No, I’ll buy you coffee, okay.” He lets out an exasperated sigh, but he’s not mad. “We should all go there one day after classes though. The cat cafe that is.”
“Okay.”
“Midterms are killing me. Cats are good for stress.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Midterm week should be renamed Hell week. Not only do they have to suffer through two hour examinations, they also still have to keep up with regular tortuous assignments like online theory homework and vocal lessons and chapters upon chapters of required reading. Jaehwan has taken to taping a list of definitions and terms to the outside of the shower door to study while he washes off, letting the hot water mull over his feelings of unpreparedness and incompetence.
Jaehwan is the type who can - and will - study for ten hours straight, fighting off sleep and fatigue with coffee cup after coffee cup and his own essay-fueled tears. He is currently squashed into a cozy armchair in the depths of the school library, sipping on an energy drink that’s 80% pure sugar, and clacking at his keyboard, desperately trying to memorize Schenkerian harmonic theories.
Hongbin is slumped over a nearby table, camera roll open and negatives lying out. Wonshik is actually awake this time, scribbling furiously in his notebook. They trade off; Wonshik sleeps in the morning and Hongbin sleeps in the evening and Jaehwan sleeps... well, almost never, really. Being a music student is harder than it seems, okay.
Jaehwan is in his second year of university, a music composition major, and rightfully stressed. His dream is to be a singer, and has been since he was a child. He doesn’t care much for the technical stuff, he’s not even that great at it for that matter. That’s Wonshik’s forte. But when it comes to his voice, he knows he has it.
It’s 1:43 am and now Wonshik is snoring lightly next to Hongbin but Jaehwan has abandoned his laptop to mark up a six-part score. His fingers are cramping up and his back hurts a little from being hunched over but it’s all kind of worth it.
Maybe he’ll take Hongbin’s suggestion seriously.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
This day is chillier than the last, and Jaehwan waits at the stoop of his building, wrapped up tightly in a jacket and wool scarf. Hongbin and Wonshik are walking quickly towards him, huddled close together with their hands in their pockets and heads bowed. “Why did we pick the coldest day of the year to go to the stupid cat cafe?” Wonshik mutters once they’ve reached the stoop. Jaehwan doesn’t grace him with a reply, just leads them a few steps to the left towards the entrance.
He’s lived over this cat cafe for a year now - he spent his first year of school living on campus - but he’s never actually been inside, which he thinks is kind of weird. It’s not that he hasn’t thought about it. It’s popular among the university students around exam time, when stressed and drained students are in need of a little much deserved pet therapy but somehow Jaehwan has never ended up there.
The entrance leads into a wide hallway, painted bright yellow, with shiny white lockers lining up the sides and a counter and a set of glass doors at the very end. The boy at the counter is lazily blowing some bubblegum and playing a game on his phone when the boys step up.
“Hello!” Jaehwan greets him cheerfully. The boy looks up, a little surprised (he’s wearing headphones too), and quickly puts down his phone, yanking out the headphones in the process.
“Good morning! I’m Sanghyuk, how can I help you today? Can I interest you in our Kitty Package, two hours with a free drink from the Coffee Cat?”
“Um, sure. The Kitty Package please.”
“Okay, that will be 21,000 won.” Sanghyuk shuffles around the desk while Jaehwan pulls out his wallet and comes back with a multicolored ink pad and a set of stamps. He takes the money from Jaehwan’s hand, pulling out the correct change. “Can you hold out your hand please?”
Sanghyuk pulls out one stamp, presses it into the red section on the ink pad and then onto the back of Jaehwan’s hand. “You can just show that at the Coffee Cat counter. Food is not included. And I’ll open up one of these lockers for you if you want to put away your coat and other things while you’re inside!”
“Okay, okay, thank you.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
This is easily one of the coolest places Jaehwan has ever stepped into: bright natural light, cozy couches and stuffy armchairs, a few booths lining up the sides, kitty houses and scratching posts, even little shelves fixed onto the wall for the cats to jump onto. And cats! Cats, cats, cats, everywhere.
“CATS!” Jaehwan finally shouts aloud. He looks pretty stupid right now, standing halfway into the threshold with a stupid grin and saying the most stupid and obvious thing one could say in a cat cafe. Wonshik and Hongbin have already left him to crouch near a tabby cat and coo at it as it licks its paws. They turn to look at him simultaneously, with matching faces of embarrassment, and turn back around to the cat at the exact same time.
Wonshik and Hongbin have some creepy connection that Jaehwan will never understand and will never want to understand. They were probably conjoined twins in a past life. Jaehwan rolls his eyes at them. Worst friends ever. There aren’t many other people here at this time; there a few university students scattered here and there. One of them is even sitting in a booth annotating a text book as a cat curls up in her lap.
To the very left of the room is The Coffee Cat. Jaehwan hadn’t taken much notice of it when he first entered but he can’t understand how he possibly missed it. For one, a sign in the shape of a cat’s head, reading “The Coffee Cat” in cute cursive, hangs above the hardwood counter, and a big display case shows off colorful macarons, cakes and breads. Behind the counter are a bunch of coffee making machines, jars of coffee beans and bottles of syrups, neatly stacked cups and mugs and most importantly, the cutest barista Jaehwan has ever seen.
He tries not to gawk too much and quickly turns to Wonshik and Ravi who are now making (not so subtle) meows at the cat in front of them. “Hey, I’ll get your guys’ drinks, what do you want?” He doesn’t wait for them to respond, striding off towards the counter with the best Sexy, Free and Single face he can muster.
He ends up tripping over a discarded ball of yarn on the ground (he doesn’t fall, thank god, but he almost steps on a cat in the process) and is breathing a bit too loudly once he reaches the counter. “Hi, Jaehwan I am- I, I’m Jaehwan?” Smooth.
The barista, Taekwoon his nametag says, nods faintly. “How can I help you?” Jaehwan can barely hear him, he talks so quietly. It’s kind of cute though. It doesn’t match his appearance.
“Um, hi, Taekwoon?” He points to the nametag and laughs a little to avoid looking like too much of a creep. He still only gets a nod. Well. “Um I’ll have a large vanilla latte with you- I mean, two. Two percent milk.”
Taekwoon nods again, “Is this with the Kitty Package or?”
“Uh yeah, it is.” Jaehwan raises his hand with the stamp on it to show it to Taekwoon, who only nods. Again. “So, do you-”
“Taekwoon, you can take the floor now!” Another boy walks behind the counter and nudges at Taekwoon. “Also Sprinkles knocked over a customer’s blueberry mousse cake at table three, take a replacement for them please!” Taekwoon, unsurprisingly, nods at him and turns away from Jaehwan to take something out of the display case. Damn, even his side profile is beautiful. A straight long nose, sharp jawline, soft-looking cheeks, soft-looking lips, soft-looking skin, soft, soft soft-
Jaehwan jumps a little when someone waves a hand in front of his face.
“What?” He’s a little surprised and looks up to see the new boy staring back at him questioningly.
“Your order, sir?” Jaehwan had been too busy staring at Taekwoon to notice.
“Oh, vanilla latte with two percent milk.”
“Coming right up!” This boy (Hakyeon, his nametag says) is the complete opposite of Taekwoon, very smiley and at least ten decibels louder, although that doesn’t seem like it would be a very hard feat considering how softly Taekwoon had spoken to him.
“Is he always that quiet?” Jaehwan asks, eyes following Taekwoon as he walks towards the table. Hakyeon perks up from near the latte machine.
“Who, Taekwoon? Always.” He pours the steamed milk into a mug and looks at Jaehwan keenly. “Why?”
“Um, no reason. Just, you know, wondering.”
Hakyeon places the mug in front of Jaehwan with a shit-eating grin. “Okay, if you say so.”
“What?” Jaehwan half pouts, half whines.
“Nothing, nothing. See you around, enjoy your visit.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Hongbin and Wonshik have migrated to a booth while he was away and Jaehwan slips in across from them, setting down his mug dramatically. “Men, we have An Issue. Mandatory bro talk session commences now.”
“Can’t you just say you have something important to tell us like a normal person?” Hongbin asks.
“Men, we are living in grave and serious times. Bro talk-”
“Please don’t call it bro talk.”
“Bro. Talk. Anyway,” Jaehwan scrunches up his face like he’s about to cry. “So I saw a really cute boy. Like, really cute. We are talking cuter than the cats cute.”
“Wait, you didn’t even get my green tea latte,” Wonshik interrupts.
“Wonshik please focus this is a Problem.”
“No it’s not, just do what you did with Daehyun and there you go.”
“Do you even remember how that went?”
“You prepped for five minutes, missed, he asked you to leave and you’re still a virgin?” The two cackle, high-fiving each other and somehow bang heads in the process and laugh some more. So fucking weird; Jaehwan needs to find new friends.
“Okay okay shut up kindergartners that was three years ago. Just, just? Okay? Just, look at him? The tall cute one. With the apron.” Jaehwan points vaguely behind him where Taekwoon is picking up discarded toys.
“He doesn’t look like your type,” Wonshik says after some careful deliberation. “He looks too smart and sophisticated for you. Also he has a flat ass.”
“Well I’m not an ass-man anyway okay Wonshik? Focus on things other than people’s butts you pervert.”
“Yeah, Wonshik, he’s not an ass-man, he’s a take-it-in-the-ass-man,” Hongbin chortles out and they do that stupid high-five-head-bang-laugh thing and Jaehwan really really needs new friends.
“You guys suck, I am your hyung, and you guys suck.”
“Do we? Or do you?” Wonshik counters, barely suppressing a laugh behind his palm.
“Yeah, yeah keep it coming. Let’s all poke fun at the gay guy.” Jaehwan rolls his eyes dramatically. “I’m leaving you two.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
In hindsight, just walking up to Taekwoon was the dumbest idea Jaehwan had had that day. Jaehwan aims for cool and suave, and instead, ends up being anything but. He trips, again (Taekwoon does a horrible job of picking up toys), and unfortunately this time, actually does fall. He catches his fall on his hands, but his left hand falls onto the tail of a sleeping cat. Fuck.
Jaehwan feels nothing but sheer embarrassment when everyone in the cafe, even gorgeous perfect Adonis did he mention perfect Taekwoon, turns to stare at him. Even some of the cats are staring at him.
But it seems just a little bit worth it when Taekwoon is the first person to step towards him, asking “Are you okay?” in the quietest, sweetest voice.
Jaehwan is just about to smile widely, with a “Yes, yes, I am now,” when Taekwoon steps past him and picks up the cat he nearly fell over. Oh.
“Is Waffles hurt?” Taekwoon coos softly, rubbing his finger on the bridge of the cat’s nose. This is definitely not the outcome Jaehwan had been hoping for.
“So the cat’s name is Waffles?” he asks, trying to ignore the little sting. Taekwoon looks down at him and raises an eyebrow. Jaehwan is still on the floor. Dammit. “Um, can you help me up?”
Taekwoon reaches out a hand, a big strong warm hand Jaehwan notes, and pulls Jaehwan up. Well, this is progress. “So as I was asking, is the cat’s name Waffles?”
Taekwoon nods with an almost imperceptible smile and strokes the cat behind its ear.
“Is Waffles your favorite cat?”
Taekwoon shrugs.
“What does that mean?”
“He’s very cute,” (Is Taekwoon speaking or an angel?), “but he’s also very noisy when he’s awake.”
“Ah, like me?” Taekwoon gives Jaehwan an unreadable look for a few seconds and shrugs again.
“Would you like to hold him?” he says instead.
“Sure? Yeah!” Progress, progress, progress!
A bit of a zing! shoots up Jaehwan’s arm when his fingers brush against Taekwoon’s again.
Waffles is an extremely adorable cat, with long golden fur, all fluffed up and soft to the touch. Jaehwan nuzzles his face against his briefly, “You’re right, he’s very cute- Oh.”
Jaehwan sighs pitifully. Taekwoon is walking towards the other end of the room. Away. “Well, Waffles, I guess it’s just you and me buddy.” No progress, no progress, no progress.
Waffles jumps out of Jaehwan’s arms.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
“I have to go back there,” Jaehwan announces first thing the next morning, squishing himself in between Hongbin and Wonshik on the bus stop bench. It had taken copious amounts of whining, Nilla Wafers, a mug of hot chocolate and hours of children’s cartoons before Jaehwan could come to terms with being outright ignored like that. And somewhere between watching the coyote being pulverized by his boulder trap and being mercilessly teased by the roadrunner afterwards, Jaehwan realized that he can’t give up. Did Wile E. Coyote ever give up? No. He never killed the roadrunner either but that’s not the point. Lee Jaehwan never gives up. (Except with Park Kyungri in grade eight, because (a) she is so unbelievably out of his league and (b) he realized he swings the other way after a rather embarrassing but eye-opening - and pant-tightening - moment in P.E. class, but that’s a whole other story).
“Good luck man,” Wonshik offers, patting Jaehwan on the shoulder.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Jaehwan comes by the cat cafe again after his classes are over for the day. Sanghyuk is lounging behind the counter with his feet up, engrossed in some magna or the other.
“Hello Sanghyuk!” Sanghyuk jumps in response.
“Oh, hello, err, guy from yesterday?”
“Jaehwan.”
“Hello Jaehwan, can I interest you in our Meow Monday special? One hour paid and a free cookie!”
“Do you have a special for everyday?”
“Meow Monday, Tabby Tuesday, Whiskers Wednesday, Tomcat Thursday, Feline Friday, Saturday is CineCat Theater- we play cat movies that day. This weekend we’ll be showing The Aristocats and Sunday we have the Kitty Package.”
“The weekend kinda ruined that whole same letter thing you had going on, huh?”
“Hakyeon hyung says the shared love and appreciation for cats should overpower our uncreative specials’ names. But he’s also the one who came up with them, so.”
“Oh I see, and yes I’ll do the Meow Monday special. Thank you Sanghyuk.” The stamp is blue this time.
It’s around two in the afternoon, and the inside of the cat cafe is more crowded than last time. It’s not hard to spot Taekwoon, though. Not when he’s sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, holding an adorable ginger kitten, speaking animatedly to a little kid. Is? Is he smiling? Fuck.
Jaehwan smoothes down his hair as best he can and clears his throat.
Taekwoon doesn’t even notice Jaehwan when sits down next to him and the kid. “-this kitten was born only two weeks ago.”
The girl holds up four fingers. “I was born four years ago!”
“Ah really? Cute~” Taekwoon’s face softens - so adorable - and he sets the kitten down in front of him. “Would you like to pet Trey? I named him after one of my favorite singers.”
“Trey Songz?!” Jaehwan interrupts. And finally, finally, Taekwoon notices him.
“Uh, yeah. How did you-?”
“-He’s one of my favorites too!”
Taekwoon sends a soft smile in Jaehwan’s direction. “He’s really good isn’t he?”
“Definitely, what other music do you like?”
“I like all music.” It’s not much to work with but at least he’s responding with full sentences rather than nods and shrugs. The little girl waddles back towards her mother while Jaehwan works out what he should say next, and quick, because so far Taekwoon has a habit of disappearing.
“Me too!” Smooth. Good one Jaehwan. “Um, I’m a music composition major at Jelpi. Second year.”
Taekwoon nods his slightly. “I go there too, veterinary science. Fourth year.”
“Ooh, is that why you work here? Do you like cats?” Smoother. Even better one Jaehwan. “Wait, that’s a dumb question. Of course you must like cats… What cats do you like? Do you like dogs too? Well I guess you would though, right? Because, duh, veterinary science. Unless you’re doing it for big animals? Do you like horses? Oh my god, I’m talking a lot, sorry, by the way my name is-”
“Jaehwan,” Taekwoon says simply and he’s laughing. Jaehwan is going to die; his name sounds so pleasant coming from Taekwoon’s mouth. “You told me yesterday. And yes, yes, I like all of them, yes, no, but yes.”
Progress!
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Okay, so Taekwoon got up three minutes later after their big breakthrough to clean up the strawberry smoothie Sprinkles had so graciously knocked over but at least now he knows Jaehwan’s name, his age, what he studies and that he’s a singer and if that’s not progress then Jaehwan doesn’t know what is. He considers issuing another round of bro talk later that night.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
It is Monday night and it’s not like Wonshik and Hongbin ever do anything productive, like studying, in their dorm, so Jaehwan doesn’t think they would mind if he visited. They gave him the extra key anyway.
Wonshik and Hongbin live on the fifth floor of their elevator-less apartment building, a fact which Jaehwan is painfully reminded of as he wheezes up the cramped stairwell. Jaehwan on the other hand is blessed with living on the second floor. Even if his entire flat is the size of a large closet, it’s barely much of a walk to get to.
Room 1206. He doesn’t bother knocking, just barges his way in. Wonshik is lounging on their dirty couch in his boxers with a bottle of beer and a box of pizza while Legally Blonde plays on their small television.
“Seriously Wonshik?”
“It’s 2014 and I am a grown ass man who can watch Legally Blonde if I want to.”
“I was gonna say your dick is peeking out of the slit of your boxers but okay.” Wonshik pulls a pillow over his lap.
“Shut up.”
“Where’s Hongbin?” Jaehwan calls out from the kitchen, reaching into their refrigerator for a beer.
“He should be getting out of the shower now.” And said person pokes out of the bathroom door at that moment, a towel rung around his neck and another wrapped around his waist.
“Ah, at least one of you guys cares about hygiene,” Jaehwan laughs, jumping onto the couch. “Hongbin hurry up and get dressed. Bro talk time!”
“Yeah just give me a minute hyung!” Hongbin calls out before disappearing into his room.
He’s back in three, but Jaehwan refuses to speak until he’s sure he has their undivided attention.
“Men, I’ve done the impossible,” he starts solemnly. “I’ve-”
“Why do you call use men but then call it bro talk, shouldn’t you call us bros?”
“This is no time for your kindergartner questions! Men. Anyway, as I was saying, I’ve done the impossible. I’ve quote ‘belled the cat’ unquote.”
“What does that mean?”
“I talked to Taekwoon today, the cute boy from the cat cafe.”
“Oh cool, when’s your date?”
“Um, there isn’t one? Yet.”
“You made me pause Legally Blonde just to tell us that you didn’t ask him out? It was just getting to the good part!” Wonshik whines, sloppily shoving a pizza slice into his mouth.
“I will, okay. Soon.”
“Are you going to go back?”
“Everyday if I must,” Jaehwan intones all too seriously.
“I thought I went to extreme measures to get laid but you’re literally paying to see him and risking a cat fur infestation in your wardrobe.”
“And it’s worth it. Also, Wonshik, you dressed up in speedo shorts to school to ask a girl out, okay? So, just? Okay? It’s 2014 and I’m a grown ass man, I can do what I want.” Worst friends. Mostly Wonshik.
“Hyung, you do know that Wonshik was on the swim team, right? He had a competition that day. And she had said yes.” Okay, also Hongbin.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
“Is this your favorite cat?” Jaehwan follows Taekwoon around as he makes his rounds, pointing to every cat they pass by.
“Maybe,” Taekwoon humors him.
“What’s its name?”
“Her name is Cupcake.” Taekwoon crouches down to pet Cupcake and Jaehwan follows suit, shamelessly lets his hand brush against Taekwoon’s in his attempt to stroke behind Cupcake’s ear.
“Cupcake is very cute.” The cat in question purrs softly, nuzzling her head into Jaehwan’s palm.
“You say that about all the cats, Jaehwan.”
“But they’re all so cute!”
He gets an eyeroll in response. “Well, yes, I guess they are.”
“But not as cute as me, right Taekwoon hyung?”
Taekwoon studies Jaehwan intently, the corners of his lips lifting up slightly, and he shakes his head. “You’re not cute at all,” he says.
“Liar. You’re just saying that so Cupcake doesn’t get jealous,” Jaehwan playfully punches Taekwoon’s arm but immediately retracts his hand back when the taller male glares at him. “Oopsie?” Taekwoon is scary (yeah, scary cute).
(=^・ｪ･^=)
It’s Saturday morning, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the street outside Jaehwan’s building is humming with life and Jaehwan should be fucking asleep. No self-respecting university student would be caught dead awake at 10 am on a Saturday morning. But Jaehwan is, bleary-eyed and lethargic, combing down his mussed hair until it looks at least somewhat presentable and rummaging through his closet for something decent and washed to wear.
Today is CineCat Theater Saturday, and if Jaehwan plays his cards right, his first date with Taekwoon. Except Taekwoon doesn’t know that yet.
It’s 10:15 am and Jaehwan wants to punch himself as he trudges down the staircase. Spending more and more time at the cat cafe has inevitably led to a change in Jaehwan’s study and homework habits. What he used to start in the afternoon and work on into the evening, he’s doing instead well into the early morning, until his hands are covered in ink stains and his eyes are strained red. Saturday has always been the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the perfect morning to sleep in, and get some much deserved rest.
However, it’s 10:18 am and Jaehwan is walking out of his apartment into the cold November air.
But then it’s 10:19 am and Jaehwan is standing on his stoop and he sees the person he wants to see most crossing the street.
“Taekwoon!” Jaehwan calls out, waving his arm wildly to gather the man’s attention. He gets an eyebrow raise in response.
“You’re here before me?” he asks once he’s close enough to Jaehwan that he doesn’t need to raise his voice.
“Oh, yeah. I actually live just up there,” Jaehwan explains, pointing to the window with the blue blinds.
“Huh, that’s convenient. I have to walk three blocks.”
“Oh, and in this cold.” Jaehwan frowns at Taekwoon. “You must be cold right now, let’s head in?” He walks in front of Taekwoon so he can hold open the door for him. “After you.”
“Thank you.”
Sanghyuk is unsurprisingly slacking off behind the counter, hunched forward and aggressively tapping his fingers at his phone screen.
Taekwoon knocks Sanghyuk’s head a couple times as he passes by as a form of greeting and Sanghyuk only just manages out a “Good morning to you too Taekwoon hyung” before Taekwoon’s walked through the doors.
“Hello Sanghyukie!”
“Hi Jaehwan hyung. Are you here for the movie?”
“Who the hell watches a movie at 10:30 in the morning? But... yes, actually.”
“Really this movie thing is more for bored housewives and their toddlers but the more the merrier. Hakyeon hyung will be very happy.”
“Stamp me kiddo.”
The stamp is purple this time. It matches Taekwoon’s shirt today.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
The room has been appropriately altered to accommodate today. A projection screen is pushed up against the back wall of the room and the blinds are all drawn to dim the light inside. A few blankets are thrown around the ground for patrons to sit on if they choose to and a slightly ancient-looking popcorn machine hogs the counter of the Coffee Cat.
Sanghyuk was right, it’s mostly children and their moms, setting camp in the booths and sofas and floor. Jaehwan picks up one of the blankets and lays it out towards the back of the room.
He spots Taekwoon after a few seconds, fidgeting with the projector to start it up. Jaehwan has no clue how he’s going to make this work. He actually didn’t plan this out at all.
A pair of jean-clad legs blocks Jaehwan’s view and he looks up to see that it is Hakyeon, holding a tray of popcorn bags. “Popcorn?”
“Yes, please.” Jaehwan takes the offered bag and sets it on the ground shakingly.
Hakyeon furrows his brow. “Hey, you okay?”
“Mhm,” No I’m stupid and I’m gonna die alone with my three cats and vintage collection of Marvel comics. “I’m fine.”
Jaehwan sneaks a wistful peek at Taekwoon again, unaware that Hakyeon is still watching him, and literally jumps when Hakyeon walks up to him and kicks over the bag of popcorn, letting the contents spill over the blanket and floor.
Okay, what the fuck was that?
Hakyeon spins on his heel with a smug look on his face and raises his voice a bit. “Taekwoon, hurry up and finish that. Sprinkles knocked over Jaehwan’s popcorn. Clean it up, will you? And then you can sit and enjoy the movie.”
Oh. Oh.
Hakyeon is a god. Jaehwan mouths a “thank you” to Hakeyon the next chance he gets.
Taekwoon comes by in the next two minutes with a brush and dustpan. Jaehwan does his best to gather the spilled popcorn with his hands to make it easier for him. “Thank you Taekwoon.”
“Sorry about Sprinkles, he does this more than we would like.” He straightens up, pausing to brush off his knees with one hand.
Just as Taekwoon is about to head back, Jaehwan tugs lightly on his pant leg. It earns him an inquisitive look, but Taekwoon doesn’t look very mad. “Hey Taekwoon? Could you maybe get me a new bag of popcorn?” Jaehwan asks, his voice laced with the slightest bit of nervousness.
“Uh, sure. Give me a second.”
Jaehwan takes a deep breath. This might actually work. Hopefully.
Taekwoon comes back a few seconds later with a fresh bag of popcorn and a few paper napkins. “Too buttery,” he gives as an explanation when Jaehwan eyes the napkins.
Jaehwan grabs Taekwoon by the forearm as he sets down the napkins. “Sit with me?” Taekwoon purses his lips like he’s about to think about it. “Come on! Hakyeon hyung said you could sit after cleaning up the popcorn anyway. Plus, I’ve never seen The Aristocats, you’re gonna have to explain to me what’s going on.” It came out a little whinier than Jaehwan would have wanted.
Taekwoon snorts, but sits down next to Jaehwan nonetheless. “You need help understanding a children’s movie?”
“Look mister it’s 10:30 in the morning, I’m only at about 23% functioning capacity, be nice to me.” Jaehwan pouts before unceremoniously shoveling some popcorn into his mouth.
“Then why come?” He’s looking at Jaehwan like he’s an idiot. But then again, Taekwoon always looks at him like that. But in a nice way. Like Jaehwan is an idiot, but an endearing idiot. Good enough.
“I told you! I’ve never seen The Aristocats! Isn’t that like a classic?”
Taekwoon shrugs. “I don’t know, I usually sleep during our movie days, truth be told.”
“Well, I don’t blame you. But, you can’t fall asleep today okay.” Taekwoon rolls his eyes playfully.
“We’ll see.”
“No ‘we’ll see!’ Pinky promise!” Jaehwan holds out his pinky expectantly. “Pinky promise you’ll not fall asleep during the movie?”
The older male exhales in cute annoyance. “Okay, okay.”
(=^・ｪ･^=)
Jaehwan feels groggy and something is poking his cheek relentlessly. He tries to slap it away but it just slaps him right back. “What the-” Jaehwan blinks his eyes open slowly, bringing up a balled up hand to rub at his eyes.
It’s too bright wherever he is and he can only squint into the light blinding him. Jaehwan feels like he just skipped over five years of his life; he’s so confused. “What is going on?” he whines, closing his eyes again. He seems to be sitting up but there’s something solid and warm to his left and he scooches closer, nuzzling his face into it. “Just five more minutes.”
“Jaehwan?” Poke.
“Quit it!”
“Jaehwan.” Poke, poke, poke.
“Ugh, what?” Jaehwan picks up two octaves with a horrible whine.
“Wake up.”
“Whyyyy.”
“The movie is over.” The warm and solid thing to his left moves suddenly, jostling Jaehwan. He ungracefully falls over onto his side.
This time Jaehwan forces himself to open his eyes completely. It’s still too fucking bright but he’s starting to recognize his surroundings. There’s the bright yellow walls, open windows, furry cats, and Taekwoon looking like he’s trying not to laugh.
“What happened?” Jaehwan asks, rubbing his side.
“You fell asleep five minutes into the movie.” Taekwoon says simply, huffing through his nose like he’s amused by all this. Jaehwan on the other hand is not amused by this at all. His face crumples up into one of defeat and horrible embarrassment. He can feel his ears burning red.
“Are you serious?” Jaehwan frowns deeply; it doesn’t suit his face at all.
“Yes, you drooled on my shirt the whole time.” Jaehwan perks up a little at this tidbit. At least there was that. But it’s too bad he couldn’t enjoy it, because he was, obviously, asleep.
“This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.” Jaehwan whispers, thinking aloud. His whisper still isn’t all that quiet though and Taekwoon studies him carefully.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Um…” Jaehwan is stuck. Should he tell the truth, should he lie, should he just ignore it? “I don’t know.” Close enough.
Taekwoon continues to study him, looking slightly confused (and very cute if Jaehwan might add). “Oh… okay?”
Jaehwan tries to smile reassuringly, but ends up looking awkward. Taekwoon doesn’t say much after that, just nods and takes it as his cue to finally stand up and get back to work behind the Coffee Cat counter.
Jaehwan sits on the ground glumly, basking in his own failure and incompetence. He couldn’t even stay awake for longer than five minutes for his almost-but-not-really date with Taekwoon. This was definitely not how he had planned it to go. There was no hushed words hidden behind palms, no giggling, no brushing Taekwoon’s hand with his own when they both reached for popcorn at the same time, no anything.
Sprinkles strolls up to Jaehwan a few minutes later, jumping into his lap before he even has a chance to act. He rubs his thumb behind her ear briefly and whispers, “I’m sorry you were used as a scapegoat and your name tarnished. Especially since I still don’t have a date with him.”
He laughs pitifully, carding his fingers through her soft white fur. She purrs in his lap, arching her back into his palm. The action brings a little smile onto Jaehwan’s face. At least Sprinkles likes him.
Jaehwan peers up as discreetly as he can, trying to catch a glimpse of Taekwoon behind the counter and Jaehwan is surprised to see that he’s looking right back at him. Taekwoon face colors the slightest bit pink when he realizes Jaehwan caught him looking and he turns quickly. Hakyeon is behind the counter too and he lets out a high pitched laugh, earning a glare and light slap to the arm from Taekwoon.
He sticks his tongue out at Taekwoon childishly. “Jaehwan, would you like a coffee to wake you up from your nap?” Hakyeon asks from across the room. Jaehwan doesn’t answer, just looks down at Sprinkles as if she could answer for him. In a way, this is the perfect opportunity for a do-over. Although, it’s also the perfect opportunity to fail once again.
But then Sprinkles leans up at just that moment and taps her nose against Jaehwan’s and he takes it as a sign. He urges Sprinkles out of his lap gently and stands up abruptly. “I’ll have the same thing as the first day.” He inches towards the counter with Sprinkles following at his feet. “Do you still remember what I ordered? It was a vanilla latte, with-”
“-two percent milk,” Taekwoon finishes.
“Yes, exactly.” Jaehwan takes a deep breath; this is it. “Do you remember when I actually ordered it for the first time and I slipped up and said something before two?” Taekwoon pauses and shakes his head. “I said you? It was dumb but I accidentally said I wanted a vanilla latte with you? Remember? Well… I meant it? Like, um. Would you like to? I don’t know, like go somewhere with me one day?”
Taekwoon’s face, which up until now had been calm and collected, is now tinged pink and he’s biting his lip. “Uhm.”
“Oh my god this is embarrassing I know. I know I talk a lot and you talk very little and that I like really sweet coffee while you don’t and you want to be a veterinarian and I want to be a singer but we both like cats and I like you? And I think you like me? But I know you like Sprinkles and the poor kitty’s name was tarnished in this whole ordeal so at least for Sprinkles will you maybe go out on a date with me?” Jaehwan is beyond flustered, and he’s breathing loudly now after rushing all that out in one breath.
“Um, yeah. Okay.”
Jaehwan blinks several times. “What?”
“I said okay, yes.”
“Oh, okay then. Good.” Jaehwan beams and tries to calm down the butterflies fluttering- no, kittens tumbling in his tummy.
(=^・ｪ･^=)
“Oh my god, is he going to try to kill the kittens?” Jaehwan latches onto Taekwoon’s side and digs his fingers into his arm. “Are you telling me this is a beloved children’s movie?”
“Just keep watching Jaehwan.” Taekwoon squirms his arm out of Jaehwan’s death grip and slings it around Jaehwan’s shoulder instead, pulling him in a little closer. It’s already a tight squeeze, since Jaehwan’s apartment only allows for a full size bed and Sprinkles has taken over half of the bed to herself (Jaehwan had begged Taekwoon to bring her along for this) while she naps, but it’s nice like this. Jaehwan snuggles his head into the crook of Taekwoon’s neck and watches the scene unfold on his laptop screen.
It takes them a few weeks to get around to re-doing their first unofficial date. Jaehwan waits outside on his stoop for Taekwoon to come out after his shift, brandishing a copy of The Aristocats with a cheeky grin. Taekwoon sulks at first, having seen this movie more times that he can count, but agrees when Jaehwan promises Chinese takeout.
“And anyway Taekwoon, I like you and you like me and we like cats so what more do you need?”
Notes: "To bell the cat" is an idiom meaning to do the impossible, for anyone who isn't clear on that. Thank you to my beta who helped me out so much, I couldn't have finished this without you! Special shout out to cupcake the cat! ♥