SSS 2012: For skylarwhitley
For: skylarwhitley
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Order Up (Or The Most Awkward Coffee Shop Ever)
Pairing: Jonghyun/Onew
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Language.
It is quite possibly the worst day of Jonghyun’s young life.
“That’s a bit dramatic. You’re-what, twelve?”
“Eighteen. Fuck you.”
“I’m going to have to say pass to that offer.”
“Shut up.” Jonghyun ducks further into his down jacket, glaring out from above his scarf.
“What happened anyway?”
“I bombed, like, nine tests today-”
“Are you even taking nine classes?”
He glares at the younger girl.
“Continue.”
“-and I’m failing pretty much everything and my mom said she’s going to kick my ass if I get anything less than a B this semester and it’s so fucking cold out all I want to do is crawl into a hole and die. Do you think it’s too late to be a bear so I can just hibernate until everything stops sucking?”
“Yes,” Gwiboon drawls.
“Ugh.” Jonghyun burrows his face further into the wool wrapped around the lower half of his face. “And why the fuck are we even walking around when it’s colder than the fucking Arctic?”
“Because you asked me to take you shopping. As in this was your idea.”
Jonghyun shoves his hands deeper into his pockets. “That doesn’t change the fact that I am freezing my balls off.”
“Same.”
“You don’t even-”
“I’m agreeing with the sentiment of that statement, jackass.” Gwiboon perks up at the sight of a familiar green sign. “If we go get Starbucks, will you stop being a little bitch?”
Jonghyun chews his lip. “Maybe.” He grins at the younger girl. “If you pay, I might even be pleasant.”
She pinches his cheek, nails digging harshly into the tender flesh. “Only because you asked so nicely.”
“Ow.”
“That’s what you get for whining.”
The warm air of the café has the pair shedding layers like snakes, jackets and scarves and gloves coming off as they defrost.
“What do you want?” Gwiboon asks, shoving the piles of garments into Jonghyun’s arms.
“Hot chocolate. With extra whipped cream.”
“Okay. See if you can snag the armchairs in the corner.”
Said armchairs are unfortunately occupied by a couple that doesn’t seem intent on leaving any time soon (and honestly, Jonghyun can hardly blame them), but he does manage to grab the well-worn leather booth that offers a nice vantage point of the other patrons and the baristas scurrying around behind the counter. It’s not terribly busy, but the machines are definitely working hard. He drums his fingertips on the tabletop, never one for patience, when he sees him. Him. The most perfect specimen of man Jonghyun has ever laid eyes on in all of his eighteen years.
He flashes Gwiboon a bright smile as he hands her the small amount of change and turns around to start making their orders.
“Gwiboon,” Jonghyun hisses, waving her over. “Gwiboon!”
“How about you come here, you ungrateful shit? You ask me to come shopping with you and then you bitch and moan the entire time and quite frankly-”
Jonghyun practically runs over to the older girl and claps his hand over her mouth, cutting the tirade short. He hopes the barista didn’t hear it, or if he did, that he doesn’t mind high-maintenance. Assuming that the barista even likes boys. God, I hope he does. Let something go right today. “Thanks, you’re the best, I love you-” He flicks his eyes to the back of the honey-blond head and hurriedly adds- “as a wonderful friend and role model-”
“A role-?” Gwiboon narrows her eyes.
“-and to show my gratitude, I’ll get the drinks.” He holds his breath, hoping the blonde will just go quietly, but it’s not the worst week of his young life without a reason. He watches with growing trepidation as Gwiboon looks back and forth between the boy in front of her and the man happily humming behind the counter, oblivious.
“This wouldn’t be about-”
“Oh man, is that girl touching your stuff?”
“Excuse me?” Gwiboon stalks off in the direction of their table, already preparing death threats for the (nonexistent) jacket-snatcher.
When the barista turns around again, Jonghyun’s eyes drop to the man’s name tag-Jinki-for a brief second before he’s blinded by the bright smile he’d spotted earlier. “Here for your girlfriend’s drinks?”
“Oh no, we’re not together. I mean, we’re together, but not, like, together.” Why don’t you just tell him your life story while you’re at it?
“Okay.” The smile flickers out of existent for a moment. “So, um, does that mean the tall chai and hot chocolate are yours or…?”
“Uh, y-yes. Yes. Thank you.” He reaches out to grab the two warm cups and accidentally brushes fingers with the barista-Jinki. A tingling sensation works its way from the tips of his hands all the way down his spine, warming him more effectively than any drink.
Or that could be the hot chocolate dripping down the counter and plopping sadly onto his brand new boots.
“Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry!” Jinki turns dark red and begins ripping napkins out of the dispenser on the counter, leaning across in an attempt to stem the tide of dark brown liquid pouring to the floor.
A door swings open behind the counter and another man walks out, long dark hair brushing his shoulders. “Hey, hyung, I-Not again.” He groans in exasperation
Jonghyun instantly wants to leap to Jinki’s defense. It’s a common mistake, everyone drops things, speak to your elders with more respect, but he bites his tongue. He doesn’t need to make a scene, or rather make the scene even bigger. The tall man takes over clean-up, gently pushing Jinki out of the way with his hip, and bowing deeply to Jonghyun, apologizing for the mess. “We’ll take care of this right away, sir.” He turns to Jinki. “How many times… Just put them on the counter and let the customer get it, okay?”
“Sorry.” The barista looks up at Jonghyun (who feels like he’s just been hit by lightning, gazing into such soulful brown eyes) and smiles sheepishly. “Sorry.”
“N-no, uh, it’s-it’s fine! Totally fine. Haha.”
The second barista gives him a weird look. “Just wait right here, sir. I’ll go whip you up a new drink. Hot chocolate, correct?”
“Uh, yeah.” Jonghyun stands awkwardly to the side, occasionally glancing at Jinki from under his bangs, watching the way the man’s hands give change and handle coffee cups (and drop things with alarming frequency), the way his muscles flex underneath his long-sleeved shirt, and how his easy smile seems to light up the vicinity and impart a special glow to everyone it lands on.
“So were you just going to stand here like a creeper or were you planning on giving me my tea sometime today?”
Jonghyun nearly jumps out of his skin at the sound of Gwiboon’s voice in his ear. “Jesus!”
“No, just me.” She snatches the cup from him before it follows the fate of his first hot chocolate, intimately acquainted with the floor. “So what’s Smiley’s name?”
“Jinki,” he breathes.
“He’s not much to look at.” She nods appreciatively at the man with the shoulder-length brown hair adding extra whipped cream to Jonghyun’s drink. “Now that-”
“I didn’t ask you.”
“Someone’s touchy.”
“Here’s your hot chocolate.” Jonghyun thanks the second barista-Minho, his nametag says-and drags Gwiboon back to their corner to drool somewhere a little more private.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but this little trip is looking up already. Am I a genius or what?” the younger girl winks over the top of her cup.
Jonghyun doesn’t respond, his fingertips still warm from the memory of brushing Jinki’s hand. It is quite possibly the best day of his young life.
“Just so you know, you’re paying this time.”
“You’re no fun.”
“And it’s still cold as balls.”
“You’re so lady-like.”
“It’s my best feature.”
They open the door to the Starbucks and the rush of warm air and the smell of coffee washes over the pair of them. Jonghyun looks expectantly behind the counter, but the honey-blond head is nowhere to be seen. The freakishly tall barista from last time is back though, leaning over behind the counter and pulling the holiday-themed cups out of a cabinet, much to Gwiboon’s delight.
“Just look at that ass.”
“Do you mind?” Jonghyun hisses.
“What? Sorry your lover boy’s not here, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the view. And what. A. View.”
Jonghyun snorts in disgust. “What do you want?”
“I’ll order this time.”
“You’re terrible.” Jonghyun turns to sit down, but a feminine hand on his wrist stops him.
“You’re still paying.”
“Why are we even friends?”
“That’s a great question. How do I put up with you?”
Jonghyun fishes a couple thousand won out of his pocket and slaps it into Gwiboon’s hand. “I want all my change back. This isn’t a strip club. He doesn’t need a tip.”
“Can you imagine him in a strip club though?” Gwiboon sighs dreamily. “God, that would be heaven.”
“Oh my god, go buy our drinks.” Jonghyun pushes her towards the counter and claims their seat from last time. He fiddles with his fingernails as he waits, still bummed about the missing barista. Jinki. He wonders if Gwiboon would be able to coax the man’s schedule from that giraffe behind the counter.
His schedule? Whoa, slow down there, pal. Next you’re going to be planning a wedding. It’s the holidays; sweet silver bells, not wedding bells.
“He only works on Fridays.”
“What?” Jonghyun jumps, snapped out of his reverie but Gwiboon’s sharp voice and a pile of coins dumped on the table with a loud clattering noise.
“I asked Minho.”
“You’re on a first-name basis already?”
“I have my ways.”
“Poor guy,” Jonghyun mutters as he takes a sip of the proffered hot chocolate.
“It’s going to be kind of expensive to come to Starbucks every week,” Gwiboon throws out off-handedly. “Plus, if you have a job you can fool him into thinking you’re responsible and therefore attractive.”
“Please. Have you met me?”
“Unfortunately yes. You were much better looking before you opened your mouth.”
Jonghyun makes a face at her.
They come back a week later and to Jonghyun’s delight, Jinki is bustling about behind the counter. It’s Gwiboon’s turn to be disappointed. “Hey, where’s the tall guy with the choice ass?” she asks as Jinki takes their orders.
The barista stares at her, a dark red blush making its way up his cheeks. If Jonghyun wasn’t equally mortified, he’d thank Gwiboon because the sight is too cute for words.
“I-I’m sorry, ma’am…? I’m n-not quite sure-”
“Your friend with the hair. Minho.”
Jinki stares at Jonghyun like the boy is a lifeguard and he’s drowning in the deep end of the pool. “We’ll have a tall hot chocolate and a grande chai. Hot. Please?”
Jinki looks grateful for the reprieve from Gwiboon’s shameless questioning. “C-coming right up.”
Gwiboon huffs. “I was only asking a question.” Jonghyun stares at her. “Whatever. This is lame. I’m going to go get us a seat.” She flounces off.
Jonghyun watches Jinki, the back of the other man’s neck still rather red, as he makes their drinks, wracking his brain for something to say. The only thing that comes out is “Sorry. About…that.”
Jinki shakes his head, a smile on his lips. “Minho-yah will be happy to hear it.”
Jonghyun files that information away for later, something to use as to get Gwiboon to do what he wants, always a difficult task. “Oh really?”
“Well, and maybe a little embarrassed. I don’t think I’ve quite heard the phrase ‘choice-’ Darn it!” Jonghyun has déjà vu as he watches his drink crash to the floor once again.
“Do you have something against hot chocolate?” he asks with a laugh.
“Sorry, I’m not usually-I’ll get you another one.” Jinki turns back to the machines.
“Jjong,” Gwiboon appears, whining in his ear and tugging on his arm. He sighs and hands her the tea.
“Here.”
“Can we go?”
“I haven’t gotten my hot chocolate yet. Besides, it’s cold out.”
“I don’t want to watch you flirt with your boyfriend if I can’t sightsee.”
Jonghyun splutters, eyes flicking to the back of the barista’s head, but it seems the man can’t hear them over the whir of the machines. “I am not-”
“Yeah, whatever.” She takes a sip of her drink and heads back to their table.
“Hot chocolate, take two,” Jinki says as he sets the cup on the counter.
“Thanks.” Jonghyun lingers for a moment, trying to think of something clever to say, but nothing comes to mind and the people behind him in line are grumbling with impatience. “Uh, have-have a good day.”
Jinki beams at him and he feels himself melt into a puddle of goo all over the floor. Clean up on aisle one. “You too. Come back soon.”
Jonghyun lets himself pretend that Jinki really means that, that the barista doesn’t say something like that to just anyone.
“We’re pathetic.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve just discovered a new burning passion for chai tea.”
“That only shows up every Friday?”
“It’s a time-specific craving. I’m a girl. Shut up.”
“I didn’t-”
“Shut up.”
Jinki grins at Jonghyun as the two walk in. “Tall hot chocolate and grande hot chai?”
He knows my-our-order. Jonghyun wants to turn into a puddle of goo again and/or kiss the barista. Thankfully, he does neither. “Yeah, thanks.”
Minho looks up, turning slightly red as his eyes meet Gwiboon’s. The girl winks at him and tells Jonghyun to go pay.
“What?”
“I can’t seem too interested.”
“What? How does that make any sense?”
The girl rolls her eyes. “You’ll understand when you’re older.”
“I am older. Older than you, at least.”
“Boys mature slower. It’s like the opposite of dog years. Go pay.”
Even though Minho is working the cash register, Jonghyun’s eyes stay fixed on Jinki, picking up on the way he hums when he works, the way the apron accentuates his slim waist and good lord those thighs.
“Here’s your change.
“Sir?”
“What? Oh. Uh, thanks.” He makes no move to pick the money up from the tray.
“Sir?”
“Sorry.” He moves to the side to wait for their drinks. Minho takes the chai and writes an extra note on the cup, muttering to Jinki something that embarrasses the older man and almost causes him to drop Jonghyun’s hot chocolate again. He kind of wishes the barista would so he could stay there a little longer and, to use Gwiboon’s words, “enjoy the view.”
Jinki flashes him that bright smile again as he sets the cups down on the counter. “Have a good day. See you soon.”
“Y-you too.”
Jonghyun takes the drinks back to his table in a daze, barely registering Gwiboon’s excited squeal that quickly turns into a cough and a flip of her dark brown hair over her shoulder. She says something that he doesn’t quite catch, punches him harshly in the arm, and repeats it.
“What?” he snaps, rubbing his sore shoulder.
“I said Minho gave me his phone number.”
“What?”
“Look.” She shows him the side of her cup, an extra string of numbers underneath the initials. She grins. “I win.”
“Win what? What’s the competition?”
“I got Minho’s phone number. You got jack shit. Step up your game. You’re supposed to be attractive or something.”
Jonghyun slumps forward in the chair. “But his smile. And-and-”
“Oh god, spare me.”
It’s D-Day. He’s doing this. He’s making it happen.
“You’re acting like you’re going to war.”
“Listen. This is a big deal.”
“Only for dorks like you.”
“Thank you for your continued love and support. It’s appreciated as always.”
“It’s what I’m here for.”
Jonghyun squares his shoulders as they open the door, but his resolve melts under the sunshine of Jinki’s smile directed at him. It should be illegal to be that adorable. He stumbles in the doorway.
“Whoa there, smooth criminal.”
“Shut up.”
Minho looks up from where he’s wiping a table off in the corner and offers them a bro nod that quickly dissolves into a blush when Gwiboon winks at him. He turns away and scrubs harder.
“You’re going to scare him off.”
“I didn’t do anything. Yet. You’ll get the drinks today?”
“Give me the money for yours, harlot.”
“And what does that make you?”
“A pimp. Pay up.”
“I resent the sexism implicit in that statement.”
“Tick-tock.”
She slaps a couple bills on the table and slides them over. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”
Jonghyun shudders at the predatory gleam in her eye and, despite his non-belief, offers up a quiet prayer for Minho. He’s seen Gwiboon in action before-it’s actually how they met-and it can be quite overwhelming.
“Hi,” Jonghyun says as he approaches the counter and then wishes he could invisibly slap himself on the forehead. “Hi?” Really? That’s it? That’s all he has to say to the guy he’s been wasting his Christmas shopping money to come see?
“Hi.” The sincere, shining grin on the barista’s face interrupts his internal soliloquy. “Your order’s ready,” he adds, placing two cups on the counter.
“A-already?” He tries to control his expression, but that’s never been his strong point. He was hoping they’d have time to talk while Jinki mixes their drinks.
“Um, yes…?”
“Oh. Okay. Thanks. Can I also get a scone, though? I’m feeling kind of peckish.” Peckish. On the list of words that should not ever come out of anyone’s mouth, “peckish” is somewhere near the top. Maybe at spot number one. And he just said it. “I mean hungry. I’m kind of hungry.” There is apparently no pity in the world for a non-believer because he has yet to be smote where he stands for being a moron.
“Sure. Anything else?” Jinki is still looking at him with that same big smile and Jonghyun feels the last bit of hope inside of him sputter out and die a sad, lonely death.
“Uh, no.” Because there is nothing else to say because he’s just a customer and Jinki is a barista who probably talks to a million and a half people a day and fuck, how did Gwiboon already get so far? He drops his money in the tray and pushes it towards the other man. “Thanks.”
“See you again soon.”
“Yeah.” He walks back to their table in the corner and holds his head in his hands. Footsteps approach a few moments later.
“You look like you just went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson.”
“Who?”
“Never mind. What happened?”
“He’s perfect and I suck.”
“I doubt he’s perfect. I mean he’s not me. And he chronically drops your shit.”
“You know what I mean.”
“So you’re sitting here whining because…why, exactly?”
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
“You didn’t even try.”
“Yes I did.”
“By giving him goo-goo eyes?”
“That phrase is infinitely creepier when you say it.”
“Chin up, loser. Where’s that charm you were bragging about?”
“I have a weakness. It’s his smile.”
“Well, right now it’s Gwiboon: 2, Jonghyun: 0.”
“Why don’t you ever call me oppa?”
Gwiboon punches him in the arm, momentarily stunning his nerves and cutting off the feeling in his hand. “Are you done being stupid yet?”
“Why do you have two points?”
She grins. “Because now I have a date.” She hits the table. “Step it up.”
It’s D-Day. He’s doing this. He’s making it happen.
“That’s what you said last time and you chickened out.”
“I’m really doing it this time.”
“If you don’t, I have permission to call you demeaning names until you do.”
“That wasn’t part of the agreement!”
“Are you being a pansy again?”
“You are…not a nice person.”
“It’s why you love me.”
Jinki’s head snaps up with the tinkle of the door’s bells and the broad smile that stretches across his face makes Jonghyun’s heart skip a beat. Or three. That can’t be healthy.
“Hot chocolate and chai?” is what he greets them with.
Jonghyun nods and pulls out his wallet, dropping the money in the tray. “Yeah.”
Jinki hums and gets to work making the drinks while Jonghyun wracks his brain for ways to start a conversation.
“Where’s…um, where’s your friend?”
“Minho-yah? He’s in the back.” Jinki drops his voice and darts his eyes around the room conspiratorially, like their conversation is of the utmost importance. Jonghyun resists the urge to do something irrational and embarrassing like pinch his cheek or kiss him. He’s too cute. “He’s fixing his hair.”
“Gwiboon’s going to hate it no matter what. He might as well just come out.”
Jinki laughs and the conversation dies. Just say it, say it, spit it out-
“Here you-”
“Hey, I was-”
Fate is still against him it seems. Jinki places both cups on the counter. “Sorry, what was that?”
Jonghyun turns bright red. He could either say nothing and drop it (and be called a pansy for the rest of his life) or get turned down. Both prospects are equally terrifying. “I was…wondering if you…if you wanted to…to, you know, like…hang out? With me? Sometime? We could go, I don’t know, get coffee or something.” Get coffee. Get coffee with the man who works in a coffee shop. Would you like to disappear now or now?
Jinki beams at him. “Sure.”
“W-what?” It never occurred to him that the barista would say yes.
“Sure. But not coffee.”
“Yeah, I don’t know why I said that. I mean, you work here so-”
Jinki leans in close and Jonghyun kind of forgets to breathe. “I have a secret: I don’t actually like coffee. I just like the smell,” he whispers, eyes wide. “Don’t tell anyone.”
Jonghyun grins once he recovers and remembers that oxygen is important for functioning life forms. “Me either. But I like movies…?”
“A movie sounds good.” Jinki’s eyes flick up and then down to the cup of hot chocolate as he picks up a black Sharpie to add something to the side. Unfortunately, he misjudges the distance, and the liquid ends up, once again, spilling all over the counter and onto Jonghyun’s shoes.
“Sorry!”
Jonghyun laughs, the scene so similar to their first meeting, but he’s not failing any classes this week and he has the promise of a date sometime in the future with one very cute barista.
It is quite possibly the best day of Jonghyun’s young life.
From: Your Secret Santa
Title: Order Up (Or The Most Awkward Coffee Shop Ever)
Pairing: Jonghyun/Onew
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Language.
It is quite possibly the worst day of Jonghyun’s young life.
“That’s a bit dramatic. You’re-what, twelve?”
“Eighteen. Fuck you.”
“I’m going to have to say pass to that offer.”
“Shut up.” Jonghyun ducks further into his down jacket, glaring out from above his scarf.
“What happened anyway?”
“I bombed, like, nine tests today-”
“Are you even taking nine classes?”
He glares at the younger girl.
“Continue.”
“-and I’m failing pretty much everything and my mom said she’s going to kick my ass if I get anything less than a B this semester and it’s so fucking cold out all I want to do is crawl into a hole and die. Do you think it’s too late to be a bear so I can just hibernate until everything stops sucking?”
“Yes,” Gwiboon drawls.
“Ugh.” Jonghyun burrows his face further into the wool wrapped around the lower half of his face. “And why the fuck are we even walking around when it’s colder than the fucking Arctic?”
“Because you asked me to take you shopping. As in this was your idea.”
Jonghyun shoves his hands deeper into his pockets. “That doesn’t change the fact that I am freezing my balls off.”
“Same.”
“You don’t even-”
“I’m agreeing with the sentiment of that statement, jackass.” Gwiboon perks up at the sight of a familiar green sign. “If we go get Starbucks, will you stop being a little bitch?”
Jonghyun chews his lip. “Maybe.” He grins at the younger girl. “If you pay, I might even be pleasant.”
She pinches his cheek, nails digging harshly into the tender flesh. “Only because you asked so nicely.”
“Ow.”
“That’s what you get for whining.”
The warm air of the café has the pair shedding layers like snakes, jackets and scarves and gloves coming off as they defrost.
“What do you want?” Gwiboon asks, shoving the piles of garments into Jonghyun’s arms.
“Hot chocolate. With extra whipped cream.”
“Okay. See if you can snag the armchairs in the corner.”
Said armchairs are unfortunately occupied by a couple that doesn’t seem intent on leaving any time soon (and honestly, Jonghyun can hardly blame them), but he does manage to grab the well-worn leather booth that offers a nice vantage point of the other patrons and the baristas scurrying around behind the counter. It’s not terribly busy, but the machines are definitely working hard. He drums his fingertips on the tabletop, never one for patience, when he sees him. Him. The most perfect specimen of man Jonghyun has ever laid eyes on in all of his eighteen years.
He flashes Gwiboon a bright smile as he hands her the small amount of change and turns around to start making their orders.
“Gwiboon,” Jonghyun hisses, waving her over. “Gwiboon!”
“How about you come here, you ungrateful shit? You ask me to come shopping with you and then you bitch and moan the entire time and quite frankly-”
Jonghyun practically runs over to the older girl and claps his hand over her mouth, cutting the tirade short. He hopes the barista didn’t hear it, or if he did, that he doesn’t mind high-maintenance. Assuming that the barista even likes boys. God, I hope he does. Let something go right today. “Thanks, you’re the best, I love you-” He flicks his eyes to the back of the honey-blond head and hurriedly adds- “as a wonderful friend and role model-”
“A role-?” Gwiboon narrows her eyes.
“-and to show my gratitude, I’ll get the drinks.” He holds his breath, hoping the blonde will just go quietly, but it’s not the worst week of his young life without a reason. He watches with growing trepidation as Gwiboon looks back and forth between the boy in front of her and the man happily humming behind the counter, oblivious.
“This wouldn’t be about-”
“Oh man, is that girl touching your stuff?”
“Excuse me?” Gwiboon stalks off in the direction of their table, already preparing death threats for the (nonexistent) jacket-snatcher.
When the barista turns around again, Jonghyun’s eyes drop to the man’s name tag-Jinki-for a brief second before he’s blinded by the bright smile he’d spotted earlier. “Here for your girlfriend’s drinks?”
“Oh no, we’re not together. I mean, we’re together, but not, like, together.” Why don’t you just tell him your life story while you’re at it?
“Okay.” The smile flickers out of existent for a moment. “So, um, does that mean the tall chai and hot chocolate are yours or…?”
“Uh, y-yes. Yes. Thank you.” He reaches out to grab the two warm cups and accidentally brushes fingers with the barista-Jinki. A tingling sensation works its way from the tips of his hands all the way down his spine, warming him more effectively than any drink.
Or that could be the hot chocolate dripping down the counter and plopping sadly onto his brand new boots.
“Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry!” Jinki turns dark red and begins ripping napkins out of the dispenser on the counter, leaning across in an attempt to stem the tide of dark brown liquid pouring to the floor.
A door swings open behind the counter and another man walks out, long dark hair brushing his shoulders. “Hey, hyung, I-Not again.” He groans in exasperation
Jonghyun instantly wants to leap to Jinki’s defense. It’s a common mistake, everyone drops things, speak to your elders with more respect, but he bites his tongue. He doesn’t need to make a scene, or rather make the scene even bigger. The tall man takes over clean-up, gently pushing Jinki out of the way with his hip, and bowing deeply to Jonghyun, apologizing for the mess. “We’ll take care of this right away, sir.” He turns to Jinki. “How many times… Just put them on the counter and let the customer get it, okay?”
“Sorry.” The barista looks up at Jonghyun (who feels like he’s just been hit by lightning, gazing into such soulful brown eyes) and smiles sheepishly. “Sorry.”
“N-no, uh, it’s-it’s fine! Totally fine. Haha.”
The second barista gives him a weird look. “Just wait right here, sir. I’ll go whip you up a new drink. Hot chocolate, correct?”
“Uh, yeah.” Jonghyun stands awkwardly to the side, occasionally glancing at Jinki from under his bangs, watching the way the man’s hands give change and handle coffee cups (and drop things with alarming frequency), the way his muscles flex underneath his long-sleeved shirt, and how his easy smile seems to light up the vicinity and impart a special glow to everyone it lands on.
“So were you just going to stand here like a creeper or were you planning on giving me my tea sometime today?”
Jonghyun nearly jumps out of his skin at the sound of Gwiboon’s voice in his ear. “Jesus!”
“No, just me.” She snatches the cup from him before it follows the fate of his first hot chocolate, intimately acquainted with the floor. “So what’s Smiley’s name?”
“Jinki,” he breathes.
“He’s not much to look at.” She nods appreciatively at the man with the shoulder-length brown hair adding extra whipped cream to Jonghyun’s drink. “Now that-”
“I didn’t ask you.”
“Someone’s touchy.”
“Here’s your hot chocolate.” Jonghyun thanks the second barista-Minho, his nametag says-and drags Gwiboon back to their corner to drool somewhere a little more private.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but this little trip is looking up already. Am I a genius or what?” the younger girl winks over the top of her cup.
Jonghyun doesn’t respond, his fingertips still warm from the memory of brushing Jinki’s hand. It is quite possibly the best day of his young life.
“Just so you know, you’re paying this time.”
“You’re no fun.”
“And it’s still cold as balls.”
“You’re so lady-like.”
“It’s my best feature.”
They open the door to the Starbucks and the rush of warm air and the smell of coffee washes over the pair of them. Jonghyun looks expectantly behind the counter, but the honey-blond head is nowhere to be seen. The freakishly tall barista from last time is back though, leaning over behind the counter and pulling the holiday-themed cups out of a cabinet, much to Gwiboon’s delight.
“Just look at that ass.”
“Do you mind?” Jonghyun hisses.
“What? Sorry your lover boy’s not here, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the view. And what. A. View.”
Jonghyun snorts in disgust. “What do you want?”
“I’ll order this time.”
“You’re terrible.” Jonghyun turns to sit down, but a feminine hand on his wrist stops him.
“You’re still paying.”
“Why are we even friends?”
“That’s a great question. How do I put up with you?”
Jonghyun fishes a couple thousand won out of his pocket and slaps it into Gwiboon’s hand. “I want all my change back. This isn’t a strip club. He doesn’t need a tip.”
“Can you imagine him in a strip club though?” Gwiboon sighs dreamily. “God, that would be heaven.”
“Oh my god, go buy our drinks.” Jonghyun pushes her towards the counter and claims their seat from last time. He fiddles with his fingernails as he waits, still bummed about the missing barista. Jinki. He wonders if Gwiboon would be able to coax the man’s schedule from that giraffe behind the counter.
His schedule? Whoa, slow down there, pal. Next you’re going to be planning a wedding. It’s the holidays; sweet silver bells, not wedding bells.
“He only works on Fridays.”
“What?” Jonghyun jumps, snapped out of his reverie but Gwiboon’s sharp voice and a pile of coins dumped on the table with a loud clattering noise.
“I asked Minho.”
“You’re on a first-name basis already?”
“I have my ways.”
“Poor guy,” Jonghyun mutters as he takes a sip of the proffered hot chocolate.
“It’s going to be kind of expensive to come to Starbucks every week,” Gwiboon throws out off-handedly. “Plus, if you have a job you can fool him into thinking you’re responsible and therefore attractive.”
“Please. Have you met me?”
“Unfortunately yes. You were much better looking before you opened your mouth.”
Jonghyun makes a face at her.
They come back a week later and to Jonghyun’s delight, Jinki is bustling about behind the counter. It’s Gwiboon’s turn to be disappointed. “Hey, where’s the tall guy with the choice ass?” she asks as Jinki takes their orders.
The barista stares at her, a dark red blush making its way up his cheeks. If Jonghyun wasn’t equally mortified, he’d thank Gwiboon because the sight is too cute for words.
“I-I’m sorry, ma’am…? I’m n-not quite sure-”
“Your friend with the hair. Minho.”
Jinki stares at Jonghyun like the boy is a lifeguard and he’s drowning in the deep end of the pool. “We’ll have a tall hot chocolate and a grande chai. Hot. Please?”
Jinki looks grateful for the reprieve from Gwiboon’s shameless questioning. “C-coming right up.”
Gwiboon huffs. “I was only asking a question.” Jonghyun stares at her. “Whatever. This is lame. I’m going to go get us a seat.” She flounces off.
Jonghyun watches Jinki, the back of the other man’s neck still rather red, as he makes their drinks, wracking his brain for something to say. The only thing that comes out is “Sorry. About…that.”
Jinki shakes his head, a smile on his lips. “Minho-yah will be happy to hear it.”
Jonghyun files that information away for later, something to use as to get Gwiboon to do what he wants, always a difficult task. “Oh really?”
“Well, and maybe a little embarrassed. I don’t think I’ve quite heard the phrase ‘choice-’ Darn it!” Jonghyun has déjà vu as he watches his drink crash to the floor once again.
“Do you have something against hot chocolate?” he asks with a laugh.
“Sorry, I’m not usually-I’ll get you another one.” Jinki turns back to the machines.
“Jjong,” Gwiboon appears, whining in his ear and tugging on his arm. He sighs and hands her the tea.
“Here.”
“Can we go?”
“I haven’t gotten my hot chocolate yet. Besides, it’s cold out.”
“I don’t want to watch you flirt with your boyfriend if I can’t sightsee.”
Jonghyun splutters, eyes flicking to the back of the barista’s head, but it seems the man can’t hear them over the whir of the machines. “I am not-”
“Yeah, whatever.” She takes a sip of her drink and heads back to their table.
“Hot chocolate, take two,” Jinki says as he sets the cup on the counter.
“Thanks.” Jonghyun lingers for a moment, trying to think of something clever to say, but nothing comes to mind and the people behind him in line are grumbling with impatience. “Uh, have-have a good day.”
Jinki beams at him and he feels himself melt into a puddle of goo all over the floor. Clean up on aisle one. “You too. Come back soon.”
Jonghyun lets himself pretend that Jinki really means that, that the barista doesn’t say something like that to just anyone.
“We’re pathetic.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve just discovered a new burning passion for chai tea.”
“That only shows up every Friday?”
“It’s a time-specific craving. I’m a girl. Shut up.”
“I didn’t-”
“Shut up.”
Jinki grins at Jonghyun as the two walk in. “Tall hot chocolate and grande hot chai?”
He knows my-our-order. Jonghyun wants to turn into a puddle of goo again and/or kiss the barista. Thankfully, he does neither. “Yeah, thanks.”
Minho looks up, turning slightly red as his eyes meet Gwiboon’s. The girl winks at him and tells Jonghyun to go pay.
“What?”
“I can’t seem too interested.”
“What? How does that make any sense?”
The girl rolls her eyes. “You’ll understand when you’re older.”
“I am older. Older than you, at least.”
“Boys mature slower. It’s like the opposite of dog years. Go pay.”
Even though Minho is working the cash register, Jonghyun’s eyes stay fixed on Jinki, picking up on the way he hums when he works, the way the apron accentuates his slim waist and good lord those thighs.
“Here’s your change.
“Sir?”
“What? Oh. Uh, thanks.” He makes no move to pick the money up from the tray.
“Sir?”
“Sorry.” He moves to the side to wait for their drinks. Minho takes the chai and writes an extra note on the cup, muttering to Jinki something that embarrasses the older man and almost causes him to drop Jonghyun’s hot chocolate again. He kind of wishes the barista would so he could stay there a little longer and, to use Gwiboon’s words, “enjoy the view.”
Jinki flashes him that bright smile again as he sets the cups down on the counter. “Have a good day. See you soon.”
“Y-you too.”
Jonghyun takes the drinks back to his table in a daze, barely registering Gwiboon’s excited squeal that quickly turns into a cough and a flip of her dark brown hair over her shoulder. She says something that he doesn’t quite catch, punches him harshly in the arm, and repeats it.
“What?” he snaps, rubbing his sore shoulder.
“I said Minho gave me his phone number.”
“What?”
“Look.” She shows him the side of her cup, an extra string of numbers underneath the initials. She grins. “I win.”
“Win what? What’s the competition?”
“I got Minho’s phone number. You got jack shit. Step up your game. You’re supposed to be attractive or something.”
Jonghyun slumps forward in the chair. “But his smile. And-and-”
“Oh god, spare me.”
It’s D-Day. He’s doing this. He’s making it happen.
“You’re acting like you’re going to war.”
“Listen. This is a big deal.”
“Only for dorks like you.”
“Thank you for your continued love and support. It’s appreciated as always.”
“It’s what I’m here for.”
Jonghyun squares his shoulders as they open the door, but his resolve melts under the sunshine of Jinki’s smile directed at him. It should be illegal to be that adorable. He stumbles in the doorway.
“Whoa there, smooth criminal.”
“Shut up.”
Minho looks up from where he’s wiping a table off in the corner and offers them a bro nod that quickly dissolves into a blush when Gwiboon winks at him. He turns away and scrubs harder.
“You’re going to scare him off.”
“I didn’t do anything. Yet. You’ll get the drinks today?”
“Give me the money for yours, harlot.”
“And what does that make you?”
“A pimp. Pay up.”
“I resent the sexism implicit in that statement.”
“Tick-tock.”
She slaps a couple bills on the table and slides them over. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”
Jonghyun shudders at the predatory gleam in her eye and, despite his non-belief, offers up a quiet prayer for Minho. He’s seen Gwiboon in action before-it’s actually how they met-and it can be quite overwhelming.
“Hi,” Jonghyun says as he approaches the counter and then wishes he could invisibly slap himself on the forehead. “Hi?” Really? That’s it? That’s all he has to say to the guy he’s been wasting his Christmas shopping money to come see?
“Hi.” The sincere, shining grin on the barista’s face interrupts his internal soliloquy. “Your order’s ready,” he adds, placing two cups on the counter.
“A-already?” He tries to control his expression, but that’s never been his strong point. He was hoping they’d have time to talk while Jinki mixes their drinks.
“Um, yes…?”
“Oh. Okay. Thanks. Can I also get a scone, though? I’m feeling kind of peckish.” Peckish. On the list of words that should not ever come out of anyone’s mouth, “peckish” is somewhere near the top. Maybe at spot number one. And he just said it. “I mean hungry. I’m kind of hungry.” There is apparently no pity in the world for a non-believer because he has yet to be smote where he stands for being a moron.
“Sure. Anything else?” Jinki is still looking at him with that same big smile and Jonghyun feels the last bit of hope inside of him sputter out and die a sad, lonely death.
“Uh, no.” Because there is nothing else to say because he’s just a customer and Jinki is a barista who probably talks to a million and a half people a day and fuck, how did Gwiboon already get so far? He drops his money in the tray and pushes it towards the other man. “Thanks.”
“See you again soon.”
“Yeah.” He walks back to their table in the corner and holds his head in his hands. Footsteps approach a few moments later.
“You look like you just went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson.”
“Who?”
“Never mind. What happened?”
“He’s perfect and I suck.”
“I doubt he’s perfect. I mean he’s not me. And he chronically drops your shit.”
“You know what I mean.”
“So you’re sitting here whining because…why, exactly?”
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
“You didn’t even try.”
“Yes I did.”
“By giving him goo-goo eyes?”
“That phrase is infinitely creepier when you say it.”
“Chin up, loser. Where’s that charm you were bragging about?”
“I have a weakness. It’s his smile.”
“Well, right now it’s Gwiboon: 2, Jonghyun: 0.”
“Why don’t you ever call me oppa?”
Gwiboon punches him in the arm, momentarily stunning his nerves and cutting off the feeling in his hand. “Are you done being stupid yet?”
“Why do you have two points?”
She grins. “Because now I have a date.” She hits the table. “Step it up.”
It’s D-Day. He’s doing this. He’s making it happen.
“That’s what you said last time and you chickened out.”
“I’m really doing it this time.”
“If you don’t, I have permission to call you demeaning names until you do.”
“That wasn’t part of the agreement!”
“Are you being a pansy again?”
“You are…not a nice person.”
“It’s why you love me.”
Jinki’s head snaps up with the tinkle of the door’s bells and the broad smile that stretches across his face makes Jonghyun’s heart skip a beat. Or three. That can’t be healthy.
“Hot chocolate and chai?” is what he greets them with.
Jonghyun nods and pulls out his wallet, dropping the money in the tray. “Yeah.”
Jinki hums and gets to work making the drinks while Jonghyun wracks his brain for ways to start a conversation.
“Where’s…um, where’s your friend?”
“Minho-yah? He’s in the back.” Jinki drops his voice and darts his eyes around the room conspiratorially, like their conversation is of the utmost importance. Jonghyun resists the urge to do something irrational and embarrassing like pinch his cheek or kiss him. He’s too cute. “He’s fixing his hair.”
“Gwiboon’s going to hate it no matter what. He might as well just come out.”
Jinki laughs and the conversation dies. Just say it, say it, spit it out-
“Here you-”
“Hey, I was-”
Fate is still against him it seems. Jinki places both cups on the counter. “Sorry, what was that?”
Jonghyun turns bright red. He could either say nothing and drop it (and be called a pansy for the rest of his life) or get turned down. Both prospects are equally terrifying. “I was…wondering if you…if you wanted to…to, you know, like…hang out? With me? Sometime? We could go, I don’t know, get coffee or something.” Get coffee. Get coffee with the man who works in a coffee shop. Would you like to disappear now or now?
Jinki beams at him. “Sure.”
“W-what?” It never occurred to him that the barista would say yes.
“Sure. But not coffee.”
“Yeah, I don’t know why I said that. I mean, you work here so-”
Jinki leans in close and Jonghyun kind of forgets to breathe. “I have a secret: I don’t actually like coffee. I just like the smell,” he whispers, eyes wide. “Don’t tell anyone.”
Jonghyun grins once he recovers and remembers that oxygen is important for functioning life forms. “Me either. But I like movies…?”
“A movie sounds good.” Jinki’s eyes flick up and then down to the cup of hot chocolate as he picks up a black Sharpie to add something to the side. Unfortunately, he misjudges the distance, and the liquid ends up, once again, spilling all over the counter and onto Jonghyun’s shoes.
“Sorry!”
Jonghyun laughs, the scene so similar to their first meeting, but he’s not failing any classes this week and he has the promise of a date sometime in the future with one very cute barista.
It is quite possibly the best day of Jonghyun’s young life.