(for curryramyeon) Mocha or Me?
For: curryramyeon
Title: Mocha or Me?
Genre: Fluff
Rating: G
Side-Pairing: very, very, very slight taohun
Length: 6,100 words
Summary: Jongin doesn't come back for the coffee, that's for sure.
Notes: I think I deleted and typed again this fic more than four times because i'm so stupid omg but i really do hope you'll like this even if this totally doesn't make sense to me. and that all your prompts were wonderful i'm sorry i am a lousy human being sniffs. i hope this makes you happy and thank you for being my recipient! p.s. to my wonderful other half for cheering me all through this ily. syd for being patient with me and emma for being the lovely person that she is and beta-ing this <3
Jongin doesn't have any opinion of coffees. It's not that he detests it because he doesn't have any strong emotions towards the beverage. He's just curious why almost ninety percent of his class seems to run on coffee most of their days. And it gets more frequent these days that exams are drawing near.
He's having a hard time himself anyways, eyes threatening to close after four hours of studying. His roommate startles at the sound of his pen dropping to the floor at one in the morning. He's lost count of how many times he's tripped in front of Sehun. This is probably the reason why he's currently opening the door to the only coffee shop near them at ten in the evening.
Clicking his tongue, he types a quick message to Sehun, abusing the use of as many frowning faces as he can. He slips his phone back into his pocket and surveys the shop once again. His phone vibrates not even a minute later and he pouts childishly.
Exams are near.
Sehun's reply just makes his frown deeper, not bothering to reply anymore as he falls in line next to a couple.
He doesn't understand why the cafe's full when it's this late. But seeing the open laptops and notebooks decorating almost every table seems to give him the gist of the reason why.
Sehun was right.
The cashier beeping the orders looks so worn out and he thinks it's quite ironic that she was working in a coffee shop. Though he's not given anymore time to ponder over it before a cup of espresso was thrust into his hand. He quickly stops himself from whining because now he's forced to find a table even when he thinks there aren't anymore left.
He walks slowly, eyes flitting from table to table and he sees a couple of girls eyeing him. They were scooting so close to each other and he almost, almost wants to take the seat if not for the giggles. He wouldn't be able to study there even if he was able to take a seat.
He's so close to turning around and just bringing his coffee back to the apartment when he sees a table at the far end of the shop. It wasn't the ideal place to be with the paint chipping and the aircon blowing ice on their faces, but it was the only place available and he'll take what he can get.
It's not until he takes a few steps forward that he sees a mop of black hair cradled under pale hands. He halts, debating whether to go sit down or go back home. He settles for the first and cautiously advances.
He stops, blinking at the otherwise empty table except for a tall glass of mocha frappuccino (which is still very full). Upon closer inspection, he realises that the boy is asleep, and he shuffles his feet on the spot, wondering if he should wake the stranger up to ask if he could sit.
The idea was ridiculous even inside his own head so he quickly waves it off, sitting down opposite the sleeping male. He sets down his own drink and opens his laptop, brain immediately forgetting everything except for the words jumbled up in front of him. He's too focused, drink almost forgotten and the stranger in front of him going unnoticed as he slowly wakes up.
"Excuse me?" a sleepy voice calls out and Jongin peers from behind his laptop, cheeks coloring when he sees sleepy eyes blinking at him. There's a red imprint on the stranger's cheek, probably from his own arm, but he still looks like a flustered kitten to Jongin. "Have I been asleep long?"
Jongin looks down at his watch, realizing it's been almost half an hour since he sat down. "You were already asleep when I sat down so..." he trails off, scratching his cheek and smiling apologetically. "But I've been here for thirty minutes, if that's any help at all."
The stranger doesn't stop his staring and Jongin thinks he's probably still half asleep. Another full minute passes before the stranger breaks out into one of the most beautiful smiles Jongin has ever seen, rubbing his eyes free from sleep. He doesn't realize he's staring until he sees the stranger's lips form a frown, a tutting noise coming out.
"It's totally melted."
Jongin follows the stranger's gaze, landing on the small puddle of water from the drink's melted ice. Then he catches sight of the pout decorating the stranger's face and he sort of just forgets everything that follows.
"Um," the stranger shakes Jongin from his trance, eyes unblinking as he stares at Jongin's outstretched hand.
Oh.
"I'm sorry!" Jongin blurts out, retracting his hand quickly and using it to hide his flushed face, the red only getting darker when he hears the stranger's cute laugh.
"It's okay." the stranger says, lips still forming that smile that makes Jongin feel like a useless noodle.
Jongin's thankful the stranger didn't ask for any explanation about his weirdness because he doesn't have an answer, to be very honest.
He struggles to return to his own work, hunching his shoulders and inching his face closer to the screen. His eyes hurt from the close proximity and brightness but he's sure this is necessary so he wouldn't be tempted to look at the beautiful stranger just behind his laptop.
"Your eyes will get bad really quick if you do that." the now familiar voice says and Jongin's elbow promptly slips from the table, his forehead knocking against the screen because the voice is a lot nearer than he can handle.
And then warm hands are on his shoulder, steadying him. He looks beside him, the stranger now standing up and looking down at him with a worried expression. Jongin rakes his eyes all over the male, ignoring the throbbing in his forehead. He's shorter than him and Jongin silently cheers because he looks like he's the perfect height for Jongin to hug.
"I'm so sorry I keep startling you." the male says and Jongin feels something churn inside his stomach at the blush he sees on the beautiful stranger's face.
He sees him opening his mouth and Jongin assumes he's saying something but all he can do is stare helplessly at those lips. He sees the stranger smile shyly and he feels his heart beating faster even when the beautiful stranger has walked away.
Jongin rubs a hand on his face a minute later, realizing he hadn't even gotten his name.
"Some tough studying you did last night, Jongin." Junmyeon points to the dark circles adorning the younger's face. There's still an hour left before class starts and Jongin happily collapses on his table, eyes immediately closing in an attempt to salvage some sleep.
The door opens once again, Sehun walking in with his signature phone. He doesn't look up, not until he sits down beside Jongin and realizes his best friend hasn't said anything insulting yet.
"Is that the coffee's fault?" Sehun asks, trying to take a peek at Jongin's face currently trapped between his arms. Jongin lifts his hand high enough to give Sehun the finger.
Jongin tries to make himself believe that it's really because of the coffee and not the gorgeous stranger he met last night.
"Is it because you met a hot chick last night?" Junmyeon chirps and Jongin finds himself coughing, Sehun and Junmyeon's eyes suddenly boring holes into his back.
"You did?"
"Fuck off." he says simply, lifting his head and frowning as he tries fixing his hair. He knows his face is red by the disgusting grins on his two friend's faces. He glances at the clock, cursing when he sees class is not for another thirty minutes.
Jongin endured almost three hours of relentless teasing from Sehun and Junmyeon because he supposedly met a hot chick last night. He silently promised never to go back to that cafe ever again.
He's quick to take that last part back when he finds himself entering that same cafe at nine in the evening.
It's not as crowded as last night, only a few couples here and there and Jongin is glad for the quiet atmosphere. He falls in line again, trying not to glance around in hopes of seeing the same stranger from last night. Even the cashier tonight is different. Jongin vaguely remembers the male in one or two of his classes but he's always too sleepy to get to know more of his classmates.
"Jongin!" the cashier greets him and Jongin startles, confirming that said male is actually his classmate. "I never knew you were a coffee kind of guy."
"I never knew either." he says without thinking much and the other male laughs, teeth and tongue bared for everyone to see. Jongin takes the time to find the male's name tag and breathes out a relieved sigh when he does.
"I didn't know you worked here, Chanyeol." he grins tiredly, something Chanyeol doesn't question because Jongin has always been like that. He orders a strawberry frappuccino this time and pretends that he doesn't see Chanyeol's teasing grin.
"Good luck." Chanyeol calls out when he sets off to find a table. There are a lot of vacant ones and he smiles when he sees a spot he likes, but it doesn't last long because he unwillingly catches sight of the sole figure at the back of the cafe. He feels his stomach do that somersault thing again and he doesn't really protest when he felt his feet moving on their own, pulling him toward the beautiful stranger.
The boy looks up when Jongin slides into the chair in front of him, wide eyes sparkling in confusion. Jongin keeps his head bowed under the pretense of looking for something in his bag.
"Hi?" the stranger starts and Jongin looks up after making sure his face looks alright. He manages to smile back and this seems to ease the stranger because he smiles wider at Jongin. "The shop isn't full."
Jongin's cheeks heat up, getting what the stranger was saying. He opens his mouth but nothing comes out and the stranger must have understood because he smiles softly at Jongin. "On another note, I think it is quite packed, don't you think?"
This renders Jongin mute for a few seconds before he grins and nods. "Really packed."
The stranger's face lights up at Jongin's voice and Jongin feels something catch inside his throat.
"Still studying?"
Jongin nods, opening his laptop with a grimace. "I hate being a student."
The stranger giggles at this and Jongin looks up, eyes wide because it sounds so beautiful. At the corner of his eye, he sees the stranger's drink still untouched, the water forming around its base a proof of that. It was the same as last night.
"Do you like mocha?" Jongin finds himself asking and the stranger looks honestly taken aback. Maybe because it was the first time Jongin has said anything on his own. He points to the stranger's drink. "You were drinking that last night too."
It's too late when Jongin realizes that he probably sounds like a stalker and he blinks, shaking his head and laughing in embarrassment. "I mean - you don't have to answer that. I just.. just.. please ignore that."
"Not really." the stranger says and Jongin’s mini panic attack pauses. It just makes Jongin want to ask more but he stops himself, not wanting to sound nosy.
Jongin doesn't say anything else after that, turning his focus back on his laptop and letting the whirring sound of the aircon behind him lull him to concentration.
"Are you not going home yet?" a voice calls out and Jongin blinks repeatedly, looking up and seeing the stranger's concerned look. He glances at his watch and sees that it's already quarter past one in the morning. His class is at eight and he curses himself because he'll be getting less sleep than usual. If he looks dead with his normal sleeping routine then he doesn't want to think about how he looks like without it.
The other male offers him a kind smile again and Jongin doesn't hesitate to return it, albeit a little sleepily. "Thanks. I wasn't really aware of the time anymore."
"I kind of figured." the male chuckles and Jongin joins him after a few beats.
Jongin puts his laptop back on his bag and stands up. "Are you not going home yet?" he asks when the stranger just sits down again. He tries not to think that it's because he wanted to walk home together with the stranger. Maybe he'll get his name and his address too.
"Ah, in a bit." the male replies and Jongin's shoulders sag in disappointment. He glances at Kyungsoo's (still untouched) drink and nods.
"Be careful on the way home." he mumbles lowly but the stranger catches it and throws him one of those bright smiles in return.
"You too."
"You look dead again. I mean, more dead than usual."
"Thanks. I know." Jongin replies blandly as he sits down next to his best friend.
"Maybe you should stop with the coffee thing." Junmyeon suggests and he quickly whips his head to look at his friend, shaking his head furiously.
"No! No. It's not the coffee. It's just- it's not it." he defends, sucking his lower lip inside his mouth because he doesn't really care for the coffee. He just wants to see the stranger again.
Junmyeon and Sehun both shoot him a look and he inches lower down his seat, fully understanding what that meant.
"We're going with you later."
Jongin doesn't stop grumbling all the way to the cafe, Junmyeon and Sehun tailing behind him like some weird bodyguards. He's not actually bothered that his friends are coming with him. He's more bothered by the fact that his friends might embarrass him in front of the beautiful stranger if he's there again.
Jongin hopes he is.
"Chanyeol, my man." Sehun greets, immediately doing some sort of secret high five with the classmate-turned-cashier. Jongin wonders if Chanyeol knows the beautiful stranger.
Jongin allows Junmyeon to choose a drink for him as he walks forward, eyes already looking more awake when he sees the familiar mop of hair sitting on the same booth. He makes a beeline for it, forgetting about his friends looking behind him.
"Hi." he greets first this time and the stranger looks up, grinning when he sees Jongin take the spot in front of him. The male raises a brow when he only sees Jongin's bag and he sheepishly rubs the back of his head.
"My friends are getting the drinks." Jongin answers and they both turn to look at Sehun and Junmyeon who are also looking at them. Jongin feels himself blush but the male in front of him just waves a hand. He's mortified when he sees Sehun and Junmyeon wave back, teasing grins on their faces.
Crap.
"Your friends seem nice." the stranger says and Jongin tries to look at anything besides the adorable stranger in front of him. His eyes lands on the stranger's drink (still untouched. again) and notices it’s still the same. Maybe the stranger really does like mocha.
"They're nice to everyone but me." Jongin says sulkily and the stranger laughs. He finds himself smiling as well, the soft sound contagious and music to Jongin's ears.
He's feeling more and more comfortable but it disappears as soon as he catches sight of Sehun and Junmyeon making their way towards them. It must have shown up on his face because the stranger turns his head to look at where Jongin is staring. He smiles up when the two stop by their table, setting down Jongin's drink and thankfully, thankfully choosing to sit three tables away from them.
"Why didn't they sit here?" the male inquires, curious because the four of them should fit in there fine. Jongin shrugs, faking an obnoxious expression as he fiddles with his laptop again.
They spent the next hour doing the same; Jongin studying and Kyungsoo playing with his phone or sometimes taking small naps. It has becomes a routine for them, something comfortable neither one wants to question. But Sehun clearly doesn't share the same feeling.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
Jongin almost elbows his laptop out of the table, choking on air at Sehun's question. The male is taken aback as well and Jongin panics because they don't even know if he swings that way.
"I-" the stranger starts and Jongin unwillingly stares at him, jaw clenching in anticipation.
This could be it.
"-don't." he finishes and Jongin wants to cry in relief but he doesn't because that still doesn't answer Jongin's question. For all he knows, the stranger doesn't have a boyfriend because he's straight and he has a girlfriend.
Jongin excuses himself to go to the comfort room and Sehun snickers.
"I'm Sehun." he calls out with a grin and the stranger smiles, waving his hand slightly.
"Kyungsoo."
"And this is Junmyeon." Sehun gestures to the male sitting next to him. Junmyeon smiles and the stranger, Kyungsoo, smiles wider.
"The idiot probably pissing himself right now is Jongin."
"Jongin." Kyungsoo tests out, grinning and then nodding thankfully at Sehun. "It's nice to meet you."
Jongin comes out a little later, face a little less flushed as he glares at Sehun who only grins at him before turning the other way.
Jongin shoots a sheepish smile at Kyungsoo when he sits down, closing his laptop and putting it back in his bag.
"You're leaving?" Kyungsoo automatically asks and Jongin feels his heart flutter because the other male sounded sad.
"No, no. Not yet." Jongin grins, feeling just a little bolder as he leans forward. The pink tinge on Kyungsoo's face seems to fuel him even more because he smiles wide at him, not saying anything in particular.
"Is-Is there something on my face?" Kyungsoo asks, patting a hand on his cheek and then on his nose, eyes wide and lips slightly parted.
"Why don't you drink that?" Jongin asks and Kyungsoo looks blankly at him, probably not expecting the question. They both glance at the untouched drink, still mocha, and Kyungsoo gently scratches his cheek with a finger.
"Later." he answers shortly and Jongin pouts his lips. Kyungsoo doesn't know if it was on purpose or not but either way, it still makes his cheeks heat up a little bit more than normal.
"Then why do you keep buying it?" At this, Kyungsoo flushes and averts his eyes from Jongin, mouthing something. Jongin leans forward to catch it and Kyungsoo leans back, suddenly noticing the space between them.
Jongin wants to ask more, wants to take advantage of the courage bubbling inside him but Sehun stands up, yawning obnoxiously loud as he whines about needing more sleep.
Kyungsoo waves them a goodbye with his smile in place, Jongin returning it with his own before slumping in defeat as Sehun drags him back home.
It's early and Jongin tries tuning out Sehun's whisperings as well as their professor's droning, eyes closing because he's eternally sleepy. But it fails and he's forced to pretend to be awake, not appreciating Sehun being so alive for such an early morning.
Well, it's almost eleven but still, too early for Jongin.
He has another exam in four hours and he's already looking forward to going to the same cafe. He'd be lying to himself if he says he's there solely for reviewing. He's not even sure if the stranger is going to be there, but it's not bad to be optimistic about it.
Right?
"We should get Kyungsoo to hang out with us." he hears Sehun say and he furrows his brow, wondering who this Kyungsoo is. Sehun is quite the social butterfly so he dismisses it, assuming this Kyungsoo is probably one of the students Sehun has befriended.
"He seems nice." Junmyeon agrees and Jongin blinks. "And he looks nice, as well."
"You're too old." Jongin suddenly says and the two of them look at him. "I mean, whoever this Kyungsoo is, I'm sure he won't want to have to assist his boyfriend while buying underwear."
Junmyeon doesn't laugh though, or even frown. He simply mimics Sehun's blank look before erupting into a grin.
"Oh I'm sure Kyungsoo wouldn't mind."
Jongin just rolls his eyes, turning his head the other way and mentally counting the minutes before he gets to leave the two alone.
Jongin knows going there around noon would be a bad idea, if the students crowding the entrance is any indication. He catches a glimpse of the cashier, seeing it as the same girl on his first visit. Figures, Chanyeol should be studying right now too.
He squeezes himself between two highschool boys, huffing in frustration as he fixes his crumpled shirt. There, on the same seat as usual, is the stranger.
"Hi." he says breathlessly, sliding on the seat in front of him and smiling when he sees Kyungsoo smiles back, cheeks flushed from the cold.
"It's noon." Kyungsoo says and Jongin rubs his nape sheepishly.
"Well, yeah. I have an exam in less than three hours."
Kyungsoo looks at him in understanding and Jongin turns to look elsewhere, catching sight of Kyungsoo's drink. Again. It's then that he realizes he sat down empty handed, except for his bag.
"Here." Kyungsoo pushes his untouched drink at Jongin, probably noticing Jongin's pause.
"I'll just order one for me." he says, about to stand up but Kyungsoo reaches out and catches his arm. It's not forceful nor is it demanding but Jongin finds himself sitting down immediately as if Kyungsoo's hand weighed him down.
"I'll end up not drinking it anyways." Kyungsoo says softly and Jongin agrees silently, though it’s still awkward because he's going to be drinking his crush's drink.
Crush.
Of course he has a crush, Jongin face palms inwardly. He hesitantly took the drink, the perspiration from the ice seeping onto his warm palm. The stranger's bag catches his eyes, a strawberry keychain hanging from it.
"Just a minute." he mumbles, standing up and falling in line between a group of high school girls who quickly start stealing glances at him.
"Are you a student, oppa?" one of the girls dared to ask and Jongin looks at her blankly for a while before nodding his head once.
He's saved from answering more questions when the female behind the counter takes his order. He busies himself with his phone, pretending to text someone, while waiting for the drink until his name is called.
Grabbing his order, he quickly makes his way to Kyungsoo, wordlessly setting the strawberry frappe he ordered in front of the male. His cheeks are red when he sits down again, immediately opening his bag to grab his notes.
Kyungsoo's cheeks, on the other hand, aren't faring any better. They're pink and the warmth under his skin is slowly filling him (in particular, his heart). He looks down at the drink, wondering how Jongin would even know he likes strawberries. He muffles a laugh when he sees Jongin's name on a scrawl at the side and this makes Jongin look up.
"I didn't know what to tell her." Jongin mumbles and Kyungsoo tilts his head, finally realizing Sehun didn't mention his name to Jongin. This makes him grin, grabbing a pen from his bag and writing his name upside down on Jongin's notebook.
He looks just long enough to see Jongin freeze before looking down outside and taking a sip from the drink Jongin bought him.
He can't stop smiling.
"Kyungsoo." he hears Jongin say his name softly, meaning for it to be a whisper and he smiles wider, pretending not to hear a thing.
"Oppa."
Kyungsoo turns his head, seeing some girls sitting down at the table next to them. They were talking to Jongin who just lifts his head to stare in confusion at the girls.
"What's your name, oppa?" one of the girls asks and Kyungsoo's mouth forms an 'oh.'
Kyungsoo sees Jongin furrow his brows, his eyes trailing down his arm up to his hand laying awkwardly on the table. Jongin looks like he's having a hard time, Kyungsoo makes himself believe as he reaches out and takes Jongin's hand in his just as Jongin opens his mouth.
"Jong-"
"Sorry girls, but my boyfriend and I are out on a date." Kyungsoo says cheerfully, taking it to another level by easily fitting their fingers together. Kyungsoo notices how Jongin looks almost as taken aback as the girls do, and regret immediately begins to simmer in the pit of his stomach.
Kyungsoo's about to pull his hand back, apologize to Jongin for doing that but Jongin clearly has some other plans when he tightens his hold on Kyungsoo's hand.
"They're looking." he mouths and Kyungsoo, even with his face a different shades of red, nods.
It’s awkward, having to hold hands while one person is studying and the other drinking, but Jongin doesn't mind. In fact, he wishes the girls would leave a little bit later so he could hold Kyungsoo's hand longer. It's cold but their palms feel warm against each other, Jongin tries hard not to smile.
Kyungsoo was doing the same.
But the girls leave after a few minutes, chatting among themselves and looking back at the both of them. Jongin sighs in relief and Kyungsoo chuckles.
"It's not funny." Jongin mumbles, squeezing Kyungsoo's hand. The action startles them, both looking at their hands still interlaced. Kyungsoo quickly pulls his hand back in embarrassment, the cold seeping in worse than before.
"Sorry." they both say at the same time. This makes them both laugh even if their palms are itching to hold the other's hand again.
"I should get going." Jongin says, fixing his bag and smiling tiredly at Kyungsoo. He wonders if Kyungsoo doesn't leave the cafe seeing as the male seems to always be there whenever he comes in there.
"Good luck on your exams, Jongin."
Jongin grins extra wide this time, waving enthusiastically at Kyungsoo before leaving, more awake than he's ever been.
"You can't have a crush on Kyungsoo!" Jongin wails at Junmyeon as soon as he realizes who they were talking about early that morning. "And you!" he points to Sehun, "I can't believe you didn't tell me his name when you got it! Some friend you are!"
Sehun just rolls his eyes while Junmyeon smiles apologetically at Jongin. "Sorry, Jongin ah. It was just funny how you've been sharing the same table for three days but you didn't even get his name."
Jongin grumbles at this all the way back home, Junmyeon bidding goodbye halfway towards his own apartment.
"I, uh, have somewhere to go first." Jongin starts and Sehun looks at him with that weird grin of his.
"You mean Kyungsoo?"
Jongin flips him off before leaving, doubting his choice of friends for the hundredth time that day.
It's a little late when he arrives but it's no surprise when he sees Kyungsoo at the cafe, though it did surprise him that he was behind the counter.
"Kyungsoo?" he asks softly and the male grins softly, nodding. "You work here?"
Another nod before Kyungsoo looks at the clock. "I'll be on my break in ten minutes, can you wait for me?"
This sends Jongin's heart into overdrive but he nods, sitting down on their usual table. The place is almost empty and Jongin assumes it must be because exams are over; that, and it's pretty late as well.
"Hi." Kyungsoo slides in the seat opposite him and Jongin watches as he slides his drink to him.
"Why do you keep getting this if you don't drink it?" Jongin asks, not being able to help himself anymore.
"It's the only drink free for the employees." Kyungsoo says after a while, smiling shyly at having to say it. "I can't possibly say I don't like it when the owner was kind enough to give me a job."
Jongin watches the smile on Kyungsoo's face, his heart beat slowing down but it doesn't lessen the warmth he always feels whenever Kyungsoo's around.
"And I don't want to have to spend money to buy myself something either." Kyungsoo continues. "I could save it up more for my studies."
"Are you free tomorrow?" Jongin blurts out and Kyungsoo looks at him in surprise. "I mean, do you have work tomorrow?"
"Um, no." Kyungsoo says, still confused at Jongin.
"Come with me tomorrow." Jongin says, a little bit louder than normal. "I need to b-buy a cake for my sister's birthday."
Kyungsoo wants to ask why, of all people, Jongin would ask him. After all, they were just strangers four days ago. But he doesn't voice it, smiling instead because he wants to.
"Okay."
Jongin grasps his phone nervously, waiting for Kyungsoo's text as he stands outside the mall. He remembers how nervous he was last night when he asked for Kyungsoo's phone number. He's slept and all but the nerves are still there, jolting up when his phone vibrates and Kyungsoo's name shows up.
Aren't you tired and cold standing outside like that?
Jongin quickly looks up and there, on the opposite street, is Kyungsoo waving at him. He raises his own hand to wave back but Kyungsoo's already looking away, crossing the street and walking towards Jongin. Jongin feels his palms sweat, the corner of his lips itching to quirk up in a smile. It was oddly fascinating to see Kyungsoo out in broad daylight and outside of the coffee shop and it makes his stomach all weird again.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Kyungsoo starts and he's breathless and a tiny sheen of sweat is on his forehead; his hair is disheveled from the wind but his cheeks are also colored such a pretty red and he looks so beautiful to Jongin.
"Jongin?"
"It's okay." he says. voice cracking and Kyungsoo laughs.
"Let's go?"
"Yes."
The whole day was spent with Jongin going into different kinds of pastry shops and Kyungsoo turning down everything that's either 'too flashy' or 'too expensive.' Jongin argues he's the one paying for it but Kyungsoo still doesn't relent. Even during lunch, Kyungsoo had insisted on paying for himself and Jongin feels guilty for making the other male pay, knowing that Kyungsoo is saving up.
The skies are dark when they finally head back home, a string tied around the box grasped firmly in Jongin's hand . Kyungsoo tightens his scarf around him while Jongin carelessly walks on his t-shirt.
"Aren't you cold?" he asks, voice a bit muffled by the scarf. Jongin looks at him and shakes his head, walking closer until their arms are touching.
"Are you?"
Kyungsoo nods and it doesn't take a second before a warm hand is covering his. He looks up, the scarf effectively covering his red cheeks. Jongin firmly stares straight ahead and Kyungsoo smiles, following his lead.
"For, you know, in case those girls show up. We should be prepared or else they'll think we're lying." Jongin mumbles under his breath and Kyungsoo tries not to laugh, afraid that this wonderful night would be ruined. He nods, squeezing Jongin's hand in return and if possible, the hand around his gets even warmer.
"It's almost a month of you going down every single day to the cafe to watch Kyungsoo work. Have you done anything that’s remotely close to progress?" Sehun asks one afternoon, the both of them lounging inside their shared apartment. Jongin's phone is out, the owner staring at it every chance he gets.
"I don't fathom what you are saying, Oh Sehun." Jongin rolls on his stomach, limbs in a tangled mess.
"I mean you're an idiot. You should just date Kyungsoo already."
Jongin has heard this for the last few weeks from Sehun, and even Junmyeon. Honestly, he's disappointed at himself too but it's not easy to ask Kyungsoo out properly.
It feels like his heart's going to leap out of his chest in nervousness.
"He's going to say yes, I swear on Tao's ass."
"Please don't bring Tao in this, especially his ass." Jongin muffles his own voice against a pillow, not wanting to think that Sehun's got himself a date while Jongin's still pining over Kyungsoo.
"Do something and maybe you'll get to talk about Kyungsoo's ass."
Jongin chucks a pillow straight at Sehun's face.
"Just you wait, Sehun."
"Aren't you busy at all?" Kyungsoo asks. They're back at their usual table and it's still an hour before Kyungsoo has to take his shift. Chanyeol's on duty tonight and this makes Jongin jealous, wondering if he should apply as a barista as well so he could be with Kyungsoo a lot more.
Not that he's spending little time on him anyways.
"Exams aren't until in another two weeks so, no." Jongin answers, tapping his fingers on the table. He's drinking Kyungsoo's again and Kyungsoo's drinking the strawberry Jongin bought. Jongin thinks they look like a couple now, but he wants it to be real.
"Kyungsoo?"
Jongin looks up, seeing a tall man he's never seen before. Kyungsoo quickly stands up and bows and the man shakes his head with a smile.
"You don't like mocha?" he asks, eyeing the drink on Jongin's hand.
Kyungsoo's cheeks turns red and Jongin frowns, not liking the fact that Kyungsoo's blushing because of another male.
"Actually-"
"He likes strawberries." Jongin cuts Kyungsoo off and both looks at him in surprise. He swallows before adding firmly, "He likes strawberry more than mocha."
The taller male looks taken aback for a second before he smiles fondly at Jongin and then to Kyungsoo. "I'll give you strawberries from-"
"You don't need to do that." Jongin cuts again, fists too tight and jealousness too high to consider the consequences of his actions. He might even get Kyungsoo in trouble but he's too emotional to care right now.
Silence for a few short seconds before the taller male sighs and smiles, both hands on his hips as he nods and turns to Kyungsoo. "I'll still change it to strawberry but tell your boyfriend I'm not planning to steal you from him." he glances at Jongin teasingly before going back inside. Kyungsoo and Jongin were left standing before Kyungsoo sighs loudly.
Boyfriend?
"But I’m not his boyfriend." Jongin whispers under his breath but Kyungsoo still hears it.
"You could have gotten me in trouble."
Jongin bites his lip, looking down in guilt and nodding.
"You could have lost me my job."
Jongin nods again, knowing very well that Kyungsoo is right. He turns around, fixing his bag and attempting to leave wordlessly.
"And you could have just said you were my b-boyfriend."
Jongin stills, the frantic drumming of his heart threatening to drown him. He forces himself to turn around and look at Kyungsoo who happens to be looking away. But the redness on his ears and the back of his neck serves as a preview to how the shorter male's face is.
"K-Kyungsoo?"
Jongin sees Kyungsoo's shoulder tense up before turning around. Jongin was right. Kyungsoo's face is red and he's walking towards Jongin with that shy expression of his. He feels cold fingers lace with his own making him look down.
He never realized how good their hands looked together.
"Just in case your fangirls come." Kyungsoo mumbles
Jongin's face brightens so much Kyungsoo had to slap his other hand on his face. "You're slowly becoming like Chanyeol."
Jongin just laughs and tugs Kyungsoo forward, knocking their noses together. The contact isn’t much, isn’t all /that/ intimate, but it’s enough to set their hearts on fire as they laugh together. Until Chanyeol throws a rag at them, calling Kyungsoo to relieve him.
"Your manager isn't hitting on you, right?" Jongin asks again one morning and Kyungsoo bumps his fist on his head, frowning but nodding his head nonetheless.
"He has a wife, Jongin." he stresses, already getting tired of repeating it. It was cute at first but having to answer it for the nth time for the past hour is already ticking him off.
"I like you, really really like you." Jongin says suddenly, eyes wide and imploring. "I just wanted to tell you, in case you didn't know yet."
This makes Kyungsoo smile, eyes closing in mirth as he nods. "I like you too, Jongin. Really, really."
Kyungsoo's drink is replaced with a strawberry one and Jongin reaches for it first, sipping it noisily and smearing it all over his lips.
"Jongin, what are you doing?"
Jongin just grins before leaning forward and pecking Kyungsoo's lips quickly, enjoying the pink that spreads on his Kyungsoo's cheeks. It's starting to be his favorite color on him.
"You like me more than strawberries, right?"
Kyungsoo swallows and Jongin grins because he's won this round. But Kyungsoo's suddenly smirking, tongue swiping on his bottom lip to get the smear Jongin left behind.
"What do you think?"
Jongin coughs and drowns himself in Kyungsoo's drink, trying to tune out Kyungsoo's laughter but finding it impossible to do so.
"Yeah, I like you most, Jongin."
Title: Mocha or Me?
Genre: Fluff
Rating: G
Side-Pairing: very, very, very slight taohun
Length: 6,100 words
Summary: Jongin doesn't come back for the coffee, that's for sure.
Notes: I think I deleted and typed again this fic more than four times because i'm so stupid omg but i really do hope you'll like this even if this totally doesn't make sense to me. and that all your prompts were wonderful i'm sorry i am a lousy human being sniffs. i hope this makes you happy and thank you for being my recipient! p.s. to my wonderful other half for cheering me all through this ily. syd for being patient with me and emma for being the lovely person that she is and beta-ing this <3
Jongin doesn't have any opinion of coffees. It's not that he detests it because he doesn't have any strong emotions towards the beverage. He's just curious why almost ninety percent of his class seems to run on coffee most of their days. And it gets more frequent these days that exams are drawing near.
He's having a hard time himself anyways, eyes threatening to close after four hours of studying. His roommate startles at the sound of his pen dropping to the floor at one in the morning. He's lost count of how many times he's tripped in front of Sehun. This is probably the reason why he's currently opening the door to the only coffee shop near them at ten in the evening.
Clicking his tongue, he types a quick message to Sehun, abusing the use of as many frowning faces as he can. He slips his phone back into his pocket and surveys the shop once again. His phone vibrates not even a minute later and he pouts childishly.
Exams are near.
Sehun's reply just makes his frown deeper, not bothering to reply anymore as he falls in line next to a couple.
He doesn't understand why the cafe's full when it's this late. But seeing the open laptops and notebooks decorating almost every table seems to give him the gist of the reason why.
Sehun was right.
The cashier beeping the orders looks so worn out and he thinks it's quite ironic that she was working in a coffee shop. Though he's not given anymore time to ponder over it before a cup of espresso was thrust into his hand. He quickly stops himself from whining because now he's forced to find a table even when he thinks there aren't anymore left.
He walks slowly, eyes flitting from table to table and he sees a couple of girls eyeing him. They were scooting so close to each other and he almost, almost wants to take the seat if not for the giggles. He wouldn't be able to study there even if he was able to take a seat.
He's so close to turning around and just bringing his coffee back to the apartment when he sees a table at the far end of the shop. It wasn't the ideal place to be with the paint chipping and the aircon blowing ice on their faces, but it was the only place available and he'll take what he can get.
It's not until he takes a few steps forward that he sees a mop of black hair cradled under pale hands. He halts, debating whether to go sit down or go back home. He settles for the first and cautiously advances.
He stops, blinking at the otherwise empty table except for a tall glass of mocha frappuccino (which is still very full). Upon closer inspection, he realises that the boy is asleep, and he shuffles his feet on the spot, wondering if he should wake the stranger up to ask if he could sit.
The idea was ridiculous even inside his own head so he quickly waves it off, sitting down opposite the sleeping male. He sets down his own drink and opens his laptop, brain immediately forgetting everything except for the words jumbled up in front of him. He's too focused, drink almost forgotten and the stranger in front of him going unnoticed as he slowly wakes up.
"Excuse me?" a sleepy voice calls out and Jongin peers from behind his laptop, cheeks coloring when he sees sleepy eyes blinking at him. There's a red imprint on the stranger's cheek, probably from his own arm, but he still looks like a flustered kitten to Jongin. "Have I been asleep long?"
Jongin looks down at his watch, realizing it's been almost half an hour since he sat down. "You were already asleep when I sat down so..." he trails off, scratching his cheek and smiling apologetically. "But I've been here for thirty minutes, if that's any help at all."
The stranger doesn't stop his staring and Jongin thinks he's probably still half asleep. Another full minute passes before the stranger breaks out into one of the most beautiful smiles Jongin has ever seen, rubbing his eyes free from sleep. He doesn't realize he's staring until he sees the stranger's lips form a frown, a tutting noise coming out.
"It's totally melted."
Jongin follows the stranger's gaze, landing on the small puddle of water from the drink's melted ice. Then he catches sight of the pout decorating the stranger's face and he sort of just forgets everything that follows.
"Um," the stranger shakes Jongin from his trance, eyes unblinking as he stares at Jongin's outstretched hand.
Oh.
"I'm sorry!" Jongin blurts out, retracting his hand quickly and using it to hide his flushed face, the red only getting darker when he hears the stranger's cute laugh.
"It's okay." the stranger says, lips still forming that smile that makes Jongin feel like a useless noodle.
Jongin's thankful the stranger didn't ask for any explanation about his weirdness because he doesn't have an answer, to be very honest.
He struggles to return to his own work, hunching his shoulders and inching his face closer to the screen. His eyes hurt from the close proximity and brightness but he's sure this is necessary so he wouldn't be tempted to look at the beautiful stranger just behind his laptop.
"Your eyes will get bad really quick if you do that." the now familiar voice says and Jongin's elbow promptly slips from the table, his forehead knocking against the screen because the voice is a lot nearer than he can handle.
And then warm hands are on his shoulder, steadying him. He looks beside him, the stranger now standing up and looking down at him with a worried expression. Jongin rakes his eyes all over the male, ignoring the throbbing in his forehead. He's shorter than him and Jongin silently cheers because he looks like he's the perfect height for Jongin to hug.
"I'm so sorry I keep startling you." the male says and Jongin feels something churn inside his stomach at the blush he sees on the beautiful stranger's face.
He sees him opening his mouth and Jongin assumes he's saying something but all he can do is stare helplessly at those lips. He sees the stranger smile shyly and he feels his heart beating faster even when the beautiful stranger has walked away.
Jongin rubs a hand on his face a minute later, realizing he hadn't even gotten his name.
"Some tough studying you did last night, Jongin." Junmyeon points to the dark circles adorning the younger's face. There's still an hour left before class starts and Jongin happily collapses on his table, eyes immediately closing in an attempt to salvage some sleep.
The door opens once again, Sehun walking in with his signature phone. He doesn't look up, not until he sits down beside Jongin and realizes his best friend hasn't said anything insulting yet.
"Is that the coffee's fault?" Sehun asks, trying to take a peek at Jongin's face currently trapped between his arms. Jongin lifts his hand high enough to give Sehun the finger.
Jongin tries to make himself believe that it's really because of the coffee and not the gorgeous stranger he met last night.
"Is it because you met a hot chick last night?" Junmyeon chirps and Jongin finds himself coughing, Sehun and Junmyeon's eyes suddenly boring holes into his back.
"You did?"
"Fuck off." he says simply, lifting his head and frowning as he tries fixing his hair. He knows his face is red by the disgusting grins on his two friend's faces. He glances at the clock, cursing when he sees class is not for another thirty minutes.
Jongin endured almost three hours of relentless teasing from Sehun and Junmyeon because he supposedly met a hot chick last night. He silently promised never to go back to that cafe ever again.
He's quick to take that last part back when he finds himself entering that same cafe at nine in the evening.
It's not as crowded as last night, only a few couples here and there and Jongin is glad for the quiet atmosphere. He falls in line again, trying not to glance around in hopes of seeing the same stranger from last night. Even the cashier tonight is different. Jongin vaguely remembers the male in one or two of his classes but he's always too sleepy to get to know more of his classmates.
"Jongin!" the cashier greets him and Jongin startles, confirming that said male is actually his classmate. "I never knew you were a coffee kind of guy."
"I never knew either." he says without thinking much and the other male laughs, teeth and tongue bared for everyone to see. Jongin takes the time to find the male's name tag and breathes out a relieved sigh when he does.
"I didn't know you worked here, Chanyeol." he grins tiredly, something Chanyeol doesn't question because Jongin has always been like that. He orders a strawberry frappuccino this time and pretends that he doesn't see Chanyeol's teasing grin.
"Good luck." Chanyeol calls out when he sets off to find a table. There are a lot of vacant ones and he smiles when he sees a spot he likes, but it doesn't last long because he unwillingly catches sight of the sole figure at the back of the cafe. He feels his stomach do that somersault thing again and he doesn't really protest when he felt his feet moving on their own, pulling him toward the beautiful stranger.
The boy looks up when Jongin slides into the chair in front of him, wide eyes sparkling in confusion. Jongin keeps his head bowed under the pretense of looking for something in his bag.
"Hi?" the stranger starts and Jongin looks up after making sure his face looks alright. He manages to smile back and this seems to ease the stranger because he smiles wider at Jongin. "The shop isn't full."
Jongin's cheeks heat up, getting what the stranger was saying. He opens his mouth but nothing comes out and the stranger must have understood because he smiles softly at Jongin. "On another note, I think it is quite packed, don't you think?"
This renders Jongin mute for a few seconds before he grins and nods. "Really packed."
The stranger's face lights up at Jongin's voice and Jongin feels something catch inside his throat.
"Still studying?"
Jongin nods, opening his laptop with a grimace. "I hate being a student."
The stranger giggles at this and Jongin looks up, eyes wide because it sounds so beautiful. At the corner of his eye, he sees the stranger's drink still untouched, the water forming around its base a proof of that. It was the same as last night.
"Do you like mocha?" Jongin finds himself asking and the stranger looks honestly taken aback. Maybe because it was the first time Jongin has said anything on his own. He points to the stranger's drink. "You were drinking that last night too."
It's too late when Jongin realizes that he probably sounds like a stalker and he blinks, shaking his head and laughing in embarrassment. "I mean - you don't have to answer that. I just.. just.. please ignore that."
"Not really." the stranger says and Jongin’s mini panic attack pauses. It just makes Jongin want to ask more but he stops himself, not wanting to sound nosy.
Jongin doesn't say anything else after that, turning his focus back on his laptop and letting the whirring sound of the aircon behind him lull him to concentration.
"Are you not going home yet?" a voice calls out and Jongin blinks repeatedly, looking up and seeing the stranger's concerned look. He glances at his watch and sees that it's already quarter past one in the morning. His class is at eight and he curses himself because he'll be getting less sleep than usual. If he looks dead with his normal sleeping routine then he doesn't want to think about how he looks like without it.
The other male offers him a kind smile again and Jongin doesn't hesitate to return it, albeit a little sleepily. "Thanks. I wasn't really aware of the time anymore."
"I kind of figured." the male chuckles and Jongin joins him after a few beats.
Jongin puts his laptop back on his bag and stands up. "Are you not going home yet?" he asks when the stranger just sits down again. He tries not to think that it's because he wanted to walk home together with the stranger. Maybe he'll get his name and his address too.
"Ah, in a bit." the male replies and Jongin's shoulders sag in disappointment. He glances at Kyungsoo's (still untouched) drink and nods.
"Be careful on the way home." he mumbles lowly but the stranger catches it and throws him one of those bright smiles in return.
"You too."
"You look dead again. I mean, more dead than usual."
"Thanks. I know." Jongin replies blandly as he sits down next to his best friend.
"Maybe you should stop with the coffee thing." Junmyeon suggests and he quickly whips his head to look at his friend, shaking his head furiously.
"No! No. It's not the coffee. It's just- it's not it." he defends, sucking his lower lip inside his mouth because he doesn't really care for the coffee. He just wants to see the stranger again.
Junmyeon and Sehun both shoot him a look and he inches lower down his seat, fully understanding what that meant.
"We're going with you later."
Jongin doesn't stop grumbling all the way to the cafe, Junmyeon and Sehun tailing behind him like some weird bodyguards. He's not actually bothered that his friends are coming with him. He's more bothered by the fact that his friends might embarrass him in front of the beautiful stranger if he's there again.
Jongin hopes he is.
"Chanyeol, my man." Sehun greets, immediately doing some sort of secret high five with the classmate-turned-cashier. Jongin wonders if Chanyeol knows the beautiful stranger.
Jongin allows Junmyeon to choose a drink for him as he walks forward, eyes already looking more awake when he sees the familiar mop of hair sitting on the same booth. He makes a beeline for it, forgetting about his friends looking behind him.
"Hi." he greets first this time and the stranger looks up, grinning when he sees Jongin take the spot in front of him. The male raises a brow when he only sees Jongin's bag and he sheepishly rubs the back of his head.
"My friends are getting the drinks." Jongin answers and they both turn to look at Sehun and Junmyeon who are also looking at them. Jongin feels himself blush but the male in front of him just waves a hand. He's mortified when he sees Sehun and Junmyeon wave back, teasing grins on their faces.
Crap.
"Your friends seem nice." the stranger says and Jongin tries to look at anything besides the adorable stranger in front of him. His eyes lands on the stranger's drink (still untouched. again) and notices it’s still the same. Maybe the stranger really does like mocha.
"They're nice to everyone but me." Jongin says sulkily and the stranger laughs. He finds himself smiling as well, the soft sound contagious and music to Jongin's ears.
He's feeling more and more comfortable but it disappears as soon as he catches sight of Sehun and Junmyeon making their way towards them. It must have shown up on his face because the stranger turns his head to look at where Jongin is staring. He smiles up when the two stop by their table, setting down Jongin's drink and thankfully, thankfully choosing to sit three tables away from them.
"Why didn't they sit here?" the male inquires, curious because the four of them should fit in there fine. Jongin shrugs, faking an obnoxious expression as he fiddles with his laptop again.
They spent the next hour doing the same; Jongin studying and Kyungsoo playing with his phone or sometimes taking small naps. It has becomes a routine for them, something comfortable neither one wants to question. But Sehun clearly doesn't share the same feeling.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
Jongin almost elbows his laptop out of the table, choking on air at Sehun's question. The male is taken aback as well and Jongin panics because they don't even know if he swings that way.
"I-" the stranger starts and Jongin unwillingly stares at him, jaw clenching in anticipation.
This could be it.
"-don't." he finishes and Jongin wants to cry in relief but he doesn't because that still doesn't answer Jongin's question. For all he knows, the stranger doesn't have a boyfriend because he's straight and he has a girlfriend.
Jongin excuses himself to go to the comfort room and Sehun snickers.
"I'm Sehun." he calls out with a grin and the stranger smiles, waving his hand slightly.
"Kyungsoo."
"And this is Junmyeon." Sehun gestures to the male sitting next to him. Junmyeon smiles and the stranger, Kyungsoo, smiles wider.
"The idiot probably pissing himself right now is Jongin."
"Jongin." Kyungsoo tests out, grinning and then nodding thankfully at Sehun. "It's nice to meet you."
Jongin comes out a little later, face a little less flushed as he glares at Sehun who only grins at him before turning the other way.
Jongin shoots a sheepish smile at Kyungsoo when he sits down, closing his laptop and putting it back in his bag.
"You're leaving?" Kyungsoo automatically asks and Jongin feels his heart flutter because the other male sounded sad.
"No, no. Not yet." Jongin grins, feeling just a little bolder as he leans forward. The pink tinge on Kyungsoo's face seems to fuel him even more because he smiles wide at him, not saying anything in particular.
"Is-Is there something on my face?" Kyungsoo asks, patting a hand on his cheek and then on his nose, eyes wide and lips slightly parted.
"Why don't you drink that?" Jongin asks and Kyungsoo looks blankly at him, probably not expecting the question. They both glance at the untouched drink, still mocha, and Kyungsoo gently scratches his cheek with a finger.
"Later." he answers shortly and Jongin pouts his lips. Kyungsoo doesn't know if it was on purpose or not but either way, it still makes his cheeks heat up a little bit more than normal.
"Then why do you keep buying it?" At this, Kyungsoo flushes and averts his eyes from Jongin, mouthing something. Jongin leans forward to catch it and Kyungsoo leans back, suddenly noticing the space between them.
Jongin wants to ask more, wants to take advantage of the courage bubbling inside him but Sehun stands up, yawning obnoxiously loud as he whines about needing more sleep.
Kyungsoo waves them a goodbye with his smile in place, Jongin returning it with his own before slumping in defeat as Sehun drags him back home.
It's early and Jongin tries tuning out Sehun's whisperings as well as their professor's droning, eyes closing because he's eternally sleepy. But it fails and he's forced to pretend to be awake, not appreciating Sehun being so alive for such an early morning.
Well, it's almost eleven but still, too early for Jongin.
He has another exam in four hours and he's already looking forward to going to the same cafe. He'd be lying to himself if he says he's there solely for reviewing. He's not even sure if the stranger is going to be there, but it's not bad to be optimistic about it.
Right?
"We should get Kyungsoo to hang out with us." he hears Sehun say and he furrows his brow, wondering who this Kyungsoo is. Sehun is quite the social butterfly so he dismisses it, assuming this Kyungsoo is probably one of the students Sehun has befriended.
"He seems nice." Junmyeon agrees and Jongin blinks. "And he looks nice, as well."
"You're too old." Jongin suddenly says and the two of them look at him. "I mean, whoever this Kyungsoo is, I'm sure he won't want to have to assist his boyfriend while buying underwear."
Junmyeon doesn't laugh though, or even frown. He simply mimics Sehun's blank look before erupting into a grin.
"Oh I'm sure Kyungsoo wouldn't mind."
Jongin just rolls his eyes, turning his head the other way and mentally counting the minutes before he gets to leave the two alone.
Jongin knows going there around noon would be a bad idea, if the students crowding the entrance is any indication. He catches a glimpse of the cashier, seeing it as the same girl on his first visit. Figures, Chanyeol should be studying right now too.
He squeezes himself between two highschool boys, huffing in frustration as he fixes his crumpled shirt. There, on the same seat as usual, is the stranger.
"Hi." he says breathlessly, sliding on the seat in front of him and smiling when he sees Kyungsoo smiles back, cheeks flushed from the cold.
"It's noon." Kyungsoo says and Jongin rubs his nape sheepishly.
"Well, yeah. I have an exam in less than three hours."
Kyungsoo looks at him in understanding and Jongin turns to look elsewhere, catching sight of Kyungsoo's drink. Again. It's then that he realizes he sat down empty handed, except for his bag.
"Here." Kyungsoo pushes his untouched drink at Jongin, probably noticing Jongin's pause.
"I'll just order one for me." he says, about to stand up but Kyungsoo reaches out and catches his arm. It's not forceful nor is it demanding but Jongin finds himself sitting down immediately as if Kyungsoo's hand weighed him down.
"I'll end up not drinking it anyways." Kyungsoo says softly and Jongin agrees silently, though it’s still awkward because he's going to be drinking his crush's drink.
Crush.
Of course he has a crush, Jongin face palms inwardly. He hesitantly took the drink, the perspiration from the ice seeping onto his warm palm. The stranger's bag catches his eyes, a strawberry keychain hanging from it.
"Just a minute." he mumbles, standing up and falling in line between a group of high school girls who quickly start stealing glances at him.
"Are you a student, oppa?" one of the girls dared to ask and Jongin looks at her blankly for a while before nodding his head once.
He's saved from answering more questions when the female behind the counter takes his order. He busies himself with his phone, pretending to text someone, while waiting for the drink until his name is called.
Grabbing his order, he quickly makes his way to Kyungsoo, wordlessly setting the strawberry frappe he ordered in front of the male. His cheeks are red when he sits down again, immediately opening his bag to grab his notes.
Kyungsoo's cheeks, on the other hand, aren't faring any better. They're pink and the warmth under his skin is slowly filling him (in particular, his heart). He looks down at the drink, wondering how Jongin would even know he likes strawberries. He muffles a laugh when he sees Jongin's name on a scrawl at the side and this makes Jongin look up.
"I didn't know what to tell her." Jongin mumbles and Kyungsoo tilts his head, finally realizing Sehun didn't mention his name to Jongin. This makes him grin, grabbing a pen from his bag and writing his name upside down on Jongin's notebook.
He looks just long enough to see Jongin freeze before looking down outside and taking a sip from the drink Jongin bought him.
He can't stop smiling.
"Kyungsoo." he hears Jongin say his name softly, meaning for it to be a whisper and he smiles wider, pretending not to hear a thing.
"Oppa."
Kyungsoo turns his head, seeing some girls sitting down at the table next to them. They were talking to Jongin who just lifts his head to stare in confusion at the girls.
"What's your name, oppa?" one of the girls asks and Kyungsoo's mouth forms an 'oh.'
Kyungsoo sees Jongin furrow his brows, his eyes trailing down his arm up to his hand laying awkwardly on the table. Jongin looks like he's having a hard time, Kyungsoo makes himself believe as he reaches out and takes Jongin's hand in his just as Jongin opens his mouth.
"Jong-"
"Sorry girls, but my boyfriend and I are out on a date." Kyungsoo says cheerfully, taking it to another level by easily fitting their fingers together. Kyungsoo notices how Jongin looks almost as taken aback as the girls do, and regret immediately begins to simmer in the pit of his stomach.
Kyungsoo's about to pull his hand back, apologize to Jongin for doing that but Jongin clearly has some other plans when he tightens his hold on Kyungsoo's hand.
"They're looking." he mouths and Kyungsoo, even with his face a different shades of red, nods.
It’s awkward, having to hold hands while one person is studying and the other drinking, but Jongin doesn't mind. In fact, he wishes the girls would leave a little bit later so he could hold Kyungsoo's hand longer. It's cold but their palms feel warm against each other, Jongin tries hard not to smile.
Kyungsoo was doing the same.
But the girls leave after a few minutes, chatting among themselves and looking back at the both of them. Jongin sighs in relief and Kyungsoo chuckles.
"It's not funny." Jongin mumbles, squeezing Kyungsoo's hand. The action startles them, both looking at their hands still interlaced. Kyungsoo quickly pulls his hand back in embarrassment, the cold seeping in worse than before.
"Sorry." they both say at the same time. This makes them both laugh even if their palms are itching to hold the other's hand again.
"I should get going." Jongin says, fixing his bag and smiling tiredly at Kyungsoo. He wonders if Kyungsoo doesn't leave the cafe seeing as the male seems to always be there whenever he comes in there.
"Good luck on your exams, Jongin."
Jongin grins extra wide this time, waving enthusiastically at Kyungsoo before leaving, more awake than he's ever been.
"You can't have a crush on Kyungsoo!" Jongin wails at Junmyeon as soon as he realizes who they were talking about early that morning. "And you!" he points to Sehun, "I can't believe you didn't tell me his name when you got it! Some friend you are!"
Sehun just rolls his eyes while Junmyeon smiles apologetically at Jongin. "Sorry, Jongin ah. It was just funny how you've been sharing the same table for three days but you didn't even get his name."
Jongin grumbles at this all the way back home, Junmyeon bidding goodbye halfway towards his own apartment.
"I, uh, have somewhere to go first." Jongin starts and Sehun looks at him with that weird grin of his.
"You mean Kyungsoo?"
Jongin flips him off before leaving, doubting his choice of friends for the hundredth time that day.
It's a little late when he arrives but it's no surprise when he sees Kyungsoo at the cafe, though it did surprise him that he was behind the counter.
"Kyungsoo?" he asks softly and the male grins softly, nodding. "You work here?"
Another nod before Kyungsoo looks at the clock. "I'll be on my break in ten minutes, can you wait for me?"
This sends Jongin's heart into overdrive but he nods, sitting down on their usual table. The place is almost empty and Jongin assumes it must be because exams are over; that, and it's pretty late as well.
"Hi." Kyungsoo slides in the seat opposite him and Jongin watches as he slides his drink to him.
"Why do you keep getting this if you don't drink it?" Jongin asks, not being able to help himself anymore.
"It's the only drink free for the employees." Kyungsoo says after a while, smiling shyly at having to say it. "I can't possibly say I don't like it when the owner was kind enough to give me a job."
Jongin watches the smile on Kyungsoo's face, his heart beat slowing down but it doesn't lessen the warmth he always feels whenever Kyungsoo's around.
"And I don't want to have to spend money to buy myself something either." Kyungsoo continues. "I could save it up more for my studies."
"Are you free tomorrow?" Jongin blurts out and Kyungsoo looks at him in surprise. "I mean, do you have work tomorrow?"
"Um, no." Kyungsoo says, still confused at Jongin.
"Come with me tomorrow." Jongin says, a little bit louder than normal. "I need to b-buy a cake for my sister's birthday."
Kyungsoo wants to ask why, of all people, Jongin would ask him. After all, they were just strangers four days ago. But he doesn't voice it, smiling instead because he wants to.
"Okay."
Jongin grasps his phone nervously, waiting for Kyungsoo's text as he stands outside the mall. He remembers how nervous he was last night when he asked for Kyungsoo's phone number. He's slept and all but the nerves are still there, jolting up when his phone vibrates and Kyungsoo's name shows up.
Aren't you tired and cold standing outside like that?
Jongin quickly looks up and there, on the opposite street, is Kyungsoo waving at him. He raises his own hand to wave back but Kyungsoo's already looking away, crossing the street and walking towards Jongin. Jongin feels his palms sweat, the corner of his lips itching to quirk up in a smile. It was oddly fascinating to see Kyungsoo out in broad daylight and outside of the coffee shop and it makes his stomach all weird again.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Kyungsoo starts and he's breathless and a tiny sheen of sweat is on his forehead; his hair is disheveled from the wind but his cheeks are also colored such a pretty red and he looks so beautiful to Jongin.
"Jongin?"
"It's okay." he says. voice cracking and Kyungsoo laughs.
"Let's go?"
"Yes."
The whole day was spent with Jongin going into different kinds of pastry shops and Kyungsoo turning down everything that's either 'too flashy' or 'too expensive.' Jongin argues he's the one paying for it but Kyungsoo still doesn't relent. Even during lunch, Kyungsoo had insisted on paying for himself and Jongin feels guilty for making the other male pay, knowing that Kyungsoo is saving up.
The skies are dark when they finally head back home, a string tied around the box grasped firmly in Jongin's hand . Kyungsoo tightens his scarf around him while Jongin carelessly walks on his t-shirt.
"Aren't you cold?" he asks, voice a bit muffled by the scarf. Jongin looks at him and shakes his head, walking closer until their arms are touching.
"Are you?"
Kyungsoo nods and it doesn't take a second before a warm hand is covering his. He looks up, the scarf effectively covering his red cheeks. Jongin firmly stares straight ahead and Kyungsoo smiles, following his lead.
"For, you know, in case those girls show up. We should be prepared or else they'll think we're lying." Jongin mumbles under his breath and Kyungsoo tries not to laugh, afraid that this wonderful night would be ruined. He nods, squeezing Jongin's hand in return and if possible, the hand around his gets even warmer.
"It's almost a month of you going down every single day to the cafe to watch Kyungsoo work. Have you done anything that’s remotely close to progress?" Sehun asks one afternoon, the both of them lounging inside their shared apartment. Jongin's phone is out, the owner staring at it every chance he gets.
"I don't fathom what you are saying, Oh Sehun." Jongin rolls on his stomach, limbs in a tangled mess.
"I mean you're an idiot. You should just date Kyungsoo already."
Jongin has heard this for the last few weeks from Sehun, and even Junmyeon. Honestly, he's disappointed at himself too but it's not easy to ask Kyungsoo out properly.
It feels like his heart's going to leap out of his chest in nervousness.
"He's going to say yes, I swear on Tao's ass."
"Please don't bring Tao in this, especially his ass." Jongin muffles his own voice against a pillow, not wanting to think that Sehun's got himself a date while Jongin's still pining over Kyungsoo.
"Do something and maybe you'll get to talk about Kyungsoo's ass."
Jongin chucks a pillow straight at Sehun's face.
"Just you wait, Sehun."
"Aren't you busy at all?" Kyungsoo asks. They're back at their usual table and it's still an hour before Kyungsoo has to take his shift. Chanyeol's on duty tonight and this makes Jongin jealous, wondering if he should apply as a barista as well so he could be with Kyungsoo a lot more.
Not that he's spending little time on him anyways.
"Exams aren't until in another two weeks so, no." Jongin answers, tapping his fingers on the table. He's drinking Kyungsoo's again and Kyungsoo's drinking the strawberry Jongin bought. Jongin thinks they look like a couple now, but he wants it to be real.
"Kyungsoo?"
Jongin looks up, seeing a tall man he's never seen before. Kyungsoo quickly stands up and bows and the man shakes his head with a smile.
"You don't like mocha?" he asks, eyeing the drink on Jongin's hand.
Kyungsoo's cheeks turns red and Jongin frowns, not liking the fact that Kyungsoo's blushing because of another male.
"Actually-"
"He likes strawberries." Jongin cuts Kyungsoo off and both looks at him in surprise. He swallows before adding firmly, "He likes strawberry more than mocha."
The taller male looks taken aback for a second before he smiles fondly at Jongin and then to Kyungsoo. "I'll give you strawberries from-"
"You don't need to do that." Jongin cuts again, fists too tight and jealousness too high to consider the consequences of his actions. He might even get Kyungsoo in trouble but he's too emotional to care right now.
Silence for a few short seconds before the taller male sighs and smiles, both hands on his hips as he nods and turns to Kyungsoo. "I'll still change it to strawberry but tell your boyfriend I'm not planning to steal you from him." he glances at Jongin teasingly before going back inside. Kyungsoo and Jongin were left standing before Kyungsoo sighs loudly.
Boyfriend?
"But I’m not his boyfriend." Jongin whispers under his breath but Kyungsoo still hears it.
"You could have gotten me in trouble."
Jongin bites his lip, looking down in guilt and nodding.
"You could have lost me my job."
Jongin nods again, knowing very well that Kyungsoo is right. He turns around, fixing his bag and attempting to leave wordlessly.
"And you could have just said you were my b-boyfriend."
Jongin stills, the frantic drumming of his heart threatening to drown him. He forces himself to turn around and look at Kyungsoo who happens to be looking away. But the redness on his ears and the back of his neck serves as a preview to how the shorter male's face is.
"K-Kyungsoo?"
Jongin sees Kyungsoo's shoulder tense up before turning around. Jongin was right. Kyungsoo's face is red and he's walking towards Jongin with that shy expression of his. He feels cold fingers lace with his own making him look down.
He never realized how good their hands looked together.
"Just in case your fangirls come." Kyungsoo mumbles
Jongin's face brightens so much Kyungsoo had to slap his other hand on his face. "You're slowly becoming like Chanyeol."
Jongin just laughs and tugs Kyungsoo forward, knocking their noses together. The contact isn’t much, isn’t all /that/ intimate, but it’s enough to set their hearts on fire as they laugh together. Until Chanyeol throws a rag at them, calling Kyungsoo to relieve him.
"Your manager isn't hitting on you, right?" Jongin asks again one morning and Kyungsoo bumps his fist on his head, frowning but nodding his head nonetheless.
"He has a wife, Jongin." he stresses, already getting tired of repeating it. It was cute at first but having to answer it for the nth time for the past hour is already ticking him off.
"I like you, really really like you." Jongin says suddenly, eyes wide and imploring. "I just wanted to tell you, in case you didn't know yet."
This makes Kyungsoo smile, eyes closing in mirth as he nods. "I like you too, Jongin. Really, really."
Kyungsoo's drink is replaced with a strawberry one and Jongin reaches for it first, sipping it noisily and smearing it all over his lips.
"Jongin, what are you doing?"
Jongin just grins before leaning forward and pecking Kyungsoo's lips quickly, enjoying the pink that spreads on his Kyungsoo's cheeks. It's starting to be his favorite color on him.
"You like me more than strawberries, right?"
Kyungsoo swallows and Jongin grins because he's won this round. But Kyungsoo's suddenly smirking, tongue swiping on his bottom lip to get the smear Jongin left behind.
"What do you think?"
Jongin coughs and drowns himself in Kyungsoo's drink, trying to tune out Kyungsoo's laughter but finding it impossible to do so.
"Yeah, I like you most, Jongin."