radiant | jung hoseok | ✓

chapter seven | vanilla lattes

As the night went on, I found myself energized by the atmosphere of the restaurant instead of feeling exhausted from it. The awkwardness I had felt when I entered faded away and was left with content happiness from my experience.

Jimin was an excellent waiter and glowed with charisma and chatted with me during his brief breaks when his tables were served.

It wasn't long before the other waiters noticed my presence, recognizing me as the barista from across the street. As it turns out, all seven boys were working tonight since it is usually their busier night.

Tonight's main waiters included Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook while Namjoon is making an emergency run to the store for a number of items they ran out of in the first hour. The story behind the lack of ingredients was oddly vague but it involves a pickup order error and too many lemons.

Jimin explained that Jungkook is usually in the kitchen, acting as both cook and sous-chef, but tonight he is assigned to take Namjoon's usual place as a waiter.

When the food comes, it is Taehyung who serves it to me. He smiles at the sight of me as he puts my tray down. It is towering with wings with a smaller tray filled with various sauces for me to try. "Hey, I didn't realize you came!" he says, grinning over his shoulder. His thick dark hair almost shields his soul-filled eyes. "How do you like it?"

"It's awesome," I answer truthfully, returning his smile. "It's a really fun place."

"Great!" he exclaims, pleased with my answer. Taehyung withdraws his hands and lingers beside the table. He glances at the empty drink with a curious expression, "What did you order?"

"Oh," I smile warmly at the thought and gesture vaguely towards the bartender counter. "Hoseok made it for me, an Anatolia café. It was very good. If I wasn't here on business, I'd order another one."

Taehyung's eyes widen with adorable wonder. "Really?" he asks excitedly. "Wow... hyung must really like you!"

I laugh lightly and shake my head at him. "Oh, I think he just likes my drink recommendations," I claim jokingly. Yet a secret part of my heart wishes it was me he liked.

The truth of the matter is that we hardly know each other. We have only spoken in brief passing and I think I might be reading too much into the situation. It's been literal years since I've considered myself... infatuated. My feelings are strange and foreign to me. I want to keep my emotions under control and convince myself not to fall victim to daydreams, yet that is becoming increasingly difficult as the night passes.

Taehyung's smile melts into a smug one, squinting his eyes as he looks over me. "Or... maybe it's something else," he suggests playfully. With a quick wink, he steps away from the table and walks back towards the kitchen doors.

I laugh to myself, surprised by his opinion on the matter, but feel oddly validated through his acknowledgment. Maybe this feeling isn't so one-sided after all.

I turn my focus onto the mouth-watering food laid out in front of me. I don't bother to use utensils and go straight for the wings. The satisfying crunch of the outer layer of the fried chicken sends me straight to heaven. The wings are beautifully seasoned with a variety of spices. The cajun sauce becomes my new favorite sauce and tops the wings off with a chef's kiss.

Imagine being able to eat this type of food every day...

I sigh happily when I finish eating my food. It is rare I am able to eat all the food on my plate but today is marked as a special day.

"Finley! I'm glad you could make it!" I glance up in surprise and find Namjoon weaving through the crowded tables, approaching me with an apologetic smile. He clumsily bumps into a few table edges, I wince in sympathetic pain. But he makes it to the table without causing any serious damage aside from a few bruises on his hip. He smiles warmly, causing his dimples to indent his cheeks, "Did you enjoy the food? Sorry, I'm late..."