s e o u l | k p o p - o s

147. NCT Taeyong - Chaos and Coffee

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Pairing: Lee Taeyong x female reader

Genre: coffee shop au / fluff

Warnings: clumsy cliché moments

Word count: 1030

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Ever since your first day working at the coffee shop, you had been a walking disaster. At first, it could be chalked up to being new and nervous. But you were now three months into your part-time job and still fumbled over carrying orders out to patrons who chose to sit in, mixed up names on the takeout cups, and even broke a set of freshly washed mugs taking them out of the dishwasher.

Glancing up at your boss, embarrassed, he looked at the predicament he had come out of his office to find, Taeyong groaned heavily. "Why is it always you causing trouble, Y/N?"

You weren't normally this flustered and burdensome. Normally you could walk straight without tripping over anything, balancing textbooks and supplies in both hands. You had a good memory outside of the shop, and further, you were known as the confident one in your friends circle.

However, as soon as you stepped inside the coffee shop and Taeyong greeted you for your shift, it all went downhill from there.

You were certain he should have fired you by now. And on a couple of occasions, you had gone home convincing yourself to write up your resignation after causing havoc once again.

No matter how horribly you had performed during your shift the day prior, Taeyong would always greet you with his handsome smile, genuinely brightening up his face every time he saw you. It didn't matter what you did during your rostered hours either, he always seemed upbeat when he closed up the shop with you.

But today, you had finally hit that threshold you were certain in any other work environment would have had you fired weeks ago.

"Let's go into my office," he stated, and you darted your panicked focus between his unreadable expression and then at the broken cups on the floor.

"I'll just clean-"

"No doubt you'll end up cutting yourself in the process and give me more of a headache. I'll call Nancy in to pick it up, so let's go."

Head down as you sat across from Taeyong in his office, you fiddled with the ties of your apron. You didn't want to face whatever he was going to say and decided you should just resign. You and he both knew you weren't going to be a sustainable employee for long.

"Y/N."

"I like you!" you blurted out suddenly, eyes rounding when you realised you hadn't shouted out that you were going to resign as your mind had been repeating for the seconds before he spoke. When you looked up at the man, he was clearly frozen from your random confession, causing a small whine to leave your mouth. Standing up, you bowed apologetically. "Sorry. I meant to say I'll resign. Thank you for the opportunity so far."

And you dashed for the door, rushing down the hallway into the staff locker room before Taeyong even had a chance to respond.

You were halfway through unbuttoning your work shirt when the door swung open, Taeyong stepping in and then spinning around to face the wall when he noticed your predicament.

"Will you let me talk now too?" he asked, and you pulled off your shirt, slipping your hoodie over top before turning around to face him. Sensing it was safe to face you, Taeyong examined your closed-off expression before sighing. "Why is it always you?"

"I acknowledge my position here has been tumultuous. I'll bring in a written copy of my resignation tomorrow, but please process my request."

"Y/N, you don't remember me, do you?"

Blinking as your brows furrowed together, you shook your head. "We've met before?"

"When we were in elementary. Do you remember a kid who once tripped carrying paints and ruined your favourite shirt that you cried for the entire afternoon until that same kid bought you an ice-cream?"

With a moment's thought, you did remember that scene distinctively. Gasping, you pointed at Taeyong, and he nodded gently. "That was you?!"

"Funny how the tables have turned now, huh?"

"But you were so clumsy and stuttered and really had a hard time around others."

Taeyong cringed at your memory of him and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, I was struggling with my crush on you."

"You liked me?!"

"And now you like me, apparently." Taeyong eyed you carefully. "That's why everything...?"

You nodded sadly. "You make me a mess."

"I can't help but feel relieved to know that's why."

Lurching forward, you took hold of his forearm and shook it. "How did you get over it? I don't want to keep being like this, but my brain seems to stop functioning when I'm around you."

"Well, I don't know if I can help you with that. You moved school, so that's when it stopped for me. Now, I guess because I got the chance to get over you, it's easier."

You sighed and let him go. "I guess it's best I still leave though."

"I kept you on for a reason, Y/N."

"Because you liked disaster?"

Taeyong laughed and shook his head. "Definitely not. But, the small boy in me couldn't help but enjoy being around you each day."

"That's not going to help–" You stopped then, realising what Taeyong had said. "Wait, I thought you said you had the chance to get over me."

"I did, but I also can't deny that you still affect me, even after all this time."

"So what do we do?"

"Well, first, I think you should put your uniform back on. That is if you're willing to endure some more work. And then after we close the shop together, maybe I could take you out for dinner?"

"I can't see how this is going to stop me from ruining your business."

"No, but maybe if we spend more time together, we might be able to find a better balance between our feelings," Taeyong offered, and you smiled smiling, his lips curling up to mirror your expression.

"I'll be back out in five minutes, boss!"

"As long as you don't call me that after work hours, I look forward to what other chaos you cause me."

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