Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop || Jikook [COMPLETE]

Chapter 1

Jimin was bored. But he usually was bored when they weren't in the middle of their morning rush, or when his favorite co-worker, now best friend and roommate, wasn't working the same shift as him. That was life as a barista, though.

So here Jimin sat behind the counter with his chin pressed into his hand, holding his head up to keep from slamming it into the counter out of sheer boredom, when the bell above the door jingled, alerting him to a customer's entry. He stood upright, delighted to have something to do, and looked up at the customer who had just walked in – promptly choking on his spit. Because this was the most beautiful specimen of a human being Jimin had ever laid eyes on, and he was now standing directly in front of him.

"Um, hi," the man said, looking at Jimin uncertainly.

Jimin couldn't blame him, because he knew he was staring, maybe even possibly drooling. He cleared his throat.

"Hi, welcome to rkive. What can I get for you today?" Jimin asked in his best customer service voice, pairing it with a smile.

"Not sure, to be honest," the man said softly, his big doe eyes drifting up to the menu above Jimin's head.

Jimin felt himself practically melt at how endearing the man looked, those big eyes roaming the menu. He bit his bottom lip to keep from squealing out loud, then had an idea.

"I think I know just what you need," Jimin said, causing the stranger to pull his gaze from the menu and meet Jimin's.

A thoughtful look flitted across the man's face before one corner of his mouth curved upward into a small, crooked smile.

"Okay."

Jimin grinned and promptly twirled away from the register to get to work. He had been a barista for three years and prided himself on making just what someone wanted when they didn't know what they wanted. He prayed to whatever deity ruled over cafés that, once again, he was right. He was still praying as he turned back around, cup in hand, and set it gingerly on the counter. The man looked at the cup, then up at Jimin. Jimin smiled, giving an encouraging nod toward it. He watched with anticipation as the man picked it up and took a sip.

"Matcha latte," the man beamed from behind his cup.

Jimin's heart flip-flopped in his chest, and he had to do everything in his power not to coo at the man, who's smile turned him into a bunny. A hot, pierced, oh-my-God-are-those-tattoos bunny. But a bunny, nonetheless.

"I take it you like it?" Jimin asked, wanting explicit confirmation and another smile out of the man.

"It's one of my favorites," the man smiled again.

"Really?" Jimin asked, somewhat skeptically. "You're not just saying that?"

The man shook his head.

"Honest to God. Along with a c-"

"No!" Jimin practically shouted, startling the man so badly his eyes went wider than Jimin thought possible. "I, uh, don't want to know." Jimin felt his cheeks burn as the man tilted his head in confusion. "I, um, want to guess again."

Jimin wanted to die. He was completely and utterly mortified and was getting ready to pretend he'd heard Namjoon call his name from the back just to escape, when he heard a chuckle from in front of him. Jimin looked up – when had he even looked down, he wondered – and watched the man's nose scrunch up, which cemented in Jimin's mind that he was the most adorable person he'd ever met. Which he hadn't thought was possible, given that his best friend was the physical embodiment of sunshine.

"Okay."

Jimin smiled delightedly. "Okay."

"Oh, how much do I owe you?"

Jimin shook his head emphatically. "Nothing, it's on the house."

"Are you sure? I don't want you to get in trouble."

"Nope, it's fine, I promise," Jimin smiled.

"All right, but just this once," the man smiled back.

"Just this once," Jimin agreed.

"I should get going. But thanks again, Jimin."

Jimin's brain short-circuited at the fact that this gorgeous man knew his name – until he remembered he was wearing a name tag, which turned his confusion into mortification. Yep. Jimin would have been completely fine if the ground had opened up beneath his feet and swallowed him whole. Regardless, he was determined to know this beautiful man's name.

"You're welcome, matcha latte," Jimin grinned.

"Matcha latte?" the man echoed.

"What I'll call you until I have a name to replace it," Jimin said, as nonchalantly as he could manage.

The man grinned. "Jungkook."

"Well then. You're welcome, Jungkook," Jimin said, watching Jungkook begin walking backward toward the door.

"See you around, Jimin."

"Yeah," Jimin breathed as he watched Jungkook disappear through the door.

"That was painful to watch."

Jimin whipped his head to the left and groaned, flopping dramatically across the counter, as his nature was.

"Please just kill me. Please," Jimin begged Namjoon.

"And miss another chance to watch the great Park Jimin flounder like that? Not a chance."

"This is employee abuse," Jimin bemoaned.

Namjoon laughed out loud before his features settled into a dimpled smile.

"Tell you what, next time he comes in, I'll take his order."

"You will do no such thing if you want your plants to survive next week," Jimin said assuredly, standing up straight and smoothing down his rkive apron.

"You wouldn't dare." Namjoon uncrossed his arms.

Jimin gave him one of his most charming smiles. "Try me."

"And you accuse me of employee abuse," Namjoon muttered before disappearing back into his office.

Jimin chuckled and got back to work, no longer bored, with a man who looked like a bunny when he smiled named Jungkook occupying his thoughts.