LAPSED

⚠ 𝑪𝑹𝒀𝑷𝑻𝑰𝑪 𝑨𝑩𝒀𝑺𝑺 ⚠

"ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪꜱ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇꜱ ꜱᴇᴄᴜʀɪᴛʏ. ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪꜱ ᴜɴʜᴀᴄᴋᴀʙʟᴇ."
-𝕬𝖓𝖎𝖊𝖐𝖊𝖊 𝕿𝖔𝖈𝖍𝖚𝖐𝖜𝖚 𝕰𝖟𝖊𝖐𝖎𝖊𝖑

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

ANOTHER week had come and gone, marking the passage of time in Jungkook's life. For the past three days, he had been diligently working at the coffee shop, immersing himself in the art of crafting the perfect beverages, which he actually liked. Unlike Jimin, Jungkook preferred to keep to himself, rarely engaging in casual conversations or socializing during his shifts. He rarely assist with welcoming the customers or such. His primary focus was on mastering the art of decorating steamy drinks with intricate designs, and sometimes, assisting in the bustling kitchen where delectable pastries were baked.

Overwhelmed by the fact that Jungkook had been around her workplace, Dahyun - the social butterfly that she is - made occasional attempts to strike up a conversation with Jungkook whenever the opportunity presented itself. Undeterred by the male's dismissive attitude, Dahyun persisted in her attempts to engage him in conversation. She would pose a range of questions, ranging from simple queries about his day to more complex inquiries delving into his ability to freeze time. Despite knowing that her inquiries often earned her sharp glares from Jungkook, she couldn't contain her curiosity and would sometimes speak a bit too loudly, causing others to overhear her weird questions. More often than not, he would simply brush her off, paying little attention to her words. He seemed lost in his own world, channeling all his energy and concentration into perfecting his craft. The intense dedication to his work left little room for personal connections or idle chitchat.

Meanwhile, Jimin had been absent from the café for the past five days. The reason behind his prolonged absence became evident as news spread that he was grappling with some complications in his business venture. Specifically, his other branch in Busan was facing some issues that demanded his immediate attention. In an effort to resolve the problems and ensure the smooth operation of his business, Jimin had made the difficult decision to personally travel to Busan and oversee the situation firsthand.

"Hey, Dah! Have you managed to catch that Chinese drama I've been raving about? It's seriously amazing! I've stumbled upon a few clips online, but I haven't been able to find the complete episodes anywhere," Chaeyoung exclaimed excitedly, settling down with Dahyun in the cozy staff room after a long day of work, ready to change into their comfortable attire.

Dahyun playfully rolled her eyes at Chaeyoung's remark and responded with a pout, "Why can't you address me as 'eonni'? It sounds so much better! Anyway, I'll definitely look into it when I get home. Myungsoo oppa claims to know this secret, underground site for downloading series. I'll sneak into his computer tonight to get the link of the site. Fingers crossed that it's available there!"

After their conversation, Dahyun and Chaeyoung moved towards their lockers to retrieve their casual outfits. They swiftly changed into more comfortable clothes, ready to wrap up their workday. With a renewed sense of energy, they switched places with their fellow colleagues who were tasked with cleaning and tidying the café.

As Dahyun began wiping down the tables, her gaze inadvertently shifted towards the kitchen area. There, she caught a glimpse of Jungkook engrossed in a learning session with their experienced pastry chef, who was patiently instructing him in the art of crafting the perfect croissant. Dahyun couldn't help but observe the scene with curiosity and admiration.

Noticing the faint traces of flour adorning Jungkook's arms, Dahyun understood that he was still at the early stages of mastering the delicate pastry-making process. It was only natural for him to be a bit messy and unpolished in his work at this point. Nonetheless, she appreciated his determination and the genuine effort he put into expanding his skills.