The paths your eyes wander down

One-short

Han Yoojin is waiting for two school girls to decide what they want when the door jingles open.

"Welcome to Copy Coffee!" he calls out reflexively.

The businessman who comes in nods back to Yoojin in greeting, continuing to fold the sleeves of his button down up to his elbows. Yoojin wonders where the man's suit jacket is while eyeing the well-defined forearms.

The girls are finally ready to order, Yoojin writing their order on post-it notes and attaching them to the right cups. Yoo Myeongwoo emerges from the back, looking harried and carrying his bag.

"Sorry to leave you like this," Myeongwoo frets.

Yoojin waves him off, punching the order into the register. "I can handle it, go to your apprenticeship. Besides, it's Yerim's fault that she's late."

Myeongwoo bids his goodbye as he's going out the door and the girls find a seat in the café. Yoojin focuses on the blond man who saunters up, deciding to start making the drinks after he gets all the orders.

"What can I do for you?"

"I'll just do a latte," the man decides.

Yoojin nods, writing it down on a sticky note. "For here or to go?"

"For here."

"And your name?" Not that Yoojin needs it, since there are only three orders.

The man smiles like he knows. "Sung Hyunjae."

Yoojin is about to write the name when the door bursts open with a shout of "Ahjussi!" from Bak Yerim, whose loud tone is apologetic.

Yoojin scribbles something down and attaches the note to a saucer. "Just get these other two drinks, Yerim-ah."

She's quick to drop off her stuff in the back and put on her apron before dutifully starting the school girls' drinks. Hyunjae goes to sit at the counter near where they make the drinks after he pays. Yoojin takes his time with the latte, making the coffee art to look like a cat instead of the regular tulip.

Yerim calls out the names of the girls, tossing Yoojin's notes out as she places the drinks for pick up. Another customer enters, and she goes to greet them.

Yoojin slides the latte over to Hyunjae as one of the school girls asks for a stir stick, the supply available for customers being empty. Yoojin apologizes and retrieves a bundle, giving her one and refilling the bin.

Yoojin sees Hyunjae looking down at his order, a sip taken out.

"Is everything alright, sir?" Yoojin asks.

"Do you always do this?" Hyunjae asks, looking at him with consuming eyes.

Yoojin raises an eyebrow, slightly taken aback. "Er, the cat? Or the beans?"

Hyunjae's expression doesn't change for a moment, but gives way to an amused smile. "Are the beans different than usual?" he settles on, though Yoojin can tell that's not really what he wanted to ask.

Nonetheless, Yoojin perks up. "Actually, I'm trying out this new blend with beans from Ethiopia—"

Hyunjae listens good-naturedly as he rambles excitedly about the new blend. He occasionally interjects with questions and they're quickly drawn into conversation. Yoojin abandons Yerim to take care of the customers alone, caught up in talking.

Leaning against the counter and up close, Yoojin can see the tiredness in the other man's eyes. At some point, Hyunjae loosens his tie and takes it off while he's asking about the effects of precipitation on bean taste, and Yoojin tries to not make it obvious that he's staring at the muscles flexing under the very well-tailored shirt.