my PERFECT piece || Ppotoz one shot

#10 | brewing love

It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air inside Yoon Seoyeon's café, Sweet Beans. Seoyeon, a petite woman with a bubbly personality and a perpetual smile on her face, busied herself behind the counter. She had a deep love for coffee—not just as a drink but as an experience. She had spent years perfecting her own blends and recipes, crafting a menu that made her café a unique destination in the neighborhood.

As she wiped down the counter, her gaze shifted to the front door, which chimed softly as it opened. In walked a tall, striking woman, dressed in a simple black turtleneck and jeans, her long, dark hair falling effortlessly around her shoulders. Seoyeon paused for a moment, taken aback by the woman's beauty. She had a calm, almost icy demeanor, with sharp features and an air of mystery that seemed to create a bubble of quiet around her.

The woman approached the counter, her eyes scanning the menu with a disinterested gaze, as if she wasn't particularly drawn to any of the offerings. Seoyeon smiled warmly, ready to greet her like any other customer.

"Welcome to Sweet Beans! What can I get for you today?" Seoyeon chirped, her voice bright and inviting.

The woman's eyes flicked up to meet Seoyeon's, and for a moment, Seoyeon thought she saw a flicker of hesitation in the woman's dark, almost cold eyes. But then she spoke, her voice soft and low.

"Just a black coffee. No sugar."

Seoyeon's smile didn't falter, even though the woman's tone was polite but distant, as though she preferred to be left alone.

"Coming right up!" Seoyeon replied cheerfully, making her way to the espresso machine.

As she prepared the order, Seoyeon couldn't help but steal glances at the woman. She was seated by the window, her back straight, her gaze fixed on the outside world. There was something about her that intrigued Seoyeon. She had seen plenty of customers come and go, but none like this one—so beautiful, yet so closed off.

"Here you go, black coffee, just how you like it," Seoyeon said, setting the cup down on the table with a smile.

"Thanks," the woman replied quietly, her eyes briefly meeting Seoyeon's before she looked away again.

Seoyeon lingered for a second, wanting to say more, but something about the woman's aura made her retreat. It was clear this wasn't someone who wanted to engage in small talk. Respecting that, Seoyeon returned to the counter, her mind buzzing with curiosity.

Days turned into weeks, and Seoyeon noticed that the mysterious woman had become a regular at Sweet Beans. Almost every afternoon, like clockwork, she would walk in, order her black coffee, and settle into her usual spot by the window with a laptop. She would stay for hours, quietly typing away, her face occasionally tensing in concentration or relaxation as she worked.

Seoyeon, always observant but never intrusive, began to develop a quiet fascination with her. It wasn't just the woman's beauty, though Seoyeon couldn't deny how striking she was. It was the calm, almost serene atmosphere she created, despite her cold exterior. Seoyeon noticed how she never engaged with anyone, never smiled, and rarely even spoke more than a few words to the staff.

"She's like an ice queen," one of the baristas, Jiho, commented one day, watching the woman from behind the counter.

"Maybe she just likes her space," Seoyeon replied, always quick to defend her customers' privacy. "She seems... peaceful in her own way."

"Yeah, peaceful and intimidating," Jiho added with a chuckle.

Seoyeon smiled, but there was a thoughtful expression on her face. Despite the woman's cold demeanor, Seoyeon couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more beneath the surface.