Caffeine || CHOI SOOBIN FF

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟝𝟞

-Start of Chapter 65-

I lay in bed, phone pressed to my ear, listening to Hana's voice. She's going off about uni projects, which is nothing new, but today, her tone sounds a little more exasperated than usual.

"Ugh, I swear, I can't with Seojun" Hana complains. "He's supposed to be helping with the younger students, but he keeps disappearing to the theater club. Like, where's the dedication?"

I laugh, propping myself up on my pillows. "Huh? The theatre club? I didn't even know he was into that."

Hana chuckles sheepishly, and I hear her fidgeting on the other end. "Um... yeah, well.., n-nothing"

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued, but she quickly changes the subject.

"Anyway" she continues brightly, "I'm working on the project with Nari and this other girl. I think it's gonna be a lot of fun."

I smile, glad to hear Nari's name. She's been such a bright spot at the café, so cheerful and sweet, it's hard not to like her. "That sounds awesome. Having Nari around must be entertaining, huh?"

"Yeah, she's always so bubbly and happy! Everything about her is cute. The way she speaks, the way she walks, her handwriting—it's all just adorable." Hana says, and I can almost hear her grinning on the other side of the phone.

I laugh, imagining Nari with her signature cheerfulness. "She really is something, huh? I'm glad you're working with her."

Hana's voice turns teasing. "Yep! Next time we work on a project together, I'll send you a photo so you can see for yourself."

I smile at the thought. "Sure"

The conversation trails off as Hana says goodnight, and I curl up under the blankets. Sleep quickly takes over.

~~~~~

The next morning, I wake up to the smell of fresh coffee and something sweet. I stretch, groggily getting out of bed, still half asleep when I make my way down the hallway. As I turn the corner into the kitchen, I spot Huening standing near the counter, his eyes focused on something on the surface.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask, rubbing my eyes, a little confused.

Huening doesn't answer at first, his gaze still locked on whatever it is he's looking at. And its impossible to see over his tall figure.

When he finally turns to me, his face is unusually serious. "Noona... you should see this."

I blink in surprise, walking closer. 

But then my eyes land on the photo he's holding. My stomach drops. 

It's a picture of me and Soobin—taken yesterday, while we were walking through that secluded area, his coat draped across my shoulders, the soft glow of the Christmas lights still hanging in the background.

And next to it, there's a note...

In that same bubbly handwriting...

~~~~~

Soobinnie how dare you lend her your coat?? That should be me!!

But I forgive you - here's a cake I made with love. Make sure to eat it.

And don't worry. If she ever comes in our way again,
I'll make sure she's gone forever...