✔ Caffeine || CHOI SOOBIN FF

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟞𝟡

~speeding things uppp~

-Start of Chapter 69-

The scandal soared higher than I ever could've imagined.

For weeks, it was everywhere—on every social media platform, in every gossip column, even on TV. It wasn't just me who was dragged through the mud. Soobin bore the brunt of it, being the idol in the equation. Hana told me how he received waves of hate—comments questioning his professionalism, accusing him of betrayal, even dragging his group into the mess.

I wasn't spared either, though my world was smaller. Angry customers would occasionally shout at me in the café, demanding to know why I'd kissed him or spewing insults as they stormed out. I'd learned to ignore them, brushing off the stares and the whispers. My job wasn't affected the way his was; no contracts were threatened, no public statements demanded of me. But the weight of it all was crushing in its own way.

Eventually, like every other scandal, it died down. The articles stopped trending, the hate comments slowed, and people moved on. At least, the public did.

Privately, the fallout lingered. Soobin tried to reach out more times than I could count, each attempt feeling like a needle pricking my already raw heart. The TXT members followed suit, but I ignored them all, determined to cut ties completely.

It wasn't just for my sake. It was for theirs too.

~~~~~

[𝟸 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛]

Two years.

Two years of silence.

The world hasn't stopped moving, of course. TXT continues to soar to new heights, dominating charts and headlines. Their faces are everywhere—billboards, magazine covers, music shows. Even when I try my hardest to avoid them, their presence seems to seep through the cracks.

I've built my life away from all of it. The café has grown steadily over the years, a comforting bubble where I can keep myself busy and avoid the chaos outside. Seojun and Hana have both adjusted in their own ways—Hana with a reluctant acceptance of my boundaries, and Seojun with his ever-loyal protectiveness.

"I get it." Seojun had said when I first told him. "You need space. Focus on yourself and the cafe. I'll be here if you need me"

Hana, on the other hand, had taken more convincing.

"I can't believe you're asking me to stop talking about TXT," she had protested, her cheeks puffed in indignation. "I love their music!"

"I'm not asking you to stop liking their music. Talk to them, go their concerts. Do whatever you want. Just..." I'd said firmly, crossing my arms. "Just stop telling me about them. I don't need updates on their lives or their songs or lives. Please, Hana."

Eventually, she had sighed, my words settling in. "If that's what you want unnie."

The truth is, I don't blame them for still being part of TXT's world. I just can't be.

Not after everything.

The ache of their absence hasn't lessened over the years, even if I pretend it has. Blocking Soobin was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but every time he tried to reach out, it only reopened wounds I was desperately trying to heal.

And it wasn't just him. Beomgyu's jokes, Yeonjun's teasing, Huening's sweet messages, Taehyun's calm reassurances—they all tried. I blocked them all.

Because moving forward meant leaving them behind.

~~~~~

Seojun and I had a massive fight last year when he told me he wanted to attend an acting academy. "What?! Do you realise how hard that is?!" I'd argued. "You don't realise you need a stable job! Not something that si this risky?! What if it doesn't work out?!"

"I'm not a kid anymore, noona!" he'd snapped. "I have my dreams too!"

It was the first real argument we'd had in years, and it left a bitter taste in both our mouths. But in the end, I relented, and he began his journey in theatre.

Hana, on the other hand, had blossomed in her own way. She'd started modeling and even taken an interest in songwriting. Her confidence shone brighter than ever, and I couldn't be prouder. When she and Seojun decided to move in together earlier this year, it made sense, even if it left me feeling... lonely.

The house is quieter now, a little too big for just me.

At least some things were finally resolved. We managed to get a hold of my father last year, and he's now in jail where he belongs. That chapter of my life is firmly closed.

Even my few university friends have started moving on with their lives—getting into relationships, some even getting married. And me? I'm just... here.

Hana tried to set me up on a few blind dates, insisting it was time for me to "live a little." The guys were always polite, well-mannered, and perfectly fine on paper. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop myself from comparing them to him.

I'd catch myself remembering his pouty lips, the way they'd press together when he was annoyed or thinking too hard. His soft, boyish charm that seemed to light up a room. And those dimples—God, those dimples—popping out whenever he smiled, effortlessly stealing my breath away.

It was infuriating.

It's been two years, and I still can't get him out of my head.

The café keeps me grounded, and I've even started expanding it—opening a new branch in Japan just last month. Everything seems to be going smoothly.

Sort of.

I won't lie to myself. There are days when the silence feels suffocating, when the loneliness wraps around me like a heavy blanket. But I try to find the good side, even if it feels like searching for stars in the daytime.

Because what other choice do I have?

-

-End of Chapter 69-

~author's note~

like i saidddd imma speed things uppp.

I had more drama but i decided to cut it short.

I might use it on my other ffs similar to this that i will create in the future.

Hope u support my decision either wayy.

Anyways,

Don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT

And...

Stay tuned for Chapter 70

Okii baii !! Luv ya'll <3

~~~~~