✔ Caffeine || CHOI SOOBIN FF

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟟𝟜

~blop~

-Start of Chapter 74-

Soobin starts coming to the café every day, and though it's awkward at first, there's an undeniable comfort in seeing him again, like slipping into an old, familiar melody. He sits at the same corner table he used to claim, his presence both grounding and unnerving, stirring memories I thought I'd buried. 

At first, our exchanges are brief—his soft "Morning" met with my guarded nod—but slowly, the walls between us begin to crack. He starts to ask me to sit with him- just like in the old time. He asks about my life, about the café, his voice warm with genuine curiosity, and when he mentions he almost visited last year but didn't know if he should, something in my chest tightens. 

There's a nostalgia in the way he lingers, in the way his gaze holds mine for a second too long, and for the first time in two years, I feel like the distance between us might not be so impossible to cross. I don't tell Hana or Seojun yet; this fragile, tentative reconnection feels too precious to share. For now, it's just us, quietly finding our way back to what we once were.

~~~~~

"What would you like?-"

I look up from the cash register for the last customer and there he is—Soobin, standing across the counter, smiling at me like he knows exactly how flustered I'll get. His eyes are soft, the usual teasing spark replaced with something warm and genuine, and my heart skips a beat.

I try to hide the smile tugging at my lips, but it's useless. "Coffee."  I mutter quickly, punching inn the order.

The door jingles, and just as I'm about to turn away to prepare the coffee, I hear Hana and Seojun's voices. My stomach lurches.

Oh shit.

They walk in, chatting and laughing, but they don't immediately notice Soobin. She looks at me and waves at me.

"Unnie-" But then Hana stops mid sentence, "Wait... Soobin oppa?"

"Mh?!" Seojun exclaims next to her, quickly looking at the person in front of me.

Soobin looks at me a little awkwardly, before looking at them and bowing slightly, "Hi... long time no see."

Hana shoots me a confused look, but I don't reply, just keeping my lips pressed in a thin line.

"Let's um... sit down and catch up?" I shrug.

~~~~~

"Songwriting? Sounds nice." Soobin nods, "So are you enjoying it?"

Hana grins, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, I'm getting more into it lately! I've been playing around with lyrics and melodies, but it's not as easy as I thought. I get stuck sometimes... like, I want it to sound good, but it's so hard to get everything to fit together."

"I think it's about finding the right flow." Soobin says, nodding as if he's been doing this for years. "If the melody isn't coming to you, try focusing on the rhythm first, just humming along. The rest usually follows." His voice is calm, like he's giving advice to an old friend, and it's weirdly comforting to hear.

Hana nods, listening to his words.

I smile a little as I clean the counter, watching the conversation unfold. It feels natural, even though it's been two years since we've all been together like this. Hana is as energetic and bubbly as ever, and Seojun, who's been quieter than usual, has started to ask Soobin about his life—what he's been doing, about upcoming albums.