Enchanting | Jikook

2

Over the course of the night, Taehyung tells him more. They sit on stools behind the counter, the streets outside deserted, and Taehyung tells Jimin that they used to be a group of four, and they actually were troublemakers. Apparently Sana and Jungkook almost got expelled from high school once, Hoseok ran away from home for a week a few years ago and lived in a subway station until they caught him - Taehyung doesn't say much about what he himself did when they were friends, but he lets Jimin feel that he was right there with them. And he was enjoying it.

Then the end came, out of nowhere. Taehyung says that Jungkook friend-dumped him, just walked up to him one day and said that they won't hang out together anymore and he can go and have a nice life, and that was it. Sana and Hoseok stayed with Jungkook, and Taehyung was left alone, just like that.

Jimin actually feels like spilling some of that very hot chocolate in Jungkook's face next time he parades in here, but he needs this job.

Plus now people are starting to actually be scared of Jungkook and his friends, and Taehyung says they seem stupidly satisfied by that.

Jimin isn't scared.

From here on out, he's alone at night. The leather jacket trio comes often now, three or four times a week, always ordering the same drinks, always waiting wordlessly, never staying in the shop to drink. With Jimin being the only barista here, it wouldn't really be necessary anymore to write their names on the cups, and he doesn't do it for Sana and Hobi (what the hell kind of name is Hobi?), but he does for Jungkook

Because Jungkook still struts to his counter like he's trying to make Jimin swoon and fall over. Jungkook still leans his elbows too close to him and licks his lips before ordering, Jungkook still holds unnecessary eye contact while sucking on his straw before they turn and leave. Jungkook is a little shit trying to flirt with Jimin, when all Jimin can think of when looking at his pretty face is how Taehyung's shoulders stiffened when he looked at him.

So, Jimin still writes Jungkook name on the cups. Spelled as horribly as he can.

He just writes 'Juan' first, to test the waters. Jungkook cocks a brow at him and shrugs.

Jimin writes 'John' next and draws a little sun right next to it, to watch Jungkook stare at the cup for a solid minute, frowning in confusion, until Sana takes him by the arm and drags him outside.

Next time, he writes 'Juancock' again, Jungkook stares at it again, but when he looks up this time he actually seems distinctly pissed off. "It's kook," he hisses in Jimin's direction. "Just Kook."

Next time he comes in, Jimin writes 'Justkook' on the cup and Jungkook rolls his eyes with a loud sigh.

He writes Jungbook next, then Kookoo, Koo, and Koko bop. When he finally just calls him Jungcock on his cup, Jungkook looks just about ready to throw it in his face, especially with Sana and Hoseok literally shaking at his sides with how bad they're trying to contain their laughter.

Two days later, it's just Sana and Hoseok walking up to his counter. Jimin raises his brows at them, as he grabs cups and starts preparing their orders.

"Where's Juancock?" he asks, unable to hide a stupid little smirk. "Did I take it too far with that and he's pouting?"

The ghost of a suppressed laugh flashes over Sana's face, but it doesn't last long this time. She stays quiet, fiddling with the bill between her fingers, while Hoseok shakes his head.

"Nah, he never comes here on Wednesdays. He spends those with his grandpa,"

Says Hoseok. He sounds casual, but completely serious, like he actually means that, and Jimin fights back a laugh himself now. He's really been wondering how tough these guys can be - he hasn't talked about them to Taehyung anymore because obviously the topic didn't exactly make the boy happy, but they seemed to have a good friendship going before Jungkook ruined it.

They seem to hang out as often as they can, they still frequent the same coffee shop multiple times a week despite Taehyung not working nights anymore, and Jungkook drinks hot chocolate with cream and visits his grandfather every week.

Then again, Jungkook did supposedly get his ass arrested.

"I don't know what Taehyung told you,"

Sana says quietly, when Hoseok has his coffee and turned away a little. He's still fiddling with his money, but Sana keeps his eyes trained on the drink he's still preparing. "But we miss him, too. Kook misses him."

What the fuck? Jimin looks up with a frown, narrows his eyes at Sana until she is the one who looks like she'd want to turn around and run away from Jimin right now.

"Tell him that," says Jimin, shoving Sana's coffee at her, "not me."

He doesn't expect them to do that, of course. He doesn't tell Taehyung about it either, that wouldn't feel right, and the next time Jimin works the night shift, it's the three of them again, so everything feels back to normal.

Until Jungkook slides his money across the counter along with a scrap of paper, a phone number scrawled across it in nearly illegible handwriting. Jimin stares at it for a good few seconds, then he looks up unimpressed.

"What am I supposed to do with that?"

Jungkook looks back just as unconcerned. "Ideally," he drawls, "you'll type it into your phone and press the green button. Then, magic will happen, and you'll be able to hear my voice through your phone. Technology is amazing."

Prick. Jimin rolls his eyes. "Why would I wanna call you," he says, not bothering to hide the annoyance from his voice. He's given up treating them like normal customers anyway.

He's not sure what answer he was expecting, but he has to admit he's caught a little off guard with Jungkook's shrug and the sudden sweet smile on that dangerous face, which makes him look a little too filthy for Jimin's liking.

"Cause I'm cute," he says. Then he watches, entirely unfazed, how Jimin takes the paper and drops it in the nearest bin. "What time do you get off?"

With a heavy sigh, Jimin slides his hot chocolate over to him. This is starting to look like Jungkook isn't going to give up anytime soon, so he might as well tell him. "Five," he just says.

"I'll be out back," says Jungkook. Then he leaves with Sana and Hoseok, with a last wink in Jimin's direction that makes Jimin send him off with an exaggeratedly disgusted glare.

He checks the time once they're gone. Four hours left.

to be continued...