Exo Imagines

152. Coffe Shop Chaos (Lay)

"This is too cold."
I burnt myself on it. Don't try and lie to me.

"I asked for decaf! This isn't decaf."
You did not ask for decaf, I would have remembered.

"This coffee is too weak. It just tastes like warm milk!"
Well that is what happens when you order a latte, you idiot.

"This coffee is made with whole milk. I ordered semi-skimmed."
For the thousandth time, we don't have semi-skimmed. Only whole or fully skimmed.

"I'd like a decaf soy cappuccino!"
So you want fake milk and dish water? Alright then.

You sighed, disheartened and exhausted. No matter you did the customers always found something to complain about. Just once you'd like to have a nice conversation with a customer who didn't have it on their agenda to make your whole working life a living hell.

"Order up," Becky muttered as she passed you yet another receipt with multiple complicated drinks scribed on the thermo receipt sheet. "One of the cappuccinos is a decaf half a shot, and the other is caffeinated with skimmed milk."

"Is the decaf one whole then?" You mumble

"Yes. And the flat white is only a two shot instead of the cortissimo shot, and she wanted that skimmed too."

"The whole idea of having a flat white is for the cortissimo shot," you speak, flabbergasted at the stupidity of your stores patrons. Becky just shrugged her shoulders. She knew exactly what you were saying was, without a doubt, one-hundred percent accurate, but you know what they say; the customer is always right.

After making the last few orders up and passing them over Becky patted you on the shoulder and quickly whispered how she needed to go to the loo before she peed herself and asked if you'd hold the fort.

"Excuse me, ma'am," a deep voice spoke out, so your turned towards the counter to see a hound, attractive man standing by the till with a bright smile.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you walk up," you apologised, flustered, trying to wipe off the remaining of the cappuccino dust off your cheek.

He just simply smiled, a single dimple showing on one rosy cheek, as he held up a hand. "You don't need to apologise," he gushed. "I saw you were having a hard time before with some other guests and thought I'd let you catch up to yourself." He lent against the counter, his crisp, clean suit wrinkling slightly. "Besides, I'm in no rush."

The corner of your lip curled as you walked up towards the till and prepared yourself to put though another stupid order.

The gentleman placed a heavy looking leather laptop case on the counter as to free his hands so he could reach into the inside pocket of his grey Hugo Boss blazer, pulling out a nearly packed wallet stamped with the unmistakable insignia of LV. "May I please have a flat white to sit in," he asked very politely, opening up his wallet to pull out a note and loyalty card.

"Any special request?" You ask.

He just simply shakes his head and quietly replies, "No." Handing over his cash and loyalty card he adds, "I like drinking my coffees the way their intended. None of that skinny, decaf rubbish. Just give me the best flat white you can manage."

You smile brightly and nod your head. You cashed through his order, gave him his change, his warm fingers brushing yours. Your cheeks start to turn a rosy shade of pink so you quickly turn to grab a milk jug from the counter behind you, pulling it up halfway with cold whole milk, placing a temperature probe inside and purging the steam arm, before wiping it. You place the steam arm in the milk and turn it on full, chirping the milk for a few seconds before setting it down at the optimum forty-give degree angle as to get the milk swirling.

You grab a warm three shot group handle from the machine and bang the used, wet coffee ground into the coffee bin fore dispensing some freshly ground coffee, tamping and wiping it before placing it into the machine with a wanted mug under and pressing the appropriate button.

His eyes watch you intently as you work, curious to how gracefully you move and control the machine. He watched as you start to pour the milk into the coffee, starting high to break the golden, honey scented crema, before lowering the jug and wiggling, forcing the milk to form a perfect florette. You place the mug on the saucer and smile up at the gentleman, him beaming back at you.

"You're coffee looks almost as beautiful as you," he compliments, reaching into his blazer for a pen. His soft hand reached forwards to grab yours, turning it over to scribble numbers into your palm. "My name is Zhang Yixing, and I would be honered if we could go on a date."

•••

I've been gone for so long! OMG! I hope I'm not too rusty! Sorry for my complicated barista lingo, the greats to say "write what you know"

Not that I know what it's like to be asked on a date by Lay at my coffee shop XD

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Much love
XOXO