A Dream: Connected

Chapter One

"It's been a month, are you seriously still doing this to yourself?"

"Solgi, I'm fine."

"I know a fake smile when I see one, Ahn Jisoo. Friends don't lie to friends." I'm pulled behind the counter during a slow day at the cafe I work at and Solgi, a coworker and friend of mine, gives me a knowing look.

"Okay, so what?"

"Not 'so what', you should at least try to get over Jaewook. He wasn't that great of a boyfriend anyway. What he should have done was try harder for your affection! And you shouldn't be so upset if you didn't even love him, like what? Besides, you worry everyone when you aren't your usual self." Since she said that last part really softly, I felt her words deeper in my heart than I would like to let on.

But what she said was true, why was I so depressed just because he left me? I mean, she's absolutely right when she said I don't love him. But maybe it's just the fact that I am in love with someone who doesn't exist.

Just as I'm thinking this, the bell on the door jingles and Solgi and I both look at the door to see a man around our age come through the door. But when our eyes meet, we both widen them in shock. I gasp out loud and drop to the floor, pulling Solgi down with me. She looks extremely confused and even more concerned, but she takes a gentle hold of my shoulder.

"Do you know him?"

"He's Youngjae!" I whisper yell to her and she raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure you're okay to be here today? I thought Youngjae was just some guy you made up in your dreams." We both peek over the counter and see him standing in front of us, looking both confused and concerned.

"That is him!"

"You're tripping balls dude." I roll my eyes.

"I thought he wasn't real too, but everything about that guy looks exactly like Youngjae. I can't talk to him, please take his order for me? And please don't talk about my lack of imaginary balls, I'm delicate."

"Delicate," Solgi mocks my tone in amusement. "Fine, but you're delivering it if he's staying."

"Deal! Thank you so much!" I scoot away from the register but I'm too far from the doorway into the kitchen to make an escape where he won't be able to see me. Unfortunately, this also means that I can't see him.

Solgi politely takes his order and unfortunately, he decides that he's going to stay in today instead of getting his order to go. That bastard, he probably heard the whole thing and did it on purpose, that's such a Youngjae thing. I sigh and then Solgi asks something we only do on busy days or with customers who are getting their order to go.

"Do you mind if I ask for your name?" I look up at Solgi and nudge her leg, she looks down and we both whisper yell at each other.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it. I got you!"

"You got nothing! Stick to your script!"

"Who are you, my mom?"

"Solgi!"

"Sorry about that, please ignore her," Solgi looks back up at the man and I can hear his deep giggle, making my stomach fill with butterflies. Thankfully I was able to resist the urge to peek over the counter at him. "So, your name please?"

"Taehyung."

"Then, Taehyung, your order will be ready shortly, feel free to sit wherever you like, okay?"