Coffee and University | jeongcheol au

Cafe 1/2

Jeonghan's Point of View 

"Oh my!"

That is probably the worst response from every female lead character in a cinematic film. Out of all the man made replies we can enumerate, why does it have to be the phrase I frown upon? 

It has been the norm, too, in real life. Whenever I witness staged bumping in the school corridors, which is quite popular among freshmen, these girls would start mouthing "Oh my!" in the cringiest manner. Am I the only one who experiences such irritability over the smallest and clearly an irrelevant response? I wonder if other boys my age would find it attractive. Personally, it doesn't and it'll never be. 

"Jeonghan, you've been drinking that empty cup of iced coffee for almost ten minutes now." 

My thoughts stirred a bit, realizing I'm currently hanging out with my best friend, Seungcheol. I immediately took my metal straw and reached out for the tissue paper lying in the table. Wiping off the excess liquid left inside the material, the man I'm currently with started to complain. Much to his dismay, he has been talking about his non existential girlfriend. The heavens blessed him the looks but unfortunately, no girl was suitable to match his impossible standards. He has been creating stories of this invisible girlfriend of his since he found out girls and boys were swarming on our first day of university. 

"Spacing out and intentionally ignoring me, what did I do now?" He pouted and looked quite bashful with what he said. 

It is truly undeniable he possess a manly aura; an unusual behavior among male students in the university. However, if the whole campus can see what I see, well then, boys and girls would definitely swoon over him even more. 

"Wow, I've been talking to a chair all day." He looked at the opposite side of the place and emitted a sad aura. Sad but, cute.

I chuckled a bit. He unexpectedly expressed his cutesy. "I'm listening. That's more important." He still painted a cute pout and complained. Wow. How can I even last looking at him, wait-- what? 

I mentally slapped myself. What am I thinking? 

"It has been two months already since we discovered this place. Right, Jeonghan?"

"Well, it does. I'm still getting butterflies whenever we visit here. This place felt like home to me the first time we visited." It's true though. Every time we pay for in Holiday Cafe, we always happen to witness either a heartbreaking or heartwarming event. And I suppose that makes us love the place even more.

"We haven't witnessed anything good today, didn't we?" 

The place seems crowded and almost every chair is occupied. The waiters kept on going back and forth ever since we arrived. I wonder what's the rush when there's not even a single soul complaining. "What date is it, Seungcheol?" I looked at him and smiled a bit. This view is definitely priceless. Cheol's tired from his never ending stories that he ended up closing his eyes without warning. He's cute most especially with his lashes adding a mesmerizing touch to his hidden auburn orbs. 

Wait. 

What am I thinking? 

Inner Jeonghan, kindly stop.

While arranging the messy interior of my sea green handbag from behind, a waiter from the place approached our table. "Sir, would you love to avail our 'Kiss and fall in love' promo today? You and your partner may participate." My eyes grew wide and brushed the feeling away. I made a 'no' gesture and left immediately. Although, I heard him whisper with the words: "They are the sweetest. Why can't they just admit it?"

In an instant, butterflies suddenly started to go wild in my stomach. Partially because of what the man said, but technically due to the fact Cheol started to stare at me the moment he opened his eyes. He leaned over the table and looked at me intently in the eyes. 

"What are you looking at?" I suddenly looked away for no reason. I felt my cheeks burning. 

Sleepy Prince Charming chuckled and grabbed my right cheek and pinched it gently while staring at me, eye to eye. "Jeonghan, you're so cute when you blush."

I'm blushing? Why is it so? Did I just blush because of-- wait, that is impossible. He won't like me. He's a guy and probably he wants a girl. 

And I am not. 

I harshly removed his fingers and pretended I'm mad. "Don't pinch me again, will you? It hurts." Seungcheol raised a brow. I thought he'll walk away. I thought he'll leave me and get offended. After all, I'm always his bully.

But he didn't. 

"Alright, I won't do it again." He raised both of his hands as if giving up. 

However, I can't tell why he's giving me looks I can't take my eyes off. His stares are breathtaking and I can't help but be drawn to his gaze. We just kept staring for a while when my phone rang. I escaped our eye to eye competition. However, he just kept looking at me. What's wrong with this man?

I released a silent cry when I can't find my phone amidst my searching. Great. I just finished organizing it. 

Unexpectedly, I forgot I placed it from the hidden pocket. I quickly grabbed it and saw Joshua calling me.  With a swipe, I asked him what's wrong. 

"Jeonghan, class is about to start. Where are you?" I felt Shua's concern. We're classmates for one subject and he would often remind me when its almost time for me to go. "I'm coming. I forgot the time. Sorry." 

"No, it's okay. I just want to remind you. You can continue whatever you're doing." 

I can imagine him smiling while talking over the phone. He has always been kind. He has always been good to me. What did I do to deserve him? 

"Shua, thanks. I would love to treat you, maybe next week? Are you free?" I smiled while thinking about it. Just the two of us, watching people from a cafe while drinking each other's favorite cup of coffee. That would be refreshing once in a while.  

"Sure. I'm free every--"

Our conversation stopped. Seungcheol got a hold of my phone and ended the call. It made me furious. He was disrespectful with Joshua. 

"What is your problem? I'm just talking with Joshua." My perfect brows started to meet and it is evident with my tone that I'm pissed. Seungcheol just returned the phone and he's not looking at me straight in the eye. "I'm asking you, Choi Seungcheol. We're fine a few minutes ago. Tell me what did I do wrong?"

He stared at me for a while. I waited for his explanation before exiting the place for my next class. I can't last getting mad at him. He should tell his reasons. I was just talking to a friend. What's with him? 

He held my hand which was lying in the table with my phone he snatched earlier. He intertwined my hands with his and looked at me with desperate and teary eyes with the sentence I heard from him unexpectedly. 

"Jeonghan, I'm jealous."