UnPretty Thoughts: The Leader [ Namjoon x Reader ]

Coffee

She could see him coming her way.

By now it shouldn't have startled her heart so much, but anytime she saw him step into the café from outside it was like her heart started to race its own marathon. Her pulse pounded and her stomach fluttered and flipped and her palms got all sweaty. It was like she was a teenager going on their first date.

Which was ridiculous because they were most certainly not dating. She could instinctually wish it all she wanted, but he was Kim Namjoon. So far out of her reach, it was impossible to even imagine such a fantasy becoming reality. We are just friends. Just that alone was incredible. Okay, having more than a five-minute conversation was incredible, but being actual friends? BA-BOOM AMAZING!

No, it's no dream. Somehow she had become friends with the leader of one of the most internationally influential KPop groups in the world. Even thinking it sounded crazy! But it was the truth. At first, he had been just a customer. Then a regular who she chatted with. Then someone she spent her breaks with. He had even walked her home once. Namjoon was just a kind and caring person. It was easy to feel comfortable around him.

Grinning at him, she set the rag she was using to clean down the counter to the side and rubbed her hands down the front of the deep navy apron. Tilting her head to the side, she met him with an eye-smiling cheerfulness that always seemed to glow up anytime he was around.

"Ah, look who it is! My favorite customer," Y/N said cheerfully, though truthfully she felt like holding onto the counter was the only thing keeping her from either fainting or floating away, "How did you trip around the world go?"

"Ha ha, very funny," his muffled deep voice lightly answered from behind his black face mask. No sunglasses today, but he was wearing a cap right along with the plainest grey shirt and pair of jeans he could possibly own. Which was hilarious, because they probably cost more than her apartment. For some reason, Namjoon in a store like Old Navy seems entirely out of place, despite his casual and humble nature.

"We won in Japan," he leaned over the counter, completely at home in disturbing her heart with those smiling dark eyes of his, "Did you watch it?" He seemed almost a bit excited, eager to show the group's success to someone like her. Someone so normal and common. It did seem a bit surreal sometimes but might as well enjoy the miracle while it lasted. She always had the feeling that she'd lose him (as a friend) to all that fame.

"You know I don't have a TV," Y/N paused for effect before giving him a conspiratorial grin as she started off his regular order, "I might have watched a clip or two on the internet though." She enjoyed teasing him. She didn't mention how she had watched the show on her laggy streaming phone, or how she had rewatched it on several video sites just in case she had missed any small detail.

It was fun to watch as his body sagged from brief disappointment only to then puff up in pride. He might not be able to say the award show's name out loud in such a public place, but he was pretty cute wanting to know if she saw him and the boys grab yet another victory. He teased her often enough about her forgetfulness or clumsiness, it was only fair to tease him a bit back sometimes.

"You guys are getting more relaxed on stage, accepting those awards," she whispered mischievously, enjoying the big secret of BTS's leader grabbing a coffee from an average café like her workplace. His dark eyes glittered with amusement as they met hers which shone with similar delight.

"It was pretty thrilling," he handed her his card to charge for the coffee, "It always is. ARMY is so impressive sometimes it doesn't feel real, hearing them cheer and chant with such a deafening voice even in another country."

Accepting his card, Y/N processed the sale though she didn't mention she had given him a ten percent discount like usual. Did he know that she did that? Probably not. She just felt like she needed to repay him for coming to buy coffee from her work when he could probably be having some expensive latte closer to wherever he lived. Uptown places always had more upscale coffee, right?