"Sungjae-ya, let's go!"
Sungjae hears his manager's calling signaling that today's schedule has ended. He is lazily going to his car, feeling exhausted. He looks at his watch and suddenly sighs,
"Why are you sighing?"
"How long our journey will be, hyung?" He asks his manager.
"We will arrive at your place in 2 hours maybe, just go to sleep, I will wake you up when we arrive," His manager assures him.
"You know I can't sleep if I don't drink my coffee, hyung," Sungjae reminds his manager.
Yook Sungjae, being the most popular member in his group, has crazily had many schedules compared to other members since his debut. He is thankful for that, because being famous means he can promote his group, BTOB, at the same time whenever he has separate schedules.
It has been two years, Sungjae has insomnia if he does not drink coffee before he sleeps. It would have been easier if he could enjoy whatever the coffee is, but the reality tells otherwise. He has tried many coffees such as from famous brands, instant coffees, and even the coffee made by his mother or btob members, but still they all do not fit his taste.
He only depends on his self-made coffee, but today, strangely he forgets to bring his coffee and the portable machine to the filming location in Gyeonggi-do. It is impossible for him to ask his manager going back to Seoul to bring them, that is why Sungjae really wants to be home faster to relieve his exhaust.
"Do you want me to find you a coffee shop during our way?"
"You don't have to, hyung. I have tried almost all coffee brands in Seoul, and I bet mostly we will find the same in here," Sungjae answers him skeptically.
"Who knows? Maybe we will find a local café which suits your taste,"
"I doubt that, but yeah, we can just try,"
"Alright, I will find one, at least you get your coffee for a moment."
Not long after their talk, his manager spots one unusual coffee shop. The shop sign is read as "Finnish Coffee-Café", he decides to stop by there.
Sungjae looks at the café, "Finnish coffee?"
"Have you tried that?"
"No, hyung. It is strange to find this in Gyeonggi,"
"What?"
"I mean, I neither ever heard nor tried Finnish coffee in Seoul. I find it amusing to find one here,"
"You want to take look? We have to hurry because it seems like the café is about to close,"
"Okay, hyung." Sungjae follows his manager to go inside the café.
The café interior looks minimalist with all white-furniture. The café doesn't have many chairs and tables inside, so it looks spacious and cozy. Near the counter, there is white book-shelf adding the minimalist feel in the café.
Sungjae decides to sit near the window since he is afraid the café staff recognized him. His manager then goes to the counter to order,
"Hi,"
The woman in pink apron who at first doesn't see them coming inside is flustered,
"Sorry, we are close already,"
"Oh really? I thought it is still open because I didn't see the sign."
"Ah, yes, I have just finished cleaning the kitchen, so,"
"Sorry, but can you just accept my order? I cannot find the other café than yours," Begs the manager.
"Around 1 KM from here, you can find Starbucks," She explains.
"You see, that man over there," His manager points his finger to Sungjae who is still oblivious with the situation.
"Yes?"
"That man is hard to please especially related to his coffee. Starbucks doesn't suit his taste, and he cannot sleep if he doesn't get any coffee. We are on our way back to Seoul, and he really needs to get some rest during our trip back," The manager explains to the woman.
"If your friend doesn't like any coffee from Starbucks, then it doesn't guarantee that my coffee suits his taste, right? Just tell him to take anything,"
The woman whose name is Sooyoung suddenly feels annoyed, she even doesn't know why.
"Please, help me. Just think that you are helping someone in need,"
Sooyoung finally gives in because she cannot stand the man's begging. She also wants to conclude the day.
"But, I can only make you drip coffee since I have some leftover,"
"Oh, wait, let me ask him," The manager then goes to Sungjae.
"Sungjae-ya, they only have drip coffee left, do you still want it?"
"It is okay hyung. I don't expect anything from this café though," He answers lazily.
Sooyoung hears that Sungjae's response, and feels bitter over it.
She then murmurs to herself,
"It is just coffee, what can you expect from it though? What a weird man!"
The manager is back to her,
"We will take that, thank you so much for helping me,"
"No worries, your friend seems like not in a good mood,"
"You can see that? He is always like that whenever he feels too tired,"
"I see."
"But, anyway, you don't know him?"
"Why should I? Is he someone important?"
The manager shakes his head, smiles at Sooyoung's response. Wait till Sungjae hears that the café owner doesn't recognize him, he says to himself.
After making the coffee,
"There you go. Wish your friend can get enough rest."
"Thank you, how much is it?"
"You don't have to pay, it is free."
"No, let me pay this, I have troubled you this hour, at least I should pay for the coffee,"
"No need, I told you right, the drip coffee is from the leftover of today. So, I cannot accept your money since I don't give you the best coffee in my place,"
The manager smiles once again hearing her rejection.
"Okay then. Thank you once again, wish you get many customers all the time,"
He then bids farewell to Sooyoung while bringing the hot coffee to Sungjae. They both then leaves the café.
"Why it took you so long, hyung?"
"I negotiated with the owner to make you coffee,"
"You should have just left then, no need to do that,"
"Nay, it is okay. Enjoy the coffee then go get some sleep."
"Thanks, hyung." Sungjae then sips the drip coffee.
"How is it?"
"It has such strange taste, I cannot really explain it in words,"
"Maybe because you never taste Finnish coffee,"
"Yeah, maybe." He then continues to drink the coffee.
And, not long after that, he sleeps soundly during the remaining trip back to Seoul.
