Aki Nakanishi sat at the café he usually stayed at. He liked the atmosphere of it, and the fact that he could sip on some hot coffee while completing his university assignments was absolutely heavenly to him. However, he often kept his eye on the foreign barista that worked there. He had gorgeous hazel eyes and fluffy black hair. He was Korean, but his facial features were so well constructed he might as well have been a model.
The male seemed to notice him and flashed a warm smile. "Here again? You're here every evening."
'Oh his voice is always so warm and friendly, it just makes me melt.'
"Yeah, I'm here as always. You've got a nice café going on," Aki chuckled as he gathered up his things.
"Thank you very much! Are you leaving now?"The barista asked as he cleaned up the table that was next to Aki's. "Yeah, I have to go to work,"Aki replied as he stood up. He shouldered his bag and gathered up his books. 'What if he's already taken?'. Aki took a deep breath and let it out. He wanted to try his luck at least, he had been trying to muster up the courage for weeks now. "Um...could I have your number please?"He asked, and felt his cheeks go crimson after he said it. "Oh, me?".
The barista's face was just as flustered, yet he was glowing with underlying happiness beneath his shy face. The other three employees watched from the counter and the kitchen. Aki held his breath and stood his ground as he waited for an answer. "Sure," The barista smiled and handed Aki his phone.
'That smile, his face, they have so much innocence and purity in them. I'm not sure if I deserve him'.
Both of them exchanged numbers and names. His name was Ryu Jaehwan and he was 21 years old. Aki was overjoyed to have gotten his number. Even throughout basketball coaching he kept texting him. "Coach! Did you see my shot?"A player called out excitedly. "Mm-hmm," Aki replied curtly. He had parked his butt on the bench and hadn't moved since training began. "Nakanishi-sensei!" They whined and the player who called out for him earlier scoffed. "Nakanishi-sensei, you pay your girlfriend too much attention,".
Meanwhile at the café, Jaehwan was being teased by his colleagues. "Oh, so he hung around here every evening to scout you out. You must be very special," Chisako jeered and playfully punched his shoulder. "Yeah, it's not everyday that a handsome and mysterious man asks for your number. Especially when there's two pretty girls in this very café," Manami smirked and leaned against the counter. "Ah, I'm jealous."
"Chi-chan, Nami-chan, you don't have to be jealous of Jae-san. You have me!" Yamato snickered from the backroom. "I'd rather date a cactus than go on a date with you," Chisako shrieked and threw her phone at him. Manami merely made a rude sound from her mouth as she watched Jaehwan from afar, watching him text away with occasional giggles and subtle smiles. "What a lucky bastard."
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A week later, Aki greeted Jae with a tight hug. "I'm here again," He grinned. "Welcome back Nakanishi-kun." Jaehwan chuckled and felt Aki's hands move to his waist. "Oi! Don't flirt on the job!" Chisako grumbled and stooped to pull Jaehwan away from Aki. "Chi-chan, it's not a busy day anyway. Let Ryu-san spend some time with his potential partner,"Yamato smirked but he sat Aki down and began interrogating him. "How old are you? What do you work as? Are you still in school? Where do you live?". Aki's eyes widened.
"That's a lot of questions....". He stood up and bowed. "My name is Nakanishi Aki! I'm 21 years old and I work as a part-time basketball coach while going to university!"He announced proudly and looked up to see Jaehwan's blushing face. 'Oh my god, he's so cute and precious'. Yamato laughed and looked Aki in the eye. "Do you think you're worthy enough to take care of Ryu-san?".
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A Heart To Heal (BL)
RomanceAuthor: Shigi Illustrations: Shigi _________________________________ Trigger Warning: This story includes detailed written imagery of severe anxiety, depression, suicide, abuse, manipulation, coercion, trauma and sexual assault. Please proceed with...