Decaf Coffee

4 - Distracted

Nights of cuddling were not uncommon for friends, or even best friends. Hyunjin knew that for sure, so why did he feel so different about it. He realized that his half asleep mind did the only thing he could think of and that was drag Seungmin to sleep next to him. It was completely normal to care for a friend like that, but what wasn't normal was how fast Hyunjin's heartbeat felt. Honestly, he could have sworn he felt Seungmin's match the rhythm his was at. Did I make him uncomfortable? We've cuddled before, I really hope he wasn't uncomfortable. Hyunjin knew it must have helped Seungmin, because he stopped crying and seemed fine in the morning. Well, seemed. He was acting off in the car that morning, but to be fair, so was Hyunjin. Hyunjin was just embarrassed that he cuddled so much with Seungmin in his sleep. His skin was so soft and he smelled like fresh laundry and soap. I love that smell. . . Hyunjin took a deep breath, trying to remember the soft boy's scent. Why did Hyunjin smell something like burnt coffee?

Hyunjin forgot he was at work, he let the shot expire on the latte he was working on. He groaned, dumping it in the sink and starting again. "Whoa, hyung," Jeongin noticed from the other counter, he was pouring foam and adorning the coffee he was making with a dove. "You haven't let a shot expire since the first week you got here."

"I know, Jeongin," Hyunjin said, irritation coming through his voice. He completely got lost in thought, his entire mind taken up by thoughts of Seungmin. Did he eat breakfast? Hyunjin should have checked in the car. Is he drinking water? Seungmin works so hard, he probably forgot. Tonight is caffeine night. Hyunjin and Seungmin drink decaffeinated coffee all week long until friday night, when they both enjoy a cup of pure coffee and make food together. They usually watch their favorite show over coffee and food and talk late into the night, sometimes driving to the prettiest parts of the city at 2 A.M.

"Be nice to the baby, Hyunjin," Minho said from the cash register, smiling cheekily at the boy he handed back change. "It'll be right up, don't worry." The boy's puffy cheeks flushed and he quickly walked away towards his friends, both of them with dyed blonde hair and australian accents dripping off their tongues. Hyunjin decided they must be close, with the closeness they showed in public. The boys holding each other laughing over the flustered boy. Both Jeongin and Minho were incredibly attractive and Hyunjin had to admit that he was really flustered the first month he started working at the coffee shop, especially during training.

"Damn, Minho, you already flustered that poor boy?" Hyunjin shook his head, making the iced americano for the kid. Hyunjin noticed that under the name 'Jisung', there was a number and another name attached to it that read: 'minho a.k.a. the cute cashier at ur fave coffee shop :)'. Hyunjin rolled his eyes at the smiley face and double cupped the drink, just in case this went well for Minho and suddenly the boy wanted to keep the cup. Hyunjin would do something like that himself, so just in case he decided to help out the kid.

"It's my charm," Minho winked, Hyunjin now immune to the older boy's 'charm' stared back at him with no change in expression or reddening of ears. He finished the drink and called out the name on the cup.

"Jisung!" The flushed boy ran up and thanked Hyunjin for the drink, immediately sipping it and smiling.

"Good?" Hyunjin asked, Jisung nodded and then, choked on his second sip when Minho came from behind Hyunjin. Peeking his head from around his shoulders, and slowly walking closer to the counter, even leaning over. His hands placed down, so he could get closer to the boy in front of him.

"Next time I'll make it for you and it'll be even better!" The poor boy nodded, covering his mouth with his hand and running towards his friends who were laughing as Hyunjin rolled his eyes and hit Minho's arm, a soft 'pat' sound being made in return.

"Little does he know that I almost just shit my pants putting my number on there, he's so cute I might cry." Minho said, his voice shaky. Hyunjin knew he was actually the most nervous person when it came to flirting and he only let it show after. Jeongin smiled a bit, knowing that Minho was more affected than usual by this one customer, much more affected than the others.

"Excuse me, Jisung?" Jeongin left the counter to approach the boy. Hyunjin and Minho could hear Jeongin say, "I just wanted to let you know not to be embarrassed about getting nervous, because Minho just said he almost shit his pants putting his number on your cup. Oh! Also, he said and I quote, 'he's so cute I might cry.'" Jisung and his friends laughed and as soon as Jisung looked over towards the counter, Hyunjin felt something move quickly next to him. Minho was squatting on the floor, pressed up against the shelves under the counter, embarrassed by Jeongin. The sight of his coworker clutching Hyunjin's leg in fear, staring up at him with wide eyes, mouthing the words 'end me' was almost too much to handle. Hyunjin desperately tried to keep his cool, but he ended up snorting. Five boys were doubled over in laughter at the situation. The sixth was on the floor groaning in embarrassment and the rest of the coffee shop smiling at the happiness that was exuding from the front of the shop.

Hyunjin's mind was left on Seungmin the entire rest of work, despite Minho's groaning and Jeongin's complaining at him about their Hyung. He nervously started making latte after latte,practicing all the designs he could think of. The last night of the week they were allowed to practice art on the tops of coffees for customer satisfaction. He tasted every single one, never satisfied with what he had. It was closing time and he finally got the measurements perfect and the timing perfect to pour the milk over the shot, though Jeongin swore to him that Hyunjin's coffees always tasted that way and he was just worrying for no reason. Hyunjin looked down at the two coffees he made and the shop in front of him. The tables were already stacked with chairs, his coworkers had already cleaned up. They just sat there talking and waiting for Hyunjin to realize.

"Why didn't you guys tell me we were cleaning up?" Hyunjin said, immediately feeling terrible for leaving the dirty work to them. They only smiled, it was a soft smile. Something Hyunjin usually saw, but never accompanied with a tenderness and care that these showed.

"Your head isn't here right now, and you made a damn good rose on top of that coffee. Give it to Seungmin-hyung, yeah?" Jeongin said, Minho smiling behind him, sweeping the floor. Hyunjin's mouth dropped, unrecognizable words leaking out of his mouth. The older only chuckling at him in response.

"He's oblivious, but we aren't." Minho smiled, then he pointed to the clock. "It's already 8:45 though, aren't you late?" Hyunjin swears he had never been so quick out the door. He hoped Seungmin wouldn't be mad or take it the wrong way. In all honesty, he was just thinking of him.