It all started with Boba

Chapter 1

There's a guy standing in front of me.

I can't quite put my finger on who, but I know I recognize the man.

He's rather on the tall side, his facial features prominent, especially his lips. His hair kind of flopping to the side in a fixed lazy way.

His voice sounds like there's an accent hidden beneath it, but I can't tell which. The style of his clothing seems like he's of the high class stature. The shades he's wearing are very tinted, I can hardly make out his full face. He must come from money.

Well anyone who comes to this coffee shop has money.

Actually I take that back, not everyone.

I glance to the side window and see my reflection.

My brown skin, hair, and eyes aren't anything extraordinary. I'm as plain as they come, like every other face in the crowd.

Now the one standing in front of me, is the complete opposite. His presence alone demands attention, like he's a born leader.

I'm nothing like him. I have no money... or confidence.

A student in college that has to work to pay her rent and board, with a very limited amount of money to spend on daily necessities, but said money is actually being spent on a very unhealthy boba addiction, now that I am.

"Ma'am?"

His voice is a little more professional sounding then I initially thought it'd be.

When'd he turn around?

"You can go ahead and order, I have quite a few things to pick up today."

The most genuine smile I've ever seen crosses his face, and I can't help but stare.

Whoever he's getting drinks for must be really special to him.

His posture seems like it's slowly going ridged, as if I'll discover some huge secret of his, the longer I look in his direction, his facial expressions aren't helping deny it either.

"Oh, sorry." I step up to the counter and greet Adrian with a small hey, as always.

"Let me guess, your vanilla bean boba drink, with whip on the side?"

"Gasp, I wonder how you ever could of guessed. Has someone been spying on me," I slowly glance around the shop. "or is it the fact that I've come here everyday since I've started college?"

We both start laughing at my not-so-funny joke, but it's something we're used to.

"I'll get right on it."

My eyes quickly fall back to the guy from before, there's just something about him that keeps giving me this sense of deja vu.

"Thank you, for letting me go before you. My class starts in like fifteen minutes."

I look down at my Fitbit to make sure my words are indeed correct, and they are.

"Oh, of course! Hey, um, do you have any recommendations? I haven't been here before, and I have seven drinks I need to get to some very picky friends of mine."

We share a laugh of mutual understanding. I've had my fair share of getting something for someone picky before.

"I personally love their vanilla bean boba drink, I like to get whip added on the side though. Plus it's a cheap drink, and with how many people you're paying for, cheapest is the best."

He runs his long fingers across his face, pondering if my choice will be the right one.

"I think that's a great idea, though money's not an issue."

Ah, there it is, there's the rich boy snob.

"Of course it's not..."

I guess the look on my face gives away how unimpressed I am by his statement.

"Oh that's not-"

"Here you go Haylee," Adrian slides my drink across the table, "any luck on what you'd like to order sir?"

I grab my drink from the counter and wave goodbye to her, my interest in the boy suddenly irrelevant.

"Um, yes, could I get seven more of what she got please."

I regret even offering my special drink order to him and his friends.

Rich boys will always be just that, rich boys.

Stepping outside, it's a little chilly, but the drink in my hands helps me overlook that small factor.

A body bumps into mine, not saying excuse me, causing my beautiful drink to fall mercilessly to the cold hard concrete. And with no warning the door behind me trips my feet, and I end up on the cold hard concrete as well.

Seeing my drink splattered about the ground, I feel myself pout.

I just bought that.

I quickly turn around, ready to go off on whoever, when I see the guy from earlier.

He's balancing all seven drinks in his arms, only concentration set on not dropping them all, and though he's a rich asshole, I'm not a bigger one to let him carry them all alone.

After one more sad glance at my drink, I stand up and dust myself off.

"Here let me help." I reach and grab three from him.

"Oh, thank you so much!"

He starts to walk left of the building and I follow him to his rather nice, black, SUV. I put the cups down in the cup holders, and have a sense of mind to steal one, but my humanity kicks in. Damn.

"Thank you again- wait are you alright?"

His horrified face looks down at my shirt. My eyes follow suit, and would you look at that. My beautiful little drink, left a beautiful "little" stain.

The temperature outside hits me suddenly, and I instantly feel the cold wetness.

The man very quickly takes off his coat and hands it to me.

"I'm really sorry, here wear this."

"Thank you."

Reaching for his jacket, my Fitbit watch lights up to show that I have three minutes before class starts.

I quickly slip into the jacket and tie the straps together. I'm surprised it fits considering my size and his. I have a more round, plump build, where as his is muscular. I guess tall and built even out short and fat.

"Oh, I really have to go! Is there any way I can get this back to you?"

"Here take my card, just call, and we can meet back here."

A card. Really, who has these nowadays?

Grabbing the piece of paper, I take off down the street.

I'm almost there. I'm so glad he gave me his jacket, or I would be a mess for sure... maybe he isn't so bad.

Curious, I look down at the name printed in black ink at the bottom of the card, Kim Nam-joon.

Huh, even his name sounds familiar.