Moonglow Bay | ATEEZ

01. the boy next door

The day you met him was one of the coldest days in Moonglow Bay's history -- one for the record books, for sure. You couldn't complain, though. After hours of unpacking boxes from your father's truck, you were thankful for the winter breeze. If only a few flurries would fall, you thought. Then today would be perfect. After unpacking the last box of books, you plopped down onto the front porch of the establishment. Your legs dangled off, swaying back and forth as you took breath after breath, letting the crisp air envelop your lungs.

"Y/N!" Your mother called. Turning your head, you saw her walking out the front door with a stack of books in her hands. A weary smile was plastered on her face between reddened cheeks, both from her exhaustion and the cold. "Could you go next door and tell them we just moved in, then ask for some water?"

You nodded before hopping off the front porch. At this point in your life, you were used to moving from place to place. When rent became too expensive, you moved. That was just the way it was, the way it had always been. After fourteen years of it, you couldn't be too bitter. At least this town was on the shore.

Walking up to the establishment next door, you were quick to observe it was a café. The smell of freshly ground coffee beans hung over the building like a dense fog; you were only too sure the scent would be overwhelming once inside. You scrunched your nose at the aroma, a bad taste filling your mouth. You continued to take in the exterior for a moment, distracted by the blue brick walls, the paint seemingly fading due to erosion from the salty air. A couple of wooden tables were set up outside, but they remained empty. If this place had any customers, they must've been inside. Nobody would want to sit outside in this weather.

While you observed the sign above the front window, (it read "Dalbich Café"), you noticed the front door crack open, a mop of disheveled hair popping out from behind it.

"You gonna come in or what?" The hair asked."We don't allow solicitors, you know."

"Do you even know what a solicitor is?"

"No, but that's what the sign on the door says." The young boy left his position from behind the door, now standing on the sidewalk before it. You couldn't help but giggle at the sight. Contrasting his wild mane, he was still wearing his school uniform, complete with his tie and blazer. Based on his features, you figured he was probably about the same age, maybe a little bit younger than you. His eyes were large, still innocent. Looking down, you noticed one pant leg was cuffed higher than the other, and you could see the bright reds and blues of a Spider Man sock peeking out from underneath.

As he noticed you looking at his ankles, the young boy's eyes widened and he leaned down, quick to cuff his pants at the same length so the primary colors disappeared from your view. Your laughter increased at his embarrassment, and his cheeks turned the same color as Spider Man. "Do you want something or not?" He whined once standing straight again.

Once your laughter subsided, you managed to get out, "Yeah, do you guys have any water?"

The boy crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "No, we do not."

A flash of annoyance crossed your features, and you let out a sigh. "You're at a café, and you don't have any water?"

He shook his head once more. "Nope."

With a groan, you turned your back on the boy.

"Jongho, who's this?"

The question caused you to freeze, and you turned back to the café, expression contorted with your confusion.

"I don't know," the young boy shrugged, looking up at who you assumed to be his mother.

After scoffing, you turned on your sweetest grin and focused your attention on the older woman before you. "Hello, ma'am," you said. "My name is Y/N. My family and I just moved in to the shop next door, and my mother was wondering if you had any water you could spare?"

In your peripheral, you saw Jongho rolling his eyes, then turning his back to you.

"How lovely it is to meet you, Y/N. I'm Mrs. Choi, and this is my son, Jongho." The boy groaned as his mother turned him around, and you felt yourself crack into a smirk as your gaze flickered to his pained expression.

You bowed your head in response. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Choi." Jongho remained silent at her side.

"You just moved in?" Mrs. Choi asked, and you nodded. "Well, allow me to get some water for you and your parents then."

"Thank you ma'am," you said, bowing your head once more, and the older woman made her way back into her café.

"So you do have water," you teased, and the tips of Jongho's ears flushed, his expression shrinking as his irritation grew. He continued to keep his mouth shut until his mother returned with a tray holding a pitcher of ice water and a few glasses.

"Shall we go, then?" Mrs. Choi asked, already making her way to the shell of a bookstore your family would soon build out.

Your parents fell in love with the Choi family after that initial meeting. It seemed as if you were constantly over at each other's shops, with the Chois coming in to purchase books, your own parents visiting Dalbich every morning for coffee. Even Jongho seemed to soften up a bit after a while.

One Tuesday in the middle of April, he opted to do what he did best by poking his head in from behind the front door of your family's bookstore.

"Wanna go to the pier?"

You set down the book you were reading and hopped off your stool behind the checkout counter, a grin on your face. "I'd love to."

◌  ◌  ◌

"Y/N?"

After blinking a few times, you woke from your daze to a smiling Jongho wiping the counter down before you. "You okay?" He asked, putting away a mug he'd just finished washing.

You sat up from your slouched position, noticing you'd been leaning on your hand, elbow propped up on the counter. With a nod, you offered your friend a smile in return. "Yeah, just thinking."

"What about?"

"The day we first met."

"Oh, Y/N," Jongho chuckled, "don't get all sentimental on me."

With a soft smile, you re-engaged with the forgotten latte in front of you and took a small sip. "I'm not, I was just thinking about how easy things were then."

The young man paused his actions, hand closing into a fist around the damp cloth he was holding onto. "Yeah, it's been a long time."

Just then, the front door opened and Jongho looked up from your conversation, offering the new customer a cheeky grin. "Welcome in," he said, offering you that same smile before making his way over to the main register.

He was so grown up. You couldn't help but notice it more and more with every movement he made. While he took the customer's order, you were desperate to catch a glimpse of the young boy he once was so many years ago. He was taller than you now, something he adored while you resented. As he'd grown, he also grew stronger and more handsome by the day. His eyes were the only part of him to remain the same; still wide and innocent after six years. Even his hair was different, much more stylized now; he recently dyed it a lighter blond in preparation for your shared senior year of high school.

Jongho made his way to the espresso machine after finishing the order, standing in front of you once more. You took him in once more, the changes solely within him causing you to feel nostalgic.

"I love you, Jongho."

The young man looked up from the drink he was preparing, the tips of his ears flushing pink. "What's all that for?" He asked.

"You've stuck by me for so long. Six years of friendship doesn't mean nothing to me," you said.

He chuckled, capping the drink with a plastic lid, setting it at the edge of the counter to pick up. "Iced Americano," he called before walking back over to you.

"Are you not gonna say it back?" You asked, taking another sip of your drink.

"I love you too, Y/N," Jongho said, his smile softened. "Always will."