Over Books and Coffee (Seongjoong)

Part 2

The next day, Hongjoong went straight for the coffee shop. He had decided to try the one two blocks away from his dorm rather than the campus shop he normally went to. He had heard that their coffee was a lot better.

The shop was fairly busy, and it was small but cozy with lots of windows. It had a very soft feeling to it.

Hongjoong froze when he saw the barista.

It was that man. The one whom he had nailed with a book.

It's ok, maybe he won't recognize you. Hongjoong thought as he walked up to the counter. Like hell he wouldn't.

"Hello. What can I get for... oh, it's you." The man immediately recognized him, probably by his red hair. The rest of him wasn't too memorable.

"Um, h-hi." Damned stutter, he cursed himself.

"Sorry about making you uncomfortable yesterday. I didn't mean to." The man said. Hongjoong was stunned.

"Why are you apologizing?" Hongjoong asked, incredulous.

"I should have known better and just not pushed you. It was my fault." The man said. He genuinely looked sorry.

"I hit you with a book." Hongjoong said flatly.

"Only because you were annoyed."

"I don't think you heard me. I. Threw. A. Book. At. You." Hongjoong hissed. Now he was feeling even worse. "You weren't at fault. I just hadn't had my coffee yet so I was already agitated." He continued.

"Oh. Um, ok." The barista said awkwardly.

"So, coffee?" He asked. Hongjoong nodded.

"Black."

"What kind?"

"Surprise me." Hongjoong shrugged. He then noticed the man was wearing a name tag. It said "Park Seonghwa". His name.

"Can I have a name for that?" He asked, and Hongjoong looked him in the eyes as he said, "Hongjoong."

He could have sworn he saw the blonde man smile a bit.

Hongjoong finished paying, but before he walked away to go find a place to sit, he turned towards Seonghwa.

"At some point, if we ever run into each other on the street, let me treat you to something. You know, as an apology I guess." Hongjoong said, he felt his ears start to burn.

"Thanks for the offer. I think I'll take you up on it." Seonghwa said, leaning on the counter.

Hongjoong couldn't suppress the smile of relief that spread across his face as he hurried to find a place to sit.

Seonghwa's reaction to their meeting truly had been a surprise Hongjoong hadn't been expecting. He was so... nice. Then again, he hadn't been expecting to meet him again either.

The coffee was good. Really good actually.

Hongjoong decided he liked this coffee shop a lot better than the other one too.