"Good morning." I chirped as I walk into the cafe to start my shift.
"You seem to be up in the skies today." Da Won states wit a pretty smile.
I nodded in agreement and went over to our designated coffee station to prep.
"Is it because of him?" She nudged my shoulder while she cleaned the brewing machine.
"SeokJin?" She nodded at the mention of his name.
"His name sounds familiar, though" She trailed off, trying to recollect her memories of this familiar name.
"Haven't you met him? I thought you did." I questioned, she shook her head in denial, stating she didn't see him once but maybe might have seen the back of his head a couple of times.
"He walks me to work every morning and walk me home every night," I stated.
"How sweet of him?" She twists and turns with glee. "But I thought you come to work all by yourself." We both cautiously wiped the spoons and plates. "Maybe I might have seen him without realizing."
I nodded and, so did she.
"Yeah, sometimes it'll be like that." I huffed, a little upset that my only good friend hasn't seen my boyfriend yet.
"Sooner or later, we all are going to meet." She patted my back, sensing I was a little put off by the fact that they haven't met.
"Anyways!" She exclaims, clapping her hand excitedly, diverting my attention.
"My brother and I are having dinner tonight, and I really want you to come by. It's more or less like a friend's gathering."
"Well, truthfully. it was supposed to be only you and me because I wanted to go out with you but, Hoseok decided to join before I could tell you and-"
"Don't worry about it." Cutting her off. " I'd love to have dinner with you and your brother. Maybe we can go shopping next time?" I mildly suggested and outing.
'It's time I go out and socialize properly.'
"Yes!" Da Won exclaimed as she gasps in 'honor to go out with me.'
-During dinner with the Jung's-
Walking hand in hand with Da Won into the restaurant, the air conditioner's slight breeze tingled up her spine.
'it's a cold night.'
Right away, her eyes spotted Hoseok as he waved his arm up high, calling them over.
"Are we late?" I questioned the siblings as we take a seat at the same table as Hoseok.
"Not really. I reserved the table and decided to come before you both to get the food coming." He whispered to us with an accomplished smirk plastered on his face with the victory.
"Oh, the food better becoming." Da won challenged his table reserving skills.
"The food is everyone's priority, but I want to talk about us." Hoseok grandly gestured himself and to the both of as he gently brushed his hair. "Let's hear about you, Y/n." he volunteered for me to start the conversations.
"I really have nothing much," I refused, but Da Won and Hoseok cheered me on sharing details about me with them.
"I'm currently majoring in culinary. And I started working a part-time job a year ago."
"It was for a semester project about the arts of coffee making and shortly after working for almost two months. I got fired."
Da Won gasps in horror, which made me a little more at ease knowing the fact that they were paying attention.
"But I got hired in the new cafe that I'm working with you." I gestured towards Da Won. She smiled sweetly.
"And I decided to continue working on this part-time job even after this project." inhaling deeply, I continued.
"The extra cash came in handy when my mum got hospitalized." Both of them lightly gasped as they listen intently.
"She's still getting her treatment, but she's recovering well."
"Wow! You really put up a fight." I laughed at his comment.
"What are you up to these days, you brat?" Da Won questioned him as the waiter placed our meals neatly in front of us.
"My schedule is a little tight in the morning because I'm joining the upcoming competition." He sighed as he cuts his steak into portions.
"Oh! What are you majoring in?"
"Dance." He said with a smile.
"Wow! So have you won other competitions?" I asked, mesmerized at the unique course.
"No, not me." he laughed lightly. "My students. I'm majoring in dance, but my students are the ones participating."
"Wow! You teach?" Beyond amazed. "That's soo cool. I have no talent in that department." I sulked.
"Everything takes time, 'just y/n.' " He chuckled at his light joke.
'Someone staring at me.'
They burned holes on my head. I turned to find Jin standing by the entrance of the restaurant.
'Jin?'
"Will there be a chance to meet your handsome boyfriend sometime, y/n?" Da Won pulled me out of the sudden trance with her question. Tumbling back to reality, I shot her a quick smile and said yes.
I looked back to see no one standing there,
'Was I dreaming?'
-Another random day-
"Jin! I'm about to explode!" I dramatically gag.
"Oh, please! I'm the one with the acting major here." He couldn't help but smile at my dramatic act. "Plus, that wasn't even a full meal." He retorted with a subtle snort.
"I seriously can't take more than this, Jin." Staring at the big ceramic plate that was empty in front of me.
"I'm gonna get fat if I keep on eating this much." Glaring at him. "How can you not gain a single pound after eating this much." I pointed at the large basket, which once filled with fries and his clean slated ceramic plate.
"That's on my fast metabolism, Bambi." He flirted while winking shamelessly.
"You gotta love these abs." He teased me as he wiggled. I pushed his face away.
-Hoseok's POV-
"I'm on my way, Check the props for me, would ya." I hung up my phone and crossed the road hastily to get to my car.
'Oh! It's y/n.'
She was dining alone in the Diner.
'Is she perhaps waiting for Jin?'
'Anyways, I better hurry. The kids are waiting.'
-A few days later-
"The usual, please." Hoseok chirped
"Well, that would be 12000 won." I handed him his bill and order number.
"Y/n, If it isn't a big trouble. Can we talk over your break time?" He politely asked with a sweet smile. It would be rude of me to outright refuse, with that I accepted his humble request.
-Break time-
"I saw you a few days ago at the Diner." He nervously started this crucial conversation over some caffeine.
"Yeah. Why do you ask?" I replied with a smile. The awkwardness was thick in the air, like haze.
"I was on my way to the venue when I saw you." He scratched his nape, sensing my uncomfortable tone.
"I was on a date with Jin. What about it?" The air was thick till my butt wasn't feeling any comfort in the cushioned seat.
"Oh! With Jin!" He obnoxiously said it out loud, implying indirectly that this conversation was about Jin. "I didn't see him at the Diner. You were alone the whole time." he laughed at the end of the sentence to come off as less awkward than it was.
"What do you mean?" I asked, dropping my usual friendly tone with a scowl on my face.
"He was with me that whole time." Hurt by his statement but also offended.
"Oh, really?" It was clear as crystal he didn't believe me.
"You already concluded that I'm lying," I stated, monotonously.
"No! Of course not!." He laughed like a nervous wreck. "It looks like you made up the fact that you're in a relationship."
"And why would I do that?" I threw my rebuttal.
"I'm not sure. Many people just want to fit in, I guess." He sighed, knowing the conversation is going south. "Some of my friends did that just to fit in and-"
"So, you're telling me Jin is fake." I laughed bitterly by the statement that tumbled out of my mouth. It pricked me all over.
" I get it, Jung Hoseok. I'm not the type to easily get into a relationship, but that doesn't mean I don't deserve to get a chance!"
"Look. Y/n. That wasn't what I mean. Just listen to-"
"No, thank you. You can go now." I smiled with every single prick that I've felt. I got up and went back to work and continued to greet customers with a fake smile.
-At the bridge-
"Cruel," I muttered into his chest. His embrace was melting me, blocking all the cold air out as he gently pats and plays with my hair.
"It's okay, Bambi. I got you." He placed a soft kiss at the top of my head. His chest was going in and out and, that rhythm somehow comforted me.
"Why did he say that?" I asked, looking up at him with tears brimming at the edge of my eyes.
"People with different minds, speak with different thoughts." He calmly said as he exhaled.
He tightly embraced me as he stared at the river, glistening under the moonlight. Gentle pats and light kisses were more than enough.
"Can we stay like this for a moment?" I asked, placing a light kiss under his chin and snuggling back into his warm embrace.
"Anything for you, Bambi." He put the covers of his coat on me and rubbed my back to give me the comfort that I seek.
If he came from the fragment of fantasy, I would rather live in this perfect dream than to return to my shattered reality.
I'd give anything to feel him, his warmth once again.....
