Chapter Text
Yubin couldn’t help but watch the flustered girl leave the cafe, her eyes following her as she hurried off down the street and out of sight. Trying her best to hide her smile, she turned slowly back to face the barista, who was also watching her curiously.
“A regular?” Yubin asked, and the girl - Minji, according to her namebadge - nodded.
“Yeah, she’s in most weekdays, gets a coffee on her way to class. She was obviously running a little late today, though.”
“Clearly. She always that scattered?” Yubin asked, smiling in amusement as she recalled the way Gahyeon had seemed to stumble over her words as she spoke to her, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly. Yubin hoped that perhaps she had been the cause of that. She found it very endearing.
“No,” Minji answered, a grin creeping up onto her face, “But perhaps there were special circumstances today.”
Yubin hummed and stepped up closer to the counter, remembering suddenly that she had actually entered the cafe for a reason.
Minji regarded her closely. “I haven’t seen you before, I don’t think. Is this your first time here?”
“It is. I only just moved close by. I was just exploring the area, seeing what I came across.” Yubin answered, giving the barista a small smile. “I’ll have a latte, please. Oh, and um, put an iced vanilla latte on there too. But you don’t need to make that one.”
Minji’s eyebrow raised as she looked over the till at her. “Oh? And why’s that?”
She looked like she already knew Yubin’s answer.
“Just make sure Gahyeon gets it the next time she comes in, for me?”
“Sure thing, er, Yubin, was it?” Minji asked as she gestured for her to tap her card on the reader. Yubin nodded in confirmation. “So, tomorrow then, i’ll give it to her.”
Yubin smiled gratefully at the girl. She was sneakily telling her the next time Gahyeon would be there.
———————————————————————————
Yubin woke the next morning feeling refreshed and happy. Gahyeon had been on her mind for the remainder of the day, their brief encounter replaying over and over in her mind, making her heart race every time she thought about it.
Perhaps it was a little strange to be this enamoured with a person after meeting them for such a short time, but something about Gahyeon was different. Yubin wondered if she had felt it too, that instant connection that had formed between them. She checked her phone, wondering when exactly would be an appropriate time to make her way to the cafe. It was only 7:30, but Yubin felt too antsy and nervous to wait any longer, so she grabbed her keys and wallet and made her way the short distance from her apartment to the cafe.
As she entered, she noticed that it was already rather busy inside, a few customers waiting to order while some sat at tables nursing their coffees and various treats. A sweet scent enveloped her as she walked in, making her mouth water. She wasn’t really one to eat breakfast, but maybe today could be an exception.
As she approached the front of the line to order, she browsed over the may options available in the display case. Her gaze passed over many sweet and savoury treats, but the muffins looked particularly delicious, so she decided to try one.
“Hello.” She said when she made it to the till. “Nice to see you again, Minji.”
“Ah, Yubin, right? What a nice surprise to see you back here today.” She replied, although she didn’t look surprised in the slightest. “What can I do for you?”
“A latte please, for here. Oh, and one of those wonderful looking chocolate muffins as well.” She ordered, already holding out her card ready to pay. Minji gave her a smile and handed her a table number, telling her to sit wherever she liked.
Yubin sat, and took the chance to look around the little cafe while she waited. The colours of the interior were a very pale pastel pink lined with white trim, which worked quite well with the little decorations and flowers that Minji had put up. She assumed the place was owned by her, of course. There was only one other employee at she could see at the moment, a young girl who was currently wiping some of the free tables and removing empty plates.
When her order came, Yubin nursed her coffee and consumed it as slowly as she could without it going completely cold. Then, she started to pick at her muffin, all the while keeping her eye on the door, looking out for one particular pink-haired girl.
The cafe began to clear out, and soon Yubin was the only one still occupying a table, all other customers who came in opting to get take-away items only. She checked the time again, to see it was almost 8:15. Her leg bounced nervously under the table. Quietly, Minji approached her, carrying what looked like a hot chocolate. She placed it down in front of her.
“Oh, um, I didn’t order anything else.” She said quietly, but Minji only shrugged.
“On the house, while you wait.” She leant down close to Yubin, whispering quietly, “She should be here any moment, by the way.”
Yubin blushed and looked down at the foam on top of her drink, fiddling with the outside of the glass. Her heart thumped uncomfortably in her chest and she willed it to stop. She shouldn’t be this terrified about seeing a girl she’d met for one single minute.
Minji left her alone to her thoughts, and Yubin tried to occupy herself with anything at all, anything to distract herself from the nerves. A few minutes later, however, the object of her thoughts finally entered the little cafe, striding up confidently to the counter.
Yubin’s first thought was that she looked significantly more put-together today, and somehow even prettier than she remembered. She supposed she’d maybe seen Gahyeon at her ‘worst’, though how on earth that was possible was beyond her, because even in her panicked state yesterday Yubin still thought she’d looked absolutely breathtaking.
Seated in the corner, Yubin’s table wasn’t in Gahyeon’s line of sight as she entered, meaning she didn’t notice her at all. But that’s exactly what she’d hoped for.
“Morning, Minji.” Gahyeon greeted cheerily, sighing happily when she reached her. “I’m on time today, thank god. I don’t need another repeat of yesterday. That was mortifying.”
Minji hummed in agreement, and Yubin noticed her eyes quickly dart over to meet hers.
“Well, I don’t think it was that bad, Gahyeon…”
“I crashed into the doorframe, Minji. In front of that lovely girl who paid for my coffee, after I’d been a blundering idiot who acted as if I’d never spoken to another human being in my life.” She groaned, leaning her elbows on the counter and resting her head in her hands. “God, she probably thought I was so stupid.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that-“
Gahyeon cut her off gently. “Ahh, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, just the usual, thank you. And i have my wallet this time.” She said, fishing it out of her bag and holding it up in triumph.
Minji glanced quickly at Yubin again. “Actually, there’s no need for that, hun.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, umm… your drink’s already paid for.”
There was a pause.
“What?”
Minji smiled and pointed to Yubin’s little table in the corner. To Yubin’s horror, Gahyeon whipped around quickly and caught her staring at them. She dropped her gaze hastily to her hot chocolate, heat spreading across her face. Oh god, coming here had been a terrible idea. Absolutely horrible….
Footsteps sounded across the floor as someone approached. When they stopped near her table, Yubin reluctantly looked up to find Gahyeon standing right there, looking at her with a sort of distant expression.
“Why?” She asked, sounding genuinely confused. “Why would you do that?”
Yubin swallowed, trying to find words. It was rather difficult to do so at the current moment.
“You deserved it.” She said lamely. What she had really wanted to say was ‘I like you’, but that had seemed a bit much.
“You don’t even know me…”
Yubin shrugged, holding eye contact. “Maybe I’d like to.”
Gahyeon let out a shaky breath and looked down, pushing a stray hair behind her ear. Yubin could also see a faint blush on her cheeks. It only made her heart flutter faster in her chest.
“I, um… I’m not going to be stopping by tomorrow. But I’ll be here on Thursday.” She fiddled nervously with her hands. “Maybe I’ll wake up a bit early, give myself some extra time.”
“Okay.” Yubin said softly.
“Maybe that means i’ll be here a little early, too.”
“Right.”
“Yes, right.” Gahyeon’s eyes moved up to meet hers again. “Okay, then.”
Silence passed between them as they just stared at each other. Yubin could think of nothing else except how beautiful she looked today.
“Well, I’d better get going.” Gahyeon said, turning to walk away slowly. She kept glancing back at Yubin every couple of steps though. “Thank you, of course, for my coffee. Again.”
Yubin managed to give her a small smile despite feeling like she was going to throw up. “Of course, it was my pleasure.”
The girl turned to pick up her coffee from the end of the counter, where Minji had it sitting ready to go. With one last glance at Yubin, Gahyeon stepped out of the cafe and continued on her way. All the breath she’d been holding escaped Yubin in one go, and she couldn’t tell if she felt lighter or heavier.
Wait a minute. Had she just been invited on a date?