Archive of Our Own

He had constructed various scenarios about this day. He imagined how and when it would happen, how Yoongi would look and how the writer will propose. Namjoon had imagined everything up to the tiniest details.

What Namjoon didn't predict though, was that he will be the one buying Yoongi's proposal cake.

"Joon-ah. Are you there yet?" The slur of Yoongi's voice snapped Namjoon out of his reverie. "Yah. Don't tell me you got lost. The cafe's only five blocks away from your building."

"I'm almost there. EatJin, right?" He asked, looking at the cafe located at the opposite side of the street. It was nothing like the other high-end cafes Namjoon had visited at the other parts of the city. The shop had a simple facade, making it look like an understatement compared to the extravagant buildings surrounding it. The cafe's exterior was a classic brown and cream that reminded Namjoon of a cup of coffee. It was fairly small but it radiated with warmth and comfort, as if it's inviting him to come inside. "We had a case in the emergency room, I can't exactly leave early, you know."

"Ah. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you," Yoongi rasped, his allergy must have been terrible this time judging by the sound of his voice. "I can ask Jihoon to buy it?"

"Nah. It's cool. Jihoon has night classes, right? Give your brother a break-" He paused, checking the cakes displayed on the cafe's window "-plus I'm already here. What kind of cake again?"

"The chocolate one with strawberries." The older croaked and Namjoon almost shuddered at the sound.

"You should stop eating chicken and eggs. You know they're bad for you and your allergy is getting worse. You sound so disgusting."

The cafe's interior surprised Namjoon. It follows the same color palette of brown and cream although now with some hints of black. It looked cozy, Namjoon thought as he took in the view. It was simple like its outer design. The cafe was packed with customers but not to the point where it was too crowded to find a decent seat. The furniture and overall ambiance made the cafe seem like a home rather than a commercial establishment. It was comfortable- somehow domestic even.

"Like Joshua once said, 'chicken heals our hearts' so no. I'll never stop eating chicken," Yoongi said, breaking Namjoon's train of thoughts. 

Namjoon queued up to the cashier. The line was a bit long but it was fast paced, considering there were only two people on the counter. "I'll put that on your gravestone once you die out of allergy." 

"Nah," Yoongi hummed, "You wouldn't let me die," He said, the smugness evident in his voice. Namjoon sighed in defeat, making Yoongi chuckle softly at the other end of the line. It's been a long day and Namjoon doesn't really have the strength left to argue with such a futile topic. After all, Yoongi has a point. Namjoon wouldn't let him die, no matter how annoying he could get.  

It was silent for a while as Namjoon stared at the line in front of him. He was still three people away from the counter but at least he can somehow see the menu board now. There was a variety of dishes listed, from bingsu to rice cakes and if Namjoon read correctly, lunch boxes were offered too. It was a diverse menu compared to those of the other cafes where they only served drinks and light snacks. 

"Good evening! What can I do for you?" The cashier greeted Namjoon when it was finally his turn at the counter.

"Good evening." Namjoon glanced at the menu board behind the cashier to look for the cake he was going to order. "One C4 please?" He said, sparing another look to see if he got the right code.

"What size and shape, sir?"

"Yoongi. Size and shape?" Namjoon echoed to his phone as he smiled apologetically to the man in front of him.

"The largest round one, Joon-ah." Namjoon nodded, forgetting that Yoongi couldn't see him. "Do you think Jiminnie would like this?"

"The largest round cake, uh-" Namjoon squinted, trying to read the tiny text on the nameplate. "-Seokjin-ssi" The said cashier, Seokjin, nodded before jotting down Namjoon's order. "Yoongi. Jimin loves you. He's too pure for this world. He loves everything that you do for him."

There was a snicker from his phone and Namjoon had to check if he was talking to the same person. How can Yoongi shift from sounding so vulnerable to being cocky within a few seconds was a mystery to him. "I'm not sure about Jimin being pure. Remember that time when he-"

"Yoongi. Oh my god. Stop." Namjoon shudders at the memory. He likes to believe that Jimin is pure. Save for that one time he found out about the younger's kinks when Jimin accidentally sent him a drunk sext that was meant for Yoongi. It involved roleplays, bondages and a lot of other things he didn't want to recall. Needless to say, that was certainly a memory Namjoon wanted to get rid of.

Yoongi cackled and Namjoon wanted to smack his face at the audacity. He goes out of his way to buy him his proposal cake and this is what he gets in return? Namjoon shook his head as Yoongi's laugh came to an abrupt stop. "Ah. Jimin's here." There was a notable drop of volume from his voice. "I need to go. Thanks, Joon-ah. I owe you one. Don't forget the message, okay? Thank you." Namjoon thought he heard Jimin's voice before Yoongi hung up.

Seokjin cleared his throat, politely waiting for Namjoon to finish his phone call. "A 12 inch round chocolate cake with strawberries and-"

"Will you marry me?" Namjoon mindlessly stated, tucking his phone into his pocket.

"I... Shouldn't you take me out to dates first?" There was an awkward laugh. Namjoon promptly diverted his attention from his wallet to look at Seokjin. He wasn't sure if it was the dim lights of the cafe or if Seokjin's cheeks were indeed tinged with pink. 

"Oh. Wow. You're straight forward, aren't you?" The other cashier whistled, eyeing Namjoon with keen interest. "Don't let Tae hear that though." 

"Hm?" It took him a heartbeat, two, three, before he realized what he said. "Oh. Ah. Fuck." Namjoon can feel his face heating up. "I'm sorry. I meant could you put 'Will you marry me?' As the message?" He stuttered. He silently cursed at the skies for making him an awkward being. "On the cake I mean."

Seokjin giggled, making his eyes crinkle into crescent shapes. Namjoon wanted to run out of the cafe there and then. But at the same time he wanted to stay because of the cashier's laugh. The cake. Namjoon needed to stay for the cake.

"Of course. Your name, sir?" Namjoon was surprised with how fast the cashier regained his composure at this situation. Seokjin was grinning at him as if nothing had happened. The more he stared at the cashier though, the more Namjoon had noticed that there was something about his smile. It wasn't mockery nor embarrassment but rather subtle amusement. "For the receipt."

"Namjoon," He answered, trying to sound nonchalant. "K-Kim Namjoon." He repeated, hoping to sound more confident. The way his voice faltered though, proved him otherwise.

"That would be 10,000 won, Namjoon-ssi. Please wait there while we prepare your order." Seokjin gestured to the vacant seats. "We'll call you once your order is ready." He smiled. Seokjin's eyes crinkled once again and Namjoon might have melted a little bit inside.

It has been a good thirty minutes after the "Will you marry me" mayhem. Namjoon had since then occupied the seat near the window, reviewing some of his cases to pass time. It was around the ten minute mark when Jungkook, the other cafe's cashier, had informed him about the possible delay. It was something about them running out of chocolate icing? Or was it a problem with the cake itself? Namjoon wasn't sure. It was only a quarter before 7 pm but he was already tired and sleepy. The ER got pretty hectic earlier that day. An old tree collapsed in a near-by school's field, injuring quite a number of students. It was nothing too serious, just a few cuts here and there, some mild fractures, but the entire emergency room still got pretty worked up.

Another minute passed and Namjoon soon found himself staring at Seokjin. He would be lying if he said he doesn't find the cashier attractive. Seokjin looked like someone from a magazine cover, maybe an idol even. Although his features are quite sharp, there was a light aura around him. His blond hair and yellow shirt made him look like the sun. As to how someone could pull that look off baffles Namjoon. Yellows aren't really his favorite color after all.

There was a soft chime from the cafe's clock, signaling that it was already 7 pm. It was after the third chime when the thought dawned on Namjoon. He's in a cafe and he met someone wearing a yellow shirt. Years ago, back when he was still in the university, he asked for a sign. If he were to meet his soulmate, he wanted to know it was them. He wanted to meet his soulmate in a cafe, wearing a yellow shir-

There was a soft tap on his shoulder, disrupting his internal monologue. "Here's your order, Namjoon-ssi?" Namjoon looked up to be greeted with a boxy smile. "Please check if you're okay with your order?" The server - Taehyung, as written on his nameplate - showed him an opened box. Inside was a round chocolate cake with a Will you marry me? written neatly in script with what Namjoon assumed to be white icing. At the sides were sliced strawberries and whipped cream decorating the cake's borders.

"It looks great. Thank you, Taehyung-ssi."

Taehyung then closed the box and started wrapping a ribbon around it gingerly. "We're very sorry for the delay, sir. There was a problem in the kitchen," He muttered, his lower lip jutting out a little bit. "Please have these cookies as an apology." He handed Namjoon a smaller box before placing the cake box into a paper bag.

"Ah. Thank you?" Namjoon can't help but smile. At least there was something good that happened today. 

The server grinned at him, "You're welcome! I hope you enjoy those!" Taehyung bowed before heading to another table.

Namjoon was already at the door when Seokjin's voice caught his attention. "Tae! Could you take over at the counter for a while? Kook's in the kitchen and I need to deliver a cake to the next building." Namjoon turned around to see Seokjin standing in front of the counter, taking off his apron.

Namjoon almost decided it was a mere coincidence, meeting someone wearing a yellow shirt at the cafe. It wasn't highly unlikely after all. But his jaw inevitably dropped as Seokjin stood there, wearing a yellow shirt, skinny jeans and white sneakers.

Yellow shirt. Skinny jeans. White sneakers. Cafe.

Those were exactly all the signs he asked years ago if he was to meet his soulmate. Usually, he would reason out with probability and coincidence but this was too much. Namjoon can feel his pulse picking up pace.

Of all days, it just had to happen today. The universe's sense of humor is a bit ironic.

"Sure thing! Take care, Jinnie-hyung!~" Taehyung hummed, waving from the inner corner of the cafe. "I love you!"

Seokjin chuckled, the tips of his ear red, "I love you too, Tae."

Namjoon's ex-boyfriend is about to propose (and eventually get married) and his potential soulmate is already taken.

Yep. The universe is definitely fucking with him.