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Namjoon wakes up to a scene straight out of a fairytale. Birds sing sweetly in the trees, flitting from branch to branch, and golden sunlight spills through the window, pooling on the blankets like syrup atop a stack of pancakes.
He hums and then half-groans, stretching out and feeling his way across the bed, finding the other side empty. He’s confused for a second or two before he remembers that Jeongguk said he’d go open the tea shop without him that morning to give Namjoon a chance to sleep in late for once.
Namjoon gets ready for work at a leisurely pace, enjoying a long, hot shower and then taking his time selecting his robes, running his hand along the silks and chiffons before picking out a simple linen set in fawn and navy colours. Once he’s ready, Namjoon leaves the apartment and heads for the river. It’s a beautiful day, with the sun tumbling through the trees in bright, hazy beams and blossom petals and leaves dotting the otherwise glittering water.
Following the path that runs alongside the river, Namjoon eventually comes to his and Jeongguk’s tea shop - The Witch’s Brew. It’s located on a houseboat that’s moored to a tiny harbour. The emerald-green roof is dappled with shadows from the canopy of trees overhead and the boat gently bobs up and down in the harbour, a movement reminiscent of a teabag being dunked in and out of a cup of hot water.
Namjoon steps aboard.
The tea shop is almost full, with nearly all of the tables taken. Most of the customers are people Namjoon’s never seen before but he also spots some of their regulars on his way over to the counter. There’s Taehyung, who is sitting cross-legged in one of the cushion-lined window pews, tinkering with his crystals. Seokjin, Yoongi and Hoseok - all witches from a nearby coven - are taking up most of the central community table, pepperminty plumes of steam pouring out of their gigantic shared teapot. Finally, Jimin is near the back as he always is, hunched over his laptop and frowning.
Jeongguk is getting an order together in the curtained-off back room, pouring freshly-brewed tea into two cups and singing softly as he goes. Once he’s done, he places enchanted, self-stirring spoons in the cups that clink melodically as they circle the rims. Namjoon presses a quick kiss against Jeongguk’s temple as he walks past him and back into the shop and then Namjoon gets to work topping up some of the tea jars, refreshing their individual charms by whispering incantations directly into them.
When Jeongguk returns, he tugs the curtain closed behind him. “Guess what I found out, hyung,” he hisses.
“What?” Namjoon replies.
“Jimin and Taehyung went to the exact same magical university at the exact same time,” Jeongguk tells him, widening his eyes for dramatic effect. “They graduated a few years ago but they don’t know each other at all. Isn’t that funky?”
“Yeah, funky,” Namjoon murmurs in agreement, filling up the jar of lavender and lemon rooibos before leaning in to re-enchant it. It’s a sleeping aid and if he’s too loud or if he speaks too quickly, he might overdo it and make it too powerful.
“They’re just like us,” Jeongguk continues, bringing his clasped hands to his chest before sighing wistfully.
Namjoon glances at him and frowns. “How do you mean?”
“Well, you know, they went to the same university,” Jeongguk explains. His eyes are still wide-open, unblinking, swimming with what could be the light from a thousand miniature galaxies.
“But they didn’t meet there,” Namjoon points out. “And we didn’t go to a magical university. Just a dinky charm and glamour school in the middle of nowhere.”
“Still,” Jeongguk says. “It’s a cool set of coincidences, right? They were at the same school for all that time and now they come to the same tea shop. They buy the same tea, even!”
That’s true. They both go for the black tea flavoured with rose petals and cocoa shells. It’s doubly magicked to boost energy levels and unlock creative potential.
It’s also their house blend.
“A lot of people order that tea,” Namjoon says. “Why are you making such a big deal out of this?”
Jeongguk pouts. “I just think it’s neat. There are all these little ways they’re connected, you know? Like they’re star-crossed lovers or something.”
“This isn’t one of Jimin’s novels, Jeongguk-ah,” Namjoon lightly scolds. “These are real people. They’re our customers-”
“I know,” Jeongguk interrupts. “I was just saying. It’s not like they can hear me.”
“Alright, alright.” Namjoon turns around to ruffle his hair and Jeongguk leans into the touch easily. “Just take it easy with the romantic fantasies, okay?”
“Okay. Whatever you say, hyung” Jeongguk replies. He fiddles with his apron strings, untying and retying them. “I need to put some more cakes out.”
“I’ll do that,” Namjoon says. “Why don’t you go check on the customers?”
Jeongguk nods and heads out while Namjoon goes to the fridge to stack a tray with glistening red strawberry tarts, cranberry and vanilla scones, and puffy, cloud-shaped meringues. When he goes back out front to place them on the counter, he can’t help but wonder about what Jeongguk said.
He looks at Taehyung and then at Jimin.
They’ve both been coming to the tea shop for a while, so he knows them fairly well. Taehyung studied magical engineering at university, learning how to build machines and vehicles with enchanted cores. He didn’t end up pursuing a career in that field, choosing instead to start a small jewelry business. His necklaces and brooches and rings are charmed the same way Namjoon and Jeongguk's teas are and are extremely popular at the witch’s market.
Jimin, on the other hand, is a psychic. He was never interested in being a professional one and actually writes romance novels for a living (Jeongguk buys each one on its publication date and Namjoon eventually picks it up a few months after, partly out of curiosity but mostly because they're impossible to put down).
They’re both sweethearts, Namjoon supposes, and it is slightly odd that they have so much in common but have never spoken, he has to admit. Mind whirring, he keeps observing them, his gaze shifting from left to right, from the back of the shop to the window seat, and then, as if by magic, Jimin and Taehyung both stretch, yawn and then scratch their ear at the exact same time.
Namjoon blinks, surprised, and then he looks at Jeongguk, who’s staring right back at him as if to say, I told you so, his shit-eating grin firmly in place.
-
Jeongguk next brings up his theory that Jimin and Taehyung are star-crossed lovers when he and Namjoon are in bed.
Namjoon’s worn out but he finds it difficult to close his eyes when Jeongguk looks like that, his bare skin shimmery with moonlight. The tender way he brings Namjoon’s palm to his mouth, kisses it, and then goes on to kiss each of his fingertips is equally mesmerising.
Namjoon thinks, how did I get so lucky?
Then, Jeongguk says, “Did you know Taehyung and Jimin live in the same part of town?”
The change of subject is so sudden that Namjoon’s not sure he’s heard correctly.
“They go to the same yoga studio too. Jimin in the mornings and Taehyung in the evenings.”
Namjoon hums non-committedly and then Jeongguk looks down at him through half-lidded eyes.
“Wild, right?”
“Right,” Namjoon says. A bad feeling manifests in his chest. Something like jealousy, only more confusing. “Why are you so obsessed with them?”
“I’m not,” Jeongguk says. “I’m just interested in all the ways they’re connected. In all the ways they keep missing each other. I guess you could say I’m invested.”
“Invested,” Namjoon repeats blandly. “You really think they’re gonna fall in love?”
“Maybe,” Jeongguk says with a shrug. “Definitely if we do a little meddling. Slip them the tea that gets you all horny instead of their usual stuff-”
“Jeongguk-ah,” Namjoon says, gaping at him. “That is unethical-”
“I’m joking, hyung,” Jeongguk interrupts, rolling his eyes. “Take it easy. Why does this bother you so much?”
“Because-” Namjoon starts before discovering he doesn’t know how to finish.
Because I’m scared you think their fake relationship is more interesting than our real one?
Because I’m scared you’re secretly yearning for the romance and the thrill of a new love and that you’re projecting that onto them?
“Because they’re our customers,” he eventually says, looking away. Outside the window, the crescent moon is impossibly sharp. The puffed-up cheeks of the misty clouds are freckled with starlight. There’s always been something magical about night-time for Namjoon. He closes his eyes and shakes his head before grabbing Jeongguk’s hand, trying to reset the moment.
To re-enchant it.
“I’m not bothered,” he lies. “Really.”
Jeongguk just frowns at him.
-
Taehyung arrives earlier than usual the next day, looking a bit worse for wear with puffy, red eyes. He goes rogue, ordering a pot of camomile (though it must be said that Namjoon and Jeongguk’s camomile isn’t any regular, docile camomile; it’s a very potent calming brew).
“You okay, Taehyung-ah?” Namjoon asks.
“Me?” Taehyung’s lip trembles a bit. ”Yeah. I was just at a sort of party thing last night and I can’t really handle alcohol, so, yeah.”
Namjoon nods and smiles sympathetically. Taehyung waits for his tea at the counter and once Jeongguk has brought it, he asks for two strawberry tarts as well, and even though it’s only nine in the morning and they haven’t put the cakes out yet and it’s probably not an appropriate breakfast for well, anyone, Namjoon can’t exactly say no. He fetches two tarts for Taehyung, who takes his crowded tray over to the window seat, swaying back and forth as he goes in a way that makes both Namjoon and Jeongguk wince and cross their fingers for the safe arrival of what is actually the best cup and saucer set on the whole boat.
Jimin arrives later than usual, a few hours after Taehyung has settled in. He marches straight up to the counter and orders their Stomach Settler, a healing blend of ginger, fennel and orange peel, also going completely off-script. Beside Namjoon, Jeongguk releases a breathy, little gasp.
“I know, I know.” Jimin attempts a grin but it’s a bit ragged at the edges, precariously pinned in place. Namjoon can’t help but notice that he looks tired. “Not my usual but I was at this party last night and, well, you can imagine.”
This time, Jeongguk actually squeaks.
“Sure,” Namjoon replies quickly. “We’ll bring it over to you.”
Jimin drums his fingers against the counter top. “Alright.”
Namjoon is about to usher Jeongguk into the back room to tell him to chill out when Taehyung stands and approaches the counter.
“Jimin?”
Jimin stills and then turns.
“Oh,” he says. “Taehyung. Hi.”
“‘Hi’?” Taehyung frowns and his eyes get all watery. When he next speaks, he drops his voice to a mumble. “You- I- We had such a nice time last night and then you just left?”
Jimin takes a step towards him. “That’s- No- I had a great time too. I just-”
“Just what?” Taehyung bites out when Jimin trails off.
“We shouldn’t be listening to this,” Namjoon mutters, half to Jeongguk and half to himself, but they both remain frozen in place behind the counter.
For what it’s worth, neither Jimin nor Taehyung seem to realise they’re even there.
“Look,” Jimin says. “We started talking and I was kind of startled by how much I liked you. We got along so well, so easily, and then we went back to your place and it suddenly felt like a lot, you know?”
Jimin pauses and runs a hand through his hair, exhaling hard.
“And then afterwards, when you were half-asleep, I stumbled upon fragments of what you were thinking. I didn’t mean to, I promise - my control sometimes slips a bit after you know, being with someone - and you were thinking it too. That you liked me. So much. And I got scared. I got scared so-”
“So you left,” Taehyung finishes for him. “I get it.”
“I’m sorry,” Jimin says. “I wish I could take it back. I wish I’d stayed.”
Taehyung’s lips twitch upwards into a small smile at that. “I wish you’d stayed too.”
Jimin takes another step towards him, his hands fluttering at his sides. Then, he seems to remember that they’re not the only ones in the room. He glances at Namjoon and Jeongguk briefly before turning back to Taehyung. “Do you want to talk outside, maybe?”
Taehyung uncrosses his arms, relaxing a bit. He nods and then they go.
Namjoon is speechless. The piano in the corner that Jeongguk has spelled to play music from Studio Ghibli movies is the only sound he can hear other than his breathing. His heartbeat.
Next to him, Jeongguk breathes out then leans back against the wall, closing his eyes.
At the same time, they look at each other and whisper, “Star-crossed lovers.”
-
A few days later, Jimin and Taehyung arrive together, holding hands.
They order their usual looking all blushy, giggling like kids, and Jeongguk scurries away into the back room to prepare it. Namjoon watches Taehyung and Jimin head over to the window seat and then he slips into the back room himself.
“So,” Namjoon starts. “They’re together, it appears. How does it feel?”
Jeongguk grins, his nose scrunching up cutely. “Amazing. I’m so excited for them.”
Even though he wills it not to, the bad feeling from before spreads through Namjoon like a particularly nasty hex. “Why?” he finds himself asking.
“Because,” Jeongguk says, turning to face Namjoon now, tapping his nose with his index finger. “I’m excited for anyone who gets to feel what we feel, you know? True love.”
Namjoon’s heart clenches in his chest. He feels warm all over, and not just from the chocolate-and-rose scented tea steam. “True love?”
“True love,” Jeongguk confirms, nodding. “I want them to have what we have.”
Namjoon smiles, understanding fully and feeling embarrassed all of a sudden that he hadn't from the beginning. When he goes to duck his head, Jeongguk grabs his chin and stops him. They look into each other’s eyes for a second and then Jeongguk kisses him.
“I’m in love with love,” Jeongguk murmurs against Namjoon’s lips. “And I’m in love with you. Don’t forget it.”
Namjoon nods and then watches him leave.
He won't.