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Soobin's routine goes like this: every morning at half-past seven, he'll be the first to open shop. He'd roll up the blinds to let in the waking rays of sunlight in, barely peeking through behind the urban landscape, and then get to work on arranging and tables and chairs that have been pushed to the side of the cafe.
The cafe boasts a wide array of props and artwork; each nook and cranny filled with contemporary artwork from street artists, along with colorful, often mismatched clay plates and bowls. They also have a section for antiques on sale, and even some books from small town writers that customers can read while they dine in. It may seem like a very quaint place that is overrun by too many things, but to Soobin, it isn't overwhelming in the slightest.
Their customers love the aesthetic— cozy and warm and filled with things you'd dream of having in your own home. More so when the cafe is located right where the sun sets beautifully every day, making the shop the perfect place to take selfies in and pictures of.
Soobin ties his apron and lets his gaze sweep through the main area one last time before he hums in satisfaction. His next task is to prepare the pastries.
Their famous breads are often sold out by brunch, so Soobin gets to work on pre-heating the industrial oven and thawing the shaped doughs that were prepared the night before. He will need to bake fresh ones by lunch for the working regulars to snatch up by the time they clock out of their office jobs.
His stomach growls at the mere buttery aroma wafting through the kitchen. He knows he can have some for breakfast, the owner is kind and always encourages her employees to bring home as many as they want (much to trainee Soobin's glee). But, he's too excited to have any for the day.
At quarter past eight, his coworker Yeonjun walks in just as he was done cleaning the espresso machine and pouring in the new coffee beans. With his bed hair on full display and mask askew, he yawns as a greeting to Soobin before disappearing into the break room to catch a few more precious winks before the owner comes in.
Soobin doesn't let him sleep, much to the elder's frustration. He whines when he can feel Soobin's eyes staring right at him, as if that will fend off the remaining bits of sleep that still clung to his tired eyelids. It somehow works.
"Yes, Soobin? How may I help you today?"
"Hyung, do you know what day it is today?" Soobin's leg is shaking, like a Samoyed dog wagging its tail in excitement, it is like this with Soobin. Up and down, over-stimulated.
Yeonjun hums fondly as he turns on his other cheek to look at the younger. The cool table surface is so inviting, lulling him to sleep once more. But Soobin is still here, and he will not disappear if Yeonjun closes his eyes tight and drift off into dreams. He tried that before.
"Binnie, I can't even tie my shoelaces right this morning," a yawn, "what makes you think I know what day it is? It's all the same to me."
A thoughtful pause. Then, "Unless if it's Saturday. That's my day off."
And suddenly Yeonjun's world is spinning. He's being jostled on the shoulder by Soobin as the younger male whines at his response. If Yeonjun didn't love the little bugger as if he was his own brother, there's no telling what he would do to Soobin for shaking off all the remaining sleep from him. It's too early for Choi Yeonjun to be awake, and definitely not at the giant hands of his coworker rocking him back and forth.
"Hyuuung," Soobin pouts, and boy here it comes. "It's Friday. Do you know who comes in on Fridays?"
Yeonjun smacks Soobin's hand off of his shoulder as he narrows his fox-like eyes at him. He groans inwardly. Of course he knows who comes in on Friday evenings. He's been watching Soobin crush on the kid for a whole summer; watched him invent nickname after nickname, saw him draw tiny characters and doodles on the customer's cup. Of course he knows, because ever since the kid walked into the cafe that one fateful day, Soobin has never once shut up about him.
I need a long holiday.
"Your lover boy? How could I forget?" he drawls and takes in the satisfaction of seeing Soobin turn pink. "So?"
The smile that breaks onto Soobin's face is bright and happy that Yeonjun physically winces at the sight of it. It's like looking directly at the sun. He regrets ever opening his mouth.
"I have a new nickname for him. And I think it's the best one yet."
One of the main reasons the tiny cafe— located in a quiet corner of an otherwise bustling city of Itaewon-dong— was fast becoming a popular and well-loved destination is precisely why Soobin gets to keep his job as long as he does.
People simply adored him. Soobin was a very people-person, always warm and comforting when he should be, always smiling when he knew it was his charming point. Even his slip-ups were endearing. He treated everyone as if they were his best friends, and gave out love as if he were a candy dispenser with an unlimited supply of jawbreakers.
The owner took an instant liking to him when he started writing silly nicknames for their regulars and doodling on their cups. And she encouraged him to keep doing it.
Who doesn't like it when the cute barista at the quaint little cafe created goofy alternate names for them? It was good business. In the first week after one of their regulars posted on Instagram— a section of their iced vanilla latte cup filled with drawings of tiny flowers with the nickname 'Arin' scribbled beside it— the number of people that thronged the cafe was beyond any amount they've ever seen. Not even during their holiday special promotions.
Yeonjun had gaped, disbelief written all over his face as he watched the crowd that day. Everyone was eager to get a cute nickname and doodle-filled cup from the tall barista, who was having a hard time trying to wriggle his way out of the commotion.
"I can't believe it," Yeonjun shook his head when Soobin plopped down onto the chair in the break room, frazzled by the sudden attention.
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"No, I mean I can't believe you're getting all this fame just for giving a customer a new nickname when in truth, you forgot her name and decided to be cute about it to cover up your mistake!"
Soobin laughed at that. "Sorry hyung. You know how bad I am at names."
It was true. Soobin was terrible at pronouncing the names right even when he had scribbled it down during the ordering process. He'd slip on his own tongue and call out another name— this usually irked both Yeonjun and the customer whose name was being called, and for different reasons specifically— and that usually earned him an earful from Yeonjun.
But Soobin knew he couldn't keep this up. He still had to call the customers by their name when he was done with their orders. So he vowed to remember and properly write them down when he rang them up.
Suffice to say, Soobin had been doing well lately, with the correct names and proper pronunciations and all. It made his customers happy. That is, until a boy came in one day. The dark-haired barista had never seen someone so gorgeous, so breathtaking in his entire career at this cafe.
(That's obviously a lie, Yeonjun retorted. What about me?).
But when Taehyun walked in, he seemed to forget everything, even his own name. Taehyun had that effect on him; made him stupid and in love. And when he spoke, Soobin felt like he was hearing angels sing.
"I-is it okay if I call you something else?" Soobin stuttered as he passed the boy’s change. Their fingers brushed and Soobin wondered if Taehyun felt the electric zing on his own skin, too.
"I'm sorry?" A giggle, and by God, Soobin was in too deep.
"I'm not— I mean, I usually give out nicknames to some of my customers. S-so is it okay if I do it for you? It's alright if you don't want to!"
"You just need to tell me your name again because I forgot," Soobin mumbled that last part and mentally slapped himself. This was so embarrassing.
He could already hear Yeonjun cackling at his poor attempts at flirting.
The customer hummed, though his gaze never broke away from Soobin and it made the elder suddenly self aware of his own idiocy. But his eyes held nothing but kindness and a sparkle of amusement. So Soobin took that as a good sign as Taehyun nodded.
"Sure, I don't mind. Just don't call me anything weird." And they laughed, tension dissipating into the warm summer air.
That day, Soobin gave him the nickname 'Tyunnie' and doodled little clouds with smiley faces and sunshines.
The happy giggle and full-toothed smile from Taehyun was enough to keep Soobin's heart floating on cloud nine for a week. The boy promised to come visit often, and after a few arrangements, Taehyun fixed his timing to Friday evenings.
Remembering Taehyun’s order came so easily to Soobin. As simple as breathing. It wasn’t exactly difficult because Taehyun didn’t like the bitter taste of Americanos, nor the espressos and lattes that they were famous for. But Soobin had thought that his go-to drink suited him the most— as sweet and lovely as one Kang Taehyun, the boy with stars in his eyes and sunshine in his smile.
“Your usual?” Soobin registered the order before Taehyun could even speak.
“You know me so well,” the younger said, a teasing smile on his lips but he nodded. “Caramel macchiato for me, please.”
But I want to know you even more.
It frustrated Soobin how their conversations were limited to when Soobin took his order, while he prepared said order and when he gave the finished drink to Taehyun at the end of the process. He wished he could talk to the boy longer than what they were used to. He earned himself a slap on the shoulder when he lamented about this to Yeonjun one day during break.
“Just give him your number!”
“B-but I don’t know if he’s into me,” Soobin supplied weakly.
Yeonjun raised an eyebrow at that and crossed his arms. “Are you actually blind, Bin-ah? The guy’s practically into you! Have you seen the way his face lights up each time you give him a new nickname?”
“What if he’s just being nice? Besides, all of my customers love their nicknames. I can’t really judge based on that.”
And Yeonjun let out a groan, a long and drawn out groan of despair. He pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered to himself ‘why is my best friend such an idiot? Dear Lord, please help me’.
“Look, I’ve been watching you two going back and forth for weeks now. So just take my advice on this one,” the senior said, putting a firm hand on Soobin’s shoulder. “The next time you give him his drink, pay close attention to his ears. If you see them turning red, well, there’s your answer.”
And on that particularly hot day in the middle of July, everything fell into place for Soobin.
“‘Tyunyangie’?” the boy read aloud the name written on his cup in Soobin’s chicken scratch handwriting. It sounded like he was trying hard not to coo in public; even his voice rose an octave higher. It was probably the cutest sound Soobin has ever heard.
Soobin flashed him a smile he hoped to be a confident one. He worked so hard on that name; thought of something special that resembled Taehyun in every way imaginable. He took into account all of Taehyun’s visits and his little mannerisms and habits, and the feeling of wanting to keep him in his pocket.
“Do you like it? It suits you.”
With only the counter separating them, Soobin was close enough to see the bloom of red creeping from the base of Taehyun’s neck to the tips of his ears. He widened his eyes at the realization that Yeonjun was right— his heart was about ready to burst at this discovery that yes, Taehyun was into him too!
The boy was rooted to his spot, the question Soobin posed a minute ago still hung in the air. He studied the doodles on his cup that day: tiny cats and bunnies. Something shifted in his eyes. They glittered with an expression that Soobin would later learn was endearment of the highest level.
“God, you’re impossible. What a stupid question,” Taehyun chuckled, his voice so low it was almost a whisper. Soobin had to strain his ears to hear the next words that tumbled out of the boy’s lips.
“Of course. I love it.”
Yeonjun looks over his shoulder to Soobin, who’s still looking out the window for any signs of Taehyun. The storm outside is ruthless, one of the angry, violent ones to befall them on a late Friday evening. All of their customers have gone back, choosing to battle the downpour than stay any longer in the cafe. Even when both Yeonjun and Soobin insisted for them to wait it out (“It’s okay! We can close late today. You shouldn't be out in the rain!”), their customers, bless their hearts, in turn told them to close up shop early in fear the storm would worsen as the night dragged on.
It isn’t looking good out there; a world of bleak darkness and harsh winds billowing. Yeonjun doubts anyone in their right mind will come to their cafe at this time. But he feels sorry for Soobin. He had been giddy the whole day waiting for Taehyun to show up.
“Binne-yah, I don’t think he’s coming,” Yeonjun says as he tidies up the counter and keeps everything away. “C’mon, help me arrange the chairs.”
And Yeonjun hates it when Soobin is like this. He looks like a kicked puppy. “Soobin, it’s alright. You can always see him next week, okay?”
A beleaguered sigh, then, “Yeah, you’re right hyung. Let’s just clean up.”
It doesn’t take long for them to finish their tasks. All that’s left to do is to count their inventory, which Soobin volunteers to do. Yeonjun frowns at this, concern etched into his features.
“Soobin,” he starts but the younger male gives him a look of finality.
“Alright. Just take care. And don’t go home too late. I’ll see you on Sunday, okay?”
“Thanks, hyung,” Soobin smiles in relief and hugs Yeonjun goodbye.
He knows it’s foolish to still be waiting for Taehyun, even as he makes out through the rain-stained windows how difficult it was for Yeonjun to maneuver his bike from under the parking space and ride out into the jam-packed street. He has been waiting for this day. But maybe his excitement got the better of him, rendering him lovesick and unable to listen to reason. He sighs for the upteenth time that evening.
I’m going home.
Just as he locks the cash register, he hears running footsteps just outside the cafe. The door swings open and Soobin nearly topples off his chair behind the counter at the intensity of the action. There, standing in the doorway and drenched to the bone, is Kang Taehyun.
“T-Taehyun?” Soobin quickly grabs his hoodie and puts it around the shivering boy, whose teeth chatter incessantly as he tries to smile at Soobin’s kind gesture. He wraps the hoodie tighter around his body, trying to catch his breath.
Soobin pulls out a table and two chairs and fusses about, trying to make Taehyun comfortable; never mind that he had mopped the floors prior to this unexpected visit. He tells Taehyun to stay put as he turns on the espresso machine again to brew both of them a cup of hot coffee.
“Here, drink up,” the barista says once he’s done preparing. He smiles when he sees the upward curve of Taehyun’s lips as he notices the art on his hot caramel latte. A cat for Taehyun, a bunny for Soobin.
“Do you want to tell me why you came all the way here even though it’s raining like hell out there?”
Taehyun takes a long, grateful sip of his latte and relishes in the warmth the drink provides. Soon, color returned to his cheeks. “Well, I did think against it at first. But it’s a Friday, and I didn’t want to miss our dates,” Taehyun finally replies. He tries to hide the blush that’s steadily spreading across his face by drinking some more.
Every other thought Soobin had prior to hearing Taehyun’s explanation poofed into nothingness— the word ‘date’ taking up residence in his mind, instead. He blinks a couple of times, gawking at Taehyun, as though the younger boy had grown two heads.
“Date.”
“Yes…” Taehyun slowly puts his mug down and stares up at Soobin. His orbs are glittering like the raindrops on a car window, and in them Soobin can also see the same hopefulness he’s been feeling all summer. He doesn’t think it was possible, but Taehyun’s here, despite the weather, all to stay true to his promises of coming to see Soobin on Fridays.
“God, I like you so much, Taehyun,” Soobin all but sputters the confession out, seizing the moment and feeling like his heart might run away before he has the chance to say it.
“I like you too, hyung. A lot.” And the blonde giggles, a sound Soobin has come to adore; wants to spend many days listening to it; wants to be the reason behind his smiles; wants to kiss him silly until they’re both breathless and giggling, together.
Soobin hums, a warmth unlike any other settles in his chest as he grins at the boy wrapped in his hoodie— it looks oversized on Taehyun. Soobin tries not to coo at the sight. “You know, I was so excited to see you today. I created a new nickname for you. I think it’s my best one yet.”
“Oh yeah? What is it?”
And the barista smiles wide, with dimples popping into view and eyes crinkling into crescents. He leans forward, beckoning Taehyun to follow suit as he whispers into his ear that soon turns into a magnificent shade of red at the name.
“Mine.”