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Jungwoo doesn’t listen sometimes.
Sure, he’ll say it’s because of his bad ear. Well, he’s gotten several check-ups since then and the doctor never reports back any concerning diagnosis about his hearing.
If that doesn’t work, Jungwoo will convince you that there’s never a finished thought in his mind and he’s always thinking about something: what to eat for dinner, where to get dinner, and how many scoops of gelato can he make Doyoung pay for as dessert? So whenever he’s in a dilemma whether fried chicken or spicy beef was the way to go that night, there’s a huge chance of him not catching whatever you tell him at that moment.
But there’s a time and place for jokes and harmless fun; so when, for example, Taeyong really needs Jungwoo to understand him word for word about the new choreography, Jungwoo doesn’t miss a beat.
This isn’t those times, and Jaehyun is slowly losing his patience as the days go by. It becomes evident to him that Jungwoo had not listened to what he’d said— at all— and so he watches his boyfriend suffer from afar.
Jaehyun taps his foot restlessly as he stands at an unoccupied corner of the coffee shop. It was just after seven so the place is progressively getting more crowded as classes for the day come to an end. Normally, Jaehyun wouldn’t go straight here after his lecture because Jungwoo would have already been waiting for him by the lecture hall doors. Thursdays were his days off, but Jungwoo has been working for nine days in a row now and Jaehyun have told him to stop fulfilling shift covers by the fourth day.
Clearly, Jungwoo didn’t listen the first time. Nor the ninth.
Jaehyun watches his boyfriend laugh boisterously at something a customer says. His eyes sharply catches the way this random student casually drags his hand across Jungwoo’s arm, and Jaehyun was ready to stomp over to the front and blow his cover. Jungwoo seems to catch on quickly, like he always does in every situation, and takes a step back by clapping his hands together in a loud motion.
The asshole is taken aback, and Jaehyun watches him awkwardly side step away from the register. From what he can tell, he looked annoyed and dejected at the same time, and Jaehyun couldn’t be more prouder of the way Jungwoo handled that.
He shakes his head, remembering that he’s supposed to be upset at Jungwoo right now, not admiring his boyfriend as usual. It’s hard, Jaehyun complains to himself, when he looks good every time he’s wearing his pink barista apron. He glances at his phone to look at the time, but Jaehyun suddenly remembers the plethora of stolen pictures he took while waiting for Jungwoo to clock out.
It was only when Jaehyun hears Jungwoo call out a name for an iced matcha that he lifts his head and focuses on where he is. Jaehyun has always loved the sound of Jungwoo’s voice, sometimes specifically asking him to keep talking whether it to be the story of his life or complete nonsense while on the phone since it soothes him to sleep. It’s one of his most favorite sounds in the world, so when Jaehyun detects even a lilt of sadness, a pinch of hurt, and a subtle cry, he doesn’t hesitate but to make it all better for Jungwoo.
A small thanks leaves Jungwoo’s lips as the iced matcha is whisked away from the hand off table. He realizes a second later that he didn’t do his usual greeting, “I hope you found a little happiness today!” which is already a mouthful during peak hours— but Jungwoo rarely forgets to do so nonetheless. He pouts tiredly, eyes drooping without much of a protest.
Suddenly, Jungwoo feels the exhaustion weighing him down. He just clocked in not even an hour ago, and thus have four more hours to work through. His heavy eyelids feel warmer, and wetter as tears threaten to fall on his cheeks.
“Jungwoo?”
Panic sets in his stomach which plants him back to the present, his flight response ready to go in action. Thinking it was his shift lead or a co-barista expecting him to handle the register, Jungwoo wipes away the damp sensation off his face.
Only then does his vision see Jaehyun in front of him, a counter wedged between them.
“Hi, Jae,” Jungwoo says airily, an embarrassed smile etching on his face while his cheeks warm up his whole face. This isn’t how Jungwoo imagined seeing his boyfriend face to face after a whole week and a half of one-worded replies and unanswered facetime calls courtesy of himself.
Jaehyun has been actively looking out for him that Jungwoo feels the guilt eating away at him seeing the concerned look on the older’s face. Jungwoo continues to offer a smile close to breaking down, and Jaehyun is so close to taking Jungwoo back to his place without telling his manager.
“Why are you here?” Jaehyun chooses to ask instead, trying hard not to be accusatory but needing Jungwoo to be honest for him.
“I’m covering someone’s shift,” Jungwoo simply replies which is technically the truth.
Jaehyun sighs despite knowing this would be his nonchalant response, so he presses further. “How many shifts have they asked you to cover?”
Jungwoo pretends to think about it. “Four.”
“And how many days were you supposed to work this week?”
“Three, like usual…”
“Right,” Jaehyun nods, lips in a firm line but voice as careful as possible. “So you basically haven’t had a day off since last last Friday. Don’t tell me you work your usual 9am shift tomorrow.”
Jungwoo hunches his back, losing confidence at having any proper excuse at the way he exceeded his limits with working so much on top of his classes. Jungwoo nods back imply and almost whispers, “I do. My next day off is Monday.”
Jaehyun feels his heart breaking when Jungwoo spoke, his own voice wavering and his body exuding the need for rest already. Someone actually calls Jungwoo’s name from the other side of the drink bar, but Jaehyun wishes he can have Jungwoo to himself now.
“I’m worried, baby,” he says right back, reaching his hand to calm Jungwoo down.
Unlike the creep from earlier, this is something Jungwoo wanted, something he desperately needed as he reciprocates Jaehyun’s touches. He doesn’t care about being seen, talked about, or even reprimanded. It’s a simple intertwining of their fingers, nothing scandalous but Jungwoo’s heart begs to differ.
“You’re overextending yourself, Jungwoo-ya. You don’t have to subject your body to this kind of hardwork,” Jaehyun continues to explain right through him, but he knows it’s not that easy. Jungwoo notices from his peripheral that the lines has grown to what they start calling as a busy queue, and to be honest he’s not ready to lose his job yet— again, Jaehyun reads the room and urges Jungwoo to go back to work with a nudge of his head.
“I’m gonna be here all night, okay? I’ll be here,” Jaehyun reassures him one last time before Jungwoo returns to the front point of sale, masking the expressions reserved solely for the love of his life, and puts on his grinning customer service smile. The mere thought of Jaehyun being in the coffee shop pumps a bit of energy back to his system— just enough to get through this line of bustling people, then he can go on his lunch break, and fall into Jaehyun’s arms with no holds barred.
He does just that, briskly punches out for his thirty minute break, and doesn’t answer his co-worker who’s just about to clock in what he’s doing at work at this hour. Jungwoo is dead set on finding Jaehyun seated at one of the tables which he does in record time, subtly admiring the way he just radiates elegance. Jaehyun has one leg over the other, a dainty finger turning the page of his literature book before using the same hand to write notes. He had one earbud on, and Jungwoo is tempted to play a small prank on him but as soon as he was only inches away from his back, Jaehyun had already turned around.
He gives Jungwoo a loving smile, pops the earbud off his ear and says, “Hi there.”
“Can we go outside?” Jungwoo asks quietly, head down. Jaehyun complies without question, even letting Jungwoo lead him outside the store. He leaves his stuff on the table but it’s the least of his concerns when Jungwoo’s grip feels urgent.
Humid air welcomes them outside, and Jungwoo slips through walking bodies before finding a semi-secluded area around the vicinity of the cafe. There’s a huge tree that covers half of the establishment’s roofing, and it’s located conveniently where back room is, the small windows causing the scent of lingering coffee beans to pass through. Jaehyun thinks it’s amusing that Jungwoo reminds him so much of coffee after a year of working here, and yet the younger can’t stomach his caffeine well.
“I’m sorry.” Jungwoo doesn’t hesitate any longer when he clings onto Jaehyun. He raises his eyebrows in surprise, but immediately snakes his arms around Jungwoo’s waist with the kind of ease that assumes they’ve done this before. The bitter scent of coffee beans intensifies in their embrace, and Jaehyun couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle, feeling considerably more awake.
“Sorry, hyung,” Jungwoo repeats, grasping so much of Jaehyun’s clothes-clad skin. He buries his head against Jaehyun’s collarbone, cheeks squishing the skin on there that he exhales in content for. Jaehyun shivers at the touch, but keeps ahold of his boyfriend tight in his arms.
“What are you sorry for, baby?” Jaehyun asks carefully.
“For not listening to your advice,” Jungwoo explains. “Are you mad at me?” He squeezes Jaehyun even more, almost as if he didn’t want to hear what he’d answer.
Jaehyun doesn’t want him to worry any further and besides, he already knows what to say. “I can’t be mad at you, Jungwoo.” He pets Jungwoo’s head in a slow, calming manner. “I’m always in awe of you, you know that, right?”
“Yeah,” Jungwoo shyly mumbles.
Jaehyun tucks away a baby strand over Jungwoo’s ear. “But I don’t want you taking on more than you can carry, especially since you do so much amazing things already.”
Before Jungwoo can protest— because it’s happened before— Jaehyun urges Jungwoo to lean back in order for them to make eye contact. Jungwoo knows he can’t burrow himself onto the safety of Jaehyun’s personal space all night; he is still at work and they are outside. So he obeys begrudgingly, giving Jaehyun that infamous doe eyes and irresistible pout of his.
True to its name, Jaehyun melts at the view and is pulled forward almost magnetically onto Jungwoo’s soft lips. It’s one thing to have the most important person in your life finally secured in your embrace, but it’s another to feel your mouth on his, show him how much you’ve missed being with them with a single touch of their lips on yours.
“Miss you,” Jungwoo says so delicately, as if the words are bound to shatter in front of him if he didn’t tell Jaehyun sincerely. His eyes water, and all he wants is to cherish Jaehyun’s hug a tad bit longer than twenty-six minutes and counting.
Jaehyun leans forward to give a chaste kiss on Jungwoo’s cheek, and the younger basks in this present moment. “I think about you everyday,” Jaehyun’s breath ghosts over Jungwoo’s skin as he tells him this like a secret only he can know about.
“I wish you just let me help you,” Jaehyun says, coming back up to look at Jungwoo’s curious eyes. “It’s shitty that your major is making you pay all these extra fees last minute. We should have reported that to the dean.”
Jungwoo laughs. “I should have known since the seniors have warned us about it earlier on. It was on me that I didn’t set aside emergency funds this time.”
Jaehyun lets his hand fall onto Jungwoo’s waist and rests it there languidly which makes the younger squirm inside. His hands find comfort on both of Jaehyun’s wrist, rubbing the skin with the pad of his thumb in rhythmic motions.
“Still, baby,” Jaehyun continues. “Not giving yourself a day to relax when midterms are coming up isn’t healthy for you. Have you been eating well, at least?”
“Um, I bring two granola bars with me?”
“Jungwoo, that’s literally nothing for you.”
Jungwoo experiments on lifting up the mood, pretends to gasp in offense at Jaehyun’s rebuttal. “What do you mean by that?”
Jaehyun catches on, doesn’t seem to interested at his antics. “I mean you’re a grown man who needs to satiate the nutrients needed by your tall freaking stature.”
“Okay, nerd.”
“Give me your apron, I’ll take over your shift for you.”
Jungwoo’s surprised reaction is genuine this time around
“What are you saying, Jaehyun?” He adds a confused giggle, contrasting the serious look on his boyfriend’s face. Although Jaehyun’s lips twitch to break character due to Jungwoo’s reaction, Jaehyun really chooses to work all the shifts his baby took on if it meant he can finally have an ounce of sleep and eat all the food he can without guilt.
“I’m saying,” Jaehyun starts, flicking Jungwoo’s nose playfully when he attempts to make faces to get him to laugh. Jaehyun tries to ignore this and continues, “Please take better care of yourself. There’s only so much you let me do for you, baby.”
“Jaehyun hyung, you do so much. If only you know the half of it,” Jungwoo relents, lifting his hand to poke his boyfriend on the cheek. He deepens the skin contact as Jaehyun sucks in his cheek to hollow it outi, crossing his eyes to imitate that of a fish out of water. The ensued silliness works as Jungwoo bursts in fits of giggles.
Jaehyun hopes to hear that more often, and out of genuine happiness that is.
“Like that, little things like that only make me stronger,” Jungwoo teases. “Please record yourself next time so I have a motivational video to watch before clocking in at work.”
Jaehyun snorts. “No, you’ll use it for blackmail.”
“How do you know me so well?” Jungwoo points out, twirling a curly strand of hair atop Jaehyun’s head. He leans into it, a small smile warming up to his lips.
Jungwoo takes that as an answer either way, wishing that his alarm doesn’t go off so soon for his break to be over. There’s so much more to be said, much more staring at each other lovingly to be had.
“Even if you say you’re not mad, I still apologize, though,” Jungwoo clarifies his earlier thought. Jaehyun lets him speak. “I’ve been distant with my texts, and sometimes when I just want to lay down without taking to another human being, I sound unenthusiastic during our calls.”
“But I don’t mind.”
“You don’t, and that’s what’s— “ a sigh of relief comes out of Jungwoo, “— that’s what’s so amazing about my boyfriend!” He finishes with a knowing grin.
It’s Jaehyun's turn for his ears to go red.
“But it’s not fair to you that I’m making these decisions for myself that are potentially harming me more than helping me. And you’ve been there every time to ask me if this is what I want, and let me know you’re there for whatever I choose to do.”
Jungwoo kisses Jaehyhun on the lips softly. He tastes a hint of sweet then something chocolate-y.
“Did you eat those cone-shaped meiji chocolates I told you about?” Jungwoo interrupts his own train of thought, eyes looking up at Jaehyun. With their lips still a brush away from an accidental kiss, Jaehyun gulps as an answer. Jungwoo has always complimented him for being observant and thoughtful, but Jaehyun knows that he is much more keen on things you wouldn’t even think twice of wondering about.
“I did. I have some more in my bag if you want ‘em.”
Jungwoo pouts again, even if Jaehyun is voluntarily wrapped around his finger. “Please?”
“Promise me you won’t take on nine shifts in a row anymore, Jungwoo. At least not when you have class and midterms the week after,” Jaehyun says, determined to stay firm on the matter before he eventually needed to return to work.
For chocolates? And maybe another kiss to taste it in Jaehyun’s lips— or just kiss him in general, Jungwoo thinks it’s a worthy compromise.
“Promise.”
Without another word, they kiss and make up. The world seems to fall right back into place when the part, less people wandering about the plaza now that the night sky is hanging over their heads. Jungwoo checks the timer on his phone, panics momentarily before showing Jaehyun that he only has about seven minutes until his lunch was over.
“Baby, you didn’t get to eat,” Jaehyun feels more disappointed at himself for taking up so much of Jungwoo’s lunch break, but the younger thought otherwise. They return to the shop holding hands, Jungwoo’s newfound confidence brimming out of his face with pure joy.
“It’s okay, Jaehyunie hyung, I got full just by your love,” he says dreamily, shooting Jaehyun an exaggerated wink.
His ears feel like a steaming kettle, save for the noise it makes when it boils. Instead, Jaehyun cringes at his boyfriend’s flirtatious remark but steals a kiss on his cheek nonetheless.
“I think I’m going to need more of you later tonight, though.”
Jungwoo’s eyes pop. He slaps Jaehyun’s hand away which earns him a chuckle. “What? I’m just being honest,” Jaehyun eggs on.
“You’re weird, Jaehyun hyung.”
“Says you who figured out the right brand of chocolate I had by kissing me.” He wants to mean it as a compliment, but the cute frustration forming on Jungwoo’s forehead is hard to resist.
“It lingered on your lips, of course I was bound to guess!”
“What if I lied? Can you kiss me again to double check?” Jaehyun smirks. They reach his table, his stuff unattended but still in the same place.
Jungwoo urges him to sit back down as he crosses his arms. “You said you’ll be here all night. If you can wait, then maybe.”
“You have my word.”
“But are you sure, though?” Jungwoo breaks off the playful demeanor, knowing that he does still have a good few hours before his shift ends and Jaehyun could be settling himself all washed up and ready for bed by now. Jungwoo would prefer snuggling by his side after a long, exhausting day but it’s ultimately up to Jaehyun. And a part of Jungwoo intends to be selfish.
“I’m not leaving you, Jungwoo,” Jaehyun reassures him, squeezing his hand one more time. “Not when we haven’t seen each other in a week, not when you still have five hours until your shift ends, not when you’ll probably wait last minute to review for exams— which, I’m not letting spring semester happen again — not ever.”
Jungwoo laughs at the memory, but remembers that he still needs to punch back in for his hours to actually count.
“I gotta go back,” he tells Jaehyun dejectedly. The older nods in understanding, their fingertips lingering last second touches on the table. Their pinkies naturally find themselves locking in place, and Jungwoo’s heart hammers against his chest. It’s something they do after an important conversation, either after a miscommunication or a heart-to-heart with each other. This moment can probably be classified as both. Jaehyun refuses to let go first before mouthing, “Love you,” and Jungwoo takes a second to process this.
“Love you,” he says, a kiss atop Jaehyun’s hand before he releases it for now. He goes back to work with a minute to spare, and the incoming smiles he greets the customers return to being genuine and pleasant to the eyes.
This is what Jungwoo was trying to tell Jaehyun being so much more for him than he’ll ever know— because Jaehyun, himself, has returned to his reading session, one earbud most likely playing jazz songs he’s discovered recently; but Jungwoo, in the midst of brewing coffee and blending drinks, glances at the beautiful man seated at the coffee shop, his prince-like stature turning his knees jelly and makes his mind run laps knowing that he’s his , Jaehyun is his to fawn over, be thankful for being his , and come home to whenever he wants.
Jungwoo wants to bend the passage of time so five hours breeze by and that he can finally come home to Jaehyun tonight. There’s a tiny yet dreadful part of Jungwoo that worries if he’s making Jaehyun wait too long for him. Jungwoo begins to spiral into his own mess of anxiety until he meets Jaehyun’s gaze, and it is everything and more than he can ask for.
There’s nothing to worry about, it seems.