Work Text:
- you don’t usually stop by this cafe, but the starbucks by your workplace is closed and you just need something to get you through your morning meeting
- as soon as you walk in, you’re struck by two things: one, the smell of the freshly baked muffins being placed in the display, and two, the really cute guy placing the freshly baked muffins in the display
- but you don’t think too much about the smile he shoots your way because the third you notice - thanks to the giant wall clock across the room - is the time
- without bothering to look at the menu, you practically hiss your order at the poor cashier - soonyoung, you notice in the blur of grabbing your cup, paying twice the amount, and stuffing the change in the tip jar
- you make it to work and things are fine
- by the time lunch rolls around, it’s calm enough for you to sit in your office and think about this morning
- you have to return to that cafe
- first of all, those muffins looked amazing. if they taste as good as they smell, you might be adding them to your daily routine. the coffee was really nice, too
- your senses have dulled after years of starbucks, but you felt reborn after the first sip of whatever the barista made. it was nothing like your usual order. in a good way, of course
- and secondly, you were incredibly rude, rushing in and out like that, and the last thing you want to be is a topic of break room gossip.
- oh god, you can see it now
- soonyoung and that cute guy, meeting in the back and laughing about the crazy customer practically frothing at the mouth of a coffee. at least you tipped well?
- so you visit again during your lunch break the next day
- now that you have time to appreciate the space, you notice the warm atmosphere, the soft music playing through mounted speakers, and the near emptiness despite it being afternoon rush hours
- you like this, actually
- the cashier is soonyoung again, and by the way he perks up, you know he remembers you
- “hey,” he says, putting down his phone. “same thing?”
- you don’t know whether to be flattered or appalled. maybe a mix of both. but because this ramble isn’t about him, the kitchen door swings open and the other guy walks in with a fresh tray of muffins. seokmin is what his name tag says
- “can i have one of those, too?” you point to the display
- “yeah, of course?” seokmin holds up two. “which one? i have chocolate chip and blueberry”
- “which one would you recommend?”
- “i like the blueberry one personally”
- “cool, i’ll take chocolate chip one then”
- the look on his face oh my god the pure shock and betrayal makes you and soonyoung crack up
- “i’m kidding, i’ll take one of each”
- you pay and take your order to one of the tables by the window to get some reading done until you have to go back to work
- except you can’t focus on anything because the muffins are so good wtf???? you end up calling seokmin over and jokingly demand his recipes. to your surprise, he scribbles it down on a napkin because the shop is, like, open source but irl LOL
- they give recipes if anyone asks. they’re just here to provide people with good food, not to gatekeep. besides, seokmin took a lot of inspo from other shops, so if any customers give him feedback, he’ll be happy to try new things
- they have loyal customers anyway. people who enjoy their pastries and vibes come back
- before you head out, he tells you good luck, and you think that he’s just being cheeky. it’s a challenge, isn’t it? well, you’re a pretty decent baker, and the instructions are clear enough
- and then you try it
- oh
- hm
- ok, so maybe seokmin was right. you’re following the recipe perfectly and it’s good, but there’s something missing
- you come back to the cafe, a little disappointed that you failed but refusing to give up. by this time - it’s literally only your third visit - you’ve completely switched from starbucks to this tiny cafe that you probably would’ve missed at first if you weren’t searching for the word ‘coffee’ in windows
- soonyoung and seokmin get to know you as you stop by every morning and occasionally during lunch. eventually, seokmin’s lunch break start coincidentally lining up with yours. soonyoung practically rips seokmin’s apron off and shove him at you, saying something about getting pizza or a sandwich or whatever
- you should be suspicious, especially when seokmin sends his friend a glare every time, but you enjoy his company so you roll with it
- during one of these lunches, you mention your continuous failures at making muffins like his
- “oh, i deviate from the recipe i give out. not much. just a little, but enough to make mine unique”
- …???????? this could’ve saved you so much confusion and disappointment??? how many batches have you given to your coworkers the next morning because they weren’t as good as his???
- he laughs at your expression
- “if you want, i can show you how to make them?”
- yes please??
- when you walk seokmin back to the cafe, you mention to soonyoung that you’ll stop by after closing
- a fact that seokmin was hoping to hide from his friend for some reason. soonyoung manages to punch seokmin’s shoulder before the younger one runs back into the kitchen
- from seokmin’s flushed face and how he avoided your gaze as he left, you have an inkling of why soonyoung’s giving you such a smug look, but you shouldn’t get your hopes up
- …right?