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There was always this college student who comes in an hour before the café closes, when the only people left are himself and his boss, and occasionally the sweet old lady and her cat from next door.
He always orders an iced vanilla latte, enough to get him through the assignments he usually brings with him. A case study or a research paper, maybe an essay or two. Sometimes, when he finishes, he’ll order another one for the walk back to the dorms.
Dream was his name, Punz came to know later on. Which was fitting, because he was honestly the prettiest boy Punz has ever seen.
Before Punz knew his name, he always resorted to calling him “cute college boy” which doesn’t do him justice, like, at all. If Punz could imagine the cutest (and hottest) guy ever, put him in the standard red academy uniform with gorgeous viridian eyes, blonde hair that looked so, so soft, and an angelic voice, that would be him.
Once, Punz mustered enough courage – but not enough to ask him out, apparently – to ask Dream why he goes there in this unholy hour of the evening.
“Not that I don’t want you here,” Punz hurriedly backtracked, worrying that he had offended the cute college boy. “Just... curious.”
Thankfully, Dream merely looked amused about the whole situation.
“I’m more productive at night. My ADHD brain likes to act up a lot,” Dream had explained which... okay. Fair enough. Punz is more productive at the night too, it’s why he chose the nightshift after all.
Punz enjoyed their interactions, however brief they may be. And as much as Punz wanted to ask the boy to go out some time, it was clear that Dream’s focus was on college right now. He’d feel like such a shit person if he were to burden him.
So... uh. Maybe next time?
At least, that’s what Punz kept on telling himself.
He always feared that Dream would stop coming to the café one day, but unless Punz mans up and do something about it, there was nothing else he can do about the inevitable but suck it up and move on.
But the thing is... he really, really likes this boy. One cannot simply “move on”.
He should really make a move soon.
(But how though?)
His boss had already left thirty minutes ago, and all that’s left for Punz to do is to put everything back to their proper places and lock the doors. Dream was still here though, (call him a simp all you want) but Punz was willing to wait.
Dream sat in a well-lit area, reading through a thick textbook as he jotted down words on a notepad. The quiet scratching of the pen on paper filled the silence of the café. Stray strands of blonde hair fell over his eyes as his brow furrowed, deep in thought.
Punz longed to reach out and sweep them away from his face, but he didn’t. They weren’t even friends. He didn’t want Dream to think of him as a weirdo and scare him away.
He watched as Dream leaned down to read what he wrote, his plush and plump lips parted, tongue poking slightly through them. It was adorable, and Punz really, really wants to kiss him.
He’s so down bad.
+++
It’s 8:30 on a Saturday morning, and Punz was already a bit snappy from being woken up early. His boss had called him at the ass crack of dawn to show the barista-in-training, a teen named Purpled, the ropes since the dude who was supposed to be covering the weekend morning shift ducked out the last minute.
Something about a wedding, the boss had said, but Punz really couldn’t care less.
His day was ruined, and all he asked for was a few rounds of peaceful gaming in Valorant. Maybe yell at some idiots while he’s at it too.
He can, hypothetically, do just that in the café, but firstly, that was not standard etiquette (Karens or not), and secondly, Purpled had wormed his way into his heart so quickly that he already considered the kid an annoying younger sibling. He’d hate to see that crestfallen expression on his face.
Speaking of which, Purpled was doing well for a first-timer, so Punz didn’t have much to worry about him. He took everything like a fish to water, unlike the last person.
Miss Ma’am thought it was a good idea to slack off during her shifts, and one memorable time she threw a drink at some poor unassuming customer because she thought he was her ex-boyfriend.
‘Their hairstyles were similar’ my ass.
Thank god she got fired.
Punz was gearing himself up for the morning rush when he saw a familiar mop of golden hair enter the café, the jingling of the bell signaling his entrance.
He felt his heart soar to the heavens because holy shit.
As it was a Saturday, Dream wasn’t wearing his usual uniform, instead he wore some casual clothing: a short-sleeved green turtleneck with a white polo shirt thrown above it and a pair of worn-down jeans.
He looked freer somehow. It suits him.
Beautiful, Punz thought, then blushed.
“You pathetic simp,” Purpled groused, pulling him from his reverie.
Punz turned to glare at him.
“Hey. I sacrificed my day-off to mentor your sorry ass,” Punz said without any real heat, waving a spoon at him threateningly. The kid only rolled his eyes, the little shit. “You should be grateful.”
“K,” Purpled said simply, making his way to the backdoor, snickering.
“Good morning– wait, Punz?”
Punz gulped, turning to face the cute boy in front of the counter. Dream looked pleasantly surprised to see him, which Punz took as a win.
“Hi, Dream,” Punz greeted.
“I’m so glad to see you!” The college student beamed at him. “I wasn’t expecting you here today because you always work on nights so I thought–”
As Dream rambled on, Punz couldn’t focus on anything but the fact that Dream was glad to see him holy fucking hell whatshouldhedo–
“Punzie– Punz?”
“Shit. Sorry, I zoned out.” Punz cringed at himself, avoiding Dream’s gaze and opting to look at the marble counter instead.
Minus two for charisma.
Good going, Punz.
“Oh, that’s alright.” Dream chuckled. “I can relate. No– no need to apologize.”
Punz blew a breath. Damn him for being so nice. And cute– stop it, Punz.
“So...” Punz began awkwardly, forcing himself to meet Dream’s viridian eyes. He looked ethereal; like an angel out of reach, and Punz was a mere mortal, only allowed to admire from afar. It was slowly killing him. Metaphorically, of course.
“What can I– what can I get started for you today? Still the usual?”
At those words, Dream nods, fingers tapping along the counter. “Yes, but make it take-away, please.”
“Mhm, sure.” Punz hummed. Silently, he noted the sudden influx of customers lining up behind him. Darn it. “Please. Take a seat while you wait.”
Dream inclined his head, offering him a smile – just a slight upturn of his lips, but Punz melted all the same. “I will. Thank you.”
+++
Infatuated, Purpled thinks dryly, seeing the silly smile on Punz’s face as he topped college boy’s latte with a generous amount of whipping cream.
You know. That smile. The smile you get when you see your crush waving at you in the hallways; that lovestruck smile that you can’t get off your face no matter what because what the shit your crush just noticed you and you really wanna ask them to marry you right here and right now–
You know the one. No? Oh. Alright then.
Purpled raises an eyebrow.
Punz was humming. The aforementioned man took a black Sharpie from his apron pocket and scribbled something on the cup sleeve before inserting it on said cup. He zipped passed the awaiting customers, probably to personally hand-deliver college boy’s order.
Purpled snorted.
Besotted, he revises idly, his gaze dropping back to the list of orders appearing in his monitor, readying himself for an intense work day.
Ah, fuck. ‘Tis the season for pumpkin spice lattes once again.
+++
Punz was an idiot.
This was a terrible idea.
Well there’s no use in backing out now, Dream had already seen him from where he sat next to the windows, and all Punz had to do is brace for the worst.
Punz slid the order towards him, making sure the writing on the sleeve is slightly visible.
“Thank you,” Dream said cheerfully, reaching for the cup. His fingers curled around it, and Punz briefly wondered what it would feel like to hold Dream’s hand in his.
“You’re welcome,” Punz murmured. He blew an anxious breath that could be passed off as tiredness.
Dream saw the writing and tilted the cup to get a better look at it.
Punz couldn’t help it.
He bolted.
He was such an idiot.
+++
“Oh.” Dream squeaked in surprise, blood rushing to his cheeks.
Punz wrote the words “secret message” on the top part of the cup, then an arrow crossing the cup sleeve, pointing down to the usual warning of “Careful, the beverage you’re holding is extremely hot.” on the bottom.
Some of the words were crossed out, though.
Careful, the beverage you’re holding is extremely hot.
Do you wanna go out on a date sometime?
– P.
Yes please! Dream wanted to shout, but didn’t. His heart fluttered (Punz was so cheesy, and he absolutely adored that), and Dream bit his thumb to avoid grinning like an idiot.
Dream was suddenly glad Sapnap and George weren’t with him. They would never let him hear the end of this.
Dream glanced back at the counter where Punz was pointedly avoiding his gaze. Purpled looked exasperated, and Dream laughed softly.
The kid reminded him of his sister. Little shits, the both of them.
Dream allowed himself to smile. Looks like he wasn’t the only one with a crush.
+++
Later, Purpled handed him a slip of paper.
“Here,” the kid drawled. “From your college boy. Why you won’t talk to each other verbally, I will never know.”
Punz’s heart skipped a beat. Dream either accepted or rejected him, and he wasn’t sure which was the more likely option.
Hesitantly, he read the note.
It’s about time you asked. ;P
I’m just kidding. Yes, I will go out with you.
Here’s my number: (XXX) XXX–XXXX
See you soon! <3
:)
Punz let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding. And the anxiety he held was replaced with sudden excitement.
“He said yes!” Punz hissed triumphantly to the teen.
“Congratulations.” Purpled patted his back. “Now I don’t need to worry about you moping anymore.”
Punz laughed. “You’re such an asshole, Purp.”
“Takes one to know one, eh?”
