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Regulus speed walks down the café—practically glaring at everyone who dares stand in his way. It's 7 in the morning and he just woke up earlier to ten alarms blaring at his ears.
University’s a fucking bitch. He had stayed up late again last night finishing a project his groupmates should’ve done. Instead, Regulus has to do their work for them. Again. Really, what’s new?
Needless to say, they’re off the project. Have fun repeating a year, fuckers.
It’s a Saturday, and if it wasn’t for last night, he would’ve been staying in his apartment, perfectly relaxed. But of course, that’s not what happened. He had to wake up early to finish up a few revisions left and finally submit the damn thing. And now, all he wants is his freaking coffee!
He could’ve made coffee at home. Unfortunately, no one makes him calm down like the coffee in Little Heaven does.
"Fucking finally," he breathes out when he gets inside the café, cool conditioned air caressing his skin as he breathes in the usual scent of caffeine.
Regulus instantly heads in front of the counter. There were only a few people inside since it was still early in the morning. He’s eternally grateful that most people in his neighborhood aren't a morning person—including him.
He tilts his head up to look at the menu. He always makes sure to order a different drink everytime he walks in. What can he say? He’s unpredictable like that.
"You should try our new special. The Killer Choco. Apparently, it has too much chocolate, it could kill you."
He hears the small, soft chuckle the man lets out before Regulus snaps his eyes back down to stare at him. What meets him is a pair of deep, golden brown eyes, vividly beaming against the small glimpse of sunlight in the café. A charming smile plastered on his beautiful face.
"Wow," Regulus blurts out without thinking. He can't think. How can he? Right before him is undoubtedly the most beautiful man he has ever seen in his life. Regulus is short-circuiting, so to speak.
The man blinks once, then smiles. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing."
Oh.
Oh, fuck.
He said that out loud, didn't he? Shit, he said that out loud! Oh Merlin, help me. Help me.
"I'm James, by the way,” the man—James—adds before Regulus could come up with an excuse to cover up that utterly pathetic comment he just made. “You?”
"Regulus,” he replies awkwardly, looking at anywhere but him.
"Like the star?"
"Yeah."
"Cute."
He feels his face heat, and instantly furrows his brows in an attempt to save face. "Thanks."
"I meant you,” James tells him.
The facade’s gone. Regulus releases a small, quite pathetically, punched out, "Oh..."
Now what the hell can you even say to that? He can’t be faulted for panicking a little! He’s only human after all. There’s no way someone would be so calm in this situation! At least, that’s what he keeps telling himself to ease the creeping embarrassment he feels.
Maybe pretending whatever dumb thing Regulus said earlier never happened would get him out of this awkwardness. James, as it turns out, doesn’t seem the least bit bothered by his weird demeanor. If anything, he looked amused?
No, Regulus, don’t be delusional, he thinks to himself, he probably hates you and wants you to leave immediately.
"So, your order?" James asks suddenly, and it takes a second for Regulus to realize he’s been shamelessly staring at him for a solid minute now.
He splutters. "Oh. Ah—yeah—uhm... one tall caramel frappuccino would be great."
James arches a brow playfully. "Sure you don't wanna try our Killer Choco? Heard it's a real killer. Get it?"
Regulus can’t help it. A smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "However tempting death is, I won't let a chocolate drink be the reason for it though."
Without warning, James breaks into a fit of laughter, the sound warming something inside Regulus as he helplessly melts into it.
After that, James starts to make Regulus' drink. Letting out a quick "one minute" before turning around.
This leaves Regulus time to breathe and calm himself down—to which he can't be thankful enough for. It doesn't last long however.
The one minute turns out to literally be 30 seconds because James is already walking back behind the counter, Regulus' coffee in his hand.
“So, uh—are you new here?” Regulus asks and tries not to cringe as he reaches for his wallet to pay for the drink. He already knows the answer though, he just wants an excuse to keep talking to him.
“Yeah, just started yesterday," James informs him, grinning. "You come here often?”
“Mhmm,” Regulus mutters, not trusting his voice to act normal. Curse that damn laugh and that damn fucking smile and those eyes—god!
“That’s great. Was wondering when I could see you again.”
Rather embarrassingly, his breath hitches. “Excuse me?”
“Not everyday you meet someone interesting,” James shrugs, then finally hands him his coffee.
Regulus doesn’t really know what to say. He can't really, in fear of embarrassing himself further. So he just nods like what James said did not make him want to explode.
He was about to turn around and leave and forget the whole thing ever happened—maybe even find a new coffee shop to go to—when James speaks up again.
"I love The Smiths."
"Sorry?"
"Your outfit," James points at his white t-shirt with a picture of the said band printed proudly at the center. "I love them too, you have good taste in music."
Regulus raises a brow. "You like the Smiths."
"Love them,” James corrects with a smile, then promptly clears his throat. Regulus doesn’t know what he’s trying to do until, “To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die~”
Regulus can only stare at him as words fail to come up.
James can't be real—no. This—this creature can't be real. He refuses to believe it. Because absolutely no one in this entire world could look that breathtakingly hot and have great taste in music. It's just not possible.
Regulus is so fucked.
He clears his throat. "Cool. I-I love them too."
"Yes, I can see that," James responds, and there's a glint of amusement in his eyes. "It's weird, you see, I know an awesome place that plays old music. Their music included."
"That's nice."
"Would be nice to go there sometime too."
As they stare at each other, he knows there's an unspoken question there. Regulus is not sure what to make of it. So instead, he blurts out a haste "okay, then" before speed walking the hell out of the place.
When he's a few, good distance away, he groans out loud.
"Regulus you bloody idiot!" He runs a hand over his face, cursing at his own stupidity. "'Okay, then'? What kind of response is that? You absolute shit-head wanker!"
Almost abruptly, he hears a small cough behind him and he turns around to see James staring at him.
"You forgot your receipt."
Regulus froze, his face burning in embarrassment. He doesn't even dare to breathe. He could feel his ears turning red all the way down to his neck. James is biting his lip like if he doesn't, he'll burst out laughing. Regulus hastily takes the receipt into his hand.
"Thank you," he whispers, then whirls around before running away.
Fuck good coffee. He'll fucking move apartments!
"Hey!" He hears James call out before he could get away any further. Regulus stops but doesn't turn around this time, too mortified already.
"I wrote my number in there by the way, in case you were interested."
His breath catches in his throat. He doesn't bother looking back. He doesn't need to, really. Regulus forgets to even think and just sprints away without saying anything.
Fuck the consequences.
When he gets back inside his apartment a few minutes later, he stares at the back of the receipt still in his hand with James' number messily scrawled over. He debates lighting it with a blow torch.
He ends up doing something else.
Regulus dials the number and James' voice booms from the speaker.
"Hello, love. Up for that Killer Choco now?"