Work Text:
"It feels like everybody is falling in love in my coffee shop but me" Wooyoung sighs sadly as he looks longingly at a couple sharing their juice with two straws.
“Maybe if you stopped playing cupid with everyone you wouldn’t have to see them being grossly in love after.” Yeosang comments while drying a cup.
Wooyoungs makes a noise, he does not agree. His coffee shop had been his dream ever since he could remember watching his mother drinking hers early in the morning as she looked after him and his younger brother. He has always found the scent so enticing, he soon became obsessed with coffee and the art of it.
When he finally opened his coffee shop, that was the happiest day of his life. To this day, business is good, he has loyal customers and a perfect group of friends. The only thing missing from his life is romance. Something he loves maybe just as much as coffee.
He has to admit that he often meddles with his customers’ love life. He has been witness to more engagement than he can count, has seen people meet for the first time in front of him then starting to meet up more and more.
One time, he had those two customers that seemed to hate each other’s guts for no apparent reason. Both of them are friends with one of his best friends so he knows that the feud was just kids pulling each other’s pigtails. So Wooyoung took the matter into his own hands and gave Jisung - friend n.1 - his favourite cheesecake while pretending that Hyunjin - friend n.2 - was the one who bought it for him while he also gave Hyunjin his favourite smoothie, doing the same as before.
He doesn’t like to take credit for their relationship, he totally does, but without him they would have never looked past their silly disagreement.
Another instance where he has pushed two people together was when he managed to convince Yeosang to write his phone number on the back of San's cup. San comes every day, takes the same order and then goes to sit down while pretending that he's not staring longingly at Wooyoung's best friend.
One day when Yeosang was not there because he was sick, Wooyoung sat down with San to get to know him a little better and gauge if he was worthy of Yeosang's attention. San and Wooyoung end up becoming friends at a scary speed and he approves. The boy is a gentleman and completely infatuated with his friend, it warms Wooyoung's heart.
So he convinces Yeosang to give the boy who gives him heart eyes a chance, it took a long time but he did it. The next time San came in, he did not even need to tell his order to the barista, he always took the same drink and sweet so Yeosang just told him his total. On the cup, instead of where his name was supposed to be, San found Yeosang’s phone number.
Their eyes met and Wooyoung just winked. A new victory for him as he sees their relationship developing into something beautifully cheesy. San is the biggest sap of the entire universe and is even worse when it comes to Yeosang, who pretends to hate it but still blushes and giggles like a schoolgirl.
Wooyoung wonders when it will be his turn. When he will finally meet the one that makes his heart stutter, make him smile without even realising until his cheeks start to ache. His thoughts are interrupted by a customer coming in. He keeps those thoughts deep inside his heart.
~~
"Jisung-ah, you know the rules. Only three slices of cheesecake a day. No more." Wooyoung says tiredly as he packs the boy his pastry.
"That's a stupid rule. This cheesecake is the best in town. I need more than three slices." He exclaims dramatically, making other customers turn to look at him.
"I'll pass the compliment to Felix but we don't want a repeat of what happened the last time you ate 5 slices." The coffee shop owner slides the coffee, the smoothie and the little box closer to the younger who just picks them up with a pout.
"It was one time! A man can't throw up once without being labelled for life." He grumbles while walking out. Wooyoung chuckles at the boy’s behaviour, he always tries to bargain for more than he physically can handle.
He's taking the next customer's order while glancing at the door because Yeosang is late but said he was on his way, Felix is on radio silence when his shift was supposed to start an hour ago and Wooyoung is about to lose his mind with the midday rush.
The bell hanging at the door rings again, he hopes the reinforcements are here but it is once again another customer. He sighs and calls out. “Vanilla latte for Ryunjin.” He slides the shrink over to the girl and barely looks up to make sure it gets in the hands of the right customer as he usually does, immediately going back to make the next drink. “Americano for Hyeji- Welcome, what can I get you?” Wooyoung says on instinct when he sees someone by the register.
“Hi, one large iced americano with two extra espresso shots please.” Any other day, Wooyoung would have side eye him because that much caffeine is not good for your health and it is almost winter time, who buys iced coffee in this cold, but today he is busy, so he just hums.
“Can I get a name?”
“Hongjoong.”
“Okay, it will be waiting for you at the counter.” He says and immediately turns around to get started on the drinks that have now piled up and barely registers the soft ‘thank you’ the customer says.
He is stressed, but he makes it work, making multiple drinks at once but one cup drops and makes him knock all the syrups. He curses to himself but quickly gathers himself to keep going.
“Caramel macchiato for Seungcheol and two caramel frappuccino for Joshua.” He says loudly before going right back to work, taking yet another order before making the next two drinks. “One medium iced americano for Jaemin and one large iced americano two extra shots for Hongjoong.” Just as he says that, the door opens again. He is ready to greet the customer but instead he sees his best friend of 8 years. “Yeosang I am going to strangle you.” He spats out meanly and is ready to make his threat become reality, a customer arrives and Yeosang runs back to put his apron on.
He sees how disheveled Yeosang looks, hair sticking out everywhere and hickeys littering his neck, it makes Wooyoung roll his eyes. He does not keep his comments to himself all throughout the rest of the day, not only dId the boy make him work all alone just because he was getting laid, he is also really annoyed because his life revolves around his work while his friend’s do not.
“Sector one cafe, how can I help you?” He answers the phone while glaring at Yeosang who is taking an order.
“Wooyoung hyung, it’s Jeongin.” the boy on the other side of the phone says, which makes Wooyoung smile softly.
“Hey Innie, how are you?”
”I’m okay but Felix hyung is sick. He said he tried to call you but he hasn’t stopped throwing up so I'm doing it.” Jeongin says with a worried tone.
“Oh no poor Yongbok-ah. Tell him to take as much time off as he needs, no worries.” They say goodbye and Wooyoung can finally sit down for a while. The midday rush has passed, there are only few customers left but they already have their drinks so it leaves Wooyoung time to find someone to cover for Felix. He walks back to his office, sits down on his chair with a loud sigh. He dials the first person he can think of.
“Hi Jongho. Do you think you can pick up some shifts to cover for Yongbok? He’s sick.” He asks while looking over his emails.
“Sure, I just have classes all day Thursday and Friday.” He agrees easily and makes Wooyoung relax immediately, this is why he loves that kid.
“Perfect, I’ll send you your schedule.” He groans as he hangs up and calls his second back up.
“What day do you need me to come in?” Yunho does not even let him utter a single greeting before accusing him.
“How dare you think I'm calling you just to cover a shift, I’m wounded. We are friends before everything.” Wooyoung pretends to be offended but he is more annoyed that the older sees right through him.
“So you don’t need me?”
“Yes I do. Thursday and Friday.” He admits which makes Yunho chuckle softly.
“Okay I’ll be there.”
“I love you Yunho-” He is screaming but the boy has already hung up. Wooyoung takes a moment to breathe, then walks back to help Yeosang at the front.
~~
Today is quiet, as Tuesdays usually are, Wooyoung can do boring boss things as Yeosang and Jongho talk quietly while cleaning up the counter. He sighs for what feels like the hundred time that day, when a customer enters, making the bell ring.
Wooyoung glances up as Jongho takes the customer’s order. He’s covered by a scarf, hiding the lower half of his face, and his beanie is pulled all the way to his eyebrows, leaving only his eyes out and what looks like the end of a blonde mullet peeking out at the back of his neck.
“Hi, one large iced americano with two extra espresso shots please” He says. That peaks Wooyoung’s interest, he remembers that order, is it the same guy? He was too overwhelmed last time to properly look at him. Jongho tells him his total and ask for a name. “Hongjoong.” It is the same guy.
His work completely forgotten, he looks at the boy rid himself of his backpack, his jacket, scarf and beanie before sitting down and taking his laptop out. He looks lost in his own world, headphones on his head, fingers typing furiously on his keyboard.
Wooyoung has always believed in love at first sight, he is as his friends like to tell him, the biggest sap of the entire universe, but right now Wooyoung has never been more sure that love at first sight does exist. He looks like an anime character, his long and pointed nose compliments his soft lips. His mullet is cut so that you can see all the jewellery hanging from his ear is visible, shining with the lights of his coffee shop.
Wooyoung snaps his attention back to his coworkers when Yeosang calls for the man who seems to not have heard him. Wooyoung stands up on impulse, he takes the drink and sends a look to his friend before walking towards his table and gently placing the coffee beside the laptop.
“Oh sorry I didn’t hear.” He says with a startle. His smile makes any intelligent thoughts leave Wooyoung’s brain.
“No worries.” He says quietly, returning the smile. He rushes back behind the counter with burning ears.
“No worries.” Yeosang says mockingly to which Wooyoung bites his arm and does not let go until Jongho pries his head away.
The man comes back almost every day, and has the same order every time. Wooyoung lets the others work the register most times because he is scared of talking to him and stuttering and making a fool of himself. He desperately want to talk to him, want to get to know him, discover what his personality is like, what he is working on so focused on his laptop every time.
As the weather worsens, so does Wooyoung's crush. It is cold outside, everyone orders hot drinks, they pull out their big jackets and scarves. Wooyoung loves that kind of weather, he loves to watch the rain falling behind the window of his coffee shop.
He is drowning in his soft hoodie, a warm cup of coffee in hands. There are no customers in his shop as the rain falls harshly down the pavement, it makes Wooyoung think about those romantic movies he loves to watch. The main couple running under the rain and kissing passionately, the lights of the dark streets illuminating their love. Wooyoung feels himself smile at the silly scenario he just came up with.
He longs for this type of love. The one that makes you want to do crazy things. He closes his eyes, blows softly on his cup and imagines himself doing things for love. The one his mind comes up with is that new regular. The one with the blonde mullet. Hongjoong.
His phone goes off, ripping Wooyoung away from his thoughts, he looks down to see a text from Yeosang. The city declared a state of emergency due to the storm. It makes sense why there are no customers now. He sighs and contemplates whether he should go home or use the slow day to catch up on paperwork.
The storm seems to become heavier, the rain pouring down heavily is starting to scare Wooyoung a little. He puts his cup down and walks over to the door to turn the sign and close the door. As he is about to turn the lock, he sees someone familiar running towards him at full speed.
The man knocks fast on the glass door, making Wooyoung scream. He opens the door and lets the soaked man in. He locks the door right behind him and looks at the man with wide eyes as he is taking his jacket off.
It's Hongjoong.
Wooyoung's heart stutter a little at the sight of a wet Hongjoong. His hair falling over his forehead, his cheeks flushed and he is taking his hoodie off too. Wooyoung panics and snaps out of his obvious staring to understand what is happening right now.
"Do-do you need- uhm. Do you need some dry clothes?" Wooyoung manages to stutter out while unable to rip his eyes away from Hongjoong's defined chest.
"Yes please. Thank you so much for letting me in." He says as he drapes his jacket and hoodie over a chair and rubs his hands together to warm them.
Wooyoung runs to the back and finds a hoodie with his coffee shop logo on it, some sweats he always keeps in his office in case someone drops something on their pants. He walks back and hands him the clothes which Hongjoong accepts with a smile.
"You can go in the back to change. I'll make you a hot drink." He awkwardly waves towards the back door and runs behind the counter to start making him his drink.
As he pours the hot liquid in a cup, Hongjoong comes back up front and sits in front of Wooyoung behind the counter. He smiles shyly and accepts the cup of warm coffee.
"Thank you. I usually take it cold." He comments which makes Wooyoung scoff.
"You are not drinking an iced americano right after almost dying in a storm. Not on my watch." He points his finger at the man with a fake menacing look that makes Hongjoong chuckle.
"Yes sir." He giggles and salutes him. The sound of Hongjoong's giggles warms Wooyoung's chest, his smile is beautiful and his lips look like they would feel so soft against his.
"How did you get stuck outside under that shitty weather?" Wooyoung asks as he reaches for his half empty cup.
"I was going home from work because my friend Seonghwa told me there was going to be a storm but I lost track of time and left too late. It was pouring rain and the wind was blowing so hard it was impossible to make it home on foot since the buses have stopped running. So I went to the only place I knew close by hoping you were open." Hongjoong explains, staring at the warm cup of coffee in front of him. Wooyoung smiles, Hongjoong looks embarrassed and that makes him want to pinch his cheeks but they're not close enough for that yet.
"Where do you work?" Wooyoung asks, he has been so interested in that man. He wants to know stupid details about him, big and important facts about him, everything. He is getting ahead of himself. He should calm down.
"I work at KQ ent. as a producer." He explains, his ears turning red for some reason.
"That is so cool. Is that what you always do on your laptop when you're here? How long have you worked there? Have I heard any of your songs?" He bombards him with questions but he cannot help it, he wants to know more and it seems that Hongjoong does not mind because he answers them all.
They spend the evening talking, getting to know each other with the sound of the rain as background noise. It is both exhilarating and relaxing for Wooyoung. They share much more than he ever would have imagined. It really does not help his crush.
Once the storm passes, they do not immediately part ways. They keep talking until Wooyoung's phone starts going off over and over again, signalling all the texts Yeosang is sending him to make sure he is alive.
Night has fallen, Hongjoong takes his leave. Wooyoung watches him walk away from the door. Biting his lower lip. Completely enamoured.
~~
Wooyoung has an embarrassing habit. He likes to write about everything he is feeling. That should not be embarrassing, it is normal and healthy to let out your feelings in writing. Wooyoung thinks it is an embarrassing habit because he writes letters. He lets out his feelings by writing as if he is talking to the problem or the one person that is occupying his mind.
That one time in school, he had a hard time passing his mathematics class, so he wrote a letter to math. The subject. He wrote about everything he hates about math, sealed the envelope, wrote 'to math' on it and stored it with all the other letters he has written throughout his life.
He is doing it again. He is writing about his crush on Hongjoong as if he was talking directly to him. He talks about his pretty nose, his laugh, how cool it is that he is a producer. He writes about how he did not notice him the first time he came into the coffee shop but the second left an impression on him.
He writes about how he wants to see him every day, how he wants to kiss his cheeks, how he wants to know everything about him and more, how he can already see his future with him. A house, a marriage, kids.
He lets his imagination run wild. Some things he would never say out loud. Some things he does not actually mean but still feel like it would be nice. By the time he is done writing, his hand hurts and his chest feels full but he is happy.
He puts the letter in an envelope. He seals it and writes prettily on it.
'To Hongjoongie-Hyung.'
He startles as a knock on his door echoes in his previously silent apartment and goes to open it. Leaving the letter on his desk to store later. He opens the door and immediately gets pushed to the side by Yeosang, followed by San who looks at him excitedly.
"We have food." San says with a puppy smile that almost makes Wooyoung forget the rude intrusion of his personal and precious space.
"Who invited you?" He grumbles as he closes the door and watches the both of them settling in his living room as if they owned the place.
This scene is not unfamiliar, Wooyoung actually likes how comfortable they are around him. He likes being all up on his friends' space so them doing it back is more than welcome. Especially when there is food involved.
~~
"How do you want your coffee today?" Wooyoung asks Felix who looks like hell. He recovered from his sickness a while ago but it seems that he is feeling under the weather today.
"As black as my soul." He mumbles back, tying his apron behind his back.
"One latte coming right up." He giggles as the younger pouts and punches his arm weakly.
The day has started off well. This whole week has been great. Hongjoong came by three times already, no annoying customers yet, nobody called in sick. Everything is going well and Wooyoung could not ask for more.
Wooyoung goes to the back, they ran out of milk and to make Felix's latte, they will need a lot. He chuckles to himself at his own joke as he comes back up front and his smile only widens when he sees Hongjoong there.
"Hey Hyung. How are you?" He asks, happiness clear in his voice as he keeps making drinks while Felix takes the orders.
"I'm good- uhm. Woo, what time does your shift end?" Hongjoong asks, making Wooyoung stop what he is doing and look at the older with wide eyes and a stuttering heart.
"I'm closing today." He closes almost every day, he likes his establishment to be spotless when he leaves for the night and no one can clean better than him, so he does it.
Hongjoong approaches him, he seems somewhat embarrassed, his eyes shifty and face flushed but not from the cold. He buries his hands in his pockets and leans forward to speak to him quietly.
"Can I meet you here after closing? I got your letter. I think we should talk." Is what he says.
Wooyoung is more than a little confused. He has no idea what letter he is talking about, he has not sent a letter in years the only letters he wrote were the ones in his safe box but those are not meant to be read. They are not actually meant for anyone but Wooyoung himself.
Then it dawns on him. Wooyoung never actually stored Hongjoong's letter in his safe box like all the others. It was not there anymore when he went back to his room after hanging out with Yeosang and San.
He is going to kill Yeosang.
~~
Dear Hongjoong,
We haven't met that long ago but I know that those feelings blooming in my chest are real and meant to grow more and more, stronger and bigger. The first time you came into the shop I was so busy I barely paid attention to you. The second time however, your beauty entranced me. I had ticked over your weird order but seeing, actually seeing you, was groundbreaking.
Your face illuminates my day, your laugh makes my heart sing, your smile warms my gloomy days. For some reason, I keep getting fixated on your nose, how well it suits your face, the way it scrunches when you laugh. It's pretty. You're pretty. And you make my heart shake.
I think you're so smart and talented, you're a whole producer and it makes me respect you so much. You are so dedicated to your art and I find that impressive. You are impressive.
Your presence makes me feel like I'm floating. When we talk, nothing else matters, it's like the whole world vanishes around us and all I can see is you. When I'm alone and think of you, I feel like my heart is going crazy. I feel like a teenager with his first crush.
I can't help but imagine what it would be like for my feelings to be reciprocated. I think about dates, about a relationship. I think about a house together. I think about sleeping next to you, feeling safe and loved. I think about kids and evenings at the park.
I think we would make a good team. You seem like the type to be able to stop me before I go too far with my jokes while still being fun to be around.
I was ready to give up on love. I was ready to believe all the signs the universe was sending my way and resign myself to a romantic-less life. But you came into my shop, with your pretty mullet, pierced ears and charming smile and you made me believe.
You made me regain faith that maybe I'm not just a lost boy in this sea of couples. Maybe I was just waiting to be found. Waiting for the universe to put you in my path.
Maybe my imagination is running too wild and I am hoping for things that cannot be achieved by little old me. But I want to believe that our lives collided for a reason. I want to grip onto that feeling of hope because if I do then maybe I was never a fool for believing.
You're driving me wild Kim Hongjoong.
Love, Jung Wooyoung.
~~
Wooyoung scrubs and wipes every single surface in the room. His anxiety is eating at him so bad. Hongjoong will be there any minute and will want an explanation that Wooyoung is not ready to give. This was a private letter. Wooyoung's deepest and darkest thoughts that have just been made public.
Public is a big word, he doubts that apart from Yeosang, who most likely showed it to San as well, and Hongjoong, anyone else would have read it but he panics anyways. He has had no time to mentally prepare himself for that rejection. They just met and he has already ruined any future relationship he could have ever built with the older.
This is why you're still single Woo, you ruin everything.
He mumbles to himself and actually jumps when the door opens, even though he knew Hongjoong was coming. He stays frozen in place, wet rag tightly gripped between his fingers. His heart is hammering in his chest.
Hongjoong looks good, he always does. He is wearing a black turtleneck under his winter coat and some pants with an intricate design that Wooyoung finds so cool. They both just stare at each other for what feels like an eternity before Wooyoung sits down at the table he had been cleaning for the third time.
Hongjoong sits in front of him and places the letter on the table. Wooyoung's face is so hot he feels like it will actually catch fire. He has had nightmares about someone finding out about his letters and the nightmare finally becomes reality. Wooyoung wishes the ground would just swallow him whole so he does not have to face this situation but the universe is not with him. Never was. Never will be.
"You were never meant to read that." He says in a breathy and shaky voice. He does not even try to sound confident, he is completely shattered and scared.
"What do you mean? It was addressed to me." Hongjoong asks, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
"I write things. To get them off my chest I write them but it's not for them, it's for me. To process things and understand myself better. I don't know how you got that but that was supposed to be private, I'm sorry for any turmoil this could have caused you." He apologises and refuses to look at him. His eyes are staring holes into the paper on the table that Hongjoong has been fiddling with.
"So you don’t mean all that? You don't actually have feelings for me?" The older asks, if Wooyoung had been delusional he would say he sounds sad, but that cannot be right. Right?
"I do. I mean all that. I'm sorry. I never meant to make you uncomfortable with all that, you were never supposed to kno-"
"Stop apologising please." Hongjoong cuts him off. Wooyoung bites his tongue and cowers into himself. He risks looking at his face and he finds none of the disgust or anger he was ready to find. There is confusion, and something that looks like hope. "Why do you keep apologising for liking me?"
"I just don't want to make you uncomfortable." He mumbles, ashamed.
"I'm not. I-" Hongjoong clears his throat and scratches his head. "I caught feelings for you too. That day during the storm. It was so sudden I didn't really understand it at first. You write letters to understand your feelings, I write songs. I wrote a song about you and my friend told me I sounded whipped." Hongjoong chuckles to himself at that. "I'm not uncomfortable. I kinda want to know more." He says and shyly places his hand over Wooyoung's, which is placed on the table.
"You're serious?" Wooyoung asks in a whisper.
Hongjoong stands up and takes Wooyoung with him. They stare at each other, eye to eye. "Never been more serious." He says before pulling Wooyoung into a slow kiss that makes the younger melt into the embrace.
Maybe he does not have to kill Yeosang after all.