Chapter Text
It is a cold and early morning for Jungwoo as he starts his day in Sugaring Candy shop, a tiny coffee shop he built two years ago. Despite its name having candy, he is yet to sell an actual one which is why he concocted savory drinks with that sweet from time to time in hopes of making up for the shop name.
Jungwoo is not a morning person that is why he is already 10 minutes behind his schedule. This is very crucial especially for the owner and head of operating basically everything in the shop. Tons of orders are yet to be brewed, milks waiting for frothing, and latte arts about to be drawn by Jungwoo's majestically skilled hands.
He was just handing out his 19th iced americano when he entered.
"There's the love of your life," Mark, who is Jungwoo's one and only shop employee, says to him.
"Shut the fuck up, he is totally not the love of my life. He's just one of the characters in the scenarios I make up before I sleep,"
"What?"
Their weird conversation was cut off when sexy mysterious guy comes up at the counter and order his usual,
"One latte, to go please,"
"LATTE TO GO, PRONTO!" Mark shouts.
"I heard you loud and clear, Mark. I'm literally 3 feet away from you,"
Mark giggles.
"Just making sure you know what Mr. Cutie ordered," Mark, for some reason, gives Jungwoo a wink.
Okay, "Mr. Cutie" definitely heard Mark's comment. Jungwoo is definitely gonna assign Mark on toilet duties later. For now, he focuses on his magic-- making a latte art for Mr. Cutie.
When the cute guy started coming into the shop a few months ago, Jungwoo noticed he comes at the exact time 5 days a week and orders the exact same thing, a latte. So Mark, being the little cupid he hopes to be, gives Jungwoo the idea of making cute latte art specifically for Mr. Cutie. At first it was just silly drawings of anything cute under the sun, then it developed to some hearty sketches and scribbles.
Mark and Jungwoo noticed the guy never opens the lid before drinking and just goes straight for a sip. Mark dares Jungwoo to write his number but coward Jungwoo compromised and says pick-up lines are the most flirting he could in the world of latte art.
Today is no exception, and on he writes,
stop making those dimples.
u make my heart flutter,
u know? >:(
Proud Jungwoo hands the coffee to Mr. Cutie but the rush of new customers takes his attention away from his love bubble. He didn't notice the unsecured lid falling off making his latte art out on display right in front of the cute guy.
Mr. Cutie took a second to have a look over his latte, "Oh?"
Jungwoo panics.
"That--that's actually our promo this month! The uh..uhm, pick me up special! Yes, that's what it's called," he rambles.
Mr. Cutie looked hopeful for a bit then his shoulder slumped upon hearing Jungwoo's explanation then off he went.
☕️
Jaehyun sighs, and based on his assistant's reaction it seems he has done it loudly.
"It's been days, four days to be exact and you have been nothing but a sad mopey cow. What the hell has happened?" Haechan demands.
Jaehyun stares at the board in front of him, it's...it's full of love or now he thinks it is just a regular coffee promo. It was full of photographs he took of his latte every day.
The barista from the Sugaring candy shop has been putting some cute stuff in Jaehyun's regular coffee order. He thought the best way to save the great artwork is to take pictures of it and post it on his bookshop board. Soon after, customers of Mr. Valentines bookshop took interest on the board, amazed with the creativity and wit of the artist. So many people were so hooked on the latte arts it garnered attention on various social media platforms.
He didn't mean for any of this to blow out of proportion, it was supposed to be something personal.
Because Jaehyun was so sure those latte arts were pseudo love letters for him, from the cute barista. He knows these were made only for him because when he asked Haechan to order one, there was nothing but a good old fern design.
"I'd rather stick to my americano." Haechan decided.
But it has been days, days . Since he accidentally opened his order in front of the barista that led to stop him from making those latte arts. Jaehyun remembers the sour feeling of opening his to-go coffee only to see the sad little fern art in it.
He still kept going every day with hope that at least just one little heart drawing would show up but he was left disappointed. His hope is running thin.
"Maybe this was all just in my head. Maybe I was nothing but a delusional loser," Jaehyun says while staring at the board.
"Or you're just overthinking. Trust me he likes you too,"
"Are you insane? Have you ever thought what he would think when he sees what I have done?" Jaehyun panics. "I'm just nothing but a regular customer to whom he makes coffee for, and that I ended up liking him with his adorable latte arts and adorable smile and...and just overall gorgeousness. So yeah, how are you so sure, Haechan? That somehow in some crazy way this absurd exchange can actually mean something more."
Jaehyun inhales running out of breath from his rant.
"Because... if he was weirded out about all of this he would have run and called the police on you. But instead there he is standing behind you, smiling like a fool," Haechan says as a matter of fact.
"Huh? HUH??"
Jaehyun turns, lo and behold, Jungwoo standing there. His face shows a full disbelief with a hint of a smile.
"I...I can explain, Sir," Jaehyun panics and tries to think of an explanation but comes up short.
There was a minute of silence when Jungwoo finally spoke.
"You think I'm gorgeous?"
Jaehyun is now shocked but quickly recovers.
"Well yeah, but that's just one of the many words I can describe you," Jaehyun shyly says.
"Now's the time to ask him out, dumbass," Haechan whispers and then he walks off somewhere else. He thinks his job is done.
"Right. I gotta do this now. So, Sir, would you like to go out with me?" Jaehyun asks.
"You're calling me sir right after thinking I'm gorgeous? And you don't even know my name!" Jungwoo laughingly complained.
Seeing Jungwoo laugh made Jaehyun smile.
"You're right, sorry. I can't just keep calling you Mr. Gorgeous. So I'm Jaehyun and your beautiful name is?"
"Jungwoo, but occasionally, it really is Mr. Gorgeous." Jungwoo offers.
"Alright then. Would you be gorgeous enough to lend me your time and let me take you out?"
Jungwoo is smiling ear to ear now. And he says, "I'd love to," happily.
Off they go on a wonderful magical night. Misunderstanding and confusion were cleared out. The date night ended with a promise of a second date and a shared sweet blissful kiss.