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Jimin was staring through the window again. A new cat was sitting on the windowsill, or at least, Jimin hadn't noticed that one before, a mix of grey and white that set it apart from the other cats, fluffly and lazily dozing in what little sun was on display in the chilly December afternoon.
Jimin wasn't looking at the cat much though, not really, because as cute as the kitty was, there was an even more eye-catching sight to see beyond the glass window. A barista, animatedly chatting up one of the customers in front of him, counting coins for older folk and giving high-fives to younger ones resting on their parents'. He moved just as often, too, to prepare drinks, both to-go and to walk around and serve in-house.
He took a closer look, leaning forward, breath fogging the glass ever so slightly, noticing that the once amber-orange hair on the barista had been dyed a softer chocolate shade, falling in soft waves over his forehead. It suited the man well, though Jimin was quite sure the other could have pulled off any colour. A soft thump took Jimin's attention back, glancing down to the previously ignored grey cat, and he cooed as he watched it rub itself against the glass, turning on itself when it received no pets from him, and trying again in the other direction.
The sight was beyond tempting. Jimin had always had a soft spot for small things and gentle animals, and could you blame him? Unfortunately, though, the universe had played a rather cruel trick on him by making him allergic to all the adorable little fur-balls prancing around the café, preventing him from entering, knowing well he'd be reduced to a sniffling mess within minutes.
Still, he couldn't help but linger by the window on his daily commute.
When his gaze was brought back up, he locked eyes with the barista, and immediately looked down again, crouching and visibly trying to interact with the cat in front of him, shy. It's not like he didn't want to be seen, the barista had just looked so. . . open. Endeared, if it was possible, even over a stranger such as himself. Jimin didn't doubt the two would one day interact, just perhaps not today, when Jimin was already sniffling from the cold, never mind the pets. He tapped the glass ahead, watching the cat bump its nose into what would have been his hand, save for the barrier.
"She's really fond of humans, you know."
Jimin startled, falling on his bottom with a startled noise as he looked up at the barista who had magically appeared outside the door just a metre away from him. "Oh."
"Are you okay?" He was asked, as the other stepped closer, offering a hand that Jimin gingerly accepted with a small thank you. "The table right by her is unoccupied, if you want to spend some time with her. She might even sit on your lap if you're lucky."
The sentence was ended with a wink, and Jimin felt winded, woefully unprepared. Now logically, he should politely decline, sheepishly inform the gentleman in front of him of his cat-related allergies, and walk away after a sympathetic comment. Today, however, Jimin's mind must surely not be feeling logical. "Uhh okay, yeah -- sure, why not?"
The smile he received might have been worth it, and Jimin realised he was close enough to see the name tag sitting on the other's chest. Hobi. He shook some of his larger reservations off, following the man inside. Despite it all, the café was warm, a harsh juxtaposition to the frigid outside. Jimin wondered how Hobi had been able to stand out in the cold, even if it had only been for a moment, with his thin-looking sweater and sleeves rolled up.
"It's nice to finally see you inside, I thought you might have been planning a heist to steal all these angels with how much you stare but never come in."
Hobi was teasing him, Jimin realised, and flushed as he sat down, menu placed in front of him. "You noticed?"
"Cute boy keeps avoiding my eye at the window?" He snorted, not unkind. "Yeah, I noticed."
The ground could have opened up to swallow Jimin whole and he would have been grateful, taking a good, hard, purposeful look at the menu to delay his response and give him time to think. Hobi had already given his shoulder the barest of squeezes though, and walked off behind the counter, a new customer having just entered the line.
Now, Jimin would love to say that he was immune to gay panic, one of his closest friends was a model, for fuck's sake, he was no stranger to beauty, but truly, no amount of years among gorgeous, physically-affectionate people would ever acclimate him to the rush of butterflies he got whenever someone not only attractive but nice took any form of attention to him. Maybe Jimin needed better standards, or maybe he just needed to go out and flirt with strangers more, but either way, the drink names and pictures were blurring into one as he replayed Hobi's words in his mind.
Cute. A cute boy.
Jimin held back a smile, that is, until he felt paws on his calf. Ah shit.
The cat truly was so darling, and Jimin couldn't help but lean down and pat her behind the ears, the same cat that had been on the windowsill just minutes ago. Reaching for her paw-shaped nametag, he found a name. Bluey. How ironic.
"Aren't you just the sweetest?" He muttered quietly, to no one in particular, but Bluey braced herself, then leaped onto his lap, purring, loud and self-satisfied as Jimin kept petting her. "You're gonna have me so fucked up, with all this thick fur."
The comment was half-hearted though, he really didn't blame the cat, more annoyed at his DNA as Bluey settled in his lap. He heard Hobi again before he saw him. "Aha! I knew you'd be a lucky one, she only sits on good people."
Jimin scrunched his nose. "She has a morality calculator?"
"Well," Hobi hummed, visually expressive with one hand on his chin and the other, clutching a notepad, on his hip. "She's never sat on any of the racist tourists we've encountered as far as I'm aware, so. . . yes?"
Jimin couldn't help but giggle at that, making a show of petting Bluey with more zeal. "Good girl."
"That she is, a real charmer. Do you know what you want to order?"
Jimin blinked, truthfully having forgotten where he was, though not an ideal move, since he could already feel his eyes getting watery. Finishing his drink fast was probably the best bet, really he should have gotten something to-go instead. "Uhh. . . a mocha?"
"One mocha coming right up!"
Hobi had left pretty quickly after that, but Jimin couldn't blame him, the café clearly busy and just outside a tourist spot. He took the opportunity to look out of the window, it was early, but at this time of the year the sun set practically a couple hours after it rose, and as such, there were already gentle beams of orange starting to fall inside, soon to be replaced by the bleak grey they had gotten used to. Jimin loved winter, truly he did, but perhaps just a little more daylight to spare could have been offered.
His nose was itching, he acknowledged faintly. There was nothing to be done about it at this point, he knew the itching would only get worse. One cat on his lap was already a lot for his system to handle, but the fifteen or so cats that Jimin estimated existed in this space? A whole new challenge. Perhaps it would be easier in summer with a fresh breeze and the windows cracked open, Jimin could tell they had locks to be opened, in theory.
Jimin's cup came soon enough, although Hobi arrived at the tail-end of one of his sneezes, he tried to look casual about it, and hoped the barista didn't think he had a cold, or something of the like. Maybe he should have worn a mask here, not that it would help whilst drinking. "-- blessss you!" Hoseok spoke, setting his drink down. "One mocha for. . ."
"Ah, Jimin, Park Jimin." He answered, trying not to sniffle too much.
"For Park Jimin! My name's Hoseok -- Jung. Just in case you were curious." He laughed, and Jimin wanted so badly to hear more of it.
"Oh really? I thought -- well, since your nametag. . ."
Hobi -- Hoseok? Blinked, looking down, then lighting up again in understanding. "Right, right. It's just a nickname! Usually just safer to use nicknames with strangers for folks like me, but you can call me whatever! I don't mind either way. Enjoy your mocha, Jimin-ssi!"
Jimin couldn't say he fully understood the interaction, "folks like me" wasn't exactly telling, but he supposed using a moniker for any sort of customer service was wise. Evidently, he'd been paying way more attention to Hoseok than what the other had placed down in front of him, though, because he quickly did a double-take at the thick brownie sitting beside his mocha, something he certainly hadn't ordered.
His eyes searched for Hoseok again, and sure enough he was already back to manning the counter, when they caught eyes though, and as Jimin gestured questioningly at the treat, all Hoseok did was mouth a simple "It's on the house."
Jimin's heart swelled, and he was going to say thank you, really he was, because that was just so precious of the other and he appreciated the generosity more than the other would know, Jimin loved brownies, but before he could, he was cut off by another sneeze.
Hoseok had laughed at him then, his voice loud enough to carry above the café chatter, and Jimin huffed, small thing, grumbling little complaints at Bluey, not that she noticed, fast asleep on his lap, aside for some twitches of her ears. He gave in though, taking a sip of his mocha, and then a bite of his brownie, before repeating.
They were both delicious. Unrealistically good to the point where Jimin wondered if half the flavour came from his mind's smitten taking to Hoseok. He was a little bitter about the fact that he'd already had to wipe his nose a good four times though, trying to be discreet about it, not that it seemed to matter.
Either he hadn't been discreet enough, or Hoseok was simply a particularly perceptive person, because as soon as he'd taken his last sip, and been given his bill, Hoseok was in front of him, perched halfway on the chair, still working, after all, but he was frowning slightly. Jimin didn't think he'd seen him frown before, but he didn't exactly look upset, more concerned. "Are you feeling ill? We have a really good spiced tea for when you're under the weather. It was actually formulated by a TCM expert, with herbs and such -- it's a winter favourite, if you want some?"
He trailed off, and Jimin knew the jig was up, at least he could say he'd tried his best, lasted a good half an hour. Sniffling, he laughed a little self-consciously, well aware of how nasally he sounded. "No, no, I mean -- thank you, I appreciate it, but it's just my allergies."
Hoseok's brows furrowed a little even as his eyes did a quick sweep of the place, but no one was waiting in line, no hands were up, so he focused back on Jimin. Idly, Jimin thought his eyes were really pretty from this distance. "Really? At this time of the year? What are you allergic to?"
Jimin scratched the back of his neck, cheeks prematurely red. "Uhhh. . . cats?"
Really, Hoseok's reaction would be hilarious in any other context, his eyes widening as his jaw dropped slightly, thoroughly surprised by the unexpected response. Once again, this was really not the time for Jimin to be finding him handsome, not that he could help it. "I -- what? But, but this is a. . ."
Jimin nodded, without the other even having to finish his sentence. "That's kinda the reason why I always stayed outside." He responded bashfully.
"Oh my god, and I invited you inside? I'm so sorry, I really had no idea --"
Jimin shook his head quickly, the action leaving him just a teensy bit dizzy. "Don't say that, it's not your fault at all, we just met, how could you know? I really like cats, anyway, and the food and coffee here is delicious. It's worth the runny nose, in any case." He joked, but Hoseok didn't look too convinced, and Jimin softened. "It's okay, really. I wanted an excuse to talk to you, anyway. You always seem so busy here."
He was avoiding Hoseok's gaze again -- fuck, was he always this shy? He swore otherwise, in any case, curiosity got the best of him after a few long seconds and he peeked up again. Hoseok was smiling at him, the same fond smile he'd worn looking at Jimin through the window. He was going to explode, surely. There was no other way around the warmth in Hoseok's eyes. What on Earth had he ever done to deserve being looked at with such affection?
"If you wanted to talk to me you could have just said so, silly. You don't have to sacrifice your health for it."
Jimin pouted, because he knew that -- he knew that, but, but -- "I don't mind though, the cats are so sweet, Bluey is so, so sweet, and what was I supposed to do, walk in and strike up a good enough conversation to get you to talk to me somewhere else in under two minutes? You'd think I was kidnapping you!"
Hoseok leaned forward, his stare decidedly not on Jimin's face as he licked his lips. "I don't think I'd mind."
Jimin's mouth fell open, and then he was giggling, and then he was sneezing and really, Jimin couldn't believe Hoseok hadn't moved away from him yet, the absolute mess that he was. Bleary-eyed, he tried to get his sniffles under control, wiping his nose again, grateful for the café's never-ending supply of napkins on the side of the table, thoroughly embarrassed by his display. Hoseok didn't seem to have a problem with it though, still bearing the same enchanted look on his face, unchanged in the face of Jimin's lack of composure.
He was insane, surely, Jimin thought, if this was his first impression of him, and he still found Jimin cute.
"Do you have anything to do later today? I get off at four."
Jimin ogled at him, baffled. "No, nothing on the schedule." He answered though, automatic.
"Wanna have dinner together? I know this great pojangmacha if you live nearby?"
"Nearby enough." He sneezed again, sighing loudly as he sniffled.
Hoseok's face twisted again, though only at the words, but he was interrupted by a fellow co-worker calling for him, though it only paused him for a second as he dismissively replied, saying he'd be another minute. "How nearby is nearby enough?"
"45 minutes on the metro. I work just a street away, though."
"I'll take the metro with you then." Hoseok nodded decisively.
That got Jimin out of his stupor. "What? No -- I'm not gonna make you waste your time like that -- for what?"
"It's safer." He certainly seemed to have made his mind up. "It'll be pitch black by then."
"Don't be ridiculous, Hobi-ssi. I take the route every day, I'll be fine."
"Indulge me?"
Jimin stared at the other in disbelief. Picking him up would be entirely impractical, way unnecessary, and most certainly a waste of time if they were going to return to somewhere close by. Truly, he was at a loss for words. Sweet, it was sweet, but also an inconvenience to the other at best.
Hoseok's head turned as his name was called again, distracted. He ripped off a page of his order notebook and scribbled something down, before handing it to Jimin. His Kakao user. "Text me the address, yeah? Or the metro station, if you prefer. Get home safe! I can't wait to see you again."
Jimin barely had time to process any of it, but when he got up, he made sure to be as gentle as he could, depositing Bluey back on her windowsill, now joined by another friend, petting both of them. "Thank you, Bluey." He whispered, hoping no one was looking and questioning the act. As he stood up to leave again, Hoseok was waving him goodbye, even mid-conversation with another customer.
Their date was just a few hours away, sure, but Jimin felt more excited than he had in weeks.