Chapter Text
People bustled in through the entrance, placed their orders at the counter and wandered around in search of a seat.
Sangwon kept himself busy—taking orders, jotting down names, and calling them out one by one. All the while he maintained a practiced smile as he tried his best to keep up with the never- ending crowd.
His eyes scanned the people entering and leaving, kids tugging at their parents-begging for donuts. Teens meeting up to hangout, office workers- brain-dead and tired- dragging themselves over for their daily dose of caffeine.
The espresso machine hissed as he lowered the cup beneath it.
Over time, he’d developed a quiet habit: observing customers and guessing their personalities based on what they ordered.
A strawberry frappe with extra sweetener? Probably an extrovert—someone unafraid to ask for what they wanted in life, a trait he honestly envied. He glanced down at the cup in his hand. Black coffee? That was someone who valued simplicity and straightforwardness.
It was just another day. Where Sangwon worked himself to the bone, with his only form of entertainment being this little guessing game.
His life, as he liked to call it, was plain and simple, bland and boring. Like black coffee if you will. He never liked his own comparison, never liked black coffee in general…
"An iced frappe please" The lady before him smiled.
WORK, REST, REPEAT.
He followed those words religiously, hoping that one day he wouldn’t have to. That one day, he could break free from the mantra he’d encaged himself in. That one day he’d find a purpose—a meaning that finally felt right.
But that day never seemed to come any closer. It was just another boring Monday. The same people. The same orders. Nothing ever changed.
Would it ever?
Sangwon matched his pace with the crowd, the endless smiling now making his jaw ache. His only comfort at the moment was knowing that it would quiet down soon.
And the hours did pass, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting the small coffee shop in dark shadows. He slipped to the back to switch the lights on before he returned the front.
The area was calmer now, with only his co-worker- Jun lazily sprawled across the island seats. The man aimlessly flipped through magazine pages, a few grunts of approval followed every once in a while when he found something of interest.
“You do realize we need to maintain an image, right?” Sangwon said, leaning across the countertop.
“An image for who? There’s no one here,” Jun replied languidly, spinning in his seat- arms raised toward the empty store dramatically. Sangwon simply sighed.
“You never know—”
But he was cut off by the sound of the bell ringing, announcing a customer.
He watched Jun scramble to stop the spinning seat before he stood up, dizzy and disoriented. Sangwon shot him a satisfied look before turning to greet the visitor.
And it was as if time itself froze in place.
He forgot to breathe.
His hands froze as they were on the countertop.
A lean figure stepped in- light brown hair framing dark, almond-shaped eyes that caught the lights above beautifully. His thick brows made his features appear more perfect than they should've been, maybe too perfect—
Every detail held Sangwon’s gaze hostage.
God….he was pretty
Really pretty…
His mind simply went blank.
Despite Sangwon’s obvious staring, the boy ignored the front altogether- instead choosing to walk over to the window bay. Sangwon's eyes following each step he took as his heart picked up.
“Keep your tongue in,” Jun whispered with a smirk.
He sputtered in shock- face flushing a deep red as he watched the other walk away to take the strangers order.
What the hell…..
Was wrong with him…
Back at the counter, Sangwon grabbed random jars and cups- reorganizing them as he hid away.
What am I even doing? His face kept heating up-numbing his thoughts. The customer must have noticed— the counter was the first thing you saw upon entering.
He groaned, cringing at himself before covering his face. Did I really not have my mouth closed? Was I really gaping like a thirsting dog or something? The thought alone made him want to dig a grave and die.
“Order up Sangwonnie~ ”Jun teased upon return as Sangwon fumbled around clumsily trying to follow the order written down.
The boy's mind, however, worked faster than his hands did as he prayed to whatever deity might be listening that this was a takeaway order.
But to his dismay, it wasn't. The brown-haired boy stayed for at least half an hour. Occasionally he glanced over at the loud laughter erupting from behind the counter.
How could he have known that the loud chaos was all due to him?
The customer chose to ignore the ruckus, instead choosing to quietly sip his drink. And Sangwon couldn't help but glance over. Taking in the sight of him bathed in the golden glow.
He really was pretty….
By the time the stranger finally left, night had already settled—and Sangwon's heart finally returned to its usual rhythm.
He then turned to face his tormentor.
“You absolutely useless—”
Sangwon lunged- throwing a feeble fist that Jun dodged with ease as he laughed and ran away.
"GET BACK HERE!", Sangwon chased after him, flushed and fuming.
Their manager- summoned from the back upon the noise began yelling at them for tarnishing the café’s image.
Sangwon glared at Jun bitterly- silently vowing revenge while the staff guidebook were recited upon them…
Well there goes to having a normal day…..
No one came in after that. The manager had returned to the back after making sure the two of them kept a favorable distance between themselves.
And they did, both Sangwon and his co-worker went back to their usual routine. He continued re-arranging some utensils while Jun went for a smoke out back.
The clock ticked away, until the lights turned off and the doors locked.
Sangwon walked home under the moonlight, the streets around him lay quiet and still.
The embarrassing moment chose to replay itself in his mind, to which he whined miserably. The silence offered no distraction either.
Sangwon kept forging ahead, shaking his head as his heart raced faster.
But the silence only grew stronger. His shoes then began thudding hard against the pavement as he picked up his pace- until he ran.
Hair whipped across his face wildly as the cold night air cooled the sweat forming on his temple.
He ran along the serene streets- ran until his legs gave out…until the memory faded ever so slightly instead replaced with the need to breath deeper.
Sangwon clenched the fabric near his chest, ordering his heart to slow down. He didn’t understand why he felt the way he did. Acted the way he had. It was just another pretty face. Just another day. Nothing special. So why wouldn’t his heart stop pounding?
Sangwon didn’t understand.
So…he kept running.
Trampling over the thoughts as he went.
Praying, deep down, that this was the last time he’d ever see that customer.
He never wanted to re-live the awkwardness. He wished for the moment to be washed away-reduced to simply a grain of sand in an endless desert.
But he didn’t know, he couldn’t have….
That the life changing moment he had so desperately wanted had finally arrived. And that the beautiful boy would be the center of it all.