Chapter Text
Maknae Café
“Annyeonghaseyo~!” Felix greets from the counter across the door. A familiar figure walks in, an all-black hoodie, hands stuffed into the pockets.
The boy gives a small lazy wave before slumping over to his usual table. Felix spins his heel before glaring at the boy burning their last batch of pancake batter. “Psst! Jeongin,”
The younger ginger whips around almost immediately, forgetting about his dish. “Hm?” He looks over to what Felix was gesturing to, before nodding his head and walking over.
“Hey, hey! Wait,” Felix calls him over just before he steps out of the kitchen. “You forgot to fix your dress.” He fixes the crumples in his pleated skirt before sending him back out.
“Annyeong~! What’ll you have today~?” He subconsciously taps his pen on his notes, waiting for a reply.
The boy looks up, tired, weary eyes glaring at him from below. “Innie! I'll have the omurice.”
Jeongin nods, putting on a fake smile before turning back to the kitchen. “Table 2 wants an omurice.” He glares over at Felix, giving him a sly smirk. “Don't start.”
“I know, I know. Just sayin’, it's your sophomore year, wouldn't hurt to explore—”
Jeongin slaps his shoulder to get him to shut up, causing someone else to peek out from the kitchen.
“Hey, I'd hate to interrupt your bonding time, but it's about to be breakfast hour,” Seungmin grumbles, trying to keep cookies from exploding in the oven.
“Guys, I gotta go, early meeting today.” Felix takes his jacket off an unused seat; he never changed into his maid outfit. “See you guys later!”
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“Let me explain, I am Lee Felix, I'm a sophomore. Aside from the struggles of high school, I work part-time at Kurasu Maid Cafe. It's not so bad, I get paid, see my friends, and even occasionally meet cute guys. But ever since exam season, we've been lacking customers, and I've been single for too long. So please excuse my extroverted behavior.”
He ends the video recording there; it's a new habit he picked up that helps him focus. He puts his bike into the parking and skips to the entrance. It's quiet with the others still in the Cafe, and he might’ve lied to them about the meeting, just so they deal with the customers alone. Hey, independence, right?
He slumps onto his desk, barely paying attention to the lesson until the teacher gives an announcement. “We have transfer students from Korea, please welcome them.” She deadpans, barely awake.
A tall boy, with long dark hair and a shy demeanor, walks in, takes a bow, then eyes the seat beside Felix. He introduces himself as ‘Hwang Hyunjin’ before sitting beside him.
Felix woke up a little. He looked so different from all of their American classmates, but in a good way. Anyways, being the extrovert, he looks over to his notebook.
“Nice drawing!” Felix leans closer, just trying to be the social one between the two.
Hyunjin backs away ever so slightly so their faces aren't so close. “Thanks..” He mumbles before pushing the notebook a bit closer so he can get a better glance.
“It's pretty good, you should consider the art club.” Felix traces the light pencil strokes, admiring the flower sketch carefully.
The room falls silent once more. Felix was obviously looking for more of a conversation; oh well.
“Uh,” Hyunjin awkwardly fidgets with the pencil in hand. “So, what's your name?”
Felix perks up immediately, all bubbly once more. “Felix.” He shakes his hand, much too energetically. “Lee Felix.”
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Things at the café weren't going too smooth either. It was breakfast time, and Felix still wasn't here.
“Have a good day! Come again soon!” Jeongin politely bowed while haphazardly stuffing change into the register. He reaches out to the counter behind him before touching the bottom of a plate.
“Dammit-! Minnie, this plate is getting cold!” He yelled out to the redhead flipping burger patties.
Seungmin paused mid-flip, the spatula dangling uselessly. “Do I look like a fucking waiter?” He deadpans.
Jeongin exhaled sharply before staring at him, not even glaring, but it was enough. Without another word, Seungmin takes the plate and stomps out of the kitchen.
They didn't do well without Felix; Seungmin was much more aware of that than Jeongin. Yeah, they would still make bombass food and get it out on time, but customer-wise? Seungmin was more than glad for Felix, he would get the most money for them ‘cause he's the only one that can rock his ass in a miniskirt and openly flirt. God bless Felix.
Thunk!
The plate lands on the table with a sharp thud. “Enjoy.” Seungmin deadpans, avoiding eye contact like always. He looks down in confusion when the plate hasn't been taken.
Oh, it's this guy again. Bangchan, popular in the cafe, much more at school. He would stay until late at night at the cafe studying, taking up a whole booth with his student council files and countless textbooks. It would get annoying for the late-night workers (Seungmin). He can't hear him over his headphones, and he's obviously more focused on his assignment.
Bang Chan was in his own world, as usual, drowning out the sounds of the cafe with his headphones blasting his favourite music. He was focused on his work, barely even realising the sound of the plate being slammed down in front of him.
Even when Seungmin spoke, Bang Chan was oblivious, his attention completely on the assignment sprawled in front of him. He continued to write notes down as he worked, not once glancing at the plate of food in front of him.
With an exaggerated sigh, Seungmin shifts his weight from one foot and starts tapping the plate against the table, causing loud clinks and earning a few onlookers.
Chan takes his headphones off and rests them at his neck. “Oh, thanks.” He takes the plate from Seungmin's hand, accidentally brushing past it.
Seungmin gives a tight smile, taking his hand back from the sudden touch and immediately rushing back to the kitchen.
“Uhm, Seungmin?” Chan calls while staring down at his plate. Seungmin hesitantly turns his heel to face him. “Is Felix off today?”
Seungmin crosses his arms, then sighs. “Take a wild guess.” He vaguely gestures to the crowded, uncoordinated diner behind him. He doesn't mean to be rude; he's just not good at this, at people.
“..Why?” He adds on, much softer after realizing he's scaring the customers away.
Chan looks at his plate, then Seungmin. “There's not enough ketchup on my omurice.” He points at his dish, slightly unimpressed.
Seungmin rolled his eyes at Chan's complaint, barely even surprised that the guy was making a big deal over something so minuscule.
"Are you serious? You're nitpicking over ketchup now?" Seungmin crossed his arms, his patience running thin.
Chan didn't seem bothered by his attitude, simply pointing back at his plate with an almost challenging look.
"It's lacking." He said simply, as if that justified his complaint.
Seungmin let out a frustrated sigh, knowing he won't get away without dealing with this.
Seungmin takes the plate and stomps off to the kitchen, slamming the doors open with too much force. He slams the plate down onto the preparation counter.
“We’re already short-staffed, and you wanna talk about the lack of ketchup?” Seungmin mutters under his breath, taking four packets of ketchup and carelessly putting them onto the plate.
Jeongin notices his growing anger and frustration. “Dude, take a break if you need it.” He eyes Seungmin, his movement starting to slow into something calmer as he brings the plate back out.
He lays it in front of Chan once again. “Happy?”
Chan looks at the packets, then Seungmin clenches his jaw. “Uh, sure..?” He pulls the plate towards him, not wanting to tease him or piss him off any further.
Seungmin stood there for a moment, watching as Chan accepted the plate with a seemingly indifferent expression. He let out an exasperated sigh, feeling frustration still boiling within him.
"Yeah, happy," He muttered sarcastically, crossing his arms again.
Chan took a bite of his omurice, testing out the new amount of ketchup. "Hm," He hummed, considering the taste before looking up at Seungmin again.
Seungmin raised an eyebrow, still not quite over the whole ketchup situation. "What now?”
“It's a bit plain, but there's nothing you can do about that one.” Chan takes another bite of his food and goes back to studying. It's not that bad, he's just a tease, really.
Seungmin frustratedly runs a hand through his soft, dark hair before stomping back to the kitchen, fucking fuming.
Jeongin approaches Changbin, waiting at table two, a melon soda in hand and a smile on his face. Changbin was one of the few people in the restaurant who wasn't actively pissing the workers off or trying to get with him, so that was nice.
It was much different in school, though. He and Changbin are lab partners, so Jeongin occasionally goes to his house. And Jesus Christ, he brings his friends every time, and it's so fucking loud and annoying. So they really don't talk outside of school.
Changbin looks up at him, eyes starry and wide. “Thanks!” He takes the plate. Then pauses a minute, an unreadable expression on his face. “Uh, are you on the clock right now?”
Jeongin's eyes widened, just slightly. His mind is cautiously asking ‘why?’ but he stomachs it and forces himself to answer properly. “Yeah, but tell me.”
Changbin starts to bounce his leg anxiously, still not touching his meal. “My house isn't really available tonight, I was thinking.. Maybe we could go to St. Averick’s Creek?”
No is the first thing that pops into Jeongin's mind. First of all, St. Averick’s is a popular date place, and behind it is the makeout spot. Secondly, he doesn't want to be seen there with a boy.
And like Changbin read his mind, he immediately retorts, physically waving that idea away. “No, no, no. Not like that. My friends and I go there all the time! Plus, you know, the library closes early today.”
Changbin starts awkwardly rubbing his neck at the implication, earning a small, awkward chuckle from Jeongin. “No, it's fine. I'll be there at around.. Six?” As long as it's not like.. That.
Jeongin nodded slowly, still not quite sold on the idea, but agreeing anyway. "Yeah, sure, I'll be there." He tried to act casual, but his hesitation was noticeable.
Changbin smiled at him, obviously relieved that Jeongin said yes. "Great, see ya then." He said before picking up his fork and digging into his meal.
Jeongin returned to the kitchen, thoughts racing through his mind. He knew Changbin wasn't asking him out; they were just two classmates hanging out. But somehow, it still felt weirdly.. Date-like.
He was the straight one out of all the people he knows (Seungmin and Felix), so this felt a bit, uh, interesting. But it's not like that, Changbin clarified, and if he takes his friends—plural, there? Then it really is nothing more.