The Coffee House (Part 2) (1/1)

Woohyun wakes up to the sound of crackling fire and a mild scent of sweetened coffee. Upon seeing the foreign pattern on the ceiling, and the rugged brick wall, Woohyun shot up.  “Oh, sorry, did I wake you?”  Woohyun turned to see Sunggyu approaching with a pair of steaming mugs. His gaze travelled around the room. It was quite a small room with a brick wall which held a fireplace, and some potted plants sitting on the ledge of the fireplace. To the right was a (also) small but brightly lit kitchen from which Sunggyu was coming from. “Here, drink up. You look only half alive.” Sunggyu placed one of the mugs on the coffee table next to a scone. “And eat that too. It will make you feel better.” Woohyun timidly took a sip out of the mug. Sunggyu laughed at Woohyun’s cautious actions. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to poison you. And it’s hot chocolate, no coffee, so you won’t be up the whole night. And we’re in my apartment just above the shop, incase you’re wondering where you are.” Woohyun smiled as the smooth, delicate texture of the hot chocolate made its way down his throat. The hot chocolate really did warm him up. He took a bigger gulp and also a bite from the scone. Sunggyu watched Woohyun’s smile and caught himself unconsciously reciprocating the same smile as he stared. He diverted his gaze away before Woohyun could notice. “By the way, your laptop’s by the door.” “Oh! That’s right. Thank you.” Woohyun jumped to check that his laptop was indeed by the door. “Don’t worry. It’s fine, not broken or anything.” Sunggyu assured Woohyun after seeing his anxiety. “And if there was anything you didn’t want me to see, don’t worry. It was asleep when I found you.” “Ahaha, no it’s fine. It’s not confidential or anything.” Woohyun giggled, waving it off. Sunggyu relaxed as Woohyun seemed to be back to his normal bubbly self. “Don’t tell me you were gaming.” He said sternly. “Whuh? Oh, nah. I was actually doing homework. I don’t game all day!” Sunggyu crossed his arms, getting ready to lecture Woohyun. “You’re still in the middle of school at the moment. And you have semester exams soon. If you had the time, you should start revision early. Don’t waste your time online, and doing that every day!” “But what about you? You do the same thing every day, making coffee that is.” Woohyun asked, completely disregarding Sunggyu’s speech. “Wow, that was not a monologue.” Sunggyu muttered disgruntled, but answered Woohyun’s question with confidence, “It’s because I enjoy it. Once you find the thing you really enjoy doing, no matter how many times you repeat it, the feeling will always be as real… But that does not mean gaming while you’re studying.” “But making coffee?” Sunggyu looking at the mug in his hands, smiling, seeing the same hot chocolate as Woohyun’s but also with a hint of coffee, “Even if it is just coffee. But it’s not just the coffee. It’s the joy of seeing the people who enjoy it, love it, and seeing their smiles when drinking it. It’s the ability to bring smiles to people…” Sunggyu trailed off as he got lost in his own words. “That’s what I like about you.” Woohyun’s sudden confrontation snapped Sunggyu out of his daydream. Sunggyu felt the flush rising on his cheeks as he stammers, trying to find the right words. “I- I, uh… Sorry. I was, um, that was cheesy. Sorry… How is the hot chocolate?” Woohyun laughs out loud at Sunggyu’s awkwardness. “It’s delicious. Thank you. And so is the scone!” Woohyun’s laughter soothed Sunggyu, and he also chuckles, “I knew you’d like it. I guessed you were a hot chocolate person. You always put extra sugar in your latte.” It was Woohyun’s turn to be surprised. He was honestly taken back by how Sunggyu took notice of the smaller details, like how sweet he liked his coffee.  Sunggyu who seemed to have understood Woohyun’s expression, replied, “It’s sort of my job. I make coffee and serve customers everyday. You tend to notice things.” “Oh, that’s true.” Woohyun murmured, looking away from Sunggyu, honestly a little disappointed that he was just another regular customer to Sunggyu. Out of the corner of his eye, a certain book caught his sight. “Is that ‘Against the World?’” Sunggyu looked over Woohyun’s shoulder and saw the book propped up on the cabinet. “Yes it is.” “You’ve read it?” “No, I like to decorate my apartment with books.”  Woohyun walked over and picked up the book. He went back and inspected it. Apart from some creases that were obviously from reading the book, it was in perfect condition. Not a single fold on the pages, and it was also free from dust. “You never told me you read.” “I guess it was one of the things you never asked. You’ve read it before?” “Yeah, I have. Quite a few times actually.” Woohyun replied, “What do you think of it?” “I love it. It’s amazing. The way Key expresses the scenes with so much mystery, and it just leads you on. Her characters are amazing. The way Hoya solves the cases each time is such a thrill. I don’t know how Key does it, but she’s killing it. I heard she’s working on another novel. I actually cannot wait!” Woohyun chuckled at Sunggyu fanboying, “Her? Key?” Sunggyu sighed in admiration, “Yeah. I don’t know what type of woman she is, but the publishers started that she’s 22, that’s just two years younger than me. Yet she’s so talented. Her writing is amazing, she’s definitely amazing.” Woohyun seemed a bit uncomfortable, “I don’t know… You’ve never met her though?” Sunggyu nodded, “No… I haven’t. But I heard she’s doing a book signing in a few months. I’m definitely going to go.” He then registered Woohyun’s words into his brain. “Wait… You’ve met her?” Woohyun shrugged, “Yeah, I know her quite well actually.” Sunggyu gazed at Woohyun with admiration, “She is as gorgeous as my vision isn’t she? Haha, who am I kidding, she’s probably better. Well, it doesn’t matter, after all, I did fall in love with her words. I feel like I’m already in love with her already…” Before Sunggyu could go on, Woohyun leaned in and placed his lips on Sunggyu’s. Sunggyu’s eyes widened, unable to comprehend the situation. His instinct was to push Woohyun away and demand why he did that, tut something within prevented him from gaining control of his limbs as his body betrayed him. And the time that passed seemed like both hours and seconds. If Sunggyu asked, Woohyun wouldn’t have been able to answer. He himself only realized what he was doing as he felt the pair of soft lips with a slight taste of coffee on his. It was a time where he wished he could freeze the seconds, and make it last just a little longer. He pulled away, unsure of what to expect. Woohyun knew there would be two likely reactions, the bad being Sunggyu would probably punch him, demand why he did that, and never talk to him again. And the good being Sunggyu would return with a kiss of his own. But as he watched the latter, the slight glint of both hope and disappointment disappeared. Sunggyu sat expressionless.  Seconds, then minutes passed. Sunggyu still sat in the same position in dead silence, frozen. Woohyun started freaking out. He reached over to Sunggyu’s hand, only to be slapped away. “Sunggyu…”  “Leave.” It was barely a whisper. “But Sunggyu-” “Please. Just leave.” It was icy cold and detached this time. Woohyun scrambled up, grabbing his belongings, and rushed to the door. He took one last look back, and only saw Sunggyu’s back, still frozen in the same position. “I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking properly. I won’t do it again. I promise.” Woohyun begged, his voice cracking.  There was no answer. Woohyun choked back a noise as he rushed out of the door.

~ ~ ~

“Thank you, come again!” Sunggyu called after another customer. It had been weeks since their last meeting, and winter kicked in as all color left the trees. One which neither expected to end so abruptly. After Sunggyu had dismissed Woohyun from his apartment, he had not been back to the shop. Sunggyu was glad for the first few days, but as time passed, the shop felt quiet, and almost too peaceful. He thought he might have started to miss the barrage of questions the boy threw at him, and closing the store without shooing Woohyun out proved just a bit lonely. But the idea of missing Woohyun bugged Sunggyu like an irksome fly, so he just pushed it away and out of his mind. However, the warm feeling on his lips never left. After the ‘incident’ (what Sunggyu preferred to call it), he couldn’t rub off the feeling, nor forget the scene. He had wanted Woohyun out after such a innocent kiss had managed to send off such a wave of emotions in him. His own reaction had shocked him, and acted out of spite for himself. But he told himself it was better that way. He was able to focus on the cafe and his work finally. Even if it meant never seeing Woohyun again. It was easier that way. “Sunggyu? Sir?” “Huh?”Sunggyu catches Sungjong staring at him in concern. “Are you feeling alright?” The young boy asked. “Oh yeah, sure. My apologies, just didn’t get enough sleep lately.” Sunggyu muttered, rubbing his temples. “Okay… If you’re really not feeling well, you should go and get some rest. You’ve taught me quite a lot already. Myungsoo and I can handle it.”  “No, thank you, but I should be alright,” Sunggyu smiled meekly. “Sure. But please tell us if you need.” Sungjong replied, “Because you’re really mixing up some orders. You gave the woman who ordered the espresso a latte, with a soccer ball?” “Huh? A soccer ball?”

~ ~ ~

“Sorry Sunggyu, I take a long time on profiteroles.” Myungsoo apologized as he squeezed another spoonful of custard in the small ball of pastry. “Don’t worry about it! We’re not busy at the moment.” Sunggyu replied matter-of-factly as he drizzled chocolate on the cream puffs, “Plus, I quite enjoy doing this.” He placed the chocolate covered cream puff on the tray, beaming at the bite sized dessert.  It was January, well into Winter, when the cafe had suddenly piled up with customers. Sunggyu could not recognise half the people there, and wondered if a new store was opening somewhere in town. If there was, then he definitely missed the memo. And from the sudden flood of customers, Myungsoo’s everyday batch of desserts had been obliterated, and Sunggyu was stuck in the kitchen, helping with the baking. “Sunggyu!” Sungjong suddenly called, his head poking out from behind the door. “There’s a man outside who asked for you. Woohyun? I think that’s what he said his name was.” The name struck something in Sunggyu as he dropped the chocolate icing he was holding onto half the unfinished cream puffs. “Woohyun?”  “Yeah, I think so.” “Did he order a latte with some odd art?” “Umm, no.” Sungjong replied, looking at Sunggyu strangely, “He just came by and told me to tell you that the author Key is holding the book signing in the mall down the street.” Sunggyu’s eyes widened, to the point where one could actually see more than just a line. “Hey, isn’t that the author you love?” Myungsoo piped up from underneath the counter, “HEY! You spilt chocolate icing all over the puffs!” Sunggyu completely ignored both Sungjong and Myungsoo as he began pulling together a plan for the day, “So THAT’S why we are so busy today. Okay, we can do this guys. We will serve every customer here with the best coffee and desserts. We will close at 9pm sharp, and clean as quickly, but precisely, as we can. If it all goes well, we can all be out of here before 9:30pm. Sounds like a plan?” “Yes Gramps!” Both Sungjong and Myungsoo agreed in unison.

~ ~ ~

It was a great day for the shop, but as time ticked, Sunggyu saw his hope diminishing. The signing when on for what seemed like forever as customers kept trickling in past 9, all the way up to 9:30. Sunggyu was glad for the good business, but each ticking second had him closer to losing hope. 9:50 he dismissed Sungjong and Myungsoo. 9:55 he grabbed his copy of Key’s book. And 10:00 he locked up and rushed out. It was 10:10 when he reached the entrance to the signing. Still bent over and struggling to catch his breath, Sunggyu approached the signing. “Sorry sir, the signing has ended.” Sunggyu looked up to see a security guard towering over him. “Um… Is there any way… No sorry, I work just down the street and it was-” “No sir, no exceptions. If we kept letting people in with excuses, then this will never end.” “But…” “Sorry sir. Please do not make me repeat myself.” Sunggyu felt all the hope drain out of him. His breath kept staggering, as he calmed himself down. He finally allowed himself to let go of the anticipation as he turned around. “Wait. It’s fine. It’s just one more person.” The voice. The voice that was foreign yet familiar. The voice that soothed yet annoyed Sunggyu. “But sir, he’s…” “It’s alright. I can choose to do it right? Just one more?”  Sunggyu spun back around, to see Woohyun. Not just one, but about fifty Woohyuns. His posters were plastered on the walls along with those of his books. Maybe it was because he ran in such a rush, but he just noticed that there were banners with Woohyun and the book cover, side by side. Sunggyu was sure his mouth would’ve been hanging wide open, for the world to see. Woohyun approached Sunggyu, mentioning for the guard to leave. He smiles timidly, and nervously faced the taller man. “Um… Sorry. Sorry if this is a little disappointing. Uh… ‘Key’ isn’t the ‘gorgeous’ lady you expected her to be… But I hope I can still get some, if not just a tiny crumb of that love?” Sunggyu wrapped his arms around Woohyun, bringing into a crushing hug. Woohyun hugged him back, so tightly, and closely in fear of losing Sunggyu again.

Woohyun smiled as he heard a feint whisper, “I love you.”  A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this :)  Thank you so much to everyone for reading/subscribing!