✧ cafe

@˖✧ ᴋɪᴍ ᴍɪɴɢʏᴜ she tried to maintain her composure, her heart racing as she carefully prepared his iced americano, the cup trembling slightly in her hand. as she called out his order and their eyes met for that fleeting moment, it felt like time stood still. the unspoken connection between them was palpable, a thread that hadn't entirely faded despite the years that had passed. His response to her suggestion of an extra shot sent a rush of hope through her. was he willing to reconnect, to bridge the gap that had separated them for so long?

sohee completed the transaction, her hands steady as she handed him his coffee. as she handed over the coffee, her fingers brushed against mingyu's for a brief moment, sending a jolt of electricity through her. his voice, as steady and composed as ever, held a certain familiarity that tugged at her heartstrings. she had always loved the soothing timbre of his voice, finding comfort in its richness and warmth and now, hearing it again in real-time, after all these years, her heart swelled with a happiness she couldn't contain. she held his gaze for a moment longer, fighting back tears that threatened to spill before she bows her head slightly.

sohee's heart was a tumultuous sea of questions that yearned to be asked. she couldn't help but wonder, as she looked into his eyes, whether he had found happiness and contentment in his life, whether he had moved forward and possibly even found someone new to share his world with. the years of separation had left her with an ache that never truly vanished, and a part of her longed to know if he had experienced moments of emptiness and yearning, much like she had.

@˖✧ ʜᴀɴ sᴏʜᴇᴇ behind the counter, mingyu maintained a carefully crafted facade of nonchalance, a smile etched onto his lips that betrayed none of the turmoil churning within him. the café's soothing ambiance seemed at odds with the tempestuous emotions threatening to consume him. with a casual glance, his eyes skimmed over her features as if she were a stranger; the familiarity of her face, the echo of memories that lingered beneath the surface, tugged at his heartstrings, yet his practiced demeanor gave no indication of the inner battle he waged.

"iced americano," he enunciated, his voice steady, devoid of any recognition. as she repeated the order softly, a fleeting pang of something he couldn't quite identify flickered within him. he watched her, her trembling fingers clutching the cup, and his gaze met hers for a fleeting moment. the unspoken emotions hanging between them felt like a taut wire, ready to snap at any second until then, her question, posed so delicately, tugged at a long-forgotten memory. his heart skipped a beat, her words resonating with a distant echo of shared moments. the invitation she dangled before him was subtle, a thread that seemed to bridge the gap between past and present. yet, he fought to keep his expression unchanged, to mask the churning emotions her words had ignited.

he weighed his response carefully, letting a fraction of his usual charm slip through his carefully constructed facade. "sure, why not? an extra shot sounds good," he replied casually, as if the suggestion held no deeper meaning for him. but beneath his practiced words, a torrent of thoughts raged. was this her way of reconnecting? did she remember, just like he did?

hearing her stumbling over her own words, his heart clenched at the mix of vulnerability and uncertainty he heard. hence, as he leaned against the counter, maintaining a composed exterior, but inwardly, he struggled to keep his own façade from crumbling. "no need to worry about it," he said, his voice reassuring, the masked sentiment an echo of the unspoken words that lingered between them.

he took out his card to pay, the gesture smooth and familiar. as the transaction completed, he allowed a small, fleeting smile to grace his lips. "thanks," he murmured, a single word that held layers of meaning. he then stepped aside to wait for his order, his heart still heavy with the complexity of emotions that this unexpected reunion had stirred. however, as he lifted his head to gaze at her once more, he began to wonder if he had made the mistake of proceeding with his order, or if he was just happy to see her once more.

@˖✧ ᴋɪᴍ ᴍɪɴɢʏᴜ As Sohee stood behind the counter, preparing the orders and maintaining the calm exterior that had become her shield, her heart pounded louder than the sounds of the café around her. Seeing Mingyu again after all this time was an unexpected surprise, a rush of emotions she had kept buried resurfacing with a vengeance.

As she took in his presence, her fingers trembled slightly while holding the cup, her thoughts a whirlwind of memories and what-ifs. Hearing his voice as he placed his order sent a shiver down her spine, the familiarity of it tugging at her heartstrings. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but years of practice in keeping her composure allowed her to mask her emotions well.

"Iced americano," she repeated softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Unconsciously, her eyes darted to the espresso machine, the thought of adding that extra shot of espresso crossing her mind. She couldn't help herself, it was a silent echo of their past, a small attempt to reconnect in the only way she could. "Would you like an extra shot of espresso too?" she asked, her voice laced with a touch of nostalgia, hoping he would catch the subtle invitation within her words, a bridge back to the connection they had once shared.

"err I mean,, if you like to have one." mumbled her as she's trying to find an excuse for what she just said.

@˖✧ ʜᴀɴ sᴏʜᴇᴇ the café's interior seemed to envelope mingyu in a comforting embrace, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the soft hum of conversations. jungkook's recommendation had led him here, unaware of the surprise awaiting him. as he stepped inside, his gaze swept over the cozy space, noting the intricate details that made it unique. yet, in the midst of his exploration, his heart seemed to seize within his chest. his gaze lifted, and time seemed to slow as his eyes met a figure that was etched into his memories. sohee. the name echoed in his mind like a whisper, and for a moment, he questioned if he had entered a dream. there she stood, the same warmth in her presence that he remembered, a mix of emotions washing over him like a tidal wave.

it was a sight he had longed for, yet never dared to believe would happen. despite their history, he couldn't deny the rush of feelings that surged through him at the sight of her. the memories of their shared laughter, stolen glances, and the bittersweet farewell weighed heavily on him. as he looked into her eyes, a wave of emotions crashed over him – longing, confusion, and a profound ache that never truly faded. yet, he hesitated to approach her, the scars of their past interaction still raw. swallowing the lump in his throat, he directed his gaze to the menu, his fingers tracing the words as if searching for solace in the familiar items. however, he knew she was there, the presence he couldn't ignore, the person who had once held his heart, but a chasm had formed between them, one he wasn't sure he had the strength to bridge. memories of their parting, the unspoken words and the silence that followed, seemed to echo in his ears.

so, he buried his feelings beneath a veneer of indifference, his heart waging a silent battle against his rational mind. he placed his order, his voice steady despite the tempest raging within him. "i'll have an iced americano." he kept his gaze averted, determined not to let her see the maelstrom of emotions churning beneath the surface.

@˖✧ ᴋɪᴍ ᴍɪɴɢʏᴜ The warm aroma of freshly ground beans wrapped around sohee as she expertly prepared orders, each movement a symphony of precision and dedication. As she wiped down the gleaming counter, the bell above the entrance tinkled softly, heralding the arrival of a customer.

Startled, Sohee glanced up and froze. Her heart skipped a beat, and memories that had lain dormant surged forth, like a tidal wave crashing against the shore. There, standing at the threshold, was someone she had thought she'd never have to face again. Mingyu.

A thousand emotions swirled within her – surprise, disbelief, and a pang of pain that was all too familiar. It had been years since they'd parted ways, a decision she had made in order to rebuild her life without the heartache that had once consumed her. But here he was, his presence a stark reminder of a chapter she'd believed was closed.

In a quick, reflexive motion, Sohee turned her body away from him, a desperate attempt to shield herself from the flood of memories that threatened to overwhelm her. Panic surged, and the weight of their shared history bore down on her, urging her to flee from the past she had carefully buried.

@˖✧ ᴊᴇᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ Watching as he stood up , she pulled a face of confusion only to softly scream at the sudden shaking. Blinking after he sat down , she carefully fixed her hair and puffs out her cheeks. "Can't rest if there is work to do, and besides I am trained for it , but why don't I take care of myself .. I don't have time to." She nodded in a truthful manner before shoving the last of the grilled cheese into . "Under-cover-base m.. ma'am ? well you ain't wrong I do kind of look like a.. witchy-poo , not my fault... however at least I can get some rest this week or until a new job comes in, as long as the people needing exorcisms are on the low side." She looked up at Jungkook in a teasing manner, raising an eyebrow in curiosity." We can start with you tonight Kookie brother, I am kidding." She made a teasing laugh before contemplating his words." I might do, the cat can be left alone for one night, thank you I will finish off working here then head on up , only you ? that sounds like a relief, hopefully it will be an easy week not one of too much problems? does that even make sense, also eww why am I sounding more adult than usual? maybe I am indeed in need of a decent rest, you better have a rest after this shift too , else will close the cafe for a week."

@˖✧ ʟᴇᴇ ɢᴀʜʏᴇᴏɴ he looked at her worriedly "p-pass out..?" he rubs his temples, standing up a bit to reach over the table, takes her by the shoulders and shakes her gently. "why dont you take care of yourself-" he pouts, sitting back down at his seat. jungkook takes the piece of paper before neatly folding it and puts it in his pocket. "yes yes, miss secret-undercover-base ma'am." he playfully salutes to her then chuckles. "hey, you're more than welcome to stay upstairs to rest for a while. it's just me looking after the cafe this week."

@˖✧ ᴊᴇᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ "Ok ok fine I will take some rest considering I am about to pass out in this booth, I am not going to disagree with you now, so how about the day after?" chuckling she took a large bite of her grilled cheese, watching the room look at him before pulling a face at them before slowly chewing. "Yes that is why I said you need not the other side, either way you have my email and finally my number after all this time, but considering I watch this cafe like a hawk I doubt you will, which reminds me, if you want to visit or need a place to crash at any time come to my headquarters." Raiding her bag she pulled out a piece of paper before writing down the passcode for it. "After typing six, three times, hit the hashtag while pushing the door open. Let me say this, I trust no one but you with the password, so only you and I know it, let us keep it that way hmm?" with a small laugh she finished the last of her grilled cheese , gulping her drink down loudly.

@˖✧ ʟᴇᴇ ɢᴀʜʏᴇᴏɴ "nice! just let me know the next time you're free. i would ask if you were free tomorrow but i want you to have some rest first." he smiles softly the gasps "Oh!" his exclamation caused a few heads to turn, bowing his head apologetically to the other customers as he lowers his voice and looked at the card again. "oh.. yes, i see. well. if this is one of the sure-fire ways to contact you, i'll take it" He smiles, pulling out his wallet and slides the card into one of the pockets. "if i ever come to that kind of situation, which i really hope i wont, i'll be sure to call you."

@˖✧ ᴊᴇᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ "Paint pots together? huh that does sound like a cute but fun idea , like those plaster figurines and give zeus friends? you know that is more than just a brilliant idea! we really should." Taking her last grilled cheese she looked up at his words, which indeed he was right about, she probably did need more rest but of course she was one to refuse it. "I suppose you are right that you do have more down time, however I am far too busy to rest." She emitted a small laugh before watching him look over the card. "Well it is only a prototype, weather it will last or not who knows, well one is for protection services, similar to a body guard with my phone number, the other has my email address, upon which people can receive a more, well it is used merely for just .. taking out people ,, if you know what I mean, and as much as I wish to see your email with who you want taken out, I doubt that would be any concerns for you , and I am not going to just hand out my business card to everyone ha!"

@˖✧ ʟᴇᴇ ɢᴀʜʏᴇᴏɴ "oh that gives me an idea. maybe we can paint pots together! or maybe find a cute ceramic store that lets us paint small figurines. yknow, to give zeus company or something." he smiles at the thought, taking a sip of his drink before stirring it a bit with his straw. "pfft i should be the one telling you to rest! between the two of us, i feel like i have more down time than you." he furrows his brows slightly as she rummages through her bag, holding out a hand to receive the card from her. with closer inspection, he flips the card over and over again. "this is pretty cool that you have your own business card. but now i wanna know what that one side means. care to elaborate?"

@˖✧ ᴊᴇᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ "thank you ? but hey now , strong kookie! you are doing your best so I am proud of you as well , besides I know if the time comes you would be a wonderful protector and keeper-safer hah!." rubbing her chin she pondered for a moment. "that is it then, only cute things for you." she screwed her nose up in a teasing manner before looking at the plant. "zeus? I mean I see it fitting, we just need to repaint the plant pot with lightning bolts and it will be perfect, plus no need for the plastic and other fake plants too, but yet I am not one to tell you how to decorate your store of course." shaking her head she folded her arms , understanding where he was coming from. "I get why in that sense, but as long as you are not getting pushed into things and having it take its toll, else I will make you rest by any means possible." with a laugh she gave him a gentle pat on his shoulder in a reassuring manner. "you know I am here to talk as well, but being here, knowing you are relieved and having the cafe and your company and presence is a relief for me also , I am not going anywhere soon, so you are stuck with me for a while hah! oh and also , it is time for me to give you this." raiding her back she finally pulled out her business card and slipped it over to him. "it is double sided, one for ... stuff but the other side is for protection if anyone needs it , just give them my number, I am pretty much free now for a while so."

@˖✧ ʟᴇᴇ ɢᴀʜʏᴇᴏɴ "yes yes. im proud of you. i feel like i should step up my game over here." he chuckles, playfully flexing his muscles before finishing off the rest of his donut. "i pouted because it's cute! my heart couldnt take it." he dramatically gestures to the potted friend next to him. "im going to name it zeus. it'll be the biggest and strongest plant in the whole room." he laughs softly, leaning back against his seat and nods his head. "thats what i could hope for. i dont want the old man getting mad at me for poor training and guidance." he raises a brow as he looks over to her, shaking his head a bit. "no no, im fine. just worried about too much stuff but at least seeing you safe is a relief to me."

@˖✧ ᴊᴇᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ "Don't worry I wouldn't let that happen, I am far too good, either way you know I cannot tell you much but it was a difficult job, the family is safe, so if I can make that happen I can make sure to take care of myself and you as well hmm?" She looked over at him in a sense of reassurance before kicking off her heels and sits cross - legged happily chuckling at his small pout. "What is the matter, why you pout, but suppose it makes you look as cute as the cactus , but you are welcome, and I believe you will , as long as I am travelling around no matter what I will get you a gift, whatever next shall be a mystery but it is better it only needs to be watered once a week or so." Laughing, she took a bite of her second grilled cheese nodding at his words. "Oh I know they where trained by the best, so even that should be reassuring that the cafe is in good hands, I hate to say it brother figure kookie, but you almost look as tired as I do , it is slight a worry."

@˖✧ ʟᴇᴇ ɢᴀʜʏᴇᴏɴ "pieces of..." he trails off, his mind imagining pieces of his dear friend being shipped to him. he holds his head as he sighs softly, taking a proper bite out of his donut before setting it down. his posture straightens out as he held out both of his hands to let her place the cactus in his hands. a small pout formed on his lips as he admired such a cute little plant, already thinking about where to place it in his room and what to name it. "oh my gosh, gahyeon. this is too sweet of you. i'll be sure to take good care of it." he smiles, setting it down on the table next to him and takes a sip of his drink, nodding his head. "they better be! i trained them all"

@˖✧ ᴊᴇᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ Waving her hand she frowned at his words, "that is true, and glad you are too , at least I am not sending you pieces of me, but I will never let that happen as long as I am around, as for free of charge, oh come on now, I owe you months at least, of treating you and paying you back so it is fine ah!" Watching him she took a bite of her grilled cheese, frowning a little as he looked down. "You seem like you are filled up in your mind , did you want to talk about it? guessing or not, I am always going to bring you something back from the location, speaking of which." She raided her bag and pulls out a real cactus and slid it over. "careful it is fairly spikey, and I understand the being a good example for younger ones, but even still you have talented enough waitresses and waiters , albeit I do not know about their coffee skills but I am sure they can cover up for you." She carefully examines the store , watching the other staff closely.

@˖✧ ʟᴇᴇ ɢᴀʜʏᴇᴏɴ he chuckles softly, shaking his head before taking a sip of his drink. "at least youre here in one piece. next time you come in, it'll be free of charge." he hums as well, leaning against his seat as he looks down at his lap. thoughts stirring around his head of many questions but soon were washed over by relief. "yeah yeah. i get it. ill just keep on guessing." he looks up and smiles at her, looking over to the line of customers by the counter before sliding slowly down his seat. "yeah.. i should ask for a day off. but yknow.. gotta set an example for the youngins." he chuckles softly, picking up his donut and takes a little nibble out of it.

@˖✧ ᴊᴇᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ Watching as his face turned pale , she went wide eyed thinking he was about to faint , only to make a small happy sigh at the sudden hug. Nodding approvingly as he sat down , gave her a wave of relief that there was no chance of him passing out in front of her, even better was seeing the colour slowly return. "I.. Have been um.. collecting souvenirs yes.. uh I was travelling for souvenirs." Saving her work , she turned off her laptop before leaning back against the booth and took a large gulp of her coffee, humming a little. "I can tell, I thought time would fly by if you where busy and it would feel like less than a week, seems I was wrong. Hey I am not being the hunted.. not yet anyways, I mean suppose I could tell you where I am going but what fun is that." She laughed before smiling softly at his puffed out cheeks. "I worried how you where as well , I always do but I said nothing, but it is good to see you again too , broth... hmm Jungkook, in all honesty not sleeping a week without coffee is taking a toll , I am close on passing out in here, but I am used to it, you on the other hand need a day or two's break."

@˖✧ ʟᴇᴇ ɢᴀʜʏᴇᴏɴ he looked at her in disbelief, like he had just seen a ghost. he absentmindly gave her a hug. he didnt notice himself staring at her for a minute before wiping his hands on his apron and sitting down across from her. "Damn right its been a week! where have you been! geez... this kid." he smiles with a sigh of relief, distributing their food amongst themselves then he slightly shrugged his shoulders. "yknow, been busy here and there. nothing much has changed. i honestly thought i wouldnt see you again! i thought something bad happened. would it kill you to let me know??" he looks up at her before puffing his cheeks and shaking his head once more. "don't answer that. im just glad i get to see your smiling face again. most importantly, how have you been??"

@˖✧ ᴊᴇᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ Watching the people exit and enter put a smile upon her own face, relieved that income was plentiful before completely zoning out for a while.
She was only brought back to reality upon releasing that she was quietly staring at the poster of a coffee on the wall before shaking her head with a yawn.

Quietly pulling her hair up into a neat bun atop her head to avoid it also being a distraction, she started to work on her documentation for her last job that she just finished before she came into the cafe, only to rub her eyes as she heard her name.
Refusing to look up at Jungkook, she slid out the booth , keeping her head down with a slight sly grin plastered on her face , carefully pulling him into a big, rather tight hug. "Well dang, I tried, yet was caught." With a happy laugh she finally looked up at him , grinning largely. "It has been a while huh? How you been Kookie!? it might have been a week but it feels longer."
Grabbing the tray from him she placed it onto the table before giving him a gentle pat. "You should take a break , you seem a little stressed out big bro."

@˖✧ ʟᴇᴇ ɢᴀʜʏᴇᴏɴ [] no worries!

Jungkook was running multiple curses through his mind, keeping a calm composure as he made drinks and made breakfast pastries for the customers. he has worked here for the majority of his life but nothing can ever prepare him for the morning rush. everytime it was something different. customers ranged from just married to runaways to people trying to find happiness in their day before starting their 9-5 jobs.

he stayed focused, ignoring the gradual tightness forming around his arms as he sets coffee out for the waitresses to serve. "goddammit." he mumbles under his breath. he started to critize his work. thoughts came into his head like 'you could've served that faster.' or 'did i put enough strawberries on the pancakes.?' his brows furrowed before one of the waiteresses called out to him, saying there was a special request for him specifically. he looked over the ordering screen, the note specified for him to order something with the customer. a tight line formed on his lips as he thought about what he should get as his coworkers made the rest of the food. "i guess i'll have a donut with a iced latte.." he mumbles to himself, making himself his food. he compiles his food with the customer's before he takes the tray over to them.

the person was in a little corner of the cafe, his brows furrowing as he tries to make out just who this person was. he had a guess and it was worth a shot. "gahyeon..? is that you?"

@˖✧ ᴊᴇᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴɢᴋᴏᴏᴋ (I apologise for the mess, my starters are either bad or just a mess T.T )

It had been a week or so since Gahyeon left town to do her job, so on her way back she was due to visit the cafe, she did miss the atmosphere and Jungkook, who to her was like an older brother whom she missed the most and frankly, she wanted to surprise him.
After arriving back into town , she headed to the side of the store, checking the time she chuckled as it was busy seeing as it was breakfast time which means that no one would hear her. Looking up at the window which she knew was the female toilets, she shook her head and muttered. "Good Job in trying to Gahyeon-fy the cafe, but yet I can squeeze through." Using the closest plant pot, she used that to gain a little height to jump and grab a hold of the window , pulling herself up she watched as the bathroom door opened and closed before climbing through the window when it was safe to do so. Looking down she just fell to the tiled room , chuckling as she stood up again and touched up her make-up. "My god, I can imagine his worry seeing my how tired I do look, but thank god too a little touch of make-up is helpful, and I hope he is hungry."

Making her way to the booth closest to the bathroom, she sighed in relief seeing how busy it was and the fact there was a small wall there making her presence unknown reassured, pulling a face at a few customers who stared at her and also grunted unhappily at them while pulling out her phone to order at the table. "Another bonus and why I like it here, table ordering without even going to the desk ha! an added feature, Brother Kookie very much is modern." she muttered before pulling out her laptop , contemplating on what to order for a moment before scrolling through the menu and finally ordering 3 grilled cheeses, a large iced coffee and with a note in the editing option for Jungkook to grab himself a drink and breakfast , as a treat. After all she was due to treating him for once.

@˖✧ ᴋɪᴍ ᴊᴜɴɢᴇᴜɴ opts a more comfortable look despite spending most of her time trying to find an appropriate outfit on their first meeting; hair neatly tied up soon a mess when she reaches the cafe in between quick strides and runs. jimin quickly smoothens her shirt when stepping inside, trying to find a somewhat familiar face among the crowd — careful strides when she nears jungeun's table. "hey, you must be jungeun? i'm jimin, nice to meet you."

"Goddammit-"
Jungkook hurries down the stairs into the cafe, starting to preparing himself for the morning rush.
Today, he had accidently slept in.
Frantic, he goes around his work area, wiping it down hastily and turns on the machines before running to unlock the door and flipping the sign from Closed to Open.