Work Text:
***
“What’s your go-to coffee order?”
“…I don’t really drink coffee.”
“…”
“How do you deal with crowds?”
“Oh! I’m a basketball player. I deal with them all the time.”
“…”
“Are you a quick learner?”
“Yes, especially when I’m getting paid.”
Hyuntak thinks to himself, that maybe he should have looked up interview questions before coming in. It was too late now, but his answers were honest, and if that didn’t get him the job than it was probably not worth getting in the first place.
His interviewer, a fellow college student from what Hyuntak can tell, has barely even looked at him the entire time he’s been here. After each question he can see her take a deep breath like it was costing her years off her lifespan to do this interview.
Hyuntak can only cringe at himself a little, but at the same time it is what it is. He’ll deal with any outcome.
His interviewer sighs long and heavy, and get’s up.
Hyuntak scrambles to his feet, alarmed at her silent departure. “Did I—“
“Your uniform will come in tomorrow, but until then, I’m just going to give you the lay-down and teach you some basic recipes, you should memorize by your next shift.”
Gotak halts, let’s the words wash over him. He reboots and runs to catch up to her. He turns to her breathless, “Your giving me the job?”
She gives him a irritated look as she speaks, “The last guy we fired drank his own weight in coffee every time any of us turned around. He turned mute any time any decent looking customer came in. And he messed up every drink he made.”
She rubs at her head, as if just thinking about it gives her a headache, “I promised myself that his replacement would be the opposite of those three things. So yeah congrats you got the job.”
Hyuntak had only given three answers. Each answer worse than the previous. And yet he got the job.
It was the type of luck that Hyuntak usually banked on. Like showing up to school, and the professors give him a pop quiz that he didn’t study for, and he still get’s away with a barely passing grade.
But all that mattered was that he passed. Not the fact he didn’t know what the hell he was doing.
Hyuntak shoved down the smugness and the over the top smirk that was fighting to make way on his face.
He follow's his interviewer and lets her teach him the ins and out’s of being a barista.
Which had boiled down to three things.
One, the customer is never right but you’ll pretend that they are for your own mental health.
Two, always check the milk, if you get threatened with a lawsuit, you’re on your own.
Three, if your going to flirt make sure to not do it in front of Youngyi, again for your own mental health.
Hyuntak didn’t really know how to take the last one. But his interviewer, and now his fellow co worker—Youngyi—as she introduced herself off handedly, like Hyuntak should probably know her name if he was going to stick around.
Had gone on a tangent on how plenty of past employees have embarrassed themselves and almost got second hand burns with some of the regulars.
She said it was especially bad when her two best friends came in.
Hyuntak didn’t say anything and just nodded along hoping that he looked somewhat interested. He didn’t get this job to flirt in the first place so it shouldn’t be a problem.
She looks over at him and pointedly looks at his hands, “I guess if anything you should roll up your sleeves while you work.”
Hyuntak looked down at his sleeve’s, “So I don’t accidentally dip my sleeves in the drinks?
She snorts, “No. You have veiny hands. It’ll appeal to the regulars.” She turns around and saunters off towards the back after telling him he’s dismissed for today.
Hyuntak stay’s frozen in the middle of the freezer section as he watches her leave. He shakes his head quickly, if he was gonna make this job work he would have to get used to his co workers.
Even if they were really blunt. Hyuntak was blunt, a little too blunt for his good. So he could deal with bluntness. For sure.
He scratches his head and mentally shoves himself to start moving. He waves at Youngyi who grimaces at him, and goes back to her phone from where she was standing at the counter.
Hyuntak doesn’t take it personally, he opens the door and walks out onto the street. The sun was still bright out but there was still a subtle breeze in the air. He tilt's his head up basking in the warmth.
He didn’t have many expectations for the job, but now he felt a little more relaxed than he did in the morning. At the end of the day getting paid was better than not getting paid at all.
His phone rings, and Hyuntak already knows who it is before even taking it out of his pocket. He doesn’t look and just presses accept.
“Did you get it?! Probably not right?! Ah Gotak it’s okay, you know when I went in for my first interv—“
“I got the job.” Hyuntak cuts him off, exasperated.
He hears Baku scream and Hyuntak lifts the phone away for a second and then brings it back to his ear.
“I can’t believe it! They must be desperate if their willing to hire you! How did you manage it?”
Hyuntak exhales loudly enough so Baku could hear it, “She seemed to like my honesty.”
Baku snorts, “Honesty? Sure bro if that’s what you think. Anyway to celebrate you—“
“I’m not treating you.” Hyuntak flatly declines, before Baku can even get the words out.
“That’s not what I was gonna say! Their’s a party tonight at.. I don’t remember their name. But either way we’re going!”
Hyuntak shakes his head even though he knows Baku can’t see it, “Were you gonna ask if I wanted to join before deciding?”
“What’s there to decide? Wear something that screams barista. It’ll be fun.”
“I will not wear something that screams barista! What does that even mean?!”
“I don’t know bro, your the barista you tell me. Anyway I have to help my dad, I’ll meet you at the party k?”
Baku hangs up before Hyuntak could even say anything. He shoves his phone in his pockets exasperated. Baku was someone who could never stay still in the first place, Hyuntak knew better than most, being his best friend for so many years.
He starts his walk home, barely thinking about his upcoming plans, instead he relishes in the fact that he was moving up in the world. Even if it was just a small part time job, but it was still something responsible and sensible that Hyuntak had never done before.
He was looking forward to it. A new chapter for him, per say.
__
Hyuntak had foregone any of his usual athletic wear and wore a black t-shirt and some jeans. It was the only casual clothes he had.
The party was already in full swing by the time he got there, Baku had seen him enter and had shoved a beer in his hand and dragged him to the corner where the other members of their club were.
He let them clap him on his back, congratulating him on the new job, courtesy of Baku not able to resist telling everyone. He takes the congrats, and gloats about his newly required funds.
The others all launch into a spiel that Hyuntak had to take each member out as a courtesy for his newly soft launch into adulthood. He rolls his eyes and let’s Baku steer the conversation into tales of his own responsible habits.
Everyone lets him, Baku might be the least responsible out of everyone but he was charming enough to get away with his lies. The others would just hold out and make fun of him at the end anyway.
Hyuntak let his eyes wander, as Baku keeps talking next to him, he see’s other club members in the crowd. He wasn’t particularly close with anyone besides his own club, but he’s briefly aquatinted with some of the more outspoken and popular kids on campus.
Even if Hyuntak only really knew them from Baku for the most part. His eyes keep wandering until he almost spits out his beer when he see’s his co worker sauntering through the crowd like she owned the place.
He watches her walk to a group at the ping pong table, handing off two beers to the two members of her group who were playing pong on one side of the table. She leans in and talks to them, in what seems like an angry tone.
One of the boy’s points her in the direction of the other side of the party. She turns and throws her head back and angrily stomps over to the kitchen. Hyuntak tries to see where she’s heading, so he turns his head to follow her direction.
Hyuntak see’s a boy standing at the door grimacing at Youngyi, as she walks over to him and shoves a beer in his hands. The boy’s expression was a little indifferent but Hyuntak can see how disgusted he was, even from across the room.
The interaction makes him laugh quietly, he had been thrown off with Youngyi’s brazed attitude earlier in the day. He can only imagine how she was with her friends. Hyuntak suddenly wanted to find out.
He mutters to his group that he’ll be back. They all wave him off, content to let him do whatever.
He strides over to the kitchen confidently, and opens the door that Youngyi had pulled the boy in moments before Hyuntak could catch up to them. He walks in to see the boy with his back to him by the sink, not accompanied by Youngyi.
Curious, Hyuntak walks closer to peer over the boy’s shoulder. Hyuntak laughs out loud as he watches the boy spill out his beer, confidently.
The boy hearing him laugh, turns around slowly.
Hyuntak stops laughing. Whatever actions the boy were doing being completely being erased from memory. The boy was a lot shorter up close, and whatever emotion he thought he saw from him earlier must have been a dream, because the boy’s face was so expressionless, Hyuntak thinks that the boy’s never even cracked a smile before.
It would have been unsettling, if not for the fact that he was so damn pretty. He had big eyes that were doe like, and hair so soft that it looked like silk. It was the type of face that made people halt, just to take in how such harmony could ever exist.
Hyuntak felt his cheeks redden a little at the intensity of the boy’s full focus on him.
“Can I help you?” The boy’s voice is deeper than Hyuntak expected, but it was said so dryly that Hyuntak could tell that the boy was a little amused at Hyuntak’s gawking for the past minute.
Hyuntak clutched his beer a little tighter before he spoke, trying to be as nonchalant as possible, “Isn’t it a waste to throw out a beer like that?”
The boy raises his eyebrow at him, “And that’s any of your business… how?”
Hyuntak smirks a little at the boy’s attitude, “I guess it’s not my business.”
The boy nods at him slowly like he’s trying to pacify a child, “Okay so you should probably get going.”
Hyuntak tilts his head at him, “Your not really that friendly are you?”
The boy leans back into the counter and crosses his arms, “I’m not the one hounding someone like I’m the local beer police.”
Hyuntak laughs. “Your funny. I’ll give you that. Even if it kinda hurts my feelings.”
The boy doesn’t smile but his eyes dance like he’s amused, “And yet your still here.”
Hyuntak leans back into the counter behind him, imitating the boys relaxed posture. “What can I say? Your interesting.”
“Am I now?”
Hyuntak nods like it’s obvious. “You’re hiding away in the kitchen pouring out a beer instead of socializing like the rest of us, who are all trying to get wasted on a Friday night. It’s not exactly what most pretty boys do in a party, you know?”
Hyuntak realizes what he’s said after he’s said it. He doesn’t take it back. Instead he watches the boy’s eyes change from something amused, to something curious.
The boy presses his lips together, “You flirt like this with everyone?”
Hyuntak shakes his head, expression morphing into something humble, “I don’t really flirt in general.”
“So you call boys you’ve never met before…pretty? Platonically?”
Hyuntak takes a sip of his beer, “I’ve never really called anyone pretty before either.” Which is true, Hyuntak’s never felt the need to compliment someone’s facial features before. And yet here he was.
The boy looks at him exasperated, “Your not really good at this are you?”
Hyuntak doesn’t know if he’s hitting on him. But he wasn’t opposed to the idea either. He just thought the boy was interesting and funny. And pretty, very pretty.
Hyuntak opens his mouth and promptly closes it when he gets shoved off the counter. He stumbles but catches himself and whirls around ready to tell the person off, just to see Youngyi staring at Sieun testily.
“I leave you for a couple minutes and you have the nerve to get hit on? By my newly acquired corporate slave?”
The boy’s eyes flicker to him for a second and turns back to Youngyi and responds to her in the same dry voice he’s been speaking to Hyuntak with, “My apologies. I’ll do better next time.”
“You better!” Youngyi turns to him, eyes looking ready to murder, “You! I thought I told you if you want to flirt— than to not do it front of me!”
Hyuntak winces, “I thought you told me not do it in front of you, for my own mental health.”
She stomps her foot in the ground, “It’s the same thing!” She whirls back to the boy and grabs his upper hand and starts dragging him out, “I’m not letting you leave my sight for the rest of the night, Yeon Sieun.”
They both disappear in a blink, with Hyuntak gaping at the abruptness of it all. He drags his feet through the kitchen door where he see’s Youngyi throw the boy—Sieun— into the two other members of the group.
The one with a red windbreaker catches Sieun, laughing at Sieun’s disgruntled expression. The other member who had a low ponytail looks like he was lecturing Youngyi as soon as they rejoined.
Hyuntak hears his name being called and he looks over to see Baku waving him down. Hyuntak strides over to his group, while trying to nonchalantly look at Sieun who had taken over low ponytail’s spot in pong.
Baku clamps him on the shoulder, “Bro! What took you so long?!”
Hyuntak looks over to Baku who was looking at him expectantly. Baku was popular on campus, he knew anyone that was anyone. He might even know Sieun’s group.
He slaps’s Baku’s shoulder and points over to Sieun and his group. “Do you know who they are?”
Baku slaps him back but he follows the direction Hyuntak’s pointing at. Baku furrows his eyes, and like a lightbulb went off he nods his head rapidly. “Yeah that’s Ahn Suho and his friend group! He’s super popular! He’s in MMA I think, I’ve been trying to recruit him for the basketball team for so long.”
Hyuntak furrows his eyes, “Red windbreaker?”
“Yeah! The tall one who has his arm thrown around Sieun-ie!”
Hyuntak snaps his head up, “Sieun-ie?”
Baku laughs and looks over to Sieun, “Yeah Sieun-ie! He’s popular too! He’s super smart and is known as the resident ice prince on campus. He’s broken a lot of unknowing hearts!”
Hyuntak purse's his lips, “He’s taken?”
Baku looks at him weirdly, “Taken? I don’t think so. He’s super into studying. Like I think that’s the only thing he could ever be taken by. Like seriously! He’s crazy smart! He’s at the top of the class.”
“How do you know all this?” Hyuntak asks bewildered.
“Hmm, I shared a literature class with him freshmen year. He was super annoyed when I snored in class, but his icy expression was so endearing that I just kept bothering him for the rest of the class anyway! I think he started pitying my grades so he made sure I passed, by sharing his notes with me and tutoring me when he could get away with it.”
Hyuntak usually finds his friend’s charisma enjoyable most days. But right now he can’t help feel a little annoyed. “Are you still close with him?”
Baku frowns a little disappointedly, “Not really. We didn’t share any more classes together and Sieun doesn’t really come out much unless it’s with his best friend.”
Hyuntak leans back into his seat, letting Baku get pulled in by another conversation with the group. His eyes go back to the pong table, where Sieun and Suho were destroying their opponents in pong.
Hyuntak studies Sieun for a couple more seconds. He was cute, and Hyuntak wasn’t really the type to be interested in someone in the first place. He let’s Baku throw an arm around him prompting him to enter back into the fold of the group’s conversation.
Hyuntak let the conversation wash over him, he pushes away the thought of those doe eye’s and let’s it go as a one time thing. It was a brief interaction after-all. He probably wouldn’t see him again anyway.
__
Saturday goes by quickly, he slept most of the day away trying to nurse his hangover, and he just scrolled through his phone for the rest of it.
Youngyi, who had gotten his number from his application, had texted him and told him to come in on Sunday to get his uniform and start his first official shift.
He was ten minutes early when he arrived, trying to put on a good impression that he was someone who’s good at time management. Or he at least cared about the job to make an effort for it.
He goes to the back where he knows the staff break room is to see it completely empty. He looks around to see a couple lockers, and a bench pressed up against the wall. It was minimal and efficient.
The door slams open behind him, and Youngyi walks in and tosses something as his chest, “Hurry up. The clock’s ticking.” She turns around and immediately leaves just as fast as she came.
Hyuntak huffs but does as he’s told. Youngyi hasn’t mentioned anything about their interaction at the party, and it wasn’t exactly like they were friends. But Hyuntak liked her directness and wanted to be on friendly terms with her at least.
He walks out of the changing rooms with his brown apron tied on, and the sleeves of his shirt rolled up. His hair was a little messy but no more than usual, but he didn’t think it really mattered.
He walks out to the main floor and takes in the environment. The cafe has a very homey vibe, soft and warm, with a couple bookcases lining up the wall, and a couple chestnut circular tables that had two seats attached to each one.
There were big windows that let the sun shine in, that made the atmosphere seem friendly and welcoming. And to top it all off there were some low soft beats playing from the speaker they had in the corner.
It was nice. It wasn’t Hyuntak’s usual vibe, but he found it charming.
Youngyi goes over the a few recipes, nothing too complex, an americano, some lemonades, a mocha, and a cappuccino. The hardest part is the latte art that Hyuntak just couldn’t get a handle on, but Youngyi just waved him away saying it didn’t really matter anyway.
Hyuntak felt like as long as he didn’t go out of his way to make a mess of things, Youngyi wouldn’t really care what he did as long as he did the bare minimum of working his position.
When the first few customers came in, Hyuntak gave them his best smile and took their orders, with Youngyi hovering over his shoulder. He took their money and started preparing the drinks, carefully and slowly. Allowing Youngyi the chance to tell him off if he did anything wrong.
But she didn’t say anything just hummed along to the song playing on the speakers and let him work. She made the more complicated coffee orders that Hyuntak had yet to learn but otherwise she let him be. It was easy and honestly a little rewarding.
Halfway through his shift, he had wormed past Youngyi’s annoyance of speaking to him and had roped her into a conversation about random things.
Hyuntak learned that she was a fashion major, same year as him, and only worked this job because she had a high maintenance lifestyle, something her friends gave her endless grief for.
Hyuntak didn’t press about her friends, didn’t know if he could really. So he let her talk and told her a little bit about himself as well.
She rolls his eyes at him as he accounts his last basketball match, “Your such a jock.”
“You don’t like athletes?”
She laughs exasperated. “Nah, my best-friend Suho is a jock. And he has enough testosterone for our entire group. Your reek the same stench.”
Hyuntak raises his eyebrows at her, “You think I’m similar to Ahn Suho?”
“Not really. It’s the way you athletes talk all the same. Confident and just barely self absorbed that’s it comes off as charming instead of annoying.”
Hyuntak doesn’t really know how to take that. It was kinda of a compliment told in passive aggressiveness. He doesn’t really know Suho either, he’s only heard about him second hand from others.
He was apparently one of the best MMA athletes that their campus has ever seen. But that’s all Hyuntak’s heard about him for the most part.
Hyuntak was also a little more interested in his best friend who Hyuntak had thought about briefly yesterday, when he was trying to stalk his instagram account, only to find out that Yeon Sieun had no social media presence.
“—It drags me and Sieun off the rails sometimes. Mostly me, Sieun doesn’t really pay attention to Suho’s weirdness, probably because he’s even a bigger maniac than all of us combined—
Hyuntak snaps his attention back to Youngyi who was still ranting about her friends, his attention honing in on a certain individual. She looks back at him sharply, when she realizes he’s looking at her with a little bit more alertness than before.
She squints at him, “Don’t think I forgot your little stunt at the party.”
He turns around and starts wiping the tables that were already clean, “I wasn’t flirting with him.” He lies, even though it’s the truth.
She snorts behind him, “That’s what they all say. Try not to embarrass yourself when he comes in later.”
Hyuntak pauses for a moment. Than continues wiping the tables. He doesn’t let himself dwindle on Youngyi’s words, but he can’t help but grin a little anyway.
__
If he was looking out the door every time a new customer entered, than that was his business. But his shift only had an hour left before he was scheduled to leave.
He wasn’t disappointed exactly, but he still couldn’t help but feel a little dismayed when there was no sign of him.
He had just finished making another lemonade for a teenager who didn’t even look at him when giving him her order. He turned around ready to shove it in her hands when he saw a pair of eyes looking at him with the same dryness from the first time they both met.
The teenager gives him a weird look when he was just holding the lemonade out and not handing it over, so she snatches it from his grip.
Sieun looks at the interaction amused.
“You’re here.” Hyuntak breathes out.
Sieun looks at him eyebrows quirking up, “Am I not supposed to be?”
“No. No that’s not what I mean. I just..” He trials off.
Sieun waits for him to say something and when he realizes Hyuntak had nothing useful to say he speaks. “So are you going to ask me what I would like to order or…?”
Hyuntak winces, “Yeah um, what would you like to order?”
“An iced americano. Thanks.” Sieun pulls out his wallet, and Hyuntak is about to open his mouth to say to not worry about it, but he gets shoved off the register by Youngyi.
She swats her hands at Sieun’s chest, “Yah! None of that! Go sit down, my underling will bring it to you.”
Sieun sighs tiredly, but lets her shove him away to go sit. Youngyi turns towards Hyuntak and eyes him pointedly, from where he’s still crouching away from her. “Well?! Start moving!”
Hyuntak nods his head a little afraid, and starts prepping Sieun’s order. He’s a little more diligent than he’s been all day. But that’s just because he wants to perfect his americano making skills, he was just trying to be good at his job, of course. No other reason.
He put’s the drink on a tray ready to pick it up and deliver it to Sieun, when Youngyi stops him and places an apple tart next to the drink. Hyuntak looks up at her startled.
Youngyi gives him a wink, “I’m giving you a fighting chance. Appreciate it.”
Hyuntak doesn’t say anything, just gives her an annoyed look and walks over to the back corner of the cafe where Sieun had taken out his computer and had started typing away in.
The sun casted it’s ray’s on Sieun, that made him look like a poster boy that the cafe was using as free advertisement to lure customers in. He was ridiculously pretty, even more so when he wasn’t even trying.
Hyuntak sets the tray down gingerly, Sieun eye’s flicker to the coffee and the tart and looks up at Hyuntak questioningly.
Hyuntak smiles low and easy, “On the house.”
Sieun frowns a little, “Why?”
Hyuntak shrugs, “I’m just trying to be friendly, I guess.”
Sieun picks up the drink and takes a sip, Hyuntak can’t tell if he likes it or not since his expression doesn’t change even a little.
“Friendly? Like you were at the party?” Sieun asks, without looking up at him.
Hyuntak doesn’t say anything for a beat. He was being friendly at the party. But it was also not completely platonic either, he didn’t talk to Sieun like how he would with Baku or any of his other friends he got.
Hyuntak hums, “Did I not seem friendly?”
Sieun twirls the straw around in a circle in the cup, “I don’t think I’d ever call someone pretty after meeting them for the first time— if I was trying to be friendly.” Hyuntak would have cringed, if it wasn’t for the undercurrent of teasing in Sieun’s voice. Like he found Hyuntak amusing.
Hyuntak matches his tone. “Well you are pretty. And I’m nothing if not honest.”
Sieun looks up at him, a ghost of a smile on his face, his eyes dancing with same mirth that they were at the party. “Oh I’ve heard. Go Hyuntak, the blunt and hot headed point guard of the basketball team.”
Hyuntak mouth parts open a little, he didn’t think Sieun even knew his name much less his position on the team. “You know me?”
Sieun shakes his head a little, “Not really. But I was curious. Most boy’s don’t leave such an impression like that.”
Sieun didn’t specify if Hyuntak’s impression was good or bad, but the fact that Sieun looked him up resonates something warm in Hyuntak’s chest. They barely exchanged a couple words, and yet Sieun still went out off his way to look him up.
“Well I know that you’re Yeon Sieun, apparently top of the class, and someone who has terrible taste buds if an iced americano is anything to go by.”
Sieun huffs but doesn’t argue. “Your opinion matters so much to me.”
Hyuntak laughs quietly. It was easy talking to Sieun, he can understand how he got his reputation for being icy though. His responses were dry and always with an undercurrent of indifference.
But they were genuine. And they were refreshing. Hyuntak liked Sieun a little more and more with each new word he unlocked from the boy.
The door to the cafe opens and a family of five enters, Hyuntak sighs shoulders drooping a little at the fact that his conversation with Sieun was being cut short. He turns to him and smiles ruefully, “Duty calls.”
Sieun nods his head at him. Going back to drinking his coffee and turning back to his computer. Hyuntak walks back to the counter, he only had a half hour left on his shift but for some reason he wished it was a little bit longer.
His eyes flickered to Sieun every now and then during those last ten minutes. But Sieun had gotten up with his stuff all packed up and waved farewell at Youngyi who harped on him to answer his texts.
Sieun rolled his eyes at her, and looked over at Hyuntak who was looking at him dismayed. Sieun locked eyes with him for barely a moment, just watched him a little amused and a little of something else, but then nodded his head at him and walked out into the street.
Hyuntak groaned, he only had five minutes left and he thought maybe he’d get the chance to talk to him again but no avail.
Youngyi laughed at him, “This has to be the highlight of my week.”
Him and Youngyi both.
__
Hyuntak get’s used to his new routine quickly. Go to school. Head to practice. Go to his shift if he had one. Schedule his homework around all of it.
It was a good routine. Healthy, even.
The only thing that disrupted it, was the fact he kept looking for someone in all the in between’s.
He hasn’t seen Sieun again at the coffee shop, nor at school. It wasn’t like he’s ever seen Sieun in school before, but there still was always a chance right?
But Sieun was never at the coffee shop when Hyuntak was working. He would ask Youngyi, but he doesn’t wanna seem too interested. Youngyi had thrown him a bone the second time, but Hyuntak also remembered her dismissal of him at the party regarding Sieun in the first place.
He would take his own chances.
Either way it wasn’t exactly like he was super hung up on it. It was more like a spec of disappointment that was washed away pretty quickly once other things needed Hyuntak’s attention more.
And a lot of things needed his attention. He had to finish his never ending homework. He had to humble Baku on the court. He had to learn new recipes in the cafe.
Hyuntak was busy.
Hyuntak just maybe wanted to be busy with something else too. Someone else.
__
Hyuntak groaned as he walked down the aisles of the library on a Thursday morning where he had no classes. It wasn’t something Hyuntak did often, come to campus on days when he had nothing scheduled.
But he was falling behind on some of his essay’s he’s been putting off. Between the energy he spends on his job and practice, Hyuntak was just going to bed earlier and earlier.
So he persuades himself to go to the library on his one free day of the week. He didn’t want to end up like Baku and fail a class because he was too side tracked by everything else in his life.
He walks past a bookshelf, to some tables lined up next to the windows, when Hyuntak finally see’s him.
Sieun.
Who looked a little too put together for what was supposed to be eight am in the morning. Hyuntak halts, blinks a couple times to make sure he’s not imagining things. And when Sieun doesn’t disappear after a couple moments, Hyuntak smirks a little and strides over to him.
Sieun doesn’t look up at him just highlights some of his notes in his book. He doesn’t look up until Hyuntak plops his bag on the desk right in front of him.
Sieun looks up slowly, annoyed at the disturbance. But then he looks a little surprised as he see’s Hyuntak grinning down at him obnoxiously.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Hyuntak pulls out a chair and sprawls into it.
Sieun raises one eyebrow at him,”Is it your first time coming to a library?”
Hyuntak opens his backpack and starts pulling out his stuff, “Maybe. Maybe not.”
Sieun watches him judgmentally, with how Hyuntak takes out all his stuff, which was all folded up weirdly or crinkled in a way that showed Hyuntak wasn’t the organized type,
Hyuntak leans in, “What major are you?”
Sieun looks down at his notes, continuing where he left off, “Political Science.”
Hyuntak considers it, “You planning to go to law school afterwards?”
Sieun hums in agreement but doesn’t look back up, just continues his notes.
Hyuntak laughs quietly at the cold shoulder, finding it a little cute, “I’m sports management.”
“I guessed.” Sieun replies, dryly. Hyuntak doesn’t take offense to it, just a little endeared if anything.
They both settle into their own works, content to be in each others space. For all the cold shoulder Sieun gave him, he never told Hyuntak to leave. That was a sign if anything that Sieun didn’t mind his company.
After a couple hours Hyuntak mutters he’ll be right back, where Sieun just hums, lost in whatever he’s doing on his computer.
Hyuntak comes back shortly with a lemonade and an iced americano that he carefully sets in front of Sieun. His sleeves rolled up because it was a little humid outside.
Sieun glances at the drink, and then flicks his eyes to Hyuntak’s arms, for a second too long, and then finally looks up to Hyuntak, “I didn’t ask you to get me anything.”
Hyuntak takes a sip of his lemonade, trying to hide his smirk at Sieun’s interest that didn’t go past Hyuntak. He would have to thank Youngyi later. “I know. I just wanted to.”
Sieun watches him a moment longer, an emotion flickering in his eyes, that Hyuntak couldn’t read fast enough, then eventually mutters out quietly, “Thank you.”
Hyuntak grins something small, something sincere, “Always.”
They would work for a bit longer until Hyuntak finally rope's Sieun into a conversation. Where Hyuntak finds out that Sieun was indeed very smart and has been his entire life.
Sieun was also actually crazier than Hyuntak imagined, when he dryly recounts how Suho and him would get into some wild fights in high-school.
He also learns beneath it all, Sieun was very loyal to those he loves.
Sieun didn’t say that exactly, but Hyuntak can tell that Sieun was loyal with how he recounted his memories with his friends, and how he handled situations that would make other people flinch. He was kind hearted whether he wanted to be or not.
Hyuntak in return told him about how he didn’t know what to do with his future, that he only ever really loved basketball, so he decided to major in sports management. Since it would be the only thing close to doing something he loves.
Hyuntak also tells him why he decided to work a the coffee shop, because he wanted to be responsible.
Sieun listened attentively, humming in the right places to show that he was paying attention. Hyuntak spoke more than him, but Sieun’s silence was never empty, it was almost loud in the way that it was filled with his presence.
When Sieun spoke, it was genuine and direct. There was no flattery, no need to perform, just straightforward but real in all the ways that mattered.
Hyuntak could listen to his voice all day if he could. So when he wasn’t satisfied with Sieun saying the bare minimum, he poked at him to elaborate, to question something random, just to hear him talk longer.
But eventually all good things had to end. Hyuntak realized the time and saw that he was late for practice.
“Shit.” He started shoving everything in his bag, without looking he pick's up Sieun’s empty cup. “I’m late for practice. I’ll see you later?”
Sieun exhales amused but he nods in agreement.
Hyuntak grins at him again a little breathlessly, and starts sprinting to the other side of campus.
It wasn’t until later when Hyuntak was changing into his uniform that he realized he never got Sieun’s number. He slammed his head against the locker and groaned loudly, scaring everyone around him.
He was such an idiot.
__
Hyuntak goes to the library the next morning before his class, just to see no sign of him. He didn’t know if Sieun was the type to go to the library on the weekend, even though he did very much seem like the type, so Hyuntak went Saturday morning too.
But to no avail.
Hyuntak had miserably gone to his day long shift on Saturday. The only thing keeping him from sulking completely was that Sieun could totally show up to the coffee shop to study.
Except he didn’t.
Hyuntak didn’t see him Sunday either. Or for the rest of the week. It didn’t matter when he went to the library, or when he worked his shifts, there was no sign of him.
He was so frustrated that he almost begged Youngyi to give him his number. Except Youngyi wasn’t scheduled for any of his shifts either, instead he worked with a guy named Beomseok who Hyuntak didn’t really engage with.
It was a lost cause.
Hyuntak should get over it. But he couldn’t. His interactions with Sieun at the library had laid out the cold hard truth. Hyuntak liked Sieun, not platonically.
He didn’t think he ever liked Sieun platonically before that interaction either, but than Hyuntak actually spent time with the boy. Hearing Sieun talk to him, paying attention to Hyuntak with those crazy attractive eyes of his, spelled it out for him.
Yeon Sieun was pretty. But his personality sealed the deal.
Hyuntak’s never really had a crush before, much less actually be attracted to someone. But there was a moment where a strand of Sieun’s hair had fluttered on his forehead and Hyuntak had to hold himself back from pushing the strand back in it's place.
Or when Sieun had left his hand on the table tapping at the desk, Hyuntak had the unbearable urge to hold it.
Hyuntak needed to see him again. Before he loses his mind.
He was stuck in practice, dribbling the ball carelessly while he listened to their coach’s lecture for their next game. He was half paying attention, like they all were, their attention divided to the MMA club who were setting up next to them.
Apparently their gym got flooded or something so they were going to use the basketball court for their practice for the full week, right after the basketball team was done using it of course.
Hyuntak had spotted Ahn Suho pretty easily, it was hard not to when he had the golden boy energy to him. He was laying out a mat talking to some of his members while doing so.
Suho didn’t seem that engaged just going off the nonchalance he exhibited towards his members.
Until Suho’s face brightens up and he starts sprinting to the gym’s door where a figure was walking towards him.
Hyuntak stills. Because that figure was the same person Hyuntak’s been relentlessly searching for this past week.
Hyuntak watches annoyed, as Suho ruffles the boys hair and takes the bag off his shoulder, to carry it. Sieun shakes his head at him but lets him get away with it as he talks to him quietly.
Hyuntak feels Baku brush his leg against his, questioning why he was so tensed up. He didn’t look at him, just waited for their coach’s lecture to finish with with no patience.
Finally when the coach dismisses them, Hyuntak shoots up and sprints over to Sieun.
Both Suho and Sieun look at him a little startled as he forces his way into their space. He doesn’t look at Suho as he looks down at Sieun who was sitting down on the bleacher, “Yo.”
Sieun blinks. And dryly responds, “Hi.”
Suho looks between them, at the weird energy that suddenly seemed to over take them as they stare at each other, and huffs a little cautiously. “I have to go Sieun-ah, I’ll see you after practice ok?”
Sieun turns to Suho and nods at him, saying farewell.
Hyuntak crouches down until they're both eye level, making Sieun turn to face him, Hyuntak waves his phone in front of him “Give me your number.”
Sieun takes it slowly, “That’s forward of you.”
Hyuntak exhales exasperatedly, “Well fourth times the charm right? I’ve been searching all over for you.”
Sieun hands the phone back to him, eyes a little widened in surprise, “You have? Why?”
Hyuntak could lay it all out but instead he doesn’t want to rush it. To be forward like everyone else. He want’s to show he means it. “Turns out your my good luck charm. I got full marks on my essay. I think I’m gonna need to glue myself to your side if I’m ever gonna pass my classes.”
Sieun narrows his eyes at him, but it’s laidback. “Your using my presence to get your grades up?”
Hyuntak grins cheekily, “You know it.”
Sieun considers it and shrugs, “I’ll send you my schedule. You can work out when you want to study with me.”
Sieun gets up, Hyuntak grabs his bag faster though, and throws it over his own shoulder. Sieun lets him do it silently, not arguing against it, just looking at him with a little judgemnt.
He let’s Hyuntak walk him to the door where he hold his arm out for his bag. Hyuntak gives it to him a little resigned, he would prolong their contact but all of Hyuntak’s stuff is back in the locker room.
He would make Sieun wait for him, but he didn’t want to be too forward either. So instead he asks this, “Will you be in the library tomorrow?”
Sieun nods his head, “As soon as it opens.”
Hyuntak grimaces, but he already knows he’ll be there.
Hyuntak sighs and crouches a little and ruffles Sieun’s hair. “Then I’ll see you there.”
Sieun swats his hand away, gives him another considering look and bids him farewell. Hyuntak watches him go, still feeling a little resigned.
It lasts for a second before someone throws an arm around him, “Bro your trying to rizz up Sieun-ie? You traitor! That’s why you were asking me about him! Your were using me!”
Hyuntak shoves Baku off him and strides toward the locker room. He hears Baku yelling after him but he ignores it.
He has plans tomorrow. He needed all the rest he can get.
Hyuntak couldn’t help but feel a little giddy about it.
__
Hyuntak shows up to the library the next day with an iced americano and a mango lemonade. Along with various amounts of sweets.
Sieun watched him set it between the both of them in silence. When Hyuntak had finally finished organizing it, Sieun goes through his backpack and silently slides him a folder across the table.
Hyuntak opened it, after looking at Sieun a little questioningly, but Sieun just took a sip of his drink and went back to his computer.
Hyuntak opened up the folder to see stacks of paper that were all sports management related, essays on essays, with notes scribbled in between pointing out the highlights and the main points that made the essay passable.
Hyuntak look's over at Sieun disbelievingly and in awe, but Sieun doesn’t look at him, in fact Sieun looked a little embarrassed with his ears a little red that he couldn’t hide from Hyuntak.
Hyuntak was absolutely gone for this boy.
Sieun had stayed up looking for essay’s that would help Hyuntak out and even wrote in notes that would make his own better. It was so thoughtful and kind, that Hyuntak couldn’t help but grin at him endeared.
Sieun could try as he might, but Hyuntak saw the red creeping up his neck.
From there, the two found a schedule that worked for them. They would meet up sometimes in the library, sometimes in the coffee shop, and sometimes when Hyuntak wore down Sieun’s defenses they went out to the park to get some much needed sun.
Eventually after a couple weeks of this routine, Hyuntak had grabbed Sieun by the arm and dragged him to dinner with him. Sieun surprisingly let him. They went to his comfortable homey ramen place, Sieun had gotten a plain version compared to Hyuntak’s.
But when Hyuntak made him take a bite out if his by force feeding him, Sieun let him. When Sieun noticed that Hyuntak pushed around the mushrooms on their appetizer Sieun had picked them all up and pushed them to his side.
After the dinner, they both realized that they were stepping out into new territory. One where they didn’t need the excuse of studying in order to spend time with the other.
So they both started planning excuses to see the other.
__
Sieun would sometimes watch him play basketball in a park between their houses. He would sometimes bring a book, and sometimes not. Content to watch Hyuntak run himself into the ground.
Hyuntak would eventually give up and walk back over to him and sprawl next to Sieun on the ground.
“Ugh it’s so hot.” Hyuntak groans, trying to shield the sun’s ray’s with his hand that were attacking his face.
Sieun moved silently until he was hovering over him, so he would shade Hyuntak from it. Hyuntak watched him do it, his heart fluttering a little.
Sieun took his water bottle and laid it on Hyuntak’s cheek. “Your the one who wanted to play in the middle of the day.”
Hyuntak laid his hand on Sieun’s own where he was still holding the bottle to his face. Not too tightly, it was a caress if anything at all. Easy does it.
“Maybe I just wanted you to watch me sweat.” Hyuntak teases him, laughing a little.
Sieun let’s go of the bottle and gets up slowly. “There’s other ways for me to watch that happen.”
By the time Hyuntak realizes Sieun’s implication, his heart beating out of his chest, Sieun’s already walked away from him.
“Yah! Sieun! Where did you learn to flirt like that huh?” Hyuntak yelled after him, chasing him, breathless in the way only Sieun could make him.
__
Sieun sometimes stayed out late on campus. Obsessed with studying as all the rumors say. Hyuntak couldn’t always be with the boy, but he would still find himself going to him anyway.
Whether it was to drag Sieun into getting some food with him. Or delivering some coffee and water to keep him hydrated. Or even just pulling at him to go home.
Sieun was stubborn. Really stubborn. It didn’t help that Hyuntak found it hot more times than not, when Sieun would snap at him to leave him alone and to get lost.
They’ve had arguments about it too. How Sieun doesn’t take care of himself and Hyuntak was too over bearing for his own good. They were both prone to erupt when it became too much.
Their last spat was yesterday and usually one of them would cool off by the end of the day and make sure to check in on the other.
Except they didn’t yesterday.
Hyuntak had gone to bed angry and woke up angry but for a different reason.
It wasn’t like he wasn’t putting in the effort to make this work between him. They both were. The only problem is that they were both prideful and they both cared about the other enough, to give them the space they wanted.
Hyuntak realized that after this fight—his pride be damned. He wouldn’t ever let Sieun walk away from him still angry at him. He would force the two of them to fix it. Hyuntak would really lose his mind otherwise.
After weeks of knowing the boy he know’s Sieun has a guilty pleasure for strawberry milk, which was surprising since Sieun didn’t seem that interested in sweet flavored things.
Either way he made sure to buy one and also an egg sandwich, because Sieun never eats when he should. And walks to the study lounge in the political science building that he knows Sieun studies at if he doesn’t go to the library.
He spots him in his usual spot, and Hyuntak’s about to call out to him until he see’s some guy next to Sieun leaning into his space.
It wasn’t Suho, Youngyi, or Seokdae. He’s seen the three of them before and had even greeted them every now and then when Hyuntak found Sieun with them.
No, this guy was not Sieun’s friend. He wore a bright orange windbreaker and he leaned into Sieun’s place like he had any right too.
Hyuntak seethes as he see’s the guy plant his hand on Sieun’s head. Hyuntak doesn’t even know he’s moving until he slams the milk down on the desk.
Sieun and the guy both look at him. Now that Hyuntak could see him up close, he can admit the guy is somewhat good looking if not an actual douchebag with the way he holds himself.
The guy glances at him and scoffs dismissing him and turns back to Sieun and ruffles his hair, “Call me if you want to have some fun princess.” The guy winks at Sieun and strolls out taking a turn deeper into the building.
Hyuntak watches him go, jaw clenched. And finally turns to Sieun accusingly, “Who the hell was that?!”
Sieun’s already typing away in his computer, which tells Hyuntak that Sieun’s still annoyed at him. “Keum Seongje. He’s a classmate.”
“Classmate?” Hyuntak scoffs, “He looks like the type of guy to be charged with a crime. Not the one defending others from it.”
Sieun doesn’t disagree. Which placates Hyuntak a little. “Why are you here?”
Hyuntak shoulders drop. He might’ve been angry this morning at the situation, and he still might be annoyed with seeing another guy flirt with Sieun. But he could never truly hold anything Sieun in the first place.
He nudges the milk and the sandwich on the table, “You need to eat.”
“I don’t need it. I’m fine.”
Hyuntak closes his eyes for a second, takes a deep breath. “I know. I know okay? That you know your own limits. But this is me, at my limit. So please Sieun can you put me out of my misery and forgive me?”
Sieun stops typing. Hyuntak holds his breath, he really will end up on his knees and beg shamelessly if Sieun continues to hold a grudge. But Sieun slouches into the chair and shoves his computer to the side and takes the sandwich and splits it in half. Holding one half for Hyuntak.
Hyuntak sighs relieved, and smiles something soft. He sits down next to him and opens the milk and slides it closer to Sieun and when he takes the sandwich he makes sure to brush his fingers against Sieun’s own.
Sieun let’s him. Just mutters annoyed but fond, “Idiot.”
Hyuntak really is a idiot. Especially for this boy.
__
They both didn’t label it, it wasn’t dating at least not in the traditional sense. Instead they took their time getting to know each other, spending time together in all the ways that truly mattered, and slowly occupying more and more time in each others space.
It was sweet, in the way that only first love could be.
Yet, Hyuntak was greedy.
He had made it abundantly clear in some moments, when Sieun was walking anywhere he would take his bag from him. Whenever they walked side by side Hyuntak walked close enough to brush his hand with his own. Hyuntak would pull out Sieun’s chair for him any time they go sit somewhere.
It was all the small things really. Sieun did the same.
When he would silently hand him a protein bar whenever Hyuntak had to go to practice. Or always had a bandaid ready for any cuts he got from the cafe or practice. The way he always answered his phone no matter what time Hyuntak called or texted him.
And Hyuntak just wanted more and more as the day’s go by.
So he decided to make his move. One day while their both just eating some ice cream in the park, sitting next to each other, both of their hands on the bench close enough to touch, Hyuntak finally asks.
“Will you come to my game tomorrow?”
Sieun doesn’t say anything just takes a bite of his cone. Hyuntak watches him do it, a little flushed for where his thoughts were leading too.
Eventually Sieun looks at him, a little interested, “You want me to cheer you on?”
Hyuntak brushes the little crust that was on Sieun’s bottom lip, Sieun lets him, eyes shaking a little, “Yeah, but that’s not all.” Hyuntak reaches over so his hand cover’s Sieun’s own between them. Making his intention obvious, “If we win tomorrow, will you grant me a wish?”
Sieun’s looks at him a little amused, “A wish?”
Hyuntak squeezes his hand, “Yes.”
“What if I don’t want to?” Sieun asks teasingly, looking away at Hyuntak’s betrayed expression.
Hyuntak just nudges his shoulder, “Come on. Don’t make me beg.”
Sieun hums again and when he looks back at him, Hyuntak can see that Sieun had already agreed without even saying anything.
Hyuntak entwines their hands together.
__
They won. It’s a landslide too. Baku throws him into the circle and their all cheering and screaming at each other.
It was also a big turn out for the crowd. The basketball team was usually popular, but tonight it was double the amount of people. Hyuntak had spotted Sieun with both Youngyi and Suho earlier.
Hyuntak had winked at Sieun, when he saw him watching. Both Youngyi and Suho immediately turning to Sieun to laugh at his embarrassment. Hyuntak had smirked at the reaction he caused and was immediately yanked by his ear by his coach to focus up.
Hyuntak had already texted Sieun to wait up for him by the bleachers. Sieun had sent him a thumbs up. Direct and forwards as always.
Baku whoops next to him, “We have to go celebrate!”
The other members yell out what they want to do. Some say drinks. Others say some restaurants they wanted to try out. Some say both. Hyuntak was barely listening though, he had showered and changed in record time.
He claps Baku on the shoulder, “I’ll see you later.”
“Woah! Where are you going?!” Baku tries to grab him but Hyuntak dodges away.
He laughs at Baku’s outrage, “I have someone waiting for me.” He responds cocky, in a way that was only reminiscent of someone excited to meet their loved one.
Baku gasps in outrage, “There’s no way! Sie—“
Hyuntak flips him off and strides away, honing in on Sieun talking to his two friends on the bleachers.
He walks up to them placing himself next to Sieun’s side, a little closer than what was deemed respectful.
Sieun murmurs to him, “Good job. You played well.”
Hyuntak grins at him softly, “Thanks.”
Suho claps him on the back while Youngyi punches him in the shoulder.
“Nice game man! I never thought Sieun would come to one willingly.” Suho jests at him with an easy smile.
Youngyi scoffs but Hyuntak can tell it’s friendly, “I didn’t think you had it in you. Turns out you do have some game.” She wiggles her eyebrows at him.
Hyuntak laughs, it was easy and nice, and he can tell these two cared about Sieun a lot. He also knows they were both protective of him, and this was their way of showing him, that they liked him well enough.
Sieun just rolls his eyes at them and turns to Hyuntak, “You wanted to talk?”
Hyuntak smoothly entwines his hands with Sieun’s, hearing Youngyi whistle and Suho’s eyes zoom in on their hands, but Hyuntak doesn’t allow either of them to say a word before he tugs Sieun into following him out of the courts and into the night.
They walk for a bit, through school and into the town. Hands entwined. They eventually stop when the reach an open area, a grass field with no buildings in sight. Instead it’s just an open sky that stretches for miles and miles with the stars that were brighter then usual.
Lighting up in a way that was a perfect backdrop for what Hyuntak wanted to say tonight.
They stay silent for a bit sitting on the grass, staring at the sky. There was a slight breeze in the air that kept making Sieun’s hair flutter across his face.
Hyuntak thinks to himself he can brush that strand away. And then he realizes he can, there was nothing stopping him. He reaches out with two fingers and takes the strand of hair and tucks it behind Sieun’s ear gently.
Sieun turns to look at him, eyes open and trusting. Soft in a way that he usually wasn’t. His guards lowered. Perhaps he had no use for his guards when it was just an open field and Hyuntak.
Hyuntak who had spent so much time falling for this boy. Trying to get him to open up to him. This pretty, kindhearted, and stubborn boy.
They were a long way from where they started.
And Hyuntak wanted to be further tomorrow, the day after, a year from now.
He wanted to know every inch of this boy in front of him, from his body to his mind. To the point he’ll know Sieun more than he’ll ever know anyone.
So he confesses.
His words come out as a whisper, voice meant for one, “I like you Yeon Sieun. I like you so much that every time you look at me I fall for you even more.”
Sieun smiles, and its a precious thing. One he doesn’t let anyone see. “Are you confessing?”
Hyuntak smiles endeared, he responds softly, “I am. Will you answer it?”
Sieun slowly moves closer to him. One hand reaching out to caress Hyuntak’s cheek, Hyuntak let’s him do it. Looks at him so softly and achingly.
When they kiss it tastes like love. It taste’s soft and sweet and all the things the stories were about. Precious and aching. All the little things finally leading up to their happy ending.
Sieun leans back just a little and looks at him gently, “I like you, Go Hyuntak. I like you a little more every time you smile at me.”
Hyuntak smiles helplessly.
They leaned into each other again, this time Hyuntak pulls Sieun in by his waist so he was leaning into him fully, Hyuntak lead the kiss, let all his feeling show. Let this boy know him as much as Hyuntak wanted to know him in return.
They didn’t have to say love. There was no rush. But they both knew one day they would. One day they would looks at each other and know that this is the person they love more than anyone else.
But right now they still had so much more to learn about the other. So many more moments to share. So they didn’t say it, even though they could.
Hyuntak was starting a new stage of his life. Side by side with someone who he would love for his entire life.
***