I groaned as my alarm clock blared beside me and sunlight streamed through the cracks of my curtains. It was always this exact moment when I questioned my sanity when I chose to be a barista, because six in the morning was just not something I was fond of.

Rolling over onto my stomach, I turned off my alarm and ran a hand over my face in some attempt to wake myself up. You think I’d be used to this, everyday it was get up at 6, work on some school work, make a cup of coffee, and get to work by 7. But here I am, laying in bed thirty minutes later wondering if work was really that important.

Deciding I did enjoy the little income I brought in at the coffee shop up the street from my building, I rolled out of bed, my hair a mess and my sweatpants hung low on my hips. I padded to the shower and relished in the warm water before getting dressed and making a cup of coffee in record time.

Shrugging on my coat and sticking my ear buds into my ears, I made my way to work on a dreary Tuesday morning. I loved my little commute, it always gave me the space and the time to think, and today, all I could think about was him.

His name was Minghao, he was a regular at the cafe I worked at, usually coming in everyday but if not, he was there on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for sure, (he blames his 8 am math class, but I figured he just really likes coffee). He always ordered a vanilla iced coffee with soy milk in the largest size available, and I was totally enamored by him.

Smiling to myself, I kept walking as I remembered the first time I saw him, it was my first week at the little cafe, and Minghao had been running late, (I came to realize he was always running late, but that day it was more so than usual.) He ran into the shop with huge eyes and frizzy hair and I couldn’t help but smile.

"Uh, can I help you?” I asked quietly, confused as to why such a cute boy had run into the shop with what looked like last nights clothes, drool on his chin, and hair that hadn’t been brushed in a few days.

"Yeah sorry, I’m just running really late today,” He began as he attempted to flatten his hair, “Anyways, I’m Minghao, you’re new here so I will be needing a iced vanilla coffee with soy milk in the largest size you have available. The total is $5.14, so here’s my card, and your name is?”

I blinked back at him trying to determine rather or not he was serious, and when he raised his eyebrow he gasped realizing what he said was in chinese. (not that u didnt understand, I was chinese to start with) "Oh I'm sorry I said that all in chinese!" Minghao exclaimed.

"Well I’m Junhui,” I said back in chinese and swiped his card and started his drink, “And you Minghao have made my first morning here much easier with your preciseness and I speak chinese so don't worry." I winked at him over the top of the espresso machine and he giggled in response.

"Anything to help out the newbie, Mingyu over there usually screws up my order anyways.” He laughed with me as my co worker Mingyu flipped us off before going back in the back room to sulk.

Finishing up his order as we talked, I popped a lid on the top of his drink and slid it across the counter to him. “Taste it,” I encouraged, “I need to know if I’m a better barista than Mingyu.”

Laughing he took a sip and raised an eyebrow as he smiled up at me. I raised an eyebrow and bit down on my lip to try to suppress my smile, “Well?” I quipped, “How is it?”

Nodding his head, he continued sipping his drink as he turned and walked towards the door. Stopping with his hand on the handle, he turned and smiled at me “Yep you’re definitely better than Mingyu is,” he laughed, “You’ll be seeing a lot more of me Junhui, count on it.” He winked before slipping out the door, leaving me smiling for the rest of his shift.

As I rounded the corner and stepped inside the small coffee shop, I couldn’t believe that I had just met Minghao a month ago. Sure I didn’t know him that well, but I did know he always had a very large novel shoved in his backpack, he never brushed his hair, and he smelled like a lot of cologne.

Trading in my jacket for an apron, I couldn’t help but mentally kick myself for thinking about him so much. He was just a customer, and I was just, Junhui. Sure he was beautiful and witty and so endearing but did that really warrant my constant thoughts about him?

Running a hand through my hair and taking a place at the front counter, I tried is hardest to shake off my thoughts about him. I willed myself not to think of how his eyes pretty much sparkled all the time, or how his lips wobbled into a smile when he laughed. But most importantly I willed myself not to think of how stupid I was for not giving him my number yet.

Thankfully, the little bell above the door chimed, shaking me from my thoughts of a certain wide eyed boy. But when I looked up to see who had come in, I had to stop myself from groaning when I laid eyes on him.

He was wearing a big t shirt that kept slipping off his shoulder with grey sweats and I figured he probably slept in it and for some reason, I find that simply adorable. With sleepy eyes and a crazy mess of hair on top of his head, he looked beautiful as ever as he approached the counter.

"Morning Jun." he said groggily in chinese, “My usual please, with a blueberry muffin if you don’t mind.” he smiled sleepily and rubbed his eyes as he handed him his card, and I swear my stomach did a flip watching him.

“Why so sleepy today Minghao?” I asked as I swiped his card, “Did you actually get up on time this morning?” I teased as I started on his drink. Scoffing, he rolled his eyes as he attempted to scrape his hair into a much more acceptable style.

“As if Wen! It’s like you don’t know me at all!” he accused. I rolled my eyes and tried my hardest to focus on the drink instead of him, but that was proving to be more difficult than I expected. “Oh really? Then why so sleepy this morning?” I quipped.

Covering his mouth with his hand as he yawned, he smiled up at me, “I had to pull an all nighter, I have a big test today.” He looked down and pulled up his sweats as he spoke and I realized I was chewing on my lip a hell of a lot more today than usual. 

“Well we just can’t have a sleepy Minghao on the day of the test now can we?” I began, “Two extra shots of espresso in your iced coffee, free of charge for my little study bug, coming right up!” I scrunched my nose at him over the espresso machine as he laughed.

"Thanks Jun, I always knew I could count on you.” he said as he picked at the muffin I had just given him. Making sure he was distracted, I quickly scribbled my number and a smiley face after writing “Call me” on his coffee cup. I kicked myself for how cliche it was, and told myself to ball up and be a man, but every time he smiled I stuttered a lot so I figured this was his best shot.

Popping a lid on his drink and making sure my number was facing me and not him, I slid the cup across the counter with a shaky hand. “One vanilla iced coffee with soy, hyped up on espresso for one very sleepy study bug!” I sang happily.

Rolling his eyes as I chuckled, he nodded his thank you before sipping on his drink and turning towards the door. He reached out and grabbed the door handle before turning back to face me.

"Oh, and Junhui?” he began as I looked up from across the room, “Keep your phone nearby,” he smiled, “Wouldn’t want you to miss that call you asked for, now would we?”

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i start school tomorrow so im sad but anyways enjoy this crapp junhao shot i hope everyone is doing well !!