Thirteen.
Ex-GirlEntering the corner shop, you were instantly enveloped with the smell of freshly ground coffee and heavenly puffed pastries. You could've melted right there and then if you weren't in public. Feeling absolutely in bliss, you almost skipped your way towards the cash register.
"Welcome to Heaven's Cafe. May I take your order?" A beautiful young girl greeted you as the cashier.
"Hi" you smiled back hiding the tiny speck of disappointment you had because she wasn't the same cute waiter as yesterday "I was kinda looking for something heavy for brunch" you admitted as you skim through the chalkboard menu on the wall.
"May I recommend you our lunch special for today then?" She smiled "Its our healthier version of stone bowl bibimpap which instead of plain white rice, we use brown rice" she chirped.
"Ooh that sounds lovely" you perked "I'll have that"
"Excellent! One bibimpap and for your drink Ms?" She asked after keying in your order.
"I'll just have the lemon blueberry smoothie"
"Lemon Blueberry Smoothie. Would you like to add dessert?" She offered gesturing at the display case.
"Hmm" you hummed as you looked through the various types of cakes and pastries ranging from fruit pops, lemon bars, cupcakes, sugar cookies, brownies, truffles and other sweet treats that models should avoid from eating. You were still completing on whether to go YOLO when a new voice piped up from behind the counter
"I'd recommend the Smores Cupcake. They're to die for"
You straightened up and was met face to face with the handsome co-owner as yesterday.
"Oh! Its you" you smiled "I didn't have the chance to thank you for the cheesecake yesterday. It was amazing" you pressed.
"I'm glad you've enjoyed it but unfortunately I have no talent when it comes to sweets but my fiancee here is the Queen of Confectionary" he exclaimed as he backhug the girl at the cash register "Ain't that right baby"
"Well I wouldn't go far as Queen" she grinned almost eye rolling at the fact.
"Vain" he added making her gasp and hitting him with a rag as he duck away laughing.
"I'm so sorry. That was so improper of me" she quickly said as she composed herself properly in front of you.
"It's fine really" you assured smiling softly though you were a bit envious at the sight.
It had reminded you of the times how you too would playfully argue with Kihyun back in the days. You shook your head and told yourself to stop crying over spilt milk.
"Chill babe. Ms Joohyun doesn't mind" the blonde grinned giving you a wink. "Ow! Ow! Ow!" He winced as his said fiancee pulled his ear.
"Vernon!" She called before letting him go.
You perked at the mention of the name and almost squealed at the sight of the cute waiter from yesterday.
"Yes noona" he answered.
"Would you be a dear and help me with this customer while I bring my darling fiancee to the kitchen so that he could get some ice for his ear" she batted her eyelashes while forcing a smile.
"Sure noona" he answered slowly as he avoided from blocking their paths.
Vernon shook his head at his boss' behaviours and gave a small sigh before finally facing you with a smile.
"Welcome to Heaven's Cafe. How may I- oh! Ms Joohyun" he exclaimed surprise as it took a while for him to recognise you.
"Hi" you smiled.
"I'm sorry I didn't recognised you. You look really pretty" he said slowly as a large grin spreads on his face.
"Thanks" you curled a stray of your lilac hair behind your ear.
"Did you come alone?" He asks looking around.
"Unfortunately I did" you shrugged good naturally.
"Oh is that so. Is your boyfriend from yesterday busy?"
"Boyfriend?" You frown smiling "He's actually just a really good friend of mine" you corrected.
"Really?" He gaped.
"Why do you seem so surprise? Is it not normal for a guy and girl to just be friends?" You teased.
"No. Of course it is. It's just that you two seemed more than friends thats all" he rubbed his nape sheepishly.
"Well we have been mistaken to be together numerous times so you're not really the first to think so" you assured.
"Ah my mistake then" he apologised.
"Erm about my order" you pointed at the cash register.
"Oh! Right. Sorry" he said as he started touching the screen "That will be the total. Would you like to pay by cash or card?" He asks.
"Card" you nodded as you pass him your emergency credit card that was safely kept in your luggage earlier.
"Okay. Heres your button. It will light up when your drink is done and you may retrieve it at our station right over there" he gestured before giving you back your card.
"Okay. Thank you very much" you chimed accepting the button.
"My pleasure" he smiled.
You returned his smile before turning to walked towards an empty booth at the corner of the cafe. There you got yourself comfortable before turning Jooheon's iPad on and quickly signed in to your FaceTime account. Done you pressed onto your group chat before waiting for them to answer your call as you wore your earphones. You were also mindlessly braiding your hair as you waited for the other three screens to show up.
At the same time, you took the opportunity to look around the cafe. It wasn't too crowded as it was the time of day where it was too late for breakfast and far too early for lunch. That's when you noticed a boy no older than a senior in highschool wearing a pair of headphones around his neck. You chortled at how he reminded you of I.M during your highschool days. You smiled at the similarity then frowned as you were thought back of the late conversation you had with him yesterday.
"Want me to pick you up?" he offered making you soften at his concern.
"No. It's late. You should just go back" you assured as you sat cross legged on the sofa.
"You sure? I can just make a U-turn. Just say the word and I'm there"
"I'm sure" you chuckled "Wait are you driving right now?" you panicked.
"Chill Joo. You're on speaker. I know how much you hate it when I call and drive at the same time" he assured.
"Good" you sighed.
"So? Care to tell me what happen?" he asks.
"Honestly I don't even know where to start" you groaned quietly as you flopped face first on one of the fluffy cushions.
"What about start with how Kihyun hyung proposed to another girl in front of you" he dead panned.
"You knew?!" you half shrieked before clasping your hand over your mouth and waited quietly. Half expecting that you had woken up your parents. When the apartment stayed still, you continued listening to the latter.
"It's hard not to. All the hyungs were very verbal about it in our Kakao Group chat"
"You don't say" you sighed as you took notice of your apartment balcony outside.
"I said a few things about it too and I can assure you none of them were nice" he admitted making you to laugh softly.
"Well you should've seen Jooheon oppa when Kihyun oppa came to the apartment" you started as you decided to step out onto the balcony and breathe in the summer night.
"He went to your apartment?!" he asked outraged.
"Yea" you sighed "Before Jooheon oppa gave him a bloody nose"
With that I.M laughed out loud. You could even make out the sounds of him clapping histerically.
"Man do I love Jooheon hyung's wild temper or what" he exclaimed.
"I'm glad you find all this amusing Changkyun" you reprimanded as you sunk onto your mother's nesting couch.
"Sorry Joohyun" he chortled "But you have to admit that hyung deserved it"
"I don't know" you sighed depressed.
"Okay I'm not making you feel any better am I?"
"Nope" you pouted blowing a raspberry. Waiting for a response you frowned "Changkyun?"
"Yea I'm here. Sorry. I just parked my car" he answered.
"Okie dokie" you let out another sigh.
"I swear Joohyun if you sigh one more time I'm going to get back to my car and drive to your apartment right this instant" he threatened making you giggle.
"You're so sweet Changkyunnie" you mumbled sleepily.
"Hey don't fall asleep on me now" he warned.
"I'm not. Just getting comfortable that's all" you said as you snuggled onto the mountains of cushions the nesting couch had.
"Well try to stay awake will ya cause I have something to tell you later"
"Why can't you tell me right now?" you frowned as you noticed your mermaid blanket on the shelf right next to the pile of blankets your mother had folded.
"Just later alright" he said sounding nervous.
"Fine but I should remind you there's no better time than the present" you piped hearing him chuckle on the other end.
"True" he smiled "Hey buddy" he called as you assumed he was greeting his Golden Retriever at his door.
"Is that Ralp?" you perked.
"Yea it is. Hold on" you heard some shuffling before you vaguely hear him to say hi then your hear a loud bark making you laugh.
"Hey boy. I've missed you" you crooned while making kissing noises and you hear him barking excitedly.
"Okay that's enough" I.M huffed.
"Jealous" you teased.
"At my own dog?" he asked appalled "You have no idea" he mumbled to himself at the end.
"Hey Changkyun" you suddenly called distractedly.
"Yea" he perked.
"Nothing.. it's just.. I find it funny how the sky can be so clear and peaceful tonight.. when I'm feeling the complete opposite.." you admitted softly gazing at the stars twinkling above the city lights.
"Hey Joohyun" he called earning a hum in response.
I.M pauses as he hesitates on whether or not it was the right time to tell you. As he inhaled slowly to s
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