Tuesday’s nights used to be busy nights. More than Mondays. Time seemed to run faster when you were continuously working instead of sitting on the counter (yes, on the counter) waiting for someone to cross the door. Nonetheless, that Tuesday was different. Your mind and your body were not synchronized. While you knew you had to prepare a coffee for the table number 7 you would just heat water for tea and take it to the table number 3, which, by the way, was not even in the area you had been assigned for that night.

“Are you sure you’re OK?” asked Yoona once again after seeing you attending one of her tables.

“Yes, yes, yes,” you nodded vigorously.

Yeah, too much enthusiasm. You were lying. Obviously.

Truth was you were zoned out. Your body was basically working on its own because your mind could not be stopped from going back to the previous morning, the coffee and the bunny-boy you had learned was named Junmyeon. Kim Junmyeon.

What kind of damn-bunny-spell did he put on you to turn you in that absent-minded human being just because of a simple coffee with a post-it stuck on it? You hadn’t been able to function since then.

You had walked home reliving the moment your eyes met his, dark and intense, seductive, distracting. While you tried to study and memorize some of the formulas you needed for your math class only two words would spin in your head: Kim Junmyeon. That afternoon, while you were in class determined to pay attention and take some nice and well-written notes, fully resolved to push him out of your head, you opened your pencil case and found the yellow post-it there, right where you left it, and then again your mind was flying around the place.

“Are you OK?” asked Sunmi when your classes were finally over.

“Yes, yes, yes,” you nodded.

“You know I know when you lie to me because you repeat things way too much, right?”

“What? No, no, no…”

Your eyes doubled in size as you looked in her direction when you realized what had just happened. She burst into a high pitched laughter. The warmth in your cheeks was an indicator that you were blushing again.

“Now, for real, is everything OK?” she repeated while wiping a couple tears of her eyes.

“Yes! Really. Don’t mind me. I think I didn’t sleep enough last night and I’m just… you know…”

She nodded her head, agreeing with you despite you really didn’t know what you meant by “you know”.

On your way back home you wondered why you hadn’t told your best friend about Kim Junmyeon, and of course, your inner sassy answered you with a childish voice that sounded just like yours:

Maybe it’s because you feel stupid obsessing over a damn boy and a damn coffee with a damn post-it that said boy wrote.

Yes, your inner had spoken and she was pretty rude, nevertheless, she was right.

Did it take just a coffee and a note on a post-it to mess that much with your head? Since when were like that? Out of nowhere, the memory of your mom came to you:

 

The room smelled like roses, cinnamon and antiseptic. The curtain was closed, but the sunlight found its way to enter the room, covering everything in a dim light that was almost comforting. Almost.

“Mom?” you asked, wondering if she was already awake. Her body was laying flat in bed and you could barely hear her breathing, but it was there.

She hummed, letting you know she was awake. You came closer to her bed and let out a relieved sigh when you saw her already smiling at you.

“How are you feeling today? Did you rest well? Are you ready to go out and have some fun?”

You laid down next to her and curled up, letting her arms involve your figure.

“My sweet girl…” she murmured, placing a soft kiss in your head, “What about a change of plans?”

You raised your head to look into her eyes. Her gaze sweet and calm, as usual.

“What about a movie marathon? I know how much you like them,”

Your heart clenched. Though she didn’t want you to worry and kept her expression unfazed, you knew that change of plans meant she was not feeling well. She would never ditch a day in the park with you for a movie marathon. Not unless she felt too weak to be sure that she would resist it.

“I’d love that!” you lied with the biggest of your grins plastered on your face.

“Great,”

Small wrinkles formed under her eyes when she smiled again.

When the first movie was over your mom was trying to hold her tears, not doing a really nice job. You snorted,

“Why do we always watch this movie, mom?”

“I like it,” she answered calmly.

“You always cry!”

“Still,” she took a tissue and blew her nose. It made you smile.

You had your own theory about why she liked The Closer that much. Though she insisted it was because it was touching and moving and Julia Roberts did play an awesome role you couldn’t help but consider that maybe she found it relatable on a personal level. Of course, the movie was not the only reason. What you knew she was about to say was the main reason for your theory:

“Honey…” she started, “doesn’t this movie remind you of your granny?”

You both looked into each other’s eyes and said at once, “there are things people never tell…”

A short silence followed before you both laughed together. Yes, that was something Nana used to say. And it was something that your mom would always remind you after watching The Closer.

“Yes mom, it does. I’m gonna go get some water. Do you need something?” you questioned as you stood up.

“Yes honey,” you stopped in your tracks. She looked at you in the eye and took your hands in hers, just like every time she wanted to have a real talk with you, “I need you to promise that you will always remember that. Especially when I’m not here anymore,”

The last words seemed to not want to come out, and the sound of it caused her eyes to get watery again. Yours too.

“Mom…”

A deep sigh and a soft squeeze of her hands were enough to make you understand that she needed you to answer. She needed you to say you would remember.

Maybe she was not going to be a part of your life for a long time, but she could give some advice that she hoped you would remember.

You just nodded, unable of saying a word.

 

The memory of your mom was, somehow, soothing, and you managed to almost get your usual four hours of sleep when you got home, before going back to work.

And that was how you got there and how you were messing everything up. Even trying to remember what your mom used to say was hard right there and then, and it got harder with every minute that went by.

As time passed and your shift for that night was slowly coming to its end, you could feel your nerves raising, your legs wavy and your hands weak. Your stomach was doing backflips and though you couldn’t help but feel excited it was also annoying. You were head over hills for a boy who had just bought you a coffee. Why couldn’t you act as any other human being and keep it cool?

Your name being called next to you dragged you back to reality. Harsh. Of course, the only dumb- who could possibly be that infuriating was Rob.

“What do you want?” you spat.

“Sweetheart… pay attention to me when I talk to you. I was asking if you’re not going to leave?” He inquired pointing with his thumb at the clock that marked the end of your shift.

What!? How!? How did 7AM come without you even noticing!?

You took off your apron and left it on the rack, took your bag and left the place. No goodbyes that day. You had somewhere else to be and you needed to get there as soon as possible.

In your way there, even if you refused to accept it, you walked a little bit faster than usual, as if the anticipation to see him again was pushing you in that direction.

Once you were in front of the door you took a deep breath and walked in. Your eyes scanned the place, looking for him, expecting that he would be sitting in his usual table despite he had never got there before you did. Your heart broke a little when you realized he was not there. Yet.

When you sat and the waitress went to ask your order, you finally realized why you hadn’t noticed the end of your shift. That day she hadn’t been at the bar. Whenever she entered the place you knew there was around an hour left for you to leave and go have breakfast, but she hadn’t been there that day.

You met her eyes and no words were needed to know that she was working a double shift. Her eyes were sunk and the dark shade coloring the skin under them was an indicator of lack of sleep. You had been there and could recognize something like that. You pitied her, but did your best to share what felt like a weak smile,

“Hey!” you greeted softly.

“Hey,” she answered with a tired voice, “Your usual, right?”

You nodded and she turned around to go get your food.

You were staring at the door wondering where he was and why he wasn’t there already when she came back with your breakfast, and of course, she didn’t fail to notice that.

“Enjoy!” she giggled.

“Yeah, thanks…”

You looked down as your cheeks turned red out of embarrassment but you were interrupted when the sound of the door abruptly opened echoed in the local. You raised your eyes. He was there. His hair a little bit messier than usual and his face, that used to be pale and calm was now flushed. His eyes fixed on you. Flawless. That was him.

After spotting you, he walked to his table, regaining his composure. Halfway there, he met your eyes again, changed his direction and walked straight to where you were sitting. When he stood in front of you, you allowed yourself to take a good look at him and man… was he handsome… Having him that close helped you to notice a small scar under his eyebrow, between his eye and nose, that you had never seen before. His skin even and soft-looking made you want to touch it, touch him, run every single inch of his skin with your fingertips and check if all of him was as velvety as it seemed. The simple thought of putting your hands on him made your stomach twist a little.

“Hi,” he smiled, “mind if I join you?”

He raised his eyebrow and his smile grew wider while waiting for an answer.

You closed your mouth, which you didn’t realize had been open till then and tried to sound as calm as possible,

“No, please have a sit,”

You pointed at the chair in front of you with a move of your head. You were sure if you had used one of your hands the shaking of it wouldn’t go unnoticed.

He was about to say something when your waitress slash friend came to your table again and offered him his usual order, which he accepted. She puckered her eyebrows at you along with a mouth wide open and a thumbs up before leaving, like cheering you on. A soft giggle escaped your lips.

“Should I introduce myself?” he asked out loud. He was still looking at you, ignoring everything else around, “I’m Kim Junmyeon,”

You beamed nodding your head, you did know that already.

“Well, I guess I should introduce myself too, right?”

He waited for you to do so, and, in a display of bravery that you had no idea where it came from, you extended your arm to shook his hand and told him your name. He laughed taking your hand in his and you shivered. Maybe because of the gentle touch of his hand in yours, maybe because you couldn’t believe you were the reason of such a beautiful sound coming from him. Maybe for both. You stayed like that for a second and you wondered if he was feeling the same as you.

“So,” he started finally letting go of your hand, “did you have some rest? You still look tired,”

His voice was silky, manly, seductive, yet it had a worried tone. He was worried for a complete stranger.

“Well, I… I actually needed to keep myself awake,” you couldn’t look at him, “and the coffee you bought for me helped with that,”

He exhaled,

“Yeah, that was not a smart move,”

You both laughed together.

“By the way, thanks for inviting me, you didn’t have to. Today is on me, I’ll treat you,” you announced meeting his eyes again.

“No. I won’t let that happen, please let me invite you again,”

“You want to buy me coffee again? Why? Are you rich or something?” you joked.

He cracked a cocky smile,

“Rich enough to buy you coffee, yes,”

Any other day you would find that kind of answer pretentious and snobby, but that day you couldn’t. He was flirting with you and that was all you could think about. Because he was flirting with you, right?

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.

“Sorry, I had never seen a rich person before…” you answered lowering your head.

He suddenly straightened up, his expression shocked,

“What?”

Though you were trying really hard not to, you snorted and burst into laughter.

His shoulders relaxed a little and he laughed along with you. He would’ve kicked himself for buying such an absurd statement, but he was too busy memorizing every single detail of you. Your eyes, your hair, your mouth, the sound of your voice or that cute habit you had to look away when you were embarrassed or just too shy to keep looking at him.

“Here you go,” smiled the waitress when she finally served his breakfast.

“Thanks, Erin,” he took his wallet before you could take in his actions and paid for both of your breakfasts.

So Erin was her name? Well, it was about time to know it. It did fit her. She had an Erin face.

“You didn’t have to, really. I’ll pay next time,” you promised.

“So you’re assuming there’s going to be a next time?” he teased.

You didn’t want to blush, but you could not help it. Still, holding your head high, you  answered,

“I’ll be here tomorrow, so, if you want, I’ll reserve that place for you,” and smiled once again.

Your grin was contagious. He didn’t expect that answer, but he liked it. He would consider your offer.

At some point, the silence grew between both you. You didn’t know what to say, neither him, so you just stayed there, staring at each other, sharing the silence and enjoying the electricity it sent up and down your bodies. Although no words were said, it felt, somehow, intimate. Your eyes scanning his face, still in awe due to his beautiful features. His eyes never left yours either, you were too captivating. He couldn’t have looked away even if he had tried.

Your little moment was interrupted by the sound of the door, dragging your attention to it.  A couple of lovebirds entered the place holding hands and laughing out loud. You would consider them cute but… they had just interrupted your stare-session so… no.

When you looked at him again, the magic and the tension that had been created was already gone, so you tried to start a new conversation,

“Where do you go every morning when you get out of here?”

His expression changed to a most panicked one and you blamed your stupid question.

“To class. I go to class,” he said while he drank up his coffee in one go and stood up to leave, “I’m sorry, I’m already late, I really have to go,”

You nodded to let him know you understood while thinking about every morning that he used to do the same, just ran out the door because he was late.

His belongings were in his hands and he was ready to leave when he paused for a second and hurriedly mumbled,

“You know… I’d love it if you reserved this sit for me tomorrow,”

Before you could answer he was out the door, already running to make it to his class in time.

It was curious the duality of him. He could be acting like the most seductive man on earth and the next second he would turn into a cute fluffy little bunny that needed to be cuddled.

After he left, you slowly picked your things up and did the same. While you were walking home your mind replayed the morning, since you arrived at the coffee shop till he left, and once again you were walking home thinking about him.

Well, at this point it was undeniable that you were sold so, you hoped for the best and expected that, at least, you were able to function at work.

Speaking about work… had Rob called you Sweetheart again that morning?