Kris 

 "What are you waiting for?"

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*ding ding* A customer has arrived.

--

"Hello! Welcome to the Love Cafe!" Joonmyun shouted from the back room. "Please, take a seat anywhere!" The customer chose a nearby stool to sit at near the counter. Joonmyun returned from the back room with more cream to top the hot beverages with. "Sorry about that, sir, I just had to get some- Kris?"

The customer, who's head was drooped down, looked up slowly and shocked. "How did you-"

"Your mom and sister, Yui, used to always come here, and they'd always talk about you. Well, your sister still comes here every single day, which isn't that bothersome, since she's a sweet girl and she's always here to keep me company. But yes, she described you once, and you fit her description perfectly so, it was just a wild guess."

Kris continued to look at Joonmyun dumbfoundedly.

"Anyway," Joonmyun said fixing himself up," What can I get you?"

The boy plopped his head down on the counter and sighed. "Anything that can sooth my headache and help my sore throat.."

Joonmyun thought for a moment, and then snapped his fingers, "Okay, I think I know what you need," he said getting a cup and filling it with hot water.

"And something to fix my heart as well," Kris mumbled.

Joonmyun placed the hot cup in front of Kris. "One cup of lemon tea for you, and one person who will listen to your problems on the side." Kris, yet again, looked up, this time while taking the cup and sipping it. "Kris, what's up?"

"Well.. Uh.. It's nothing really.."

"Is there a problem with your love life?" Kris sat there silently. "Kris, you shouldn't bottle up feelings inside, there's no way of resolving anything if you don't share it with anyone."

"Well, I'm not really good with that sort of thing.."

"I'm well aware. Yui said that when it comes to love, you usually keep quiet."

"My seven year old sister told you that?"

"She's smarter than she looks Kris, trust me," he said with a small laugh. Joonmyun spotted a customer at a table who needed assistance. He got out behind the counter and paused behind Kris before going to the table. "Think about what you need to say while I help out that customer over there. I'm here to listen and help if necessary." Joonmyun scurried to the table.

--

"Go on Kris! Tell her you like her already!" his friend said shoving her closer to the girl sitting on the bench.

"But what if she doesn't feel the same way? What if I get rejected?"

"Kris, you've never been rejected by any girl. Girls at this school practically throw themselves at you to be your girl."

"I've never been rejected because this situation has never happened before!" Kris glanced at the girl's back and watched her sit there quietly. Her head faced downward and her hands were in her lap. She quickly grabbed her bag and retrieved, what seemed like, an eraser and moved her right arm quickly to erase what she was doing. Kris knew that she was probably drawing something again.

Kris was never the one to fall for the quiet type. But this girl was different. The girl's name is Hyeri. She's not exactly popular, but she was well known in school. Kris had art class with her, and that's where it all started. He was labeled a flirt for being known for talking to girls and stealing their hearts with his good looks and athletic skills. His academic skills weren't that bad either. But when it came to art, he wasn't exactly an artist. The art teacher made him stay after school to redo an assignment that he failed on. He needed to draw a simple object and show the lighting effects on the object, but Kris didn't understand any of that. Being left alone in the room by himself after school, Kris just sat at his desk with his head down on the table frustrated. That's when he heard a noise from behind. He shot his head up and saw Hyeri grabbing her sketchbook that she left as she rushed to leave the class.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out," she whispered. "I just needed my sketchbook."

He chuckled, "It's fine, and you don't need to whisper, it's just me in here."

She walked up to his desk. "All by yourself? What are you doing?" She stared at his blank piece of paper. "What do you need help with? Maybe I can help." He told her the assignment, and she quickly pulled out a piece of paper to show him what she did as an object. "I just drew an egg. It's a simple object, and it's easy to capture the lighting on it since it's..just an egg." She let out a small giggle.

Kris laughed with her and then looked at his blank piece of paper. He slammed his head on his desk. "I should just give up on art."

"Don't say that," she said patting his back. "Art might not be your strength, but that doesn't mean you should give up on it. It just takes practice. You know what they say.. 'practice makes perfect'? Well, nobody's really perfect, but practice does make improvements. You can't just sit there and do nothing. That brings you nowhere. I can see your potential, Kris, you CAN do this. You just need to try."

After that, Kris began talking to Hyeri. They quickly became close, and soon enough, Kris developed feelings for her. This is the first time Kris has ever liked somebody like this. This was the first time Kris' heart began to speed up for seeing someone. This was the first time Kris was scared about love.

--

"Ah..so are you scared of rejection?" Joonmyun asked.

"Uh.. not exactly," Kris said as he took another sip of tea. "If I get rejected, I'm sure we can still be good friends."

"Oh..then are you scared of your friends teasing you?"

"Nah, my friends are actually the ones who want me to confess to her.."

"Then what's the problem? I think this could work out Kris!"

"Well, there's one friend that I'm pretty sure won't approve of this relationship with Hyeri.."

"And that would be..?"

--

"Hyeri! There you are!" A voice said. A boy ran straight to Hyeri at the bench panting. "I've been looking all over for you. Mom's already here to pick us up."

"Ah, I'm so sorry, Chanyeol oppa, I got distracted!" she stood up and bowed to her brother before packing her art stuff up and following her brother.

--

"So, who's Chanyeol?" Joonmyun questioned.

"He's..my best friend." Kris admitted.

"Ah, so you fear that your best friend wouldn't want you to date his sister, hm?"

Kris nodded. Chanyeol and Kris have been best friends ever since high school started. They both met at a talent show at the beginning of freshman year where they both showcased their talent, rapping. Soon, the two boys became really close. Kris didn't know that Chanyeol had any siblings until recently though, when he discovered that Hyeri was his sister.

"Have you actually asked Chanyeol about this, Kris?"

"Well..no..but I mean, I don't think he'd like it at all. I mean, if any of my friends wanted to date Yui, I wouldn't like it. I'd protect my sister from any guy who would want to be more than friends with her." Kris placed his finished cup of tea on the table and sighed.

Joonmyun grabbed the cup and cleaned the area. "Kris, your sister is seven. I don't think any of your friends would be interested," he chuckled. "And Hyeri and Chanyeol, are closer in age, so it's probably different. I understand that as an older brother, you both would do anything to protect them. But Chanyeol is your best friend, you should be able to talk to him about this with ease, shouldn't you? You have a strong friendship foundation with both of them, so it could work. You just have to take that step and just do it."

"But what if I fail?"

"Fail at what? Love? Friendship? I don't think you can fail at this, Kris. You really have nothing to lose. You said that if you're rejected that you'll still be close friends with Hyeri. I bet the same applys if you tell Chanyeol about this. You can't give up on something you never tried."

Kris looked up at Joonmyun.

Joonmyun smiled. "Kris, you CAN do this. You just need to try."

Kris smiled to himself. "Alright. Alright, I'll do it. I'll tell Chanyeol. And if he approves I'll tell Hyeri." He quickly pulled out his phone and texted Chanyeol.

[Hey, mind if we talk? Stop by my house for dinner.]

Joonmyun patted him, "Atta boy!"

"Thanks so much Mr.."

"Just call me Suho," he said with a smile.

"Thanks, Suho. For everything," Kris said bowing, getting up from his seat, and reaching into his back pocket for his wallet .

"This tea's on me," Joonmyun said. Kris looked up at a smiling face. "I insist, no need to pay." Kris bowed again and faced the door to exit and walk out.

"Kris!" Joonmyun shouted from behind. Kris turned around. Joonmyun put his fist in the air. "Hwaiting!" he whisper loudly. Kris laughed and did the same action back. The two laughed and Kris walked out the door.

--

*ding ding* Another satisfied customer.

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 author's note 

» Yes yes, in this Suho is older than Kris. It'd only make sense. hehe.