"Taemin-ah! Order up!"

Taemin sighed and went to retrieve the tray that his coworker Kibum had placed on the counter in front of him. After bringing the drinks to their respective customers the student reclaimed his spot behind the counter to continue gazing out the window. It had become a regular thing for the teen to stare vacantly out the window at nothing in particular when business at the cafe he worked at was slow. Better that than doing homework, right? 

After working at the small coffee shop for so long Taemin had familiarized himself with the never-changing view, the flower shop, barber, card shop, and mechanic's garage across the street had always been the same during Taemin's time there. This time, though, when he looked out the window, something, or rather someone, was different.

--

"Yah, Jjong-ah, someone just brought their car in, looks like some serious engine trouble"

Jonghyun ermerged from the back room of the garage to see his colleague Minho already inspecting the damage under the hood of the newly brought in car. The elder mechanic shoved the other away so he could get a better look at the engine himself,

"Aish...what was this guy doing, driving his car in the ocean? It's gonna take days to fix this!" Jonghyun groaned. Minho clapped him on the back and grinned smugly,

"It'll be a great first job for you, newbie! Better get to work". Jonghyun could hear the other mechanics snickering from the other side of the garage. The annoyed brunette glared at his colleagues and begrudgingly got to work.

--

"Who is that?" Taemin said softly to himself. Kibum was behind him instantly,

"Who's who, Taeminnie?" he asked curiously. Taemin didn't respond, instead pressing his nose against the glass to get a better look at the handsome mechanic that had just come into view. He pointed to the mystery man accross the street,

"Him! He's new! And gorgeous..." Taemin sighed dreamily as he detached himself from the window and slid down the wall. He heard Kibum scoff beside him,

"Your taste in men, I swear, Tae. I'm more interested in his friend" the blonde said and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Taemin rolled his eyes in response and turned back to peek out the window at the new mystery mechanic,

"You think maybe they'll come in here?" the student mumbled, continuing to stare at the hot mechanic. Kibum shrugged,

“Maybe if we’re lucky” he sighed.

--

Jonghyun felt someone’s gaze on him. He turned away from his work on the car and glanced around the garage to see that it was completely devoid of any other people. He sighed, stripping off his sweat-soaked wife beater and wiping his forehead clean before getting back to work.

--

Taemin almost had a heart attack when the mystery mechanic removed his shirt, revealing sculpted abs and pecs that the redhead could only dream of touching. He squealed,

“KEY!!” he called, thankful that the café was empty. The elder came rushing up next to him,

“What?! What happened?” Kibum asked frantically, running to his coworker’s side. Taemin was practically pawing at the window,

“Waaah he’s so gorgeous! Look!” the student replied, pointing at the subject of his affections through the glass. Kibum groaned,

“Are you kidding me? You called me up here because the hunky mechanic took his shirt off?” the blonde whined. Taemin tore his gaze away from the window to glare at Kibum, but it quickly weakened and soon the poor boy was flailing his arms desperately,

“I can’t help it! He’s just so…perfect” the younger one gushed. Kibum facepalmed,

“You’re such an idiot when you’re crushing on someone, Tae…” he sighed. Taemin huffed at the other,

“You’re just jealous that the other guy went somewhere else and now you can’t see him…” he grumbled, earning him a smack upside the head from Kibum,

“So what if I am?”. Taemin rubbed the back of his head and glared at his coworker, opening his mouth to reply but was cut off when a group of about 7 or so teenagers entered. He groaned quietly,

“Alright, back to work…”

~

Taemin had work again the next morning. The second he got to the front counter he looked out the window, scanning for the mechanic but found the door of the garage closed. The teen sighed,

“The garage must not be open yet…” he mumbled to himself. Kibum bounded up behind him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders,

“Aww is he not there yet? Poor you, now help me set up the chairs before we open” the blonde said before ruffling the younger’s hair. Taemin huffed and smoothed out his hair before going to help Kibum set up the chairs before unlocking the door. He reclaimed his spot at the counter and propped his chin up on his arms, ready for another dragging day at work.

~

Not even an hour later Taemin glanced out the window to see the mystery mechanic and his friend crossing the street from the garage. The redhead sprung up, eyes widening,

“! , , . KEY!!!!” he called, earning strange looks from the patrons around him. Kibum stormed into the room,

“What do you want? I’m on my break” he growled. Taemin clapped a hand over the now infuriated blonde’s mouth,

“Shut up and look!” he replied, pointing at the pair of mechanics that were now almost at the door of the café. Kibum’s eyes widened and he smacked Taemin’s hand away,

“Oh my god they’re gonna be inside in like two seconds! Quick, how do I look?” he asked frantically. Taemin quickly smoothed a few platinum hairs down on the elder’s head,

“You look great, what about me?”. Key gave him a once over,

“Like a million bucks, now get over to the register!”.

Taemin zipped behind the register just as the mechanic and his friend entered the café.

--

“I’m gonna use the restroom real quick. Order for me, will you?” Minho said as he left Jonghyun without even waiting for an answer.

“…” the elder murmured under his breath before approaching the counter, eyes locked on the menu above it. He was jerked back to reality when a timid voice stuttered,

“W-what can I get for you?”. He looked from the menu only to lock eyes with the most beautiful boy he’s ever seen in his life. His crimson hair hung perfectly over his slender face, contrasting with his porcelain skin. His perfect almond eyes were gazing up at him timidly and there was a faint pink blush dusting his cheeks. Jonghyun was literally breathless, he couldn’t help but stare.

--

‘He’s staring at me…oh my god he’s staring at me! He’s so ing hot and he’s staring at me! Oh my god…come on Taemin, you can do this. Just take his order’ Taemin thought to himself as he continued to lock eyes with the mystery mechanic. He really was gorgeous, way more beautiful up close. He had chocolate brown hair that beautifully complemented his tan skin and his jaw was probably sharp enough to cut diamonds. Taemin almost drooled at the sight.

He was jerked from his stupor when Kibum snuck up behind him and pinched the back of his arm. Taemin yelped and held his arm, sending a glare towards his coworker before a cough caught his attention,

“I’m ready to order” the mechanic said, flashing the redhead a smile that made him want to cry. Taemin faced the elder,

“O-okay…what can I get you?”.

--

Jonghyun wanted to squeal at the boy’s cuteness. He was convinced the barista was an angel that fell from heaven.

“Can I get a small caramel macchiato and a medium black coffee please, for Jonghyun?” he asked. The boy scribbled down Jonghyun’s order, forehead creased in concentration. Jonghyun was half-tempted to lean across the counter and kiss the wrinkles away. The barista looked up once he was done writing out the order and handing the cups over to his coworker, who Minho was flirting with disgustingly,

“Is there anything else I can get for you?” he asked. Jonghyun smiled at him again,

“Yeah, can I get your number?”.

--

Taemin was ready to faint,

“W-what?” he squeaked. This had to be a dream, right?

“I said can I get your number? You’re just too cute, I can’t pass up this opportunity” the elder said, smiling even wider at the flustered teen. Taemin blushed for a minute before grabbing one of the cups from Kibum and writing his number down.

Jonghyun winked in thanks, taking his cup from Kibum. Taemin flushed an even deeper pink and his heart pounded at the thought of the attractive male calling him sometime in the near future. Jonghyun turned to leave, but not before blowing a kiss at the adorable boy,

“I’ll call you later…” Jonghyun paused, waiting for the younger boy to fill in his name

“Taemin” the barista replied timidly. Jonghyun hummed,

“Taemin…I’ll call you later” he said, reveling in the way the boy’s name rolled off his tongue. Taemin gave Jonghyun a small wave as he exited the coffee shop.

The student turned to his coworker, who was beaming just as much as he was,

“Guess we both scored today” Kibum said, holding up a napkin with the other mechanic’s phone number.

“Yeah…guess we did”.

---------------------------------------

Yaay I finally finished this!~ It's seriously been in my folder unfinished for like a month >< hope this holds you guys over until the prequel to Skin Deep is done ^^