Youngjae approached quietly the table were the last two clients on the café were sitting. They were two young girls, probably students from the art university that was nearby. Two expensive looking cameras were placed carelessly on the table next to the glasses of milkshake. The barista inwardly wished for their drinks to spill over the cameras so they would shut up finally. They sat there almost two hours ago, and they spent the whole time chatting and giggling noisily and trying to flirt with Junhong and Youngjae. They also gossiped about a guy named Myungsoo or something like that. Youngjae didn’t really give a damn, but they were speaking so loudly it was impossible not to hear them. Anyway, they were just too boisterous for the barista’s liking. He preferred when the clients were quiet, polite and friendly.

“Excuse me ladies, it’s time to close” he said trying his best to sound nice. He even forced a smile.

The girls just giggled and nodded in response, mumbling unintelligible apologies. They were probably trying to look cute, but they just looked stupid. Youngjae just kept his smile and took the empty glasses to the counter. He needed to calm down, normally he wouldn’t be so bothered just by two silly girls’ presence. He was feeling exhausted and he just wanted to go home. The afternoon shift was always horrible; too much work and too many students.

He snorted to catch his mate attention and when they locked eyes, Junhong smiled amused. “What’s with that face?” asked the younger almost whispering to not be heard by the girls.

“You deal with them, I do the cleaning” said the barista ignoring his friend’s question.

“They don’t bite, Youngjae” mocked the younger.

“But I do. I’m exhausted, it’s half past six, I hate those kind of people and you know when I’m tired everything pisses me off. I’m just protecting them from myself, I don’t want to be mean and rude.”

“Okay, okay, I get it” Junhong chuckled and dried his hands. He left the bar to attend the girls and after a few minutes of stupid chattering and lame tries to flirt, the girls finally left the coffee shop. Youngjae waved them goodbye. “Please, come by soon.” ‘Please, never come back again.’ They giggled (again) and waved at him too.

The barista locked the door and put the “closed” sing hanging from the knob feeling a sudden relief. He sighed and leaned onto de door resting his back on the glass. “Oh my god, finally” he cried.

Junhong snorted and started to clean the tables. “You are overreacting, they weren’t so noisy.”

“They were” he stated. “Also, I hate it when someone tries to flirt with me so shamelessly.”

The younger paused and smirked. “Yeah, I noticed they were hitting on us.”

“What’s that face for? Oh, no, please, don’t tell me those are your type” he pleaded dramatically. “They looked so stupid.”

Junhong just shrugged and resumed his work. “I’m kind of desperate, so I don’t care anymore” he admitted.

The barista widened his eyes surprised. “You? Desperate? I thought you said you and Jongup were two playboys.”

Junhong laughed out loud. “We were kidding.”

Youngjae didn’t even reply, he just rolled his eyes and helped his friend to clean the tables to finish as soon as possible. In less than twenty minutes the whole place was clean and they were ready to go. The elder changed his clothes on the staff room and folded neatly his uniform to put it on his backpack. He exited the room and put on his coat.

“Wanna hang around for a while?” asked Junhong.

“I’m sorry, today I’m too tired, maybe tomorrow?” he suggested.

The younger snorted. “Tomorrow’s impossible, I have to study. C’mon, let’s go out tonight” he pleaded whining and pouting slightly.

“Your puppy eyes have no effect on me.  I’m sure you have more friends to hang around with” he coldly replied.

“Fine, I don’t need you.” Junhong finally gave up and exited the place.

Youngjae chuckled at his friend’s childish behaviour and switched off the lights before following him out of the café. ‘He’s so cute.’ He locked the door and buried himself on his coat, surprised by the sudden freezing air. He looked at the younger who was absently texting with someone and placed himself next to him looking for some heat.

“Don’t come near me, I hate you” said Junhong.

Youngjae chuckled and pressed himself against his friend, resting his cheek on the latter’s shoulder. “Who are you texting to?”

The younger looked at him with disbelief. “None of your business!”

“Junhong.”

“To my father” he admitted.

The barista laughed. “That sounded pathetic, I was expecting something like a secret crush.”

“You are so mean” whined the younger.

“I’m sorry” apologized the elder chuckling. “I’ll bring you some ice cream next Monday.”

Junhong grinned shyly. “I’m not a kid, but thank you.”

“You don’t have to be a kid to like ice cream” he pointed out.

The latter just hummed shoving his phone on the back pocket of his jeans. “My father’s driving here to take me home, we can give you a lift if you want.”

Youngjae shook his head. “Thank your father later, but it’s not necessary.”

“Oh, c’mon…” whined the younger.

“Kiddo, you seriously need to sto-“

“Junhong?”

Youngjae heard a familiar voice behind him, but he couldn’t recognize whose it was. He separated himself from the younger, feeling a little bit embarrassed, and he turned around to meet Jongup’s wide eyes. And he wasn’t alone. He was with a boy, taller than him with brunet hair, slim body and very nice features. They were wearing casual but elegant clothes and the brunet’s hair was styled messily.

“Jongup and… Daehyun?” he asked in disbelief.

Jongup waved at the barista smiling “Hey! Nice to see you too, Youngjae.”

Daehyun gaped at his friend. “You know Youngjae?” asked the brunet.

“Yes, he’s Junhong’s friend. And… you know him too?”

Youngjae looked at Junhong and they both burst into laughter. “What’s happening here?” he asked more to himself than to anyone else. “I’d have never imagined you two were friends” he said referring to Jongup and Daehyun.

“Why?” asked Jongup curiously.

“Hmm, I don’t know” replied the barista.

“I thought the same thing when I first met Daehyun” intervened the youngest. “Maybe their vibes are too different” he suggested half laughing.

Youngjae hummed satisfied by Junhong’s theory. “Anyway, Youngjae, how’s that you know Daehyun?” asked the youngest.

“He comes by the café lately, with Himchan” the barista locked eyes with the brunet. “He’s already like a regular” he said smiling.

“And how comes I’ve never seen him over there?”

“He comes only at mornings, dork.”

“Wait, so, you also work here?” asked Daehyun to Junhong.

“I thought you already knew that!” exclaimed the youngest.

“Too much new information to process” said Jongup rubbing his temples.

Daehyun laughed out loud at his friend. It was a beautiful laugh, Youngjae thought. “You are too stupid, Guppie.”

Jongup lowered his head with a shy grin and decided to ignore his friend’s comment. “Oh, Junhong, we came here because I need your help” he said approaching the youngest.

“What’s it? And why do you only think about me when you are in trouble?” he complained trying to sound offended.

Jongup widened his smile. “That’s not true, you are my best friend.” Junhong blushed lightly and Youngjae had to contain a giggle. “Anyway, you gotta help me, I got my shirt stained and I need to wipe it quickly. Can you let me use the bathroom?” he asked ping his jacket and showing the stain. It was huge and it looked like ketchup.

“Were you stabbed?” asked Youngjae jokingly. He was so hilarious.

Jongup chuckled and shook his head slowly. “I bumped into a woman who was holding a hotdog and well…”

Daehyun laughed, probably amused by the memory. “Okay, I’ll let you in” conceded Junhong. “But you owe me, we’d just closed the shop and we were about to leave” he complained.

“I’m sorry” apologised Jongup.

Junhong took the keys of the café from one of his backpack’s pockets and unlocked the main door keeping it open for his friend. “Come in.” Jongup nodded and they both went into the shop. Daehyun and Youngjae were left alone outside. The barista was still smiling amused by the whole situation.

“To think we were connected by our friends this whole time…” blurted Daehyun.

Youngjae smiled at him. “Actually, it’s pretty strange we didn’t meet earlier.”

“Yes. It’s funny we met because of Himchan instead of these two dorks” the brunet pointed out.

The barista hummed and there was a short silence.

“Where were you going? Clubbing?” asked the younger.

“Short of. I don’t really like to go clubbing, to be honest, but I kind of need it, to relax, I mean” explained Daehyun.

Youngjae grinned. “I don’t like it either, I prefer staying at home to watch a film with a blanket and tons of ice cream.”

Daehyun laughed again. “Yeah, that’s exactly how I usually spend my weekends.”

“Really?” asked the barista. “You look like a total raver.”

The brunet laughed again, this time louder, surprising the barista. The last time he had seen the latter, he was looking horrible and his mood was gloomy. Youngjae was pleasantly surprised by this new Daehyun, who laughed at everything and didn’t look like a zombie. “Why would you think that?”

The younger mentally shook his head to wake up from his daydreaming. “I don’t know, you look like someone from the jet set. Or like some kind of playboy. I don’t know” he blurted.

“Jet set? Playboy?” asked Daehyun trying to contain his laughter. “Where do all those come from?”

Youngjae inwardly slapped himself for speaking too much without thinking. ‘And why does this guy have to ask so much? Damn.’ “I don’t know.” ‘Well done, Youngjae, you have a new catchphrase.’ He cleared his throat and decided to shut his mouth, but the elder was expectantly waiting for his answer. “Maybe, because you are kind of attractive?” he said awkwardly.

‘Great, Youngjae, you said it. Good job, creep.’ He averted his gaze from the latter, feeling embarrassed by his own words.

Daehyun felt the uncomfortable ambience and quietly chuckled. “Thank you, I guess, but I don’t see the relation.”

The barista waved his hand, his gaze still focused in other place. “Just forget I said that.”

“Forget? Which part?”

Youngjae looked up and saw Daehyun smirking. He was about to reply with a clever comment to regain his pride and manliness, but sadly they were interrupted by the brunet’s phone’s buzzing. Daehyun took out the device and tapped the screen. “You already got it repaired?” asked the barista.

The elder hummed in response. When the brightness of the screen lit up his face, his grin quickly transformed into a serious portrait. In a second his mood was gloomy again and his face was painted with pain.

Youngjae frowned. “Did something happen?” he asked concerned.

Daehyun met his eyes and quickly forced a smile. “No, everything’s ok.”

The barista was curious, but he didn’t want to in Daehyun’s life, so he just hummed and didn’t ask more about it.

Before an awkward silence was started, Youngjae shoved his hand on his back pocket to take his mobile off. “Now that your mobile is working, it’s a good timing to exchange numbers” he said smiling.

The elder hummed and typed his number on the latter’s device before handing it back. “Text me later” he said. Just then Junhong and Jongup exited the shop.

“Slow down, your relationship is escalating too quickly” joked the youngest.

Youngjae rolled his eyes and contained the sudden need of punching Junhong. Everything had been awkward enough without his stupid comment. “Anyway… Is the problem solved?” he asked.

Jongup pursed his lips and shook his head. “I think I’ve lost my favourite shirt.”

“I’m sorry man. We did everything that was in our hands” said Junhong.

“So, what are you doing, are you going home to change clothes or…?” asked Daehyun.

Jongup shook his head again, this time regaining his smile. “No, Junhong lent me his barista’s shirt.”

“And it suits you?” asked the brunet in disbelief with an evil grin.

“No, but it’s better than my stained shirt.” Jongup just shrugged, not feeling offended by the comment about his height. “So, wanna come with us?” he asked to the two baristas.

Youngjae hesitated. It had been a while since the last time he went out with Jongup, plus he had never hanged around with Daehyun, and he wanted to see his true self. He was curious about the latter and he was comfortable around him. Just then he remembered he rejected minutes ago Junhong’s offer to go out that night. “I’m sorry, today I’m too tired” he said with resignation.

Daehyun and Jongup were visibly disappointed, but they didn’t press him to go with them. “And what about you?” asked Jongup to Junhong.

“My father’s already in his way here…” he said lowering his head. “Maybe in an hour or so I can join you, but I don’t think my mom will let me.”

Jongup pouted slightly. “I should have called before, but I thought you’d be tired.”

The youngest smiled to comfort his friend. “Don’t worry. It’s not like we didn’t see each other frequently.”

Jongup smiled back and hummed. “Let’s get going then” he said looking at the brunet. Daehyun nodded and joined his friend.

“See you” said the brunet waving goodbye. “Oh, Youngjae, don’t forget to text me.”

“Sure” answered the barista waving too and smiling kindly.

Jongup also bided goodbye and soon they were out of sight. Junhong then turned to face Youngjae.

“You like Daehyun” he snapped.

“What?” asked Youngjae in disbelief.

“You turned down my offer without hesitation, but you actually thought about it when Daehyun was involved” he said feeling proud of his reasoning.

The elder facepalmed. “Seriously? Look, Junhong, the fact that I’m gay doesn’t mean I fall for every guy I meet. This is already the third time I explain this to you, but you keep pairing me up with every human being with I interact with.”

Junhong chuckled stupidly, probably because Youngjae said the word “.” Just then a claxon was heard and a car stopped right in front of them. “That’s my father, are you coming or not?”

“I’d rather take the bus. I’m angry with you.”

The younger ruffled the barista’s hair. “I was kidding. Also I think Daehyun had a girlfriend, so it’s better this way.”

“Shut up and go home before I punch you in the face” said the elder pushing the latter away.

Junhong giggled and ran towards the car. “See you on Wednesday!” he shouted.

Youngjae smiled and waved him goodbye until the car was lost into the traffic. Then he sat at the bus stop, only a few meters away from the shop, and waited for the transport.

“Hi, I’m Youngjae, save my number.”

He texted to Daehyun.

Omg I'm late again ngh. I'm sorry, everything's my exams fault, I swear (´；ω；`)

Ahh, this chapter wasn't supposed to exist, I mean, I decided to do a short chapter out of the "main story" because I don't have enough time and I'm too tired to write properly, but it came out like a normal chapter lmao. I had fun writing it and it helped me to release some stress, so I hope you enjoy it. It's written from Youngjae's point of view, so now you know what he feels and all those things ᕦ( ͡°╭͜ʖ╮͡° )ᕤ

Aaaand, probably I won't be able to update until the 20th of May or so, so I'm sorry, you are free to throw me stones (´;︵;`) 

Thank you, as always, for commenting, subscribing and upvoting, you are the real MVP *cries* Let me invite you all to ice cream <3

Have a nice week, and good luck if you are with your finals too! Love you (▰˘◡˘▰) ♥️