"One non-fat, non-froth, soy, hazelnut-latte with extra whipped vegan cream and coffee shot. Enjoy."

Krystal's hands had pretty much become numb to the scolding heat of every coffee she'd brewed today.The shop had been a lot busier to say the least, even for a Sunday. They weren't used to having so many people come into the shop at one time, and their lack of preparation was made evident by Siwon helping out behind the counter and Luna phoning for Onew's assistance.

"Chill-lax you guys," Siwon berated as he flipped the 'Open' sign to the 'Closed' sign n the door, "Once these other stores are up and running, you'll never have a day like this again!"

"And how long will those stores take to build, exactly?!" Key demanded as he melodramatically slumped down onto a chair. Krystal smirked at the poop-coloured coffee stain that marked his apron - Key always prided himself on being the 'cleanest barista to bless the streets of Seoul'. But even fashion needed to be sacrificed on days as exhausting as this. Even as she swept the floors, Krystal continually felt like collapsing to the floor and passing out - not even a responsibly-sourced espresso-shot could fix the exhaustion that plagued her both mentally and physically.

"About a month to refurbish the shopping mall locations, another two or three for the single chain store in Gangnam-Gu," Siwon shrugged as if it were no big deal.

Amber groaned as she cleaned the brewing utensils down, "That's a month far too long!"

"Why can't you guys quit complaining for once?" Siwon groaned as he tweaked at the already-perfectly-aligned menus and napkins placed on the tables. His OCD was clearly at large, "Onew comes in here whenever we need him, and he never complains!"

Onew -who was diligently cleaning out the dishes with Luna- peeped up over the counter, sending one of his signature gummy grins in their boss' direction.

"Believe me Hyung," Key scoffed, "It's not because he loves the job,"

"Or frankly," Amber added, "The coffee either. In fact, I don't think he-"

"Okay, okay," Siwon waved a hand in their air dismissively, "The fact is, things are gonna' be changing a lot around here, believe me. In fact, the new investor is going to be coming here any minute."

"What?!"

"Now?!"

"Why didn't you say so!?"

"Is my hair okay?"

Krystal rolled her eyes as her friends suddenly began to scuttle about the place, trying their best to clean up as quickly and efficiently as possible. Krystal just continued sweeping up the floor - she just couldn't wait to get home and to go to sleep. Nothing was more appetising than the thought of her bed right now, and she didn't think anything could challenge that.

Until he walked right through the door.

"Excuse me, the sign clearly says closed!"

Krystal spun on her heel at the sound of Amber's shouting, and sighed as dread quickly overcame her. She almost forgot about her obligation to attend Lotte World with him. She groaned, pressing her head against the handle of the sweeper in attempt to conceal her despair.

"I know," Taemin shrugged as the door closed behind him, "I came to see her," 

Krystal shuddered as her ex-boyfriend pointed his finger at her.

"You can't just walk in here!" Amber scolded him as she made her way towards him, a lioness prepared to devour her prey.

"Oh, I think I can," Taemin smirked - that annoying glint in his eye that told you he was about to play his biggest trump card, the same flicker that got Krystal wrapped around his little finger, an instrument that he could play even in his sleep. Krystal couldn't help but feel a dangerous thud in her chest, and she fought like crazy to ignore it.

He left you when you needed him most. Remember that.

"Wait," Luna, the most intelligent of all of them, stepped around the counter as she patted her damp hands on her apron, "You're not this 'big investor' we're all dreading, are you?"

Krytal stared at Taemin in sheer horror. Fully aware of how diabolical her ex was capable of being, Krystal dreaded the countless threats and blackmail the guy probably had up his sleeve right now - I don't suppose I'll be getting out of this whole Lotte World thing any time soon...

Taemin chuckled, that same glimmer in his eye as before, "Not quite."

No one had noticed the man walk through the door as quiet and lithe as an eagle swooping in for the kill. The way he carried himself with absolute purpose and discipline, not to mention the preparedness that shone in his dark eyes, was precisely the same trademark arrogance that his son wore besides him.

Krystal dropped the broom, bringing her hand up to .

She hadn't seen Taemin's Dad, Mr Lee, since she was an infatuated teenager, well on the road to marrying into one of the wealthiest families in the country if things continued the way they could have.

But it didn't pan out that way, and all his Dad has to offer are looks of pity for his would-be daughter-in-law.

"Allow me to introduce my Father,"

Amber was the only one who clicked onto the tension that quickly surmounted in the room, whilst everyone else leapt to their feet to greet Mr Lee with absolute reverence. 

Krystal stared at Taemin with a look that would make him push up daisies, whilst Amber walked towards Krystal, picking up the broom from the floor.

"Are you okay?" She asked under her breath, holding out the broom for Krystal to take with shaking hands.

She nodded weakly, "Just about."

"I can't believe that brought him here," Amber sighed before making her way to their other co-workers to meet their new benefactor.

Krystal figured that she should go greet her old acquaintance too, but she had no idea how he'd react. She'd feel more awkward than anyone, and it was difficult to fight against the sudden wave of emotions that threatened to spill over any minute. So she did the only thing she could, and ran out of the store without sparing a second glance.

~

Of course he had to chase her down. And of course Krystal ran out of breath sooner than she'd hoped.

"Eugh," she panted as she reached the street edge, bending over with her hand pressed to her ribcage - stitch, "My track-star days are long gone,"

"Soojung!" 

"Eugh, great," Krystal rolled her eyes at the sounds of Taemin, running after her with sheer desperation in his voice. She spun on her heel, her anger radiating in both her eyes and voice, her fists scrunched up by her sides as she shouted at him, "Why did you bring him in?! Do you know how embarrassing that was for me? Why didn't you mention it the last evening?"

Taemin panted, looking painfully innocent at Krystal as he reasoned, "I figured it was the only way I'd get you out of that shop alone - guess what?"

"What?" Krystal snapped, totally unimpressed.

"It worked!"

Krystal scoffed, "You may have gotten me out of there, but it sure as hell doesn't mean I'm going anywhere with you!"

Taemin smirked, "I'd like to think otherwise," He held Krystal's phone up in the air, waving it slightly like a toy.

"I don't care," Krystal shrugged, "I can pay off my contract, get a new one."

"Okay," Taemin smirked again, "But I doubt you'd want to lose your wallet and cards, right?"

Krystal couldn't help but take a step towards the guy, panic quickly welling up in her gut over the particular photos she kept in her wallet.

Prom, birthday, Him - Her.

Krystal tried not to dwell on the past too often, but the contents of that wallet