[coffee]

Crescent
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They stand behind the counter and watch her as Yunho brings her in, guiding her to one of the tables. He tilts his head to them, prompting any of them to give the menu to him and Wooyoung fishes it out - which has collected dust since it's barely used - from under the counter before throwing it to him. He catches it with ease, and places it in front of her, waiting beside her to hear what she wants. She scans the one-page menu from top to bottom without moving and emitting any sound at all, that he thought she has fallen asleep.

He leans forward to get a good look of her face but gets startled when she suddenly looks at him dead in the eye, akin to the expression she gave when she was outside and they thought she was a ghost.

She puts out one finger, slides it along the menu before asking, "Do you have something sweet that I can eat?"

He looks over to the display unit placed beside the counter, which has been empty since they first unveiled the cafe. They never had any cakes or pastries to sell, and it has always been only the coffee. Even then they get customers scarcely, but it's not like it matters since they are not the ones keeping the cafe alive. The cafe is only a disguise for something bigger; something they have been keeping well under wraps for almost a year and hopefully, for more years to come.

"Hmm," he looks up, pretending to search for suitable words, "it's a pity that you came a bit later because the couple just took the last slice of cake," he lies through his teeth, faking an exaggerated sigh and a look of dismay. Although he's pretty sure that Hwayoung has probably drifted off to sleep, he can hear her saying 'Dad, stop lying' in his head. He knows that she's not a local at the Light District, because he has never seen her around before. Their district is pretty small, where everyone knows each other, but tries to keep to themselves most of the time. "Why don't you try the caramel latte instead? That's something sweet you can try."

"I'll have that one then." She gives back the menu before quickly adding, "I'll have it and leave soon after. I just need a caffeine fix."

He raises his eyebrows as the corners of his lips lifts up. "It's fine, really. Take your time. Though..." he throws his vision outside, looking at the dark sky without any source of light. The only moon out tonight is their own cafe's neon sign, but even that is not switched on. He lets it trail off as he excuses himself, signalling to any of the four to start making a cup of caramel latte.

Wooyoung, Jongho, Yeosang and Mingi nudge each other roughly, refusing to be the one to take a cup and start brewing the coffee.

Mingi cannot brew a cup of coffee to save his life, that once upon a time he did and the rest had food poisoning that lasted for three days and they had to close the cafe because no one was available to work. He never told them what he put in the pot, but they banned him from getting near the coffee machine for getting them almost killed. He was known as the 'innocent killer' among them, knowing that he can probably poison your food without you and even himself noticing.

Wooyoung and Jongho are the best, that they could actually pass off as real baristas if things get bad and they are forced to find other jobs; but they are too lazy to brew it for her. Yeosang is a decent barista, but he firmly states that he won't be making the cup for her and he'll be busy with the book he's currently holding. They turn to Yunho, since he was the one who brought her in, but he says that he needs to check up on Hwayoung and disappears upstairs.

"But you're the one who invited her in when we're about to close- ah, Jeong Yunho stop using Hwayoung as an excuse!" Wooyoung whispers angrily, only managing to spit it out to Yunho's shadow as his figure is already out of sight.

They stay quiet, observing as she looks around the cafe.

"Maybe if we stay still she won't notice that we're here and leave," Jongho suggests. "Or she'll get tired of waiting and leave."

"Idiot, she just ordered a cup of coffee and she saw us tumbling onto the road, remember? We're not ghosts; she can see us all right," Yeosang replies.

", I think she saw us," Mingi says.

"Stay quiet everyone, don't say anything," Wooyoung instructs. "And don't move."

They obey; trying to breathe evenly and slowly, standing still like statues. Even when Yeosang wanted to flip to the next page of his book, Wooyoung slaps his hand away while glaring at him. He grumbles, gives up and puts down the book. They all end up looking similar; hands clasped and bodies leaned against the counter. Their eyes are fixed on her, their mouths pressed into thin lines.

Her eyes roam around the cafe, taking in her new surrounding. The cafe is quite spacious but there aren't many tables, if this was all to it there are only 10 tables with 4 chairs at each, and a stretch of a wall table with 6 chairs overlooking the alley. One of the hanging lamps is broken, but it seems that they don't bother to fix it. The walls are covered with wallpaper that has a white background with purple flowers, some torn at the edges where the walls meet. They don't bother to decorate the whole cafe, the only notable decoration is the frame with the words 'live more, love more' nailed against the wall behind the counter. The chair she's sitting on creaks whenever she moves, and she feels slightly uncomfortable especially when she's trying to angle her body so as to make sure she's hiding her torn skirt. The ceilings look like they are about to fall off any time soon and- is that a bullet hole through the ceiling?

It doesn't lo

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Comments

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Magbuull5245 #1
Chapter 70: By far the best book I have read. Laughing, crying, deep thinking. Just amazing!
jeongsclown
#2
Chapter 3: LMFAO THEY'RE SO CHAOTIC I LOVE IT
Manna-chan #3
Chapter 70: This story is amazing! You are so talented, the flow of the story, the way you managed to tell about all of them without it seeming forced or weird. I love it, thank you for making me smile, cry, smile again and cry happy tears at the end. Thank you for sharing this story with us <'333
WiltedStar
#4
Chapter 1: You're such a great writer.
Jade_Flower #5
Chapter 70: Loved it!!
TaeTae_wife
#6
Chapter 70: I so love your story! It's the fist Ateez story that I read and it's WOW!
Congratulations!!!! <3
MsPinKai
#7
Chapter 70: THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME SHED HAPPY TEARS ??? this was EVERYTHING!!!! One of the best written stories & plotline ever! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Animeakume
#8
Chapter 70: prepared my heart for a tragic ending but tHANK GOD ??? shed happy tears instead but it’s all worth it

i love this whole story so much! defs one of my go tos for rereading <3 thank you so much for this amazing story
Animeakume
#9
Chapter 57: i cracked and bawled my eyes out when yunho and byul repeated that they said back then as trainees ??? the whole “Dont you wish everything here is an illusion” “us, being here?” “No you idiot” back and forth conversation ohmyheart
MsPinKai
#10
Chapter 51: just when I was already believing that she 's not eunbi.......OH. MY. GOD.