“And, cut! Thank you for your hard work. We’re going to change up the sets, so we will resume filming at 5 am. Please get some rest for now.”

The boys instinctively bowed to the staff and thanked them for their hard work as they fought their urges to yawn or show any sign of fatigue. Considering the watchful eyes of their managers, they were not going to risk it this time. Jaehyun touched his left wrist on instinct as he lowered his head and walked over to their make shift dressing room. Although it has faded over the year, he could still feel the raised scar that dressed his arm. He shook off the memory and replaced it with a smile because if he showed any other emotion, he would have a matching set of scars by the end of the day.

            “Okay everyone. Let’s just get back to the dorms and sleep. I heard we only have one more set to film. We’re almost done!” Taeyong cheered. A chorus of weak celebratory cheers echoed through the room as each member went to their own areas of the room to change. Taeyong expected this response from s with all the filming they just completed. Over 48 hours of work can do that to a person and he got that. But, he couldn’t help but feel slightly dejected by their lack of enthusiasm. After all, they were in this together. Taeyong cleared his throat before speaking calmly to the boys, “Look, I know you’re all tired. I’m tired too. Let’s finish off this filming together and end it strong. This is our best comeback yet and you all know it. So, can we all gather here and give ourselves a well-deserved cheer?” The boys slowly made their way to the center of the room and placed their hands together. They only had to look around the circle once for their stress to immediately disappear. Their leader was right. As long as they stuck together, their possibilities would be endless.

---

            Jiwoo sighed as she rolled over in her bed, trying to make herself comfortable under the covers. Despite the early hour, she couldn’t seem to fall back asleep after being awoken by the honking of a delivery driver. Usually, she could drift right back into her dreamland, but today was just not one of those days. “Forget it,” she sighed as she threw her blanket off to the side. If she couldn’t sleep, at this hour, she might as well start her day.

             Grabbing her phone from the nightstand, she checked for the time and sighed at the small number two shining back at her. She swung her legs over the bed and slipped her feet into her slippers and looked around her room for a moment, taking in a deep breath as she surveyed the area. Her room wasn’t much. Some would describe it as being quaint or cozy. But to Jiwoo, she would describe it as being just enough. Packed with just the essentials, she had just her bed, nightstand, closet, and her bookshelves. Nothing more, nothing less. Just enough.

            Pushing herself up from the bed, she plodded out of her room and stepped into the small hallway. She stopped for a moment, looking up through the skylight in the hall and into the darkness that was dawn. The stars sprinkled the early morning sky like flecks of white sand in a deep, indigo sea, quietly waiting for their time to be washed away by the morning sun. This was her most favourite time of the day, when the world was suspended between night and day. People often ask her why she preferred this time over sunsets or sunrises. Her answer was simple. It was because at this moment, anything could happen. There was no anticipation of a sun rising up into the sky or setting beneath the horizon. There was no peak hour at noon. In a world where everything was preplanned and where moments like breakfast, lunch, and dinner were set, everything becomes a routine. Expected, anticipated. But here, at this time of the day, there are no expectations. The possibilities are endless. To Jiwoo, that’s what makes it the most beautiful moment.

            Enough thoughts. Let’s get going, Jiwoo. She swung her arms and stretch them out as she walked to her washroom to freshen up before changing into some comfortable clothes. She double checked her outfit in her mirror and gave herself a small, reassuring nod before heading downstairs and entering her small parlour. Much like her bedroom, it was a cozy little area with a couch and coffee table. Plants adorned the window sills, adding dashes of green to the relatively white room. Along the walls hung picture frames filled with small art pieces Jiwoo collected over the years. Each one held a special memory of her travels and the moments she shared with the people around her.

            She paused for another quick stretch before turning towards the kitchen door. She gave the double doors a push and entered a room that looked like it belonged to another world. The kitchen was filled with state-of-the-art appliances, their chromatic finishes shining brightly under the fluorescent lights. From industrial stand mixers, to gas stoves, her kitchen looked like it belonged in a culinary institution. The extravagance was necessary though, given what lay on the other side of the door leading to the front of her house.

Through the doors on the other side of the room was her pride and joy – her café. She spent the bulk of her teenage years working odd jobs, before settling in a corporate career after university. It was only when she settled at a desk job did she realize that that wasn’t her dream. She truly didn’t feel like she was meant to be working at an office. So, she promised herself to make a change. To discover her true dream. And, fortunately for her, she found it in this little building.

            To call her café a challenge was definitely an understatement. She spent years working at her office job to save up enough to purchase this small building and turn her entire life around. But, purchasing the building was the easiest part. She planned, designed, and learned everything she needed to know about how to run a café, make pastries, and food, and become a barista for months before she was finally able to settle on the current layout of her shop and home. When she set her mind on anything, she always saw it through. From the colours of her walls to the silverware use, she left no detail or task unturned. Once everything had settled, she has stayed open since. That was 3 years ago. This year marks her fourth year open, and she couldn’t be happier. Her shop might not be the busiest or the fanciest, but it was homey, warm, and welcoming – and that’s all she could ever ask for.

            Gathering all her ingredients she prepped the night before, Jiwoo began making the pastries and desserts for the day before moving into the more savoury items. Fruits and vegetables that needed to be washed and prepped where finished with skill and ease. If the last three years had taught her anything, it was to be efficient in all ways possible.

            Now came her favourite part of the day: coffee. If anyone were to ask her for the one thing she would not be able to live without, Jiwoo would say coffee without hesitation. Coffee was everything to her. It was her sustenance. It satiated her hunger and provided both energy and peace. Also, it was her dream personified; life for her is like coffee - bold, strong, and comforting. Sometimes she hit some bitter accents, but they are quickly balanced out with fresh, floral tones. The harmony pulled her into its chocolate depths, easing her into its addictive scents. To Jiwoo, it was a craving like no other.

            She did one last check on the baking before pushing through the second set of doors leading to the front of the shop. Jiwoo couldn’t help but smile at her small café. Its simplistic, white design complimented the little shelves of books that lined one side of her walls. Other personal touches were scattered around the room like her record player and vinyl collection, and her small painting corner. Jiwoo figured if was going to spend a lot of time in here, might as well surround herself with things she liked and wanted to share with others. Otherwise, why bother opening a shop at all?

            Jiwoo headed over to the main light panel and flipped on all the switches before going behind the counter to boot up her computer and sales system. She jumped with a chuckle as a receipt popped out of the printer. Even though it happened daily, she couldn’t help but surprised by the sound of her printer starting up. If the coffee didn’t wake her up, the whirring and chirping of the printing device definitely did the job.

            With everything up and running, Jiwoo walked over to her pride and joy – the espresso machine. During her build of the store, she knew that the one thing she had to splurge on was the espresso machine. It was the heart of her business, so she knew she couldn’t be cheap with it. Then again, she was also aware that having a top tier machine didn’t mean the coffee would be the best by default. The barista also plays a huge role, which was why she chose not to hire anyone. It required more work and energy on her part, but the satisfaction was all the more rewarding.

            Taking out all her supplies, Jiwoo began the process of making herself an iced americano. She ground the beans into the filter and weighed it before prepping them accordingly. No matter how repetitive and monotonous the motions became, Jiwoo never got tired of making espressos. She loved how therapeutic it was to go through each step, to be meticulous. At a time where everything was so fast paced, making espressos allowed her to slow things down and focus on the finer details of coffee making, and, by extension, her own mind and self.

            She twisted the filter into place before she grabbed a cup and the machine. It hummed to life, ticking as the pressure built up in the filter and pushed water through the coffee grounds. She watched as the thick, golden brown liquid pooled at the center of the filter before dripping into the cup below. The steady stream of espresso filled up the cup, the machine running its course of making the shot before automatically shutting off.

            A soft tapping on the front door startled her out of her coffee making haze. Although she was up at an ungodly hour, she knew that other people maintained a more “normal” sleeping habit. She wondered who would be up at this hour as she headed over to the door. Pushing the little curtain aside, Jiwoo peeked through the door window to find a rather frazzled woman on the other side of it. Concerned, but curious, she cracked open the door just enough to speak to the out of breath individual.

            “How may I help you?”

            “Hi…I’m just wondering if…you’re open right now?” The stranger could barely gasp out their question before they doubled over with their hands on their knees. Jiwoo, although suspicious of the hour, responded with a small yes. Customers were always welcome at her stor, no matter what time of day. She even had it so that her store didn’t have a sign with designated opening or closing times because she didn’t believe in having set hours of business. As long as she was downstairs in the shop, the store was always open. Also, living right above her establishment had its privileges.

            “Yeah, I’m open. How can I help you?” she responded, opening the door a little wider. The woman straightened herself up, smoothing out her jacket as she quickly tried to regain her composure.

            “I’m so sorry to bother you, but there are no other coffee shops open around this time and in this area. I have a huge favour to ask of you.”

            “Okay, what do you need help with?” Jiwoo asked, opening the door a little wider.

            “I’m working on a project close by and was asked to get the coffee and snacks for everyone by 5 am. I’ve got about 50 staff on the team and they want me to deliver everything asap. Would I be able to get a rush order from you? I’m willing to pay extra costs!” The woman took a deep breath and looked at Jiwoo with pleading eyes. She was desperate enough to pay out of her own pocket if it meant that she got to work another day.

            Jiwoo knew that look well. She was all too familiar with it because it was also her life once upon a time. Her years working at the bottom of the corporate food chain came rushing back to her as a tense smile tugged at her lips. Burned as she might be from the harsh, business world, Jiwoo wasn’t going to let that prevent her from helping out a person in need. Especially if it she got to make coffee out of it.

            Stepping aside, Jiwoo let the stranger in. “Of course, I can help you. What would you like to order? I am working alone, though, so it might be a bit of a wait.”

            The stranger let out a sigh of relief. “I don’t care how long it takes. As long as it’s ready for 5 am, that’s all I am concerned about. Here’s a list of the drinks I need. I do apologize for the large quantity.”

            “That’s alright. It’s nothing I can’t handle,” Jiwoo said with an assuring smile. “Is there anything else you want to add to the order?” she asked as she entered the stranger’s order into her sales system. She glanced up from the screen to check in on her new customer, smiling as she watched the woman investigating her shop décor. The woman shook her head, but hesitated for a moment.

            “You don’t happen to have any food prepared, do you?” the woman asked.

            “I actually do. I have some desserts and pastries baking in the back right now. They should almost be finished. I also have ingredients prepared for sandwiches. Feel free to take a look at the menu and let me know what you would like. I should be able to make all that you need since you are my first customer of the day.”

            “Thank god. I thought I was going to have to go to another shop for food,” the woman said, smiling as she grabbed a menu from Jiwoo. She stood at the counter and flipped through the book, pulling out a pen and note pad to jot down everything she wanted before handing both the menu and the order to Jiwoo.

            “You can have a seat if you’d like? I might take a while with these,” Jiwoo said, her voice trailing as a long receipt printed out. The stranger couldn’t help but let out a small laugh as Jiwoo turned towards the counter behind her, a determined look in her eyes.

            Jiwoo was always up for a challenge, but this one might top all others. She looked at the list and sighed, grabbing extra supplies she might need to complete her task. Quickly scanning the list, she calculated the timing of each, and the longevity of them. There was a mixture of both hot and cold beverages, and sweet and savory foods.  With different prep times, Jiwoo knew she had better start working or else she wouldn’t be able to finish by 5.

---

            “I really appreciate your help. Are you sure it’s alright for you to leave the shop?” the stranger asked, looking behind them as they walked the short distance to her meeting location. Jiwoo smiled and shook her head.

            “Don’t worry about it. It’s still quite early in the morning, and I run the shop myself anyway. It’s no big deal. Besides, how else were you going to bring these both on your own?” Jiwoo laughed, pushing the cart full of drinks and food trays in front of her. The stranger joined her laughter, looking down at her own cart with a grin. The coolers packed securely on the cart barely moved an inch as she maneuvered through deserted alleyway. She had to give it to Jiwoo for packing her order with such thought and care. For such a small shop, the store owner went far beyond her expectations. A simple thank you would not be enough for everything that she has done.

            The two women soon arrived at outside a large warehouse looking building and parked the carts in front of the doors. The stranger pulled out her phone and typed up a contact before making a call.

            “Hey. I’m outside. Can you open the front doors for me please? Thanks.”

            Jiwoo glanced at her watch and noticed that there was about half an hour before the drinks and food needed to arrive. Relieved, she smiled at the stranger and nodded.

            “I do have to go back to the shop soon, so you can keep the carts for now. I can come by and pick them up later when you’re done with them,” Jiwoo said, bowing her head to the stranger before slowly backing away.

            “Wait! You’ve done more than enough for me. Here. Take my card. I’ll give your shop a call when we’re done, and I’ll have someone bring the carts to you. Don’t even think about coming here! I really appreciate your work. If you’re looking into catering, let me know and I’ll recommend you to my colleagues and clients.” The stranger handed Jiwoo her business card and gave her a firm hand shake. Her firm grip was more than enough to end any retaliation that Jiwoo might have had, so she took the card quietly. Bowing her head at the woman, she started to make her way back to her shop, flipping the business card in around to look at the name.

Lee Young Mi. Artist Coordinator. SM Entertainment. Jiwoo tilted her head at the card, wondering what an entertainment company was doing out in the heart of Suwon at this time. Not that it mattered to her. She only needed to concern herself with one thing anyway.

---

            “And cut! That’s a wrap on filming, boys. Good work! This will be your best comeback yet.” The director dismissed everyone as a round of cheers and applause filled the set. The boys of NCT bowed to everyone around them, clapping passionately for it was finally the end of their three days of filming.

            “Grab your stuff, guys. We still need to go practice,” Taeyong announced, sighing as he was immediately greeted with reluctant whining. “I’m not going to hear any of it. You know we don’t have much time left before promotions start. So, don’t waste your time with the complaining and let’s go!” he snapped. The boys knew not to test him at this stage, so they quietly gathered their things and followed their managers out to the cars.

            Jaehyun grabbed the cup of coffee he kept hidden next to his belongings and took a sip of what was left. The sweet, bitter tones of the coffee embraced his senses as he finished the rest of the drink in one sip. Even after the ice melted, the coffee was as delicious as when he first drank from it. He made a mental note to ask where they got the coffee from when a crash outside caught his attention.

            “What do you think you’re doing?! The cost of repairs is coming out of your paycheque,” the manager barked at one of the junior assistants. Young Mi came rushing over and ushered the frightened girl away from the roaring manager, throwing him a glare as she comforted the young assistant. Jaehyun and the boys watched as the girl nodded a couple of times before pushing the two carts away from the vans.

            “Boys, get in the van. We haven’t got all day,” Young Mi called the group members over. They snapped out of their daze and piled themselves into the car one by one. “I’ll wait here for the rest of the staff. You and the others head back first, got it?”

            The boys knew not to mess with Young Mi. She might be the youngest of the managers, but she was the best at her job and meant no funny business. Even their obsessive fans knew not to mess with her if she was around. They nodded at her request and shut the door to their van before their other manager began to drive back to their company.

            Jaehyun put his headphones in and shut his eyes. They were bound to be on the highway for an hour, so he was going to use all the time that he could to catch up on sleep. Taking in one last look around, he drifted off to dreamland, the taste of coffee lightly lingering on his breath as the darkness began to embrace him. He drifted off to sleep, but not before one last thought crossed his mind. He never got the name of the coffee shop.

Here's the first chapter! It's a slow start, but we're laying down the groundwork right now ^^; Like I said, this story is going to focus more on the character growth than it action. So, please stay? T_T

Hope to see more of you in the next chapter! I like to reply to comments, if there are any. Feel free to leave any feedback. I am open to all suggestions on how to grow as a writer. 

Until next time!