“Welcome to Seoul, sir.”

Na Jaemin nodded to the border officer handing him his passport back. He picked up his backpack and finally made his way through the gates of Incheon Airport to collect the rest of his luggage. He was right on time to spot his shiny silver suitcase covered in stickers on the carrousel. Excusing himself and working his way throughout the crowd, he swiftly took his belongings and started walking towards the exit.

***

“Are we sure he was arriving at 1:30pm? What if he already left and we missed his arrival?”

“For the 711th time Huang Renjun: relax. Jaemin will have to go through security and get his luggage before he can step one feet out of the airport, we have plenty of time.”

“Well technically, it only takes like half an hour to do that for such a short flight, and since it’s already 2.15pm, we’re probably late.”

“See?? I TOLD YOU. I told you we didn’t have time to stop for lunch Haechan, but nooooo, your stomach couldn’t wait. If we really miss his arrival I’ll hold you personally responsible for it and-“

“You’re such a party-pooper, Jeno.”

“Am I supposed to say sorry?”

“You will when I beat your sorry .”

“Ohh I’d like to see you try.”

 ***

Jaemin was at the entrance hall of the airport, looking at the signs to get a taxi when he heard three teenage boys making a commotion a few meters away from him. He turned around and a huge smile lit up his face as he recognized his friends.

“Ah! There! NA JAEMIN, OVER HERE”

“No need to shout Renjun, he saw us already… JAEMIN-AH WHY ARE YOU WALKING SO SLOWLY? DID YOU GET UNEXPECTEDLY OLD AFTER SIX MONTHS IN HONG KONG?”

“Tsk. Who’s shouting now…”

“OUR JAEMINIE IS BACK, WE MISSED YOU SO MUCH”

“No need to be dramatic Haechan. Just like you said, it’s only been six months” Jaemin chuckled, hugging back the brown haired boy who was faking bawling his eyes out. 

“It’s good to see you Jaemin. We truly missed you” Renjun said after pushing Haechan out of his way to hug his friend as well. Jaemin gently patted the Chinese boy’s shoulder before turning to the last of the boys who had just been silently watching the scene from the side, his warm smile turning his eyes to crescents.

“Wassup Lee Jeno! Missed me too?”

“Welcome back Jaemin-ah. It’s good to see you” Jeno replied, pulling his best friend to his chest.

“Awww just say it already, you missed me terribly?”

“I surely didn’t miss your aegyo though.”

“Ah… Did you hear that? That was the sound of my heart breaking.”

“Okaaaaaay enough with the cheesy stuff you two, I’m gonna puke” Haechan interrupted, faking a barf. The boys eerily laughed, happy to be reunited again.

“Are you hungry?” Jeno asked as he put his arm around his best friend’s shoulders while Renjun took the silver suitcase.

“I had a snack in the plane, but I could totally eat again” Jaemin replied with a grin.

“Me too, I’m starving.”

“Again? You literally just ate, Lee Haechan!”

“What can I say? My metabolism is on point, no need to be jealous about it Renjunnie.”

Jaemin laughed as he watched them bicker even more. As they were making their way towards the taxi area of Incheon airport, he took a moment to look around and inhaled deeply.

It's good to be home.

***

The boys shared a cab to drop Jaemin’s luggage at the school dorm before making their way to their favourite café in Itaewon. Haechan explained he was the one who found it and became friends with the owner of the place, and basically they all owed him a treat – which caused a roar of disapproval from Renjun and Jeno while Jaemin was laughing at Haechan’s antics.

Full Moon Café was located at the corner of a busy street, and Jaemin would have totally missed it had he not been dragged by his friends to come over. The facade was just a big window peeping on the inside of the coffee shop displaying wooden tables and the counter at the centre. From afar, a display unit presenting yummy cakes and other patisseries could be seen, as well as a traditional Italian coffee maker where up to three coffees could be made simultaneously. The decoration, though it could appear plain at first, was mostly plants here and there, giving a natural, almost zen vibe to the place. Jaemin liked it immediately – but he wasn’t planning on telling Haechan about that. The eccentric boy could definitely cut out on the bragging once in a while.

“Hi there! Welcome to Full Moon Café, how can I help you to- oh, Haechan-ah! How is it going? Just chilling with the boys again?”

Jaemin’s head turned straight away to the waitress smiling behind the counter and his jaw fell slightly open when he recognized her. A subtle nudge from Jeno made him close his mouth quickly, and he could already feel his ears burning up.

Damn you, Lee Haechan. Jaemin should have known better. Of course, his so-called friends had to take him to the exact café his middle school crush was now working at. He frowned at them in disbelief, annoyed they hadn’t warned him beforehand. Until he saw Haechan’s mischievous smile directed at him. 

Don’t you dare-

“Leeseul-noona! Look who’s here!”

He did. 

“Huh? Who’s… wait: Na Jaemin, is that you?”

Oh boy. Here goes nothing.

“Hi noona. It’s been a while” Jaemin said with a bright smile, hoping she wouldn’t notice his cheeks reddening. 

“It has indeed! Where have you been?” she answered brightly, grinning at him.

“Here and there… looking for you noona” Jaemin responded playfully.

There it is. Flirt-mode Jaemin was functioning again. Leeseul laughed at his comment and Jaemin felt his smile grow bigger. He couldn’t help but notice how she still had that warm, pretty smile that was reaching her eyes.

“Noona! Since I brought Jaemin here can I get a free coffee please?”

“Like you’d get something on the house for that reason” a deep voice behind them stated before smacking Haechan’s head loudly, making him yelp in pain.

“Taeil-hyung! What kind of café owner beats his customer up? You truly can’t get a good service today, pity…”

“Liz hasn’t taken your order, by definition you’re not a customer yet. Now be quiet, we have actual customers trying to enjoy their coffee here.”

“You’re too hard on him, Moon Taeil.”

“And you’re too soft on him, Wong Leeseul.”

“It’s okay, as long as you still love me” she responded in a cute, exaggerated way, while Taeil rolled his eyes with a hint of a smile before introducing himself to Jaemin.

“Sorry about that Jaemin. I’m Moon Taeil, I own this place and I thought employing my best friend was the best business choice ever” 

“I heard that, and I agree it is” 

“…anyway, what can I get for you guys?”

Just as they were finishing placing their order, Jaemin’s breath got caught in his lungs – or what was left of them - as a tower almost tackled him to the ground.

“NANA IS THAT YOU? IT'S BEEN SO LONG”

“Oh my god, here we go again”

“Nana! Do you remember me? PLEASE REMEMBER”

“Jesus, Lucas-hyung, watch it! He just came back from Hong Kong, did you have to break him in a half?”

“Lu… Lucas-hyung?” Jaemin stuttered, trying to breathe through the pair of arms that had grabbed him unexpectedly.

“HE REMEMBERS”

“For crying out loud Wong Lucas, be quiet! Liz, could you please manage your brother before all the customers run away?” Taeil sighed, trying real hard not to roll his eyes again.

Leeseul ran out from the counter, a worried look on her face.

“Wong Yukhei, manners. Are you okay Jaemin?”

“I think so” Jaemin managed to respond before Lucas pulled him to his chest for another crushing hug.

“Lucas… too… tight”

“Oh my, sorry sorry! Come, come, sit with us guys, let’s go!”

Laughing at the scene, Renjun, Haechan and Jeno followed Lucas who was dragging poor Jaemin to the biggest table of the shop where the latter recognized Ten Chittaphon - Leeseul and Lucas’ cousin from Thailand – as well as Jungwoo, Winwin and Xiaojun - Lucas’ friends. While everyone warmly welcomed him back, Leeseul shook her head in disbelief with a smile and got back to her counter to get started on making the boys’ orders. 

She came back a few minutes later, her tray full of steaming coffee, and put a slice of peach pie in front of Jaemin.

“This one is on the house, don’t tell Taeil about it” she said with a wink. Jaemin thanked her before looking away, feeling his ears burning again.

“Noona, where’s mine?”

“And mine?”

“What about me? I’m your baby brother!”

“If you guys want something to eat for free, go ask Taeil, I’m on a break”, Leeseul responded casually to the whiny kids. “How have you been Jaemin-ah? I heard you went to Hong Kong. How was it?” she added, taking the empty seat next to him.

“I spent six months over there on a scholarship, it was nice” Jaemin answered before taking a bite of the pie and gulping it down with wide eyes. “This tastes amazing noona! Did you make that?”

“I did this morning. I remembered peaches are your favourite” Leeseul responded with a proud smile, unaware of Jaemin’s heartbeat that had decided to start racing.

“Liz?”

Both of them flipped their head, facing a tall, handsome young man in a suit and a white shirt. Leeseul stood up immediately, rubbing her hands on her apron.

“Luhan! What are you doing here? I thought you were working late tonight…”

“I finished earlier to pick you up after work,” the man named Luhan said with a small smile before kissing the side of her head. The table where Jaemin and his friends were sitting at fell silent at the sight. Awkwardly, Leeseul introduced them one by one.

“And this is Na Jaemin, I used to tutor him a few years back -”

“Oh, that kid that was coming over to your parents’ house. Hello, my name is Luhan. I’m Liz’s boyfriend.”

Jaemin frowned at the use of the term kid, but bowed his head anyways.

“Jaemin.”

” Nice to meet you Jaemin.”

Feeling the tension, Leeseul quickly told her boyfriend she was finishing in about half an hour and offered to get him a drink, which he declined. Lucas called him over to sit with them, and Leeseul went back to her counter to serve the new customers that had just come in. Once said customers had their order placed, she looked back at the table, a very uneasy feeling making her bite on her lower lip with worry.

“You alright Liz?” Taeil called softly next to her.

“I’m alright. Just a bit tired.”

 ***

If Jaemin had to use one word to describe Luhan, the first that would come to his mind would be unpleasant. Sure, Luhan was handsome, had a pretty smile and was certainly a nice guy in other times – but the way he had been glaring at him ever since he had arrived was telling him overwise. For a reason Jaemin could not fathom, he could tell Luhan was definitely not fond of him, and he wasn’t even trying to hide it. 

Even the arrival of Jung Hani, Taeil’s girlfriend and also Leeseul’s closest friend, had done nothing to alter Luhan’s mood. Hani had greeted Jaemin warmly, chatting him up about his next plans until Leeseul was done with her shift and joined them for a bit to catch up. 

Luhan suddenly interrupted them, saying he was taking his girlfriend on a surprise date and that they had to go. Leeseul lifted surprised eyes at him but took her bag and stood up anyway.

“Noona, we were supposed to hang out at the arcade tonight… remember?” Lucas said with a small voice. Leeseul looked at Luhan with questioning eyes.

“Sorry, I’ve already booked it, we can’t cancel now.”

“I see… Sorry Xuxi” Leeseul said apologetically to her brother. “Maybe some other time?”

“Okay…” Lucas conceded, staring down at his hands. 

“Have a good one everyone” Leeseul waved at the table. “See you around Jaemin. Welcome back” she said with a small smile. Jaemin nodded, smiling back at her.

Luhan waved as well before taking her hand and they both left the coffee shop, unaware of the awkward atmosphere they were leaving behind. Right on cue, Taeil joined them and took the empty seat between Lucas and Hani.

“I can’t stand him anymore. He really gets on my nerves a bit more every day.”

“Easy, Taeil” Ten objected. “If he had it booked already it would be a shame to waste money…”

“I’m not talking about that and you know it. Are you okay Lucas?”

“Yeah… I mean, I should get used to it by now I guess” Lucas said, disappointed. Jaemin couldn’t help but overhear.

“What’s wrong with Luhan?” he asked out, his curiosity piqued.

“Oh right, you didn’t know,” Ten replied. “Liz and Luhan started dating shortly before she quitted tutoring students. They’ve been dating for like two years or so, but things haven’t been going well...”

“Not going well is an understatement” Taeil intervened, a frown showing on his features.

“What do you mean?” Jeno asked, overhearing the conversation as well. Ten shared a look with the eldest before answering with a sight.

“Well, they’ve been fighting a lot, and Liz just looks… different from her usual self. We don’t think she’s doing okay.”

“I tried to talk to her about it,” Lucas said. “She told me it was nothing. I understand she wants to work things out on her own, and honestly, I like Luhan-hyung a lot, I’m just disappointed we don’t get to hang out together anymore…” Hani put her hand on the youngest Wong sibling’s arm to comfort him, leaving Jaemin deep in thought.

He remembered Leeseul quitted tutoring out of the blue back then. The reason he had been given was that she needed time to focus on her studies. Could it be, Luhan was at the origin of her quitting unexpectedly?

Jeno’s hand on his thigh made him come back to reality. He shared a look with his best friend who was silently asking him what the matter was, but Jaemin dismissed it with a smile, shaking his head.

He was just hoping Leeseul was okay.

 ***

“I don’t like that kid.”

“Who?”

“The one that was obviously flirting with you to piss me off. Jaemin.”

Leeseul opened wide eyes at her boyfriend’s statement.

“Jaemin wasn’t flirting with me at all, if anything –“

“He was flirting with you Liz, right before my eyes. You’re just too gullible to notice it.”

Leeseul opened to reply but decided against it. Once again.

“What’s wrong? Are you not happy we’re going on a date?”

“What? Of course not, I’m glad you’re out of work early” she said, squeezing Luhan’s hand gently. He abruptly let go of hers.

“It doesn’t seem like it. You know, you could always go back there and hang out with your dumb brother if you’re not happy with me.” Leeseul stopped right on her tracks.

“Lucas is not dumb.”

“Yeah? How do you explain he still can’t speak Korean properly without stuttering all the time? He’s 18!”

“Well, as a matter of fact, your Korean is not perfect either…”

“I’m a foreigner here!” Luhan exclaimed. “I haven’t lived here for long, unlike you two”

“Lucas was only 3 years old when we moved here! He’s always been struggling with Korean because Mom and Dad only speak Thai or Cantonese at home. Most of his friends are transferred students from China so he’s not making effort to speak Korean properly but –“

“So you admit he’s being lazy about it?”

“That’s not what I said.” Leeseul bit her tongue so hard it almost drew blood.

“That’s what you think anyway” Luhan snorted. 

Leeseul took a deep breathe, trying to stop herself from shaking in anger.

“I think, being lazy at learning a language and being dumb are two different things. Lucas is smarter than you think.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night. Come on, pick a movie and let’s get this over with already.”

They paid for the tickets and ordered food before taking their seats. The film started but Leeseul was not paying attention at all. She could feel Luhan was still bitter, anger oozing out of him. She couldn’t help it but replaying their argument in her head and was conscious of her own feelings. She was upset that Luhan was taking his unidentified frustration on Lucas and Jaemin, two of the sweetest people she had ever come to know. Scratch that: she was so furious she wanted to scream.

At that exact moment, she paused for a second and realized one thing.

Wong Leeseul was many things, but prompt to anger was not one of them. This was unlike her, and the realization made her feel like crying.