The Long Due Meet-Up

Stars Aligned
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Stepping into the familiar surroundings of the coffee shop where he worked, a mix of excitement and nervousness washed over Haechan. The long-awaited day of meeting with the scrapbook stranger had finally arrived, and his heart raced with anticipation. Despite taking a half-day off from work, Haechan had first made a detour to pick up Minjun, who had stayed with Renjun the previous night. 

 

To his surprise, Minjun was waiting near the entrance, his little face expressing a mix of happiness and slight disappointment. Haechan knelt down, wrapping his arms around his younger brother, understanding Minjun's feelings. "I'm sorry I couldn't spend more time with you yesterday, Minjun," Haechan said softly, his voice filled with warmth. "But today is an important day. I have to meet someone and exchange belongings with them."

 

Renjun, who was behind the counter, pretended to be offended. "Hey, Minjun, don't you like spending time with me? Am I not fun enough?" he teased, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

 

Minjun pouted for a moment, but Haechan's comforting words eased his sadness. "Of course, I like staying with you, Renjun hyung," Minjun replied, his voice softening as he hid his face in Haechan's chest. "But I miss Hyungie too."

 

Both Haechan and Renjun smiled at Minjun's adorable behavior, and Haechan's embrace tightened around him. "I know, buddy. I miss you too. But sometimes, we have to do things that are important. Just like how it's important to return someone's belongings if we accidentally take them. I promise I'll be back soon today, and we can have all the fun together."

 

Minjun nodded, his frown turning into a small smile. "Alright, Hyung. I understand. Good luck with your meeting."
Haechan ruffled Minjun's hair affectionately. "Thanks, buddy. Now, are you ready for school?"

 

Minjun's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. "Yes, Hyung! I'm excited to see my friends and learn new things!"

 

Haechan then turned to Renjun, a playful grin on his face. "Hey, Renjun, I know I've been troubling you with Minjun lately, but can you pick him up from school when it's finished?"

 

Renjun raised an eyebrow and replied with a playful tone, "Oh, so now you want me to be your personal chauffeur? Alright, I'll do it this time, but only because Minjun is so adorable."

 

Haechan grinned and gave Renjun a playful shove. "Thanks. You're the best. Okay, Minjun, let's go!"

 

With that, Haechan and Minjun bid farewell to Renjun and headed out together, ready to tackle the day ahead.

 

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

 

Iseul sat at a table in the café near her workplace, her heart filled with a mix of happiness and nervousness. Her eyes were fixated on the cafe door, every passing moment heightening her anticipation.

 

Unconsciously, over the past few days, whenever she sought solace and relaxation, she found herself drawn to the poems and lyrics written in the stranger's notebook. The soulful words had touched her deeply, leaving an indelible impression. It was this connection that had fueled her excitement for this long-awaited meeting, as she yearned to discover the person behind those heartfelt expressions.

 

As time ticked away, Iseul's anticipation grew stronger. She glanced at her surroundings, her eyes catching glimpses of the notebook peering out of her bag. Its pages held the untold stories and emotions that had resonated with her, forming an unspoken bond between them. She couldn't help but wonder how the meeting would unfold, and if the person behind those poignant words would be as captivating as the verses themselves.

 

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the cafe door swung open, and Haechan entered. Iseul's eyes widened with surprise and recognition. It was him—the singer who had moved her with his performance, yet she didn't connect the dots that he was the one she was waiting for.

 

Haechan, unaware of Iseul's presence, approached the café staff, whispering something that caught Iseul's attention. The cafe staff pointed towards the table where she was waiting, and Haechan nodded in acknowledgment. A warm smile graced his face as he started making his way towards her. Iseul couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and curiosity, unsure of what was happening.

 

Iseul's confusion grew as Haechan approached her table. As Haechan stood before her, his gaze meeting hers, he posed the question she had longed to hear. "Are you the LensLover?" At that moment, the realization struck Iseul like a lightning bolt. The singer, the poet, and the notebook stranger were one and the same. A smile of both surprise and delight adorned her face as she finally understood the convergence of their paths.

 

Iseul's smile turned slightly awkward as she nodded, a blush tinting her cheeks. "Yes, that's me. And you're SonicSoul, right?"

 

Haechan's smile grew wider as he took a seat across from her. "That's right! It's great to finally meet you in person."

 

Iseul couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and relief. "I've been looking forward to this meeting," she confessed. "Did you have any trouble coming here?"

 

Haechan shook his head, his expression reassuring. "No, it was a smooth journey. Actually, I work at a coffee shop just a few blocks away from here."

 

Iseul's face fell slightly, a tinge of regret coloring her tone. "Oh, you should have mentioned it earlier. I could have gone there to meet you."

 

Haechan nodded, understanding her concern. "You don't need to worry about that. It's totally fine. I'm glad we could meet here today."

 

Iseul smiled gratefully, feeling a sense of ease in Haechan's presence. "Thank you for understanding."

 

At that moment, the waiter approached their table, pen in hand, ready to take their order. Iseul and Haechan exchanged a quick glance, and to their own surprise, their voices intertwined in perfect sync, both uttering the words "Caramel latte" simultaneously.

 

Their words hung in the air, followed by a moment of silence. Then, a smile spread across both of their faces, realizing the coincidence and unexpected harmony between them. The waiter nodded, noting down their order, and then went off to prepare it.

 

Haechan reached over and picked up the bag that he had brought with him. With a warm smile, he handed it to Iseul. "Here you go. Finally, I can return what belongs to you."

 

Iseul's eyes sparkled with gratitude as she accepted the bag. "Thank you so much. I've been missing it."

 

Iseul smiled and opened the bag, carefully retrieving the scrapbook. Haechan's face turned apologetic as he spoke, "I hope you don't mind, but I did take a quick look through the bag. I was trying to find any clue about the owner." 

 

Iseul's smile grew warmer, reassurance in her voice, "Oh, it's absolutely fine. I understand why you did that." 

 

Haechan's eyes sparkled with genuine interest, his excitement palpable. "Your scrapbook seems l

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InkDreamer
So, this story was meant to be a quick oneshot, but it sort of spiraled into something much bigger! 😅 Yeah, I know it's been dragging a bit, but I'll try to wrap it up nice and tidy...

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