Kevin did his daily roaming around malls in his area because he thought it would prove to be more productive. Unfortunately, it was already his third day searching for a job.

“I'm thirsty...” Kevin sighed, looking for a McDonald’s chain to probably get a drink. He then walked passed a pretty big café, looking casually at the insides.

After passing the café, he paused in his tracks, causing the person behind him to collide into him.

“I'm sorry! Really sorry!” Kevin apologised and bowed continuously.

“It's okay, I wasn't looking at where I was going.” The other male smiled brightly, walking before Kevin to the McDonald’s shop.

Kevin then walked backwards, one of his personal habits that he found fun, to the entrance to the café.

“Now hiring! Accepting only walk-in interviews!”

Kevin forgot his thirst for water, entering the café with his hopes up. At least this shop was hiring.

“Good afternoon! Are you alone?” A male that was just a little shorter than Kevin smiled brightly, patient for his reply.

“Oh, I'm not here for coffee. I saw the notice outside that said the café is hiring?” Kevin asked with a similar smile.

“Oh!” The male nodded, gesturing to the counter. “Report to the counter, please.”

Kevin spared the counter a glance before looking at the waiter's nametag. “Thank you, Dongho-ssi.”

“No problem! I hope you join the crew!” Dongho gave a toothy grin before returning to his job on hand.

Kevin then headed to the counter where a male was juggling between making coffee and taking out a slice of cake from the food display case. “Hello, I’m here for the walk-in interview.”

“Oh.” The man with the nametag “Kiseop” nodded. “Wait a while, I’ll get the boss.”

Kevin smiled and nodded, waiting at the counter for his probable boss. He wondered idly how old the man would be. Maybe in his thirties? The workers here are all pretty young though.

“You’re here for the interview? Come on in. Kiseop, bring him to fill in the form inside and I’ll take over your job.” The apparent boss ordered, smiling kindly at Kevin.

“Oh, okay.” Kiseop nodded with a friendly smile, opening the short door for Kevin and gesturing for him to enter. “Follow me~!”

Kevin smiled, instantly deciding this workplace would be great. Everyone seemed so friendly and young, no generation gap to worry about. He then sat down in one of the seats in what seemed like a small office, writing down his personal information in his neatest handwriting. Kiseop then talked to him about various things, like the history of the café, how Soohyun (the boss) treat them all really nice and that their monthly pay is pretty good too.

After Kevin returned the paper to Kiseop, Kiseop led him out of the office room back to the coffee counter, handing Soohyun the paper.

“Actually, this is all for the filling up of information. We just want a good waiter, and that’s a pretty easy job. The most important thing though, is for me to check your smile. Could you smile?” Soohyun asked, and Kevin instantly gave him a bright smile. Smiling was a piece of cheesecake to Kevin. “Oh, nice. Dongho would be crushed to find out someone has a better smile than him.”

Kevin cocked his head to a side. “Huh?”

“He’s the only waiter here, if you haven’t met him already.” Kiseop laughed. “Soohyun-hyung sometimes helps out, but because hyung goes around with every job, we need another waiter. Dongho’s especially proud of his smile, so yeah.”

“Oh.” Kevin grinned, remembering Dongho’s toothy grin. “He’s cute.”

“Hm, I guess that’s it then. Report for work tomorrow.” Soohyun nodded, causing Kevin to blink furiously.

“Huh? That’s-That’s all?” Kevin asked, mouth agape.

“Yeah, you don’t have to know a lot.” Soohyun laughed. “It’s just bringing menus, taking orders and serving food. You’re up to it right?”

“No, it’s not an April Fool’s joke~!” Alexander sang, passing a menu to Kevin. “Haha, yes, I was the man that collided into you just now. Went to buy lunch for these pigs. Anyway, you can familiarise yourself with the menu. It’s okay if you don’t know anything about coffee. Direct those who are curious to me, Kiseop, Eli or Soohyun and we’ll answer them all. Eli’s working in the kitchen currently, but it’s okay, you’ll get to know him sooner or later!”

“Alexander, get to work.” Soohyun pushed Alexander away, smiling at Kevin. “He’s noisy.”

Kiseop turned to the door as the bell hanging on it rang. “Customer! Dongho-ah!”

Soohyun rolled his eyes. “An idiot.”

Kevin blinked at the harshness of Soohyun’s tone. “Pardon me?”

“Don’t bother about him.” Kiseop whacked Soohyun’s shoulders. “He’s just bitter about regulars. He calls them idiots because they come in, order a cup of coffee and stay put in their seats forever.”

“They take up space and only pay for a cup of coffee, aren’t they idiots?” Soohyun muttered, glaring at the said “idiot.”

“He’s quite nice though. His tips are not that bad either.” Kiseop shrugged. “Oh yeah, we accept tips. Accept them gratefully because they define our bonuses every month, heh.”

Kevin giggled and nodded, sparing the man Dongho was serving a second glance.

“And he shares his table when the café is full. I think you’re too harsh on him. That idiot over there is the mean guy that orders the cheapest coffee and sometimes makes disturbing noises.” Kiseop pointed at an old grumpy man.

“I don’t care.” Soohyun stuck out his tongue, looking less fierce than before. Kiseop rolled his eyes at Soohyun and left to clear the cups and plates left on the counter. “Hm, oh yeah. Any questions?”

“Oh, just one. Something I realised.” Kevin looked around once more to check the situation. “Do you only hire male workers?”

Soohyun instantly frowned. “Are you here to hook up girls?”

“NO!” Kevin furiously shook his head. “I was just curious!”

“Don’t freak him out!” Alexander whacked Soohyun’s arm a little not-so-lightly. “He doesn’t even look like he had his first love yet.”

“Sorry.” Soohyun apologised with a sheepish smile. “There’s another café around this area. They only hire girls, so most of them flock there. We don’t specify a gender, but since girls who want to work in a café apply there, we’re left with the guys. It’s better for me though, there’s lesser PMS to deal with. In this shop, we only have to deal with Xander-hyung.”

Soohyun chuckled when Alexander growled at him. He shrugged, calling for Dongho. “Hey, take out the notice on the door. We’re not hiring anymore.”

“Oh! He’s in? Hello! Welcome!” Dongho waved enthusiastically, skipping off to do as he was told. Kevin waved back with a smile, but Dongho already left.

“All right, Kevin? You can go home first and read up on the menu. If you want to know how we work, you can sit behind the counter here too.” Soohyun offered.

Kevin smiled and bowed his thanks as Alexander ran off to find a chair. He ended up staring at the menu half the time, asking for brief explanations instead.

“It’s hard.” Kevin pouted.

“Not really? Unless you don’t drink coffee at all.” Eli shook his head, suddenly appearing from the kitchen. “Heard about you, welcome to the crew. I’m Eli, bake the food here. When there’s nothing left for me to do in the kitchen, I work as a barista out here. Nice to meet you, Kevin.”

“Oh, hello!” Kevin quickly stood up, bowing and then shaking Eli’s hands. “I was too caught up in the menu, sorry!”

“It’s okay.” Eli grinned, messing up Kevin’s hair as if they knew each other for a long time. “Soohyun-hyung’s right. Dongho would kick up a fuss about how cute you are. So, you don’t drink coffee?”

Kevin blushed a little at the compliment, nodding. “Nope, I don’t like coffee.”

Eli nodded thoughtfully, shrugging then smiling before walking away. “Good luck then, we’re here to help though.”

This was it. His workplace. He has seen all his co-workers already, all who look young enough, all who were friendly (although Dongho does sound a little like the jealous type). The place was good, and Kevin figured out that all he needed to do is to bring the order to the counter, bring the food to the customers, bring the empty cups and plates back to the counter, wipe the table and that’s about it. Oh, and smile. If that’s the reason he’s being hired, he probably should practise his smile when he reaches home today.

“It’ll be a good first experience.” Kevin decided, smiling to himself, idly wondering how long he’ll stay working for this café. Maybe if the pay is good and if they don’t hire younger workers in his place when he grows old, he could stay on forever.

Just maybe.

-

Once again, not a new fic but I love this fic the most among all the chaptered fic I have :3. It's not the most happening, or really best fic out there, but I like the fact that it'd be a very warm love story instead of those conflict love story with a lot of drama :3 That's what I think :3 I'm not plannng much drama for this ^^

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