Bittersweet Coffee

Description

Every day was the same, same customers causing the same ruckus, same old ladies taking up all the same tables, same teenagers yelling about the same stress from university. Jen is definitely your average post-secondary student, taking up a job at the local university coffee shop in hopes of lowering her debt just a little bit (or earning a bit of pocket cash for spending, whichever one suits best).

And every day was essentially the same routine, serve the customers, cuss like a sailor internally, frustration blowing through the roof, and the manager giving her the eye, keeping her in line. The shop caters to the local university students, opening at ungodly hours to deliver the much neededcaffeine to individuals who look like death every morning.

It's always the same, in and out, through and through.

So when that routine is damaged or something new comes into her picturesque life, she has to ask the real questions--does she want to stay average?

However, that's pretty much her brain taking control from the lack of caffeine in her system. But something is different, and she doesn't like it, no matter how attractive the change is, or how good for her it will be if she adapted.

Chanyeol is another customer, pretty-faced and handsome, winning the hearts of all who stares into his face (read: most ladies, let's be honest here). But Jen isn't fazed, even if she does think that he's quite attractive. (And as though she'll ever admit it to him, ever, sheesh, this isn't a free show.) It's a new thing, and Chanyeol likes it even if Jen doesn't.

Through curses and name calling, labelling and rumours, Jen manages, and so does Chanyeol--perhaps it's a stalemate, perhaps it's something different, but when tears are shed through heartbreak, rhythms clash and skeletons are dug out of locked closets.

Foreword

Sometimes it's easier to admit that you've got a hole in your chest, and sometimes it's easier to just bury the secrets within yourself so that you don't have to dig them up ever again. Plaster a fake smile on your face and go on with your day. Routine is nice, nothing out of the ordinary is the best soothing outlet you have.

Carrying a large burden of emotions is hard, but it's hard to have to clean up the pieces of your own heart when it's been ripped to shreds by the person you thought was going to treat you right (you finally learned that they never do, and your heart is hardened by this fact, guarded by this fact).

When things are too good to be true, you advert your eyes--strange things are bad, routine is good. That has turned into a mantra of sorts.

But you want to believe. Believing involves a lot of heartbreak and silent tears.

Maybe it's better to just stop believing.

 

[Yes, in case you're wondering, I do love coffee shop AUs. Unbeta'd, unedited, whatever]

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