to the light

She took a seat, leaning back into the seat with a satisfied sigh. She watched  the staff weave around the tables with trays of coffee and cakes — oh man, that’s gonna be me in a couple days again. 

It wasn’t long before a familiar face started to approach her table. She looked at him behind the guise of her sunglasses and cap, feeling a little triumphant. At the sound of Jonghoon’s voice, Stephanie chuckled. “Hey now,” she said, pulling her cap off, her hair falling over her shoulder. “You’re sounding waaay too formal, Hoon. Chill.” Putting her hat down atop her suitcase. She stood up with an excited grin, pushing her sunglasses up to rest on the top of her head. “‘Sup?” 

“Oh. Dear. God.”

Hoon couldn’t help but to let the happy smile growing on his face. Seeing the grinning of this long-haired girl that he thought he wouldn’t see for next couple months here now in Coffee Prince now was like beyond his imagination. “Steph!”

He laughed hard when she commented about him being way too formal. “Well, who knows that today I’ll be visited by Nicki Minaj?” He said, between his wide laughter and an ‘I’ll have a business with you later’ glance that addressed to his coworker behind the counter.

“Never been this awesome, see?” Hoon chuckled as he open his arms to welcome her. Though he doesn’t know why she returns even faster than she said she will. The girl whose height only 4 inches shorter than Hoon’s—yes, she’s very tall— wrapped him tightly and he replied her hug. It’s as warm and friendly as he always remembers, and he knows he misses that hug a lot. “I look more gorgeous since the last time you see me, don’t you think?” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully which brought her to laugh.

“Wait–is that an ultimatum?” He chuckled. “Because what I will answer depends on your explanation about why you didn’t call me that you’re returning today and instead, coming here with your suitcase along.” He moved his one hand to the top of her head and messed her hair up a bit—a habit that tells he misses someone a lot. “I could’ve picked you up at the airport.”

Hoon hinted her to sit down after he heard a bell ringing from the counter. He walked back to the counter, carried a tray of cream puff and caramel macchiato to Steph’s table and served it like he always does. “Please enjoy your coffee, Ma’am.” He bowed a bit, just to show Steph that he’s been doing well as a coffee servant, far better than the first time she came to pay him a visit on his first day like about three years ago.

Hyuna blinked once, twice, thrice and stared blankly at the waiter, trying to process what he’d just said. She wanted to believe the entire thing was a joke, a figment of her imagination, the tiredness affecting her understanding of each and every word. Because if he couldn’t tell from the numerous folders she was holding, Hyuna wasn’t exactly in a position to sacrifice some time to linger around the cafe for however long he wanted her to be there for. Although taking in how he seemed to be waiting for her response, she figured that a) she really wasn’t imagining anything, and b) the guy was out of his damn mind.

"You do know I can always ask someone else for your name," she raised an eyebrow, and looked behind him to the other waiters behind the counter, all of whom were oblivious to the nature of the current conversation. "I’m sure they’ll help me with this, so I can continue on my merry way without having to wait at any tables for people. Seems like a good idea, don’t you think?" Hyuna’s tone was light, almost teasing as she took a sip of her coffee. The customers behind her hadn’t so far expressed over their displeasure about this chat, which she was partially grateful for since dealing with an angry person would definitely dampen her mood.

It’s not the first time—or the tenth time. Must be more than ten, he supposed—to see a girl reacting this way to him. Jonghoon admitted that his way in getting-to-know someone, especially girls, is a bit scary for some people. He knew it too well that he’s not afraid of being rejected. It’s more like a risk he has to receive for being so reckless. Like though he knew that she looked so busy, but still managed to come all the way here just to get her caramel latte and suddenly, a random waiter asked her to waste her time here. Of course she would be surprised.

"You do know I can always ask someone else for your name," she said, which sent him to grin wider, between admiring her light voice and covering his guilty feeling. 

“You're right, miss. It’s a really good idea,” Jonghoon let out a friendly smile, tried to hide his chuckles. “And all my coworkers here are nice. Feel free to ask them for help. I’m very sorry to have you disturbed by my oddity.” He bowed his head a bit to make it looks sincere.

He has no idea how, but this caramel latte beauty has already set his eyes on her. He saw her sighing as she slowly made way towards the door. But Jonghoon knew he wouldn’t just stop here.

“Oh, miss Hyuna.” The waiter with dark brown hair said, right when he caught a mischievous looks she shot towards him, hoping it would stop her for a second.

The wheels of Stephanie’s suitcase rolled along the floor of Incheon Airport as she crossed the terminal gates, her carry-on bumping against her thigh with every step. There was a soothing warmth in the airport; as she looked outside, she was reminded of the way that it was a near-miracle she was able to fly back with all the snow. She smiled softly; the air in Seoul was definitely different to the air in New York. And knowing that no one knew she was home early had her chuckling a little to herself. Wait til everyone sees me!

"Are you visiting or coming home?" the taxi driver asked, slowly pulling away from the curb. "Coming home," Stephanie replied. "Welcome home then, miss." She smiled, leaning back into the seat. Burying her face into her scarf, she could smell the last of Hyunsu’s cologne, a wave of sadness suddenly hitting her. Take care of this, Steph, he had told her (he had tried so hard to keep a straight face). I spent a shit-ton of money on this because I know how picky you are when it comes to scarves.  "Sir?" "Yes, ma’am?" "I think I changed my mind. Could I go down to Coffee Prince instead?" "Of course." Stephanie didn’t want to go back to her apartment just yet. Knowing herself, if she were stuck in the confinements of her four apartment walls, she’d spend it moping over not being in New York. Might as well hang out with a friend, and Hoon’s the closest one right now.

He was having his lunch in the locker room when one of his workmate calls him.

“Hoon. There’s a girl looking for you downstairs.”

“Huh? A girl?” Hoon frowned.

“Yeah… She sounds like a foreigner. She orders something but she refuses if the order is delivered by other than you.” He shrugged.

A foreigner? And she wants to meet me? Hoon couldn’t remember if he has any foreigner as a friend, especially who knows that he’s working here in Hongdae. Is she Dad’s people?

“You’d better hurry, Hoon.” His mate chuckled. “Before anyone thinks that she’s Nicki Minaj.”

“What??” Hoon laughed. This is a mistake. She must have been mistaken, thought Hoon. He ever went abroad for the piano competitions back then, but he is sure that he never meets Nicki Minaj. Not even for once.

Hoon cleaned up his lunch and washed his hands. The thought of a Nicki Minaj waiting for him downstairs never meets other word in his mind, besides ‘why’.

He reached the shop counter where his mate gives him a sign of the seat he has to approach. He nodded slightly, and carefully walked to the directed seat, where he saw a female sat with a pair of big shades framing her eyes, an NY snapback on her head and a medium suitcase stands still beside her.

“Good afternoon, ma’am.” Hoon bowed formally. His voice is as calm as his facial expression, hiding the fact that he is curious as hell about this one customer in front him now.

The mention of her name fortunately stopped her from stressing out further, and Hyuna quickly gathered the rest of her belongings, refusing to get moody before work. It was going to be a long day, and starting it off well was necessary to ensure she didn’t lose her temper with literally everyone within the first hour. A series of ‘excuse me’ and ‘please move or I may just sue’ slipped from the writer’s lips as she weaved her way through the customers, careful to keep her bag from swinging into any poor person who refused to move out of the way. While most took note and stepped aside, some were oblivious (or ignorant) and Hyuna didn’t feel guilty when she bumped into them. Quite frankly, they deserved it.

"Oh, thank you!" She sighed with relief once she’d arrived at the counter, and shot the waiter a bright smile to make up for the delay. Hyuna hoped he wasn’t somehow angry that she had taken a while in getting to him, because pissing off someone who worked at her favourite store wasn’t about to happen. "I think one day I’m going to get really fat from drinking this," she commented and scrunched up her nose, taking the cup up in her gloved hands. "I’ll end up being a diabetic from all the caramel and vanilla, so if I don’t come back in a few more weeks, you know what happened to me." Small talk had never really been her style, she ended up rambling about the most absurd things, and she wasn’t surprised if he was growing tired from dealing with her.

Hearing a question like that was both unsurprising and surprising at the same time. What’s your name was probably the most asked question he receives since he started to work at Coffee Prince three years ago. It happens so often here to all the shop staffs, almost everyday—he’s not really sure how to describe it, maybe because the customers found the staffs are somewhat attractive so they want to know them more, or maybe they just want to know if there is a staff who has the same name with their friends, or maybe because he’s just too handsome, for anything the reason would be— so it comes as no surprise for Jonghoon. But if the question came from this caramel latte beauty, that's a different case. The thought that she has an interest in learning his name almost makes him forget that he actually could stop showing his teeth off.

Usually it’s Jonghoon who makes a move to approach girls. But didn't she just tell him her name? Like, for real?

Hyuna. Sounds sweet, just like her coffee. He knew he wouldn't need a note to remember this name (like he would forget, though). But he knew it would be awkward if she noticed how excited he is now—whatever excited would mean at this rate. So, trying to keep up with a very normal gesture, he took a packaged straw from the counter top and gave it to her as he leaned his left forearm on the wood-like porcelain surface that separating the distance between him and her.

“If I tell you my name, will you take that to-go cup to a table and have a seat like for a minute or two?” He said while gazing at her, with a glimpse of soft light of her reflection sparks from his eyes.

 Jonghoon himself thought he must be looking so handsome now.

The cafe was unsurprisingly busy when Hyuna set foot inside, people keen on getting their coffee fix just like her, regardless of how early it was. Considering how exhausted she was from the lack of sleep from the night before (a poor four hours, thank you), and the ridiculous weather she had to deal with on the walk over, she didn’t mind joining the queue. If it meant being in a warm area, eventually walking away with her favourite drink, and therefore having the strength to deal with a highly stressful day, Hyuna was comfortable waiting longer than usual.

Upon finally placing her order — ‘a large caramel latte with extra vanilla whip, please’, the young woman quickly sat down at a recently vacated table and stuffed her hands into her pockets, waiting for the barista to call her name. If she was being completely honest, Hyuna knew it would be a while until that happened as she wasn’t the next in line, and she decided to distract herself by playing a little game to pass the time. Fortunately, it didn’t take her long to find something to do.

Jonghoon couldn’t hide his smile when he saw a woman in casual attire whose hands hold some folders full of papers walks through the front door of Coffee Prince. It’s the same time like always, as long as he remembers. Somehow, it makes him relieved. Despite the weather has been not so good lately, she still comes on time to the shop to drink her favorite coffee everyday, which for Jonghoon, it’s an indicator that she’s a well-organized person.

In his mind, he mimicked, “Large caramel latte with extra vanilla whip,” which goes along with what’s the woman said to the order counter at the same time. Hearing that words came from her moist-look lips, Jonghoon couldn’t help but to grin wider. Not that Jonghoon could read minds; It’s been some times she comes to coffee Prince until today, and she always orders the same coffee; large, decaf, and non-fat milk with caramel syrup plus vanilla whip, which Jonghoon concludes that it’s her favorite. Jonghoon would likely not to admit it out loud, but it feels like he adores her choice. Caramel latte isn’t his favorite—it’s too sweet for his taste, even without the extra vanilla whip—but he thinks it suits her well. The latte drinker has their iPhone and briefcase in one hand and the latte in the other – always. The café latte fan is a go-getter who is prone to falling into a routine, asking for this coffee classic almost everyday. Just like how it fits the image of her in his eyes; casually fashionable, obviously a determined hardworker, sweetly unique and in some ways, even with the worn-out look, she just simply beautiful.

The male in a Coffee Prince waiter uniform that looks fit on him took a glance at her while he passed her by to serve the order of another table at the corner. It seemed like he was too busy to notice him, which is good since he doesn’t have any intention to disturb her. He passed her table again to go back to the counter when he saw her glancing at him, sent a skip to his heartbeat.

“Should I talk to her?” he thought, right when he saw a cup is ready to pack. Knowing whose order it is, he made a move and asked—actually more to force— his coworker in the pick-up counter to switch with him. He didn’t bother to look at the cup just to find the name of this customer he should call. Because just like the order, the name also always the same.

“Ms. Moon,” he glanced at her and grew his signature smile on his face.

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