nirvana

"Hidden talents?" He blushed slightly and quickly shook his head, lowering his gaze. "I um..no, no I wouldn’t say so.." The moment he glanced up was just the same that Lu Han’s expression changed, and for a moment, he thought he had done something wrong. It took all of his willpower not to panic, but when he heard the other’s words, he immediately relaxed, despite not wanting the conversation to be over. "It was a pleasure, and I completely understand." The smile from Lu Han’s last words lit up Kiseop’s face even before he could hide it, but he nodded once more. "I hope to see you again, maybe my coffee has earned me a regular?" He tilted his head with a softer and hopeful smile.

Lu Han watched emotions fly over Kiseop's face in the short span of their conversation, and he couldn't help the slight affection he felt towards the man as a result. The smile that took over his features was what got him, really. People who smiled and practically radiated happiness as they did it had always been amongst his favorites. "I'm sure I'll see you again, this seems like the perfect place to loiter and do my classwork." With that, he smiled at Kiseop, a softer smile than he usually let grace his face, and turned, winking at him playfully at the last second, before heading outside.

"Oh, I love running it. I worked very hard in order to purchase this from the previous owner. I started off as just a barista working here part time. I was also doing modelling back then, but I found that dancing and working here were more important to me." He smiled and then found himself watching as Lu Han drank his coffee, his smile growing slightly when he could see that the other enjoyed it. "Oh, well I suppose that’s one way to look at it. I could certainly work a whole day, but my employees wouldn’t let me." He laughed softly and raised a hand to his neck, rubbing it gently and smiling a bit sheepishly now.

"Have any other hidden talents?" He asked, his smile widening slightly as he shifted his weight. As much as he was enjoying this, though, he knew he had to start working soon. He had too much work due tomorrow to not get any of it done. His expression changing to something not quite as content, he pushed himself off the counter and looked around the cafe. He'd seen tables outside too, maybe that would be best for his focus. "It really was very nice to meet you, but I have a lot of work to do for my classes and I know I won't get any done if I keep talking to you the that way I want to."

He smiled and nodded, a soft laugh escaping. “De, I’m the owner.” He cleaned up the counter and put everything back, switching out the coffee beans on the machine again. “Hm?” He glanced up and nodded again, washing his hands and patting them on a small towel. “Yes, there are certain shifts that don’t get too busy, so I can run them on my own until the next one and then a few of the girls will come in and take over. I have to have teams of baristas working in shifts since it’s a 24 hour coffee shop.” He smiled warmly as he spoke, anything having to do with his shop always made him happy. “Free time? Well, I will when they come in to take over. My shift is over in about an hour, depending on whether or not they get here early.” 

"D'you like it? Running this place? You do a really good job, if my opinion means anything from just today," he commented, before he took a slow sip of his coffee. As he drank from it, he closed his eyes, letting out a low sigh of contentment. It was one of the best cups of coffee he'd had, and he had to keep himself from moaning in happiness. It'd be inappropriate in company of strangers, handsome or no. "Well at least you get to go home soon? Unless you like it here that much?" He said it, and knew it sounded like a question. Why, he wasn't positive. Some part of him was just curious what Kiseop was like off the clock.

"A-Ah." He stuttered slightly and glanced down, bowing his head slightly. "It’s nice to meet you as well." He shook his head and sighed at himself for being so clumsy when speaking with people. "Of course." He nodded and smiled again, finishing the coffee up and transferring it to a cup before putting the lid on it and sliding a coaster on it. "I do hope you’ll enjoy it." He blinked at the question and then shook his head. "First drinks on me, Lu Han-ssi." He smiled and pointed to a sign hanging from the menu board, stating that the first drink is free, as long as the owner is your barista.

Taking the cup, he looked up at the sign as Kiseop motioned at it, his eyebrows raising and his expression turning slightly sheepish. "You're the owner, here?" In retrospect, he realized he should have picked up on that, from the subtle cues. "Are you the only one working right now?" As he said it, Lu Han realized how that sounded, momentarily considered taking it back, and then shrugged it off mentally. He'd already put his foot halfway in his mouth, might as well not overthink it too much. "D'you have any free time?"

He glanced up at the other and smiled. “A fated coffee experience it is then.” He began adding flavoring as the cup filled with coffee, smiling as he watched the delicate swirls of color that would only appear for a short time. He tilted his head and looked up again. “Lu Han? That’s a nice name, I’m Kiseop.” He smiled a bit shyly and turned off the machine when it was done brewing, pulling out the cup and adding the finishing touches of cream. “Ah, would you like it in a mug to enjoy here? Or a cup to go?” He could tell that Lu Han was relaxing a bit more as he spent more time in the shop and that made Kiseop happy, as that was one of his goals, to provide a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere.

"Kiseop," Lu Han repeated, nodding faintly. "Nice to meet you." He took his hands out of his pockets and turned, pressing his palms against the counter lightly to try and peek at the coffee with an easy smile. "Can I get it in a cup to go?" He wasn't really planning on leaving, thought he'd sit and do some of his classwork over the coffee, but he didn't like drinking out of mugs. Something about it just put him off and made him enjoy whatever he was drinking much less. "How much do I owe you?" He asked, moving one hand to grab his wallet from his pocket.

Kiseop blinked at the words and smiled a bit, though he flushed slightly. “Even as a go to…I hope it wasn’t too plain or simple of a suggestion? Though..mine are a little different than other places. Of course fate has funny ways of giving messages too.” He smiled and nodded, pulling out an unlabeled bottle of what appeared to be flavoring syrup. He also pulled out a grinder of coffee beans and switched it with the one on the top of the machine currently and placed the cup under it as he turned it on. The aroma of the coffee immediately began to filter out and he closed his eyes a moment, taking in the scent, making it obvious that caramel flavoring was already on the beans. 

Lu Han shook his head as he leaned against the counter, pushing his hands into his pockets comfortably. "I'm going to go with the idea that it was meant to be, this coffee experience." He watched the other man, admiring for a moment to himself the faint color in his cheeks. "Lu Han," he said, feeling more comfortable than he probably should have in the coffee shop. It smelled amazing, and the atmosphere was making him feel like he could settle down and relax, though, and it was making it more natural for him to socialize. Even if it was with someone at their job, who probably had to be friendly.

Kiseop hummed thoughtfully at the response, his bangs falling into his eyes as he did. A moment later, he moved them to the side to look at the other once more. “Do you like Caramel Macchiato? We happen to be well known for them here, it’s my own recipe as well.” He smiled sheepishly, not really one to offer up his accomplishments, but he had a lot of pride in his business and drinks. “Many of the customers come in just for that one, but I’m not quite sure what your taste is?” He pulled out a cup and began to gather basic ingredients for whatever the other male may choose. He couldn’t deny that the he was good looking, and despite wanting to become shy and pull back, he had to remain open and professional, this was his shop after all.

Lu Han almost wanted to laugh. When he'd stepped into the shop, he had been caught between letting the barista decide for him, and ordering a Caramel Macchiato. It was his go to, and it was an interesting surprise to find he'd be getting it anyway. "I almost ordered that anyway, fate's trying to tell me something here," he replied, leaning against the counter with an easy smile, curiously wanting to watch. He liked to watch people when they enjoyed what they were doing, and something told him this man liked his job. Genuinely enjoyed what he did when he came to work. Of course, he could very easily be wrong, and he could just be very good at faking the expressions that had interested Lu Han as much as they had.

Lu Han liked coffee. Plain and simple. It was rare that he didn't like it, no matter the flavor, or taste, unless it was hazelnut or too sweet. Whenever he saw a coffee shop he'd never been to, if he had time, he stopped to try something. He'd passed Obsession on his way home from class, and it had caught his eye, so he decided to stop in and get a coffee. The greeting from the man behind the counter caught him off guard, not expecting someone as friendly, nor as attractive. "Can you make me something that you like? I'm not all that picky, and I like trying new things." He offered a faint smile along with his words, making his way to the counter.

Rainy days | Luhan & Minseok