To Love or Not to Love // Intro
Intro // Pt. 1 // Pt. 2 // Pt. 3 // Pt. 4 // Pt. 5 // Pt. 6 // Pt. 7 // Pt. 8 // Pt. 9 // Pt. 10 // Pt. 11 // Pt. 12 // Pt. 13 // Pt. 14 // Pt. 15 // Pt. 16 // Pt. 17
Word Count: 1,585
Genre: angst, bit of fluff, Mafia au
Summary: well, not spoiling anything but its so different from what i usually write because like angst so yall get ready
You trudged towards the small coffee shop you worked at, the morning sun just barely peeking above the horizon. Don’t get me wrong, you loved your job, it was well paying and a calm place to work, getting few customers throughout the day. The shop only really picking up during the usual busy hours for any other coffee shops. You pushed the glass door open, causing the little bell hanging from the handle to tinkle, echoing through the quiet shop.
“Good morning!” you said to your manager after you had dropped your bag and coat off in the back room.
“Good morning (y/n).” She replied, passing you your brown apron. You thanked her and took it, making your way to the front and took your spot behind the counter as you tied the apron around your waist. You messed around with a few things behind the counter, preparing for the long day.
You glanced at the clock, noting that the shop had just officially opened. You sat around the shop for about two hours, serving a few customers here and there eager to get their caffeine to get them through the long day, but nothing to tedious. As usual, around ten thirty, a tall man who was always dressed in a suit would walk in and order the same drink. He was always extremely friendly and had a bright smile that complemented the wrinkles that appeared at the corners of his eyes when he did smile. He always came at the same time, ordered the same thing, sat at the same seat, and always had that bright smile.
You stood behind the counter and smiled at him, waiting for him to take a few steps closer before you started to speak.
“The usual, sir?” You asked when he finally got closer, already grabbing the coffee mug.
“Of course.” He said with a chuckle. You smiled, and while you made his drink the two of you talked for a bit. You didn’t know much about this man, even though he had been coming to your shop for almost a year now, you had no clue what his name was, or even where he worked, as you usually found out with your other regulars. Due to the streaks of grey that were taking over his dark hair, he had to be in his late forties or fifties, and obviously held some kind of formal job seeing as how he was always dressed so nicely, but beyond that you knew nothing about him.
He happily accepted the warm drink and paid in exact change, making your life as a cashier ten times easier. The man went towards his usual table in the back corner of the shop, pulling out his laptop to do something, you had yet to learn what he was always doing. Honestly, you didn’t want to know, his whole demeanor changed when he opened his laptop. A scowl would come across his face and his eyes turned cold.
You went back to your usual business, cleaning a few dishes and wiping down the counter. The ringing of the bell caused you to look up, finding a tall, handsome guy stroll in. He glanced around the room, his eyes landing on the older man, but quickly turning to look up at the menu board above you.
“Hello…” His strong voice rang out, followed by a beautiful smile. You were almost left breathless from his appearance alone, but his voice as almost to perfect to be real. His hair was styled up in a messy yet perfect way, and his eyes sparkled. When he smiled, it revealed his cute little canines that seemed a bit sharper than most people’s.
“Hello! Can I help you?” you questioned, leaning on hand against the counter and smiling.
“Well…what would you recommend?” He asked, still looking up at the menu board that hung on the wall behind you. You turned to look at the menu yourself, thinking about the various drinks you’ve tried and liked. Eventually you rattled off a few drinks you liked, and he ordered one of them. Like with most customers you had expected him to go sit down at a table and wait for you to bring the drink out to him, but he stayed right by the counter. In fact, he went as far as to lean against the counter and watch you as you made his drink.
You tried to ignore him, but you could feel his deep brown eyes following your every movement. Your movements become clumsy from the sudden attention, and you rushed to finish making the drink and hand it over to the tall boy. You practically shoved the warm drink into his hands, praying he would hurry up and go over to one of the tables so you could finally relax.
Thankfully he accepted the drink with a simple thank you and made his way over to one of the tables in the front of the shop. Little did you know this guy, who you eventually learned was named Mingyu, would be visiting like this every day for the next few weeks. You soon got use to his strong gaze and the hours he would spend at the shop long after he had finished his drink. You often found yourself wondering why he stayed so long. He wasn’t doing any sort of work, or reading a book, he was barely on his phone. He just sat there, staring around the shop, watching the various customers that came in, and watching you.
When the shop wasn’t busy, you often found yourself talking with Mingyu. His bright smile and puppy like appearance and personality sent butterflies through your stomach. He was friendly. A lot more friendly than most customers. You liked it, it was a breath of fresh air.
The bell tinkled for the second time that day. You looked up to see Mingyu walk in. You started to prepare his drink before he even made it to the counter.
“Good morning (y/n).” Mingyu sang as he walked up to the counter.
“Good morning Mingyu…Don’t you ever get tired of coming here?” you questioned, almost finished with his drink.
“Nope! Not when you are here!” he chucked. You almost spilled the hot coffee onto your hand.
“Mingyu are you flirting with me?” you asked, a small chuckle of disbelief following it. Mingyu shrugged, flashing that bright smile of his as he handed some money over the counter. You took it and quickly dealt back the change as he sipped on his drink.
“Do you ever have a day off? You are always working when I’m here. And i’m always here.” Mingyu pointed out. You thought for a moment. Well, there were a lot of thoughts going on at this moment. Did Mingyu really just admit to flirting with you? Why is he asking about your days off? Is he going to try and ask you out? There is no way he would. Should you lie and say you don’t ever get days off, or just say you don’t know? You finally just answered him.
“I think I have off in two days, what day is that, Thursday?” Mingyu nodded, then slowly made his way over to his usual table. Well that wasn’t the reaction you were expecting. But it’s not like you were looking for something in particular. Alright, no that’s a lie, to be honest after all the flirting he had done, you really thought he was going to ask you out. Whether the fact he didn’t was a good thing or not, you didn’t know. But life goes on, and you must keep working.
As you continued to work, serving the few customers that came in, Mingyu did his own thing, and the friendly middle-aged man did his. You had grown use to both their company. Mr. Well-dressed, as you had taken to calling the middle-aged man, never said much other than the normal, friendly conversation the two of you held while making his drink, but he was friendly enough in those short encounters for you to grow to like him. He had been frequenting the shop since you first started working there a year ago. You had never known an early morning without him sitting in the back corner of the shop.
Mr. Well-dressed left at his usual time, and Mingyu left not long after, leaving you and your coworker to wait the last couple hours before closing. The usual procedures occurred before closing. Your coworker finished before you, so you let her know you would finish and lock everything up and she could head home if she wanted to. So within a few minutes you were left alone in the dimly lit shop, putting away the last few things and grabbing your stuff before turning out the lights and locking up the shop.
The next few days flew by. You looked forward to your rare day off, and it kept you going the next two days. The usual customers came in and ordered their normals, and nothing to extreme happened. You didn’t have to deal with any rude customers, demanding stupid requests and being difficult. You smiled and laughed with your coworkers behind the counter when no one was waiting to be served. Everything was calm and peaceful, almost too peaceful. It made you uncomfortable. It felt like the calm before the storm. And you were right, but you hadn’t expected it to be this big of a storm.
