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Your phone lights up and a text from needs to stfu flashes across the screen.

hey do u wanna buy me a matcha latte tomorrow?? pls have mercy on this poor boy

Not particularly, tbh

rude :((( not even for your best friend?? what can i do to melt your heart, elsa

Pay for your own coffee

ur so mean to me ｡･ﾟﾟ･(>д<)･ﾟﾟ･｡ but FINE, i’ll buy my own AND treat you to your vanilla rose like a REAL FRIEND

Aww, love you~ ( ˘ ³˘)♥

(◔_◔)

If only he knew how true that statement was, you think wryly. You drop your phone on the nightstand and wrap yourself up in your blankets, dreaming of a bright smile and of a universe where it was a familiar boxy-smiled boy keeping you warm instead of your thin, tattered blanket.

The bell chimes merrily as you push open the door to the small, bustling cafe. The barista on duty looks up at the sound of the bell, flashing an endearing gummy smile at you in welcome. Baekhyun’s not here yet, so you take a seat by the window, where a small vase is filled with bright yellow sunflowers. You prop your head up on your palm, losing yourself in the hustle that passes by the cafe.

“Here!”  A cup of vanilla rose tea latte is thrust in front of you, along with Baekhyun’s mischievous smirk. He slides his own green tea latte across the table, slipping into the seat in front of the window.

“Move, you’re blocking the view,” you jibe.

“Bitch, I am the view,” Baekhyun retorts, lifting his chin in faux arrogance. You giggle, conceding in your mind. Especially now, with the sunlight falling on his hair and making turning the strands golden, Baekhyun looks absolutely radiant.

Suddenly, Baekhyun gasps dramatically. “Puppy!” he all but shrieks. You turn around just as the dog’s owner (and pretty much everyone else in the cafe) turns to look at him.

By the time you glance back around at him in bewilderment, Baekhyun is already out of his seat and making a beeline towards the panting pomeranian.

“Can I pet him? Or her?” he asks the girl hopefully, eyes alight. You can see her melt as he projects the full force of his puppy eyes at her, and she nods, smiling shyly. Baekhyun gets right to work, plopping onto the ground to stroke the dog’s ears and scratching lightly around the flank.

“Him,” the girl replies. “His name is Pickles.” She bends down, stroking Pickles’s fur, flushing when she makes eye contact with Baekhyun, whose smile has turned coy.

“And what’s your name?” He asks.

“I’m Suzanne,” she introduces herself, holding her hand out for him to shake. He grasps it, smiling warmly.

“Beautiful name for a beautiful lady,” Baekhyun compliments. “I’m Baekhyun.”

Still sitting in your booth by the window, you snort. What a flirt. Though you tease him about his greasiness, you can’t help but feel your heart flutter, wishing it was meant for you. And not for the first time, you can tell that yet another unsuspecting soul has fallen for Baekhyun’s charms. In fact, you can see the exact moment her heart melts — her eyes soften, her cheeks lift up in the tiniest hint of a smile, and a gentle blush spreads over her face and neck. You’re not surprised in the slightest. Baekhyun has always been able to effortlessly charm everyone he meets, though not merely through his endless flirting — and you are no exception. His kind eyes and contagious laughter haunts you even in your dreams while leaving himself clueless to the extent of his significance. You are also used to Baekhyun’s obliviousness— in all the years that you’ve been friends, never once has he reciprocated his admirers’ feelings, until the poor girl finally moved on. You are the odd one out in this scenario. As hard as you try, you are unable — or perhaps unwilling — to let go of your love for him.

Suzanne laughs gently, thanking him.

Something is different about this encounter, however. You watch, mystified, as Baekhyun’s smile turns bashful. He nibbles at his bottom lip and fidgets with his fingers, avoiding her gaze to look down at the puppy still underneath his hands.

“Sorry, was that too cheesy?” Baekhyun asks, still staring at Pickles.

“Yes,” you say, walking up to them.

Suzanne startles, and Baekhyun tries to glare at you, but he can’t do so without grinning. You can’t help but feel your mood lift when he sends you a brilliant smile, while Susanne’s face starts to fall, looking disappointed. She’s a nice girl, you can tell.

You empathize with her.

“I’m Y/N,” you say, shooting her a friendly smile. “I have the misfortune to be this idiot’s best friend.”

“Nice to meet you!” she replies, mirroring your smile. You bite your lips, unsure of what to say next.

“Err, I have an appointment soon, so I should really grab my coffee and go,” Suzanne says reluctantly, her eyes sliding over to Baekhyun.

He pouts. “Can we meet up again? Er...I mean, I would really love to play with Pickles some more,” Baekhyun grins.  

Suzanne smiles happily, genuinely, and her face is alight with a warm, comfortable glow. You can see why Baekhyun is so taken by her, but you can’t help but feel slightly inferior. Baekhyun waves to Suzanne as she heads out, pocketing his phone and her newly saved number carefully, almost reverently. Sliding back into his seat across from you, he sighs blissfully.

“She’s so pretty,” he says, eyes glowing and a dopey smile on his face. You hum noncommittally, letting him gush to his heart’s content as you try to force your own feelings aside, for the sake of his happiness.

Days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into a month since Baekhyun met Suzanne in that cafe. Since then, Baekhyun and Suzanne have gone on countless dates, both with and without Pickles.

Since then, you have frequented that lively cafe, that window booth that allows you to lose yourself in the heavy flow of traffic. In fact, you’ve spent so much time there that the gummy-smiled barista knows your name, order, and and practically everything else about you.

“Vanilla rose tea latte, just the way you like it,” Minseok’s voice sounds next to your ear. You look up, smiling gratefully at him, and hand him the exact change, which he tucks into his apron pocket. Seeing as the cafe isn’t too busy, Minseok slides into the seat across from you as he always does whenever he sees you sitting there alone.

“So, no lover boy today?”

You snort. “Minseok, you know we’re not dating, he’s dating Suzanne.”

“Yeah, I was there when they met,” he grins at you. “But I noticed that you didn’t deny anything—you’re totally in love with him.” Minseok speaks matter-of-factly, as if he didn’t just casually reveal the secret you’d guard with your life.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you splutter, caught off guard.

Minseok merely quirks an eyebrow at you, lips curling into a smug, lopsided grin. The glint in his eyes are all too knowing, and you know he didn’t fall for your flimsy denial.

“Why the fuck are you so perceptive?” You grumble.

The barista laughs. “Is there anyone who can’t tell that you’re in love?”

“You’re in love with someone?” A familiar voice says, incredulous. You look up to see Baekhyun, shocked. “Who?” He asks, pouting.

Minseok smoothly slides out of the seat. “Good afternoon, Baekhyun. Let me go make your coffee. Er, remind me of your order again?”

“Matcha latte,” you respond instead.

“Er, I’m actually feeling an Americano today,” Baekhyun plops into the seat that Minseok had just vacated, staring intently at you.

You blink at him. “I thought you said those were too bitter for you.”

“Who?” The boy in front of you demands again, ignoring your unspoken question. Minseok turns around, sending you a wink.

“Uh, nobody you know,” you respond, cursing inwardly at the retreating barista. You can tell Baekhyun doesn’t quite believe you, but he drops the subject. You’re a little suspicious—he must have something else on his mind. Usually, he continues acting bratty until you give him what he wants—it’s like your presence brings out the toddler in Baekhyun.

“What do you think about Suzanne?” Baekhyun asks.

You startle, not expecting the question. “Well, she seems nice? And she seems to make you happy, so that’s good. I think she’s good for you,” you say. And you are being genuine—Suzanne’s quiet, steady presence is a good balance against Baekhyun’s spontaneous nature without holding him back.  

“I think I really like her,” Baekhyun confides quietly, a soft smile playing on his lips.

You smile weakly back, trying to ignore the sharp dagger of jealousy piercing your heart. You know she’s good for him. “That’s great,” you tell him as sincerely as you can. “I’m glad you’ve finally found a girlfriend.” You try to shake off your bitterness by reviving your usual banter. You’d think a month would be enough time to get over yourself, you think sourly. After all, Baekhyun is your best friend, first and foremost. You refuse to let unrequited emotions cloud your desire for your best friend’s happiness.

“Do you think…it’s too soon to ask her to move in?” Baekhyun asks shyly, hope in his eyes and a sheepish grin on his lips.

You gape at him. “Yes!” You splutter, telling yourself that your fervent opposition is for his own sake, and not because of your fear that his relationship will grow even stronger and leave you behind. “You’ve been dating for a month!”

“I thought you liked her!” Baekhyun protests. He clearly wasn’t expecting your answer, and is growing defensive.

“I do!” You blow air out through your nose, frustrated. “But I’ve met her like three times! So yes, I do like her, from what I know about her, but I don’t know her!”

“But I do!” Baekhyun flares. “I’m going to do it anyway.”

You sigh. This is the spontaneous side of Baekhyun presenting itself as impulsivity, and you’ve known Baekhyun for long enough to know that whatever you say will not be able to change his mind. “Why did you ask me in the first place, then? If you just ignore everything I say.” Your words are biting.

“I thought you would be supportive! I guess I should’ve known better.” Baekhyun sends you one last betrayed glance, before striding towards the door, brushing past a bewildered Minseok holding cup of dark coffee, absent of the beautiful foam art you’re used to.

You exhale slowly. How did things come to this?

Days pass, and you find yourself in the same seat, by the same window. The same drink is set in front of you every time, yet somehow, you never seem to tire of it.

“Why don’t you try a different drink?” Minseok asks, as he sets the vanilla rose tea latte down for the third time that week. “I know it’s your favorite drink, but damn, even I’m getting sick of it, and I’m not even the one drinking it.”

You hum a little, taking a sip and letting the gentle sweetness fill your senses. “I don’t know,” you answer. “It’s not that I don’t want to try something new,” you muse. “I do want to try the barista picks and stuff. But this is familiar to me? It’s in my comfort zone, and I can’t bear to give it up.”

Minseok tousles your hair playfully. “Well, if you ever decide that you want a change, I’ve got just the thing for you.”

Before you can reply, the bell above the door jingles. Minseok turns around, greeting on his lips.

Baekhyun drags his feet in, clearly upset, eyes clouded over and far away.

“Baekhyun?” Minseok calls his name gently.

Baekhyun smiles weakly. “One Americano, please.” He speaks quietly, a far cry from his usual boisterousness.

“You were right,” he mumbles.

You grimace. Baekhyun’s pain is your pain, and it hurts to see him so lifeless. “I usually am,” you attempt to joke, “but what about this time?”

“Suzanne said it was too soon.” Baekhyun looks straight into your eyes. “We...we’re on a temporary break.” He sounds as if the words are hard to force out.

“Do you love her?” You ask quietly.

Baekhyun plays with the rings on his finger. The hopelessness in his eyes and in his actions tell you all that you need to know. Yes, he is in love.

You sigh. As much as you want him for yourself, you resolve to cast aside your own feelings so that you can help him find his own happiness. You put your hand on his, stopping his fidgeting with his rings, and draw courage from the warmth of his hand.

“I think you scared her,” you tell him softly. “Give her some space and call her again tomorrow. I think you should be patient.”

Just then, Minseok comes by with Baekhyun’s Americano. He makes a move to clear your empty cup, when you stop him.

“I think I’m ready to try something new,” you tell the barista earnestly. “What do you recommend?”

Baekhyun gapes at you, lips parted in surprise.

Minseok’s eyes light up. “Give me a minute!” he says cheerfully. As he walks off, Baekhyun looks at you questioningly.

“Is Minseok the one you’re in love with?” Baekhyun asks, hesitant.

You blink in shock. “What? No! Where did you get that from?”

“You’ve always refused to try anything else whenever I asked!” Baekhyun pouts at you, eyes narrowing. Though he seems offended, you can see your best friend’s usual playful temperament coming back.

Minseok sets your new caffeine down with a flourish. “Lavender earl gray latte!”

“Thought it was time for a change,” you shrug casually, addressing your words to both Minseok and Baekhyun. Minseok beams with pride before walking off to tend to his other customers. “Feelings don’t last forever, and neither do tastes,” you muse, almost to yourself.

“So you are in love with someone.”

Baekhyun’s voice is flat, borderline angry. You look up in shock. Perhaps he wasn’t pretending to be offended after all; you can see the fire brewing behind his eyes.

“Wait, what’s wrong?” You’re bewildered at the sudden change in mood.

Baekhyun is growing angry now, a rare sight in itself. “I have never kept something from you in all these years that I’ve considered you my best friend. So why did you think it’s okay to hide something so important from me?”

“You’re not entitled to my life,” you snap back, matching his tone in intensity. You need to change the subject before he finds out even more. Words are spilling out of your mouth without filter now, in your panic to hide your deepest secret.

“Well, yeah,” Baekhyun says, bewildered and indignant and clearly offended, “but I thought you trusted me.” He bites his lip, looking so much like a kicked puppy that you can’t help but sigh heavily, feeling all your cloud of anger start to dissipate around the edges.

“Look, Baek, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you,” you start to explain, taking care to keep your voice level. Before you can finish, however, Baekhyun mutters underneath his breath.

“Sounds like an excuse to me.”

“Excuse me?” Your temper flares right back, burning as bright as it was before. Baekhyun snaps his head up, looking at you sharply in the eye.

“I said, sounds like an excuse for your cowardice to me.” You never knew that his voice could be so cold, as his eyes burn so hot. His gaze is scalding — still the embodiment of the sun, but instead of the warm sun rays that you normally bask in, you’ve forgotten to wear sunscreen and now the rays are scalding your skin, blistering and peeling away your layers of self-control, one by one.

“I am scared!” You shout at him suddenly, voice breaking. Baekhyun finally shuts up, staring at you with wide eyes. “I am absolutely terrified. I am so fucking in love with you that it petrifies me!” There it is. Your best kept secret, hanging in the open air, completely out of your reach. The only thing you can hope for is that Baekhyun will catch it, rather than watching it fall and shatter on the ground along with the glass shards of your heart. You grip the handle of your mug tightly, watching the coffee swish around the brim, nearly spilling over.

Silence greets your statement. For once, the ever talkative Baekhyun is speechless, mouth open in an attempt to find that words that do not exist.

“So forgive me,” you lower your voice now, muttering sarcastically, “if I wanted to preserve this friendship that you seem to treasure so much.” You stand up and turn away, hiding your face before Baekhyun can see the hot tears roll down your cheeks and under your chin. It’s fallen, you think. Fallen and shattered and irreparable, just as you feared. You begin to take slow, heavy steps in no particular direction but away, unshed tears blurring your vision.

“Wait.” Thin fingers wrap themselves around your waist, pleading. “I didn’t know,” Baekhyun admits meekly, innocence and confusion coloring his voice. After your deafening confession, his response sounds like a mere breath.

“I know.”

Your voice cracks, defeated and pathetic.

“So please, just let me get over you.”

This time, it is you who leaves Baekhyun behind, your new coffee order sitting on the table, untouched.

A week passes with no word from Baekhyun. You’re trying your hardest to move on, but it’s difficult when all you do is stare at your phone and hope to see needs to stfu flash across the screen.

You’re afraid of going back to Minseok’s cafe and being reminded of the emotions that escalated there, but in your misery, all you really want is a vanilla rose tea latte. Just as you drag yourself onto your feet to make the trek to the cafe, the doorbell rings.

When you crack open the door, you’re greeted by Baekhyun’s familiar boxy smile and two matching coffee cups.

“Vanilla rose tea latte, just for you!” He hands you the cup, grinning at you, and it’s as if the events of the the past week — no, the past month — had never happened. He takes a sip of his own cup, and you can smell the matcha from where you stand.

You take a long drink from your cup, and the familiar sweetness of the latte brings you instant comfort — it tastes like home.

“Y/N,” Baekhyun begins, seriously, earnestly.

You look up, fearing the worst. Was the coffee an attempt to butter you up?

“Will you go on a date with me?”

You swallow your mouthful of coffee too quickly, and it burns going down. “What?” You hack out, choking. “What about Suzanne?”

“I didn’t call her,” Baekhyun tells you. “Not immediately. I thought about what you and I thought about me, and realized that what I felt for Suzanne wasn’t love. I was happy, yes,” he smiles slightly, “but I was so focused on myself that I didn’t think of her feelings.”

Baekhyun then grins cheekily at you. “But you’ve always been thinking of me, haven’t you? About how I felt, and you were willing to give up so much for me.”

“I’m glad you understand,” you finally say, “how hard it is to put up with you.”

Baekhyun beams. “But you love me!” he exclaims happily, throwing his arm around you. “And you can’t deny it this time!”

You crack a smile. “Yes,” you agree quietly, “I do.”