#b.a.p fluff

“Oh, shoot. I’m sorry about that. I don’t know how that happened when I pressed on my brother’s number instead of dialling it.”

“Weird. But uh, I might be able to help you.”

“Really? How so?”

“I run a gift shop where I live and help people in the same predicament as you are all the time,” you confessed, unsure why you were extending the phone call or why your heart was beating as fast as it was.

It had to be about his voice. It was the sexiest thing you’d ever heard in your life.

“Where do you live? Are you open still?”

You inhaled dejectedly. “No, it’s Sunday. My shop isn’t open on the weekends, but I could open it if you were nearby.”

“Where are you located? I’m happy to travel if you’re happy to help out. It’s my Mum’s forty-fifth, and for some reason this year she’s making a big deal about it. Even having a party. On a Monday evening of all days.”

You laughed and let the caller know of the town you were located in. He didn’t answer right away. “You’re not from here, are you?”

“I mean, country wise, yes. But I’m at the opposite end.”

“Darn. Still, I could do some brainstorming with you,” you offered quickly.

“Why are you helping me?”

You hesitated. You couldn’t exactly tell him his voice was something you wanted to keep listening to. “You sounded desperate when you first spoke to me. It makes sense, given my passion for making people smile after receiving the perfect gift that I could lend you some time to figure it out.”

“Well, I’m grateful for your help, Miss…?”

“Y/N,” you answered, your breath hitched in your throat when you listened to the way he inhaled.

“Y/N. Thank you.”

“And you are?” you wondered, his chuckle now shy.

“Forever in your debt if you can help me with this,” he replied before inhaling again. “Yongguk.”

“Yongguk,” you echoed, realising you had said it out loud and cringed, thankful he wasn’t before you.

Though you were admittedly wishing you could see this man with the handsome voice. You were certain his looks would match too.

Clearing your throat noisily, you snapped out of delirium. “So, tell me about your mother. What does she like to do?”

Over the next twenty minutes, Yongguk explained about his mother, and you easily managed to think of five different gifts he could purchase for her, all in different price ranges to suit what he wanted to spend.

Yongguk exhaled deeply. “Honestly, I’m so relieved I misdialled my brother’s number somehow.”

“Really?”

“Of course. He probably would be as clueless of what to get as I am,” he admitted with a laugh, and you closed your eyes, allowing the sound to soak into your mind, your soul.

You were a lost cause over this man for some reason.

“Well, I’m glad I could be of assistance.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re a lifesaver, Y/N.”

“It’s my pleasure. Anything to help your mother smile tomorrow night.”

“I’ll head out and buy one of these ideas now. Thank you again for your time. And I’m sorry for intruding on your Sunday afternoon.”

“It was no intrusion at all. It’s been fun.”

“It has, hasn’t it.”

Both of you fell silent then, and you wondered if Yongguk was waiting for you to end the call first.

Except you kind of didn’t want it to end.

“Y/N?”

“I’m still here.”

“Thank you.”

You giggled. “You said that already.”

“I did. I don’t know what else to say.”

“Well, the shops will close soon,” you pointed out, groaning inwardly at sounding so stupid. Saying that might come across as you wanted to end the call.

Which you so didn’t.

“Of course. And I have to get this for her today.”

“Yep.”

“Okay.”

“Right, well—”

“Can I let you know what she thinks of the gift?” he blurted out, and you sank into your couch, delighted by the concept of a second phone call.

“Absolutely.”

“Great, then I’ll call you tomorrow. Or maybe Tuesday? Since the party will be in the evening and I don’t want to contact you too late.”

“Whenever you want to. Just ring me.”

Yongguk chuckled at your eagerness, and you tapped your palm to your forehead several times for being so obvious.

“It’s been really nice chatting to you too.”

“You need to end the call, Yongguk,” you mentioned and listened to him drag out another exhale.

“Me? But you’re capable of doing it too.”

“I know,” you started, trying to think of something to say. “But you called me first.”

“And that means I have to end it?”

“I’m not good at talking on the phone,” you confessed, and Yongguk paused.

“Has this been uncomfortable—”

“No. No! Nothing like that,” you cut in hastily, kicking your legs out in protest of your stupid mouth. “Absolutely not. I’ve… I’ve really enjoyed it.”

“That’s why you don’t want to hang up?” he surmised, and you sighed.

“Pretty much.”

“Can I be honest?” You motioned for him to continue with a positive hum. “I’m not good at this either. I’m actually pretty shy towards strangers.”

“You had me fooled, Yongguk.”

“Well, you had me captivated, Y/N,” he answered immediately, and then cleared his throat noisily. “Oh, uh, um… shoot.”

“I’ll hang up, just to help you out. How does that sound?” you suggested with a giggle, and you were certain Yongguk swore softly.

“Would you? I feel like I’ve put my foot in it now.”

“You haven’t. No more than I have. And if you want to still tell me about your mother, I’d be really happy to hear from you again.”

“Good. Because I want to hear you again too.”

“Should I say goodbye or just hang up?” you wondered awkwardly.

“Goodbye Y/N. And uh, thanks again.”

“You’re welcome. Bye.”

Hanging up the call, you stared at the phone you held in your hand in a daze. You had totally flirted with him – albeit very awkwardly – and Yongguk… well, he had flirted back.

Throwing yourself down onto your couch, you spasmed with an outburst of happiness before reaching for your phone and saving Yongguk’s number.

God. He had a beautiful voice.

As promised, Yongguk called you first thing Tuesday morning to let you know that not only had his mother loved the gift he’d gotten her, his was her favourite. You had been delighted, of course, beaming proudly across your gift store at the praise for your efforts.

And probably because his voice in the morning was even huskier than it had been the first time. Could you fall for just a voice? You were certainly stumbling down the path to find out.

As you walked around preparing for the day before you opened your store, you chatted with each other mindlessly. He asked what the weather was like where you were, and you asked if he was making coffee when you heard a machine in the background. You weren’t sure if you had the right to ask for more personal information. Especially since this would probably be your last call together.

The less you knew, the easier it would be to let go of Yongguk.

You hoped, anyway.

“So, you have ten minutes until the shop opens?” he asked after taking a sip of the beverage he had made himself.

“Uh-huh.”

“I have just ten more minutes?”

“Well, I doubt there will be customers walking in here right on nine,” you replied, and Yongguk chuckled. “What do you want to talk about for the next ten minutes?”

“Everything. Anything. You.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I just really like talking to you,” he admitted, and you felt giddy.

“If it’s not at all obvious, the feeling’s mutual.”

“Is it? I had no idea.”

“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, so long as I can call you later on and get to ask you all I want to know.”

“You’ll call me?”

“Can I?” you wondered, sinking your teeth into your bottom lip nervously.

“Please do. Call me every day.”

“Every day?” you echoed with a giggle. “Why, someone might consider you infatuated with a stranger, Yongguk.”

“Your voice is… I can’t get enough of it,” he said softly, and you inhaled sharply. “Was that wrong to say?”

“Goodness, no. I uh, have quite the thing for your voice too.”

“The thing?” he teased, and you groaned loudly.

“I’ve never heard such a deep and husky voice before.”

“Well, I’ve never been entranced by a tone quite like yours either.”

“I’m ready for those questions,” you pointed out shakily, hoping that if you could talk about yourself, you would stop swooning.

Except you didn’t.

Not after you ended that phone call. Nor after ringing him back as soon as you were home that night. And it continued, both the head over heels feeling and the phone calls, every day for a month.

You were certain, without even meeting Yongguk, that you knew everything about him from how much you chatted. Hours would go by in the blink of an eye each night, and there were times where you had fallen asleep and then woken up together, still connected on the phone that neither of you had the desire to hang up in between. Your entire life was encased with this man.

A man you hadn’t seen a single thing about yet.

It was intentional, that part. For some reason early into your phone calls, you both agreed that you didn’t want to complicate things by sharing social media accounts. Yongguk worked as a music producer in one of the big cities up north, and you knew just how busy his schedule was for the next few months.

It was easier to just chat, even if you ached to know what he looked like.

“Describe yourself to me,” he asked late into one night, your eyes lazily travelling to the red digits on the clock on your bedside table. It was almost two in the morning, and you didn’t care if you needed to meet up with your mother for brunch tomorrow. You’d sleep later.

You’d give up sleep entirely just to keep talking.

“What do you mean?”

“Start from the top of your head. What does your hair look like?” he wondered in a voice barely louder than a whisper. You felt the question to be strangely intimate, and you grew wired, languidly telling him what you looked like, your hand trailing along your body as you talked.

His breathing was uneven as you did so, which only caused you to fall deeper into desire. After you were done, Yongguk repeated the process, his words hitting you like foreplay. You closed your eyes as you imagined his dark locks, the loose curls long enough to brush into his dark brown eyes, wide nose, thick lips. You saw his long neck, the way he pointed out little beauty spots and tattoos he had over his body as he inched further down, filling you with such a heated atmosphere you were certain you might explode.

“You should go to sleep,” he whispered when he finished. “It’s late, Y/N.”

“I should.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, swallowing roughly. “Though, I don’t know how I’m going to sleep with this image of you in my head just yet.”

It was dangerous. His tone, his breathlessness, the image he had built in your head. All of it had you trying to swim up current. He was washing over you, lust pooling within. You bit your lip, trying to stop a shaky exhale.

“How am I meant to sleep when all I can think of is you?”

“Do you need me to help you?” he groaned out, and that did it. You threw away all inhibitions. His heated instructions, your travelling hand, his moans, you unravelled with all of these sensations.

Over his voice.

“I can’t believe we did that,” you commented once your heart rate dropped enough to stop strumming loudly in your head. The stars you had seen cleared, and you stared up at your ceiling in wonder. “I’ve… never done something like that.”

“Neither. Do you regret it?”

“No.”

“Good. I don’t want it to be the last time.”

Rolling onto your side, you drew little circles into the bedding beside you as you pulled your phone up off the pillow to your ear. “What happened to the guy I met by chance over the phone who was shy towards strangers?”

“For one, you’re definitely not a stranger to me anymore, Y/N,” he confirmed with a needy tone, and you smiled warmly. “That guy met someone over the phone who changed how shy he was towards just a voice. And there’s no way this was something left down to chance. Not in my opinion, anyway.”

“So, we’re like fated souls?” you questioned, half-humouring the concept.

“I like that idea, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” you breathed out, realising you wanted to be fated to Yongguk.

You wanted to be his.

“I want to meet you,” he admitted after a few minutes of thoughtful silence, and you sat up with a start, blinking several times over. “I need to meet you.”

“But we live so far apart.”

“And?”

“As much as I want to meet you too, I thought you—”

“Let me meet you,” he pleaded, your heart rate going up several notches again.

“You name the date and time, and I’ll be there, Yongguk.”

It took five weeks to plan the right time to meet. If you both had it your way, it would have been the very next morning. But your mother had dropped the news on your shoulders that your Aunt was coming up for a couple of weeks and needed to crash at your place. And then Yongguk had to fly out for work for another week.

Finally, the day arrived where Yongguk would meet you.

You had offered to go to the city, but Yongguk decided coming down to your township felt better, and so you were waiting inside a coffee shop, fiddling with your hair as you watched the front door avidly. You had told your best friend about Yongguk after agreeing to meet in person, not that you had any concerns over him being someone dangerous. He had insisted on you letting someone know too, which only made you feel more at ease about meeting him for the first time.

Well, as much as you could be at ease. You were certain that your heart was going to go into cardiac arrest with how hard it thumped with anticipation.

You were going to meet the man you had started falling for over the phone. It was a laughable concept if you took your feelings out of the equation. All you had with Yongguk was daily conversations. He could be completely different in person. You could be unattracted to him, even with the in-depth description of the first night he had drawn your mind and soul out of your body into Nirvana. Heck, he could be unattracted to you personally too.

Yet, you knew deep in your heart that it wouldn’t be the case. You would find him more irresistible. It wasn’t just talking. It was a connection like no other you both harboured. You had never felt this way about anyone before. Not over the last thirty years of existence. No man made you feel this cherished, this desirable. No one knew every little thought you possessed like Yongguk did.

No one had entrusted you with themselves like this either.

So, when the door opened and a tall man entered, you knew it was him. Your lips instantly spread into a warm smile as he shook his curls out of his warm brown eyes, scanning the room for you.

And God, he had forgotten to tell you he had dimples. His smile was so deep that you didn’t even realise it had caused you to stand up with a start, watching as he strode purposely towards you, taking you into his arms without any hesitance.

You held on, burying into him, inhaling his spicy cologne and feeling his muscled back under your hands that had slipped up to rest there. There wasn’t anyone else in this room but the two of you, holding one another for an immeasurable time, falling deeper for one another without even a single word.

You’d spoken so much now that words weren’t needed. You knew all that he was expressing to you through this embrace, and you were sure you didn’t ever want to step out of it.

But eventually, Yongguk pulled back just enough to shoot you another gummy smile, shifting hair away from your face tenderly. “Hi.”

“Hey,” you shot back just as giddily, watching his dimples deepen.

“Shit. You exceeded all my thoughts about you,” he murmured, and you allowed your hands to fall to his arms still around you.

“Right back at you.”

“And your voice in person is even more amazing. I need to sit down before I get too dizzy,” he admitted, and you grinned, unashamed by anything he was saying. He sat, and you took the seat you had been in before, but your hands remained linked, eyes firmly attached to one another.

“This is… so surreal,” you told him, and Yongguk nodded. “I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

“Me too.”

“This is our first real meeting, but it’s not either,” you continued, sighing when his thumb ran over the top of the hand he held.

“It’s confirmed a lot for me,” he stated. “The feelings I have from our conversations just got amplified.”

“Same.”

“Should we order something?”

“Can I order you?” you breathed out, and Yongguk’s deep laughter ruptured out of him. You watched him dreamily as you grinned. “What? I’m wondering if you’re on the menu.”

“Only if you are too.”

“Maybe later?”

His eyes grew heated. “Definitely later.”

And what you both wanted physically did come later, more than once, and it felt even more perfect than it had over the phone. The whole day had, and as his weeklong stay drew to a close, you found yourself nestled over his heart, trailing your fingers over his tattooed chest.

“Have I told you that I’ve never been with someone who has tattoos?” you murmured into his bare skin, shuddering in delight with how Yongguk’s hand travelled up and down your spine mindlessly.

“Am I too much of a bad boy for you, Y/N?”

You laughed, shaking your head. “You don’t fit the bad boy persona. Definitely not when you smile, that’s for sure. I didn’t realise how much I would like to trail my fingers over them all.”

“I didn’t know how much I would like it either,” he confirmed, pressing a kiss into the crown of your head. “Or you. How much I like you is… indescribable.”

“More people should meet over the phone. Maybe we should start a company for singles where they have to talk over the phone instead of meet face to face first.”

“Whilst it’s worked for us, I’m sure there’s a lot of flaws and safety issues in such a situation.”

“That’s true,” you agreed softly, glancing up at him. You couldn’t resist kissing along his neck and jawline before talking again. “We’re working, though.”

“We’re going to keep working even when I go back tomorrow.”

“I don’t know how we’ll work apart now,” you cautiously told him. “I’m far too greedy for all of this.”

“I’ll be back in the weekend. Every weekend, I’ll come to you,” Yongguk promised, and your lips spread out happily.

“I’ll come to you too. Until we both can decide on where we want to live in the future together.”

“I don’t care where it is. Anywhere will be perfect as long as you’re there.”

You hummed in delight, kissing Yongguk several times before resting back against his chest. “Hey, I know it doesn’t really matter, but do you remember when you first rang me? You said that you pressed call on your brother’s name. How would that connect to my number if you had his saved there? You didn’t recently save it, did you?”

“No. My twin’s number has always been the same. I checked several times over, and I even rang Yongnam afterwards the same way and it connected to him. How it happened is still a mystery after all this time.”

“That’s crazy. I wonder how it happened?”

“Fate is the only answer,” Yongguk told you, and you looked up at him, his lips curling up into a devastating smile as he brushed his hand over your face tenderly. “We were meant for one another from the first time I heard you speak.”

You decided then that you were fated. There was no other answer. And you were already well on your way towards loving this man.

His sexy voice and all the rest of him too.

_________________

All rights reserved © prettywordsyouleft

     If someone were to tell you three years ago that you’d be here, there’s no doubt you would have thought they were messing with you. Three years ago was the first date you went on with Yongguk, and to say it was awkward was an understatement. Silence had encompassed the two of you, a bubble of your own making which even the noise of the rest of the world couldn’t trespass. In fact, despite both of you saying you’d call at the end of the date, neither did. It wasn’t until a couple of months later that you ran into him again, and, let’s just say, the rest was history.

     “What are you doing?” You question loudly, grasping Yongguk’s hand to stop him from dumping the salt into the bowl.

     He stared back with confusion written plainly on his face. “Putting in the salt? Am I not meant to do that?”

     Sighing you resist the urge to run your hands through your hair. “Not that much,” you say quietly, guiding his hand away from the bowl. “It’s in teaspoons, not tablespoons.”

     After fixing the almost mistake, which would have resulted in a cake with just too much salt to make anyone question it. Of course, a part of you was certain that had the batter gotten messed up irreversibly, that the instructor would have let you start over. She was a very nice lady, a bright smile, cherub cheeks, and kind eyes. Her name’s Penelope, and she kind of reminds you of Santa Claus’s wife, Mrs. Claus. 

     “Has everyone added in the dry ingredients?” Penelope asks loudly, clapping her hands together after wiping them on the multi-colored polka dot apron tied around her waist.

     “Yes,” you respond softly.

     Once making sure that everyone had done as asked, Penelope gave the next steps. “Alright, so now what you’re gonna want to do…”

     Time flew quickly from then on out and it wasn’t long before the cakes were put into the oven. The next step was to make the icing, something you were sure might end in a mess, purely because you couldn’t resist swiping a bit of it and dotting his nose with it. Yongguk then retaliated by getting icing on your cheek, which led to a small icing fight, laughter filling the room at your antics. Penelope did send you to the bathroom before you could cover the counters from the icing fight, telling you both to get cleaned up in mock exasperation, but you could hear the amusement bleeding into her tone.

     “Look at what you did,” He chided you after stepping into the bathroom.

     “Me? I didn’t do a thing,” You respond playfully outraged. “I am innocent of that which you have accused me of.”

     Yongguk laughed, turning the water on to wash the icing from his hands. “You started it, all I did was retaliate a bit.”

     “Hmm, I don’t know,” you muse, almost tapping your chin in thought before yanking your hands back when you remembered the frosting. “Wasn’t it fun though?”

     “With you, everything is fun.”

     “Don’t get all sappy with me, you know I cry easily.”

     In a few minutes, once all the icing was gone from your skin, you wrapped your arms around his waist. “I love being with you.”

     A smile appeared on his face. “I feel the same about you, and it’s something I want for the rest of my life.”

     Your eyes go wide, a small gasp echoes in the bathroom. “The rest of your life?”

     “With you, I want everything,” he murmured. “And that means the rest of our lives. That is if you want the same.”

"Good morning and welcome to Starbucks,” you gave him the standard greeting. He nodded and gave you his order. "Name?"

He paused as he usually did. Maybe he was trying to remember the name he'd given you the day before. Maybe he thought about giving you his real name. "Yongnam."

You arched an eyebrow at him as he stretched the name out towards the middle. He had almost taken the risk but changed his mind. You smiled at him. "Okay, Mr. Yongnam. Coming right up!"

He nodded and took a seat near the window where he flipped open his book. You would look at him every so often as you filled his cup with cappuccino. He was frowning today. You wondered what troubled him but knew you couldn't ask. He wouldn't possibly appreciate you butting your nose into his business.

As you put the lid on the cup, a thought struck you. You grabbed a towel used it to pick up Yongguk's cup so that his name was facing you. You took a marker used to scribble names on the customers' cups to add a quick message then called his name out. He hopped out of his seat and picked up the cup with a nod of thanks before heading back to his place. He never grabbed a stirrer or extra sugar. He seemed to like his drink the way you made it. The thought made you smile.

The next customer breezed in through the door, stealing your attention away as the morning rush started. By the time you had served the last patron, "Mr. Yongnam" had left. There was a napkin left on the table, and you rounded the counter to snatch it up before someone else did.

"Thank you, _____.”

You smiled as you pocketed the napkin. And so the habit of writing little messages on Yongguk's cup began.

The next week he came in wearing his usual garb but sported stubble. The baseball cap did little to hide the bags under his eyes. When he spoke, it sounded like he had been gargling rocks. “Coffee. Black.”

“Whoa. You’re really cranking it up there. Mr…?” You let the question hang as you smiled at him.

“Ugh. I can’t even remember what name I used last.” His head dropped forward then he huffed. “Yongguk.”

Your eyes popped open at the change. “O-okay, Mr. Yongguk. Can I get you anything else?”

“If you don’t mind, please bring it to my table.” He grumbled as he swiped his card. He left before you could even hand him the receipt. Your heart went out to him. You’d pulled many all-nighters for college before, and the memory of being a sleep-deprived zombie wasn’t pretty. You picked up a cup and wrote his name with care. After a moment to think, you added a message of encouragement. When it was ready, you picked up a stirrer and sugar just in case and took his order to his table.

“Here you go, Mr. Yongguk.” You sat the cup down carefully and placed the extras next to him.

“Thank you, ____.” He picked up the cup and sipped carefully. After quietly smacking his lips together a few times, he slid the stirrer and sugar packets back to you. “I don’t need these.”

It surprised you. His cappuccino order was normally sweet. “Are you sure? Isn’t it bitter?”

He took another lazy sip as he looked you in the eyes. “No. It’s just right. As always.”

You blushed, unable to keep the stupid grin off your face. "You drink black coffee that often?"

He shook his head as he took another sip. "No. I needed something stronger this morning. I have a deadline I'm trying to make. I just make sure to get here early so you can make my order. You always use the right amount."

A customer came in signaling the end of your conversation. You turned back to him and smiled. "Well, enjoy. I hope things go well for you."

His eyes dropped to the message you'd written, and he smirked. "Me too."

A few days passed without you seeing him, and you wondered about him. Was he okay? Did things go well with the thing he was working on? As you wiped down the tables for the morning rush, the bell on the door rang. "Welcome to--" You looked over your shoulder, and the words died off.

It was him.

He went to the counter, eyes up on the menu. You hurried over to the register. You never had to force a smile with him. "Good morning, Yongguk. The usual?"

Yongguk smiled at you and nodded. "Yes, _____. The usual." You picked up a cup and started to scribble his name on it when he spoke again. "Have you heard of the SeoulMate Finder?"

You paused and looked at him. "The watch thingy?"

He laughed and lifted his wrist for you to see. The device looked like a spiffy smartwatch, but instead of the traditional clock face, it had a radar arm that spun around. "I got one the other day."

"Does it work?" You swallowed and said, "I mean, have you found your soulmate?"

To your relief, he shook his head. "I don't think my soulmate has bought one yet. But my friends all ran out and bought one." He shrugged and stuffed his hands into his coat pockets, hiding the device from view. "Just playing the waiting game."

"Oh." You nodded. "I thought about getting one. The price is steep."

"It is," he said. "But it may be worth it, don't you think?"

The glint in his eye made you tingle from head to toe. With a smile, you told him the total, and he swiped his card before going to his usual seat. You realized that it was as far from the door as possible without being unable to see the counter where you worked. Could he...?

You took a second to think about the message you wanted to write. Yongguk didn't need one, but you couldn't resist. Thinking of his quest to find his soulmate, however passive, you wished him good luck. When you had finished the order, you took it to him as per the norm.

"Thank you, _____," he said as he reached for the cup and almost touched your hand. You gave him another smile and bounded back to the counter. If it wasn't clear before it was clear now. You had more than a crush on him. However, you barely knew him. It wasn't likely that a confession would persuade him to forget about the soulmate thing. Unless you were his soulmate.

That evening, you browsed the online store of the SeoulMate website. There were different kinds, each suited for different lifestyles. You thought about getting one of the more dynamic models, but all you wanted was to see if Yongguk was your soulmate. The one that merely scanned whoever you touched seemed to be the right choice. Luckily, it was on sale.

Days later, you wore it to work. It was an inconspicuous little ring that fit on your index finger. You could feel its quiet hum against your skin as it worked.

The shop's door rang as it swung open. Yongguk stepped in with a small group of people, one of whom was female. She had an arm slung around his shoulders, laughing loudly at something the other had said. Your heart dropped into your stomach. Did he find her already? Had you wasted your time and money?

The group went to a table in the corner, out of view. He sat down without once having glanced your way. You inhaled deeply and turned back to work, determined to not let this get to you. It was okay. It wasn't the end of the world. There was sure to be someone out there...

The thought of anyone else hurt. You had gotten used to the idea of Yongguk. It felt right. You stole another look at the group in the corner. It was as if you didn't exist, which was weird since he always ordered first.

"_____?" A deep voice called from behind you. You spun around to see Yongguk standing at the counter, a shy smile on his face.

"B-but you just walked in with," you sputtered, looking back at the group. "Who--?"

Yongguk leaned to the side. "Oh, that's my twin brother and older sister." He chuckled. "I asked them to meet me here."

"Oh!" You sighed with relief then quickly covered your mouth. "I mean, oh. Yeah, that was odd. You didn't sit in your normal seat or order and--I mean, what can I get you today?"

He laughed. Outright and in your face. Even though you wanted to crawl into one of the cabinets and die, the sound of his throaty laugh made your skin tingle. He had the cutest gummy smile. You would love to see it more. "It's okay."

"Huh?" You tilted your head to the side.

"A lot of people mix us up. You don't have to be embarrassed. If anything, I'm glad you knew something was off. It makes me feel special." He ducked his head as he grinned.

You blinked a few times. Was this real? "You are my best customer. You're pleasant to be around."

He nodded. "I guess I should order something. What do you recommend?"

Your jaw dropped. "You're nothing going to order the usual?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm craving something new, different. I don't think my usual is working for me."

You hesitated then looked over your shoulder at the menu. "If you want something chocolatey, I recommend the mocha chocolate chip. It's my favorite."

His grin made your heart skip a beat. For a second you thought you would have a heart attack. "I'll try that then. If you recommend it, it has to be good." You gave him another smile, this one shy. You picked up a cup and wrote his name on it as he paid for it. He lingered at the counter as you made the drink. "Is that a SeoulMate?"

"Huh?" You stopped and looked at him. "Oh, yeah! I just got it yesterday."

"What made you buy one?" He leaned onto the counter as you did the topping and lid. "Are you looking for your soulmate too?"

You laughed as you slid the cup to him. "Well, it occurred to me that if my soulmate is out there looking for me, or even just wanting to know I exist, I'd have to have one on. So, it's not that I'm looking for one. I just want them to know I exist. So they won't be lonely."

He nodded and stood up straight. "I see." He exhaled and showed you his SeoulMate. The interface was a bright teal. There was a bright flickering circle in the center. "It's been pointing me to this location since yesterday."

You found it hard to breathe for a second. You trembled at the implication.

He looked over your shoulder at your co-workers behind you. "Do any of them have a SeoulMate?"

You looked over your shoulder at the men and women behind you. "I-I can ask." You turned around to see a knowing smirk. "What?"

"I don't think any of them have one. But, I'll ask. Right after we rule you out." He held up his hand for you. "I know what my SeoulMate says. Why don't we see what yours says?"

You nearly fainted. What if he wasn't your soulmate? Would he be disappointed? Would he stop coming to the store? What if you misread him and he didn't want anything to do with you? What if --

You slipped your hand into his and all the doubtful thoughts faded away. You rubbed the ring across his warm palm. There was a soft whir then a click. Your ring went from a crystal clear color to teal, matching his SeoulMate. Butterflies filled your stomach, and you found it difficult to look up. You were afraid of his reaction.

"_____, look at me, baby."

Your eyes widened, and you looked up at him. That gummy smile was stretched across his face as his eyes crinkled shut. Warmth spread through you as his other hand covered yours, creating a pocket of love. "Yongguk?"

"When I bought this, I hoped it would point me to you. I got pulled away for a couple of days so I didn't get to see you, but I wanted to. I wished I'd had the courage to ask for your number or even ask you out." He lifted your hand to his lips, brushing them across your knuckles. "You do more than make the perfect cup of coffee. You know how to cheer me up and give me hope for a great day. Being near you is so soothing."

You covered your mouth with your free hand and bounced on the ball of your feet. "I had hoped -- I really wanted -- Oh, wow."

His chuckle traveled up your arm. "So, you'll go out with me? Maybe see a movie or walk on the beach?"

You watched as he laced his fingers with yours. "I'd love to."

Yongguk reappeared with two wrapped packages stacked in his arms. You watched him fidget with sudden shyness and it wasn’t from his lack of clothing. 

He shuffled his feet against the floorboards, scuffing his heal against a spot that didn’t exist. 

“I bought us something we can wear to the holiday party tomorrow night.”

“Oh?” You sat up straighter in the bed, intrigued by the prospect of an early gift. 

The mattress dipped as Yongguk’s weight joined yours. With your free hand, you lifted the covers and draped it over his lap. He placed one package on top of your thighs, lighter than you expected. 

“Open it,” he urged.

You shifted to set your mug on the nightstand and scooched over to nestle yourself against Yongguk’s side. He threaded his arm behind you, letting his fingers rest lightly against your side. He began to stoke soft lines onto your tender flesh as he waited for you to tear off the wrapping paper.

You hooked a finger under the edge of the golden paper and pulled carefully. A white box was revealed underneath and you looked up at Yongguk.

“Keep going,” he nodded.

The lid slid off easily and a gentle “oh” breezed from your lips. Sat neatly under tissue paper was a forest green knitted sweater. You held it up, eyes scanning over the what was printed over the front. The giggle escaped before you could even attempt to capture it. Glittering pom-pom balls and tinsel decorated the front in the shape of a tree. 

“Check out the sleeves.” Yongguk held out the end of the nearest one for your inspection. More gaudy tinsel encircled the wrists of the sleeves. “It lights up, too.” There is a small click and the sweater illuminates itself in a horrendous display of festive cheer.

“Oh, my god.” Your mouth cannot keep itself closed. “It’s so ugly. It’s perfect! What did you get?”

Yongguk opened his package quickly and pulled forth another monstrosity— firetruck red with a snowman stitched on the front. Upon a closer look, you realized that the snowman had the face of a dog—Tigger, to be exact. 

“I had these custom made. Mine even sings.” Yongguk fiddled with a small remote and the beginning notes of “Jingle Bells” filled the room. 

“They’re wonderful!” You pushed the covers from your torso and hurriedly pulled your sweater over your head. “It’s surprisingly soft,” you commented, adjusting the fabric down your stomach. 

“I didn’t want us to be miserable and itchy all night,” Yongguk said, muffled under his own sweater. 

You plant a kiss on Yongguk’s cheek just as his head popped through the sweater. “Thank you.”

Yongguk smiled, a slow, bashful stretch of his lips. He can’t find the words to say, so instead, he pulled you flush against his chest and slid your bodies down under the covers once again. You lie there, entwined and knitted together with the man who knew the smaller ways to your heart. 

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