Pairing: Reader X Taehyung
Genre: Angst, Fluff
Words: 3151
Summary: She was a foreigner and he, who doesn’t speak her language, communicates with her by getting her, her favourite drink – Caramel Macchiato.
“Uhm, actually I don’t speak English. Sorry.”
Those were the words he said when you first met him.
You sat at the table next to the window while taking small sips of your warm caramel macchiato, lightly tapping your fingers on the table and looking out onto the busy streets of Myeongdong. It was around the same time of the year when you met him 5 years ago. It was during summer and it was raining heavily outside when you bumped into him.
“Excuse me, sorry, coming through!” You bowed politely to the people around you while trying to make it across the street before the traffic light turns red.
Just then, a stranger opened his umbrella in your face as he was exiting a shop, causing you to drop the laptop and Korean grammar books you were holding on to and fall flat on your ass. “Oh my God I’m so sorry are you ok is your umbrella ok?” You said in one breath while bending down to pick up your belongings before they were soaked.
“I’m sorry and… Uhm actually, I don’t speak English. Sorry.” was the only thing he said before he broke into a boxy grin.
**Then what language are you speaking right now??**
“Are you ok? Is your laptop ok?” He asked in Korean, while pulling you next to him, under his umbrella with one hand, and wiping the raindrops off your half-drenched coat with his other hand.
You nodded slowly, not really sure how you should respond (especially with your limited knowledge of the Korean language). Sure, you understood what he was saying, but you just didn't know how to reply to him in Korean.
“Are you going to the café?” He looked at you and pointed to the café across the street and you nodded again. He then slung his arm over your shoulder to keep you out of the rain and walked you to the entrance of the café.
Just when you thought he was going to leave after dropping you off at the café, he lightly pushed the door open and led you into the shop and took you to the seat next to the window.
“What would you like to drink?” He shrugged his coat off and sat down opposite you, handing you the menu once he settled down in his seat.
“It’ll be my treat, as an apology for umm.. opening my umbrella in your face.”
At this point, you had to admit that this boy, was pretty charming and he had the brightest smile you've ever seen.
“Um. Hello? I've already thought of what I want to drink, caramel macchiato!” He chimed and started waving his hands in front of your face after you ignored his question. You bowed a little before taking the menu.
“Two caramel macchiatos please, thank you” you handed the menus back to the waiter and turned back to the boy, only to be greeted with a cheeky smile.
“You sound like a native speaker, not bad.” He commented, the smile still plastered across his face.
Did I mention that he had the most amazing skin?
“Ah… T-thank you” You stuttered and smiled back, trying your best not to look like a creep.
“My name is Taehyung, what about you?” Taehyung held his hand out.
“I’m Y/N, nice to meet you.” You took Taehyung’s hand in yours slowly and shook it.
Having moved to a foreign land filled with people who didn’t speak your language for college scared you a little… okay, maybe a lot, but everything changed when you met him. You met him at the café everyday afterschool and he would help you with learning Korean.
“No no, not like that” Taehyung giggled and hit you with the pencil he was holding in his hand. You frowned while rubbing the spot he hit you and kicked his shin under the table. “What’s wrong? 10 is pronounced as “십” and 8 is “팔” so isn't it “십팔”?” (sib pal)
“”십팔” sounds like “씨발” (ssibal – fuck you) and that’s a bad word” He paused, trying to catch his breath before he continued laughing. “We usually say “열여 덟”” (yeolyo dol)
“Stop laughing.” You glared at him playfully and wrote down the new word that he taught you on your notebook as he ruffled your hair.
Your personality clicked with him so well you found yourself hanging out with him every day, even on weekends and you learnt so much about him through the months, like how he didn’t like Americanos because they were “just bitter and watered down coffee” and how he always bit the insides of his cheeks when he was thinking or the way he furrows his eyebrows when he’s studying. You also found out that his house was only 5 minutes away from yours and you would always hang out at his place over the weekends to study and to play with his younger siblings.
“Noona do you like hyung?” You were playing hide and seek with Taehyung and his younger siblings – Taebin and Eunmi when he suddenly asked you the question. Taehyung was the “seeker” and all three of you hid behind the bushes in the backyard. “Eonnie, you like Taetae oppa, right?” You looked at two of them, a little taken aback but you managed to put on a playful grin and tickled Eunmi and Taebin.”Why do you ask that?” You pinched Eunmi’s cheeks and Taebin giggled a little before replying on Eunmi’s behalf “Because hyung talks about you to eomma all the time!” You blushed a little and continued attacking them with tickles. Soon, the both of them burst out in laughter while trying to run away from you but you hugged them and tried to shush them. “Eunmi ah, oppa is going to find us if you are making so much noise!”
“HA HA HA! I FOUND YOU!” Taehyung came running towards us and swooped both Taebin and Eunmi up in his arms while grinning ear to ear.
“Taetae oppa, do you like Y/N Eonnie?” Eunmi asked while giggling in Taehyung’s arm.
Taehyung was your best friend, he was always there to encourage you when you felt like giving up and you could count on him. Once, he even thought that you had a crush on his good friend Jimin and he set the both of you up on a date.
“Y/N, you never told me you had a crush on Jiminie???” Taehyung sat on the sofa while looking at you with an unreadable expression which soon turned into a fit of giggles.
“Me? No I don’t.” You look at him, obviously unamused by his random assumption.
“Why not? Jimin is cute, and handsome and…” He paused, realising that you weren't even listening.
“Ayyyyyy, you don’t have to lie to me, I’m your bestf-friend right?” He choked a little at the word but you were too busy with your school work to notice him stuttering.
“I don’t.” You answered simply and he plopped down onto the floor next to you.
“Well too bad you’re going on a date with him tomorrow at COEX mall.” He laughed a little before turning away to walk to the kitchen.
“Yah Kim Taehyung I don’t like Park Jimin!” You whined and he just smiled to himself.
You grew closer to Taehyung day by day and soon, the relationship between you two became more than just a pure friendship. Both of you started to develop feelings for each other.
“Y/N-ah, are you busy tomorrow?” You could tell that he was nervous and was fidgeting at the other end of the phone call by the speed in which he was speaking at.
“I don’t think so, why?” You asked and prayed in your head that he would finally take the first step to ask you out on an actual date.
The line went silent for what seemed to be a good 2 minutes before both of you spoke at the same time.
“You go first.” You prompted him and he inhaled sharply before letting out a shaky breath.
“What is the 9th alphabet in the ABC song?”
“What?” You asked, confused.
“What is the 9th alpha…” Taehyung started again but you cut him off.
“Yeah I heard you. Its “I”, what’s this about, Tae?”
“Just go along with it please.” Taehyung paused for 3 seconds and continued.
“When you see a post on Facebook that interests you, what do you do?”
“Like it?” You answered, still not sure what he’s up to.
“Right. Who is Kim Taehyung?”
“You???” Your voice went up 3 octaves because of your confusion.
“Ok, can you repeat all three answers in a sentence now?” You could tell that he was practically holding his breath while waiting for your answer.
“I like it you.” You answered simply and he clicked his tongue, obviously annoyed.
“Yah, its I LIKE YOU, stupid.” He paused again and you interrupted the silence.
“I was going to say something before you did.”
“What?” Taehyung asked, disappointment evident in his tone.
“I wanted to tell you that…” You spoke slowly, teasing him.
“Yah, say it quick.” He started whining like a baby dinosaur and you laughed.
“Kim Taehyung, I like you too.”
And that’s how it all started.
You closed your eyes while reminiscing the good old times with him when you felt a gush of humid summer wind rush through the café as a customer opened the door. You picked up your now empty cup and walked to the cashier, ready to take the orders the customer had.
“Can I have 2 caramel macchiatos please?”
“2 caramel macchiatos” You repeated while smiling, keying the customer’s order into the computer.
You made your way to the bar next to the cashier and started pouring the milk into the pitcher, still deep in your thoughts.
You’d like to see yourself as the milk in a caramel macchiato. It has the most neutral taste in the drink; almost boring, but it brings the espresso and the syrups together, creating a nice and well balanced taste. Likewise, having the most neutral taste in the drink, it relies on other components like the syrups to bring out its flavour, and Taehyung, was the caramel syrup that added sweetness and “taste” in your life.
“I really like it here.” You sat at the café both of you frequented; even the owner of the café knew the both of you and gave you discounts whenever you bought a drink.
“Me too! We should open a café when we grow old and we can let our children be the baristas!” Taehyung held your hand in his and you could see his eyes sparkling under the sunlight as he spoke with enthusiasm.
“Woah hold on there mister, I never agreed to get married to you. And is this a proposal? Where’s the sincerity?” You stifled a laugh that threatened to escape your throat and poked his sides but he just smirked.
“I know you’ll get married to me, you’ll see. We’ll have a daughter named Sebyul and a son named Jungkook.” He clasped his together and placed them under his chin while staring at the ceiling, smiling at the thought of starting a family with the love of his life.
“I like the name Jungkook.” You laughed and continued talking about your dreams and his dreams in that café, where you first met him. He filled your life with dreams, hope and love and you loved him. No, you still love him, and you knew he loved you too
Once the milk was ready, you poured it into the little cardboard cups carefully before proceeding to pull the espresso shots.
Your relationship with Taehyung was like an espresso shot.
It was perfect at first, just like a perfect shot – foamy crema, followed by the body, and then the heart. It was sweet and intense.
But similar to an espresso shot, it becomes bitter when its being left out for too long, and that’s exactly what happened to the both of you.
“What do you mean that we have to break up and you have no choice?” You questioned, letting anger take over you.
“Kim Taehyung, how can you just give up on a relationship that lasted for 3 years without even trying?” You weren't thinking straight, just letting whatever that came to your mind spill out of your mouth like venom.
“Y/N, you know I tried, but this is the entertainment industry we are talking about. There are going to be rumours and rumours will soon start scandals and I'm just protecting you!” You knew Taehyung was right, but the anger and emotions you were feeling at the point of time had the better of you.
“Protecting me?” You scoffed and rolled your eyes, fists balled up at your sides while trying your best to keep your anger in.
“You mean protecting yourself and your career, am I right?” tears started welling up in your eyes but you willed yourself not to cry in front of Taehyung.
Both of you knew this was going nowhere and you knew very well that you were being irrational. You promised him that you’ll support him, his dreams and in everything he does when he told you that he wanted to be a singer, you were more than happy. And when he told you that he passed the audition, both of you had a huge celebration, together with his family. And then he told you that he had to move out to the dorms, you were disappointed at first, but you knew it was necessary, and you reminded him to not overwork himself, and to have his meals regularly.
Then now, he wants to break up. You knew you were being selfish for wanting him to stay by your side, but you loved him. Heck you still do.
You said that you’ll support his dreams and you weren't going go back on your words now.
You lifted your head to meet his gaze, only to be greeted by his pained expression, tears threatening to roll down his face, the face you were going to miss waking up next to every morning. The face you run home every day after school to, the face that gives you comfort in your darkest times.
“I…” You started to talk but you choked on your tears. You looked away for a moment before continuing.
“I wish you good luck on your career, I said that I will support you in everything that you do and…” You hiccuped and let a tear slip from your eyes before wiping it away with the back of your hand quickly.
You were about to continue but Taehyung cupped your face in his hands and wiped the tears that were now streaming down your face with his thumbs and kissed your forehead lightly, his lips trembling as its came in contact with your skin.
“Don’t cry. You know that I still love you. We’ll meet again soon, right?” He asked but you just forced a smile before turning on your heels, leaving him in the middle of the living room of your shared apartment, not looking back as you closed the door behind you.
You let the tears that you were holding back fall freely once you walked out of the apartment, and the cold December wind hit your face. It felt like you were being slapped by the harsh reality, but the pain soon turned into numbness.
You’ve always heard of stories of how people forget about where they came from after gaining fame, they forget about the people who helped them get to where they are, the people who they once loved, because all that mattered to them was money and fame. And you prayed with all your heart that Taehyung would be an exception.
“Don’t cry. You know that I still love you. We’ll meet again soon, right?”
It has been 2 years since the break up. You didn’t receive any texts, or calls from him. You thought you were able to move on but you were so wrong. How could you possibly move on from someone who you shared and even planned your future with?
You found yourself going to the café even more frequently than you did when you were dating Taehyung. The owner even knew about your breakup and no he didn’t give you extra discount out of pity but he promised that he would keep an eye out for Taehyung and tell you if he saw him, but you rejected his offer.
“Y/N, I am going back to Busan next week to be with my family, so I’m closing down the café…” The owner of the café told you, and you just looked at him in surprise, then you thought of an idea.
“Mr Shin, can I buy over the café? I mean, I made so many memories here and I’ll miss it so much…”
You bought the café and Mr Shin allowed you to pay him in instalments, considering the fact that you were his customer for the past 5 years. This place held too many memories you shared with Taehyung. It was where you first met him (Across the street, but close enough) it was where he taught you Korean every day after school, it was also where you had your first, and last date with him, both, over a cup of caramel macchiato.
You were too engrossed in your thoughts you didn’t even realise that you were done with the drinks and standing there, with a bitter smile hanging on your face while the customer was calling for you.
You walked to the counter, eyes still on the two cups of warm drinks in your hands as you handed them to the customer, but he only took one.
“The other one’s for you.”
Maybe if you hadn’t been so caught up in your thoughts you would’ve noticed that his voice was so familiar, the voice that sang you to sleep whenever you couldn’t fall asleep, the voice that you yearned to hear after a long and tiring day at school.
You weren’t ready to face him, but you looked up to see his face that you missed so much.
“How are you, Y/N-ah? I told you we’d meet again right?” His iconic rectangular smile flashed on his face.
“I missed you.” He said, and frowned when you didn’t respond.
“Yah. Aren’t you gonna say something at least?” He pouted cutely and you smacked his head.
“I missed you too.” You smiled and walked out of the counter and he pulled you into a hug which seemed to last forever.
Taehyung broke the silence while poking your cheeks playfully.
“So are we still gonna have barista kids Sebyul and Jungkook?”
[A/N]: Ok I lied about the word count for this scenario hahahah. It’s 3.1K, Not 2.7K. OOPS SORRY.
Anyway, i really hope that you guys would enjoy this scenario (i spent a long long long time drafting and writing and typing and editing it) and I’m kinda proud of myself even though it probably sucked so badly.
Tell me what you think about this story and maybe, (just maybe) I’ll write more in the future ;)
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