“i’m glad you all enjoyed it,” taejin said with a laugh when the kid bowed again. “i was really strapped for cash when i was a trainee so i try to send food at least once in a while. maybe not as much as i should.” delivery food was always an option; he could order it and have it delivered to them even when he couldn’t personally drop it off. something to consider going forward.
as soon as he said his name, taejin nodded his head and committed that to memory. sungjae. the trainee with the big smile. “i’ll remember that from now on,” he commented, almost more for himself than for sungjae. “you’d think i’d be better at remembering names than what i am. i never forget a face, though.”
taejin couldn’t help but smirk a little bit at the phrasing of sungjae’s following question and his eyebrow quirked up in amusement.”you need to work on your pick-up lines,” he teased. “but i do! i’ve been coming here since i signed on with ys back in… god. was it 2009? i feel old all of a sudden.” from the side, the owner of the cafe let out a loud laugh.
“if you’re feeling old, imagine how i feel!” she exclaimed.
taejin shrugged his shoulders sheepishly and bowed his head respectively in her direction. “you’re right, i’m sorry. but imonim has been taking care of me for a long time, to answer your question. when i’m in the neighborhood i only ever come here.”
❛ we appreciate anything you do, really. don’t worry about us. we have lots of nice things because of you, so we feel very grateful.❜ sungjae said fondly, appreciation shining through his eyes. obviously, with crescent and ladybug’s successes, being a trainee wasn’t as hard as he imagines it was back then. the classes and food provided always enough for him. even if training could be long and exhausting, he never felt like he was lacking nutrition or any materials. he knew he was lucky.
swallowing hard, he tried to nonchalantly fold his arms over his chest, his expression attentive and focused. even though he was still a bit nervous, he found himself easing up a bit. conversation with taejin wasn’t as strained or awkward as he imagined. he felt like he was actually being listened to, like it was just them in their own little world. ❛ ahh, seriously. i’m sure you meet so many people. please don’t worry about remembering it. ❜
his eyes crinkled a bit, only for the other to mention the pick-up line, and suddenly his cheeks were heating up instead. thinking about it now, it did sound like the most stereotypical pick-up line on the planet, even if he’d meant it as a genuine question. quickly hiding his face in his hand, he was relieved taejin kept the conversation going, and the owner started to banter back creating a much needed distraction from his embarrassment.
laughing at the owner’s exclamation, he pushed his own hair out of his face and grinned. ❛ that’s so weird..I started coming here as well..I had no idea. it’s so cozy I just fell in love. I guess it was the same for us? ❜