Cherry Words
For @mikayuuweek
Day 3: Sweet/Sour (ft. Bartender!Mika/Barista!Yuu)
Welcome to the third day~ Enjoy reading this extra long drabble!
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Yuuichirou would sometimes look gloomy whenever spring came by. No, he didn’t hate the spring season; he loved it, in fact. It was just that the seasonal item for the cafe he worked at was cherries, and his co-worker, Shinoa, would never stop teasing him about it after his break up with his ex-boyfriend last year.
“So, when will you finally get laid, Yuu-san~?” She would ask with a wide grin as she lifted up a can of cherries on her hand for emphasis. “Spring is the season for new and blossoming love! Oh, how it hurts my heart that my poor friend doesn’t have a date yet~! Will I be an old woman by the time I have nieces and nephews~?”
Yuuichirou puffed out his cheeks in annoyance as his face sported an embarrassed blush, nearly slamming down his glass on the table that would certainly catch some unwanted attention.
"Another rough day, I presume?"
Yuuichirou glanced up to see the bartender tending the counter tonight. He sighed in relief and tiredness when he recognized who it was manning the counter tonight.
"You could say that, Mika…"
Mikaela hummed as he put down the wine glass he was drying and placed it on its assigned place behind the bar counter. He discarded the wash cloth along the way as he gave Yuuichirou his attention with an inviting smile.
"A dollar for your thoughts, then?"
Yuuichirou paused before chuckling. They have only met for a few months, but Mikaela had always been attentive to his patrons and his pleasing personality just added on to his already high quality skills. It was extremely rare for Mikaela to have some free time, and Yuuichirou knew better than to have this fine bartender listen to his rants.
"I appreciate the offer, but it's just a silly thing to talk about." He provided while he twirled his drink around aimlessly.
"Is it a silly thing if it's enough for you to make such a reaction?" The bartender asked, his blue eyes glanced down on Yuuichirou's drink. "... It also seems that you're avoiding your usual drink tonight. Cherry Vermouth has always been your favorite, so it's strange to see you nurse another."
"Oh, uh…" Yuuichirou flushed in embarrassment before feigning laughter at being caught.
Mikaela always had a sharp eye for the smallest details; it was one of the perks of being an excellent bartender.
"T-There's nothing wrong in trying something different once in a while." Yuuichirou explained nervously. "B-Besides, I can't always drink the same thing and have it sold out for other patrons who wanted to try it. It would be inconsiderate of me…"
Mikaela was silent as he observed Yuuichirou's body language before a soft sigh escaped his lips.
"You're stuttering…" He pointed out, which made Yuuichirou flinch on his seat, before he reached out to gently cup Yuuichirou's face so that the other could face him directly. "Talk with your eyes on me or I might get the wrong idea, Yuu. Is there perhaps something wrong with Cherry Vermouth? Was that why you didn't order it tonight?"
"No…!" Yuuichirou exclaimed rather loudly before he caught himself, groaning as he began to confess. "There's… There's nothing wrong with Cherry Vermouth, Mika. Don't even think that there's anything wrong with your signature drink. It's perfect."
"Then why…?"
"I, uh…" Yuuichirou sucked in a breath as his face turned steadily hot at the next set of words he was going to say, "I just… didn't want to be reminded of… cherries…"
"... Cherries?"
"Cherries," Yuuichirou said firmly as he watched the gears in Mikaela's head turning. He turned his head away when he saw those blue eyes widening a bit in realization.
"Oh, cherries… The season of blossoming love…" Mikaela chuckled knowingly behind his hand, endeared by Yuuichirou's reaction. "It's a lovely season, isn't it?"
"Yeah…" Yuuichirou mumbled as his mind wind back to last year, where his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with someone richer than him at that time.
It was spring when it happened. Yuuichirou thought it would mean more happy moments with his boyfriend then, but in the end, it only left him feeling sour about love as he broke their relationship on what could have been their anniversary. It still stung, and Yuuichirou had half the mind to live as a hermit to heal from the heartbreak.
But…
"---How time flies. I could still remember the first time you came here," Mikaela reminisced with a fond smile. His warm tone caught Yuuichirou's attention, and he gazed at him in mild surprise.
"That was a long time ago. I can't believe you remembered…"
"Of course I remembered. I could never forget my first customer who complained about my creations being 'too sweet' for his taste." Mikaela snickered as he imitated Yuuichirou's mannerism at that time, before he stared at him with his eyes glimmering in nostalgia. "I had to do some extra work because of you, you know. But I'm not complaining after you have a taste of Cherry Vermouth, and become speechless in the end."
"That's because it reminds me of my…" Yuuichirou's eyes rounded as something clicked in his mind like a puzzle piece, and he was left looking at Mikaela slack jawed. "Of my specialty..."
"Indeed," Mikaela nodded as he proceeded to explain himself. "Mocha Blossom… You only made that drink for the person special to you. Your friend was quite talkative about it at that time when you left, visibly upset that you're single again all the while giving me the coffee as a form of gratitude..."
Yuuichirou blushed, but he made no move to leave as Mikaela slowly began concocting a familiar drink they both know very well.
"Don't blame her. She's just looking out for you, even though she's a bit playful."
"I know, but this is my problem, not hers." Yuuichirou grumbled under his breath, trying to diffuse the topic especially with the way Mikaela was acting around him.
"Hmm, I may not be fluent with the coffee language, but… the delicate aroma of espresso, mixed with the tarty taste of cherries, mellowed down with chocolate and milk…" Mikaela commented with his voice now low and husky, making Yuuichirou slowly become warm on his seat. "A unique taste, if I do say so myself. It could've been easily mistaken for something akin to a black forest cake, but the amount of arabic coffee made it stand out to give that amazing flavor…"
"A-And your point…?"
Mikaela chuckled as he smoothly slid a sherry glass to Yuuichirou, all the while taking away his other drink.
"Cherry Vermouth is my answer to you, and only you." Mikaela whispered to Yuuichirou. "Why do you think I 'sold it out' after serving it to you, hmm?"
Now, Yuuichirou's face was red and hot from all the implications he was receiving, and he buried his face in his hands to hide himself from the charming smile Mikaela was giving him. The bartender was going to be the death of him one day with this attitude of his.
"Y-You… Why?"
Mikaela shrugged playfully. His smile never waned.
"Who knows? The decision is yours to make. I'm merely suggesting, ah, no…" A small piece of paper was slid next to Yuuichirou's drink with a phone number. "... I'm merely offering your possible choices, Yuu. Either way, I'll respect the outcome, but know that I'm truly smitten."
Yuuichirou bit down on his bottom lip, unable to say anything for a moment. Mikaela grinned at the silence before a patron called for his attention, and left Yuuichirou to his thoughts.
His green eyes looked up at the newly made Cherry Vermouth before him. It was a small drink, but it never failed to always mesmerize Yuuichirou with its rich burgundy color and tangy aroma. It was a beautiful piece of art shining through like a ruby under the light.
When Yuuichirou first tasted it, it reminded him of moments of love and peace, while also hinting on possessiveness and sensuality. But most of all, it did remind him of his specialty, Mocha Blossom.
"It was supposed to be a secret…" Yuuichirou whispered to himself, feeling a bit betrayed that Shinoa gave his specially made coffee to a stranger he knew for only two months.
Yet, Mikaela was sincere with his words; Yuuichirou could feel it. He even gave him a choice, and was respectful with his space. Mikaela was… caring, and attractive. Very attractive.
If Yuuichirou was still his younger self, then he would have already fallen in love. But the scars that his ex-boyfriend left him were big and needed more time to heal; Yuuichirou couldn't have himself falling in love again after that sham of a relationship. His fear made him unable to experience and explore what the sweetness of a true romance could bring.
However… Mikaela's tone was warm, and his touches were gentle. Yuuichirou's cheek still tingled on where Mikaela held him. It was too casual for their relationship, and Yuuichirou should be uncomfortable about it.
But he wasn't. It was shocking.
Is this a good sign…?, Yuuichirou wondered while he spied on Mikaela for a bit, watching him being courteous to his customers and being polite to the ladies.
Mikaela was the definition of a gentleman, and he was offering himself to Yuuichirou on a silver platter. And if the numerous times he had served Yuuichirou his signature drink was anything to go by, Mikaela was practically courting him ever since that first time Yuuichirou partaken the drink. To know this fact as of late, Yuuichirou wanted to bury himself for being so dense to realize the signs.
"Truly smitten, huh…" Yuuichirou murmured to himself as he traced a finger on the glass' rim, looking at the innocent beverage in a new light now after Mikaela's confession. He blushed as embarrassment settled in at being played so easily by the bartender like a fiddle. Still, it graced Yuuichirou's face with a bashful smile as he looked back at their wonderful meanings.
If Cherry Vermouth was indeed Mikaela's answer to Mocha Blossom, then who was Yuuichirou to refuse such a message? After all, Mikaela asked for it; it was only natural for Yuuichirou to reply in kind.
"... Not fluent with coffee language, my ass," Yuuichirou grumbled playfully as he took the sherry glass. "You wouldn't make such a reply drink if you didn't know what Mocha Blossom means."
Mikaela glanced at Yuuichirou downing the drink, and he smiled while listening to his empty complaints as he remembered the message of their two drinks put together, humming to himself in satisfaction now that Yuuichirou was aware of his feelings. A small blush crept up to his cheeks, making his face a bit warm.
Mocha Blossom, the coffee that means: "Good morning, beautiful. I love and cherish you always.", and Cherry Vermouth, the cocktail that means: "You're mine as I'm yours. Allow me to show it tonight, beautiful."